2024 WRC News & Rumours

[Mirek]

Kalle 's and Lappi's decision only add to the overall pity state of the WRC. How else can you describe when fighting for the title isn't worth the effort even for the works drivers. That's not how it used to be. When drivers are not motivated, how can be the manufacturers, the sponsors, the fans? WRC, as it is, is an old man whose life became nothing but counting days. If WRC doesn't find a way to sell itself to the current world, it's done.

And no, I don't know the way either.

[NoBudgetWRT]

Wonder what fia and wrc promoter will do to prevent Rally2 on podium

[rp]

Wonder what fia and wrc promoter will do to prevent Rally2 on podium

Easy answer. Nothing.

[Sulland]

Not much competition for the current Rally1 drivers.
When was the last time one of them lost their drive?

Must be boring for them as well with so few competitors in class.

[Eli]

Not much competition for the current Rally1 drivers.
When was the last time one of them lost their drive?

Must be boring for them as well with so few competitors in class.

Neuville hasn't lost his drive even once since he entered the WRC top category in 2012.
Tänak has lost twice, once after 2012 and then in 2016 when he was demoted to WRC2.
Evans lost it same time as Tänak after 2015.
Katsuta since entering the championship fully in 2020, hasn't been demoted once.

[macebig]

Neuville was out of a drive after 2012. Citroen only offered him a limited program and it took Al Attiyah paying a full program for him in a 4th Fiesta to save his career.

[Eli]

Neuville was out of a drive after 2012. Citroen only offered him a limited program and it took Al Attiyah paying a full program for him in a 4th Fiesta to save his career.

yes but he did compete because of that in 2013 and even if he would've continued in Citroen part time it's still not like the other examples of Evans & Ott.

[the sniper]

Well, I find the situation utterly baffling. I think it reflects badly on Kalle, though I admire him in a way for choosing to walk away rather than just complain or be miserable, but more so the WRC, though luckily (?!) the WRC feels like it has fallen so far off the radar again that only the likes of us here will notice how bad it looks that the WRC's champion can't be bothered to take part...

Two aspects I don't particularly understand is why Kalle isn't trying to protect his own reputation, such as by blaming the state of the WRC (doesn't want to burn bridges?), and hasn't mentioned military service at all, from which I can only presume he isn't going to do it? I'm pro the idea of taking a sabbatical from employment in general, though I wouldn't consider the life of a young rally champion to be comparable to the misery some people experience in the daily grind of employment.

I could buy into the idea that half the rallies nowadays carry little kudos or value, with cookie cutter, generic short events, so aren't worth doing, but it seems that Kalle is one of the advocates for cutting down events even further... I'm not sure what the motivation would be to take part in further diminished 'events'.

[DoN_cz]

Remember how after the Breen's accident, there were inteviews with wrc drivers who paid respect to him and his passion about the sport...and some of them seemed to realise they should be grateful for this opportunity they have and complain less about everything... well this spirit has not lived long with them.

[wyler]

i think there's a lot of reflection missing half of the news.

rovampera signed a multi-year deal, with part-time 2024, but at least full 2025 and probably more.
i find a lot of the comments way too focused on his 2024. he never said i'm done 'cause wrc it's boring/useless. he said he needed some break but also wants to be fully focused for 2025 on...