Why WRC isn't popular as F1?

It's not spectaular anymore. F1 is fast, really fast, & thats what has always been the thing that brought in the spectators for them. Rally used to be about extremeties, all surfaces, all times of day, all types of cars & drivers trying their best to finish stages as quick as possible. Now its basically a sprint race with no real "spectacle".

It is a niche sport so the organisers need to find a way to give the supporters they have the coverage they want. Something that was tried at Rally South Australia recently was internet coverage. Basically what they did was go out and about the stages during the day interviewing competitors & taking footage to show in a review of the day followed by coverage of the live super special stage that night or the podium celebrations at the end of the event. I think this has some merit.

Group B or maybe an A B mixhttp://pspinsidetheconcept.blog.play...rd_extreme.jpg

There isn't spectacle. It's run by idiots.

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Originally Posted by theugsquirrel

There isn't spectacle. It's run by idiots.

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There isn't spectacle = wrong !
It's run by idiots : right !

;)

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Originally Posted by AndyRAC

WRC was doing relatively okay until the mid -90's. Then people got involved who thought they could make it 'sexy' 'popular' , etc That meant Live TV and everything that goes with it. Selling the sport's soul to the 'devil', i;e TV. Ultra-compact routes, no night stages, etc For a few years it looked okay, up to 7 Manufacturers with up to 4 factory cars each, but one by one they all left, and nothing was done.
Reality needs to be faced, this isn't F1, never has been, never will be. Just accept it's a 'niche' sport that occasionally becomes popular - I mean take our own RallyGB - it used to go nationwide, and Joe Public could follow it, good TV/Radio/Papers coverage. So what happens, they move it to a 'corner' of Wales - that's really clever - limiting the amount of exposure.
Just be grateful that sponsors like Red Bull, Stobart, Abu Dhabi are in the WRC - they're obviously fans of the sport - because otherwise they would go to another more popular media friendly sport.

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But then drivers were paid (very good).. Now only two/three drivers are paid in WRC.. Don't forget C.McRae rally game when everybody started to think more and being attracted by our sport.. That moment when FIA declared 2 drivers/team (not 3 by then) gave guys like Mr Wilson or Mr Richards a chance to exploit priveteers. In mid 90's ford escort group A costed 300 000 DM (that was about 150 000 euros; now focus WRC costs 500 000 GBP+VAT and that's about 750 000 euros).. Then Mr David Whitehead from MSD came and told on TV: transmission and electronic diffs for Hyundai Accent WRC costs 250 000 GBP.. Man, sequential gearbox came from the motorbike and how much does it cost there?! Just to put more money in their pocket.. Few monts after that Hyundai quit and what does MSD work now?! Same as Prodrive but 'cos of economical crises.. Back to basics: Ken Block made for WRC this year in public more than our drivers all over the world..

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Originally Posted by Barreis

I don't like F1 (except Monaco GP and Australian GP 'cos of road circuit) but every weekend when is F1 I watch qualifing and race.. So why our sport can not be popular as F1?

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Times changes, 1986 in Hungary one had to go to the embassy in Budapest to get the F1 results.

I Think tahat... the WRC is more popular than F1, F1 is more selective,

in Argentina about a million people attended the rally ...

1. No iconic team like Ferrari.... For those people who have never seen rallying Ford doesn't just sounds as attractive as Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, etc.
2. No iconic event like Monaco GP.... I honestly think Finland is awsome but can general public tell the difference between Finland and other gravel rally? I don't think so. IMO only Safari can be as iconic as Monaco GP but it's gone.
3. Public exposure... Formula One promotes the brand itself but WRC is more targeted for a particular model in relative sense. Of course WRC will generate brand image but not as much as F1 does. You probably don't see Focus WRC in the ad for Mustang.
4. Biggest of all, less TV coverage.

Because rally drivers dont date pop singers like Lewis Hamilton :rolleyes: !!!!

Bernie and Max. Add to that David Richards, Simon Long and Mr Chandler and I think you have most of the reasons...