WRC Calendar 2018

[the sniper]

Are you suggesting that Europe has not the landscape, history or capacity to stage a dozen WRC calibre events?

Are you still ignoring that an FIA World Championship can't be held only in Europe...? Do you honestly believe that new manufacturers will join your European Championship because the main thing keeping other manufacturers out of the WRC now are the costs associated with the events held outside of Europe?

This is such a pointless discussion...

[Grundo Farb]

This is such a pointless discussion...

Finally a sensible statement! Trying to have a reasoned non-pedantic discussion with Sollitt is like trying to pick Mercury up off a stainless steel bench.

Impossible.

The WRC needs variety and interest. I struggle to understand how Hyundai's young driver program only has Europeans in it. Was that because they could all drive there for an interview? Seems to have been a major factor. Irrespective there is a problem with the sport when at the pinnacle a Top Manufacturer has 8 of the most promising new drivers - from one continent....

[Simmi]

I struggle to understand how Hyundai's young driver program only has Europeans in it. Was that because they could all drive there for an interview? Seems to have been a major factor. Irrespective there is a problem with the sport when at the pinnacle a Top Manufacturer has 8 of the most promising new drivers - from one continent....

They are already running a Korean junior driver in R5. And that's going really great for them...

Genuine question through, which drivers from outside Europe deserved a place more than the guys they picked? Meaning they'd have to be competitive in WRC2 next year.

[Grundo Farb]

They are already running a Korean junior driver in R5. And that's going really great for them...

Genuine question through, which drivers from outside Europe deserved a place more than the guys they picked? Meaning they'd have to be competitive in WRC2 next year.

Precisely my point. There are only European drivers exposed as the WRC never goes anywhere else. I could name 3 top drivers from Australia and New Zealand but you would never have heard of them. Why? because they aren't in a WRC feeder series. Does that mean they aren't as good? No.

[sollitt]

Trying to have a reasoned non-pedantic discussion with Sollitt is like trying to pick Mercury up off a stainless steel bench. .

Only if you're incapable of rational discussion. The only suggestion I have made is to apply an age old well proven principle that if you cut costs you will increase participation. It's a no brainer - a proven formula.
The response ... spurious, emotive nonsense and misquotations.

[the sniper]

I'm suggesting it's a possibility. have you asked them?

Have you ever seen any comment or even suggestion, anywhere, by any manufacturer currently in or out of the WRC, that the WRC becoming a European Championship would encourage them to join or remain in the Championship?

Only if you're incapable of rational discussion. The only suggestion I have made is to apply an age old well proven principle that if you cut costs you will increase participation. It's a no brainer - a proven formula.
The response ... spurious, emotive nonsense and misquotations.

Good point very badly made. You've been vague, evasive and yet continually contrary throughout this exchange. Your 'suggestion' was lost in your initial spurious argument.

[GravelBen]

Only if you're incapable of rational discussion. The only suggestion I have made is to apply an age old well proven principle that if you cut costs you will increase participation. It's a no brainer - a proven formula.

Its only a no brainer if you don't bother using your brain - its overly simplistic short term thinking, ignoring the longer term consequences of cutting costs but reducing value and appeal. Cutting costs is a good thing in principle, but it depends very much on how its done.

Did participation drop because of higher costs when the more expensive 2017 generation WRC cars were announced? No, because they saw the value that faster, more aggressive cars could bring by creating a more exciting spectacle for viewers.

Making the whole championship use R2 class cars would reduce costs, but that doesn't mean it would increase the appeal and profile of the series or boost long-term participation.

The response ... spurious, emotive nonsense and misquotations.

If you're going to accuse people of those things then its better to provide examples... otherwise it looks like you're just resorting to insults because you don't have anything useful to say.

[sollitt]

Do you honestly believe that new manufacturers will join your European Championship because the main thing keeping other manufacturers out of the WRC now are the costs associated with the events held outside of Europe?

I'm suggesting it's a possibility. have you asked them?