Originally Posted by
Livewireshock
Okay, time for another point of view on this. I have been attending rally events in China for years and it is not with out it's faults but it is quite a show. Always over 100 entries with manufacturer teams from many international companies, Suzuki, Citroen, VW, Skoda, Subaru, Lotus (Proton) and many local companies such as JAC, BYD, Senova & more. Most teams have 6 or more cars each. How many other national rally championships can claim such backing?
The organisation from 1999 is not the same group running in 2015. There has been a maturity and growth in the sport. The whole country has transformed over that time with great speed and Carlos Sainz would not recognise anything if he returned to the same places he competed at.
The other factor that has not been raised yet is the opportunity for the teams to gain Chinese companies to sponsor them. The Middle Eastern money that has propped up the WRC teams may not last forever. The prospects in China are many and varied. While many events flounder with no funding, the Chinese has local government support and a major sponsor already signed, LeTV (an Asian internet media company worth billions). These are funds and backing that would never come into the sport unless it is willing to leave Europe.