‘WRC needs SUPERSTARS, not just winners’ – Ben Sulayem

[AnttiL]

True! But wrc fans are not onboard with changing the format too. Like "fine, lets use friday and saturday as it is today but these 12 stages will only pay points to the manufacturers/teams. Sunday will be only one stage, the fastest wins. Points only for the driver's championship. A time attack finale, decided in these 45 min - 1 hour(?), broadcasted live."
That would be way easier to promote, broadcast, to showcase. Just watch ONE uci mtb dh on red bull tv. Try one of the women's race, which is shorter. They know how to present the riders, put you inside the event, explain the rivalities, make you curious about the riders... I cant stop thinking about thia format since I watched last years season (uci mtb dh)

DH is such a different sport...it's like a rally with only a super special stage, the tracks last for just a couple of minutes. It's much closer to a conventional sports event where you can see everything at one sitting. Rally will never be like this, it's an endurance sport where the event lasts for several days. The power stage is the best attempt at making a "one-off" event for Sunday television, but you can't start changing the overall results of the rally based on the last stage (like Jost Capito suggested)

[seb_sh]

I've kept thinking about this superstars and media training idea, but I think it's not that simple. Rossi barely spoke english when he appeared but was an instant hit with the fans, in an era where you have other famous riders as well, even italians. Raikkonen is even less talkative than Tanak but until recently he was one of the most popular drivers. I don't think there is a recipe as each is unique. What you can do is provide the context where such a star can appear. That means low cost to entry to have a large selection pool and widespread access. One of the advantages of F1 is it's almost a habit, every couple of weeks at the same time on Sunday. Maybe they should do a short review + free live stage on each day (TV, Youtube, Twitch, wrc-live free, just show it everywhere), could be last stage of the day, maybe even give 3-2-1 points for the top 3. Sure WRC-Live may be less enticing but it's not like the championship is going to get rich from our subscriptions. More eyes on the product, more chances for sponsorship, have a growth mentality not a restrictive one.

So:
1. low cost of entry -> big selection pool of competitors
2. easy access to content -> more eyes, more sponsorship
3. support when a natural star pops up

just my 2c

[Sulland]

I've kept thinking about this superstars and media training idea, but I think it's not that simple. Rossi barely spoke english when he appeared but was an instant hit with the fans, in an era where you have other famous riders as well, even italians. Raikkonen is even less talkative than Tanak but until recently he was one of the most popular drivers. I don't think there is a recipe as each is unique. What you can do is provide the context where such a star can appear. That means low cost to entry to have a large selection pool and widespread access. One of the advantages of F1 is it's almost a habit, every couple of weeks at the same time on Sunday. Maybe they should do a short review + free live stage on each day (TV, Youtube, Twitch, wrc-live free, just show it everywhere), could be last stage of the day, maybe even give 3-2-1 points for the top 3. Sure WRC-Live may be less enticing but it's not like the championship is going to get rich from our subscriptions. More eyes on the product, more chances for sponsorship, have a growth mentality not a restrictive one.

So:
1. low cost of entry -> big selection pool of competitors
2. easy access to content -> more eyes, more sponsorship
3. support when a natural star pops up

just my 2c

I think the president agrees with you.
Cost must come down.

[AnttiL]

I think the president agrees with you.
Cost must come down.

I think seb_sh meant the cost of following the sport at home. President meant cost of participating on top level.

[lmmjvss]

DH is such a different sport...it's like a rally with only a super special stage, the tracks last for just a couple of minutes. It's much closer to a conventional sports event where you can see everything at one sitting. Rally will never be like this, it's an endurance sport where the event lasts for several days. The power stage is the best attempt at making a "one-off" event for Sunday television, but you can't start changing the overall results of the rally based on the last stage (like Jost Capito suggested)

Then WRC fans (me included) will have to stop thinking about things like "need more fans, more sponsors, more manufacturers, more free to air tv..." Cuz its simply not happening :/
It is not that attractive in this modern world.

[seb_sh]

Both, it has to be easy to access and cheap to participate at least at lower levels. Top level is more about cost/benefit.

[lmmjvss]

Talking bout "stars", Donut Media did an "Up to Speed" with McRae. We all know these little stories but I find these guys funny...
https://youtu.be/T_aVuaotTz8