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2012 World Rall Championship provisional calendar:
January 22 - Monte Carlo
February 12 - Sweden
March 11 - Mexico
April 1 - Portugal
April 29 - Argentina
May 27 or June 6 - Greece
June 24 - New Zealand
August 5 - Finland
August 26 - Germany
September 16 - Great Britain
October 7 - France
October - Italy
November 4 - Spain
Have to say I agree in part. I don't understand the rationale behind these cross-border events when the Safari would fulfil that long-distance requirement at a stroke — to say nothing of a five-day RAC (as I insist on calling it). I can dream, can't I?Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Well at least this year Rally GB is coming back to North Wales. I'm going to enjoy freezing my bollocks off on the Orme :DQuote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
The Safari can never be what it was, and it will not run again in the same format. The format can not be used anywhere in the world, so the Safari will be a memory.
Endurance doesn't necessarily mean 5 days event, cold be even 3 with longer loops, night stages etc. Form my point of view when going to rally I want to see as much as possible and spend as little as possible. So cross country rallies mean I need to spend for extra charges in car rental, petrol, accoodation etc. For many spectators that's not good idea but longer loops don't make big differance in my budget and I am busy after 5 pm.
Handbrakes & Hairpins reports on Monte Carlo 2012 route:
BREAKING NEWS: WRC Monte Carlo Rally 2012 itinerary and programme « HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS
Stages from Wednesday to Sunday.
5 days of rallying...nice and 433 of total stage Kms...nice.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hartusvuori
Looks to be a brilliant rally!Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
One would say that there are only very few stages each day but on the other hand they are very long and spectators can see majority of them without any stress. It will be nice holiday :)
nice to see a classic rally back in WRC and also taking it a step further to include many miles and a move away from the recent standardised rally formats
hmmm it's ok but I would have preferred a 3 days format with more stages and more kms each day...
I only see the same itinerary spread in more days. I want to see the timetable but it looks like there will be a lot of empty time there
I think that is made that way to keep people on one stage and therefore to keep surrounding mountain roads opened. It's really very difficult with thousands of spectators moving through narrow mountain roads especially wit snow and ice. Even last year when it was "only IRC" the road to Turini from Peira Cava was later blocked by many kilometers of spectator cars and near Col St. Jean on SS Moutauban it was similar every year I was there. Since there are almost no connection roads, the large movement of spectators means a big risk of stage cancellation.
Wow, 5 days could be great. Tough on spectators though!
Although with 5 days, you could afford to take a day or two off and go on the piss...
Yes, I know, I've been there almost every year since 1998. What I mean is that if you look the itinerary day by day there is no big difference to seasons 2007-2011. Just a big gap on Saturday morning and one stage on Sunday. I don't see it like a revolution.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
For me it's not a revolution either. But I don't like to be in a hurry, so I like it ;)
i totally agree!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Greece date might be a bit early....if it was this year at such date we would have a rally in the middle of heavy rain and thunderstorms....like in Portugal 2001
But the calendar looks nice and GB in September will be interesting.
After the criticism of the endurance format, Argentina stepd back his inovational route for 2012 and decided to run the rally only over Cordoba region:
El Diario de Carlos Paz
Confirmed 2012 World Rally Championship calendar:
January 17/22 - Monte Carlo
February 9/12 - Sweden
March 8/11 - Mexico
March 29 / April 1 - Portugal
April 27/29 - Argentina
May 25/27- Greece
June 22/24 - New Zealand
August 2/5 - Finland
August 24/26 - Germany
September 13/16 - Great Britain
October 4/7 - France
October 18/21 - Italy
November 1/4 - Spain
2012 Super 2000 World Rally Championship calendar:
January 17/22 - Monte Carlo
February 9/12 - Sweden
March 29 / April 1 - Portugal
June 22/24 - New Zealand
August 2/5 - Finland
September 13/16 - Great Britain
October 4/7 - France
November 1/4 - Spain
No Mexico (major Fiesta market), Germany and Italy (tarmac rallies) - terrible decision. They should have left New Zeland out instead.
2012 Production World Rally Championship calendar:
January 17/22 - Monte Carlo
March 8/11 - Mexico
April 27/29 - Argentina
May 25/27- Greece
June 22/24 - New Zealand
August 24/26 - Germany
October 18/21 - Italy
November 1/4 - Spain
No Finland and Great Britain - terrible decision, they are Group N classics. Mexico and Germany should have been left out instead.
SWRC needs to do 7 of 8Quote:
Originally Posted by NaBUru38
PWRC needs to do 6 of 8 with 1 long haul minimum
New Zealand in the middle of Winter, would be much better in April.
Ray
NZ is better in the winter, as was Rally Oz.Quote:
Originally Posted by raybak
Daniel,
Just wondering whether you have competed in either of these events in Winter. If you have then maybe you can make a comment. You seem to be a very good armchair expert who has never competed at the top level or any level for that matter.
Ray
Rallying isn't all about you Ray. Frankly I think Rally NZ was superb when I spectated on it in winter and have always felt it was better when wet.Quote:
Originally Posted by raybak
Daniel
You seem to have the answer a lot Daniel. It may have suited you to traipse around in mud, but I think Autumn is a perfect time in NZ, mid April seems to be a good temp on the North Island and not too wet.
If Rally Oz was still in WA then Winter would be fine, but being in NSW now I think September works well or if there was a change in the Calendar April May would be ok as well. Then again it also depends on the roads that are chosen for the events and what spectator points are available.
Ray
You seem to have this thing about your answer being more relevant because you've competed. Some of us haven't had the chance or simply aren't all that bothered. Doesn't mean our answers are any less valid.Quote:
Originally Posted by raybak
I'm happy to see Monte back in the calender. I rather see GB later in the year but I think it's a good calender.Quote:
Originally Posted by NaBUru38
How many rallies have you competed in koko? You might fail the raybak test if you've not competed in as many as him......Quote:
Originally Posted by koko0703
How old are you? jeez ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel
28, you?Quote:
Originally Posted by cali
Then you should be old enough to recognise a rhetorical question.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel
Of course I saw it, I just chose to disregard it.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
Regarding going Endurance and going 'back to the future' - I wonder whether the weekend format of events is under discussion, and having some midweek events?? Having every event at the weekend means clashes with other bigger sporting events - midweek events could possibly avoid this. Any thoughts??
Not a legitimate argument, in my opinion. I am quite sure you will, at some point in your life, offered an opinion on something in which you have not been personally involved.Quote:
Originally Posted by raybak
If it's TV viewing figures they're concerned about, I see no reason why midweek events should cause a problem. After all, it's not as if having other sports, especially football, in midweek is deemed utterly impractical in that respect.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
There are those of us who will judge Jean Todt's FIA presidency more on what he does with the WRC than any actions he might take with F1.
FWIW I don’t think anything will change – I just think it’s worth discussion, as most events, were midweek/weekdays. Infact, this years Monte ran from Weds – Fri/Sat. The old RAC used to run from Sat/Sun – Weds, and didn’t seem to stop people following it.
I agree with you about Todt though – I think he’s done a pretty good job so far; seemingly making the WRC a priority, and introducing the WorldEnduranceChampionship. F1 isn’t the be all, end all…
I think that Monte midweek works very well. It is dark and cold outside, minimal number of motorsport events only skiiing in TV. evenings are long and nice to sit behind your PC, laptop or TV.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
The other time is summer. everybody are on a vocation, NORF starting on Thursday is OK. During the summer you even do not know what day it currently is. I think some more summer events can follow this format.
The variety means that the event might start at any time of the week. Some during the weekend, some on Wednesday, some on Monday...
I think bluuford has knocked it on the head, we need variety. No good going to the same old events with the cloverleaf format.
Ray
Quite so. That was in the days when people were actually interested in the event, though!Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC