2012 World Rally Championship calendar - going endurance?

hmmm it's ok but I would have preferred a 3 days format with more stages and more kms each day...

I only see the same itinerary spread in more days. I want to see the timetable but it looks like there will be a lot of empty time there

I think that is made that way to keep people on one stage and therefore to keep surrounding mountain roads opened. It's really very difficult with thousands of spectators moving through narrow mountain roads especially wit snow and ice. Even last year when it was "only IRC" the road to Turini from Peira Cava was later blocked by many kilometers of spectator cars and near Col St. Jean on SS Moutauban it was similar every year I was there. Since there are almost no connection roads, the large movement of spectators means a big risk of stage cancellation.

Wow, 5 days could be great. Tough on spectators though!
Although with 5 days, you could afford to take a day or two off and go on the piss...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mirek

I think that is made that way to keep people on one stage and therefore to keep surrounding mountain roads opened. It's really very difficult with thousands of spectators moving through narrow mountain roads especially wit snow and ice. Even last year when it was "only IRC" the road to Turini from Peira Cava was later blocked by many kilometers of spectator cars and near Col St. Jean on SS Moutauban it was similar every year I was there. Since there are almost no connection roads, the large movement of spectators means a big risk of stage cancellation.

---

Yes, I know, I've been there almost every year since 1998. What I mean is that if you look the itinerary day by day there is no big difference to seasons 2007-2011. Just a big gap on Saturday morning and one stage on Sunday. I don't see it like a revolution.

For me it's not a revolution either. But I don't like to be in a hurry, so I like it ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mirek

One would say that there are only very few stages each day but on the other hand they are very long and spectators can see majority of them without any stress. It will be nice holiday :)

---

i totally agree!

Greece date might be a bit early....if it was this year at such date we would have a rally in the middle of heavy rain and thunderstorms....like in Portugal 2001

But the calendar looks nice and GB in September will be interesting.

After the criticism of the endurance format, Argentina stepd back his inovational route for 2012 and decided to run the rally only over Cordoba region:

El Diario de Carlos Paz

Confirmed 2012 World Rally Championship calendar:

January 17/22 - Monte Carlo
February 9/12 - Sweden
March 8/11 - Mexico
March 29 / April 1 - Portugal
April 27/29 - Argentina
May 25/27- Greece
June 22/24 - New Zealand
August 2/5 - Finland
August 24/26 - Germany
September 13/16 - Great Britain
October 4/7 - France
October 18/21 - Italy
November 1/4 - Spain

2012 Super 2000 World Rally Championship calendar:

January 17/22 - Monte Carlo
February 9/12 - Sweden
March 29 / April 1 - Portugal
June 22/24 - New Zealand
August 2/5 - Finland
September 13/16 - Great Britain
October 4/7 - France
November 1/4 - Spain

No Mexico (major Fiesta market), Germany and Italy (tarmac rallies) - terrible decision. They should have left New Zeland out instead.

2012 Production World Rally Championship calendar:

January 17/22 - Monte Carlo
March 8/11 - Mexico
April 27/29 - Argentina
May 25/27- Greece
June 22/24 - New Zealand
August 24/26 - Germany
October 18/21 - Italy
November 1/4 - Spain

No Finland and Great Britain - terrible decision, they are Group N classics. Mexico and Germany should have been left out instead.