FIA sets out safety plan for rallies

epa04915685 Spanish emergency personnel work at the scene where at least six people died during a rally in A Coruna, northwestern Spain, 05 September 2015. At least six people were killed when a car left the road and crashed into spectators during La Coruna rally in the north-west Spanish region of Galicia, police said. EPA/CABALAR

epa04915685 Spanish emergency personnel work at the scene where at least six people died during a rally in A Coruna, northwestern Spain, 05 September 2015. At least six people were killed when a car left the road and crashed into spectators during La Coruna rally in the north-west Spanish region of Galicia, police said. EPA/CABALAR

Published Sep 11, 2015

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Geneva, Switzerland - Rallying's ruling body has announced a safety action plan in the wake of last week's crash in Spain that killed six spectators.

An FIA statement on Thursday explained: “The aim of the action plan is to have a positive influence in rally safety around the world, from local grass roots events through to the pinnacle of the sport at World Rally Championship level.”

During last week's Rally of La Coruna a competing car hurtled off the road and ploughed into a crowd of spectators in northern Spain, killing six people including a pregnant woman.

This year has also seen spectators die in domestic events in Australia and Estonia. In France at the weekend amateur driver Frederi Comte perished when his car left the road in the Mont-Blanc Rally.

DEDICATED TASK FORCE

The plan to improve safety emerged from an extraordinary general meeting called by FIA president Jean Todt in Geneva on Wednesday. Among those advising the FIA on safety are reigning world rally champion Sebastien Ogier and 1981 champion Ari Vatanen.

The FIA said it would set up “a dedicated task force of FIA experts” to assist national rally organisers on safety.

The action plan will also reinforce to rally organisers “the heightened danger in running rallies outside of the basic framework of the FIA guidelines for spectator and vehicle safety”.

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