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I doubt M-Sport has had a customer for a WRC car in the last 3 years that the FIA would say 'no' to being able to drive one.Quote:
Originally Posted by itix
I can't think of any.
They tend not to get many customers that don't have a substantial history of top rallying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
What?
Are you serious?
What's that Merikuhn guy with the stupid baseball hat
Ben Klock...or something like that...He'd done ZERO top stuff against a few guys with garage built cars....essentially nothing and he plopped down 4-5 million--Sterling on the table- and PRESTO!
Press releases flooded every blog, site/forum/
"Factory Driver!"
He flipped on 1st second or maaaybe 3rd stage for several YEARS..
And there's been piles of others...just don't recall names cause they were just rich guys sons. Did nothing and disappeared. (leaving the money behind, of course)
Honestly, I see nothing stupid on it. The speed increase will make ’17 cars more demanding to drive. Limiting their access to top WRC drivers it’s a way to avoid safety risks.Quote:
Originally Posted by itix
It also helps manus to keep developing their costumer programs through current R5’s, which already are the main category in national and international rally series.
Besides, even MSport WRC's sales are a fraction from what they get with R5's and the days when it was reasonable for a top privateer to run in an equal machine as manus are long gone.
Yepp, that is why it is a rally --a collection point, a gathering, and not a mere made for TV "reality show" or World Wrestling Federation choreographed "race"....Quote:
Originally Posted by itix
seems many have forgotten that simple basic thing which historically has allowed some sort of fan or viewer "identification" with what he's watching rather than being as "race-fans" are supposed to be, mere passive consumers....
It takes a lot of gall for teams and people and media to claim "Hacki Hälarna is the best-est driver ever!!! and beat 199 other ..."
When if fact he's given a car with a bigger turbo, bigger restrictor, more aero, more suspension travel on top of all the advantages that comes when driving for a fabriks team...
They seems to forget that the downhill spiral in rally began with the allowance of cars bearing almost no connection but a badge and maybe a grille and headlights with the cars sold by the MFG.
In other words when nerds took over and tried to make rally over into a cash cow on the template of circuit racing...
Logically guys what's next to insure that only one of 5-6 guys "gets to win".....
Would it be logic to begin adding ballast to all the other cars so they are all 100kg heavier? 200kg?
Make a rule they must leave a big shop rag in the intake?
Rallying has always been about the fact that any old nut can come and compete in more or less kinda sorta equal machinery as the manufacturers...even if we all know the manufacturers stuff is new, fresh, tip top...
I don't see any safety implication of such a system and experience has never made anyone less crash prone than others (do remember that latvala is in VW, the best team we currently have). That just makes it an elite club for "the initiated" instead. Rally has an appeal, in my view, in that anyone can turn up and do it. If I won the lottery tomorrow I could buy a WRC car, turn up in portugal and make a complete fool out of myself.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Power
That gives me a sense of connection with the sport and changing this will break this connection.
I hadn't really thought about it but I can't see these new cars getting into truly private hands for 18 months at least. Any additional entries before then would be tied to manufacturers anyway.
But in practice who would this rule really effect? They would need to draw up some kind of criteria. I think it's maybe in reference to guys like the Eurolamp Mini drivers. Maybe Solowow? Older guys like that. But then you're at risk of being ageist if they have more experience than guys like Camilli. So then you'd need to factor in speed, previous results etc. Either way I think they've created a problem here before there actually was one.
Having that 2017 cup for the older cars would be perfect as it gives those drivers and cars somewhere to compete. It would also really benefit younger drivers.
The whole safety thing is one big fuss around the sport. In fact I think changing to B segment 1.6t from C segment 2t was imposing more risk to crash at high speeds as smaller cars are naturally more unstable in high speed turning. Now they seem to just correct such instability.Quote:
Originally Posted by itix
I don't have a good feeling about the rule just like about the whole 2017 technical rules. I really don't see how this F1 style rules could be good for rallying.
Never did I say the quality of the drivers wasn't up to scratch, all I said was, none of those guys would ever get knocked back for a 2017 car from the FIA.Quote:
Originally Posted by janvanvurpa
Block, Kuipers, Benito, Van Merk etc etc all would get a green light to drive a 2017 car. They have enough history to be sure they're not going to throw it at spectators chasing unfounded glory.
The FIA would be concerned about the DMACK Fiesta R2 style young guy stepping straight in to one of these cars.