Printable View
Why not? If a manufacturer is not cabable of WRC they can take part WRC2 with less expenses and yet promote. Also, that would be a brilliant step for young talents to dive in to WRC. I loved when F2 cars were along group-A cars even the formula was a bit unfair.
I don't agree. Manufacturers need real promotion - that means they need to win overall. Nobody cares that a car brand wins WRC2 if it is placed 10th overall in Rallye Monte Carlo behind it's main business rivals, but if You can say You won Rallye Sanremo it's something of much higher marketing value no matter it is different championship. Most of the public have no clue about calendars, competition levels etc. They just see Škoda over Peugeot and Ford or Škoda behind Citroën, Ford, VW and Mini. What is better for them is clear.
Besides that WRC2 shall be accessible for young drivers and privateers who want to come to WRC. If You give them works opposition which destroys them whenever it wants it's hardly any motivation. Of course Your point with feeding VW is fully valid. I just hope it's not going to end only that way...
Third point is that for global company like VAG it shall be better to split its forces to all popular championships instead of wasting resources for in-house war.
What if they were Skoda Fabias run by Volkswagen Motorsport as a means of finding new talent?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
I guess Hyundai is working on a next generation i20.
Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2
Having manufacturers in WRC2 might lure them in to WRC like it did with F2, remember Skoda and Seat. You never know!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
About young drivers and their hopes/motivation having crushed by professionals.... well, that is their wake up call! Good drivers shall always be noticed, plus the fact they can select the most proper rallys to them.
Your third point I can't argue. But I don't believe they think that in Skoda HQ. I'm certain given the chance, they think they would kick VW's a$$ ;)
PS, sorry about the off-topic but I don't have anything good to say Hyundai's WRC project so far :p
Nobody has anything to say about the Hyundai project yet... ;) Only those "smart" guys who rate the whole thing based on a promo video say something, but nothing with any value... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
I also think Skoda will stay in ERC, for marketing reasons. Tell me, in the history of rallying, when did the B-class in a same championship ever get some reasonable marketing exposure? VW got some attention now, but only because they are going to join the WRC next year and because it's Ogier. The IRC (now ERC) is a perfect step-up for WRC already, see Neuville, Mikkelsen, Meeke, and Hänninen now. If you can show your talent there, your probably more visible for teams than in WRC2/SWRC, where the competition level looked far below ERC imho.
I know. Škoda is not allowed to make WRC because of VW.Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
That is Sepp Wiegand. Run by Škoda Importer team (Škoda Deutschland, Juka Motorsport car). VW doesn't plan any starts with Fabia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisoner Monkeys
I don't think having a manufacture team in WRC2 is quite right. I mean, how are private teams that chases their budget, and maybe even struggles for it, gonna to stand a chance against manufacture teams with big budgets? That's probably also why the WRC only had two manufacture teams for a while, the costs were to big and you couldn't get anything out of it, not a win or podium, just a giant beating from Citroen and Ford.
With manufacture teams, costs rises through the roof if it isn't handled right, like F1 where only a two, three teams fighting for the glory.
VW Group have famously had a policy of not competing against each other - and having a discipline for each company. The was an interview with Jost Capito; the Group Heads of Motorsport meet throughout the year, were programmes/ budgets are discussed.
This policy can be changed when it suits them; next year Porsche will return to the top level of Sportscars, and take on Audi; however they will use different engine types: a petrol hybrid v a diesel hybrid.
So, unless the WRC regs change, there is no point in allowing Skoda into the WRC to take on VW with virtually the same car. Maybe Skoda needs to go the ERC/ WRC2 route and build a R5 Fabia??