David Richards couldn't promote WRC efficiently when it was arguably at its highest point in terms of driver talent/fame and manufacturer interest. What can he do now? Questionable at best.
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David Richards couldn't promote WRC efficiently when it was arguably at its highest point in terms of driver talent/fame and manufacturer interest. What can he do now? Questionable at best.
I heard Richards has this novel idea of making all rallies a homogenised cloverleaf format. I bet it will make rallying go from strength to strength
yes, from memory so please correct me if i'm wrong but it went something like this: he bought the TV rights in the early 2000s from ISC and introduced the cloverleaf and increased the calendar 16 rallies for a bigger/better tv package. Teams said it's expensive to do 16 rounds so they reduced to 2 cars per team. Then a few years later he sold the TV rights to North One (I assume at a nice profit for himself). I doubt he cared or understood the medium to long term prospects for the sport at the time so my expectations are low. The things that could give hope are that maybe now he's not motivated by money and there's also Robert Reid there.Quote:
Originally Posted by HKSjbg
Mikkelsen said goodbye on his sociale to Skoda Motorsport. So the deal with Hyundai seems official at last..
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So, the italian rumours were right once again, if I had to guess they’ll probably make it official tomorrow, as well as Toyota. Again, just guessing.
It looks like they will make announcement tomorrow. But still that lineup for the third car doesn't make sense for me.
Hopefully he has learned from his mistake the first time around and also, like you said, that he’s not motivated by a deal to struck this timeQuote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
What if Hyundai thinks they a backup in Suninen anyway, since he is so much younger than Mikkelsen? And this way they have removed a threat from WRC2? Other than the value of a relatively safe pair of hands, I mean.
Speaking of Hyundai. I think that Kalle dropped a bombshell with his part time season next year and I bet that if Tanak would have known that he would stayed at Msport one more year. It will be a very interesting dynamic in that team and Cyril will have hands full of work.
Good for Mikkelsen and at least he will deserve this last chance winning two WRC2 titles during the last three seasons.
Last year he was dropped by Lappi from Hyundai contract and now it seems that it´s thanks to Lappi´s part time season he is back with Hyundai.
Regarding young Solberg.
Everybody seems to miss one important detail placinghim in MsportRally1 car.
He is sponsored by Monster Energy and as long RedBull is connected with Msport,* I believe that's still Formauix sponsor , Solberg and Msport won't going to happen. The only scenario that might solve that is that Msport part ways with Redbull, Solberg parts ways with Monster or Solberg drive for the own team with Msport backing or support.
This has been pointed out a number of times.Quote:
Originally Posted by turdzi
The Ford alliance with Red Bull (F1) will be difficult to break one would expect.
But many athletes have switched from one to the other.
Having Monster & Red Bull doesn't seem to cause issues in Downhill MTB...Specialized have Bruni (RB) and Williams (Monster).......
Pajari just testing the Yaris Rally2 and has no permanent role with Toyota...
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/toyot...i-speculation/
If Skoda is returning to be a factory team next year, could Toksport switch to running the new Yaris Rally2 ?
Tottaly different case... Spesh isn't sponsored by any of theese brands... they are just athleat's sponsorsQuote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
I think Mikkelsen deserves last chance
Good news. I'm still curious on what their plan is, Mikkelsen and Lappi sharing seems really strange.
I think that in some events they will run 4 cars. Shame for Teemu. But there is no sense to have Teemu in the team, he is great in fast stuff, same as Lappi and Mikkelesen.
Sordo also confirmed. Actually thay have now a killer lineup. Thay have to course Kalle and Ogier on part time programs make it very difficult for Hyundai in manufacturers championship.
So in the press release they said Sordo for rough gravel, Lappi for snow and fast gravel and Mikkelsen for tarmac! Interesting...
Hm if he gels with the i20 he could be decent in tarmac, if not then good night. But it's not like Sordo was all that great on tarmac in the last couple of years.Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
That would mean Safari, Portugal, Sardegna and Greece for Sordo? Chile? And Monte, Croatia, CER and Japan for Mikkelsen? Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Finland for Lappi? Chile again?
Exactyl in motorsport thats a massive conflict.Quote:
Originally Posted by ictus
I dont really get switch by Hyundai,
but congratulations to Andreas. Hopefully this makes up for being ignored by Hyundai at the last minute last year.
Shame for Teemu after doing a decent job in the Rally1.
I think the main takeaway here is we're missing another team that would make most of these part-time drives full time+ would add some new faces to the block such as Lindholm, Pajari, etc. But that's nothing new and will probably stay that way until at least 2027... :(
Yeah seems something like that based on their press releaseQuote:
Originally Posted by Mackie
So Monte lineup should be Tänak, Neuville and Mikkelsen
https://www.fia.com/news/wmsc-gather...-landmark-year
"FIA World Rally Championship
Following the announcement yesterday of the creation of a working group to evaluate and recommend the future direction of rallying, Robert Reid stated that the work has now started with meetings already taking place with WMSC members and ASN representatives this week in Baku.
The WMSC has approved the recommendation of the WRC Commission to appoint Hankook as the official tyre partner and supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship for a three-year deal starting in 2025. This decision follows a detailed tendering process launched by the FIA in July based on criteria such as the supplier’s capabilities, sustainability, technical quality, cost per tyre and marketing. Hankook will replace Pirelli whose WRC single supplier deal will conclude at the end of the 2024 campaign.
The principles of a new format for the attribution of championship points for Manufacturers, Drivers and Co-Drivers have been approved with the aim to enhance excitement and competitiveness, especially on Sunday. The details and balance of the points per day will be confirmed by the WMSC Task Force at a later stage.
With the objective to significantly reduce costs, a maximum of three new hybrid units per season will be allowed in 2025 and 2026 for Rally1 cars entered to score points in the Manufacturers’ Championship, instead of nine.
In regard to promotion, P1 crews will complete a minimum of two passages of the shakedown, while the third pass will be available for a media or VIP passenger ride determined by WRC Promoter to offer greater exposure opportunities to the championship.
Based on feedback from competitors, P2 crews will now be allowed to use route note cars and a different start order on Friday will be implemented to avoid discrepancies with P1 drivers."
Reduce these 3 units to 0 and there will be even bigger cost saving..
Strange choice, but I guess they have their reasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
What about Sunninen? Not a single word anywhere.
I disagree but can we agree that if Solberg doesn't drive M-Sport it's not only because of this sponsor conflict reason. This shouldn't be a deal breaker.Quote:
Originally Posted by turdzi
Credit to @Mirek for introducing Power Sunday!
I don't think that he will drive for Msport as well and that's a shame course he discoverers to sitt in Rally1 car. I think that Msport lineup will look like this: Formauix, Greensmith and Munster so ony reasonable option for Solberg is a seat in factory SkodaQuote:
Originally Posted by WRCStan
Ah but would Greensmith and Munster's cars have Red Bull logos, or does that not matter because they don't have energy drink sponsors? It still leaves only one car for a 'team sponsor'.
Back to Rally2?Quote:
Originally Posted by AndersX
Green lights in night? more info?
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