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Ridiculous!! Why do they do this? Double points are fine if it's double the distance. I recall the BRC title decider in 2009 - the Trackrod. Again it offered double points, yet was nowhere near being double distance. From memory, both Cronin & Higgins had the same results; Cronin won due to winning the double points Trackrod......It is bizarre and reeks of 'play offs'....Quote:
Originally Posted by HKSjbg
I also don’t get the wisdom in the Cork 20 moving to the end of July, leaving the last round of the championship in August. Sure, we didn’t know if an NI Rally UK was going to happen and it was planned for the same weekend as the Ulster but I don’t see why that meant the Cork 20 moved.
Either the Ulster could have moved to the last weekend of July, or if that was considered too close to the Down Rally then it could have been in October…
Its just a coincidence that the final rally of the season happens to be the shortest. At least its got the challenge of night stages.Quote:
Originally Posted by HKSjbg
I guess Cork 20 were getting pretty bored of being the last round of the year. It's one of the best events in Ireland, but rarely does it get the entry it deserves, since the championship is usually a done deal by the time it runs, even with 1.5x points on offer.
I suppose the idea of making Ulster worth 2x points, is that it should still have some meaning. While it's the shortest event, that certainly does not mean it's the easiest... any time lost to small mistakes or bad tyre decisions will be harder to make back.
It's one of those situations where the championship would get slated either way. Either the last round is a dead rubber, or it's considered artificial. Let's wait and see - it might just be brilliant, who knows?
A win at Cork 20 will be key. How it could work out...
https://rallyinsight.com/2022/07/27/...trcs-top-four/
Yes bizarre wasn’t the right word. Ironic that the shortest event is the one worth most points, a shame that the shortest event is the ‘grand finale’. But then as said above the shorter event can sometimes be more of a high-pressure conclusion to the season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
At least its not a comically short 70km clubman event!
Off topic, but rather mixed feelings watching the Commonwealth Games triathlon live on BBC1, with them running along roads used for various versions of the Sutton Park RAC Rally stage... Nice to imagine what it'd be like if used today!
Pretty damn close on the Cork 20... :D
After Stage 6/15
1 Moffett 32:18.4s
2 Fisher +0.2s
3 Devine +2.0
All change on SS7... the top guys all spun !
https://www.facebook.com/onthepaceno...flite=scwspnss
Leader Fisher has crashed out on the opening stage Sunday morning. Moffett takes the lead and looks ever-stronger for the title.
https://youtu.be/C0FLJnOxC8k
Video (not mine!) which features all the top crews having their big moments on SS7. Lucky there wasnt a big smash here.
Indeed, especially the Mk1 & Mk2 Escorts and the Impreza ! Shouldn't the marshals have been trying to warn approaching crews of the danger of that corner ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal yet again
The videos were already sent on WhatsApp before drivers had reached the end so they could even have warned those still to start.
TBH the guy with the flag should have been down the road if possible to alert crews but guess the location didnt allow for that. All a bit iffy and they risked getting flattened if they stepped out of the field by the looks of it.
The Pokerstars Rally has been renamed Chris Kelly Memorial Manx Stages for this year and has a generous 212km itinerary lined up!
https://www.ewrc-results.com/timetab...x-stages-2022/
https://www.manxautosport.org/chris-...h-island-test/
Some classic stages there and will probably be wet at that time of year so a proper test!
https://msnrallychamp.co.uk/2022/08/...lies-continue/
Not great news, but at least the events will still run; but a reminder that the sport has relied on volunteers for far too long.
I'm somewhat surprised (if) MSVR aren't taking up organising it themselves, surely it'd be a decent enough money spinner for the winter months?
Were these the organisers involved in the controversial/failed reimagining of the MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship?
The Oulton and Cadwell "Fireworks" events will stand alone as big draws as much for the fireworks as the rallying. Brands Hatch also but the rallies at Anglesey and Snetterton am not so sure how big a box office draw they would be gate wise.
The problem I guess is that old chestnut of would crews pay a bit extra to attract a professional or semi pro organisers in the absence of a major headline sponsor. Think judging by the standard response on the BRF to that question the answer would be an emphatic no!
For series like the BRC, and even this Circuit championship, I think that is the only option. It's 2022, the sport can't be expecting people to give up their time for free. And if they do, look at what has started to happen. Some of those on the BRF are living in a time warp - is it any wonder the sport is where it is at?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal yet again
Rally organising, especially working as volunteers, is a tough and often thankless task nowadays. Even in Ireland where rallying seems much more popular than here, they are finding it a real struggle, both financially and logistically.
The CoC at the recent Cork 20 was saying how mega-stressful it was and issues like marshals not turning up for half of the junctions on some stages was a total nightmare. Who would want to put themselves through it?
Breen doing a local Irish event in his dad's Focus WRC ...
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results...st-rally-2022/
http://www.ulsterrally.com/wp-conten...compressed.pdf
Found the itinerary for the Ulster with proper stage names - Brontë Homeland continues and is joined by returning Tyrones Ditches, Babylon Hill and Mount Pleasant.
Not sure but Slieve Gullion might be a new one (not to he confused with Slieve Gallion up in the Sperrin Mountains) and it looks like a really narrow mountain pass!
The maps are now up on rally-maps too: https://www.rally-maps.com/Ulster-Rally-2022
Looks like some live coverage for the Ulster finale ! :cool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUe6qm_qvNo
I see Devine and Fisher have both withdrawn their entries as they cant win the title. Shame, plus tough on Evans slim chance of the Ch'ship as they wont be there to take points of Moffett.
E: Fisher had a part supply issue after his crash damage on the Cork 20.
Leader Henry crashed out so Evans now leads. But Moffett is just cruising to get a finish and the Championship.
Josh Moffett is safely through and the ITRC 2022 Title is his ! :champion:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FanQI0tX...name=4096x4096
Is that also Evans’ first international win?
His fist ITRC win, so I guess so. Although the absence of other top drivers and the fact Moffett was only cruising rather devalues it.Quote:
Originally Posted by HKSjbg
Is there any risk of the Woodpecker Rally losing any stages due to a lack of marshals? Seems crazy that we've ended up with entirely separate BRC/TER (spiritually an International) and BTRDA (big National) events less than 50 miles apart on the same day... It's hardly like the old days when there were so many events that the calendar was full, making clashes unavoidable. Entries for both are impressive, considering.
Anyone else intending to watch both? Should be a great weekend of spectating, if everything works out!
It constantly amazes me that this is allowed; the usual defence is "they cater for different customers". Which may be partly right, but in a period of less marshals, it needs addressing. But probably won't be - until events are called off.
In all honesty, BRC events shouldn't be running at the same time as a BTRDA event; unless they're a joint event.
I was thinking of going to the Saturday night stage (Devil’s Bridge) as Sunday is not possible for me this weekend but unfortunately so too is Saturday night as it turns out :( I will probably go to Haye Park though as it’s about 25 minutes from my house - hopefully Saturday morning will be damp in Ludlow :DQuote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
When it's dry & dusty in Haye Park, the dust tends to hang in the air.......No trip this year for me, as I've no car at the moment.
Watch both on SS
https://scontent.fman4-1.fna.fbcdn.n...xw&oe=6316DAA8
Elliot Payne managed to do both ! :cool:
https://www.britishrallychampionship...s-one-weekend/
And finished 3rd O/A on the Woodpecker. Let's see what he does on the Ceredigion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
This year’s Galloway Hills is pretty much running 2/3 of the stages they managed last year, but run 3 times each:
https://www.rally-maps.com/Galloway-Hills-Rally-2022
That doesn’t bode well for an event 2 editions ago was able to run about 3x unique stage mileage :(
https://dirtfish.com/rally/brc/the-f...ational-rally/
You've certainly got to admire the team involved, they're really thinking/organising in the way you imagine it should be done in this century.
One thing I'd disagree with Luke Barry on though, having attended both events last weekend, I really don't think tarmac rallying is better than gravel rallying, in terms of spectator spectacle anyway. I think in modern tarmac rally, as a spectator, you really have to put in effort or recce the stages and find a decent spot to get the most out of it (and aren't officially supposed to), whereas on gravel, even fairly unremarkable corners can still produce spectacle. From the competitors side though, I can see the appeal of tarmac rallying.
Going forwards think it'd be great if we could see a few rallies like this spread out around the country, largely based on the great old road rally routes of the past. The North West Stages has potential in this regard, a Blackpool stage and start/finish might be an idea.
They didn’t get enough entries to run the full event, so instead of cancelling they asked crews if they would want to do 3 loops of two stages, instead of 2 loops of 3 stages. It’s a shame as it’s my favourite event of the year to compete on (last year was the best rally I have ever done). Just wasn’t able to this year sadly, too many other commitments throughout the year.Quote:
Originally Posted by HKSjbg
Ceredigion organisers are certainly bold and have been pushing for a top level event already, but have spent a LOT of money doing so. The stages are superb and I would’ve liked to do it - maybe next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
There are more and more closed road events being organised around the UK. Some events have happened (East Riding, NW Stages, Clacton, Argyll, Ceredigion, Three Shires), but others have encountered serious issues - Hertfordshire due to a cruise type thing resulting in a fatal accident a few years ago, Coast2Coast, plus others that I don’t think were publicised (one of which was half a mile from my hometown :( ).
It is EXTREMELY difficult to organise these events even if you can get it off the ground with local authorities - NW Stages have now decided to only do it every other year. Heard that one of the senior organisers put in 800 hours for this year’s event which is unsustainable.
With climate change being near the top of locals concerns, there is a minority of residents on proposed rally routes that simply doesn’t accept these events should happen. They need a lot of convincing about the positives that these events can bring to the area and can easily have a big influence on the viability of events (sadly).
I'm not sure I'd heard the NW Stages was now every other year - that is sad, but as you say, 800 hours given up voluntarily isn't something that can continue.Quote:
Originally Posted by J4MIE
The big issue for me, is 'closed roads' should have happened years ago; we've gone too far down the road, that there are now many obstacles in the way of running a closed road event. One imagines those that run have had to jump through all types of hoops, and plenty of ££££ to get anywhere.