Repco Rally Australia began in earnest yesterday. That’s good news for the people of the Northern Rivers region of NSW right? A World Rally Championship event on your doorstep, doesn’t get any better than that, surely!

Not according to the “No Rally” group who forced the cancellation of Special Stage 6 this morning, with reports claiming protesters took to the course waving yellow flags. This caused competitors to slow down and drivers soon became aware that the flags were being waved by protesters, and not race officials. Just three cars had started the stage near Byrrill Creek before it was abandoned.

Apparently the protesters had also cut fences releasing livestock onto the course. More alarmingly, it has also been said that some protesters were throwing rocks at the cars.

This followed other protest activities on liaison stages, where competitors transit between Special Stages using public roads. Supporters of “No Rally” formed convoys and travelled at speeds of around 20km/h. With sufficient numbers they made it virtually impossible for competitors to get past.

Five-time World Champion Sebastien Loeb is quoted as saying, “Some people don’t like us in front of their house but I didn’t ask to come here. I can understand why some people don’t like the rally but I have to do my job.”

After SS6 was cancelled competitors were able to proceed to SS7 and the rally continued.

UPDATE: The coppers are not happy with the rock throwing protesters! [...more at Autocar]

[Source: goldcoast.com.au & Eurosport]