Kris Meeke leaves WRC

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Originally Posted by jacko

(like Gronhölm, Stohl)

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From Holland comes the truth :) and Mäkinen, and many others, if our drivers would give up soon as they hit troubles, we would have a lot less worldchampions.

I can imagine Kris being disillusioned about the WRC. But he has to keep in mind that the WRC is a very sick puppy. Only 6 factory seats and of those 6 maybe 3 or 4 that aren't paid for. There is just not a whole lot to go around, and it's unfortunate for Kris and other (young) talents to be active in WRC at this point in time. Teams simply don't have the budgets anymore to pay 2 or 3 drivers. A testimony to the state in which the WRC is.

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Originally Posted by Nenukknak

I can imagine Kris being disillusioned about the WRC. But he has to keep in mind that the WRC is a very sick puppy. Only 6 factory seats and of those 6 maybe 3 or 4 that aren't paid for. There is just not a whole lot to go around, and it's unfortunate for Kris and other (young) talents to be active in WRC at this point in time. Teams simply don't have the budgets anymore to pay 2 or 3 drivers. A testimony to the state in which the WRC is.

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Maybe it would be clever for him, if he is so good he think he is, to do like Gardemeister did this year, get a budget for 3-4 WRC events this year and drive a few top 4 finishes, to show teams that he still is around, and worth to be seen as an alternative when seats comes free, the time is on his side anyway. :)

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Originally Posted by Tomi

Maybe it would be clever for him, if he is so good he think he is, to do like Gardemeister did this year, get a budget for 3-4 WRC events this year and drive a few top 4 finishes, to show teams that he still is around, and worth to be seen as an alternative when seats comes free, the time is on his side anyway. :)

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Tomi, throughout all this coversation, and other threads, you have seen what state British motorsport is in. 'On-its-knees' would be an understatment.

ITV is dumping the coverage, becuase of sh1t vieing figures, becuase no british driver is at the sharp end. New MSA rally liecense application are going through the floor, and yet Wilks and Meeke are let fall by the wayside, while people whine about no terrestial TV coverage.

Yes, overcourse, it would be clever to do 4 WRC rallies.. but still you need 150.000 euros per rally. Meeke was simply stating he cannot find this type of money to continue, although he is still trying im sure.

I can see his point, it was the same two years ago, he was offered the Surbaru drive, but could not raise the money. Again, he was offered the Kronos drive.. and again no support from his home country. He has good guys working for him, but its still not happening.

He might be as good 'as he thinks he is', and well he should. Citroen dont let monkeys test the Xsara and C4, he jumped through all the hoops for the Subaru selection 2 years ago, and he is as fast as Sordo on tarmac, and led every JWRC event this year. Better pedigree than some of the 'pretenders' are the moment.

Nobody is crying, but I think some people on the forums lose sight of the amount of money required. A four rally program you mention, would cost 600.000 euros. This is what an averge income would earn in 15 years... and in WRC its gone in 4 weekends.

OK, if thats the WRC 'bubble' we refer to..... thats fine, but he is simply stating that he cannot afford to continue. Nothing more.. nothing less.

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Originally Posted by jacko

yes, i didn't read it in the interview. If it's true and he has no money, than it's still be a strange look at the situation. To drive a year with 4wd helps you with more xperience and staying involved in the world championship, look at Manfrred Stohl, he had done many years with a Group N car and suddenly there was the moment in 2005 where he drove 12 rounds with a WRCar. Sometimes you're lucky and things goes very quickly (like Sordo, Hirvonen and Atkinson) and sometimes you must be patient (like Gronhölm, Stohl). In the past we saw many fast drivers suddenly in factory cars, sometimes they set very good times and nowadays there gone.
I think Meeke will comeback about this crying, he's too young for his reaction.

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A very good post :up:

Folks, the way some young drivers has entered the WRC scene, is basicly an illusion, meaning it won't happen that often and usually young lads gain experience first. Let's not forget it.

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Originally Posted by Buzz Lightyear

Tomi, throughout all this coversation, and other threads, you have seen what state British motorsport is in. 'On-its-knees' would be an understatment.
ITV is dumping the coverage, becuase of sh1t vieing figures, becuase no british driver is at the sharp end.

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TV visibility has nothing to do with it, you can not sell anything that not excist, Rally will never become anything for someone who put everything on TV visibility, you better look for some company who looks for growth in countries where the majority of the events is, and start building something around that, it's more cheeper than commercial time in TV and more effective too.
That is how its done here and elsewhere too, im sure that there is companies in GB who looks for growth too, what branche they are in does not matter.
Me my self has been helping drivers too, not doing any major things, but something to help anyway, so i know for sure what i talk about, and know it can be done. :)

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Originally Posted by Tomi

TV visibility has nothing to do with it, you can not sell anything that not excist, Rally will never become anything for someone who put everything on TV visibility, you better look for some company who looks for growth in countries where the majority of the events is, and start building something around that, it's more cheeper than commercial time in TV and more effective too.
That is how its done here and elsewhere too, im sure that there is companies in GB who looks for growth too, what branche they are in does not matter.
Me my self has been helping drivers too, not doing any major things, but something to help anyway, so i know for sure what i talk about, and know it can be done. :)

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You make it sound easy, do you want his email address?

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Originally Posted by cut the b.s.

You make it sound easy, do you want his email address?

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no, and its not easy, but you can give it the brittsh rally fans.

Tomi, you do know your Rallying and you know what your talking about but you have to live here in the UK to understand the problems Kris faces, Buzz explained it very well. The money needed to do 4 WRC events or to do the PWRC just isn't to be found in Britain, certainly not for Rallying. If a company or person wanted to sponsor him, what do they get out of it; very limited exposure. I just wish there was an extremely generous benefactor to give him the money so he could take his rightful place in the WRC. The UK is a WRC unfriendly place at the moment.

Why wouldn't try to collect needed money by asking ordinary people to help. Roman Kresta got budget for one season by fan-support. I am sure that Meeke could raise some money with that system. Or maybe we have to note that there more rich rally fans among czhecs...