View Full Version : Should Travis Pastrana replace Petter Solberg?
Duby
21st June 2008, 11:22
hi all
as a rally journalist in Israel, i wrote many times that peter solberg should leave the subaru team as he is done there and may try in other teams.
yes, i know that this may sound bed but think about it- it will take long time till the new car will be competetive and he is losing time .
also - may be he is out of motovation there after all the years.
i suggested that Travis Pastrana replace him . he is a young driver that will bring the same carizma as solberg did ("holywood") , he is a subaru man allready...and driving well.
what do you think ?
duby
koko0703
21st June 2008, 11:31
Travis Pastrana is popular among the fans and could be a good publicity for Subaru but he doesn't have anything close to what Petter has even if Petter is already past his prime. If Subaru wants to replace Petter or Petter wants to leave Subaru, there are many other young talent who could take over his seat at Subaru.
But at this moment when the new car is still not fully developed, I don't think young talent is what Subaru is needed. Instead Subaru needs a driver who can develop the car both in testing and on stages.
Mirek
21st June 2008, 11:35
Travis is definitely not good enough. What has he achieved in international rallying?
Duby
21st June 2008, 12:03
as subaru intend to build a new team for next year - Chris will lead the first team and Travis with him .
David Richards said that all the interesting young drivers are under contract.
he ment that about oggier and michelson i think.
why dont give Travis a chance ?
Mirek
21st June 2008, 12:12
There are plenty of better drivers without contract. For example Meeke or Wilks. There are plenty faster drivers in PWRC, JWRC or IRC as well. Well, maybe there are money behind Travis but many of drivers are faster and that should be the most important thing in sport.
Magnus
21st June 2008, 12:23
Travis doesn´t seem that fast yet, think he has got quite a way to go still.
N.O.T
21st June 2008, 13:45
No.... he has the same clown skills as solberg but he doesn;t have anything else....i don;t mean to insult you but as a rally jurnalist you should know better than this...Pastrana cannot even win a stage in PWRC
Saabaru
21st June 2008, 14:43
Well in my opinion the only reason Subaru is pushing Pastrana instead of Ken Block, is they are looking for another Colin McRae. Pastrana is a loose cannon in any sport, everything he dose is all or nothing much like McRae’s WRC driving career but he has a long way to go before he can even begin to be compared to Colin. Ken Block is a much more controlled driver and shows allot more future potential in my opinion. As for anyone replacing Petter I don’t think he is going anywhere, he hasn’t passed his prime the old Impreza had though. But if he dose leave Martin should be pulled from testing and put back in the spotlight, a proven WRC driver who has tons of professionalism and control.
gloomyDAY
21st June 2008, 15:33
No. Travis is a great guy and I have had the pleasure of chatting with him at Rally Mexico 2007. The problem is that charisma does not translate into fast stage times! In order for Pastrana to get on the pace of the top running order of the WRC it will take years. Something similar to what Matt Wilson is doing at Ford through a 4? year program.
Replacing Petter will be difficult. To be honest I think Petter might have lost his touch and motivation after being noncompetitive for so many years. Not even Superman could take such a pounding and tell you he was the same guy as before.
SubaruNorway
21st June 2008, 16:02
Well in my opinion the only reason Subaru is pushing Pastrana instead of Ken Block, is they are looking for another Colin McRae.
Might also have something to do with the fact that Block is 41 years old ;)
And to the "journalist" it's Petter and Mikkelsen not Peter and Michelson :p
Rallyst3ve
21st June 2008, 16:13
It may do Petter good to go to another team but lets face it where would he go theres little room at Ford and i doubt Citroen would take him?????????
As for Pastrana replacing Solberg thats never gonna happen Kris Meeke should be there ;)
Should Solberg go - if he doesn't achieve anything by the end of the year, then yes.
Should Pastrana replace him - no way, look at Travis' speed at WRC events he entered, there are many more drivers which are faster than him, he is good to have in the USA to advertize the Subaru brand in North America.
Saabaru
21st June 2008, 16:44
No. Travis is a great guy
I never said he was a bad guy. What I meant by hem being a lose cannon is just what I said, he's an all or nothing driver just like he is at everything else he dose. He ether wins or he crashes out trying, this is not a bad thing I don't guess as long as you have a bank account big enough to pay for all your accidents. But when you crash out every time you enter a rally (how many WRC rallies has he entered vs. WRC rallies he's finished) that dosn't really help you grow and get any better at the sport. I like Pastrana, I just think he could use a few lessons from a driver like Gronholm or Martin. ;)
Petter is contracted to Subaru World Rally Team to end of 2009 season. It is the last year of a 3 year deal signed end of 2006. Who knows what happens in 2010........
bennizw
21st June 2008, 18:15
Haha. I say no more!
Helstar
22nd June 2008, 06:44
]Travis is definitely not good enough. What has he achieved in international rallying?
Hey he has been the CHAMPION OF THE WORLD ! I've readed it in his website a while ago http://www.buonpernoi.it/forum/icon_smile_rotfl.gif
Seriously, I think even Valentino Rossi would be faster than him in a WRC, says it all.
pino
22nd June 2008, 07:17
No, Petter still is a great driver, he only need a great car :p :
cali
22nd June 2008, 10:01
Typical "journalist" talk/writing. In Estonia, when Aava got a deal with Citroen, one of our "genius" journalist already started to make some rumours that Aava should replace Sordo in a works team. C'mon guys, are U thinking soberly here? There's like 100 more faster guys out there waiting to get behind the WRC wheel. Names like Meeke, Kopecky, bunch of finns, Wilks, Aigner, DUVAL !!! etc. deserve to be there, as well Petter who is doing good job actually.
I'm sorry, but cannot see any sense replacing Petter with Pastrana. I'm a bit dissapointed to read such proposal from a "rally journalist".
Zico
22nd June 2008, 16:36
Should Travis replace Petter?
No..
Although Travis might potentially be great marketing material for Subaru, Im 99.99% sure. that potential would not be realised. His lack of experience and pace at the top level would most likely have the very opposite effect (bad press) when the likes of Mat Wilson was embarrasing him.
Koppomsbo
22nd June 2008, 17:36
well if subaru only is out for selling a lot of t shirts they can hire him for sure..
teufel
22nd June 2008, 17:37
Travis hasn't got anything to be a world champ in wrc, except his website...
L5->R5/CR
22nd June 2008, 21:39
So many people quick to write off Travis.
He may never be anything in the WRC, but then again, you never know.
His biggest problem is US backers that want him running in the US as well as the PWRC. Combine that with other scheduled events (things that make his living for him) and it is tough.
Realistically he has only been rallying for a couple of years, and hasn't been truly pushed to find the last 15% you need to be sucessful on the international stage. He might be great, he might not.
No sane person can think he should replace Petter right now or in the next year or two. Then again, nobody should write him off after only 5 international events either...
N.O.T
22nd June 2008, 21:52
Realistically he has only been rallying for a couple of years, and hasn't been truly pushed to find the last 15% you need to be sucessful on the international stage.
I think Travis is missing the other 85% to be succesful......
L5->R5/CR
23rd June 2008, 02:17
I think Travis is missing the other 85% to be succesful......
I suppose you've never heard the adage: It takes 90% of the time to find the last 10% of the performance.
Besides, shouldn't you be ranting about something or other related to how the WRC isn't worthy of Sebastien's talent or some other such nonsense?
ST205GT4
23rd June 2008, 09:35
Travis needs to get his arse into a WRC car. He's starting to get "old" to make his bid for a works team.
WRCfan
23rd June 2008, 11:40
Give Pastrana a 3rd car, he would have crapped all over Pons.....haha
cali
24th June 2008, 20:16
Thing is that right now he is nowhere near to the level required to be top contender. Maybe later. I like TP, but he needs the run more events in WRC.
hi all
as a rally journalist in Israel, i wrote many times that peter solberg should leave the subaru team as he is done there and may try in other teams.
yes, i know that this may sound bed but think about it- it will take long time till the new car will be competetive and he is losing time .
also - may be he is out of motovation there after all the years.
i suggested that Travis Pastrana replace him . he is a young driver that will bring the same carizma as solberg did ("holywood") , he is a subaru man allready...and driving well.
what do you think ?
duby
This is the problem with motorsport/rally journalists...
@Duby: Can't you switch your passion and logic thinking? I had studied journalism and I see nothing/less, from what I have learned by sport journalists. This 'knowledge' is a problem for rally.
gloomyDAY
24th June 2008, 20:55
Thing is that right now he is nowhere near to the level required to be top contender. Maybe later. I like TP, but he needs the run more events in WRC.Exactly.
I'm not writing Travis off. For the moment it is laughable that anyone would want to throw him into a works seat, let alone replace a former champion. Allow Travis time to develop like Matthew Wilson is doing at Ford.
Tomi
25th June 2008, 06:24
I dont think he ever will be driving in a worksteam, he dont have the skill, and also there is every year coming a few better drivers than he is to the international level, not to talk about the 30-50 there already is.
But it is good to bring more attention of the sport to the west, what I am wondering is when will there ever be enough interest to born decent set of driver and national champion in US (right now it's kind of week in competitiveness), along with the changing nature of rallying right now. 10 years, 20 years? or maybe never since the format of the sport don't appeal commercially.
GruppoB
26th June 2008, 03:29
It will be very interesting to see if niall mcshae mops the floor with our guys. Hope he gets a pleasant surprise and we put up a good fight.
cali
26th June 2008, 08:08
I would love to see TP driving WRC cars, but i dunno how this could be possible.
DonJippo
26th June 2008, 08:19
I would love to see TP driving WRC cars, but i dunno how this could be possible.
There is always pay-and-drive option.
cali
26th June 2008, 10:05
There is always pay-and-drive option.
That is exactly what i meant - i cannot see any interest from North America to pay for all of this fun, since lack of interest in their markets.
Saabaru
26th June 2008, 13:48
That is exactly what i meant - i cannot see any interest from North America to pay for all of this fun, since lack of interest in their markets.
Most people in the U.S. don't even know what Rally is. And if you try and explain it to them or show them a video or something they don't understand why watching cars racing down an open road is more exciting when they could be watching an oversized go-cart(NASCAR) run around a boring ovle track.
cali
26th June 2008, 14:00
Most people in the U.S. don't even know what Rally is. And if you try and explain it to them or show them a video or something they don't understand why watching cars racing down an open road is more exciting when they could be watching an oversized go-cart(NASCAR) run around a boring ovle track.
I'm quite aware of this problem. We have had lots of discussions here ion the forum about situation in US, so it does not surprise me. NASCAR is marketing success which has lack of interest in Europe, since it is too boring to watch for most of the europeans. For sponsors NASCAR is perfect - lots of people sitting and watching continous ads :D moving around the circle.
bt52b
26th June 2008, 21:02
Is it true DR laughed at the idea of putting TP in a WRC?
GruppoB
29th June 2008, 11:15
Is it true DR laughed at the idea of putting TP in a WRC?
A rumor the someone posted on the forums.
Kaps
30th June 2008, 01:12
Pastrana in place of Solberg!!??
I've been away from this forum for a while, only to come back and see this kind of total & absolute BS!!??
'nuff said!
Shrike
1st July 2008, 01:44
Travis definitely cannot hang with the big boys. But then again neither can Petter anymore (outside of benefiting from other's misfortunes). I think if you replaced Petter with Travis you wouldn't notice the difference.
Simmi
1st July 2008, 11:22
Travis is exactly the type of guy the WRC needs at the highest level. He would be an energetic and passionate spokesman for the sport and as people have said he represents a lot of marketing opporunities.
Bottom line is that he hasn't driven a WRC car outside of the confines of a stadium. Hopefully one day he will find a way into a top car but he wouldn't set the world alight. I'm sure of that.
GruppoB
1st July 2008, 19:30
Im personally not for him jumping into a WRC with where hes at right now.
But Im kind of surprised to see people for guy like Rautenbach in a ride and not Travis? Neither of them deserve one right now in my opinion but lets face it the sports about money not who's the best.
Im sure a few people on here have some talent to play with the top guys but does that mean your entitled to? In a just world maybe.
Finni
1st July 2008, 20:27
Travis definitely cannot hang with the big boys. But then again neither can Petter anymore (outside of benefiting from other's misfortunes). I think if you replaced Petter with Travis you wouldn't notice the difference.
From where are these clowns coming??? The starter of the thread was from Israel and I bet this guy is rally fan from Hawaii?
Travis is probably more near to Conrad Reutenbach than Petter Solberg. There is probably 30 drivers only in Finland who would outpace Pastrana. Yet I am far from certain that any of them would outpace P. Solberg.
as you all forgeting one big thing .
WRC need new markets and Subaru needs new attraction for the new car .
there are better drivers then TP , o.k , BUT there is no one that can bring media interest as good as him.
also - he is american, what can go well in north america.
all you are thinking is the man behind the wheele , but sorry to tell you that people in the teams are looking and talking about money and advertisment.
citroen is crying for better TV deal or so .
you all have to look at the whole big picture.
duby
as you all forgeting one big thing .
WRC need new markets and Subaru needs new attraction for the new car .
there are better drivers then TP , o.k , BUT there is no one that can bring media interest as good as him.
also - he is american, what can go well in north america.
all you are thinking is the man behind the wheele , but sorry to tell you that people in the teams are looking and talking about money and advertisment.
citroen is crying for better TV deal or so .
you all have to look at the whole big picture.
duby
I think we are all aware of that, but the teams need to find a balance between marketability and speed with their drivers.. at the moment Travis would only provide marketability.
Without the speed this could end up having a negative effect on their brand image... I think you are omiting the importance of winning from your bigger picture.
If Subaru put only Advertising as their main priority.. Travis WOULD be in WRC right now.
If he is slow he can't score points he don't belong in WRC. And if he must replaced someone it is Rautenbach by PH Sport. Then ok, he is a option. But Solberg did not must replaced by this amateur.
Please Duby. This is a wrong analyse and no good journalism. The best advertisement is winning, podium and points. In that order.
Am I the only one that is reminded by Mario Andretti's dismal 1993 F1 season?
Am I the only one that is reminded by Mario Andretti's dismal 1993 F1 season?
michael andretti , not mario...
N.O.T
4th July 2008, 06:43
as you all forgeting one big thing .
WRC need new markets and Subaru needs new attraction for the new car .
there are better drivers then TP , o.k , BUT there is no one that can bring media interest as good as him.
also - he is american, what can go well in north america.
all you are thinking is the man behind the wheele , but sorry to tell you that people in the teams are looking and talking about money and advertisment.
citroen is crying for better TV deal or so .
you all have to look at the whole big picture.
duby
For a rally media man you don't know much about the essence of the sport.....
For a rally media man you don't know much about the essence of the sport.....
Agree, the whole question Pastrana to replace Solberg is absurde, a crap driver like Pastrana would be a burden for any team if they would, I think here you can see also on how low level the media is.
Petter is contracted to Subaru World Rally Team to end of 2009 season. It is the last year of a 3 year deal signed end of 2006. Who knows what happens in 2010........
Subaru out of WRC?
Travis to replace Petter Solberg? :D Please, lets mantain the few ones that are good and not replacing him by rally actors. Travis or Block could be spectacular, but Gigi Galli is also spectacular. Give him a car free to ride and you'll see a spectacular latin driver!
Petter Solberg is two step behind the faster ones on WRC, but still is a good driver, better than many drivers on WRC and much better than Travis.
ste898
4th July 2008, 18:09
How long are we going to see this stupid thread each time we visit the forum.....
jso1985
7th July 2008, 03:54
great motorcycle acrobat(or whatever is called) he might be but a great rally driver he isn't(or in the better case he still isn't)
So until he shows some speed at PWRC, he's on my "not good enough for WRC" list of drivers, I wouldn't care if he buys a ride on a private team but I'd really hate the publicity stunt(just that) it would be if he replaces Solberg or any driver at a works team
J.Lindstroem
7th July 2008, 07:31
as you all forgeting one big thing .
no one that can bring media interest as good as him.
also - he is american, what can go well in north america.
duby
Like we need you americans? DUH?!
A.F.F.
7th July 2008, 08:08
Aren't you guys a little harsh? I thought this is an open forum.
IMO we do need Americans in rallying. The difference is do Americans need WRC at all? Pastrana can't replace Petter but he would be ideal third driver OR one of the drivers in Subarus possible M2 team. Many Americans didn't even know what Paris-Dakar was before Robby Gordon took part in Dakar-raid. If Pastrana should compete in highest level of rallying it would not only increase the market value of WRC but in best case, open a way to get North-American WRC rally. I bet his fanbase is a teeny weeny bigger than Rautenbach's for instance.
DonJippo
7th July 2008, 09:23
IMO we do need Americans in rallying.
Why, for what? Never really understood this need of someone in something when they never have really been there.
A.F.F.
7th July 2008, 10:59
Why, for what? Never really understood this need of someone in something when they never have really been there.
I thought I already answered that.
DonJippo
7th July 2008, 12:39
I thought I already answered that.
Not really as I was asking for what WRC would need them now if it has managed 40 years without them?
DonJippo
7th July 2008, 12:43
I thought I already answered that.
Not really as I was asking for what WRC would need them now if it has managed 40 years without them?
Not really as I was asking for what WRC would need them now if it has managed 40 years without them?
WRC has managed 40 years without them because they have nothing to bring to the sport that would somehow make it better.
L5->R5/CR
7th July 2008, 15:01
Not really as I was asking for what WRC would need them now if it has managed 40 years without them?
It hasn't managed for 40 years without the US/North America.
There were WRC events in the Us as late as the 1980s and candidate events in Canada as recently as 2001/2002.
I am not saying that the WRC needs the US, or that rallying in North America needs the WRC (and they are two different questions). Just pointing out that the WRC hasn't always been without a North American event as your 40 years statement would imply.
A.F.F.
7th July 2008, 16:09
Not really as I was asking for what WRC would need them now if it has managed 40 years without them?
What did WRC need 4wd for when it managed to do fine without it for over twenty years?
I'll spell it to you. C-H-A-N-G-E.
I don't get it :confused: Everybody is whining that WRC is not in good shape and obviously something has to be changed in order to fix things.
I thought I was conservative....
What did WRC need 4wd for when it managed to do fine without it for over twenty years?
I'll spell it to you. C-H-A-N-G-E.
I don't get it :confused: Everybody is whining that WRC is not in good shape and obviously something has to be changed in order to fix things.
I thought I was conservative....
I dont know about consrvative, but its difficult to see what taking WRC to a country where is practically no rally at all, would give.
A.F.F.
7th July 2008, 16:51
How com you look things so black and white? What did Norway offer before Solberg? Or Estonia before Märtin? Surely there's some rallying in USA. Heck, after Uuspaavalniemi, we have curling stadiums at every frigging corner ;)
How com you look things so black and white? What did Norway offer before Solberg? Or Estonia before Märtin? Surely there's some rallying in USA. Heck, after Uuspaavalniemi, we have curling stadiums at every frigging corner ;)
Nothing much, the thing is that us dont have any Solberg or Märtin only a bad copy of Rautenbach. The us rally is about the same as in Vanuatu.
SubaruNorway
7th July 2008, 18:43
Nothing much, the thing is that us dont have any Solberg or Märtin only a bad copy of Rautenbach. The us rally is about the same as in Vanuatu.
Have you ever seen US Rally? It's pretty entertaining actualy, eventhough they only use N+ (open) cars.
Just to bad they lost the coverage this year cos watching rally in HD is cool :)
Bad copy of Rautenbach? Rautenbach can't even crash properly :p
Watch how Pastrana skillfully writes off a brand new 08 Impreza at 5:40 lol
http://rally.subaru.com/videos.html
DonJippo
7th July 2008, 18:51
I thought I was conservative....
Sometimes it is good to be realistic...
Have you ever seen US Rally? It's pretty entertaining actualy, eventhough they only use N+ (open) cars.
Just to bad they lost the coverage this year cos watching rally in HD is cool :)
Bad copy of Rautenbach? Rautenbach can't even crash properly :p
Watch how Pastrana skillfully writes off a brand new 08 Impreza at 5:40 lol
http://rally.subaru.com/videos.html
Yes from video i have.
A.F.F.
7th July 2008, 19:22
Is it really realistic to say USA will NEVER produce a quality driver and it's useless to even think so, based on just because you say so ?
Anyways... I believe that a successfull invidual in any sport can isnpire new ones to join in by his/her results, should it be in USA or Vanuatu.
Offcourse its not realistic, they have even had one, John Buffum was his name, they also have had an event, but to start to build a rally culture by bringing the WRC to a country who has not even a proper base for rallying and where in the startlist is about 30 cars/event, is a waste of time in my opinion.
A.F.F.
7th July 2008, 19:55
God for bid we can agree to disagree :)
SubaruNorway
7th July 2008, 20:01
Offcourse its not realistic, they have even had one, John Buffum was his name, they also have had an event, but to start to build a rally culture by bringing the WRC to a country who has not even a proper base for rallying and where in the startlist is about 30 cars/event, is a waste of time in my opinion.
I get more views on my videos on their forum than on this, not sure if that says anything though.
But from looking at pictures and stuff it seems to be pretty big, or maybe thats just the people who shows up to get Pastranas autograph...
God for bid we can agree to disagree :)
Yes thats good :) , my point is just why take the pinnacle of the sport, to places where nobody is interested, when there is places that work hard for the sport, Belgium, Estonia, Czech, only a few to mention, they have the base already also the spectators. "Kannettu vesi ei kaivossa pysy" as you well know.
DonJippo
7th July 2008, 22:44
Is it really realistic to say USA will NEVER produce a quality driver and it's useless to even think so, based on just because you say so ?
Was I saying USA will never produce a quality driver? I was simply asking for what does WRC need US or North America to be accurate when rallying is even more marginal sport there than it's in Europe as an example?
janvanvurpa
8th July 2008, 09:51
Yes thats good :) , my point is just why take the pinnacle of the sport, to places where nobody is interested, when there is places that work hard for the sport, Belgium, Estonia, Czech, only a few to mention, they have the base already also the spectators. "Kannettu vesi ei kaivossa pysy" as you well know.
Tomi is right.
US "Champignonskit" events still get only maybe 30-40 cars, and as we see, if Travis cannot consistently finish in the top 2/3 of VM events without Super-Rally and he's far and away one of the fastest in North America currently, then you have an idea of the level of speed.
Besides, remember he's already won the 2007 World rally Championship as we saw for a few days and the events are still small, and media coverage is only "Paid" coverage, not real interest, virtually no spectataors--OK maybe 50-75, maybe more in the population dense NE of USA.
Tomi's point is "Why fight to make USA love WRC rally?" when there are LOTS of places where it is welcome and have tradition that is exciting.
Where's Portogallo? San Remo, Safari?
WRC doesn't need more American claims of being "phenomenal" and that the drivers are "superstars" for coming a few places back from Pastrana, who can't break into the top half of the full GpN field.
janvanvurpa
8th July 2008, 10:00
Was I saying USA will never produce a quality driver? I was simply asking for what does WRC need US or North America to be accurate when rallying is even more marginal sport there than it's in Europe as an example?
I don't think an American will succeed in reasonable placements in WRC once the American promotion machines get hold of him. And from just the size of the US and the costs of entering all the events a person must have either independent weatlth (and we've seen how poorly motivated those are with independant wealth) of sponsorship support.
And once sponsors and "managers" get involved, they want their "product' to be seen in the USA, and better for them to win against maybe only one or 3 other "similarly" funded (by that I mean the next nearest teams to Subaru's US budget are probably 1/4 to 1/5 of subaru's funding) so they can scream "No1!!!!!" than go overseas and kicked and stomped into a bloody pulp very possibly for years.
A.F.F.
8th July 2008, 11:07
I rest my case your honor.
hi all
finally i can say thank you for every body who took part in my research or experiment .
i dont really think that TP shoukd replace P.solberg and i think he still can get some great results with the new impreza .
Travis...well, he really need to upgrade his driving (may be Derek Ringer can help him) .
i am about to put a story about Solberg and Subaru .
thanks for all the reactions .
duby
paxtech
10th July 2008, 17:02
To be honest, TP is nothing close to being a WRC star. He has fame but does not have the skills, even in PWRC. He can stay in the US and impress the American Subaru fan boys there with some silly stunts, like the one Subaru did with a super fly impreza stunt. blehh ..
Zico
10th July 2008, 18:44
hi all
finally i can say thank you for every body who took part in my research or experiment .
i dont really think that TP shoukd replace P.solberg and i think he still can get some great results with the new impreza .
Travis...well, he really need to upgrade his driving (may be Derek Ringer can help him) .
i am about to put a story about Solberg and Subaru .
thanks for all the reactions .
duby
Well done to you for not sticking with your poor subject choice and listening to the voice of reason from die-hard rally fans. You are openminded and prepared to research your story, your journalism and your career can only benefit as a result.
Saabaru
10th July 2008, 19:51
Will as an American can I speak my openion? NA dose have some impressive drivers and personally I don't think TP is one of them. The bigest problem with Rallying in the US is media coverage. There is no coverage at all. No media means no sponsorship, meaning low budgets, meaning restricting drivers to the number of events they car participate in and the quality of their cars. Thus the talent some drivers have isn't fully realized. The stupid motor sports channels we have here might as well be called "The nascar Channel". Speed TV covered WRC for a few years and just dumped it to cover reruns of mud derbies an dirt track events, and other junk no one wants to watch. But it's cheaper to cover an event like that than the WRC. Most racing in the US is generic and those of us who realize it just have to suffer through it.
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