Please BMW, something different this time!! (an open letter)

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17th April 2012, 23:45
Rallyper

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyRAC

While your sentiments are noble and well meaning, you’re wasting your time.BMW aren’t interested in the WRC, it’s a minority world Motorsport, and they’re not going to invest their money in it. What would they get out of it?
They have supposed bigger fish to fry with the DTM were they will take on the might of their Premium rivals, Mercedes & Audi. The WRC doesn’t offer this.Sorry to rain on your parade. Your enthusiasm does you credit.

DTM and WRC is two different things regarding two different brands.

Which are BMW and Mini.

BMW has responisibility to develop both brands.

BMW in DTM and - Mini in WRC. That would be a proper way to handle motorsport for BMW.

I hope they discuss it this way. Else they don´t understand nothing about motorsport. Rallying is much bigger than local DTM, by the way...
18th April 2012, 02:40
leighton323

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rallyper

I hope they discuss it this way. Else they don´t understand nothing about motorsport. Rallying is much bigger than local DTM, by the way...

That is true however BMW are a very traditional brand, they have been involved with touring car racing for the last 40 years, not only do they do DTM but also GT Endurance racing. They are just sticking to the tradition of BMW. I wish they could just see beyond just circuit racing for once.
18th April 2012, 05:51
Plan9

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfp

And there is the money thing, considering how little they were intending spending on the programme compared to DTM they were getting quite a lot of coverage for their money. Also, they can say that Mini is a rally car, that should be worth it on its own!

Mini (or MINI) and JCW are very well established rally and racing brands and have a huge following of their own. This deal could have brought a whole new audience to WRC...

Looking back on it now we should have seen this coming (if you consider the BMW deal in financail terms). God knows why they only funded Prodrive for doing the 6 events in 2011. I find it hard to believe Prodrive didn't try and get more involved with Mini in the way they did with Subaru and Honda (WRC & F1 respectively).
18th April 2012, 10:16
JAM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plan9

God knows why they only funded Prodrive for doing the 6 events in 2011.

Not only god. It's well known that this was the first time with the car and the obvious choice is a litle program. Besides that, Mini funding not only 6 events, they funding with a lot of money the whole development of Mini JCW.

For Mini, it was a choose between a cut with a re-think, or a big increase on funding.
19th April 2012, 02:58
Plan9

Maybe Mini will be more serious about this when WRC gets a proper promoter? by the way letter sounds good and you should so email it!
19th April 2012, 09:58
EuroTroll

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plan9

by the way letter sounds good and you should so email it!

I've sent it now, to the heads of "Motorsport Automobil" and "MINI Motorsport" at BMW. I'll let you know if/when I get a response.
19th April 2012, 22:06
Plan9

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAM

Not only god. It's well known that this was the first time with the car and the obvious choice is a litle program. Besides that, Mini funding not only 6 events, they funding with a lot of money the whole development of Mini JCW.

For Mini, it was a choose between a cut with a re-think, or a big increase on funding.

That information is not news to me. I only raised the funding issue as I was surprised that BMW did not think to cover their asses for 2012 (when most people expected that they would do a full season). I felt that showed a lack of commitment from BMW and a lack for forethought. Or they did not really care about WRC anyway...
23rd April 2012, 10:15
JAM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plan9

That information is not news to me. I only raised the funding issue as I was surprised that BMW did not think to cover their asses for 2012 (when most people expected that they would do a full season). I felt that showed a lack of commitment from BMW and a lack for forethought. Or they did not really care about WRC anyway...

Their commitment is not as big as people would expect.

Let's put the things on that way: A British lobby convinced BMW to enter in WRC, using as argument Prodrive would find finantial background to support partr of the project in 2012 anda 2013. BMW sasy "yes" and paid the beggining of project, but Prodrive didn't find the finantial support and BMW is not interested in supporting Prodrive and the whole project.

Then they decided invest some money (not much) on Motorsport Itália to have one more year and decide what to do: Or pull off WRC, or find a new structure. Let's wait until the end of summer to see what happens.
23rd April 2012, 10:19
Rallyper

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAM

Their commitment is not as big as people would expect.

Let's put the things on that way: A British lobby convinced BMW to enter in WRC, using as argument Prodrive would find finantial background to support partr of the project in 2012 anda 2013. BMW sasy "yes" and paid the beggining of project, but Prodrive didn't find the finantial support and BMW is not interested in supporting Prodrive and the whole project.

Then they decided invest some money (not much) on Motorsport Itália to have one more year and decide what to do: Or pull off WRC, or find a new structure. Let's wait until the end of summer to see what happens.

Sorry, I think you simplify decisions very much. Decisions, whatever financial matter, isn´t made that easy on loose expectations. BMW doesn´t, neither other boards in big companys.
23rd April 2012, 16:19
Barreis

Germans think the way that would give them better income through good marketing and that's DTM, not WRC unfortunatly.

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