According to Miikka Anttila, who is touring the games with the FIA’s safety delegate, the public did not follow the safety instructions at the Lankamaa special test. In Finland, special tests have rarely been canceled due to public behavior, but now it had to be done.
Tomi Tuominen,
Anu Rummukainen,
Roope Visuri
14:33•Updated 14:41
In the Jyväskylä World Rally Championship, a special situation was seen on Friday at the Lankamaa special test. Kalle Rovanperä had time to go first, but he was shown red flags. The competition was interrupted and finally the special test was cancelled. The reason was not known at first.
The race organizer asked the spectators to listen to the officials and stay at a safe distance from the cars.
of the FIA Safety Delegate by Michele Mouton with special tests circulating Miikka Anttila commented on the cancellation of Lankamaa’s special test later on Ralliradio. According to Anttila, the special test was canceled for safety reasons. The public did not follow the safety instructions.
– There were people in several places who were told that they should move to safer places, but it seemed that the instructions were not respected.
– The distance was taken when ordered, but when the cars approached, then the spectators moved closer again.
Anttila, who was also seen as Urheilu’s rally expert this season, can’t say whether there was a language or attitude problem behind it.
– It’s really a shame that we had to do this, but having seen the situation myself, I think the solution was the right one. I want to emphasize that I have not made the decision, but I think it was the right one, Anttila stated.
– The request is that you follow the given instructions, then all the sections could be driven, and there would be no unpleasant cancellations. This work is done for viewers. We hope that spectators will come to watch the race, but we also hope that they will get home safe and sound.
CEO of AKK Riku Bitter is upset about missing Lankamaa’s special exam.
– It’s unfortunate that because of that, the special exam is turned into a transitional one. It is exceptional in Jyväskylä, Bitter stated.
According to Bitter, the FIA’s safety delegate and the control center can see at all times how the audience is positioned on the track.
The Finns have been obedient as a rally audience. Is the rally audience changing in a wilder direction?
– I do not believe. We have an exceptionally large number of people on the route. It may be partly that we haven’t been able to place it. I hope that from now on the public will go where they are asked to run all the special tests.
Leader of the competition Kai Tarkiainen also comments on the hot question regarding the cancellation of Lankamaa’s special exam. Why Kalle Rovanperä was allowed on the route, even though the public was known to be on the route?
– Michele had reached the finish line when Kalle had to be sent. We talked together. I made the solution myself. Finnish rally audiences usually go to their seats at the last minute, Tarkiainen said.
– From the next car, the Tuplanolla car, we could see that this is not going to happen. It was cut off. Kalle was flagged off with a red flag after a couple of kilometers.
Tarkiainen confirmed that the reason for canceling the special exam was that the audience did not follow the safety instructions.
– The front cars really did a lot of work. Until the very end, we believed that the situation would improve, Tarkiainen stated.
The situation is very rare. According to Tarkiainen, the Jyväskylä World Rally Championship was canceled for the first time.
– I think the big reason is that we currently have a huge number of viewers. In recent years, people have gotten used to being able to get into parking lots quickly and find their own spot, says Tarkiainen.
According to Tarkiainen, there have been huge queues for special exams everywhere. The competition organizer has already given instructions this morning, for example, about the filling of the special exams tomorrow at noon.
– People have to be on the move early, Tarkiainen emphasizes.
Updated at 15:28. Added Tarkiainen’s comments.