Quote Originally Posted by mknight View Post
The optics if police somehow affects the result with uncessary action (for example putting Ogier in jail just before the PS). Will in the end affect how the rally is viewed.

There have been lots of rallies run with close to no spectators visible. ERC rally Roma or Monza last year had like 1/100th the amount og people.

The countries obviously set the rules themselves. But then there is the contrast between rules and actual situation. How will crowd control work if the rally is "open" and you get 2-3 times more people than now? Maybe perfectly..maybe not.
Well, we don't know why Ogier left and why police wanted him to stop. Of course it will not affect Ogier's rally but we'll see what they'll do afterwards. Laws and rules are laws and rules.

As I mentioned, COVIS restrictions in Croatia are very liberal and people are very sensitive about lockdowns and any kind of movement restrictions. I don't see way of stopping them from spectating.

If FIA finds it problematic for the rally's future than they are shooting in their own foot. WRC just grew immensely in Croatia and people enjoy it - and then you give the rally a thumbs down because they do, only because it was against the spectating rules?

Hopefully it won't happen.