Too Many Drivers Leaving WRC

[JAMESWRC]

That is a quality entry list it has to be said. Didn't know that Carlos Del Bario navigated for Jesus Puras before Pons. Galli seeded in the fifties!!

[Priorat]

[quote="Jarek Z"]OK, find me a WRC rally in 2006 that has entry list that can at least be comparable to that of SanRemo 1998:
http://www.juwra.com/sanremo_1998_entries.html

And please take a close look at this entry list, it's full of talented driver's names up to #80! Not to mention it has 172 competitors! And those competitors are mostly devoted rally drivers, not tourists


Now take a look at the entry list of Monte-Carlo the same 1998.

Problem is we got too well used to some entry lists of the firsts 2thousands, but what is happening now is not new at all, not to mention those years after Group B

[JAMESWRC]

http://www.juwra.com/rac_rally_1973_entries.html

Off topic but that is a good entry list!!

[Glee]

Why is it possible for Henning Solberg and Manfred Stohl to find funding for a full program, but not drivers like Meek or Gali?

One reason is that Norway and Austria is a relatively small country (4,6 and 8,2 mill)!

In Norway is Henning Solberg a well known figure, and is quite frequent in the media, witch bring a lot of exposure to his sponsors, as Expert who also uses him in TV ads, shop stands and so on.

But in a country like United Kingdom or Italy (60 and 59 mill) it is much harder to reach the same level of fame. And even if there are larger sponsors, it is impossible to create a celebrity in the same way as in a smaller country.

[SubaruNorway]

Sure i don't think there is one person who doesen't now who Petter Solberg is, ore Henning in Norway

[Tomi]

http://www.juwra.com/rac_rally_1973_entries.html

Off topic but that is a good entry list!!

This list is much better already, the other had only a few rallydrivers, but many boulevard rally drivers.

[Tomi]

But in a country like United Kingdom or Italy (60 and 59 mill) it is much harder to reach the same level of fame. And even if there are larger sponsors, it is impossible to create a celebrity in the same way as in a smaller country.

I dont belive in this for a second, it is about how you do it, normal marketing, you got to get the sponsor to feel they are a part and deep involved in the project, not only ask for money. But this should start early in carreer, nobody gives suddenly anyone anything.
The money is there waiting for someone who understand to get it.

[DonJippo]

take a look at the results from today and the past,never was the diff between 1st-3rd 3min,cmon my friend?

Never? I think it's you who should have a look to the results...

[FrankenSchwinn]

i agree with tomi here. and the only difference in the amount of drivers is that there were more seats available back 8-10 yrs ago, even 3-4yrs ago. it's not "finding the fianancial backing" that is the problem it's finding a bucket that is/should be worth driving. basically what i am saying is that if there were 3 seats per team and all these private teams that we have now, drivers would want to re-think their departures because there would be a reason to stay. it's not the money, it's the opportunity. think about which will be the next available seats in a factory team..... subaru has atko for 07 and seems to be ok with raising him, citroen is growing the next carlos (so they/we think), marcus seems to be enjoying himself and will probably rally a few more years..... what's left?

[Tomi]

i agree with tomi here. and the only difference in the amount of drivers is that there were more seats available back 8-10 yrs ago, even 3-4yrs ago. it's not "finding the fianancial backing" that is the problem it's finding a bucket that is/should be worth driving. basically what i am saying is that if there were 3 seats per team and all these private teams that we have now, drivers would want to re-think their departures because there would be a reason to stay. it's not the money, it's the opportunity. think about which will be the next available seats in a factory team..... subaru has atko for 07 and seems to be ok with raising him, citroen is growing the next carlos (so they/we think), marcus seems to be enjoying himself and will probably rally a few more years..... what's left?

Suzuki, Mitsu, and other teams is on the way too.