WRC main class in 2025

[rallyfiend]

so let me get this straight:

- wrc is in a pretty shitty moment with only 6 full-time entries, with msport not having money to hire drivers, with hyundai and toyota running 3rd cars for the same guys forever, audience dropping...
- then fia/wrc thought: "well this is bad, we need to change, even if the decisions are rough",
- everybody on the planet agreed with that.
- then after months of 'talking', meeting, fan surveys (!!), they even presented those weird concept.... they decided that nothing is going to change,
- then suddenly everybody thinks thats the right thing to do... and wrc will continue in the same shitty moment with only 6 full-time entries, with msport not having money to hire drivers, with hyundai and toyota running 3rd cars for the same guys forever, audience dropping.

...like... wtf? why this talk even started? if "this is the obvious thing to do" the whole time? haha this is madness

this happened because the FIA seem to want to just look like they're in charge. This seems to be their obsession. And it means they take stupid decisions that are ill-considered, just so they can look like they know what they're doing.

It's the whole basis for conflict in F1 too...

[Eli]

Spot on ! Well at least let's hope (i) that all the "side changes discussed (promotion, different formats etc....) are implemented next year, together with a revamp of the point system and (ii) that they come up with something smart for 2027

It’s the FIA & WRC promoter we’re talking about, they came up with this confusing point scoring system, I wouldn’t be too optimistic for them doing something smart. Even something as (relatively) simple such as encouraging organisers doing (more) night time stages isn’t something they push for.

[skarderud]

How is a one-shot drive of an old retired driver supposed to make the championship more exciting?

If Solberg did a one of comeback in a Rally1 car, he would drawn twice the amount of attention than all the other drivers and teams combined.
The results is secundary.

If you know slightly about how media works, you don't ask these kind of question.
Sorry.

A comeback like that is exactly what WRC needs, lots of old fans would follow WRC again, media all over the world make stories about it, he has a personality noone of the todays drivers is even close to.
He won't win anything, but thats not the point.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

[Fast Eddie WRC]

It’s the FIA & WRC promoter we’re talking about, they came up with this confusing point scoring system, I wouldn’t be too optimistic for them doing something smart.

Spot on. I have zero confidence in those running the sport.

Imagine when it comes to the 2027 Regs with the idea of all 'fuels' being allowed and equalised by weight. It's just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

[EstWRC]

If Solberg did a one of comeback in a Rally1 car, he would drawn twice the amount of attention than all the other drivers and teams combined.
The results is secundary.

If you know slightly about how media works, you don't ask these kind of question.
Sorry.

A comeback like that is exactly what WRC needs, lots of old fans would follow WRC again, media all over the world make stories about it, he has a personality noone of the todays drivers is even close to.
He won't win anything, but thats not the point.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

Sorry but it’s not 2003 anymore….

[skarderud]

Sorry but it’s not 2003 anymore….

Jeeeezzz.

Its a PR point of wiew, not sporting.

Like or dislike Solberg, but that is plain stupid comment.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

[Backa]

A comeback like that is exactly what WRC needs, lots of old fans would follow WRC again, media all over the world make stories about it, he has a personality noone of the todays drivers is even close to.

One of comeback would spark some media attention but using this logic, old fans would just follow one round and go back to not following aftermath due to "lack of personalities".

If lack of personalities is issue of WRC, resuscitating old guys to make round or two and finish in P6 or P7 wouldn't solve it. It makes more sense to have hope in young prospects and try to encourage teams to give them WRC1 seat.

[EstWRC]

Jeeeezzz.

Its a PR point of wiew, not sporting.

Like or dislike Solberg, but that is plain stupid comment.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

I like him but he isn’t as popular as in 2003 is what I meant.

As you call others comments stupid then I also call yours when you say he would draw double the attention of current drivers and teams. No way

Yeah maybe in Norway…

[focus206]

If Solberg did a one of comeback in a Rally1 car, he would drawn twice the amount of attention than all the other drivers and teams combined.
The results is secundary.

Yeah, I don't think so. In Norway, maybe...
Did you forget that Loeb, who is several times more popular than Solberg (Solberg has few funny lines on his side, but Loeb's results speak for themselves and are what made him well known), already made a return? Did that bring a huge increase of media attention to WRC in general? Not really... There were few stories and articles, but that's about it.
What REALLY brought attention is when Loeb won Monte in the Puma against Ogier, which was spectacular, but that's because it's combined with the result.
Of course I'd like to see Petter coming back for a couple of rallies, but nothing will change apart from a couple of articles. Not even if he brings a circus along, he will draw more attention than all the other drivers combined.

[WRCStan]

If you know slightly about how media works, you don't ask these kind of question.

Lol. Educate me then please. My view of how it works is that WRC and Solberg would publish press releases and tweets, previously shared under embargo with industry outlets Dirtfish, Autosport etc to rewrite for scheduled announcements. Exactly the same result any other drivers and with the same established audience reach.

"media all over the world make stories about it" You're making it sound like The Washington Post, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera or South China Morning Post would be running on it. How? Tell me please.

A comeback like that is exactly what WRC needs, lots of old fans would follow WRC again

Good lord. So rather than being relevant to current vehicles, manufacturers, sport, marketing, viewing habits... just get a one off appearance from an unlikely champion from 2 decades ago... Wow.