https://i.ibb.co/60ZQjkVr/Screenshot...rabia-2025.png
https://www.ewrc-results.com/timetab...i-arabia-2025/
Printable View
Nasser Al-Attiyah / Cándido Carrera in Ford Puma Rally1
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/al-at...rally1-outing/
Sesks/Francis in Ford Puma Rally1
https://sportacentrs.com/motoru_spor...ly_saudi_arabi
Sesks confirmed
https://www.upload.ee/image/18719008...0937923343.jpg
Sweet! Can't wait to go!
Took Friday off so i could follow the whole thing, just realized it's an Wednesday - Saturday event...
https://www.ewrc-results.com/timetab...i-arabia-2025/
Do we know anything for sure about what sort of rally this is? People have talked about heavy cleaning, and puncture lotteries, and it all sounds like Sardinia crossed with Turkey. But people say a lot of things on these forums...
What I hope that it would be a fair fight between Evans and Ogier. Shame if the title would be decided with a tire issue or breakdown of a car (unlikely with Toyota, but still).
Read the official preview:Quote:
Originally Posted by Morte66
https://www.wrc.com/en/events/wrc-ra...di-arabia-2025
Flyover map:
https://vimeo.com/1107383745?fl=pl&fe=sh
Oh, my - and this is the decisive championship round for the next 10 years? In the early season it would be nice; diversity is necessary; but temperatures would be an issue outside Nov-Feb window.
Cleaning and punctures will be an issue.
I wonder whether road cleaning will actually be an issue.
Does the road actually have a hard base to provide extra grip for later runners? If it's just sand then it might be an advantage being 1st or 2nd on the road
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/what-...di-test-event/
I wonder what they learned from the test event earlier this year ?
Plus there's virtually no videos of it, just a couple of clips like this...
https://youtube.com/shorts/iGa_8Fblk...C7OwBysr-UvKPt
Does anyone else feel a bit underwhelmed about the WRCs final round being in Saudi Arabia? I always feel that an established, historic, well supported (by fans, not money) event should at least open and close the WRC.
This year more than ever, the WRC really has kicked itself in the balls. Let’s not kid ourselves that the majority of WRC fans are European based, as are all of the teams. Just imagine a showdown in Wales, with a Welshman with a chance of winning. Honestly, I can’t see how elfyn can match Ogier in SA, but in wales he would have a great chance. I hope I’m wrong.
However, the only real loser here is the WRC as whole. The championship is dying. 2/3 manufacturer teams. Two work champions leaving at the end of the season, one who hasn’t even reached his peak. But worst of all, a part-time multiple world champion is probably going to win…..again.
I really, really hope Evans can put up a fight, he’s an amazing driver and deserves a championship. It would be so much better if going into the final stage, say Clogaenog, with a chance of victory, then crossing the line exactly where McRae did in 95, winning the championship for wales for the first time ever in front of thousands of boo or hat rally fans. What a story that would be. Instead, someone will win in a stage nobody has ever heard of, infront of a few wealth blokes. Sad :(
Yes it feels very underwhelming, dare I say more than Monza back in 2020 or at the very least 2021...even if say the Final round would've been in Corsica/Catalunya/Austraila/Wales of Course/Ireland/Ypres for crying out loud and still it would be a lot less underwherlming than Saudi Arabia...Quote:
Originally Posted by Doon
Underwhelming and in a country where the normal type of end of season parties will be at odds with the strict culture it does all smack of brown envelopes being accepted by the outgoing promoter. And its not just for one year.
I'll take it for what it is and appreciate something new and different as a challenge to the best drivers on the planet. And being the season finale makes it all the more exciting.
My only real issue is the possibility of it being a lottery for punctures. Hopefully it wont be plus drivers can drive accordingly to avoid them.
Underwhelmed at Saudi? No, it's not had chance to prove underwhelming. And in previous years final rounds have been in Australia or Japan, or (championships won at) at earlier rounds in various places.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doon
Underwhelmed with WRC? Yes, for a few seasons now. If Saudi isn't entertaining, it'll likely be more the state of the sport, but I'm going to go into this event with a positive mind as usual else its not worth being a fan. I think the reality is a Wales rally this year wouldn't have had as many Rally1s as Saudi, and if Elfyn or Seb had a retirement on the first corner than it could have been just as drab.
Imagine headlines if both title contenders retire and Rovanpera steal the show 🙈
+10Quote:
Originally Posted by Doon
The WRC has very regularly finished on gravel and outside of Europe. For many, many years it was on the 'ball-bearing' gravel in Australia and you know what?Quote:
Originally Posted by Doon
Everyone just got on with it and acepted it. And Christ, there was less bitching and moaning.
All the drivers have known Saudi would be the last event in the Championship and entered the series knowing that. Seb just needed to do more events, and the others should have done better throughout the season.
You want to just have 14 tarmac events to get rid of the unknown?!
I think you missed the essence of what Doon tried to say.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
This year we all know what it´s gonna be. But I agree fully that a rally with heritage should end up the season. For that the Rally Wales or RAC Rally on British soil would be the perfect end .
The signal to FIA is to rely on the history of rallying.
What about that, next year it will be way worse for title contenders since there is 7 rounds straight with gravel surface
Gravel events are my favourite, if anything I’d get rid of some tarmac events. However, that wasn’t the issue I was highlighting. Does anyone remember Rally Jordan? Does anyone remember seeing many spectators? Visually it was absolutely dull, and was only saved by the Ogier / Latvala battle.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
Of course a Rally GB finale would be great, but it's not like Saudi Arabia has replaced it... UK funding hasn't been there for 6 years now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
That´s true. And also sad. Been to Wales as spectator three times and it was rainy, cloudy, foggy, dark and absolutely wonderful!Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Just like it was this year and in 2023 and 2024.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
As ogier has shown, you easily skip a few of the first events since the better road position afterwards makes up for it.
You know now after majority of rallies... all teams, mechanics, drivers, media crew leave right after the rally. Not many parties to go to... the last good one was Toyota in Mexico, but that only lasted an hour and it died down. No external guests.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal yet again
After Japan last week, a couple drivers, I mean four; went to a British pub. So, gone are the days of rally parties at The Sheraton hotel in Perth after Rally Australia with a drunk McRae and others partying the night away.
Exactly. Everyone in the service park in Japan were excited for Saudi, from media, organisers and the drivers. Very much looking forward to a NEW rally. Possibly a NEW champion, yes Rovanpera can take it and leave the sport behind not a good look; Ogier could take another but this time as a part timer, also not looking good for the sport, but still, Saudi will be interesting and we're getting on with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
We'll see how many spectators will be there, I doubt there will be masses like we are used to see in South-America or in Finland. I heard that they built all those SS roads from scratch and used a salt water to make them hard. Meaning, after first pass it will be really soft...Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
Dirtfish's look at the stages:
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/rally...at-the-stages/
Dirtfish's look seems awfully like AI waffle
Seems to be a common thing amongst modern journalists - get the phone/computer to write the article.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimitris
At least the spelling and grammar is correct with AI, unlike the "say the first thing that comes into your head and use speech recognition to do the typing" method that's full of spelling and grammatical errors.
Gonna be terrible for Evans. Seems very very loose.
And they won't be able to run snorkles on the Rally1 right? Some of that sand looked very deep
How would AI be able to describe the roads from a rally point of view ? David Evans repeated on SPIN the Rally Pod that they had watched the organisers videos. I honestly cant see how they'd use AI to write up what they'd seen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimitris
He also interviewed Elfyn after he'd just watched the video's and said Elfyn seemed a bit shell-shocked at what he'd be facing.
You can tell its ai by how it's written. Words that don't quite fit the text, forced enthusiasm, etc. + it's written by "Dirtfish Staff" no one took responsibility for this. It's very easy to spot. I don't doubt that they've watched the onboards, but this is AI.
Recce interviews (text):
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/wrc-d...-saudi-arabia/
Really cool photos from Tanak's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/10004446804...40aB7S9Ucbxw6v