What about Etios? Or it was only private project. All this talk about new manufacturer entry leave everyone hoping of something new, but clearly nothing happened in that way.
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What about Etios? Or it was only private project. All this talk about new manufacturer entry leave everyone hoping of something new, but clearly nothing happened in that way.
Etios has only regional homologation and it's not a works project.
New R5 manufactuers keep coming since the beginning and their number has been steadily increasing. If You expect faster rate You need to get real.
Having M-Sport, Citroen, Škoda and Hyundai would be a good WRC Pro battle. But even better if a VW team would be there.
It won't be a real battle because everyone will enter different events, I really don't understand the point of this shit of WRC2 score system, they should fix the events to count to have the real battle between the driversQuote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
If it’s true top factory teams are spending 60-70m euros on WRC, I am not surprised Skoda board would be sceptical to change their current strategy, which as you pointed out is profitable and can be used in WRC2, APRC, ERC, national championships..Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Shame because it seems pretty obvious they would do a much better job now than their previous spell in WRC.
Maybe too much (and too strong competition).Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
Hasnt that been the same before in WRC2 ?Quote:
Originally Posted by m-ast
Like when Elfyn Evans was driving in WRC2 2016 he was entering different events to his competitors...
If You didn't notice they compete with the very same competitors in R5. Believe me that's really not the reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
And the same in main WRC until 1994 when 100% full seasons were introduced (through three years of rotating a few rallies per year for F2 only)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Skoda'a budget seems to be much higher than all the other R5 teams. At least before C3 and Polo came.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Most notably the testing and continuing development part. Others seemed to just make the car and then let it sell with little changes as long as somebody was buying it. (208, DS3, i20). But again that's just how it looks to me. Might be wrong.
Sorry but doesn't proof anything about them being afraid of competition. Quite the opposite. It shows that when they do something they do it on 100%. Really the reason why they are not in WRC is not them being afraid of something.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Well it is, maybe they're afraid to invest the money needed to take the next step and take on the current wrc teams. They're afraid to step up to the plate, having proven everything in the lower classes. It's why they'd rather sit where they are and be content with what they have. They've been market leaders in s2000 and now R5 but won't take the plunge - despite it being possible to win without spending the most.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
They'd rather be safe than sorry. That's obvious
What is obvious, is that such big decisions and money come from VAG leadership in Wolfsburg.
Don't be so protective just because you are Czech - Mirek. Although it's their decision why they are where they are. We will not change that. But I would be really happy and maybe others too if they would step up to the big game. How bad that could be even if they would suck at the beginning. They have experience in lower class in the highest too. Budget I think wouldn't be a problem at all even for a caliber like Ogier or Loeb type investments (others I think are not that much expensive). Maybe they are really waiting for right oportunity like some guessed (new Fabia introduction or new regulations).
I mean it's kind of strange why they invest in 5 drivers ths year. With 2 of them being in fight for the title and then ''offer'' Kopecky a prestigious title (maybe for his loyalty - he definetly deserves it). Then build a new facility for what project? (they have talk about it and then nothing). I don't think that is that just for building their R5 machines. Or it's producton so huge that they need serial production lines for faster, cheaper building of that cars. Are they working on new R4 cars or R2? Then let's move on, then the fired Veiby (OK understandable he show something that he was not allowed to). Obviously they let go Nordgren too and keep only Rovanperra (he had a valid contract) and Kopecky. Tidemand have another offer too but he declined it and go seeking new oportunities. Well if Skoda was intend to bring their programme to the WRC then that would be a stupid idea to go out of the team.
Next thing some guy in Skoda Motorsport department say that their plan is not coming to the WRC and that's it. I think that they have maybe consider it and then change their minds, at least for a while. With their herritage in that kind of motorsport I think that they will be here for a long time and maybe when they will be ready they will come officially. We can only wait for their real intentions and hpe that this day would someday come. I think that Skoda coming is more possible than Mitsubishi and Subaru combined. These two manufacturers even don't make proper cars for that project.
Then there is another thing with interesting guessing. Skoda maybe will closely look at WRX and ES Motorsport activities. And if they will be succesfull why not try over there and support the team with factory money (just my guessing).
What I'm really sad is that sponsors don't invest more in this sport (WRC). They are rather in F1, or some football related sports. But novadays a lot of people invest in their cars and closest sport is rallying. Now I need to stop haha
That's not the case :)Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
One of the issues is that it's not their decision. At least it's not them alone who can decide and the smallest word of all decision makers has the motorsport department itself which is more a tool in the hands of the marketing strategists.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Agree that this was really strange and I have personally no idea what was behind that.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
That's how they actually present it. The truth is that the old facility was non-suitable for the motorsport department and especially for the volumes of the R5 cars being built and serviced there. They build approximately 80 R5 cars per year. that's quite a lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
To my knowledge not and I would be very suprised if they would. It seems they are not interested at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
I still think that at some point there was a possibility to launch the WRC project (as that was the only logical explanation for hiring those five). Let's not forget what Veiby himself leaked - the company counts with massive decrease of profit in the comming years due to high investments mainly related to electric vehicles. That's the most likely factor behind the current planning. It's a big company and in such companies decisions take time. That's why sometimes some actions look illogical when they actually happen because we do not know when decisions were taken and in which sequence.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
I am quite sure the motorsport department would like to do that and that it's not afraid of that at all. The issue is that the global strategy of the company and the VAG most likely doesn't count with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
They can support that of course (I guess they already do to some degree) but for sure I don't expect a true factory involvement there. Anyway I'm nowhere close to be knowledgeble about RX so it's only my assumption.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
In my eyes this is actually the most somewhat fair side of the game. The sponsors simply support what gives them something back. The level of sponsorship activities is a perfect mirracle of the marketing value of the sport. It's not an F1 and it will never be (and of course it's absolutely nowhere close to football) but it's not that bad. It's the second most popular motorsport (per Citroën marketing study from few years back).Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Even most F1 teams struggle to attract corporate sponsors nowadays. Sadly you're right about Football though. It's all about return on investment, 'shared values' and appearing to be environmentally responsible. So big companies are far more comfortable throwing their money at an unimaginative ball game with a large audience of small minds, drunkards, racists and wife beaters... Whereas we just have NOT. ;) :DQuote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
It's not fair to kick into football despite all that stupid stuff like pretending. It's a trully universal game which can be played by absolutely every heathy person on the Globe and in which for being good You don't need any money at all. That's why it's being followed by billions and why childs from poor families became mega stars. And that's all You need to know to understand why the sponsor money is there.
Motorsport has many issues in this regard. It's very expensive and that's why certain percentage of people will always see it as a fun activity for rich people. It's anything but ecologic which means that certain percentage of people (and sponsors) will refuse it. For certain people it's not a sport at all due to no athletic performance. For another people it's too complicated to understand. And least but not last it requires certain interest in cars and technical stuff. All of that means that the pool of followers is tiny compared to football.
It is also objectively the most boring sport on earth where 99% of the game time nothing is happening.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Objectively if that was true nobody would watch it. So objectively not.Quote:
Originally Posted by krissucool
I bet most of the people not following rallying would tell You absolutely the same about it. You stand next to the road in rain. Nothing happens. Than frrrr, 5 seconds and one car passed. Another two minutes of standing in the rain. Nothing happens. Frrr, 5 seconds and again two minutes of watching trees... For sure people like us find something interesting in it but You can never ever expect majority of people thinking that this is not boring.
I agree the real reason why they are not joining is political. Just like VW exit was.
For Skoda it's about 60% the money related to coming investments (and the PR/shareholders effect if they use large sums on WRC at same time). The rest is related to the current rules cycle coming to an end in 2-3? years. The new rules definitely need to include some hybridization else WRC ends like WRX did. Since it takes 1-1,5 years+ to develop a winning WRC it's late to join now.
Precisely why it's the most unimaginative sport in the world. Anyone can do it. You can barely avoid seeing it. People are force fed its influence and many gorge themselves on it. It's no wonder sponsors love it, other than TV soap operas, there are few things with such a huge audience of sheep like followers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Rallying is a sport where you can spend 99% of the time just looking at scenery. We can hardly talk on that front! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by krissucool
Try to watch Baseball then.... :DQuote:
Originally Posted by krissucool
Has it actually been confirmed when new WRC rules cycle will start? Perhaps it will coincide nicely with the launch of the next Fabia production model.
So a bullet point for the WRC promoter. Rally fans are the biggest nature lovers of all (the sport fans).Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Firstly football and rally have a big similarity - nothing happens for ages, then a big thing (a goal / a fast car). Its all about the anticipation.
And secend, remember that rally is now live to watch on screen. So you see a lot more action (no boring waiting) and the sponsors now get far more coverage.
But still there ain't many of them. Castrol, Repsol, Martini, 555 have all been pretty long time in WRC. Even Marlboro was there too. Now there is only maybe Redbull that's left. With Abu Dhabi gone we don't know if they will be back.
Tobacco product advertisement has been forbidden for nearly thirty years. Crying that they are not involved anymore is... strange at least.
Alcohol advertisement has been partially forbidden in certain countries as well. Since WRC is global You can't expect involvement of a company which would need to remove its adverts for part of the events.
For the rest it's easy to say that some company was involved and isn't anymore and completely omit the opposite case - the companies which were never involved in the past but are now in. You can start with Toyota sponsors Microsoft or DMG Mori.
Is there any other sport where a sponsor follows the world champion to whichever team he's with, like RB have with Ogier ?
Of course, many sportsmen have their own personal sponsors.
I would say more like 10-15 years...remember the Marlboro liveried Mitsus and Peugeots? Of course with no logos in most countries.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
It developed through the years but in some countries the ban was in place already in early 90'.
What about Castrol. They have been long time on Toyotas and then most of the time on Fords
Castrol is still in. It's one of Škoda's sponsors for example.
In Finland already late 70’sQuote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
If I remember correctly, in late 90’s tobacco advertising was allowed in Monaco, but not in France, so they taped Marlboro’s over after ceremonial start in RMC
It's a mix of action and statistics, though I don't think many people fill out the sheet you used to get with your ticket. A hundred and more years ago it was a big deal to a generation that had the first taste of leisure and literacy in the US.Quote:
Originally Posted by cali
I'm not against any sports specially when have been involved in sports whole my life. And I understand how big part statistics can have in American pro sports. Just watched MLB World Series last match on a TV rerun. Not whole a lot action going on...Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregor-y
Banning of tabacco advertising was mostly at the end of the 90's I think. In Belgium the ban started at the end of 1998 I think. One of the last rallies where we've seen tobacco advertising must have been Barum Rally 2004 (CZ), where Thiry competed with the Kronos/Bastos-C2 S1600. After that year Bastos stopped advertising, as the brand name could not be displayed anywhere anymore.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Yes, in my understanding they somehow used a grey zone in that time existing law in CZ which allowed continuation of tobacco advertisement based on the pre-2002 deals until the end of 2004. This was valid only for certain types of advertisement while some others were banned already in 1995. In fact tobacco adverts were banned in CZ already in 1991 but the law survived only few months before it was canceled under heavy lobbying...Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
Most European countries had already either completely banned or restricted the tobacco advertising coming into the new millennium. The EU directive for the complete ban came into effect in 2005. Can't remember the exact details (how, and by which ruling), but the use of alternative ways of advertising (like 'East' or 'Tommi' or 'BENSON & HEDGES') has also basically been banned during the past 10 years or so.