[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

[Simmi]

in Motorsport News - both Citroen and M-Sport dead against an icrease to 14 rounds with Jean Todt basically saying 'tough luck' to Citroen and M-Sports 'concerns' over bugetary increases from an additional round.

Yikes. Isn't it ultimately down to the WRC promoter though to put the calendar together? The FIA obviously have to approve/ratify it. But I didn't realise Todt had any say?

[AndyRAC]

Yikes. Isn't it ultimately down to the WRC promoter though to put the calendar together? The FIA obviously have to approve/ratify it. But I didn't realise Todt had any say?

Ah, you're forgetting the FiA got their fingers burnt by Bernie - meaning they had little control over were the F1 calendar went. Since then, they've reigned in the other series so that they, the FiA have the final say; not the promoter.

[Antony Warmbold]

Ah, you're forgetting the FiA got their fingers burnt by Bernie - meaning they had little control over were the F1 calendar went. Since then, they've reigned in the other series so that they, the FiA have the final say; not the promoter.

It's pretty simple really. The FIA President is elected into office by the different FIA members. Those members are National Automobile clubs and federations. So it's in the FIA President's interest to make sure all these National Federations are happy. How do you keep them happy?

Give them what they want is a good start.

When this agenda goes the same way as the promoter's, then all is good.

Any questions?

[tommeke_B]

Any questions?

Yes. A question you can answer, with your experience of having done WRC-seasons with 15 (or 16?) events. Is it practically possible for the teams and drivers to do more than 13 events per year? Keeping into count the testing days works drivers are having.

I'm afraid that the cost of more events + more expensive cars (including developing those new cars) will lead to shorter events... Apart from all spectators and some drivers most people probably wouldn't mind...

[AL14]

If you add one more event then you add problems to weaker teams. And with weaker I mean teams with less budget than others.
The funny side in my opinion is that they invented, or try to put in, new rules (like start order, shootout) in order to affect front runners from richer teams and have a bit more tight fight during events. Now they're trying to increase the gap again...

[Jack4688`]

As it's not hosting the season finale anymore I'd like to see Rally GB go a bit radical and switch to March as round three

[tommeke_B]

As it's not hosting the season finale anymore I'd like to see Rally GB go a bit radical and switch to March as round three

That would mean the route must be almost finalized already before this year's event takes place, also it means 7-8 months less to secure the budget... Looks like mission impossible, except if they would skip the calendar for a year..

[Eli]

They should lose Sardegna, & Mexico and instead bring China if they want it so much and USA & NZ instead of Australia

[dimviii]

big move from DMACK
http://dmacktyres.com/brivio--s-dmac...-top-wrc-teams

[AL14]

big move from DMACK
http://dmacktyres.com/brivio--s-dmac...-top-wrc-teams

Read this morning and was about to share it here. As you said it's a big move. It shows they want definitely play with the big ones. Let's see.