How Meeke and Ireland can save the WRC

[Lundefaret]

For sure, but it hardly would 'save the WRC'...just look at Poland and Kubica case. And why not think about Spa, or Barum rallys? They are also popular and there's Neuville and Skoda to catch up attention...

The renewal of WRC doesn't depend on one guy or one rally. We've already got F1 champs or gymkhana heroes and the rally world didn't get up, down or sideways.

We need serious action from FIA representatives, coordinated with the promoters abilities and efforts. But in order to get there FIA must admit that WRC is on a declining trajectory, due to an identity crisis (hard for them to believe as they've got - God knows how? - the endorsement of 4 of the 5 major automotive groups), and the promoters has to understand the sport nature, instead of thinking WRC as another exhibitionist attraction for the masses.

I am off course talking about more than one rally, and on how the promotor/FIA should choose events.

As I wrote, I understand why certain parties want to have a Chinese rally, but an Irish rally would be more important to the WRC as a brand. As well as rallies like Rally Bohemia, and the Safari Rally (wich they for some reason can run in old rallycars, but the modern ones cant endure, understand it he who can).

The fan base, uniqueness, and the evet as a brand builder should be the deciding factors, not the money.

If only they who can pay for an event is allowed to arrange it, we will end up with something looking like the F1 calendar, and I for one dont think the Tilke circuits in the desert and other remote places are especially entertaining, and the fans seems to agree - judging by the empty grand stands.

So if the promotor cant shake down the locals to get the budget in place, what then? More of the financial burden should lie with the promotor. This way FIA and the WRC would be more free to stage rallies where they liked (this would also mean that the promotor gets a bigger part of the local earnings.)

To do this, AND arrange a Chinese round, there needs to be in place a promotor with greater responsibilities and power, a staff that supervises the organisation of each rally, and a team that works with local finances (everything from ticket sales, to selling hot dogs, to local sponsors.)

The alternative is to go the F1 rout. Stick it to the fans, care only about the money, have more and more races in places like Sotchi, PR-strangle the drivers, and the noise of the engines (so even the German rally fans turn their backs, even with both Mercedes and Vettel to chair on), and stop having races in places like Monza (if they cant pay, sod them.)

[AndyRAC]

Promoters don't want to do what they are supposed to do - which is to promote the sport. They all know about selling TV rights - that's all they seem to do.
I've thought for a while that going down the 'F1 route' of giving events to the highest payers was a recipe for disaster. The promoter should be picking the best events, and helping those who need to get sponsorship. Having the best, most popular, most iconic events is better for 'selling the WRC' than events that can afford the hosting fee. For example, Sanremo should always be in the WRC - nowadays it can't even get in the ERC.

[Jack4688`]

It can't even get in the CIR!

[Jack4688`]

The return of Ireland to the WRC was on the front of Motorsport News this year. They didn't seem to take into account that there's no funding in place.

That's because David Evans of Motorsport News & Autosport is away with the fairies. Did you read his piece on the Peugeot 208 Pikes Peak? In his head it was the 'new Group B', here to save rallying once and for all. All the people he discussed it with spoke with reason, telling him it won't happen, the 208 PP isn't going to herald a new set of rules in stage rallying.

The pillock still published it!

[Lundefaret]

Promoters don't want to do what they are supposed to do - which is to promote the sport. They all know about selling TV rights - that's all they seem to do.
I've thought for a while that going down the 'F1 route' of giving events to the highest payers was a recipe for disaster. The promoter should be picking the best events, and helping those who need to get sponsorship. Having the best, most popular, most iconic events is better for 'selling the WRC' than events that can afford the hosting fee. For example, Sanremo should always be in the WRC - nowadays it can't even get in the ERC.

I totally agree.

Its possible to make a Chinese event a modern classic if its done right, but then the promotor needs to tell a believable story that is interesting enough to get people - in a very crowded market place - to care.

San Remo is another example of it being an easier sell, its just to brush off some of the old legends, and create some new ones.

[Rally Power]

I've thought for a while that going down the 'F1 route' of giving events to the highest payers was a recipe for disaster. The promoter should be picking the best events, and helping those who need to get sponsorship. Having the best, most popular, most iconic events is better for 'selling the WRC' than events that can afford the hosting fee.

Amen. Lets hope FIA principals understands that. 2017 WRC regs can help WRC renewal, but without a balanced calendar they'll have a limited effect. As many of you said, there's place to put compact and long rallies together in WRC, creating more diverse and challenging routes.

Having a sort of Gran Slam with 4 long (up to 500 ss kms) iconic rallies - Monte Carlo, GB (reviving RAC's route), Germany (the modern tarmac classic) and an oversea event (New Zealand or Argentina) combined with 8 to 10 shorter rallies (up to 300 ss kms), half in Europe, half around the World, could be a solution.

And the idea (from Simm?) to put a junior guy in a mandatory 3rd car it's great and easily feasible.

We just need WRC stockholders to be as passionate as rally forum members