Paying Drivers

[Jarek Z]

IMHO mentioning Loeb in this thread is completely crazy. He was the best driver in the history of this sport and had nothing to do with "paying drivers". He got support from the French Federation because of great results. He was winning rallies in Citroen Trophy already 2 years after he sarted rallying.
https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/3-sebastien-loeb/

[AndyRAC]

I think the answer to my question lies in your third paragraph; everything you've said there is true, sadly. To paraphrase: no sponsorship deals due to lack of exposure. I think that is the real problem. For example: why have M-Sport, with all the success they've had, still been unable to find a title sponsor?

This!! And none of the 'journalists' seem to be asking questions why - instead we see plenty of backslapping on how great everything is.

[the sniper]

This!! And none of the 'journalists' seem to be asking questions why - instead we see plenty of backslapping on how great everything is.

No need for the plural, there's only David Evans...

[Rally Power]

1992 was already a Jolly club year, although they still had the Martini colours, but the factory backing was ended. (...) http://juwra.com/lancia_season_1992.html

Lancia’s WRC reorganization in 92 (using Martini Racing label and Jolly Club service) was mostly a way to allow Abarth (then Fiat/Lancia motorsport department) to still be involved in the series, in a time group Fiat was moving its motorsport resources towards Alfa Romeo (with DTM in mind). Despite the pull out announcement in late 91, many people kept calling 92 team as Lancia’s ‘official’ team, once Abarth’s presence was quite clear (even in the link you provided there’s a mention of a common Turin/Milan base and top Abarth staff, like Russo or Roberti, are named); that presence disappeared in 93 and Jolly Club was mostly on its own when Sainz came in (after Repsol clash with TTE, due to Castrol deal).

[dodge33cymru]

IMHO mentioning Loeb in this thread is completely crazy. He was the best driver in the history of this sport and had nothing to do with "paying drivers". He got support from the French Federation because of great results. He was winning rallies in Citroen Trophy already 2 years after he sarted rallying.
https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/3-sebastien-loeb/

Yes, but the point is that the French system via FFSA puts the effort in to find and back those drivers itself. If Loeb had been born in Poland or Italy or Germany or the UK would he have had those same opportunities? The point isn't that Loeb didn't deserve that backing, but that there may be other natural talents out there that wouldn't be able to do the same.

Changing that is near impossible, but that's behind the issue that the OP is talking about.