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The position of promoter of the BRC will go up for tender next year for the 2015 season onward. In a recent feature in Motorsport News UK Rally said they will re-apply, which comes as no surprise, while an earlier issue stated that former rally driver Jon Ingram will apply for the position too.
Hopefully this subject will become more and more intriguing as times goes on.
The current Promoters have to try a lot harder. It’s currently not good enough – look at the BTCC/ BSB. That is the level the BRC should at least be.
I agree, those two championships have great TV coverage which keeps the fans watching and sponsors happy and willing to get involved. I've often thought BTCC and BSB are a good marker for the BRC to aim for.
Whenever they cited the economic situation for downgrading most aspects of the championship it just felt like they hadn't really looked at other options. The whole world has got to deal with the same situation but look at other domestic rally championships and other forms of racing in Britain - they've managed to sort themselves out, so why can't the BRC?
Round 1 of the 2014 BRC, the Rally of North Wales, cancelled - due to lack of entries!!
A shame for the event organisers; 2nd year in a row cancelled, last because of snow.
Poor - the whole series needs a rethink.
What do You guys think now about the "2WD only" rule after two seasons? I remember we had a long discussion when the rule was introduced and there were actually some people who thought it was a good idea.
They went 2WD as they are the most affordable cars. Problem is, they aren't very exciting, and not much of a spectacle.
The BRC needs to decide what it's for. Then it can decide what cars to include.
We already have national club series for both gravel and Tarmac. The BRC must offer something different. Citing slow economic recovery affecting Motorsport won't wash - the BTCC looks on fine form this year. Ex champions returning, lots of media and excellent TV package, etc
The BRC is up for tender - time for new operators, the current lot have had their chance - and failed.
First round of BRC cancelled !!! Damned I'm gutted :mad:
Never good, but wasn't the entry fee well into 4 figures and more than other events, or did I mis-read that somewhere?
This is a very difficult situation for any promoter to deal with. The case for running two-wheel-drive cars was a good one, but I am firmly of the view that no domestic rally championship will get anywhere unless it's running the same equipment as people can see competing in the WRC. The British series would never have amounted to anything in its heyday had it not been for that. Sadly, we know that running WRCs in domestic championships is financially all but impossible. And coupled with all of this is the fact that the WRC, even with two front-running British drivers, has barely any following in Britain these days. At its best, the British Open championship was probably as good as, if not better than, the WRC. Pentti Airikkala once said that the British series enjoyed far better promotion at that time. Now, what hope is there for the British series if it enjoys poor promotion and is contested by cars people can't be bothered to go and watch?Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
One contrast with the BTCC is that, even at its lowest ebbs, the BTCC has always managed to retain decent TV coverage. This the BRC cannot claim. Could it do a BTCC in another respect and go down the route of adopting a technical formula different from that used in the world championship? Possibly, but, personally, I don't think it would work. Also in the BTCC's favour is the line-up of well-known champion drivers, further bolstered this season. This the BRC cannot now hope to offer; in the past, when it was strong, it could.
There's a lad in my motor club (think he's only 19) that was looking to contest the BRC this year. Speaking to his old man about the costs involved it doesn't surprise me a great deal. Not only are entry fees extremely expensive (plus travelling all over the country) but the costs to upgrade the car are just crazy. With this in mind it doesn't surprise me that entries are low.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
I hope more success to next month Pirelli International Rally :rolleyes:
Quite amazing to be honest... BRC had few good years with FWD cars, young fast drivers both in R2 and R3. Now suddenly nothing...
The BRC is a sick dog championship now.
This makes for an interesting read: http://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/t...ender_2014.pdf
Page 2, point xi in particular
With the BTCC and British GT looking in rude health; the BRC is the poor man of British Motorsport. A real shame - but I don't know what the answer is.
In short: "HELP!!!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack4688`
Whatever the full solution is I think it should start with a better TV deal and general promotion - I can't ever remember BRC being mentioned on autosport.com...
Without decent TV coverage sponsors won't be interested and neither will manufacturers (whether works teams would be a good idea is another thing, I'd just personally love to see official R5 Fords, Peugeots, Skodas & Citroens competing against each other) and I would guess the events themselves would benefit from the increased coverage too.
Unfortunately it's a viscous cycle as the TV deal probably can't happen without a strong enough championship to show - someone's going to have to take a punt and commit to it. Personally I think a TV channel would be more open to it if the championship was under new management rather than the current promoters who seem to be doing a pretty poor job of it.
The sad fact is that people aren't interested enough in rallying to watch it on TV...at least not enough to count. People get out on the stages often enough but Tv lacks the excitement. Circuit racing on the other hand makes sense, people can see who wins and you have drama of close racing (sometimes). It's why I believe that Rallycross has the potential to be big business, get enough star names (with Jacques Villeneuve doing it this year it's certainly a start) 600bhp cars and short races and it really should be popular...plus you have sponsors like Monster already involved.
Honestly, how many people would watch R2 cars on live TV show? Hardcore fans sure but the rest of the crowd? Hardly anybody unless it's some celebrities driving. In my opinion the way out is only with more spectacular and more expensive cars. Look at MSA events. There are plenty of drivers who can afford WRC cars. Make them invest in BRC and part of Your problem is solved. The promoter must work as a good businessman. Why the hell they drive some "village" events and not my "bestofall" championship? What do I do wrong?
Look at how popular rallycross used to be when the BBC showed it in the 1980s. Helped enormously by Murray Walker, it was hugely popular. Remember that the Grand Prix at Brands was a major annual 'Grandstand' event! Make the sport look a bit more professional and it'll be a big player, I'm certain.Quote:
Originally Posted by MrJan
The truth is that those are championships with which competitors of good quality want to be involved. The BRC, to put it bluntly, isn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
Only way this is going to happen now is, I think, if a promoter spends some serious money on the championship in order to help bring in the sort of teams you describe. As things stand, you can't imagine them having any reason to enter. But I can't see it happening.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack4688`
Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
Exactly!! The 'customer' actually wants to take part in these championships - they are providing 'value for money'. The BRC doesn't. And, people aren't entering. The F2 days was the last great era of the BRC - so, 15 years ago. When we had Manufacturer entries from Renault, Seat, VW, Vauxhall, Proton, Peugeot......
It will be interesting to see who gets the tender; the current promoters have again put in a bid. Are the MSA really behind rallying - I get the feeling they'd prefer people racing on circuits.
A new promoter with a new plan is what is needed; what those plans are is anybody's guess. However, R2/3 cars is not the answer.
The problem with BRC is that it needs to do too much to suit too many people. It's not easy coming up with a format that produces the cars fans want to see, at a price that competitors can afford and young drivers can use as a proving ground to get into the WRC...of course that opens up a whole new debate over whether it's even feasible these days for a young driver to get in to the WRC without paying their own way.
Fans want exciting cars (which I think we can all agree does not come from the current format or the Group N format we had previously) but they simply aren't cheap. They also need to live up to quite a lot, especially when you consider that a big portion of the field in the MSA Asphalt championship are running WRCs or Escorts/Darriens with £20k Millington engines and sequential boxes.
Good that Pirelli International Rally will start normally this week-end :bounce:
As expected, it's a battle between Osian Pryce and Daniel McKenna ;)
Are Raftery's times correct in SS3 :confused: Being less than 5" slower than Pryce and in a Fiesta R2 makes me wonder if it is...
Please keep this thread relevant. The topic is the 2015 promoter tender.
Thank you
Whoever gets it has a lot of work to do. When motorsport websites don't even bother reporting it you know you're in trouble.
Anyone know when we're supposed to hear anything from the MSA? I know that the submission deadline was mid-April but when are they making a decision? I suppose it's up to them whether to announce it in June or September or whenever but you'd hope the announcement would be made in good time to allow everyone involved in the BRC to adjust to any changes.
According to this week's issue of Motorsport News the MSA will announce it before the end of this month
Surely the new promoter will switch the main class to R5/S2000? It seems inconceivable to me that they'd persist with running R3 as the top class, as surely that move can only be seen as an utter failure? There are people running R5s and S2000 in the UK who would surely be interested in BRC were they the top class? For instance Simpsons Skoda, David Bogie (he's doing the Scottish Rally in an R5+) or maybe Robert Barrable is he's not totally set on a few WRC outings? Even Mark Higgins was out on Rally GB last year in an R5...
In an ideal world I'd also like to see the new promoter at least try and encourage its rally organisers to run longer rallies. Though I appreciate the implications in organisation and cost of this, the gravel rallies in particular this year and in recent times have virtually been none events (the Wales rounds has been a real none event ;) ), what with them being so short. The 220km limit for events in the ERC should be an aspiration for BRC events. All two day events, with the calender ending with a single round, 3 day rally on the Isle of Man would be nice.
Is there going to be a new promoter? I remember I have read somewhere that the promoter will not change and rights were given to the same company that runs it now.
Yesterday's (small) post in Motorsport News stated that the regional championships would not change promoter i.e the English Rally Championship, Welsh Rally Championship & Scottish Rally Championship. I think everything under MSA's jurisdiction was up for re-application, so presumably things like the Tarmac Championship and historic championship were too. Now that I write this I've remembered that the people who organise the R.A.C. Championship have won the tender for the British Historic Rally Championship.
So the main British Rally Championship tender award has not been announced yet.
All very well, but would this attract (a) the public and (b) media coverage? Somehow I doubt it. I fear the BRC is, effectively, dead. It pretty much is to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
There aren't enough R5/ S2000 cars in the UK for a viable BRC. As Ben said above - the BRC is more or less dead, and more worryingly, forests are being lost to leisure activities.
Quote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
The BRC is already crippingly expensive for most competitors, making all events into two dayers only increases costs for them.
It has been announced that the 2016 BRC will be run by International Motor Sports IMS , and it will take a break in 2015 , so no BRC next year.
This is on irally heres the link , http://www.irallylive.com/ir_news.htm?00006992&10
That gets really worrying...
Not good - but understandable. And IMS now running it...... hmm
I was shocked when I first saw the news, but to be honest, it's probably best just to put a stop to the current championship. You only have to look at the entry for the Scottish Rally this weekend to see where the BRC is now, the SRC/National B entry embarrasses the BRC/National A entry. I'm going but I not really too fussed about seeing the National A field. Whether it's still possible to make a success of the BRC, only time will tell. It'll be interesting to see what IMS will do with it, though they don't automatically inspire confidence!
To me this move is as much about the MSA being seen to doing something, what with the dire state that British single seater racing (including British F3) is also in.