WRC future

[Rallyper]

Yeah...., in s2000 Skoda's that were banging, popping and screaming. They could be heard miles away in a forest.

The noise is so important in rallying, at least to me. It adds a lot to the spectacle besides the speed and driver ability.

I don't think it's a coincidence the IRC was so huge during the peak S2000 years, and seriously scaring and rivaling the WRC..., or that the WRC is now so popular and attendances are rising everywhere..., with the 17 cars sounding so impressive.

The R5s can be driven well but they just don't sound exciting. It takes away from their spectacle..., which is an already big drop in terms of raw speed and performance from the current top class.

Shouldn´t be rocket science to get the R5´s to sound more.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I have said for years that the car noise is at least 50% of the spectacle of rally. I'm sure most peoples first impression of a rally car live is the roar that you hear well before you see it, building the anticipation and excitement.

It's also why I pestered WRC+ for a no-commentary option.

As for the future (electric) cars, noise will be necessary for safety and Paddon has confirmed his EV car will have it no problem.

[Jarek Z]

That's actually funny since nowadays most touring heavy metal bands use digital modeling devices like Fractal Axe-FX to shape their sound, and there might not be a single guitar speaker cabinet on stage, all sound to the guitarist coming only from the in-ear-monitors sorry OT

I don't know what this Fractal Axe-FX is, but I'm sure those heavy metal bands still sound loud!

[Sulland]

It's also why I pestered WRC+ for a no-commentary option.

Amen

[AnttiL]

I don't know what this Fractal Axe-FX is, but I'm sure those heavy metal bands still sound loud!

I'd say the discussion with tube amps against digital modeling devices has been, for the past 20 years, quite similar as ICE's against EV's in rallying, but it seems that the future has been finally adpoted in music production, let's see how it turns out in motorsport. (and yes, amplifiers are still used in the PA system to make the audience hear the band). Sorry OT again, but it's a sort of similar debate.

For me noise is not that important, competition is number one, and visual of the performance more important than the sound.

I'm sure there's people who think motorsport is nothing compared to horse races because you don't have the right smells

[Mirek]

This... ...is how you do marketing for electric cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T09H-qkKiBI

[Franky]

This... ...is how you do marketing for electric cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T09H-qkKiBI

That's how you do marketing. But the main thing you come away with is 'There's a new Porsche'.

[steve.mandzij]

Seeing top drivers on it would bring the spectacle. Remember Ogier and Mikkelsen on the Skoda's

R5s sound really terrible... When I went to Rally Argentina I found the Maxi Rally cars to be far more exciting to watch because of the sound.

Additionally, R5s are meant to be driven cleanly and neatly, so it would 100% play against more aggressive drivers to go down that route.

[AnttiL]

Additionally, R5s are meant to be driven cleanly and neatly, so it would 100% play against more aggressive drivers to go down that route.

Rally2 cars aren't as durable as WRC's so it would require a more cautious approach to get to the finish. Technical and mechanical failures, suspension collapsing or driveshafts snapping would be more common. It would change the nature of the sport.

[T16]

Rally2 cars aren't as durable as WRC's so it would require a more cautious approach to get to the finish. Technical and mechanical failures, suspension collapsing or driveshafts snapping would be more common. It would change the nature of the sport.

AnttiL, you keep suggesting that the current Rally2 cars aren’t up to the job of a power increase etc, but couldn’t they just beef everything (suspension / shafts etc) up a little, so the cars can handle more power / harder driving etc?