RAGLAN co-driver Paul Spooner won't be competing at this year's Network Q Rally of Great Britain because it's boring.

That's the BRTDA Gold Star Co-Driving Champion's frank admission of this year's event which he believes has become "too commercial".

Spooner, who co-drives for Brian Bell, has been navigating for over two decades. But with ten Rally GB's already under his helmet he says the event has lost its thrill of adrenalin and he reckons that's thanks largely to the money-men behind the sport.

"To be honest we're just cheesed off with the event. It's so much easier than it used to be," he said.

"We were both fed up with going over the same road section and the same service. It's boring and it's lost the adrenalin it used to be famous for.

"I think it's going down the same route as Formula One and alienating the real fans.

"It's very much more spectator and TV orientated now and less of a challenge for the competitors with things like central service. I won't be paying to go down there and watch it," added Spooner, who teaches technology at Abergavenny's King Henry V111 School.

He's also unhappy that the rally itself is fixed in South Wales, and said it's lost that special something which made it one of the world's best.

"When the rally used to be competed over a wider scale it was always much better for the drivers. One day you'd be competing in North Wales, the next Chester, then Cumbria and even the south of Scotland. It was definitely more of an experience."

This year's Gwent entry list is undoubtedly the worst on record with only one co-driver and no drivers from the county taking part in the event which gets underway tomorrow.

Flying the flag for Gwent is New Tredegar's Nigel Gardner, but Spooner is anything but disappointed he won't be at this month's WRC finale.

"We've decided to concentrate the money on next season and improving the car. There's just no point in doing the event."

Welsh rally legend Nicky Grist said Rally GB at the top level was as tough as ever though.

"If you're competing at the highest level and pushing the cars to the max its very hard and brings the best from drivers," he said.