McRae, Sainz, Others Caught in Mid-Rally Speedtrap

http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/sport.cfm?id=1242702003

McRae one of 20 speeding rally drivers

JAMES MCMILLAN

FORMER world rally champion Colin McRae escaped with a Â150 fine and 
three penalty points for speeding, after a letter signed by his mother
was taken into consideration by a Welsh court yesterday.

The 35-year-old Scot was one of 20 rally drivers who were caught 
speeding the day before the UK leg of the world championships, the
Wales Rally GB, in November last year.

Four of the culprits incurred road bans as magistrates in Neath handed
out a total of Â7,350 in fines to those involved and awarded 57
separate penalty points for 37 offences.

Most were caught on a two-mile section of the B4242 in Neath, used as
a "shake-down" for last minute adjustments to competition cars.

The banned drivers will still be able to drive in rallies in the UK
but not drive on public roads between special stages, where their
co-drivers will have to take over.

McRae was clocked by speed cameras at 51mph on the 30mph road.
England's Richard Burns also admitted speeding and he too was fined
Â150, with three penalty points added to his licence.

Several drivers sent letters to the court in their absence apologising
for the offences. Another letter was handed in on behalf of McRae and 
signed by his mother, Margaret.

Briton Kris Meeke was disqualified for 12 months and fined Â300 after 
being caught driving at more than double the speed limit.

German Armin Schwarz, Belgian Freddy Loix and Swede Daniel Carlsson
were all banned for six months for repeatedly breaking the speed
limit.

Other drivers who were fined and awarded penalty points on their 
licences yesterday were Frenchman Francois Delacour, German Manfred 
Stohl, Finn Mikko Hirvonen, Estonian Markko Martin and Spaniard Carlos
Sainz.