2013 ERC News and Results

Eurosport intentions on making ERC a WRC lookalike series are pretty obvious in this (draft?) calendar.

3 ex-wrc events: Corsica, Cyprus and Poland; 4 wrc evocative events: Açores (reminds New Zealand); Jänner (snow on tarmac, like the Monte Carlo); Artic (Sweden replica) and Circuit of Ireland.
Iconic ERC events only represented by Ypres and Barum (Madeira and Bulgaria regrettably dropped in favor of Croatia and Romania).

Big surprise (and the exception for this ERC with WRC flair): San Marino instead of the San Remo. Really sad if confirmed.

2013 will be a transitional season for ERC, and from 2014, with the R5 manufactureurs full involvement, this ERC could turn even more in a "european wrc", with a gravel rally in Great Britain or a event in Russia (earlier considered for WRC expansion).

Arctic will not be in calendar...

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Originally Posted by Jack4688`

I am amazed that they decided to include Sibiu and nothing in Italy.

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There is Rally San Marino. Except the city stage it is in Italy. They obviously wanted to keep balance between asphalt and gravel so they chose the gravel one of the four Italian IRC/ERC events of 2012.

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Originally Posted by Jack4688`

Not that I'm bad mouthing Croatia - it's just the wide roads don't seem anything like the challenge of the (relatively) narrow mountain passes of those three Italian classics.

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No, it's not. Only some stages are on wide asphalt. Also there is extremely slippery asphalt in Croatia which especially if wet is a challenge itself. Don't underestimate it...

For example this onboard of Juho is of a very nice stage
ERC Rally Croatia SS13 onboard - YouTube

And I think that if there will be Croatia in calendar, it should move back to different area...

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Originally Posted by PLuto

Arctic will not be in calendar...

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You're right. Is this Winter Rally the one from Lithuania? Still, it'll look like a Swedish replica rally...

Yes, it looks like a Swedish replica rally, but why not?

Beside all this talks, I dont think that calendar from Motorsport News (copied on rallye-magazin pages) is the final version. As I know, they are still talking with organisers, but some of the events are almost confirmed. Only one official confirmed is Janner and very soon will be other two events ;)

Sorry for my english.

**** calendar. This should be a European championship, not an invention of Eurosport with rallies that have more money. Mille Miglia? Bulgaria? Madeira? Valais? Turkey? A little respect for the rallies that have spent years in the ERC.

I don't understand this globalization rallies and less with a championship tradition since 1953 and is the ERC.

I believe that the different type of terrain and the “good” stages are just the one part of the equation. You can find challenging stages almost everywhere in Europe, but you can’t easily find a proper organization and traditions everywhere. I agree that money is necessary, but not sufficient condition. On the other hand, "old" rallies should work hard for their "big" names.
Nevertheless, Eurosport will aim at better geographical diversification to reach higher number of spectators and to satisfy their business partners/sponsors/manufacturers. I think, they should pay more attention to logistic expenses (as Pluto mentioned) and local audience interest – it is not a real rally without a decent number of fans around the stages and with just a few (rich enough) privateers! They should think about a low cost "2WD junior challenge" if they want to grow pilots.

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Originally Posted by Eyvind

This should be a European championship, not an invention of Eurosport with rallies that have more money.

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I think this statement sums it up pretty well. And to be honest it is pretty understandable. What credibility is there when an event that is included in a calendar is not ready one month before it is done? Nobody can program anything!

Of course there are better rallies to include in the calendar, San Remo and Turkey in my opinion should have been there!
About the Bulgarian events now, of course Rally Sliven is a better rally than Rally Bulgaria, but it is not something special. In Greece there are at least 3-4 tarmac rallies with that kind of roads! If somebody come to Kentavros Rally in Greece will understand what I say.

I am pretty sad because during Sliven rally with my friends we were talking about going to 3 international rallies next year, Bulgaria, Sliven and Turkey because it is in small driving distance, 4-7 hours, and now noone of them is included but what can we do? If this is for the best of the sport then it is OK for me!

Dont be afraid Tasos, you will have Rally Acropolis in ERC in 2014 :D

Eurosport reveals 12-event European Rally Championship calendar - IRC news - AUTOSPORT.com

When they have so many rallies to pick from, the calendar should not be fixed, but changing a bit every year. Maybe 8 more or less fixed, and 4 changing every year.

By doing it like this more countries can be involved, and be a part of european rallying !

I am surprised that Kurzeme is in current ERC, but I like that because it gives a chance to scandinavian drivers, and ofcourse if some hero of Latvia take part on several events.

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Originally Posted by Mirek

There is Rally San Marino. Except the city stage it is in Italy. They obviously wanted to keep balance between asphalt and gravel so they chose the gravel one of the four Italian IRC/ERC events of 2012.

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Well San Marino isn't Italy now is it....

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Originally Posted by Mirek

... Only some stages are on wide asphalt. Also there is extremely slippery asphalt in Croatia which especially if wet is a challenge itself. Don't underestimate it...

For example this onboard of Juho is of a very nice stage

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Also that video proves how bad the Ellegy TV coverage (from ERC's current official website) is - I had no idea there were stages like that. I'm quite pleased about that rally being included now.

Still pi**ed off about Sibiu though...

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Originally Posted by Mirek

For example this onboard of Juho is of a very nice stage
ERC Rally Croatia SS13 onboard - YouTube

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Two things I noticed from this video. I've never before tried to count the number of spectators on a special stage from an onboard video. If there were more than 150 people (excluding marshals) on that 17+ kms stage, I'll be damned. Only one place with more than a handful of people. Stage itself was not to blame. The other thing was how lousy Mikko called the pacenotes on the first half of the stage. Many corrections that could be rally-ending harmful on other rallies, also asking Juho things like "This was the place with gravel, wasn't it?" and not calling the finish at the end. Perhaps he was all too worried about his firstborn, whether he'd get back home in time, but it seemed as if they were running circles with one hand tied behind their backs, like a one forum alumni (?) would've put it.

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Originally Posted by Jack4688`

Well San Marino isn't Italy now is it....

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As I already wrote, only city stage is placed in San Marino, all other stages are in Italy...

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Originally Posted by Hartusvuori

Two things I noticed from this video. I've never before tried to count the number of spectators on a special stage from an onboard video. If there were more than 150 people (excluding marshals) on that 17+ kms stage, I'll be damned. Only one place with more than a handful of people. Stage itself was not to blame. The other thing was how lousy Mikko called the pacenotes on the first half of the stage. Many corrections that could be rally-ending harmful on other rallies, also asking Juho things like "This was the place with gravel, wasn't it?" and not calling the finish at the end. Perhaps he was all too worried about his firstborn, whether he'd get back home in time, but it seemed as if they were running circles with one hand tied behind their backs, like a one forum alumni (?) would've put it.

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Frankly I'm also not happy with Croatia being there. I think that even Bulgaria or Turkey deserves the ERC event more (not only the "big" names). Croatian local competition is rather weak and none of their crews was involved in the ERC in past few years. On the other hand both Turkey and Bulgaria have quite strong local drivers, good machinery and also Bulgarians were one of the few to regularly compete in the ERC...

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Originally Posted by Mirek

As I already wrote, only city stage is placed in San Marino, all other stages are in Italy...

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Oh right I thought you meant the city stage was in SM. I'm surprised that none of the real stages are in San Marino - I know it's a small country and didn't think they could squeeze an entire international rally in there but was under the impression that it was all within the country itself

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Originally Posted by werner

I am surprised that Kurzeme is in current ERC, but I like that because it gives a chance to scandinavian drivers, and ofcourse if some hero of Latvia take part on several events.

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Rally Kurzeme is not in current ERC. And will not be...

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Originally Posted by Mirek

As I already wrote, only city stage is placed in San Marino, all other stages are in Italy...

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That's no good reason to pull out SanRemo. Very similar situation to Montecarlo and no one dares to put out Alsace from WRC because there are 2 rallies using french stages...

This calendar is still a transitional move from previous IRC seasons, on which was obvious eurosport interest to make large financial revenues from less prestigious rallies.

From 2014, with direct manufacturers involvement, probably eurosport will consider manus markets preferences and countries like Croatia, Romania or Lithuania could give place to Italy, Russia or even Germany.

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Originally Posted by Arganil

This calendar is still a transitional move from previous IRC seasons, on which was obvious eurosport interest to make large financial revenues from less prestigious rallies.

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I would like to correct you. This calendar is still ONLY draft from Motorsport News, nothing is final yet. They are still making discussion with other organisers... Actually only about 4-5 events 100% sure they will be in...

Last night the organization of Rally Azores confirmed the inclusion in the ERC. They want the race set to April or June.

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Originally Posted by Eyvind

This should be a European championship, not an invention of Eurosport with rallies that have more money.

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Very wise comment! I read a statement from IRC managers, where they said that they are going to bring back ERC to its glory days of the seventies. I have no idea how they are going to do it with such anonymous rallies without any tradition like Sibiu.

After the withdrawal of Ford from WRC, M-Sport is going to compete in ERC in 2013. There are rumours that their driver will be Giandomenico Basso, who won ERC in 2006 and 2009.

M-Sport will do ERC (I dont know if M-Sport personally or with satelite team), lineup is not sure, but I expect at least two cars...

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Originally Posted by PLuto

M-Sport will do ERC (I dont know if M-Sport personally or with satelite team), lineup is not sure, but I expect at least two cars...

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Basso and Meeke would be a nice lineup :)

Unless Skoda do some serious ERC effort next year then I would place a bet now on Basso to be champion.

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Originally Posted by Arganil

... Very similar situation to Montecarlo and no one dares to put out Alsace from WRC because there are 2 rallies using french stages...

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Please, don't forget that FIA "speaks French" ;-)

If Eurosport wants to give back the glamour of ERC next year, it must choose events with some traditions, good level of local competitors/privateers and decent level of penetration of rally sport among local fans. To develop and introduce new events may be a good mid term strategy.

Nevertheless, from Eurosport, FIA and manufactorers perspective it is more or less all about the money, hopefully this strategy can work along with ERC rebirth.

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Originally Posted by RS

...Unless Skoda do some serious ERC effort next year then I would place a bet now on Basso to be champion.

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Lets hope, that it will not be so easy to predict the future champion, having in mind the intention of having different type of rallies (tarmac, gravel, snow).

Yes, depends on money due to TV Coverage. You all remember Chris Courteyn TV. In the 90ies (and still today), he broadcast all ERC rounds with 30 - 60 minutes reports. Payed by his personal sponsors and if an Organizer has to add for example 10K Euro, it was OK. He made all with some crews, ofcourse no live (except Ypres where he made experiments with no money limit), but well done reports shown at free-TV.

Today all must be with big and expensive equipment, live coverage, many people involved, so its expensive and anybody has to pay. Its big business now. It was business in 90ies, too, but now its 10 steps higher. Today if I make a report one week later, nobody has interest. It must be broadcast same day, and if its on 23 in the night, many "fans" are angry.

If I remember back the ERC Coef 20 like Halkidiki, Manx, Corte Ingles (the old one ...), Piancavallo, Poland at Krakow/Wroclaw, everyone was its own and an adventure for itself.

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Originally Posted by Arganil

That's no good reason to pull out SanRemo. Very similar situation to Montecarlo and no one dares to put out Alsace from WRC because there are 2 rallies using french stages...

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Is it confirmed where the Rally d'Italia will be held next year? Maybe the mixed surface 4 day event idea will be resurrected. (Please!!!!) I love Sardinia, but a North West Italy rally would be fantastic.

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Originally Posted by werner

You all remember Chris Courteyn TV.

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Of course we remeber the best rally magazine "Rally Action" with the best balance of outside shots, onboards, service and interviews. For me much better than current Eurosport coverage of WRC (too much onboards and boring) or IRC (overpacked with heli shots what also makes them expensive).

Maybe I'm a dying breed, but I prefer good magazine even few days later than "almost live" coverage. Unfortunately I have no tv magazine to follow right now - thank God for internet!

Courteyn still doing ERC and think some IRC rallies too or even alot of them..

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Originally Posted by mousti

Courteyn still doing ERC and think some IRC rallies too or even alot of them..

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Yes, Chris is doing both, his son European RX.

Now its confirmed. Rally "Liepāja - Ventspils" (in previous posts "Rally Kurzeme" and "Winter rally") on 1.-3. of February, 2012, Latvia.
Welcome! :)

Officialy: 2nd round of European Rally Championship will take part in Latvia on 1st - 3rd of february 2013

This week's Motorsport news reports that Rallye Sanremo is looking to find extra funding or go under and that if it can get the funding it needs will be considered for a 13th event on the 2013 ERC calendar!

That's good-ish news right?

About San Remo is good news, the fact it will mean the calendar will consist of 13 event isn't.

Will ERC 2013 coverage funding be the same as for the IRC events this year? Or more?

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Originally Posted by EightGear

About San Remo is good news, the fact it will mean the calendar will consist of 13 event isn't.

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How bad is one more event? I'm assuming there will be a 'best 7,8,9 or whatever out of 13 events counting towards the final results' thingy so it may mean one more event drivers would like to go to more than some of the shi**er events on the calendar...