European Rally Ladder

[Sulland]

In many countries today, especially the drivers move from National championships directly to WRC.

We have a European Championship, but traditionally this has been an option chosen by drivers/teams from mid/south Europe, and the ERC has had few that are on their way up.

Could the European championship be changed into an option as a layer btw the national series and WRC.

Could regional championships, to keep cost down, be layer 1, then some sort of final to get the euro champ ?

Is something like this interessting, and if so what options would you see as the best to move the ERC into a really valuable crown to have on your CW ?

[morganmilan]

I´ve always believed IRC series has got much more in common with ERC that with WRC. Perhaps both championships could be integrated (calendars are half the same nowadays!)and create a strong ERC without rallys outside Europe. As a matter of fact really only european drivers follow IRC. Regional cups must be promoted too, so drivers could compete not far from home in an international championship. Regional cups rallyes could count to ERC points as minor coefficient rallyes (perhaps 2 to 5 or so...). Perhaps, in that way, north and east rally drivers would be more interested in european series...

[Jarek Z]

Yes, in my opinion European Championship can and should be a ladder between national series and WRC. Look at JWRC and IRC - 80% of both series are held in Europe and contested by European rallies anyway. It should all be merged into one strong ERC. Isn't it the way it used to be in the eighties? Drivers such as Walter Roehrl, Miki Biasion and Piero Liatti had their first international successes in ERC and then moved to WRC.

Unfortunately such merging will never happen because most people ruling the world of rallying today are narrow-minded idiots

[Jarek Z]

And as far as regional cups are concerned they should be canceled as soon as possible.

[morganmilan]

And as far as regional cups are concerned they should be canceled as soon as possible.

Why?

[Jarek Z]

Because what's the use to have them?

[Simmi]

I think the answer will come when the WRC brings in its new regs with a cheaper costing premium car.

In previous years you had such brilliantly supported ERC and national championships. In the same machinery these drivers could do well and then enter the WRC in their own cars and be on the pace.

At the moment there is a gulf between the top tier of the WRC and all championships because the current crop of WRCars are not viable for privateers. It is my dream to see a top car that is once again usable in all championships. And in the same way the top drivers can go and enter other national rally championships.

From a personal point of view it would be great to see the real cream of the crop entering the British Rally Championship like they used to do many years ago. At the moment we only get the odd cross overs for testing purposes such as in Ireland a couple of years ago.

[morganmilan]

Because what's the use to have them?

Probably as a second division ERC, opening the possibility to run an international championship to drivers with minor budgets. Besides taking points to the regional cups, they could take to ERC too. I believe all championships are a good idea, unless there are no teams to compete on them

[Jarek Z]

And who needs second division ERC? How many drivers compete in regional cups? Two or three? What's the sense of having a championship for two drivers?

[morganmilan]

And who needs second division ERC? How many drivers compete in regional cups? Two or three? What's the sense of having a championship for two drivers?

No sense, of course. There would be a minimum limit for those championships: perhaps 5 or 6 registered drivers. If that level is not got, the championship will be no run. It´s so simple...But, if we had that number of registered drivers, there would be no problem. FIA could try and see...