Central European Rally organisers will make changes to anti cut devices that have left World Rally Championship drivers struggling to see the road, particularly in night conditions.
Anti cut poles have been placed on the edges of the road throughout the asphalt stages in order to prevent drivers from cutting sections of stages and bringing excess dirt onto the road surface.
The devices had irked drivers during the day as some had been moved in the stages, altering the conditions from when they made their pacenotes during the pre-event recce.
However, when night fell for the final stage a combination of the reflective surface of the poles and the car’s headlights severely limited visibility for the drivers, prompting widespread complaints.
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera was among those to raise concerns about the situation after ending Friday’s leg 0.6s behind rally leader and team-mate Sebastien Ogier.
“It is really difficult in the dark with so many anti cuts and you don’t really see the corners, it is really, really difficult. We don’t have a lot of night driving but we will still have some tomorrow,” said Rovanpera.
Grégoire Munster, Louis Louka, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak sarcastically labelled the anti cuts devices as a “really clever idea”, while Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta called for changes to be made before Saturday’s night stages.
“Can’t see anything! We asked the organiser to use the anti-cuts the other way around because it’s reflecting like hell,” Katsuta said. “You have no idea what’s there and you are just trusting the pacenotes. We can’t see anything.”
Rally organisers noted the driver’s comments and have confirmed that the anti cut devices will be turned around so the reflective surface is not facing the drivers for Saturday’s stages.
“It was already an issue last year and they reacted then. It is really bad, you cannot see anything beyond them so it [the change] is definitely needed for tomorrow, It is a good decision,” said Toyota’s Elfyn Evans, who will head into Saturday in third, 29.5s behind Ogier.
Title contender Evans managed to haul himself into a podium position having started the day in eighth after being hit with a five-second penalty for hitting a hay bale during Thursday’s stage one. Toyota had intended to appeal the stewards decision but the team has now decided against this course of action.
“It has been a bit of a mixed day but obviously we managed to stay out of trouble. Of course, I’m not really happy with the pace we had especially in the dirty conditions in the Czech stage but there is still a long way to go,” added Evans.
“We had no choice, [the penalty] it is done and we have put it to one side and move on as quickly as we can. I don’t agree with it [the penalty] but nothing can be done now.”
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