The current policy of the FIA and the WRC Promoter to maximise on the WRC’s promotional opportunities took a dramatic turn when this led to Rally Mexico being badly disrupted.  Martin Holmes questions the decision ...

The trucks carrying the WRC cars finally arrives in Leon on Friday.Transporters carrying the rally cars to Leon were blocked for six hours while returning from the start in Mexico City, 400km away, and two major stages were cancelled.  

Each team applauded the decision to hold the start in the spectacular centre of the country’s capital city, which despite inclement weather, was a great success.  

The trip to Mexico City was a very late decision, too late to make adequate changes to the timetable to cater for unexpected problems.  The warning was there.  

On the 2007 Rally Argentina the drivers and the cars were delayed returning to Villa Carlos Paz after a promotional super special 700km away in Buenos Aires.  Almost a whole day of orthodox rallying was lost.  

Is promotion more important than sport? Think about it.  Would Grand Slam tennis officials reduce the number of sets played in a match, or FIFA allow a half-hour’s competition to be removed from a football match, because players were held up returning from a promotional gig?  

It was an honour that  200 years of independence in Mexico was celebrated by the arrival in the City of the rally.  You would have thought there would have been time to plan the schedule better!
 
- Martin Holmes

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