F2 Championship late 90's

[Doon]

I was watching highlights from the BRC 1997, on Greatest Years of British Rallying, a few days ago. I really love those old F2's the Maxi Megane especially! Who says FWD is boring.

Does anyone know where a DVD or VHS is available for the old F2 World Championship, or even decent links to videos online.

The only footage I have on DVD is from the events in the late 90's were the Xsara's won a couple of tarmac WRC rounds. Also remember from the 1999 championship (I think!) they showed a few shots of the Hyundai Coupes and always wondered why only they were shown. Did Hyundai sponsor the official highlights reel for the producers to show their cars exclusively?

Thanks in advance for any information!

[Josti]

I think by '99, Hyundai were the only works team competing in F2 (Citroën didn't do a full season, nor were they a registered manu), maybe that's why.

I'm not sure there are official FIA reviews of F2 World Championships. Apart from the Pugs and Citroëns, the F2 championship alone wasn't highlighted in the official WRC reviews either.

[Barreis]

It was, Safari and Corsica 1998. Rovanpera won Safari and Baumschlager was second with golf.

[Langdale Forest]

The F2 cars did make some apperances into the season reviwes but often only in the music sections but it is nice to see cars other than that of Ford, Misubishi, Subaru and Toyota in the reviews.

[Josti]

It was, Safari and Corsica 1998. Rovanpera won Safari and Baumschlager was second with golf.

Yes, very briefly.

[Langdale Forest]

And one of the Renaults that won the opening stage on Sanremo 1997, and a Seat that crashed off the road in Spain 1996.

[gtimad73]

just been watching this video on youtube Rally Kit Car- Pure Sound - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR1eG_2EWVY&feature=related) great looking cars why did it die out?

[Mirek]

I guess because PSA which only put all into their development and made them crazy expensive one-purpose rockets decided to switch for WRC cars.

[N.O.T]

just been watching this video on youtube Rally Kit Car- Pure Sound - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR1eG_2EWVY&feature=related) great looking cars why did it die out?

evolution.

[gtimad73]

Shame, always seems to be the same. they come up with a good formula, and everyone goes for it and it ends up to expensive to carry on..

[Mirek]

It's like that. Even if You make a formula based on simple bike it ends with a one which weights one kilogram and costs million Euro :)

[OldF]

IMO is also about how rules are formulated. In the past the rules was formulated in the way that the engineers could utilize the freedom of the rules when they learned to interpret the rules.

Nowadays the rules say, “All the modification which are not allowed by the present regulations are expressly forbidden”.

[Mirek]

In my opinion it doesn't solve any cost issue because they will spend every Euro management gives them anyway. For me such formulation of rules only kills the engineering genius which always is a fundamental part of any motorsport.

[OldF]

This is of topic but I can not resist to tell how budgets was/are used in towns and other municipalities. I have a friend who was working in the department which repaird and maintained electronic equipments. He told that at the end of the year, if they had still money from the budget and nothing to purchase for the department, they purchased electronic components for they’re private projects. If they didn’t use the whole budget, they’re budget for the next year could be reduced. The same I’ve heard from other sources also, they just purchase something useless to fill the budget.

My physics teacher once said that:

“When a physicist design, develop and build a device, he can use as much money and other recourses as he want to. When an engineer is doing the same he has limited budget and resources”

But something can also be done by the rules if we compare the prices of F2 and S1600 cars with the prices of R3 and R2 cars.


For me such formulation of rules only kills the engineering genius which always is a fundamental part of any motorsport. = an engineers nightmare!

[Langdale Forest]

Wasn't the F2 Renalts and Citroens winning and being on the podium in Corsica and Spain another reason for the end of F2?

[BDunnell]

Wasn't the F2 Renalts and Citroens winning and being on the podium in Corsica and Spain another reason for the end of F2?

I was just about to post much the same. There were increasing complaints from those manufacturer teams committed to full seasons about the Peugeot and Citroen F2 entries coming in and, as they saw it, stealing points on the tarmac rounds.

[dimviii]

I was just about to post much the same. There were increasing complaints from those manufacturer teams committed to full seasons about the Peugeot and Citroen F2 entries coming in and, as they saw it, stealing points on the tarmac rounds.

right,and were much more lighter and with same dimension tyres could use softer compounds at stages.All these could equal the less power/torque,and on some times overpass them.

[gtimad73]

Wasn't the F2 Renalts and Citroens winning and being on the podium in Corsica and Spain another reason for the end of F2?
sorry for my lack of knowledge, but do you mean win out right?

[BDunnell]

sorry for my lack of knowledge, but do you mean win out right?

Citroen and Peugeot both won WRC rounds outright with front-wheel drive cars. Renault, as far as I recall, didn't.

[Mirek]

Only Citroën with Bugalski managed to win on Corsica and in Catalunya 99 where the Xsara Kit Car made all WRC cars look like junk. Peugeot several times close to win with Panizzi and Delecour in 97 and 98 but I think they were "only" second overall several times. I don't remember Renault on podium.

[AndyRAC]

I was just about to post much the same. There were increasing complaints from those manufacturer teams committed to full seasons about the Peugeot and Citroen F2 entries coming in and, as they saw it, stealing points on the tarmac rounds.

The FiA should have told them to get on with it!!! Yet again the Manufacturers not seeing the 'bigger picture' and the added interest those events/ cars brought.

[BDunnell]

The FiA should have told them to get on with it!!! Yet again the Manufacturers not seeing the 'bigger picture' and the added interest those events/ cars brought.

And, yet again, the FIA not realising how its actions would affect the sport as a whole, in terms of national championships.

[AndyRAC]

And, yet again, the FIA not realising how its actions would affect the sport as a whole, in terms of national championships.

It's like a broken record, I'm sorry to say......

[Josti]

I think at one point, mid 90's, F2 cars were to be the prominent cars in the World Rally Championship, hence the introduction of rotating events. I remember Didier Auriol said he would quit if that'd be the case.

After that FIA brought back the old Group S rules in the form of World Rally Cars. They sure were messing around alot.

[BDunnell]

I think at one point, mid 90's, F2 cars were to be the prominent cars in the World Rally Championship, hence the introduction of rotating events. I remember Didier Auriol said he would quit if that'd be the case.

And I remember thinking at the time that any driver who would find driving the likes of a 306 Maxi dull really must be a rather strange character. I get rather fed up with drivers threatening to quit if the technical regulations are changed to something new.

[tfp]

And I remember thinking at the time that any driver who would find driving the likes of a 306 Maxi dull really must be a rather strange character. I get rather fed up with drivers threatening to quit if the technical regulations are changed to something new.

And heres me thinking that only ever hapenned in Formula 1 :D

[sollitt]

I think at one point, mid 90's, F2 cars were to be the prominent cars in the World Rally Championship, hence the introduction of rotating events. I remember Didier Auriol said he would quit if that'd be the case.
I don't recall that ever being the case. There may well, at some point, have been a suggestion and a discussion around this but, as far as I recall, F2 was never destined to be the main category of WRC.
Onlookers, and particularly many from this forum, have had a tendency to mistake items agenda'd for discussion at FIA meetings for policy.

Wouldn't have been a bad thing though. These cars had colour, style & sound that the 4WD era has lacked since the GrpB days.

[Josti]

And I remember thinking at the time that any driver who would find driving the likes of a 306 Maxi dull really must be a rather strange character. I get rather fed up with drivers threatening to quit if the technical regulations are changed to something new.

I don't think it was a threat, more like a remark on the matter. But I get the sentiment.


I don't recall that ever being the case. There may well, at some point, have been a suggestion and a discussion around this but, as far as I recall, F2 was never destined to be the main category of WRC.
Onlookers, and particularly many from this forum, have had a tendency to mistake items agenda'd for discussion at FIA meetings for policy.

Maybe it was just talk, but it was serious talk.

FIA did promote it heavily by making some events only F2, up to a point where half the calendar was in rotation.

[Doon]

I've just bought the '98 review as an early Christmas present to myself. What a brilliant season reveiw, good battle in both championships, and the F2 cars made it even better. Must say I really like the old Evo's even though they sound a little dull.

Anyone know where I can find out what music is on the dvd? I'm looking for the tune midway through the review of Corsica, just after Mcrae almost runs a dog over on the startline, lol. Any help appreciated!

[Sulland]

Will the fact that GB is going 2wd only contribute to further development of the 'rodents' ?

[gtimad73]

Will the fact that GB is going 2wd only contribute to further development of the 'rodents' ?
as i see it not really. as it just makes it not what everyones using series..

[BDunnell]

I don't recall that ever being the case. There may well, at some point, have been a suggestion and a discussion around this but, as far as I recall, F2 was never destined to be the main category of WRC.

It could have been, surely, if the FIA had taken a different decision before it opted to adopt the World Rally Car rules?

[AndyRAC]

It could have been, surely, if the FIA had taken a different decision before it opted to adopt the World Rally Car rules?

I'm sure there were discussions round 1994-ish for the future of the WRC. I seem to remember Max being in favour of 2WD/FWD 2.0L N/A cars, as they were what were being bought by the majority of the car buying public. However, and it's even on film during the 1994 RAC Rally Top Gear programme - Max explaining that after talking to the top drivers, 4WD was probably the way to continue.

[tfp]

I'm sure there were discussions round 1994-ish for the future of the WRC. I seem to remember Max being in favour of 2WD/FWD 2.0L N/A cars, as they were what were being bought by the majority of the car buying public. However, and it's even on film during the 1994 RAC Rally Top Gear programme - Max explaining that after talking to the top drivers, 4WD was probably the way to continue.

Max Mosely? I'm glad they stayed with 4WD:-)

[BDunnell]

I'm sure there were discussions round 1994-ish for the future of the WRC. I seem to remember Max being in favour of 2WD/FWD 2.0L N/A cars, as they were what were being bought by the majority of the car buying public. However, and it's even on film during the 1994 RAC Rally Top Gear programme - Max explaining that after talking to the top drivers, 4WD was probably the way to continue.

I would be interested to find again some of the stuff I'm sure I recall reading after that — 1995, I think — regarding the plans for post-1996. I definitely recall the 2wd 'kit cars' still being in the discussion around then.