Quote Originally Posted by Simmi View Post
I have to admit I'm pretty conflicted about the WRC at the moment.

If you ignore some of the nonsense being spouted by his team boss, I completely understand Ogier's frustrations and, like many on here, I think it's completely unfair being asked to sweep for two days. I'd like to see that regulation changed next year.

But.... damn, we've had five different rally winners in a row! I think that's the first time that's happened since 2001.

You can't ignore how good that is for the sport. The ability to tune in and not actually know who is going to win the event has been a distant memory for rally fans. I'm also enjoying following the events a lot more, but at the same time in the back of my mind I am aware that there's this artificial element to it.

So the big question is what is the bigger evil? Is it more important to have purity of competition than a more exciting show? Like I say I'm conflicted.

I guess for hardcore rally fans it's a case of how much do you allow yourself to enjoy this current format...
I think we all have very short memeories...

Remember back in the days when drivers used to stop before the stage end so they wouldn't have to run first the next day?

I vomited bile on the TV when the running order was changed between the days so people were being "tactical" and slowed down. It de-merited the sport so badly there was no words for it. WE. DO. _NOT_ want to go back to that...

Either the format stays or we go back to qualifying stage and the running order stays for the whole event. All other options are out of the picture. The problem is that also the qualifying stage was not a perfect system because it depended on how many runs you managed to get and how well the road was swept and the weather and a million other things.

We are talking about the world's most natural handicap here, and Ogier is 1st because he is the best, despite not winning every event.

Like Simmi says, it is nice not knowing who will win and I for one couldn't care less why. If there was a proper challenger to Ogier, that someone would be running first on the road, but this isn't the case.