Interesting.  The Narinis told us that for sure there was a triangle out and that they showed it to you.  So where is the truth?

So it wasn't that nobody cared - it was that they said you ignored the triangle.

Putting out a triangle has to be the first thing any team does the moment they stop.  Also super important to put it far enough back up the road that other cars get enough warning to slow down.

Luckily this time no one was hurt,  but we don't want cars getting damaged for no good reason either.

Unfortunately I can't recall enough to confirm one way or another as to whether or not there was a triangle.  Two things I can say.  I was tiptoeing that stage on account of a failed tire experiment.  I also do remember noticing an off early in the day where the two triangles were within sight of each other.   Sorry I can't help more then that.

Craig, my camera just won't take the punishment of stage rallying. As it is, the video is crap for rallycross, etc. The tape skips off the heads. Once I have some money though I do plan to pick up a bullet cam, and then I can put my camera in a padded bag and it should work just fine. All in good time

well...

Narini's did have an in-car camera, and have good footage of the incident.

You can see them coming into the corner, and there is already a triangle from another car that went off (red/white/blue) Impreza.  

i'm not sure if nick was caught off gaurd by the triangle he saw, or what, but in the process of scrubbing off speed, or trying to miss the alread banked car...Nick caught the snowbank with the back corner of the car, which pulled the front end in, and into the ditch. They very nearly got out, but were hung up.   Nick gets out of the car, as Massimo could not because of the snow built up against the door.

From talking to Nick..he got out of the car...made sure that the Triangle placed by the impreza team was still there, and in a decent place, and he then started digging and getting the towstrap and so on.

Was not long until you hear the sound of a celica...at just about full throttle, and then the sickening sound...The camera skips ahead...

The VERY lucky part is...just after Narini's end up in the bank...the driver/co-drive of the impreza offer to try and push Narini's out... Nick declined the offer.    If the driver/co-drive of the other car were pushing the car at the of impact...the results would not have been pretty.

If anyone wants to see. they are more than welcome.

Thanks to the organizers for the investigation, examination of our car and discussion with Nick (car 30).

We reviewed the in car video with the crew and team and Chris said it all above.

Nick and Massimo saw the triangle and made a rookie mistake. Scrubing speed,  she spun, catching the rear corner which took the front into the snow.

When our guys did not pull in ahead of the damaged Celica (car 31), the driver told me that he had hit the FRONT of our car and they were still off. Before knowing all the details, I did offer an apology on behalf of our crew if something was done incorrectly.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, including the crew of the first car off, and our car will run again - after replacing the entire rear end and a new exhaust system. In spite of the crash, we were running in a strong position and it would have been an awesome experience for this young team to complete the rally. The crash caused an electrical failure that took us out after the fifth stage. I guess "that's racin'."

I will share the video with the Celica crew if you PM me an address and with any race officials that deem it necessary.

In years gone by, rally teams looked out for each other as Ross will confirm. Had I hit a car on a stage, I may have stopped to check all was OK before continuing.

My guys certainly learned a hard lesson.

Thanks again to the organizers.

Phil
Team MaNicK

Whoever think this was my bad, I wish him a same situation.
For me file is closed.