Quote Originally Posted by Rally Hokkaido View Post
Thanks for the stage info links. Without even watching them I could imagine what the stages are like! I probably sound biased, but the only region in Japan that can properly host an APRC round is Hokkaido. The Montre Organisers face far bigger challenges than exposed guardrail ends. Unless they receive a waiver, they need to find more than double the length of their 2018 stage mileage, which was composed of only four and half roads averaging 6kms in length, each used two or three times. Another waiver will be required for most of the stages to be run on tarmac. I actually believe the delay in announcing the calendar is due to the difficulties they have had in producing an acceptable itinerary.
I just spent 25m looking randomy around Hokkaido in Google Street View and the impression---other than being really quite bueatiful---is the place looks to be swarming with lots of squiggly roads...which considering all the mountains isn't that surprising...

So the question is why is getting road permissions so difficult? Bureaucracy? Local populace resistance?