[WRC] News & rumours (part IV) 2016

[Lundefaret]

Good summary, but really struggling to see anything you've said here that hasn't been said many times before.

Agree, but it seemed like someone needed a repeat

[Lundefaret]

I’m struggling to be optimistic. Will 2017 be any different from2011 – another time when things were going to improve?
I personally think the sport has had its best days. Times havechanged and there are other series out there capturing interest more than the WRC.
Nobody; that is the teams, the FiA, the promoter wants to makethe drastic changes needed to turn it around. They just seems to accept thestatus quo….

See where you are coming from, but I am a little bit more optimistic than you.

I think positive things are happening

[EstWRC]

im with Lundefaret, i also think positive things are happening

[Lousada]

Nice summary of almost every post about this subject on this forum

Only one thing I would like to add. The Xsara WRC was also the first car that almost never had a mechanical failure. I was watching some old rallies from the '90s recently. It was quite surprising how many times Carlos Sainz retired or lost time when he was leading only because of mechanical issues. He could have been the Loeb of the '90s if he had the indestructible cars of today.
Rallies used to be a balance between reliability and speed. Now all the cars, and especially the VW Polo, can drive a whole season without any problem. Of course if nobody retires, then the fastest guy will always end up on top.

[BleAivano]

Rallies used to be a balance between reliability and speed. Now all the cars, and especially the VW Polo, can drive a whole season without any problem. Of course if nobody
retires, then the fastest guy will always end up on top.

I agree but this is is mainly due to cost saving limitations/restrictions for the car and it's parts. I.e. a car can only use 3 engines/season.

[Andre Oliveira]

C3 WRC first test today.

According some reports, ugliest car ever.

No photos cause it was a private test and Citroën forbidden the share.

Very similar to these:

[focus206]

C3 WRC first test today.

According some reports, ugliest car ever.

Do we know if it will be 3-doors or 5-doors?

[Andre Oliveira]

Car were camuflated. Apparently 4 doors.

[COD]

"- Shorter suspension travel
- Less aerodynamic downforce
- Powerfull engine
- Regulated tires for less grip/damage to stages
"

That is where I agree with Lundefaret 100%, and is what I have saying here for years. Those changes would make the sport safer and more spectacular. Too bad, the rules went exactly the wrong way

[Rally Power]

I’m struggling to be optimistic.

That’s the spirit! Having four top manu’s committed to WRC (plus Ford backing MSport) in 2017 will certainly help.

It’s true that WRC interest has been undermined for quite a long time (since Loeb’s overwhelming domination), but the series heritage still is strong enough to attract new manu’s and provide good expectations for the future.

However, that strong heritage can also create a negative reaction to new ideas. Other motorsport series are in a permanent search for innovation (WRX, GT racing, etc), but that’s hardly the case in WRC. Probably, the Rally community (including us, hardcore fans) is too attached to Rally past.

Frankly, I don’t know any more if Capito’s shoot-out was such a silly proposal (still sounds that way…) but one thing I’m sure: WRC (and the whole Rallysport) needs more out of the box thinking.

For now, manu’s and the FIA came out with a more conventional solution: an evolution of WRC cars and a rearranged calendar. It can work, if (finally) the promoter delivers a proper job. Fingers crossed!