2023 ERC News & Rumours

[Andre Oliveira]

Azores out of 2023 calendar

[Eli]

http://iris.cpidt.pt/publishing20/!s...20055&id=64421

And here’s confirmation.

[Reis Eduardo]

308426894_2886586071637595_552148116630715440_n.jpg

Azores Rallye outside the ERC

The promoter of the FIA ​​European Rally Championship has informed the Azores Rallye Organizing Committee that the event is not part of its plans for the 2023 season.

The justification presented by the WRC Promoter was that their intention is to make the championship more central, to reduce the cost for the teams.

Despite the effort of the Azores Rallye Organizing Committee to guarantee free sea and air transport for the teams, they still consider that the immobilization of resources is too long compared to the other events of the championship, according to the promoter.
We deeply regret this decision, which we did not foresee, since all federative entities praised the event, including the WRC Promoter, who presented to the Azores Rallye Organizing Committee a proposal for the continuity of the event in 2023 and 2024, which was being subject of negotiation.

We will continue to work on next year's edition, the fifty-seventh, with a view to guaranteeing, together with our partners, an event with the quality that is recognized, hoping, in the future, to return to the maximum competition of rallies at European level.

[Jarek Z]

And... is it a good or bad decision?

[Tom K]

It's shit. The only good thing is, that promoter apparently had a will to keep it in calendar. Fafe with almost no spectators comparing to WRC Portugal looks like "a poor relative". I hope they are not gonna to do championship for WRC-relegated events (Estonia, Catalunya).

[Eli]

It's shit. The only good thing is, that promoter apparently had a will to keep it in calendar. Fafe with almost no spectators comparing to WRC Portugal looks like "a poor relative". I hope they are not gonna to do championship for WRC-relegated events (Estonia, Catalunya).

Isn't Catalunya staying at least for next year in the WRC?

[Tom K]

If it stays, it will probably mean that other options for Promoter collapsed. It was mentioned (also on the forum) that Catalunya was among first to exclude.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Shame to lose the Azores, one of the most special places to rally in the world.

I will only accept this if they find a good replacement that is new and exciting.

[WRC1]

it is the next step down.....unbelivable how fast the steps are...since glory days in IRC, this year the best drivers choose WRC2 and for next year ERC will also the best Rallye of the year...very very sad!

[WRCStan]

When has a rotation system ever worked?