WRC drivers still steamed over "dangerous" Rally Spain

Leading World Rally Championship drivers believe they were put in a dangerous position with the dust levels on the gravel element of last week's Rally of Spain.

Drivers further down the running order for the Friday morning stages had to grapple with thick clouds of dust. Organizers increased the gaps between cars from two to three minutes, but leading WRC runners said this was still inadequate.

"It's a f***ing disgrace! Somebody needs to grow up and understand what they're putting us through," declared Citroen's Kris Meeke. "They're putting the spectators' lives in danger, our lives in danger.

"All these boys sitting back in rally HQ with their shirts and ties on following the thing on the splits, they have no idea what the conditions are like. Don't bother with giving us an extra minute or anything like that, just make this a tarmac (asphalt) rally again, it's simple."

Spain has run as the WRC's only mixed-surface event in recent years, with the 2014 edition beginning with a gravel day before switching to asphalt.

Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville said organizers were risking a serious accident.

"For me it is too dangerous," he said. "Why should we risk our lives just because somebody doesn't want to give us another minute or more gap?

"It's always like this until something happens and somebody dies with a big accident in the dust. Then people start thinking. But before, nobody wants to listen.

"Every year we ask the [Spain] organizers for a four-minute gap, but every year we come back and do the same stupid things."

FIA rally manager Michele Mouton said she had discussed the matter with Rally of Spain director Aman Barfull.

"We need to know what is causing this: is it the location of the stage? Is it the time of the day?" said Mouton. "I asked Aman Barfull to see for the future to find places more in open areas. We are aware of the problem and so is he."