[WRC] News & rumours (part II)

**EightGear** · 19th June 2013, 11:36

Juho Hanninen linked to Citroen drive for Rally Finland - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com

Hanninen would seem a sensible choice. I don't understand why everybody keeps getting back to Atkinson, he has had some opportunities the last few months but didn't really impress.

**Eli** · 19th June 2013, 13:45

what i ment to say was they were more exciting to watch and i now see they won't be comming back to it with all the financial trouble...

**makinen_fan** · 19th June 2013, 13:55

Originally Posted by Eli

what i ment to say was they were more exciting to watch and i now see they won't be comming back to it with all the financial trouble...

For me the current WRC cars are more exciting than the last 5-6 years of 2L WRCars, although not as exiting as the early WRCars. Anyway it seems that no homologation of updated cars will take place next year as we expected from the 3-year homologation window:
Volkswagen agrees to freeze development of WRC car - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com

**Eli** · 19th June 2013, 14:27

if they would change the homoglation of the cars the sport will fall apart, they are in a very hard situation

**Francis44** · 19th June 2013, 14:40

You bring an interesting point there. I've noticed some people I know have stopped spectating in World Rally's when the 2.0l WRC were banned, they say the current cars are far less enjoyable to watch. I dont agree with that, in fact I think 1.6L WRC cars hold a certain appeal the old ones didn't. However with recent discussions about R5 moving to top category I'm afraid it will throw more people off the sport than in. For me it's no big deal, I even enjoy watching an simple Saxo if properly driven.

**Mirek** · 19th June 2013, 15:07

Originally Posted by Eli

what i ment to say was they were more exciting to watch and i now see they won't be comming back to it with all the financial trouble...

I agree with makinen_fan. First 2.0 WRC cars used to be crazy spectacular but those times are long over especially due to the suspension development. For me the last of those was the S12 being the only one among boring new generation of cars, especially Focus WRC 06-09 is for me the most boring WRC car ever.

About the 1.6T WRC cars I would say I like them a lot on gravel or snow but on asphalt it's worse, there I prefer even S2000 cars. Anyway the spectator's view is only one part of the story...

**Eli** · 19th June 2013, 15:40

i would like the cars to be more group b like that's all and if they can do it without pulling out of the sport it would be nice

**stefanvv** · 19th June 2013, 16:04

Originally Posted by makinen_fan

For me the current WRC cars are more exciting than the last 5-6 years of 2L WRCars, although not as exiting as the early WRCars. Anyway it seems that no homologation of updated cars will take place next year as we expected from the 3-year homologation window:
Volkswagen agrees to freeze development of WRC car - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com

Completely agree. Small cars appears to be more agile with 1.6l turbo than mid class 2.0l turbo

**Mirek** · 19th June 2013, 16:11

Originally Posted by Eli

i would like the cars to be more group b like that's all and if they can do it without pulling out of the sport it would be nice

What do You mean by "more gr.B"?

Do You mean to have so free rules? Imagine that now even stupid R3 car would do same asphalt stage faster than those gr.B supercars thirty years a go. The difference is mostly in cornering speed due to suspension and tyre development, much better brakes etc. With same free rules modern gr.B cars would be incredibly dangerous because they would be way way faster even with same power. Not speaking about development and production cost at all...

Or do You mean cars which were spectacular mostly because of their terrible handling and suspension? That was indeed spectacular but You can't go back in time and bring thirty years old dampers, brakes, engines with huge slow accelerating turbos and other ancient stuff to modern sport. Those days can never return because the development moved on.

The gr.B era was and will stay forever a fascinating times of our sport but it ended tragically like it one day had to. Let's not forget that. Our sport is dangerous enough even with the "boring shopping bags".

**makinen_fan** · 19th June 2013, 16:27

Originally Posted by Mirek

Or do You mean cars which were spectacular mostly because of their terrible handling and suspension? .

I would love to see those terrible suspensions being used again in the top of the sport and have the best drivers to take those cars to the limit.
What is more exciting to watch?
a) a Celica Gr A or Delta Intergrale driven to the limit and bouncing around and you can tell that in the next couple of bump the car will leave the road
b) or todays cars with the out-of-this-world suspension making everything appear so effortless and under control?

For me is the first, but unfortunately as Mirek says, we cant turn the clock back in technology development