FIA Rally Working Group: the future of WRC and the rally sport

[macebig]

True, but you absolutely need to give them a chance. They have no chance now and that has been the case since 2017 with a few exceptions (Loubet 2021 and Ostberg 2017).

[WRCStan]

what if MSport finally runs out of money and Hyundai decides they'd rather build a hydrogen powered Le Mans car, does Toyota build 6 cars, paint 3 blue and say it's Toyota vs Subaru WRC?

Unless an alternative to M-Sport can be found, and the Promoter/series hadn't gone bust which led to M-Sport withdrawal, then yes. This isn't my desired future, it's what would/could happen playing if with other current known knows.

FIA could ignore/renege on it's own rules. Maybe MBS asked DE to write that slamming piece about Rally2 should be top class as part of such a uturn, or maybe DE is just delusional. Maybe Rally1, or even life itself, is too expensive for the Promoter and FIA have to step in as emergency promoter, possibly then all rules go out the window. But we're talking long term planning not short term fix for disaster planning.

Imo Hyundai are going anyway. 10 years already is a long stint. M-Sport, Toyota, Subaru sounds pretty doable.

[WRCStan]

Maybe then will FIA & promoter finally start making some proper changes instead of creating working groups & pissing around with points system while patting themselves on the back

Let them sit down together at least so they can agree on some changes?

[WRCStan]

True, but you absolutely need to give them a chance. They have no chance now and that has been the case since 2017 with a few exceptions (Loubet 2021 and Ostberg 2017).

You say that like it's a problem.

[Eli]

Going back to WRC2 as mainclass is not by far as big step they had to take in 1986 to 1987. From Group B to Group A. Big change of the material.

And absolutely no affect on fanbase.

So louder Rally2 and maybe +50 hp. cars would make a perfect combination for WRC.

So that would bring us back (basically) to 2011. Maybe with less aero.

[macebig]

You say that like it's a problem.

It definitely is. You need privateers/young talents/local stars to be able to take the big guys. It has been a staple of WRC for decades. Losing it, is hurting the sport big time.

[lmmjvss]

the point someone made about having "stories to tell" was spot on. My favorite rally season EVER was the 2019 ERC season, with Ingram winning the title and 2020 with Solberg vs Lukyanuk. Such great characters, so many awesome one-off entries WINNING the races (especially 2019, where basically ALL the races were won by these one-offs).
THAT was fun to watch, and Eurosport had those 45 min highlights of the weekend. THAT was perfect... Rally2s only... almost SKODAS only tbh haha

[typhoon]

Just look at what Red Bull was doing when they took over the championship commercial rights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2WGddzQoXw

This small story screams a "Drive to Survive" episode and can be sold to every Average Joe around the world and bring you a lot of popularity. Nothing compared to the 2 minutes videos uploaded in 2023, which honestly nobody care about.

Just working on "telling the story" it would already help A LOT the whole championship for its survival. Having more close competition with lower budgets, this would bring the whole WRC to the old glory days. Hopefully the right decisions will be made soon by the Working Group!

[Rallyper]

Yeah, if you just skip over the details that it's already been ruled out by the current manufacturers, no new manufacturers have asked for it, and carbon ICE without hybrid has been ruled out by the FIA; it could just be the future.

Well, I meant details on this forum. Rally2 manufacturers could decide details better than us (except from reading our wishes...)

[denkimi]

does Toyota build 6 cars, paint 3 blue and say it's Toyota vs Subaru WRC?

Having all the best drivers in equal cars doesn't sound like a bad thing to me. If they could run another 14 of the same that would be even better.