[WRC] News & Rumours 2021

[AnttiL]

Loeb and Ogier disagree with that.

I believe Tänak and Neuville don't come from a wealthy background either.

[Steve Boyd]

People said the same about Richard Burns (who was good enough) and Mark Lovel.

also Allen hasnt got any championship,but cant see the similarity with Ingram

I can't recall anyone criticising "Maximum Attack" for not driving quickly enough, but both Burns and Lovell were critcised for "playing the percentages" and settling for points instead of going for wins in British and Irish events. Lovell never got much of a chance at world level but Burns showed that he had the pace with his approach to win at world level. It looks like Chris Ingram's carreer may be like Lovell's and we'll never get the chance to see if has enough pace at world level.

[AnttiL]

http://planetemarcus.com/saison-wrc/...ri-kenya-2021/

Safari 2021 route announced. Mostly the same as 2020, just some lengths adjusted.

[Jarek Z]

The Motorsport body driver assistance programme(s) seemed to have stopped short of financial backing instead focussing on other areas of development. The Junior team in the 80s seemed more proactive however nowhere near the support the FFSA have given Loeb and Ogier etc. The Irish are very active just now backing the likes of Callum Devine. Ive read on another forum that some British licence holders wouldnt want their paid fees going to subsidise young drivers rallying in the hope they make the big time so guess we get what we deserve!

And how about Italian federation who are going to support as many as 11 rally drivers this year?

In the Italian championship:
Fabio Andolfi, Luca Bottarelli, Tommaso Ciuffi, Andrea Crugnola, Damiano De Tommaso, Andrea Mazzocchi, Marco Pollara, Alessio Profeta e Alessandro Re

in Italian gravel championship:
Rachele Somaschini.

in European Rally Championship:
Alberto Battistolli

source:
https://www.rally.it/2021/02/aci-tea...giovani-piloti

[focus206]

And how about Italian federation who are going to support as many as 11 rally drivers this year?

In the Italian championship:
Fabio Andolfi, Luca Bottarelli, Tommaso Ciuffi, Andrea Crugnola, Damiano De Tommaso, Andrea Mazzocchi, Marco Pollara, Alessio Profeta e Alessandro Re

in Italian gravel championship:
Rachele Somaschini.

in European Rally Championship:
Alberto Battistolli

source:
https://www.rally.it/2021/02/aci-tea...giovani-piloti

"Support" is a very broad term, all those drivers have to bring out their own budget and then ACI will help them a bit. Better than nothing from the federation, but I like more the idea of properly supporting a couple of drivers rather than giving a dime each to 11 drivers...

[scn]

Loeb and Ogier disagree with that.

Not only Loeb, Ogier and Tanak. Of all WRC champions since 1977, you could say that Munari had a good financial background, Sainz was not poor and McRae had some background from his father. But no one else. The rest were middle class guys and some had below average financial resources. Auriol worked as an ambulance driver and the great Walter Rohrl worked as a bishop's driver.

FIA is trying hard to change this with the R regulations that are too expensive for the average young driver. No one can start these days with the budget Sainz needed for his Panda 45 or the budget Tanak needed for his Golf MkII. But, spectator's eyes and ears are more powerful than any wallet. You can tell who is at a top level and who is not.

[RAS007]

http://planetemarcus.com/saison-wrc/...ri-kenya-2021/

Safari 2021 route announced. Mostly the same as 2020, just some lengths adjusted.

Longest stage is a whopping 32km. Who said endurance events were dead?

[sindroms]

http://planetemarcus.com/saison-wrc/...ri-kenya-2021/

Safari 2021 route announced. Mostly the same as 2020, just some lengths adjusted.

This so far could be the most interesting question of this season... is it really going to happen...

[the sniper]

Ive read on another forum that some British licence holders wouldnt want their paid fees going to subsidise young drivers rallying in the hope they make the big time so guess we get what we deserve!

And they'll soon pay the price for the years of that attitude prevailing. An irrelevant sport of old boys playing with dirty old cars that has few friends or supporters in modern Britain, particularly amongst forestry environmentalist types and local politicians...

[Rally Hokkaido]

This probably deserves a separate thread: Hannu Mikkola died last night, aged 79. Rally in Peace