2013 ERC News and Results

[Mirek]

Autosport

Some quotes of Jean-Pierre Nicolas
- IRC to end, only ERC continues (as expected)
- calendar will be chosen of 25 candidate events
- R5 cars being prepared by Peugeot, Citroën, Ford, Subaru and Škoda (Subaru is a surprise news for me)

[stefanvv]

Autosport

Some quotes of Jean-Pierre Nicolas
- IRC to end, only ERC continues (as expected)
- calendar will be chosen of 25 candidate events
- R5 cars being prepared by Peugeot, Citroën, Ford, Subaru and Škoda (Subaru is a surprise news for me)

You can read the full interview after Rally Sliven here - Jean-Pierre Nicolas - Manager IRC

[kober]

It seems that since FIA will have an input into the calendar, it won't be only about money. Hopefully Circuit of Ireland, Tour de Corse, Ypres, Barum, Poland, Sanremo will all make it

[rallye-vid]

Rajd Polski wants WRC status again

[PLuto]

Rajd Polski wants WRC status for many years. But now it is not only about money...

[Jarek Z]

I hope for something like a 8-10 event Championship - with a good mix of Gravel, Tarmac and a Winter/ snow event.
So, I'd include; Ypres, Zlin, Sanremo, Corse, Valais, Scotland, Cyprus, Arctic, etc

I will never understand why people need rallies like Cyprus! I totally agree with Solowow here. After competing in Cyprus Rally he said "I don't understand what sense it makes to buy a super-expensive rally cars and come here only to destroy them."

Leave such rallies for off-road please!!!

[Jarek Z]

IMO if we could get rid of manufacturers in WRC as well, it would be good.
what good have they given the sport over the last decades, besides making the top cars too advanced and expensive for talent to have a chance to compete with Manu cars?

I always respect your opinions, but this time I can't agree. What good did manufacturers give to the sport?! Wake up! It's only thanks to the manufacturers, that this sport still exists! When was the last time you saw a private driver competing in the whole WRC or ERC season? The sad truth is that only factory teams can afford a full season!

[PLuto]

Jarek, there were some non-manufacturers drivers competing (almost whole) seasons in WRC and ERC - Solowow, Tlustak, Betti, Rossetti, Prokop, Araujo, Oliveira, Raikkonen, Novikov, Oleksowicz, Fontana, Isik...

[kober]

[...] I hope for something like a 8-10 event Championship - with a good mix of Gravel, Tarmac and a Winter/ snow event.

There are too many rallies out there to trimm the championship to just ten events. I think that the current scheme for ERC calendar is not bad at all - twelve rounds, with a requirement to start in a minimum of four events in order to qualify for the final standings, including at least one event in either half of the season. Only the four best results from both half-seasons (4+4) count towards the final standings.

[Jarek Z]

Jarek, there were some non-manufacturers drivers competing (almost whole) seasons in WRC and ERC - Solowow, Tlustak, Betti, Rossetti, Prokop, Araujo, Oliveira, Raikkonen, Novikov, Oleksowicz, Fontana, Isik...

Sorry Petr, but this is not true. As far as I remember Rossetti, Betti, Oleksowicz, Fontana, Isik and other drivers from your list (I think even Solowow) have never driven all championship rounds, not in ERC and not in WRC. This is only wishful thinking, that a private driver can afford to drive the whole championship. It is sad, but true.