[WRC] News & rumours (part IV) 2016

[Martins Tolks]

Mirek is making a strong point here. We can wish everything possible and impossible, but the big money, that run the sport, still comes from manufacturers and large sponsors. And organize something to influcence them is beyond possible, I guess. By simply turning away from sport, all we can make is closing of championship, because noone is interested and manufacturers would no longer care. They can do without wrc, to be honest. Fans can express opinions to organizers and FIA, but they are not obliged to use them.
And yes, as world has changed a lot, new focus for wrc needs to be found. All around is much more civilised and comfortable, than it was 30 or even 20 years ago. New generations don't really care about rallying as challenge of worlds best drivers, because they have never driven off pavement, not to mention sideways. So, you need to find solution to make rally appeal as an adventure to them or make it closer and more understandable (and possibly, boring). Something like that...

[AL14]

Even if money or investors weren't a problem that is impossible.
Come on guys everything is connected with context. Nowadays the world is much different from 60's in many levels.
Do you think cars have the same appeal than now?
Do you think internet, mobile phones, this forum don't play a role in defining a product like WRC?
Do you think car marketing is the same?
Do you think cars are the same?
Do you think fans are looking for the same things?

I can continue for hours...

[GigiGalliNo1]

No

[seb_sh]

Indeed in order to have a better sport one should not try to "make it how it was x years ago" but instead make a quality series that is relevant today. I don't mean throwing away everything but you also need to adapt to the context.

[itix]

I know this is not very much popular but I would rather prefer 25 good cars with good drivers and more variety than going always in the same roads with the same stages run for decades.
Of course iconic events have a unique allure and I'm the first one to love them but we can't run the same 13/14 events for ever.

He has a point. The only endless classic is Monte... Apart from that more or less every event can be done without if you think about it, even my own beloved sweden. Sweden and GB have strong cases to stay as they have been for long but let's be realistic, none of them are irreplaceable.

[Rallyper]

Mirek is making a strong point here. We can wish everything possible and impossible, but the big money, that run the sport, still comes from manufacturers and large sponsors. And organize something to influcence them is beyond possible, I guess. By simply turning away from sport, all we can make is closing of championship, because noone is interested and manufacturers would no longer care. They can do without wrc, to be honest. Fans can express opinions to organizers and FIA, but they are not obliged to use them.
And yes, as world has changed a lot, new focus for wrc needs to be found. All around is much more civilised and comfortable, than it was 30 or even 20 years ago. New generations don't really care about rallying as challenge of worlds best drivers, because they have never driven off pavement, not to mention sideways. So, you need to find solution to make rally appeal as an adventure to them or make it closer and more understandable (and possibly, boring). Something like that...

We already have RX for those kind of spectators.

[Rallyper]

You guys are hooked up on "back to 60´s" but it isn´t really what is meant.
However rallying is about running cars on remote specialstages.

The important thing is that rallying (WRC) keeps it soul, it might be from the 50`or 60`no matter what. But trying to recast rallying to something else that is not rallying? No way for me!

[Rally Power]

Most of You are probably right and there’s no need to get back to 2wd low tech machines, 600 kms of stages and all week long rallys, but for God’s sake, why can’t the FIA and the Promoter be wiser and respect a bit more WRC strong heritage? Why do they insist on a sort of rally formula franchising, with similar sprint rallys all over the world? Can’t they see that model has failed?

WRC needs MC historic charisma, Sweden winter conditions, Portugal’s public passion, Finland’s chalenching roads or Britain’s unique season finale. This is a heritage that can’t be wasted. It may be true that every event can be replaced, but we’re still missing NZ or Sanremo and we know the series have become poor without them. WRC is an institution and institutions can only progress and get stronger if they respect their own past.

FIA must forget calendar rotation and spreading WRC to countries with no rally tradition. The 9 to 5 schedule and the clover leaf format are totally wasted. Current WRC organizers should be allowed to reinvent their rally routes: let them use different schedules and layouts. WRC cars high tech development must be restricted and car homologation procedures simplified: we need more makes and models, especially in lower categories. Young driver’s programs and local crew’s participation should be promoted.

It’s not easy to revamp WRC. But if FIA doesn’t take rally sport as a whole and respect its spirit it’ll never succeed.

[Rallyper]

Most of You are probably right and there’s no need to get back to 2wd low tech machines, 600 kms of stages and all week long rallys, but for God’s sake, why can’t the FIA and the Promoter be wiser and respect a bit more WRC strong heritage? Why do they insist on a sort of rally formula franchising, with similar sprint rallys all over the world? Can’t they see that model has failed?

WRC needs MC historic charisma, Sweden winter conditions, Portugal’s public passion, Finland’s chalenching roads or Britain’s unique season finale. This is a heritage that can’t be wasted. It may be true that every event can be replaced, but we’re still missing NZ or Sanremo and we know the series have become poor without them. WRC is an institution and institutions can only progress and get stronger if they respect their own past.

FIA must forget calendar rotation and spreading WRC to countries with no rally tradition. The 9 to 5 schedule and the clover leaf format are totally wasted. Current WRC organizers should be allowed to reinvent their rally routes: let them use different schedules and layouts. WRC cars high tech development must be restricted and car homologation procedures simplified: we need more makes and models, especially in lower categories. Young driver’s programs and local crew’s participation should be promoted.

It’s not easy to revamp WRC. But if FIA doesn’t take rally sport as a whole and respect its spirit it’ll never succeed.

That was spot on!! +100 !!

[Mirek]

We already have RX for those kind of spectators.

This is exactly wrong thinking. For whom than the WRC is? It's for people who buy cars. This is how it's seen by manufacturers and it's rightful to see it as such. The society and the public reception of cars has changed hugely. Nowadays very few car buyers care about mechanical side of the product, about engines and gearboxes. Most of them don't even open the bonnet. You may rightfully dislike that (such as I do) but for many people today the more important thing about their car is that it works with their smartphone, have a big LCD screen, radar cruise control and can park automatically. This is where we got.

On the other hand I agree that WRC shall use more it's heritage and try to show more real stories. That's definitely good thing to do because rallying has a very big potential for creating stories. But than You have the RedBull as promoter and it's not difficult to see a clear pattern in anything RedBull does.