How do you see the future of rally?

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

How can national championships then be expected to flourish if, in terms of the cars used, they are distinctly second class?
How do you explain, the success of the S2000.
Remember, I wrote that WRC should not have been allowed, not what else should have been instead. (read between the lines and think about money).
When the Swedish rally was on top (when talking about the number of participants), they had a completely separate regulations that were restrictive with all that cost much money, but not with things that increased durability.


They seem now to be most interested only in what goes on in the FIA-sanctioned championships rather than looking at the wider interests of the sports under their jurisdiction as a whole.

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Im not the one who believes that FIA are doing everything right and is the great defender of what they decide, but I do not think it's so easy to do better than them, as some others.
You must remember that they do not want to destroy their livelihoods.

I'm not the best to write here.
Part of my answer is in the square.

Things can get even more complicated when the hybrid/full electric cars get into the rally game.

This thread once again brought out.
Still I see no positives for the future of the WRC.
More bad news is certainly coming, but you must also see that the economization of the world has influence on the sport and certainly Rally.
I have not responded to what's happening in Portugal because then I still get attacked again, my opinions come here later or never. I'll wait until we hear more news of the factory teams and their future.

I’m not sure the current time is the best time for new Manufacturers to join. I’m also coming to the conclusion that Rallying is possibly no longer as relevant as it was to the major Manufacturers. Other series allow hybrids, diesels, etc
Saying that, VW arriving is a big coup....but others are needed. As are sponsors, etc
However, it doesn’t help when the stakeholders are disagreeing over the future direction. The woeful media coverage doesn’t help. The Power stage – made for TV has been hit & miss this year.

I agree with what you write here AndyRAC, we also see that there is already in motorsport rates to be canceled because too few participants and money problems. Also in WRC and IRC we see fewer drivers. When will we see the first canceling of a wrc rally this year? Of course I hope that in the future the WRC remains.

Nice post but unfortunately I have no information about this.

In the last issue of Vauhdin Maailama Toni Gardemeister tells that in his opinion one big reason for the descent in motorsport was when the advertising of tobacco products were banned. Maybe a general lack of sponsors nowadays.

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Originally Posted by OldF

In the last issue of Vauhdin Maailama Toni Gardemeister tells that in his opinion one big reason for the descent in motorsport was when the advertising of tobacco products were banned. Maybe a general lack of sponsors nowadays.

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You're right. I think only Portugal, NZ & Finland hace commercial sponsors for their events; Vodafone, Brother & Neste Oils......The rest are backed by Tourist/Regional boards....which isn't healthy. It might help if the sport was attractive to sponsors - look what happened to Prodrive; good results but no sponsor.

Too long with too complicated and way too expensive cars lead to loss of manufacturers and then loss of other sponsors. That because general interest on rallying was lost because only 2 manufacturers. I blame big teams and FIA that they allowed (and still to some extent allow) rallycars be too expensive and boring. Less wings, less suspension travel etc would make it easier for new reams to enter + make watching it more interesting.

Toni is of course right in that banning cigarette advertisement has hit motorsports very hard. Healthnazism sucks :)