POLICE INVESTIGATING ROGUE RALLY SPECTATOR

Police have identified a rogue spectator who recklessly lay on the edge of the road to take a photo of world title contender Thierry Neuville during a competitive stage of Rally Australia on Saturday.

By MARK FOGARTY

Neuville’s Hyundai raced past the man at 125 km/h on the dirt track, narrowly missing the smart phone he was holding in his outstretched arm to capture a close-up shot.

The man and a companion gained unauthorised access to a part of the course not open to the public or even professional accredited photographers.

They were both lying prone on the ground on the side of the road, stupidly close to where cars screamed past, bucking and squirming on the loose surface.

The irresponsible ‘photographer’ was wearing a singlet and shorts.

The dangerous stunt is being investigated by local police.

The incident was caught on the live broadcast of Special Stage 10 of Rally Australia – the deciding round of the world rally championship – by the on-board camera on Neuville’s Hyundai i20 racer.

From the on-car view, it appeared that the Belgian rally ace’s machine missed the man’s camera phone and arm by just centimetres.

Neuville is in a tight battle for the world rally title with defending champion Sebastien Ogier, to be decided on the third and final day of Rally Australia on Sunday.

The close shave happened just a day after an official tractor went onto the course without approval, causing some heart-stopping moments as surprised competitors raced past.

It is understood that local police identified the photo-taking intruder from social media posts about his reckless act.

Police are investigating the incident, which happened during the early Saturday afternoon’s run on the Welshs Creek Reverse stage on forest roads near Macksville on NSW’s Coffs Coast.

Police expect to interview the man and his companion on Sunday.

Their exploit was widely criticised by rally followers on social media.

Rally Australia officials are withholding comment on the incident until the police have decided what action – if any – will be taken.

There was a similar incident with a photo-taking spectator in an area closed to spectators at last year’s event.

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