Thirteen Walloon municipalities ban rallying until further notice

The mayor of Hannuit, Manu Douette, told Belga on Thursday that thirteen municipalities in the Condroz region in Wallonia are suspending all rally competitions on their territory until further notice. The mayors believe that the legislation surrounding the organisation of car rallies is outdated.

An accident during the Condroz rally in November killed two people when a car went off the track. "All responsibility lies with the person who signs the permission for the cars to pass," said Douette. "The royal decree regulating the organisation of car rallies needs to be reviewed. We asked to create a working group that should have met for the first time in January, but that meeting was postponed at the federal level."

"So we are going to create a local group," the mayor continued. "And we will make proposals. In the meantime, there will be no more competitions on our territory." The Hannuit Rally, scheduled for 13 March, is cancelled this year. It is not yet known if the Rally of Borgworm (Waremme), an event in Abolens and stages of the Condroz rally will be able to take place.

^{© BELGA PHOTO WILLY WEYENS}