WRC main class in 2025

[AnttiL]

There are not so much family hatchbacks or saloon cars that rally cars used to be based on. They are all becoming jacked up wannabe SUV’s that are design for mums to ferry their kids to school in, all look the same and are just intrinsically dull.

Wait, what are family hatchbacks and saloon cars then used for?

Apart from some exceptions like Lancia Stratos, 037, Audi quattro and Toyota Celica, rallying has mostly been won on tuned up family cars.

[Kenneth]

Did everybody forget that Rally1 cars have tube frame chassis? It doesn't matter at all what does the road car look. Both Puma and i20 are very different from road cars.

[Norm75]

Wait, what are family hatchbacks and saloon cars then used for?

Apart from some exceptions like Lancia Stratos, 037, Audi quattro and Toyota Celica, rallying has mostly been won on tuned up family cars.

That is exactly my point. Cars used to have character. Even the ones rally cars were based on. Now cars that are generally for sale are full and boring, which filters down to the sport. The only new car on the horizon that interests me is the new Renault 5 but that’s electric.

[Norm75]

Did everybody forget that Rally1 cars have tube frame chassis? It doesn't matter at all what does the road car look. Both Puma and i20 are very different from road cars.

They at least look similar to the road car, but we are going to lose them and end up with all cars looking the same suv style. Look at Ford, no more mondeo focus or fiesta, just jacked up crap.

It’s not in manufacturers interest to style something that doesn’t look remotely like anything you can buy.

[Kenneth]

If you feel that Puma looks "at least similar", then I don't think any manufacturer would have problem to find a car that fits.

And to the second part of your post - why do manufacturers compete in LMH, NASCAR, Japan's Super GT and similar series? Because that cars surely doesn't look like anything you can buy.

[Norm75]

If you feel that Puma looks "at least similar", then I don't think any manufacturer would have problem to find a car that fits.

And to the second part of your post - why do manufacturers compete in LMH, NASCAR, Japan's Super GT and similar series? Because that cars surely doesn't look like anything you can buy.

Indeed. So why bother go rallying, why not just do f1.

I am a rally fan. I like rally cars. On my drive is an Impreza wrx and a legacy gt spec b wr limited (made for 1 year to commemorate Subaru wrc champion)
They are both good cars, have character and are exiting to drive. The Impreza we have had for 15 years. Not a lot that they rally now floats my boat as a road car (or design/based on), other than Yaris gr4 but I don’t have the means to buy one.

My son on the other hand is more into f1. He drives a merc a class AMG line. Not a fast one. Good car, looks nice, lovely interior and so on but boring. It’s just a car. Cars are becoming dull.
As I said in my post, THE PROBLEM FOR ME. Everyone is different.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I agree with a lot.of what Norm says re the old cars vs the new.

The Group A era and early WRC cars had homologation specials that you could actually buy, plus they weren't covered in massive aero and were spectacular on the stages because of this.

Engine noise is also big issue. The old cars sounded fantastic, not just loud like today's. I watched a historic event recently and when a Mk2 Escort came by at full chat I got serious goosebumps. I never have that with the Rally1 cars.

I'm afraid dont see any way that the WRC can seriously change in a way that will attract more and new fans. As Norm says, modern cars are so boring and roads so congested, that affordable high performance versions are a dying breed and market. I dont know what a Manufacturer would get out of competing in WRC or how fans can be satisfied watching electric SUVs.

[becher]

Indeed. So why bother go rallying, why not just do f1.

I am a rally fan. I like rally cars. On my drive is an Impreza wrx and a legacy gt spec b wr limited (made for 1 year to commemorate Subaru wrc champion)
They are both good cars, have character and are exiting to drive. The Impreza we have had for 15 years. Not a lot that they rally now floats my boat as a road car (or design/based on), other than Yaris gr4 but I don’t have the means to buy one.

My son on the other hand is more into f1. He drives a merc a class AMG line. Not a fast one. Good car, looks nice, lovely interior and so on but boring. It’s just a car. Cars are becoming dull.
As I said in my post, THE PROBLEM FOR ME. Everyone is different.

You do realize that there was little more boring on the road than an Impreza or Escort or Lancer,.... What made them exciting cars were the extra letters attached to the name for the sporting variants. Same goes for todays cars except that half the market is crowded with Stupid Useless Vehicles (SUV).

And as mentioned rallying always relied on small mundane cars bar the odd exception here and there.

[AnttiL]

That is exactly my point. Cars used to have character. Even the ones rally cars were based on. Now cars that are generally for sale are full and boring, which filters down to the sport. The only new car on the horizon that interests me is the new Renault 5 but that’s electric.

That’s not rallying’s fault

[Norm75]

You do realize that there was little more boring on the road than an Impreza or Escort or Lancer,.... What made them exciting cars were the extra letters attached to the name for the sporting variants. Same goes for todays cars except that half the market is crowded with Stupid Useless Vehicles (SUV).

And as mentioned rallying always relied on small mundane cars bar the odd exception here and there.

Yes I know. How long do you think that’s going to continue for though?
Yes, you can get a puma st or i20N now, but for how much longer. Rally2 seems to get more interest at the moment with people suggesting this should become the top class. How much longer do you think you will be able to get a fiesta (death imminent) Fabia, polo and the like for? Not long because they will all be replaced with boring suv electric shit boxes that don’t appeal, they just function.

A Yaris or an i20 might survive, because they are the car of choice for your Nan to pop down the shop in. Hardly wrc target audience.

It was probably a couple of years ago now that I said on here wrc was becoming boring and irrelevant. I ended up feeling like a leper for saying it but now people are mentioning in threads that it is becoming boring, people losing interest etc. Mark my words.