Azores out of 2023 calendar
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Azores out of 2023 calendar
http://iris.cpidt.pt/publishing20/!s...20055&id=64421
And here’s confirmation.
Attachment 2315
Azores Rallye outside the ERC
The promoter of the FIA European Rally Championship has informed the Azores Rallye Organizing Committee that the event is not part of its plans for the 2023 season.
The justification presented by the WRC Promoter was that their intention is to make the championship more central, to reduce the cost for the teams.
Despite the effort of the Azores Rallye Organizing Committee to guarantee free sea and air transport for the teams, they still consider that the immobilization of resources is too long compared to the other events of the championship, according to the promoter.
We deeply regret this decision, which we did not foresee, since all federative entities praised the event, including the WRC Promoter, who presented to the Azores Rallye Organizing Committee a proposal for the continuity of the event in 2023 and 2024, which was being subject of negotiation.
We will continue to work on next year's edition, the fifty-seventh, with a view to guaranteeing, together with our partners, an event with the quality that is recognized, hoping, in the future, to return to the maximum competition of rallies at European level.
And... is it a good or bad decision?
It's shit. The only good thing is, that promoter apparently had a will to keep it in calendar. Fafe with almost no spectators comparing to WRC Portugal looks like "a poor relative". I hope they are not gonna to do championship for WRC-relegated events (Estonia, Catalunya).
Isn't Catalunya staying at least for next year in the WRC?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom K
If it stays, it will probably mean that other options for Promoter collapsed. It was mentioned (also on the forum) that Catalunya was among first to exclude.
Shame to lose the Azores, one of the most special places to rally in the world.
I will only accept this if they find a good replacement that is new and exciting.
it is the next step down.....unbelivable how fast the steps are...since glory days in IRC, this year the best drivers choose WRC2 and for next year ERC will also the best Rallye of the year...very very sad!
When has a rotation system ever worked?
I'm really hoping for a great looking ERC calendar in 23 however have a sneaking suspicion that I may be disappointed!
How much money are the promoters asking per round?
I have very little confidence in the promoter to do anything good; it's all about £££££
I constantly say, the ERC could and should be a great series - but never looks like being so.
I heard Canarias (2 more years contract) and Catalunya next year.
My ideal 8 round ERC calendar would be something like:
Azores
Canarias (or some other tarmac event in Spain, Italy, France or Germany)
Latvia
Poland
Ypres
Barum
Valais
‘A forest event somewhere in GB’
Although regarding the last option I just looked at the British Rally Championship website to see if there was an event they could piggyback and the stage mileage is pathetically short on all!
That looks good. Surely any ERC needs some of the larger countries - especially if they're not in the WRC; France/Germany.....
And I'd like to see a winter Tarmac round, similar to the Monte; I always enjoyed the Jannerrallye, a shame it couldn't continue in the ERC.
I think any UK round would likely be a Tarmac round - as any gravel event would probably be too expensive.(Unless an ERC round is significantly less expensive). IRC Rally Scotland was a nice event, with live TV coverage, but only lasted those 3 years. No legacy at all.....which is what they need to be aiming for. And there were the rumours of a Yorkshire event, but that went up in smoke when the Tour de France start was a possibility.
Yeah to get an acceptable level of stage km for the ERC you’d have to combine 3 typical British forestry events into the same weekend and which could all run out of the same service park! Or maybe one 70km running off a remote serviceQuote:
Originally Posted by RS
So you want WRC and ERC in same countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal)
I think those countries which don't have WRC should be ERC priority.
Norway has big enough rallies for ERC I believe
UK/Ireland
Middle European countries, there are many without WRC
and if there aren't enough rallies for full ERC calendar, those countries which don't have WRC, could have ERC also.
I´m OK with 50/50 tarmac/gravel but there is never enough Snow rallies in any series...
One thing is your "wish", one thing is wish of competitors/organisers/promoter. But most important are money...
And also with WRC Promoter, besides a huge increase in "fixed" costs like fees, amount of people from promoter/TV, etc, they also have a huge cost with everything related to the All Live.
Once again I'll ask the question how much is the promoter likely to ask for to have a rally included as part of the ERC?
As mentioned above the circus that is All Live etc must cost a pretty penny not all of which will be covered by user subscriptions. I cant see an event coming to the UK anytime soon for the lack of a headline sponsor unless someone can have a word with Gus Greensmith's dad! Its going to need a Central/Local Government interest and with our economy tanking thats just not going to happen. When I look at the start ramps and stage side advertising on a lot of European events you can physically see the appetite for rallying as a marketing tool something which has long since left the sport here.
Calendar wise I'd like something like this :
Janner - Austria Snow/tarmac
Azores or Madeira - Portugal-Gravel/Tarmac
Circuit of Ireland - UK- Tarmac
Poland - Gravel
Ypres- Belgium - Tarmac
Tuscany - Italy -Gravel
Mont Blanc - France - Tarmac
Cyprus - Gravel
This would seem to suit the home countries of a lot of the drivers currently competing. I've included Cyprus which I know is controversial due to the stage conditions however it allows for a big end of season party in the relative warmth!
I’d like Janner too but i think there were some issues with that being so soon after Christmas and too early in the year to have sponsorship finalised etc?
Also, you can’t leave out Barum!
Are island rallies out of calendar really bad think? I mean, sure, they are awesome, but I can imagine that costs of them are insane for drivers that are often tight on budget.
It was said multiple times here, that (especially for teams from central Europe) doing Fafe and Spanish mainland rally versus Azores and Canarias, did not cause significant increase in costs. Cargo and couple of flight tickets were given for free. Apparently the problem is long time when they have cars abroad.
I know maybe if we replaced the French round (they could use Ypres as their nearest round) then the Barum would be the best fit. If we persuaded Jan K to retire then there wouldnt be as many crashes with people trying to catch him!!Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
I was involved in running the Manx International Rally when it was a Coefficient 20 round of the European Championship in the 1990's. Very few of the leading European Championship contenders ever entered because it was late in the season and expensive to get to (ferry to UK and another ferry from UK to IoM). The event relied on IoM Government backing with most entires from the British International Championship and the Irish Tarmac International Championship. In the current economic climate, similar events aren't viable without a major sponsor and subsidised entries for championship contenders.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenneth
Times are different. Now there are not so big sponsors able to pay almost whole of the rally like in the past. Currently the most important for bringing money are competitors. And on higher levels like WRC or ERC it is government who must give the money...Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Boyd
I'd do something similar, just add Barum Czech Rally Zlín into the mix and Greece if it somehow gets kicked out of the WRC after 2023.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal yet again
Also iconic Rally Piancavallo in Italy, max coefficient in previous ErcQuote:
Originally Posted by Sal yet again
in italy rally of rome is hard to be replaced.Quote:
Originally Posted by manthey
And easier to fund... But No match vs PiancavalloQuote:
Originally Posted by wyler
there's plenty with more history and value than rome in italy!Quote:
Originally Posted by manthey
It was so much easier when tobacco products could be advertised!Quote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
Yes, both Piancavallo and Mille Miglia had beautiful stages! Roma can't compete with them on this field.Quote:
Originally Posted by manthey
https://www.ircup.it/wp-content/gall...n/MAT_5374.jpg
https://www.ircup.it/wp-content/gall...n/MAT_5415.jpg
https://www.ircup.it/wp-content/gall...n/MAT_5268.jpg
Oh yes, those were the days!Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Boyd
https://scontent.fktw4-1.fna.fbcdn.n...-A&oe=635D867E
Fabulous Lago di Barcis in the first pictureQuote:
Originally Posted by Jarek Z
Last one seems street from Barcis to Piancavallo
According to Swedish media SVT, It's very likely that Sweden will have a ERC round in Värmland in July next year.
Link (in Swedish): https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/va...ntas-inom-kort
Similar roads to the old Värmland-based Swedish Rally?Quote:
Originally Posted by erikli2
Yes, some stages will be the same ones used during the "old" Swedish rally.Quote:
Originally Posted by HKSjbg
When I have heard about rally in Scandinavia for first time and started to dig in which country it will be, I was surprised that almost nobody in Sweden knew about it (and usually only on level of rumours)...