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That is too simplistic a view. As I posted before, an uprated drivetrain/brakes/aero/tyres etc....Quote:
Originally Posted by JAM
Would allow for a visible difference between the cars.
Would make the WRC car a much different car to drive, handle & setup.
The performance of the car would be much greater.
Makes the challenge greater to step up to the WRC level.
So if I understand, you have one chassis, but 2 kits of parts, 1 for WRC and 2 for National/Regional events. Then you swap depending on what event. I'd go further and standardise these kits, so they can be used on any manufacturers car, i.e a control kit.
I agree with you on the need for control components, just as S2000 has the control Sadev gearbox & drivetrain.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
However things such as engine, bodywork & aerodynamics would need to remain fairly free to individualise the cars.
Speaking of control parts, there are different options for how this can be done.
(a) The obvious choice is to have the FIA say that X part must be supplied by
Y company, just as Pirelli has now won the contract for tyres from next year onwards.
(b) A control specification is developed for a given part so several companies can make & sell the identical item. Thus not shutting out potential sponsors.
(c) A generic part is produced & is allowed to be re-badged by other companies. May be hard to tender out the contract initially but it has been done before.
The final two are favoured by me because you would not have more situations, like we have had this year of Michelin being shut out of the WRC & leading to legal action. It leads to less corporate sponsorship dollars being floated about by component manufacturers.
Control specifications on how a tyre can be built would mean that Dunlop, Michelin, Continental, MRF or whoever you like could build the same item. Tolerances would be monitored & each item would have to be certified by the FIA, which is not impossible once setup properly.
Not to get off topic, but I have been saying for some years now that 4wd has made its point. It has also effectively made the visual aspect for spectators on stage and televison alike antiseptic particularly on tarmac events. Im sure that we can all agree that its faster in most respect as a rallycar performs.
Why not go back to RWD? The need for horsepower would be no more than 350-400 on gravel events, and tarmac would have the crowd pleasing drifts back in full effect. Most rally drivers agree that RWD cars are more fun for all involved anyway. So a limit on engines would be moot point. Perhaps the old marques like BMW, Porsche, and even Mercedes might return to top level rallying. We might even see the occasional Ferrari on tarmac events again. Not to mention lifting the mandate on manufacturers commiting to a full season.
I dunno, maybe I have been watching to many old rally 70s and 80s rally videos.
Basically with 95% of all cars manufactured today being Front Wheel Drive, it suits manufacturers more to adapt their cars to 4WD. That is simply what the factories want. To re-engineer a car that is FWD to RWD, the time, effort & not to mention the cost, it is more logical to house a 4WD drive system. Plus the performance of the 4WD car would be alot better too.
It is also why the JWRC & S1600 is front wheel drive based too.
Just another thought slightly off topic, shouldn't the cars used resemble the road cars, or vice versa. During the Group A era there were road versions of the WRally cars, nowadays you can't go down to Ford or Citroen and purchase a 2L Turbo 4WD car. I know they were expensive, or supposedly so. Pity none made anymore.
That is the issue with manufacturers. As we all know, only Subaru & Mitsubishi make a 4WD car that is close to being rally ready. It was the entire basis for S2000 to come into being, allowing for more than a two horse race in Gp. N.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
To specify that the rally cars matches a road going version, it would be way too expensive for them to constuct such a car in set volumes. Plus as with most car, it would mean that the car would have to be front wheel drive etc...
The easier method that allows for road going pleasure is through the bodywork. Flare, wings & other modifications would be easier to produce. Allowing for a token cosmetic effort with out the need for retooling a factory assembly line for major engineering changes required for engines & drivetrain.
Lastly, it would be hard for a manufacturer to produce a road going car with control components. Styling cues are the only avenue at a sensible price.
Just as I thought. That was the reasoning behind the WRCar formula. enabling manufacturers into the sport who didn't have a 2L Turbo 4WD car. Agree that styling cues are most likely, seems a shame when the FIA want WRC to be Production based (Family Saloons) yet Joe Public can only buy a Subaru or Mitsubishi. I'd like to see a variety of cars in the championship, i.e Nissan 350z, Porsche 911 GT3, Aston Martin Vantage Rally GT, for the Tarmac rounds. I'd even hope BMW and others would enter. I am a realist though, not ging to happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Livewireshock
For people with exotic cars like the ones you mentioned, you are really talking about another championship all together. Here in Australia & NZ we have two types of tarmac rallying. First off there is the Targa events which are large headline events with classics & modern sportscars alike. But it is not organised into a set championship. Then there is the Dutton series which runs in most states, but is at a lesser level. The standard of racing is mainly amateur (Japanese hot imports, European sportscars, Muscle cars) but the Targa events do have manufacturer backed teams (Lambo, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Mini, Toyota etc.......).Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
There is a place for such vehicles but not in the WRC. Especially for select rounds only. It would detract from the main overall competition, especially if they are capable of outright honours.
Plus parity would be the biggest nightmare. How can you manage so many varied vehicles & keep them in line with the WRC cars? A scrutineers nightmare!
Marc van Dalen about the future
Q:
Are you worried about the state of the sport at the moment then?
MvD:
Not really now, but in the immediate future, if there is only official and works teams involved there are not enough cars. Last year there was Red Bull Skoda and Bozian Peugeot and those teams are not involved in the WRC anymore. This is not normal. We are the only ones, the last one and believe me it is not easy. That means perhaps this is the last year for us also in the WRC. It is time everyone understood it is time to change some things and it is better to put money to help teams than to go to Buenos Aires for nothing. This is not what we expect.
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