[WRC] News & Rumours 2019

[jparker]

So, after gear stick and clutch pedal, now the whole gear shifting will disappear. I hate this...

[er88]

At worst; they leave.

At best; they remain and will commit in 2022 onwards, and take a year out in 2021 to develop the new car. And probably still only arrive in 22 with just two cars, and a car that is flawed again and takes a year and half to sort out...

[mknight]

It smells like an excuse. They are gonna leave anyway. It has been cooking for some time now.

Right and VW used the same excuse when asked about coming back.... and Skoda used it to explain why they didn't enter under current rules.

You know in WRX manus also left with "excuses", except the last who left cause there was nobody to fight.

=> It does not matter how "real" the excuse is. Leaving is a fact.
Manus are in WRC for publicity. As L. Jackson there points out, they can use it for brand building even when the car doesn't match anything they have in their range. But if the brand "sport" image is about electric or hybrid cars then it becomes more and more weird.

Btw. I think most people noticed the latest Peugeot concepts:
Electric:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/4/1...otor-show-2018
Hybrid with 1.6 turbo:
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/peugeo...va-with-400bhp


Note that it's all about "perception" of the brand, it's not like VW left cause they did not have money. It was to send a signal (both to the outside and to their shareholders) that they are taking dieselgate seriously.

[Tarmop]

Time passes, interests change, internal combustion as an only powersource of roadcars will soon be history. Nothing can be done about it sadly.

[RAS007]

Can't wait to hear these electric cars roaring through the forests.

[N.O.T]

Time passes, interests change, internal combustion as an only powersource of roadcars will soon be history. Nothing can be done about it sadly.

how soon ?

[mknight]

Can't wait to hear these electric cars roaring through the forests.

In longer term (5-10 years) the alternatives seem to be:

a) No WRC

b) "hobby" WRC running some cheap/or even old cars without real factory teams (not really RWD Escort, but something like "simplified" R5s). A bit like rallycross before "WRX" started. Note this would also mean limited coverage (not enough ppl to pay for Alllive-like service).

c) Hybrid/Electric with manufacturer money involved

For me c) even with fully electric and no engine noise is much better than the other options. Sure some guys here might prefer b).

[er88]

Surely full electric or whatever without sound isn't an option. For a variety of reasons.

Noise is part of rallyings spectacle, always has been and always has to be. It's so important for fans. Especially those who attend events.

If we had a monster electric car hurtling through a forest at 100mph +, making no more noise than a fucking washing machine, that's also dangerous.

[PLuto]

Surely full electric or whatever without sound isn't an option. For a variety of reasons.

Noise is part of rallyings spectacle, always has been and always has to be. It's so important for fans. Especially those who attend events.

If we had a monster electric car hurtling through a forest at 100mph +, making no more noise than a fucking washing machine, that's also dangerous.

And I think it is not only about rallysport, but whole motorsport. Without sound you are loosing big part of emotions, which is the reason why you are attending the events.

[stefanvv]

Can't wait to hear these electric cars roaring through the forests.

For sure there will be a noise