2023 WRC News & Rumours

[the sniper]

I'm not sure how the short period of longer, more characterful rallies in the early/mid 2010s, seemingly pushed by Jean Todt, came to be deemed a failure and we ended up with the mindset they have now? To my mind it was part of the momentum the WRC built up around that time in terms of interest, along with VW and Hyundai joining, before launching into the 2017 WRCar era. We're now back to the mid 2000s, with formulaic convenient itineraries which give the impression of allowing the manufactures/promoter to just go through the motions of fulfilling their obligation to do another rally...

Obviously, the current formats are cheaper. But there comes a point when you prune the things so much that you have to ask, what have we got left and what is it worth?

I can honestly say my interest in the WRC has never been lower (since I began to follow it properly), I've barely even followed the results this year. It's not like I've lost interest in rallying, I'll have attended around a dozen national rallies here in the UK by the end of the year, but I just feel largely indifferent about the WRC lately, I can't even believe it or understand it myself really, as pre-2020 I imagine I'd have been considered one of the hardcore. Inevitably the loss of Rally GB has been a big factor too though, as following the WRC, everything led to attending that each year.

[HKSjbg]

This utter tripe from Abiteboul sounds just as bad as Neuville’s ideas:

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/abite...d-modernizing/

This idea that ‘fan engagement’ automatically adds some value to the sport is nonsense. Lets have fans tweeting with a hashtag where there favourite driver can cut - no bloody thank you Cyril.

I even think the Power Stage is pointless as it creates this whole problem around Sundays being too boring. I can remember watching early-2000s Rally GBs where there’d still be a good 100+km to go on Sunday and no one complained that there wasn’t some excitement building up to that last stage. The Power Stage just feels too standardised and clinical, it’s a bit like DRS in F1 where creating more overtakes is meant to cure all ills but actually results in less excitement when everything becomes the same each round.

[EstWRC]

Interesting comment from Cyril to Estonian media that he thinks they let Ott go too easily and they are closely watching him this season

[Eli]

Interesting comment from Cyril to Estonian media that he thinks they let Ott go too easily and they are closely watching him this season

Well they didn't per say have a team principal, just Deputy Team Director Julien Moncet at the helm. In all honesty it would be interesting to see Ott & Neuville switch cars but that's highly unlikely.

[Eli]

It seems they've heard all the stupid ideas and are going to go with them next year, some of them anyhow, I was kidding when I said the next thing we know they'll bring back the qualifying stage but apparently they aren't: https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/w...2024/10499968/

Also, I wasn't aware the post-event press conference was live-streamed, did anybody here see it?

[bomber21]

I did not see it live but later and I found it a very good idea.

[doubled1978]

This utter tripe from Abiteboul sounds just as bad as Neuville’s ideas:

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/abite...d-modernizing/

This idea that ‘fan engagement’ automatically adds some value to the sport is nonsense. Lets have fans tweeting with a hashtag where there favourite driver can cut - no bloody thank you Cyril.

I even think the Power Stage is pointless as it creates this whole problem around Sundays being too boring. I can remember watching early-2000s Rally GBs where there’d still be a good 100+km to go on Sunday and no one complained that there wasn’t some excitement building up to that last stage. The Power Stage just feels too standardised and clinical, it’s a bit like DRS in F1 where creating more overtakes is meant to cure all ills but actually results in less excitement when everything becomes the same each round.

I’m not sure about the early 2000’s Rally GB’s. There were a few dreary Sunday mornings up in Resolven and Margam etc watching not a lot as everyone was driving for a finish.
I’ve skipped Sunday a couple of times on the later Rally GB’s as Brenig and Alwen were a bit boring and there was not much to get excited about on the leaderboard.

I think something different is required for Sunday, but how to go about it. The live TV element constrains a lot in terms of timing etc.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

It seems they've heard all the stupid ideas and are going to go with them next year, some of them anyhow, I was kidding when I said the next thing we know they'll bring back the qualifying stage but apparently they aren't: https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/w...2024/10499968/

I'm a bit surprised that they have better viewing figures for the Sunday stages. They usually start very early in the morning, plus most fans know its often just cruising before the PS.

With them discussing the points on offer, maybe awarding an extra couple for all Sunday stage wins will be considered ?

[Steve Boyd]

Why not do what the BTCC and some other race championships do and make it three events in the weekend? Give championship points for the classification on Friday night. Start a new event with a fresh set of points for Saturday and do the same again on Sunday. You wouldn't need a power stage and your restart lists could be the championship positions based on the points at the end of the last leg. You also wouldn't need SupeRally or Rally2 penalties as anyone who doesn't finish one of the legs wouldn't get any points for that leg but could start the next one just the same as everyone else.
It might be a bit crazy, but sometimes the wild ideas morph into something good.

[AndyRAC]

The WEC had years of stagnation when manufacturers pulled out; I don't recall any panic, and mad ideas/ gimmicks to improve the show. Whereas the WRC does the opposite....panics and wants to change the DNA of the sport......and it very rarely works. And then we're left with a watered down product, which offers very little to manufacturers.......

So, the WEC has been rewarded by attracting lots of new manufacturers, the WRC is still groping around not knowing what to do....and coming up with bizarre, short term ideas. It won't end well......