Precise navigating necessary for spectators

Given the closure of roads and the re-routing of traffic, spectators at this FIA World Rally Championship will need to be as well organised as the officials running the event.

Planning the journey for a race that takes place over eight counties, north and south, and over four days, is not something to be taken on board on the way to the race on the day.

There will be a number of inconveniences that spectators will have to endure to find safe and good vantage points for the stages. Each route will be closed three hours before the race is due to start. Rally Ireland anticipate many of the overseas spectators will be at their vantage points some three hours before the first car takes off.

That means bring the sandwiches and tea along in the hamper.

Not only food, drink and weather-proof clothes should be worn but also walking shoes. Again, the organisers expect many of those arriving may have to walk up to three kilometres (almost two miles) to their final destination. The pay-off for arriving early is that those spectators can select the best vantage points for the race.

The viewing points, which can be found contained in the "Souvenir Programme", will be classified into primary and secondary positions.

While cars can be parked on routes leading into the stages and many locals will avail of this, they must anticipate that after the racing they could be blocked in as people make their way back to parking areas. Any blocking of access lanes or roads into of from the stages will result in cars being towed away and a fine imposed.

There will also be defined areas for spectators. Stewards will keep people away from viewing areas where cars could possibly run off the road or spray stones and grit. Spectators will be asked to stay within those defined areas and to keep off the roped areas and private property that boarders the routes. An FIA Safety Officer will inspect the stage from a helicopter, weather permitting, and if he's not happy with the location of spectators he could recommend the stage not be run.

Tickets are required for the first stage held at Stormont in Belfast and also for the service area, where cars are mended as they come back from racing. Indeed this could be one of the more interesting aspects of the event as the top mechanics can be seen tearing apart cars and getting them ready to race again within minutes. - Johnny Watterson