[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

[Franky]

Marketing people, no offense to them, quite often don't know what they want. Manufactures just want the titles.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Who drives their (shiny, brand new) car on gravel ? I doubt anyone who buys a Polo, Fiesta, DS3 etc.

OK so the car may be portrayed as 'tough and reliable' but I think anyone watching rallies is more interested in performance...

The Dakar may sell a manufacturers 4x4, but WRC gravel rallies dont sell fwd hatches.

[Nornbugger]

Who drives their (shiny, brand new) car on gravel ? I doubt anyone who buys a Polo, Fiesta, DS3 etc.

OK so the car may be portrayed as 'tough and reliable' but I think anyone watching rallies is more interested in performance...

The Dakar may sell a manufacturers 4x4, but WRC gravel rallies dont sell fwd hatches.

Drifting well of topic but I dont think motorsport success directly sells cars, it helps with brand awareness and stuff but direct car sales? I doubt it affects them, has anyone figures of VW Polo sales over the last 10 years?

Actually I just found european figures and the Polo had its worst years sales since ages ago in 2013( the figures went back to 1997 and sales were nearly double 2013s figures then)

[N.O.T]

Doesn't brand/model awareness help with direct car sales ?

[Mirek]

I'm pretty sure that rallying had very positive effect for some manufacturers and especially for Škoda. Even though their WRC was never able to fight with the top teams they proved they were not some cheap garbage from the east by taking the gamble in 1998. The stock Octavia was a huge success which started new era of the brand. The WRC campaign sure helped it. Last week Škoda communicated some numbers from this year which is going to be the most successful for the brand in the whole history and I do believe that the great success of Fabia S2000 helped their growth into one of the most important carmakers in Europe. I'm of course aware that the most important was the VW policy towards Škoda but that's for another topic.

[Nornbugger]

I'm pretty sure that rallying had very positive effect for some manufacturers and especially for Škoda. Even though their WRC was never able to fight with the top teams they proved they were not some cheap garbage from the east by taking the gamble in 1998. The stock Octavia was a huge success which started new era of the brand. The WRC campaign sure helped it. Last week Škoda communicated some numbers from this year which is going to be the most successful for the brand in the whole history and I do believe that the great success of Fabia S2000 helped their growth into one of the most important carmakers in Europe. I'm of course aware that the most important was the VW policy towards Škoda but that's for another topic.

Skoda VW was the big difference between Octavia and the previous models. I recognise that brand awareness/image can be helped immensely by motorsport, Skoda you have mentioned and even back in the 80s they used motorsport and clever targetting of the smaller classes to get recognised for their tough/durable cars. Subaru utterly transformed their image through the 90s with rallying. Audi and Peugeot too have over time done good things for their image with rallying.
Hyundia I think will too, actually I think of all currently involved in WRC they are the one who can benefit, VW really IMHO have nothing to get, thay have come and done what was expected of them, impressive? Yes of course, has it changed anyones opinion of the brand? I'd very much doubt it.

Mr N.O.T. that is always the plan, its hard to prove.

[KiwiWRCfan]

This is just a rumor and I am starting it.
Bryan Bouffier will drive number 20 car for Hyundai Motorsport N team at Rally Monte Carlo 2015. He led Monte 2014 for 6 stages and had a lead of over 30 seconds at lunchtime service on day 2 last year. He finished the 2014 Monte on the podium in second place.

[AndyRAC]

Doesn't brand/model awareness help with direct car sales ?

So the theory goes - but I'm not sure it actually applies.

[Mirek]

It may be doubtful with established brands like VW but it for sure helps a lot for newcomers or expanding smaller brands as Nornbugger pointed out.

[jonkka]

So the theory goes - but I'm not sure it actually applies.

How many of you have a car that is related to WRC or rallying in any way? I do not and I will not - though my wife has had two (Fiesta and now Polo).