News that already is on here, but this deserve its own thread:
http://translate.googleusercontent.c..._FbvUh9sCowepA
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News that already is on here, but this deserve its own thread:
http://translate.googleusercontent.c..._FbvUh9sCowepA
Super new's!
so from 2012 we are going to have 4 manufacturers....great news....only missing part of the puzzle is now toyota...then we can say that the WRC is reborn from its ashes.
It is not officially confirmed from VW yet, and they will deny as the article says...
But no fire without smoke !
There will be more.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
the more the merier...lets just hope all of them will be serious about it and not just a 1-2 year publicity stunt like suzuki.
How is TMR's progress with Korean manufacturer ?Quote:
Originally Posted by DonJippo
Skoda as a brand has changed their opinion towards WRC. But, of course they will have to follow VAG policy. Which means if VW is seriously coming to WRC, they won't bring Skoda :mark:
Massive news for WRC of course, and a most sensible move for VW.
I'm not sure about Toyota, last time around I heared they weren't so keen on the new rules. But VW is in (semi-confirmed at least), so maybe they'll change their minds now. I think it's Toyota's best option, instead of an unnecessary sports car program or something like that.
I think I read in another thread that Skoda would deliver customer cars only.Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
Great news..
I read an article from VM magazine where the head of Skoda rallysport or whatever rephrased his statement. He earlier said that Skoda will not participate WRC with that engine when they had a car ready for the current rules. But now he has changed his mind and said it would be possible and interesting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Josti
I would rather see Skoda in WRC than VW. But, of course, the most I like to see is them both :)
btw... sorry, I just noticed folks here are discussing this same matter in news & rumours thread.
It´s a logic step for VW to make after being involved in Desert racing. WRC is the future for every carmanufacturer.
Earning money on Skoda for privateers is just the way to make it go around.
As much as I like Skoda, I'm very anctious to see a manufacturer as a big as VW in WRC. It's just a massive impulse.Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
And yes, we should just cherish the fact that, despite in a lesser form, Skoda is at least involved.
Id prefer a more prestigious company like VW in WRC over Skoda any day!
Would love it to be a Scirocco as well!!
Great news if confirmed :)
No problem, I was questioning myself to start a new topic or not. But it deserves a new topic, if only it could be confirmed!Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
The engine already exists for some time ;) It seems We'll see almost same car in WRC in VW bodyshell and elsewhere as Super Production in Škoda bodyshell :s mokin:Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
PS VW is actually quite worried about Škoda in the moment and decided to direct it towards different and cheaper opponents on car market as Renault (they already started to stop some extra equipment from stock cars on German market). The problem is that Škoda rose at the expense of VW especially on German market. So they will for sure try to present VW itself as higher profile brand.
VW has bigger brand and will invest more money into the project..
Prestigious is often a point of view.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allyc85
VW has really done very little in WRC aside from Ericssons FIA Cup aka 2wd World Champignonskit way back in ä86.
Skoda fielded small but amazing little cars for decades under the great Pavel Janeba.
In my book in WRC context, Skoda has a proud history----which only went sideways when the Germans invaded Bohemia and took over the "management' placing some circuit race "genius" in charge..
Years more participation than VW, and since I am typically impressed by those who "do the most-est with the least-est" Skoda stands even higher..
The biggest cheers every stage I watched at Monte Carlo WRC in 1993 was for Pavel Sibera and Emil Triner in their 1.3 Skoda Favorits (If you ever saw some of the Youtube vids of Jean Ragnotti---those 2 guys were driving INSPIRED, great!)
Maybe Skoda will arrange a semi-works programme like Honda South America will do in 2011 WTCC. Isn't it?
Still remember Baumschlager/Wicha Safari Golf F2 sixth place in 1998.. That year I was watching Safari Eurosport coverage and saw Kankunen's Ford Escort with Safari and Valvoline stickers on the car.. And said friend:"If I can just sit for once in that car.." A month later on Zagreb Autoshow on Valvoline stand the same car (ford).. I asked guy from Valvoline England (on english) is there any chance to sit in the car.. He unlocked door and said:"Sit in the driver's seat!" Dreams.. Maybe Valvoline will come back with VW..
We should be fair. In 1993 when VW bought Škoda, it was almost dead company. VW pumped huge money into Škoda and didn't transform it into just manufacture but also held development facilities which grew in time as the whole company did. In the end it wasn't bad business for VAG but also for the country because unlike many other investors after 1989 which just bought something for ridiculously small money and soon run further to the east, VW kept and rose something of high value. We're small country and Škoda Auto and all depending companies runs most of the economy...Quote:
Originally Posted by janvanvurpa
Don't think so, it would be direct competition to VW.Quote:
Originally Posted by Motorsportfun
Quite unfair really if they now pick the glory when someone else has done the work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
I'm afraid it was always likely to happen....., that is VAG for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
Sure it was likely, but it still would have been better if VW would have stuck to playing in the sandbox and only secured the resourses for Skoda to make a serious approache, this time Skoda seem to have the things in control, right people involved and so on.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
Yeah, VW have always claimed each brand/ marque had it's own series; Skoda was the Rallying arm, VW was Rallye Raid, Audi - Sportscars, etcQuote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
So what changed??
VW's has been in driven by good drivers Kalle Grundell for instance, and Audi has won a few World Championships.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
This can well turn out same like Suzuki, if VAG want changes in who run the project, a few wrong people in key places can damage alot.
Wasn't it Audi's Martin Muelheimer who was brought into Skoda? Not a success, as I remember.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
Yes, Martin Muelheimer, that was a wrong move.
I do have faith in Kris Nissen though.
Well, there are many reasons:Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
1.They finally found that it is pointless to fight against themselves in Dakar.
2. The amount of money they pumped in Dakar (It is roughly estimated that with the same budget they can run in WRC for the whole year and develop the car as well- 4 official teams, 2 partly supported teams, fast assistance race trucks etc. dont forget, much of the EUROSPORT TV program is also funded by VW) and only approximately 20 days of good publicity. And all those 20 days are in a row and during the next 340 days the publicity is nearly zero (The interest in Dakar series and rally-raid series is nearly nothing). Also, the location where the event takes place is not the richest in the World.
3. Ok, there is 20 days of good TV publicity but dont forget. There are only couple of the countries where the people actually can see the rally live.
4. In WRC, the stages take place in 13-14 different countries in the world, and many of those countries are important markets for VW. How many cars VW sells in Argentina +Chile? How many cars do they sell in Germany+France+Spain+GB+Italy+Sweden+Norway+Finlan d+Australia+Greece+Portugal+Mexico+Jordan+Argentin a and in some years you can add New-Zealand or Japan or China or Turkey or Poland.
5. In VW They have very good team, they can use in WR program as well and VW is their main brand and needs publicity all around the World. Skodas main market looks to be in Europe and therefore IRC is perfect publicity program for them, as most of the events take place in Europe.
6. Their VW raid cars can be used very successfully for a long time after the end of their official program and still produce some good publicity.
So, the move was somehow logical. It will be good for Dakar as well. Equalizes the competition and brings back more of its original spirit.
As long as both VW and Skoda keeps within a given budget, I can not see any reason why they both can't have a go in WRC, As Pug and Citroen used to.
Double the commercial effect if they both succeed, and both of them has the know how to do so !
No, that will never happen.
Should keep the forum busy for the next year and a bit with bitching about who the drivers should be anyway even if it doesnt come to fruition.
VW may be the prestige brand in the group but Skoda as most people know has a pretty impressive motorsport pedigree so guess it will come down to the marketing department(s) want I suspect.
Probably not, but could have worked.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
So what will happen if VW comes in: VW=WRC, Skoda=All below ?
No, that couldn't have worked well. Too much money spent on useless fight of two sister brands with no more marketing value.
If VW goes to WRC, Škoda will probably concentrate on customer programs in IRC/ERC/regional and national championships with Super production car. But that's still "if"...
I thought Kris Nissen said in an interview that 2013 would be realistic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kris Nissen
I'm sorry, but isn't this whole "news" just speculating? Nothing is confirmed yet, right? I don't believe this before they "come out from the closet" with a letter from the company themselves.
That is what many do here on the forum, just speculating and act that they are a company LEADER or a rally team manager. :s mokin:Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodeye