WRC future

[RS]

I think most of you exaggerate how much the price of one car is in the budget of a manufacturer. If you keep everything as it is (3 top drivers per team, 14 rallies) but just change WRC to Rally2 cars, it doesn't reduce the overall budgets by that many percentages...

What about development costs and running costs? Not to mention there are already more manufacturers with Rally2 cars than WRCs.

If we lose Hyundai then we’re down to MSport vs Toyota which on recent form isn’t much of a competition.

[AnttiL]

Not to mention there are already more manufacturers with Rally2 cars than WRCs.

If we lose Hyundai then we’re down to MSport vs Toyota which on recent form isn’t much of a competition.

But how many manufacturer teams we have now that are running Rally2 cars? We only have M-Sport and Hyundai. VW is not a manufacturer team and likely never will be again. Skoda just ended their program and is under the same VAG policy as VW. Citroen, I'm not sure what kind of a deal they're running with Østberg. Toyota doesn't have a car yet.

[RS]

But how many manufacturer teams we have now that are running Rally2 cars? We only have M-Sport and Hyundai. VW is not a manufacturer team and likely never will be again. Skoda just ended their program and is under the same VAG policy as VW. Citroen, I'm not sure what kind of a deal they're running with Østberg. Toyota doesn't have a car yet.

Skoda are still there, just with a different name.

And don’t you think that if Rally2 was to become the top class with resulting increase in publicity those manufacturers you mentioned wouldn’t make more of an effort?

[AnttiL]

Skoda are still there, just with a different name.

Toksport? If so, I didn't know.

And don’t you think that if Rally2 was to become the top class with resulting increase in publicity those manufacturers you mentioned wouldn’t make more of an effort?

Do they want to promote these models? Some of those bodyshells are already quite old.

Like I said, there's a big difference in budget to run 1-2 drivers in 8 rallies (planned minimum of WRC2) compared to running 3 drivers in 14 events. And there's a difference in salary with drivers like Gryazin and Tänak. In fact, the former most likely brings money in, the latter is one of the most expensive drivers.

[RS]

Toksport? If so, I didn't know.

Solberg is still run by Skoda Motorsport.

Do they want to promote these models? Some of those bodyshells are already quite old.

So are current i20 and Yaris.

Like I said, there's a big difference in budget to run 1-2 drivers in 8 rallies (planned minimum of WRC2) compared to running 3 drivers in 14 events. And there's a difference in salary with drivers like Gryazin and Tänak. In fact, the former most likely brings money in, the latter is one of the most expensive drivers.

The primary reason to bring down running costs might be to make the sport more accessible to some strong drivers with some but limited budget. If we’re going down to 1.5 works teams it’s a virtual certainty that entry lists would be better with cars which were cheaper to run.

Everyone likes the current WRCars but it looks increasingly like the sport is going to have to make some major changes to secure it’s long term health. What’s your alternative?

[AnttiL]

Solberg is still run by Skoda Motorsport.

I was under the impression he just rents their services. There's a big difference paying someone to drive a car that you pay to be build, prepared, fixed and developed instead of someone bringing in all the budget (and paying his own salary).

Skoda was still a proper factory team last year, they ran even five drivers in 2018, remember?

So are current i20 and Yaris.

And the current WRC cars are coming to the end of their lifecycle after next year, new ones are made anyway, no problem. Well, it's true though that Hyundai just updated their Rally2 car and Toyota would make a new one anyway...

The primary reason to bring down running costs might be to make the sport more accessible to some strong drivers with some but limited budget.

They can still show their skills in WRC3.

Everyone likes the current WRCars but it looks increasingly like the sport is going to have to make some major changes to secure it’s long term health. What’s your alternative?

Again, the current WRC cars are coming to the end of their lifecycle after next year. I think the 2022 Rally1 hybrids are the right decision.

If Hyundai decides to leave WRC, I'm sure they would leave even if the series was run with Rally2 cars.

[RS]

I was under the impression he (Solberg) just rents their services.

I don’t know for sure but I think it’s more complicated than that..

They can still show their skills in WRC3.

Coverage of WRC3 is practically nil. If ‘Rally2’ was the top class then marketing exposure would be hugely greater.

Again, the current WRC cars are coming to the end of their lifecycle after next year. I think the 2022 Rally1 hybrids are the right decision.

So far we have one manufacturer rumoured to withdraw because of those rules and none joining. Can you be confident that will change?

[Rally Power]

Again, the current WRC cars are coming to the end of their lifecycle after next year. I think the 2022 Rally1 hybrids are the right decision.

The problem isn't on the 2022 Rally1 Hybrids anymore, but on the possibility of having only two manus committed to them, which would be terrible for the WRC credibility.

We can still hope that Hyundai will sign in, but seeing the FIA endlessly waiting for their answer, while avoiding to study alternative solutions to WRC top class (like using the Rally2 48v Hybrids), seems a recipe to disaster.

[Jarek Z]

Solberg is still run by Skoda Motorsport.

Why is he a WRC3 and not WRC2 driver then?

[Sulland]

Why is he a WRC3 and not WRC2 driver then?

I belive Skoda changed plans due to Corona. He therefor used his Polo more than planned.