How do you see the future of rally?

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Originally Posted by COD

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

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Energy Drinks have taken over where Tobacco once was as Motorsport sponsorship is concerned.
Both are similar in the fact that they are cheap to make and so have massive profit margins.

It's all in the marketing, Red Bull is king in that department, 2x F1 Teams plus a presence in almost every other motor racing or adrenaline sport.

One day I can see these being banned as well. Research in this country has stated Energy Drinks provide no therapeutic benefit and are associated with risks for serious adverse health effects. These include liver damage, kidney failure, respiratory disorders, agitation, confusion, nausea, vomiting, heart failure, etc.

No connection to cancer.... yet.

I guess it's still early days, and Energy Drinks are still on their honeymoon period and making squillions of $$$. Like smoking it will take a generation or more before the masses wake up and see that they are exchanging their money for a can of water, sugar and toxins.

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Originally Posted by COD

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.

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get rid of the overly active controls in a rallycar, and bring back centre console mounted gear changes.

it would have been nice to see if Sebastian Loeb is actually a freak, or lucky to have had very easy cars to drive quickly, without pesky competition from many different Marques, not just on or two competitive ones.

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Originally Posted by smokin'joe

get rid of the overly active controls in a rallycar, and bring back centre console mounted gear changes.

it would have been nice to see if Sebastian Loeb is actually a freak, or lucky to have had very easy cars to drive quickly, without pesky competition from many different Marques, not just on or two competitive ones.

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Which active controls are You talking about? There are almost none in new WRC cars. Almost everything in new cars is purely mechanical - differentials, gearbox, throttle... You can hardly make cars simpler than they are now.

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Originally Posted by smokin'joe

get rid of the overly active controls in a rallycar, and bring back centre console mounted gear changes.

it would have been nice to see if Sebastian Loeb is actually a freak, or lucky to have had very easy cars to drive quickly, without pesky competition from many different Marques, not just on or two competitive ones.

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what are you smoking Joe?

One sponsor I can’t recall seeing for a while in rallying is Repsol. Repsol was always where Sainz was.

A pity Prodrive couldn't entice them to back Sordo, then. Where is Sainz these days? Maybe Repsol will turn up on the Polo.

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Originally Posted by Gregor-y

A pity Prodrive couldn't entice them to back Sordo, then. Where is Sainz these days? Maybe Repsol will turn up on the Polo.

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vw is partner with castrol.

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Originally Posted by Gregor-y

A pity Prodrive couldn't entice them to back Sordo, then. Where is Sainz these days? Maybe Repsol will turn up on the Polo.

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Mini have Castrol as well as VW. It is unbelievable that these cars cannot get more sponsorship; The little green pig has more decals on it than the red ones. Also the donor Countryman is the ultimate in niche cars at the moment (also very good price residuals).

The brand I miss is BBS Wheels. You do not see them as much in the WRC anymore.

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Originally Posted by Maui J.

Energy Drinks have taken over where Tobacco once was as Motorsport sponsorship is concerned.
Both are similar in the fact that they are cheap to make and so have massive profit margins.

It's all in the marketing, Red Bull is king in that department, 2x F1 Teams plus a presence in almost every other motor racing or adrenaline sport.

One day I can see these being banned as well. Research in this country has stated Energy Drinks provide no therapeutic benefit and are associated with risks for serious adverse health effects. These include liver damage, kidney failure, respiratory disorders, agitation, confusion, nausea, vomiting, heart failure, etc.

No connection to cancer.... yet.

I guess it's still early days, and Energy Drinks are still on their honeymoon period and making squillions of $$$. Like smoking it will take a generation or more before the masses wake up and see that they are exchanging their money for a can of water, sugar and toxins.

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+10. I dread the day when the food police and green lovey doveys try to save us from the taurine and caffine cans. You can just bet people will start hording cans of Monster under their beds and have a black market for head rushes.

For health warnings: makes it sound like energy drinks are being described as having the same health effects as crack.

Back to rally; I am disappointed that Rockstar and Monster haven't done more with WRC (ie have branding on a works car). There is still enough of an audience to make it worthwhile I feel. The GFC does not do us any favors however.

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Originally Posted by Plan9

The brand I miss is BBS Wheels. You do not see them as much in the WRC anymore.

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Aaah...
Subaru Impreza 22B-STi

Those were the days!