[WRC] News & Rumours 2019

[T16]

Honestly, I can’t see how the WRC is stagnating when we’re only in the 3rd year of one of the most fantastic rally eras; this urgent need for discussing the future regs is a total nonsense, just like all the allegedly Eco BS were facing in our lives.[/QUOTE]

There are two ways to answer this:

Firstly, from a TV / talkability / three drivers heading into the final round as potential champions point-of-view, 2018 was a good year. You can watch WRC live and because they basically cover the top ten drivers then go to the next stage, where driver number one is about to start, it’s non stop excitement.

But secondly, watching from stage side (which many of us absolutely love to do), we only get to see 10-12 cars and this is shit.
There are simply not enough teams and privateers who want to run the current cars.

I guess it comes down to what the promoters and FIA want; good TV or good entertainment for those watching stage side.

I’ve said it recently, the sport is on a knife-edge in terms of participants, it has been for a few years and it probably will be unless the manufacturers all see more value in terms of its exposure. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and discuss the future regs and it needs to happen sooner than later.

[Rally Power]

1. WRX sequence of events:
a) FIA delays EVs from 2020 to 2021, quite some time after they were announced for 2020
b) Audi then Peugeot withdraw (Ford left a year before), after that VW leaves too cause there is nobody to fight

(so basically what Tarmop says, manus left cause the rules were not changing)

2. WRC rules:
Originally the rules were 2017-2019 and the extension was optional 2 years, which seems to have changed to 3. Keeping these rules for "just a few years" is imo part of the reason why Skoda didn't join. Note that this came AFTER VW leadership said that WRC needs hybrids or EVs. (Skoda is owned by VW as most know)

3. Nascar is basically all about US, WRC is very much Europe-centered. (teams (and rules banning some testing outside of europe), rallies, fans)

You’re wrong:

1. a)b) The delay was due to not having the mandatory 4 manus entries for the 2020 eWRX in August 2018, as only VW and Peugeot (not Audi) showed their interest. Meanwhile Audi left and Peugeot didn’t wait for the new 2021 entry deadline (March 2019, with a reduced 3 manus requirement).

2. The rules were always about two 3 years cycles (that’s why Toyota anouced their commitement till the end of 2022). This year, some voices were heard (like VW’s Smeets) asking for shorteneing the 2nd cycle and have EV’s new rules appliyed at 2022 beginning.

3. Nascar is also popular in Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and even in some Asian countries.

[Tarmop]

When FP pulledout last year, they said they are all for the EV rx, just needs to be more specific and they don't see a point wasting money atm. There were talks about 7? potential interested teams i think. I'm a petrolhead and always will be, but motorsport, especially factory-motorsport has to move together with current roadcars. Fine-tuning a turbo engineis nice, but for a manuf. (stopping diesel engines in roadcars, promising full EV in some years ) point of view unfortunately not.

[Barreis]

there's no fame about the sport. they should let r5 to be top class (with the same price as now) and let the entry list be more then 100 cars on every rally. let the national crews compete. what to say when the top car can drive about 10 crews. who want to look that?! anyone can play football/soccer and that's why it is so popular. look at tour de france/giro/ etc, we have more then 100 riders with the same equipment but they don't have the abilities for winning. there's no way the sport will be big in medias and attractive for huge crowds and manufacturers again with four drivers that can win and every season the same champ. and this four guys are likable in medias like grandma's a$$. we are all here hard core fans. and manufacturers wnat medias around the sport.

[the sniper]

Btw, let’s not take the eco-political correctness too seriously; Nascar is probably one of the most pollutant motorsport series in the world, yet it’s by far the most popular one and an amazing sponsor’s magnet.

NASCAR has actually been suffering in many respects in recent years, its decline has been widely publicised. Here's one article: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sp...221945860.html Admittedly its problems aren't 'eco-political correctness' because many Americans don't seem to worry themselves about or believe in such issues, but it's incorrect to suggest that it's doing overly well.

there's no fame about the sport. they should let r5 to be top class (with the same price as now) and let the entry list be more then 100 cars on every rally. let the national crews compete. what to say when the top car can drive about 10 crews. who want to look that?! anyone can play football/soccer and that's why it is so popular. look at tour de france/giro/ etc, we have more then 100 riders with the same equipment but they don't have the abilities for winning. there's no way the sport will be big in medias and attractive for huge crowds and manufacturers again with four drivers that can win and every season the same champ. and this four guys are likable in medias like grandma's a$$. we are all here hard core fans. and manufacturers wnat medias around the sport.

I imagine most of the current WRC crews would still make up the regular top ten finishers on any given WRC rally anyway. We'd probably have the same top three to five drivers as we have now in contention for wins, but just driving slower, less spectacular R5 cars... Great. And they'd only show the top 15 cars anyway, so the 80+ also-rans would get no more interest/coverage than now for their €/$/£250K+ budgets. WRC2, where all R5 comers are already welcome, has been largely dominated by a small number of works crews with Drivers that I doubt many would describe as the best of the best in rallying. Why would the current WRC guys not dominate that class too?

I'm not discounting the idea that the R5s or a development thereof becomes the main class at some point, it might become a necessity in time, like Group B to Group A in 1986/1987. I just don't think it's desirable in the short term in comparison to what we have now, which could possibly be the last golden age of rallying. It's spectacular, enjoy it before it's gone rather than wishing it away prematurely...

[Rally Power]

NASCAR has actually been suffering in many respects in recent years, its decline has been widely publicised. Here's one article: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sp...221945860.html Admittedly its problems aren't 'eco-political correctness' because many Americans don't seem to worry themselves about or believe in such issues, but it's incorrect to suggest that it's doing overly well.

Nascar may not be on its peak but it’s totally correct to say it’s still a quite popular series. I’ve mentioned it to underline how demagogic some companies are when they boycott motorsport for alleged ecological reasons.

We’re all petrolheads and the main point here is not about ignoring the environmental issues; is about having well thought out improvements in Rally, rather than ineffective moves motivated by mainstream sound-bytes.

Eco friendly policies and even instructive campaigns (for many spectators being on a rally it’s a rare time in the nature) can actually be promoted in Rally without this need to rush into EV’s or expensive hybrids that pottencially will damage the sport.

[giu canbera]

Is ERC in a good position right now? Cuz when comparing WRX to ERX you see the difference. TONS of privateers vs 3 (now zero) "semi manufacturer backed teams" and thats the problem IMO.
In EuroRX FINE.. the guys who were winning races were the richist ones with the strongests cars (an ex-Ken Block car, a Hansen-Peugeot, a VWSweden car and an EKS Audi 'costumer') but thats the way it should be.
I only watched 2 ERC races this year on "youtube" so Im not thaaaat familiar with the series..
Is it at a Good place right now? Cuz it looks more interesting when you have more privateers running the events (compared to the WRC series).
WTCC had to adopt, WEC is adopting, F1 will have to change... WRX and WRC will have to change to survive.
Not talking bout EVs and stuff.. but you gotta bring costs down and have cheaper cars, cheaper entry fees etc
Maybe reduce the number of races outside Europe....

[Tarmop]

We are talking about WRC, the pinacle of rallying. It`s nice to have privateers yes, R5 is excellent for them (and there we can also see different evolutions, not to mention factory cars vs private cars), they are present in WRC2 and in ERC they are the main class, but the best of the best should be in a factory car which is and should be a piece of engineering. If it dies, well, then so be it.

This should illustrate the level quite well, Kopecky was 9. after this stage (+1:10.5), won the event later on. Having the likes of Tänak, Ogier, Neuville and other WRC drivers in a R5 would just mean different cars, not more factory top drivers in top cars.
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results...181175&sct=222

[Norm75]

I get the argument, everyone reminisces about group B, and the current regs are probably the closest we've got since. Trouble is, with such specialised cars and few works teams, there aren't enough seats to go round.

With these regs, it can be a career killer, or even non starter.
Perhaps, if group B didn't die, there are a few drivers who's careers would have been much shorter than they were, with the introduction of group A and a more level and accessable class that was not as difficult to get involved in

[AnttiL]

ERC is like WRC2, no one does a complete season, drivers don't have to go against each other in every event and budget will dictate if you can go for the title or not.