Quote Originally Posted by Mirek View Post
You are right that it's a stage which requires really big balls but what I hate about it is the huge number of artificial chicanes,mostly placed in crossroads. Unfortunately after the number of tragedies we have really strict rules which doesn't allow even a second pass of stage with average speed over 120 km/h. The event organizers have really hard work with cars and tyres being faster every year. The result is often a chicane-flooded stage like this one (the average speed was 119 km/h by the way). For example the most legendary stage of Czech rallying Malonty from Rally Český Krumlov will come soon. I can't imagine how they can keep Kopecký with R5 under 120 km/h if the stage is dry. Last year with S2000 on wet and with many chicanes the average speed was 119. Anyway in my opinion this rule is useless. It only complicates everything and doesn't bring much for the safety as in most cases the chicanes are not placed in dangerous sections but in crossroads, villages etc.
About artificial chicanes - I partly agree; yes they useless in crossroads, but still I see some point in locating them in narrow villages - driving close to the top-speed between houses, concrete fences, telegraph poles....without any ''safety zone'' is very very dangerous....not to mention that spectators are also very close to the scene.
Yet again if I remember my times as a codriver I always enjoyed ''flying'' between houses...but I was younger at that time.....I think I would not feel comfortable today...