Thread: Which rally should they add to the WRC-calendar?

Czech Republic. It Mlada Boleslav or Zlín or something else, but those fans absolutely deserve a WRC round and it would be perfect for visitors as well. Also, if their local drivers would enter, they'd mix the results nicely I think, at least in S2000 and PWRC.

Originally Posted by Arska

This has been on my mind a couple of weeks and now I decided to bring it in here. What would be a great country where the rallycaravan would compete in your opinion? I would suggest rally America in the district of Grand Canyon for example, as it would bring together drivers like Ken Block, Travis Pastrana, Dave Mirra, Chris Duplessis, Tanner Foust etc. and also some non-American rallycross stars. The rallycrossers and WRC-stars would have a great competition between each other and they would also perform some well-controlled (does that word even exist?) stunts during the race. Plus it would also help making rally even more popular and more familiar for the American people. What would you think?

BTW: Sorry if this kind of topic already exists.

That's great idea IMO.

I want to say "Sliven", because I'm from here and there are great tarmac stages around which has been major part of the famous european rally "Zlatni" in 80's and 90's. But I'm only a dreamer, realisticly I don't see this happening as there are couple of well known tarmac european rallies which already have really good bases.

In general I think otherwise - rally Brasil (or South Africa) looks also great option as these have never been in WRC, would be interesting to watch, but as you said in USA the opportunities would be much better for local drivers also. How are the roads there? Very fast and flowing dusty stages?

Originally Posted by tommeke_B

What you mention would be similar to a boxing match between actors and professional boxers... There are no true top rallydrivers in America, if one would get top 10 it would be a huge prestation. Also I doubt if Americans would be really interested in it, if it doesn't explode it's often not spectacular enough (without wanting to talk too general).

BTW: There's a similar topic already.

OK, maybe I overstated with the Rallycross vs. WRC thing. I guess they both would have their own competitions. When it comes to interestingness, I think there would be however enough spectators to make an event in a country that big + Block and the others definitely attract some spectators. And if that's not enough, there would be a Freestyle motocross-show and people could follow the rally on screen. And I remembered that I had maybe seen a topic about this somewhere but I wasn't sure so I made this.

While North America is a populair suggestion, I just cannot see it succeed without it being Americanized (which the op pictured), and that's no good imo.

Africa needs a round, preferably Safari, but realistically South Africa.

Originally Posted by Josti

While North America is a populair suggestion, I just cannot see it succeed without it being Americanized (which the op pictured), and that's no good imo.

Africa needs a round, preferably Safari, but realistically South Africa.

But there are already events like Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, are those Americanized somehow?

I put it to you (as an expat American) that they are not Americanized enough - hence why it is a grassroots pursuit in the USA and not full of global sponsors and hundred-thousand-strong crowds. If you want WRC-sized sponsors to benefit from a rally enough to want to sign on, I imagine you're on the right track imagining it as a multi-discipline festival thing, with lots of other (moto/supercross, quads, buggies, rallycross) type events happening around the superspecials when the WRC cars are out in the countryside and a decently major TV deal (ESPN?) to cover the rally itself, while keeping crowds who don't wanna hike 5 miles from the nearest access point to see the rally from the SS's.

I know in NZ they do this, put the rallycars around a SSS that carries a bunch of more local events throughout the rest of the day - probably other WRC rallies too. And while I'm not thrilled at the idea of an "X-Games WRC rally" I think that's the only way it's coming back, unless Ken Block starts beating Loeb, Hirvonen and Latvala and making US headlines.

Baltic rally. There was a rumor that it would be good for the sport. The roads are great too and a lot of fans over here

We need one more winter rally. It can be in North America or in one of the Baltic countries.

After visiting Rally Estonia, I'd like to say "Rally Baltic", structure 1½+1½ days, first in Latvia and then Estonia. Maybe Lithuania also, but liasons could become a bit too long...

Also Czech Republic, no doubt. One of their more technical rallies would do fine in WRC. Though, imho it would require Alsace or Germany being dropped from the calendar. Not sure about USA... Brazil and China could have an event just because of their growing potential.

I can think of a few:Safari, San Remo, Corsica, and we could get rid of Mexico, Germany and "Rally D'Alsace"..........

Originally Posted by RAS007

I can think of a few:Safari, San Remo, Corsica, and we could get rid of Mexico, Germany and "Rally D'Alsace"..........

Safari way too expensive nowdays... Also dangerous, just think of the PR damage to the sport when stages are driven on open roads and small children from some village would be hit by rally car... No no no.

I see no point in getting rid of Rally Mexico, a huge spectactle there for/by the spectators. Germany is also nice "special" tarmac rally and taking into consideration their meaning automotive-wise in Europe, totally should have an event. Finally they have started to use new stages, thank God.

Agree on Alsace, rally is too same kind with Germany. But as French are also big automotive-wise, they need to have an event. So Corsica would be good - but I don't know would it be politically possible to organize an event there at the same time calling it "RALLY FRANCE".

Originally Posted by Juha_Koo

Safari way too expensive nowdays... Also dangerous, just think of the PR damage to the sport when stages are driven on open roads and small children from some village would be hit by rally car... No no no.

Safari has always been an expensive excersize, but I agree, it may not be valuable in these dark economic days. About safety, there´s been some incidents sure, but it proved harmless over the years. But I think this event is long past from FIA´s consideration anyway, unfortunately.

Originally Posted by Juha_Koo

Agree on Alsace, rally is too same kind with Germany. But as French are also big automotive-wise, they need to have an event. So Corsica would be good - but I don't know would it be politically possible to organize an event there at the same time calling it "RALLY FRANCE".

Corsica is on French territory not? It was called Rallye de France before and everyone believed it then. Alsace is only run in Alsace region too.

the best North American rallies are in Canada namely Rally of the Tall Pines in Ontario and Rally Baie Des Chaleurs in Quebec, perhaps this may seem a bit biased coming from a Canadian, but both of these events are highly regarded and draw teams from all across Canada and America.

We are years away here (both in Canada and America) though from seeing even an event reach even close to the level it would need to be for consideration. Sad because the north american market is huge obviously for Ford, but also for Mini and VW.

Perhaps the event that may be nearest for consideration is the Targa Newfoundland event that draws teams from abroad as well. (albeit this event is geared alot towards vintage cars) but the organization and participation is top notch.

Originally Posted by Juha_Koo

Agree on Alsace, rally is too same kind with Germany. But as French are also big automotive-wise, they need to have an event. So Corsica would be good - but I don't know would it be politically possible to organize an event there at the same time calling it "RALLY FRANCE".

I was in Corisca late last year after WRC France (Alsace) for the Tour De Corse Historique , everywhere seemed very French to me (France French) but they hold onto their heritage much like Sardinia seems to with Italy or prior to Italy I guess I mean

Originally Posted by Josti

Corsica is on French territory not? It was called Rallye de France before and everyone believed it then. Alsace is only run in Alsace region too.

Yes, Corsica is French territory but it's not a usual political borough called "région" - but a "territorial collectivity" which means it has greater autonomous political powers. There's also many Corsican nationalist movements which don't see Corsica as a part of France but as an independent country. But I don't know how strong these kind of views are among the people. I've only been to one course dealing contemporary France so I'm by no means a professional on this matter.

I don't excatly know how it was during the times it was driven as "Rallye De France", atleast I don't remember any major problems with it. These are "small" things with bigger political perspective, just like Mikkelsen's car mysteriously happened to carry regular Skoda colours instead of Union Jack painting in Circuit of Ireland driven in Northern Ireland...

Originally Posted by Juha_Koo

Yes, Corsica is French territory but it's not a usual political borough called "région" - but a "territorial collectivity" which means it has greater autonomous political powers. There's also many Corsican nationalist movements which don't see Corsica as a part of France but as an independent country. But I don't know how strong these kind of views are among the people. I've only been to one course dealing contemporary France so I'm by no means a professional on this matter.

I don't excatly know how it was during the times it was driven as "Rallye De France", atleast I don't remember any major problems with it. These are "small" things with bigger political perspective, just like Mikkelsen's car mysteriously happened to carry regular Skoda colours instead of Union Jack painting in Circuit of Ireland driven in Northern Ireland...

Yes, there are always nationalist people who take distance from where they´re officially a part of, but that isn´t the championships problem (I don´t think there´s ever been incidents on this matter anyway, as far as the Tour de Corse goes). In any case, I do like to vent that I much prefer Corsica over Alsace, which is a nice rally but hardly as characteristic like the former.

To give you guys a feeling of how small time and invisible rally is in America in general and in California in particular, the state is long, and like many real long conutries the North and the South are considered distant strange places with nothing in common.
In "Northern" California, in the San Francisco area according to wilipedia:

The city is also the financial and cultural hub of the larger San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland metropolitan area, with a population of 7.4 million.

Last weekend a regional event was just held and there were a total of 12 entries: Reg 1 Results It was a friend who won in a very modest Golf MkII, another friend who was second on my own suspension.

Southern California , again from wiki

The Census Bureau also defines a wider region based on commuting patterns, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside Combined Statistical Area (CSA), more commonly known as the Greater Los Angeles Area, with an estimated population of 17,786,419.[4

17.7 million..
Typically they might have 20-maybe 30 entries. Most extremely modest levels of prep...many near stock.


There is simply no the numbers of people in the sport at even the most rudimentary level to support more than just fun events...

The guy above is right, Canada, especially the nearer to "New France" aka Quebec you get, they better the event, and there are even spectators at 'Baie de Chaleurs" , but as much as I enjoyed canadian events when i did them, it is dreaming to think the events could ratchet up and cooperate..and pull off a real event with 100-180 entries.

More particularly I think any North American event would need to be in the east, making transport much easier. A west coast event would be a big logistical move like Australia, New Zealand, or Japan. As much as I'd like to see the WRC at an event I can get to easily like Sno*Drift - run in late January - Canada is probably the better bet. Guess I'd need to take more days off work, then.

If there was a way to incorporate it into a long event like Targa Newfoundland it could be even more unique.

Someone posted a video link to a tarmac rally in Norway, unfortunately the video title was in Norwegian so I cant remember the name Really nice looking roads there, Monte style mountains, frozen lakes and the like. May have been Grondal driving...?