FIA denies Acropolis Rally already dropped from 2014 WRC schedule - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com
Well it looks like Rally Acropolis is ok.
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FIA denies Acropolis Rally already dropped from 2014 WRC schedule - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com
Well it looks like Rally Acropolis is ok.
If I recall correctly, there was some talk by the FIA that all the regional zones should have a representative on the WRC calendar. So, what do you think about the following twelve-round schedule?
- Monte Carlo
- Sweden
- Finland
- Deutschland
- RAC
- Acropolis
- Mexico (NACAM)
- Argentina (CODASUR)
- Japan (APRC)
- New Zealand/Australia (APRC)
- Safari (ARC)
- MERC round
NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION, but rumors in the Service Park says that 2014 WRC will say goodbye to Acropolis. SHAME on you if confirmed!!!
way too many events outside Europe, I don't think something like that is possible... and when was FIA talking about that?Quote:
Originally Posted by kober
The Acropolis has been a shadow of its former self for years. It's hardly even deserved the title of "Acropolis". The only shame would be in continuing to run such a half-baked event and pretending that it was still worthy of claiming some kind of legendary status.
Were you living under a rock last year? Watch last year's route and itinerary before saying "for years"...Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisoner Monkeys
last true acropolis was in 2004... if it goes... it goes.
Totally agree. Greece last year had a great route and gave true drama to the championship (this year too!). Giving up Greece and leaving an event w/out any tradition like the Coffs Harbour's one (seems rotation has gone) is just bul**hit.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
Shame on FIA and Promoter.
One good route does not make up for years of mediocrity. Especially if you're going to criticise other events for being added to the calendar without any pedigree despite their routes.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
Sometimes I think people would rather have twelve "traditional" rallies with terrible routes instead of twelve brand-new rallies with fantastic routes. The irony is that those "traditional" rallies were new, once upon a time. The only way they could become "traditional" was by staying on the calendar. And yet, people would happily deny new events the chance to establish themselves as part of that ongoing tradition just because they're new.
After all, what if Finland or Monte Carlo had never existed, and were only just proposed for the first time today? Would people still oppose them because they weren't "traditional"?
Personally, if the organisers have to competely change an event, just so they can get in the WRC – Then they shouldn’t do it. An event shouldn’t change it’s character purely for the WRC. RallyGB is a prime example of this.
well if i had to choose between NZ and Greece it would be NZ, far better rally
That's of course a possible point of view but in my opinion far more important is that those two are classics known by everybody. We all agree that the problem of WRC is not enough attention by the public but how can You make public more interested when You remove those events they know and replace them by something anonymous no matter how good it is? The name of the event does a lot. Even my granny knows what is Rallye Monte Carlo and believe it or not she doesn't know what is WRC. If the championship was perfectly healthy it could afford to make experiments. In the shape it is now I think it's a must to keep all the strong points and to work on weak ones.Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisoner Monkeys
Delayed again until end of september. https://www.facebook.com/rallymag/posts/707415882606841
I wonder if you have driven in any of the "new" or "old" stages. I have driven through all of them, old and new, and I see no difference in character. Can you please explain what is the difference you have observed?Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisoner Monkeys
The only thing that I don't like is the fewer kilometers, but this is for all WRC rallies. It is impossible to have the Acropolis of 1980 or 1991 because, simply, no manufacturer will be able to afford the cost, no FIA regulation will be kept and the organizer will go bankrupt.
I think the rally had more caracter before Loutraki still in the time when the base was in Kamena Vourla or Delphi. To much to spend two days near to the Loutraki mountains. Peloponesos stages are great.Quote:
Originally Posted by scn
But this is not what counts I believe. The Acropolis rally has still great caracter and more than lot of rally in the calendar and always create interesting races. If that would be the main decision factor no doubt it will be the calendar. The promoter interested on short term profit therefore the entry ticket what counts. And Greece not strong enough nowadays in that.
Plan for 2014 is to have only one day around Loutraki. One day would be to south Peloponese, to the mountains that old Acropolis of the 70's and early 80's used to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by amilk
The stages around Loutraki are great, but I agree that they should be used only in one day.
I agree that the whole problem is the intention of the promoter to get (rob) the biggest amount of money possible. It's a shame and a very bad sign about the future of WRC.
it seems as time will go by it will be a question of which rally shouldn't be dropped rather than which rally should be added... with the way the WRC is being handled. Look at Formula 1, it started with 8 races and now has 19-20-21, WRC started with 10-13 events and remains the same (with only 10 years of the championship being more than that)...
....and we are speking about character of the stages or rally. I just see pics, videos from stage 1-4 in Germany- I dont see any character, it could be anywhere almost, except Mosel vineyard parts . Except what is the character of this rally - Panzerplatte?
The start ceremony in Cologne was great scenery a we need like that to promote. From market point of view we need the German Rally no doubt but if we are spekaing about character, Greece will have always more.
But if there is an event that no longer lives up to its name and whose name is its only asset, why should it be allowed to continue? You might as well just put that name on another rally - like the way the Dakar moved from northern Africa to South America - and let it reap the benefits.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Maintaining "traditional" rallies for the sake of "tradition" is a bad idea. Sooner or later, the calendar is going to need new blood.
So Rally Australia is in for 3 years?Quote:
Originally Posted by Motorsportfun
Which event are You speaking about?Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisoner Monkeys
So, if Greece and NZ no longer figure, Tour de Corse and Sanremo are ignored by the national bodies. Japan / Cyprus / Bulgaria seemingly not in the running for a WRC spot - would a 'pirate series' like Kerry Packer did with cricket be possible? Even throw in a 'Rally of Northern Britain'. Marketing points: tourism, re-engagement with fans of classics, variety of event. Would have to start as a formula libre as there wouldn't be any manufacturer interest. Pipedream?
I wouldn't think that it is possible for now with the current economic climate. But it worked well for the IRC a few years back. But that had as principle that each event paid a handsome amount to be in the championship, which is the primary reason the above events may not be in WRC next year.
Sounds a bit like the idea behind the IRC when it started minus the upper limit being S2000 cars. Better split times and live coverage, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
AUTOhebdo.fr | WRC 2014-13 rallyes avec la Pologne Thirteen rounds. Acropolis out. Poland in.
I'd quite like to see something with more snow. I know theres already Sweden. Maybe more locations outside of Europe. I'd like to see them do the safari rally again.
Mintexmemory, Packer and Rupert Murdoch got involved in a dispute over the rugby league rights here in Australia about fifteen years ago. It ended in a complete disaster.
A rival series wouldn't work, because it would need FIA accreditation. And the FIA won't give it.
Practically, this moment that it happens it is the death of Acropolis. If it happened some years ago, this would not be the case. But now it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by kober
Despite what few ignorant say, Acropolis is still so tough that it cannot be part of the ERC and, of course, it cannot be part of the Greek championship (it stopped being part of it years ago, simply because drivers complained that it is too tough). Acropolis out of the WRC cannot be done. The private company that is the organizer of Acropolis is a bunch of people that organize it just to keep it alive and give their own money for it. The company does not have any other activity except Acropolis, and I suppose that now it will not have any purpose in maintaining itself. When FIA will need to get back an event that also has some element of "machine breaking" and is not just another gravel sprint or a colorless tarmac "rally", it will have to create a new one. I wonder how and where.
The most stupid thing behind this decision is that for the first time Acropolis of 2014 would have 3-year government support for promoting tourism in the region of South Peloponese, support that is rumored to have been given by the prime minister himself as he was born in that area. FIA chooses to throw to the garbage basket this support and I do not think they will have it again. After all, FIA and its promoter never deserved it.
B, Your questions really are too curt / capable of mis-interpretation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
The strict reply to your question is - An italian report on next year's WRC calendar
Alternatively you could be asking for a translation as Google isn't working in your region.
Or you may have already translated and are querying the content of the article which claims that both Acropolis AND NORF are not in next year's calendar. :eek:
Oh, man, NOT is real answer for you... I have google translator but looking for truth if Finske is out...
"Finland has a contract with the promoter for 2014" says chairman of AKK-Motorsport and "Rally Finland is in its usual place in July-August in the calendar draft" says Jarmo Mahonen:
AKK:n puheenjohtaja: Vuoden 2014 MM-rallista on sopimus | Yle Uutiset | yle.fi
so to conclude from all that's written here, 13 rounds next year includes:
Monte-Carlo
Sweden
Mexico
Portugal
Argentina
Sardegna
Poland
Finland
Germany
Australia
France
Spain
Wales GB
Looks good...12 or even 10 rounds would be better.
Rumors in Italian forums talk about moving the event from Sardinia to the North-East, probably on asphalt... but well, every year there are similar rumors about it...
Like I said last week...Quote:
Originally Posted by kober
Still rumors. Discussions with 3 regions (North-East, Sardinia and a possible rally around Misano MotoGP circuit - as Rally hub - ) are ongoing. Keep calm till October 1st.Quote:
Originally Posted by focus206
Absolutely agree. 10 rounds is plenty. One a month & December/January off.Quote:
Originally Posted by NxOxT
Ill be pissed if NZ is cut for Ausi, those slimy Ausi's already stole Pavlova, Split Enz, Russell Crowe etc...hahaha...but seriously...STOP IT
I wouldn'tind it if Italy went back to tarmac. I think the WRC could do with a another dedicated tarmac round. I kind if miss Ireland and Bulgaria for that reason.