Some of the world's top drivers were fined for speeding in 2002

The number of drivers caught was more than halved compared with last year, official figures have revealed.

Police were out in force with extra traffic controls on key roads including the M4, following considerable problems with excessive speeding at the 2002 event.

Last year, 1,616 offences were recorded as rally drivers and fans made their way between different stages of the race.

Seventeen drivers were punished by Neath magistrates earlier this week, receiving penalty points and fines for the offences in 2002.

But figures from the Safety Camera Partnership, who monitored roads around the rally stages, showed that the numbers of offences fell from 1,616 to 725 this year.

The number of vehicles recorded travelling more than 20mph above the speed limit also decreased dramatically, from 121 in 2002 to 25 in 2003.

The support from many of this year's competitors has had a positive effect on reducing speeds driven by supporters John Rowling, Safety Camera Partnership

John Rowling, Safety Camera Partnership project manager, said his team did not witness any of the excessive speeds recorded during the 2002 rally.

"We believe that this year's success is down to a partnership approach involving the rally organisers, competitors and manufacturers.

"The support from many of this year's competitors in asking motorists to stick to speed limits between stages has also had a positive effect on reducing speeds driven by supporters.

There have been concerns that the sport's ruling body, the F�d�ration Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), was looking into whether the roads in south Wales could cope with the amount of rally traffic.

It was feared that the rally, which is worth �15m a year to the Welsh economy, could be moved.

But on Thursday, organisers moved to quell the fears, saying there was "no question" of it leaving the area.