MONACO — Organizers of the Monte Carlo rally have urged spectators to exhibit better conduct while attending the race after instances of flares being ignited and pyrotechnics being used surfaced during Thursday evening’s events.

The Automobile Club de Monaco shared a video showing one enthusiastic fan lighting a flare while waiting for a car to round a tight turn in the Alpine terrain. Three additional fans mirrored this act, chasing after another vehicle while capturing the moment on their mobile phones.

“This kind of behavior is exactly what caused the cancellation of the third special stage,” the ACM stated on the social platform X. “We must adhere to security protocols to ensure the smooth operation of the event.”

Due to safety concerns, the third special stage was cancelled after several competitors had already commenced, as an excessive number of fans gathered too close to the vehicles, with smoke from the flares significantly disrupting visibility.

Sébastien Ogier, an eight-time world champion, has called for a prohibition on the use of flares and other pyrotechnics. “I find it completely unacceptable. It seems fans think it’s cool, but honestly, we need to stop this because it is extremely dangerous,” he expressed on the French platform Rally Sport. “We’re often engulfed in fog, making it impossible to see. I sincerely hope that a ban will be implemented sooner rather than later because it’s truly not a safe practice.”

Additionally, the fifth stage of the rally was called off before its scheduled start on Friday morning “while medical teams assisted a spectator,” as shared by the World Rally Championship through a post on X. French outlet BFM TV reported that two spectators had sustained injuries after falling.