Looks like Japan is gonna be another Australia
Printable View
Looks like Japan is gonna be another Australia
Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit! IMHO, the move to Sapporo for the last two years was a disaster, crowd-wise - the rally shuffled off to the suburbs and nobody knew it was on. The new Rally Japan has different Organisers and strong backing from Toyota. It is not only a couple of hours from both Tokyo and Osaka by expressway, it is only 30 minutes from Nagoya (pop. 2.3 million) and centred in Toyota City (pop. half a million) so no shortage of rally fans. In fact, amongst the greater challenges the Organisers face will be controlling both spectator stage access and traffic congestion. I imagine the exclusive use of spectator buses will be implemented.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
They're making their money from event organisers. Having Japan or Australia last on the calendar is completely at odds with having a large online audience for the Championship finale, it's frankly a slap in the face for the core audience in Europe. Formula 1 learnt this lesson long ago, but sadly WRC promoter are obviously making too much money out of having the Championship concluded in the middle of the night for most WRC fans, far away from where many of these fans would be willing/able to attend...Quote:
Originally Posted by T16
Really.., come on. You'd have Germany, Spain and Japan as the only 3 pure tarmac events in a 14 round championship (Monte can't be classed in the same group).Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Even if Wales rally GB moves to NI, that's still only 4 tarmac events. That's how it should be.
No.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
If there is only 1 snow event, why there should be more than 1 tarmac events ?
Each of us have our own "rally-world", in my world there is lot of snow events and gravel events. For me 1 tarmac is enough.
I think it's fair to say those friends are a lost cause.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal the 2nd
I've always found that tarmac rallying is a far harder sell to casuals. Particularly modern tarmac rallying, doesn't really work so well as a spectacle on television, especially the way they record it.
Saying that I think three tarmac events are fine. I can't see that you can have less than two. There are different types of tarmac events, the problem is that we'll probably end up with more than one smooth tarmac rally... You don't need more than one smooth tarmac rally, IMO.
One big issue with tarmac rallies is that they can look pretty boring. (so can very slow gravel rallies though). Thing is that there are a million different racing series that are on tarmac, while WRC is the most famous one on gravel (Dakar is famous in some countries but happens only once a year).
When adding more tarmac rallies I'd be all for a more Monte-like rally with either snowy or wet tarmac.
Been to Nagoya about 19 years ago. Still want to go back there, maybe next year I will be there to spectate. Wonderful place, lots of fond memories.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Hokkaido
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
I think Northern Ireland would be a great addition to the Tarmac events as well as Japan. However, I wouldn't mind mixing it up and instead of Mexico, we'd have another snow rally in say.....Canada (yes I know they are planning to join the WRC in 2023/2024).
Especially having three or four in a row at the end of season... Not good at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
One mixed tarmac-gravel must stay on calendar so it can be challenge for teams. And Germany is spectacular in those vineyards. Chile and Turkey isn't something special I must say. Pretty happy that Japan and Safari are joining. Wales needs to stay too, those mud/gravel stages are the only of those kind event on calendar and is legendary awesome.
im doubting very much they would put 3 rounds of tarmac to the end of the season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
(sigh) Tarmac..(groan)...Ok some tarmac is 'ok' to watch..And I'm sure it is challenging to drive..But much ass-fault is incredibly boring...Maybe the cars are "too good"?? They work so well you don't see anything happening..Quote:
Originally Posted by Eli
Some Irish tarmac, yeah its good, when its VERY narrow and very crappy tarmac...And some Czechish tarmac , again when its narrow and bumpy...you see the cars work. But simple wide smooth tarmac, it doesn't look much different that circuit racing, except more picturesque background sometimes...
And Canada...[img]https://i.imgur.com/8WsTL2t.jpg
I will be as polite as I possibly can.....The little fan-boi committee claiming to be "investigating the possibilities" are at absolute best dreaming...They collectively do not have the experience, the manpower, the accommodations, the local interest, the disciple, the moxy, and any "regular means of support" (employment) aside from talking.
There are plenty of fun roads for 3 seasons....but come winter time it is the Rocky Mountains....the narrow 2 lane roads here and there could become impossibly snarled for everybody...even with almost no local population...
The main protagonist has a grand total of maybe 5-7 events as a driver, (local events which in the area in question typically at that time got 11-17 cars) a handful of events as co-driver and some years as a "media person" for the Canadian Federation...Media person means he types and talks...Nobody has any idea how he pays the rent although he did say once that he had sold used cars for a while...
This is not a serious person or a serious chance of a WRC level event happening in Western Canada..
Hell we had WRC here where I am 1985---1988 and that was thanks to one obsessively driven man...a man willing to do and say anything to make sure it came off but whose clear motivation was to "hang with" "celebrities"....like WRC elite or TV stars... It did not end well....and we with a much higher local population to draw from (and a much more "worldly" and 'hip") could no way have the people, to organsie and pull off a WRC event...
I´m also feeling tarmac like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by janvanvurpa
Good: narrow parts, hairpins, bumps, wet, crossings
Bad: wide and smooth
Thanks for the comprehensive reply, do appreciate it, as for the Tarmac events, I agree with you it should be tight, narrow (muddy) hence I pointed out Ireland. Although it would be nice to see both Ireland & Wales as it was back in 2007. As for Canada, tbh, I had do idea how's the situation is over there concerning rallying, however I still maintain it would be nice to see more than Sweden as a snow rally.. And before I forget, yes they should have kept Catalunya as a mixed event as it does add to the challenge.Quote:
Originally Posted by janvanvurpa
Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
According to Polish version of Motorsport.com:
- Turkey is off for 2020
- Corsica also out
- Germany stays as it used to be
- Rally Safari set for june
- Sardinias base back to Olbia
- Rally Spain full tarmac
https://pl.motorsport.com/wrc/news/t...z-wrc/4513215/
Full tarmac Spain sounds boring..
Could Spain go back to the North West of Barcelona if it goes back to full tarmac, or is there money from the current region keeping them to the South?
AFAIK, it's not a question of money, but of an asphalt space big enough to host the service park, only currently available at Port Aventura in Salou. If it was because of money, it would have moved long ago. But if full tarmac, and with current restrictions in Priorat area, it may well be that one leg was run north of Barcelona, even though the distance from these stages to service park would be greater than 150 km...
Salou and the region close to it is very nice, no need to move this rally :)Quote:
Originally Posted by lluisva555
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
https://www.is.fi/ralli/art-2000006203153.html
Suninen "likely to stay with M-Sport" according to Jouhki. Citing the ever-reliable sources, the story also mentions that Citroen will continue with only two cars in 2020.
Citroën is bad news for multiple reasons. But it is a clear consequence of not fighting in the top on all rallies (yet?), so money goes to car development.
so Citroen still with 2 cars...
Mads to Hyundai or Toyota then?
More like Mads to nowhere.
Hyundai will either stay same or go for Breen (obvious why since he is already driving the car) or Evans (rumors).
For Toyota it's imo similar except the possible picks before Mads are (in no particular order) Suninen, Evans, Mikkelsen, Latvala.
Mads could still help Citroen win a championship even if only tested or drove only single events
Which are the confirmed lineups so far?
Neuville in Hyundai and Citroen Ogier/Lappi, is that it?
What are the chances, in 2020, of :
Hyundai - Neuville, Breen, Loeb/Sordo/Mikkelsen (shared)
Citroen: Ogier, Lappi
Toyota: Tanak, Rovanperä, Latvala
M-sport: Evans, Sunninen, Tidemand/Meeke/Paddon (shared)?
And Loeb with Hyundai.Quote:
Originally Posted by Entertainer
Alghero was very good spot for Service and stage locations. Good for spectators also with old town and beach in 400 m from each other. They have to really change stages to have it in Olbia. My best WRC rally to spectate with little vacation combo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Portimao
i wasnt able to follow ALLLIVE at all during Rally Finland but we could watch Leustu 2 from the mobile and i remember Mads saying something like he is working on a deal to help a manufacturer to win the championship or smth like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
If Citroen continues with 2 cars then it must be Toyota or Hyundai.
Like I said, he could help Citroen with his testing work and single events with his own sponsors like in early 2018.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Suninen tested the Yaris before finland?
He did?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarmop
Ever been?Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
I'll put Catalunya back on my calendar once it's full tarmac again. ;) Been to Catalunya 2 times, both times I enjoyed the tarmac stages more than the gravel ones.
There was a news abou "Suninen having secret tests with another manuf. in Finland, before Finland"...what else could it be...if it was.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I had AllFollow (Full time ALLLive) and noticed the same thing. Even posted about it here.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Quote:
Originally Posted by meh
I agree and can see Toyota following Hyundai's system next year by having a roster of driver's, swapping and changing them to suit particular rallies.
It seems pretty clear that these two big WRC Teams are the only serious contenders for the Manus championship for 2020.
Citroen and M-Sport dont have the money to run enough cars and drivers to compete. I can see maybe Citroen calling on Ostberg if they ever get near to the top, but that's unlikely. Therefore his best hope is to be one of the Toyota driver's supporting that team on his best events.
Why would Ostberg's best chance be Toyota? IF Toyota needs some "expert" to add to their line-up, it would be a tarmac expert (in case Meeke and/or Latvala are replaced). They already have what they need for Ostberg's favorite events.
Mäkinen has said that TGR won't do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Outside of Citroen that don't seem to be going for manu title I'd actually say Østberg's best chance is Hyundai.
If Mikkelsen leaves somewhere else they could certainly use a driver that is good on fast gravel and is willing to do a part time season.
However, both Breen's and Mikkelsen's pace in Finland are bad news for him in that regard. Mikkelsen's pace on his worst rally makes it more likely he will stay and Breen's pace makes it likely he gets part time drive if Mikkelsen leaves.
Early to say though. If Mikkelsen still struggles on tarmac in Germany it is less likely he stays and Breen needs at least one more start in Hyundai to confirm he can perform with it. So I'd say Østberg can still be under consideration.