WRC Driver's Championship Stats

[jonkka]

Given that I operate one of those statistics sites that were referenced to, I feel a need to put in a word. First of all, I think that this thread is interesting and not at all detrimental to statistics sites, quite the contrary.

1) I suppose one could add the 1973 to 1978 manufacturer's titles if you want. My stats focus was always on the driver's championship, so I have not done much with the preceeding 6 seasons.

This one is simple: you should. You're correct having a view that there must be a cut-off rule - otherwise you'd end up collecting data for first cow-race held in early stone age. My cut-off rule runs at championship edge, when there was only a cup I am not interested but once it is awarded a championship status it becomes meaningful. Artificial, I know but championship brings something of a composition and order to the things.

2) I am aware there are other sites with some of these stats. This was just a little posting along the lines of my stats for each rally.

I already mentioned that I feel this thread to be good but let me elaborate a little. As my point above proves, statistics can be counted differently based on rules they follow. Some statistics follow easily acceptable rules, for example there can only be one winner so wins are wasy to count. But that opens up the question, winners of what events? Do winners of rounds that were only manufacturer scoring rounds count? If not, 1973-1978 wouldn't count but neither would Sweden 1989 (it counted only towards WCD). And the classic: how about San Remo 1986?

These rulings are an integral part of any statistics and while I think that I've found a good compromise, there always is room for discussion. Just recently I was updating the code on my site and was left wondering whether I should treat Alpine in conjunction with Renault in similar fashion that Datsun and Nissan are. I decided against this because Nissan is simply Datsun's connotation but Alpine was a separate company from Renault (although no longer independent at the time when they won WRC rounds).

These rules are a point where I think a lot of gray areas exist and I'd appreciate discussion around the hazy edges.

3) Nicky Grist did not actually win a co-driving title but took over half-way through Juha Kankkunen's 1993 season. So I suppose one could categorize that in several ways. (Juha Piironen was the initial co-driver until he had a stroke or embalysm or something like that).

Two things here. First of all, co-drivers have not had championship title as long as drivers have. Unfortunately I have not found any reference as to when they first got the title or who've been co-driver champions. FIA rules today say that there is one but Thorszelius certainly wasn't the first one. Anyone got a light on this, please shed it.

Secondly, Grist ran only five events alongside Kankkunen in 1993 while Delecour's second, Daniel Grataloup, ran on nine events. Daniel's score would be equal to that of Delecour, ie. 112 pts whereas Grist would have scored only following:
Monte with Schwarz: 6th = 6 pts
Acropolis with Schwarz:3rd = 12 pts
Argentina with Kankkunen: 1st = 20 pts
New Zealand with Kankkunen: 5th = 8 pts
Finland with Schwarz: 9th = 2 pts
Australia with Kankkunen: 1st = 20 pts
Catalunya with Kankkunen: 3rd = 12 pts
Great Britain with Kankkunen: 1st= 20 pts
total of 100 points

In all, Grist was co-driver of driver's world champion but certainly not co-driver champion. Grataloup was if there was any.

4) On the topic of Manufacturer's and Countries. I have seen on several sites, this stat listed in some form. Subaru, Mitsubishi and Toyota are Japanese manufactures and so that is why I labeled them as such.

I myself view this rather meaningless statistics for a number of reasons. There is admittedly some national pride attached to it but since big automobile companies do not exactly spring up every day, what's the point? Those countries that have manufacturers of cars almost automatically feature in this category. Perhaps only Korea is a new entrant but besides that, manufacturer nation stats doesn't change much.

If one is insisted to include it, the origin of the manufacturer is obviously the deciding one, not that one of the team. Admittedly, the team does the work but take the case of TTE for example. It was run by a swede with crew of at least dozen other nationalities. First based in shed in Sweden, then in Belgium, then in UK and later Germany. What nationality one would use? Japan is the only correct one and not only for the sake of simplicity.


Excuse me for my long rant but my interest to this topic should be obvious. And to anyone who cared to read this far: I extend an invitation to contribute to the discussion and I reserve a right to incorporate any good ideas to my site.