Are ITV to pull the plug on WRC coverage??

[AndyRAC]

Yes I know that Rallying is popular in this country, you only have to go to a National event to see that. What I was trying to say Is that is the excuse that is sometimes used by TV companies, ISC; a lack of a home driver affects how they cover the sport, it shouldn't make any difference whether there is a British driver or not.

[BDunnell]

I disagree. Australia have never really had any top drivers in the WRC and interest in the WRC event has showed a similar decline as the sport in the UK. I don't think a country needs to have a driver in the championship for it to be all good. As has been discussed to death already the sport is not as great as it used to be But to simply put a lack of interest in the WRC in one particular sport down to a nationwide hissy fit about not having a driver in the WRC is absurd. Rallying will ALWAYS be popular in the UK because there is a huge rally culture here and that's what has bread some very good drivers. I think things like pricing of tickets, location and the more compact route that Rally GB's have enjoyed lately is more to blame for the lack of interest here....

I think your last point is correct, but I am convinced that the general media have lost interest in the WRC since there ceased to be front-running British drivers on a regular basis. A look at the column inches the newspapers devote to Rally GB now compared to then would surely be telling.

[Daniel]

and what to do about this?

An EU funded project to rejuvenate lost habitat for the native british rally driver OR should we found a society to help highlight the plight of the lesser funded british rally driver? Perhaps the RSPSBRD (Royal Society for the Promotion and Sponsorship of the British Rally Driver?

Quite frankly I think the problem is not going to be solved by either of these silly ideas. Quite frankly the BRC is ****. Back in the F2 days you basically had works drivers driving in one of the most hotly contended series in the world. It was ****ing great and ****ing awesome and it was something you would have been proud to have on your CV. Now what is it?

[BDunnell]

Quite frankly I think the problem is not going to be solved by either of these silly ideas. Quite frankly the BRC is ****. Back in the F2 days you basically had works drivers driving in one of the most hotly contended series in the world. It was ****ing great and ****ing awesome and it was something you would have been proud to have on your CV. Now what is it?

This is another problem. I feel that rallying had a higher profile in the UK when the British series was at its strongest and produced good British drivers. People knew who the likes of Jimmy McRae, Tony Pond, Louise Aitken-Walker et al were. Nowadays, who really cares about Mark Higgins?

[Daniel]

This is another problem. I feel that rallying had a higher profile in the UK when the British series was at its strongest and produced good British drivers. People knew who the likes of Jimmy McRae, Tony Pond, Louise Aitken-Walker et al were. Nowadays, who really cares about Mark Higgins?

I feel that the UK problem is a big par of the wider problem.

I didn't know who Mark Higgins was last year at Castle Combe and asked him most embarassingly if a 205 T16 Evo II was his so I believe this is a big problem because I was sooooooo embarassed when Caroline told me who he was and then I realised :embarassed:

[Tomi]

I think daniel has right, years ago brittish champion was a respected title, but now days average. But for upcoming drivers its good to go there to drive a few events, because of different roads and big motor press.

[Captain VXR]

I would hate it if ITV dropped it and Eurosport did too because I wouldn't even be able to even see it in German (I can only get German Eurosport).

[cut the b.s.]

I feel that the UK problem is a big par of the wider problem.

I didn't know who Mark Higgins was last year at Castle Combe and asked him most embarassingly if a 205 T16 Evo II was his so I believe this is a big problem because I was sooooooo embarassed when Caroline told me who he was and then I realised :embarassed:

In 1 post you remember fondly the good ol' days of F2 in the BRC, now you say you didnt recognise Mark Higgins! Guess who was one of the leading drivers in the BRC F2 days.........

PS. Did Mark recognise you :-)

[cut the b.s.]

I quite agree, the recent Rally GB virtually passed by without anybody knowing, on the Friday Jeremy Clarkson was on BBC 5Live being interviewed, he expressed surprise that it was taking place, and he was a friend of Burnsie. I f he didn't know it was going on what hope the casual sports fan. With no top British driver (sorry Matt Wilson) the profile of the sport in the UK is doomed.

You are right, anyone familiar with UK press will know that football is up there as the No.1 sport, golf, rugby, cricket, athletics, F1, rallying etc all get some coverage always but it increases and decreases depending on how successful the home grown people are doing, right now there is not a lot in WRC to interest the average sports fan, diehards will still follow but the specialist press is for them, mainstream publishing pretty much will ignore WRC till a UK driver starts to do well.
ITV have all the viewing figures, they are a commercial business, if people dont want to watch WRC they cant sell ads so the program gets dropped, dare I say it but its just a little sign of how 'healthy' WRC is right now ;-)

[Daniel]

In 1 post you remember fondly the good ol' days of F2 in the BRC, now you say you didnt recognise Mark Higgins! Guess who was one of the leading drivers in the BRC F2 days.........

PS. Did Mark recognise you :-)

Well I'm from Australia so only saw review DVD's and tapes

He actually remembered me in Australia last year when I said "I was that idiot at Castle Combe who asked if that 205T16 was yours" personally I'd rather he hadn't remembered