[WRC] News & rumours (part IV) 2016

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Originally Posted by dimviii

The perfect team is to bring us the title in 2018. Not so in 2017, I believe more in the long run. In 2017 we want to win some tests and this can make Kris. Then we have to see what the best option for the future. The Volkswagen drivers have only contract for the 2017 season and still Thierry, Dani and Mads are available. These are all experienced pilots. Of course we can also look for someone new. There are still more names. In late 2017, the market may seem totally different.
http://www.diariomotor.com/competici...l-wrc-en-2018/

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This part is interesting for several reasons:
a. seems he doesn't have 100% confidence in Meeke (probably because he's fast but still crashes) so he's keeping his options open for 2018 - I think it's good, no reason to commit to Meeke yet - see how things go next year.
b. VW Drivers having contracts only for 2017 - this is new information for me, up to now I only read that they have multiple year contract that goes longer than 2016. End date of 2017 seems believable, but it will be hard to attract them.
c. He mentioned everyone including Thierry, Dani and Mads, Lappi, Lefebvre, Gilbert for 2017. I think the main target in reality is Sordo, if they can't take him then I'd say they should put a young driver in.

Wilson on 2017 car, new model Fiesta (I guess):

http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home...d-for-2017-wrc

Edit- Simmi beat me to it on M-Sport thread.

Matton should be doing everything to show Meeke he has full confidence in him to lead the team. Maybe it's a bit of reverse psychology or something, but it sounds like he still isnt convinced on him from that article. No way Meeke was getting that 3yr deal if it wasn't for Tommi and Toyota ready to pay Kris the big bucks (even though I think Meeke is the only current driver who could challenge Ogier consistently next year. Still think Paddon is a year or two away from that, but he's got time on his side at least).

Sordo would be stupid to go back to Citroen, he seems settled at Hyundai. However Neuville working under his Belgian mate is something I could see happening....

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I don’t believe Matton has doubts on Meeke. Probably he was talking about manu’s title, not driver’s title. It’s impossible to win it with only one strong driver. Besides, it’s always wise to show lower than higher expectations about their full return.

Talks about rotation of rallies again. It didn’t work in the past and I believe it wouldn’t work today either. Three years on – three years off. How would it feel with three years without Monte, Sweden, Finland, GB etc.? Monte was out of WRC for few years but then there were IRC instead.

http://digital.motorsportmonday.com//launch.aspx?eid=9f2143d9-827a-4e1e-807a-d09fc535f4f1

Get rid of Australia and bring back NZ. That is it!!!

Joost too says that brining in a driver like Meeke or Loeb for a rally here and there and then winning it is ruining the WRC...... :rollseyes:

Jost*

They tried it twice - the mid 90s and about ten years after that. Did it work either time?

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Originally Posted by Jack4688`

They tried it twice - the mid 90s and about ten years after that. Did it work either time?

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maybe they wanna try it once a decade...

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Originally Posted by Jack4688`

They tried it twice - the mid 90s and about ten years after that. Did it work either time?

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Nope. Sweden/Norway had it every second year for a while but IIRC it was hard finding sponsors for a non annual event so that idea was
scrapped and the two rallies was merged into the rally we have today.

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Originally Posted by Eli

maybe they wanna try it once a decade...

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Or 3rd time lucky.........

Do they ever learn? Or have they ever heard the saying "Insanity is repeating the same thing again and again and expecting a different result"....

They seem to make things up as they go along - with very little thought involved.

Rotation means you end up with the situation the WRC finds itself in regarding the antipodes: promise '3 years' for one event with a 'promise' to switch round after that. Then things change an one rally is left out in the cold after promises were broken.

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Originally Posted by Jack4688`

Rotation means you end up with the situation the WRC finds itself in regarding the antipodes: promise '3 years' for one event with a 'promise' to switch round after that. Then things change an one rally is left out in the cold after promises were broken.

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Depends whether the promoters hold up their end of the deal. New Zealand had an agreement with one promoter which was null and void when the power changed hands. A proper rotation system would mean rallies got their years delegated way ahead of time.

If championships like ERC/APRC were in better health then MAYBE you could switch events in and out. But that would be the only chance. Once your three years are up and the funding is gone then it's very difficult to get it back.

Rotation is nice idea on paper, but taking in mind, how rapidly our world changes (also financially), I don't see how anyone would like to sign a rotated deal. Ok, every year event makes cycle, where you need to constantly work and be in contact with sponsors and local authorities. For every 2 years, this cycle breaks and if some kind of crysis happens, noone could be willing to resume work.

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Originally Posted by Simmi

New Zealand had an agreement with one promoter which ...

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I think you'll find that was never the case. In fact, if I recall correctly the promoter at the time issued a statement saying that they were never party to any discussion.
What NZ evidently had was a 'gentlemen's agreement' with Australia and a presumption that it carried some weight with the promoters. That is all. Problem is you'd have difficulty finding a gentleman in either country.

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Originally Posted by sollitt

I think you'll find that was never the case. In fact, if I recall correctly the promoter at the time issued a statement saying that they were never party to any discussion.
What NZ evidently had was a 'gentlemen's agreement' with Australia and a presumption that it carried some weight with the promoters. That is all. Problem is you'd have difficulty finding a gentleman in either country.

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Them's fightin' words!

The agreement was with The pervious Promoter of the WRC whom left shortly after!

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Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

The agreement was with The pervious Promoter of the WRC whom left shortly after!

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Are you sure?
Red Bull announced promoter in 2012 to take effect 2013.
This from RNZ media release September 2013. " ... the World Rally Championship promoters are focused on the short term, and are therefore not in a position to agree to the suggestion at this time ..."

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Originally Posted by sollitt

I think you'll find that was never the case. In fact, if I recall correctly the promoter at the time issued a statement saying that they were never party to any discussion.
What NZ evidently had was a 'gentlemen's agreement' with Australia and a presumption that it carried some weight with the promoters. That is all. Problem is you'd have difficulty finding a gentleman in either country.

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After spending most of April there I'd suggest the Kiwis have been too laid back and easy going for their own good. When you've got properly fresh air, regular sunshine and warm but not humid weather, who gives a shite about any of the stuff we worry ourselves with this side of the world?

No promoter agreement? No problem, bro. Just jump off a cliff into a lake and you'll feel fine ay.

as for the events that would like to take part: http://www.rallye-magazin.de/wm/nach...f-welttournee/

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Originally Posted by BleAivano

Nope. Sweden/Norway had it every second year for a while but IIRC it was hard finding sponsors for a non annual event so that idea was
scrapped and the two rallies was merged into the rally we have today.

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Rally Norway lost too much money in 2009 due to spending to much money on big screens in the middle of the forest and other things, -30 meant there was a bit less spectators as well.

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Originally Posted by OldF

Talks about rotation of rallies again. It didn’t work in the past and I believe it wouldn’t work today either. Three years on – three years off. How would it feel with three years without Monte, Sweden, Finland, GB etc.? Monte was out of WRC for few years but then there were IRC instead.

http://digital.motorsportmonday.com//launch.aspx?eid=9f2143d9-827a-4e1e-807a-d09fc535f4f1

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Thanks OldF. Great piece from MM rally editor. I've tried to put it here as jpg file but didn't succeed. Can someone do it? (p.77)

krismeeke.com ‏@krismeeke

Sad to learn of the passing of Jean-Pierre Mondron of @kronosracing. A true gentleman #RIP

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Originally Posted by Rally Power

Thanks OldF. Great piece from MM rally editor. I've tried to put it here as jpg file but didn't succeed. Can someone do it? (p.77)

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there You go - http://s33.postimg.org/42tk3rhcv/Scr...5_01_38_36.png

p77

http://s5.postimg.org/icck6ty9z/p77.jpg

I actually like the headline - "Meeke destroys Ogier to take his second career win" - it's like written from a boy in the kindergarten have watched too much transformers.
What's next?

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

there You go - http://s33.postimg.org/42tk3rhcv/Scr...5_01_38_36.png

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Yep, it's that one. Thanks Stefan. Just hope Mr. Ciesla and Mr. Mahonen will take a look on that fine text from Jerry Williams.

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Originally Posted by Rally Power

Yep, it's that one. Thanks Stefan. Just hope Mr. Ciesla and Mr. Mahonen will take a look on that fine text from Jerry Williams.

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I just uploaded the picture, but I don't understand this article. What is his point?

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

I just uploaded the picture, but I don't understand this article. What is his point?

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IMHO no rotation for the WRC, add NZ instead of Australia?

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

I just uploaded the picture, but I don't understand this article. What is his point?

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The promoter and some FIA top officials said that rotation could be back to WRC calendar. Probably they got fish memory and can’t remember the mid 90's and mid 00's experiences that end badly (the last one leading to the growth of a rival international rally series - IRC). Williams editorial sump up perfectly the previous rotation mess and the risks of this kind of system.

This time the risks are even greater, as it seems they’re proposing a 3 years leave for the events affected by the rotation. Can WRC handle the absence of iconic and leading events for so long? Will the organizers of those events set quietly for 3 years or will they be tempted to enter a new series that probably is going to be a strong competition to WRC? Can some of the new events attend WRC standards or will they fail to meet the rally world expectations, as it happen before?

For sure it can be positive for the promoter’s short term profits, but this new proposal will almost certainly end damaging the sport if it comes real.

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Originally Posted by Rally Power

The promoter and some FIA top officials said that rotation could be back to WRC calendar. Probably they got fish memory and can’t remember the mid 90's and mid 00's experiences that end badly (the last one leading to the growth of a rival international rally series - IRC). Williams editorial sump up perfectly the previous rotation mess and the risks of this kind of system.

This time the risks are even greater, as it seems they’re proposing a 3 years leave for the events affected by the rotation. Can WRC handle the absence of iconic and leading events for so long? Will the organizers of those events set quietly for 3 years or will they be tempted to enter a new series that probably is going to be a strong competition to WRC? Can some of the new events attend WRC standards or will they fail to meet the rally world expectations, as it happen before?

For sure it can be positive for the promoter’s short term profits, but this new proposal will almost certainly end damaging the sport if it comes real.

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I see. Probably it is bad idea, but for sure wrc needs NZ.

It's a bad idea it didn't work back 10 and 20 years ago? why should this time be any different??? If they do decide to do it I hope they manage at least to keep MC,Sweden,Argentina,Finland & Corsica (after all it did take them ages to bring it back) also GB but is seems that rally is going to rotate somehow with the Circuit. Besides if they go ahead, they might aswell bring back NZ (that goes without saying) & Greece!!!

Cyprus and Turkey. Hard rock gravel events please!

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Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Cyprus and Turkey. Hard rock gravel events please!

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For hard rocknevents please check this years ERT Rally of Turkey Marmaris :)

Amazing rally for all :))


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Would it ever be possible to run Australia and NZ back to back? Like a week apart? Or is that simply not feasible and too quick a turnaround? Maybe a stupid suggestion...

Just think NZ has to be on the calendar, it's a truly iconic event. I like Australia as well but do hope it would return to Perth in the future...

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Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Cyprus and Turkey. Hard rock gravel events please!

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Here you go GGN1: http://www.swedenrock.com/festival/o...-rock-festival

Good one! :D

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Originally Posted by er88

Would it ever be possible to run Australia and NZ back to back? Like a week apart? Or is that simply not feasible and too quick a turnaround? Maybe a stupid suggestion...

Just think NZ has to be on the calendar, it's a truly iconic event. I like Australia as well but do hope it would return to Perth in the future...

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It would take around a week to get the shipping containers from Australia to NZ (or vice versa), so that necessarily mandates a 2 week gap in between end of one, and start of recce for another, so it makes for an expensive time for the teams etc. They'd have to send everyone home, then back out again a week later.

And possibly the cars for a rebuild if they have major damage, or have a spare car ready to fly out just in case something goes awry. It's an expensive game....

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Originally Posted by Eli

It's a bad idea it didn't work back 10 and 20 years ago? why should this time be any different??? If they do decide to do it I hope they manage at least to keep MC,Sweden,Argentina,Finland & Corsica (after all it did take them ages to bring it back) also GB but is seems that rally is going to rotate somehow with the Circuit. Besides if they go ahead, they might aswell bring back NZ (that goes without saying) & Greece!!!

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Utter madness! It didn't work twice before - so why will it work again? Rotation is not the answer.

If you'd have told me 20 years ago that the WRC wouldn't have Safari, NZ, Sanremo & the Acropolis I'd have thought you were mad. Not only that, the sport is far weaker for it. The WRC is not, and never can/ or will be F1...so stop trying to model it similar. There are plenty of countries with £$£$£$£ wanting to host F1, I doubt that is the case for WRC.

Pick the best events that showcase the sport in it's best light - and stop going to countries that aren't really interested in the WRC. I know it's meant to be a 'World' championship - but the most of the best events are in Europe. Argentina should stay, and NZ simply has to be in the WRC - Australia offers very little, unless it's in Perth.