Quote Originally Posted by Maui J. View Post
But with the rules relaxed without the homologation part, then Paddon should be able to run Hyundai cars without Hyundai's approval. He obviously won't be able to call it the Hyundai WRC team but will have to use Paddon WRC Team, or similar, instead.
Hopefully, this new rule with encourage other tuners to do a similar thing. And who knows if these private teams do well with new brands, they might start receiving manufacturer support. We can no longer wait for the big brands to bring a new team to the WRC. This new rule is the way forward.
However it goes with team names and FIA homologation rules; intellectual property laws in most countries say if he builds a car to his own design he cannot call it a Hyundai make car without approval and support from Hyundai.

Then, if he does end up driving a Hyundai car however and whoever built it; something significant would have to change to the WRC commercial model that's been in place since 1993(?) that says if Hyundai want exposure through the championship, they're going to have to pay for it. I don't see what the sustainable change would be or what the reason for it is.

But why are you looking to appease Hyundai and the likes? The Surveilled Urban Vehicle manufacturers and stage rallying needs are de-linking. I think more likely to happen is; Paddonsport builds the Paddonsport Rally1.5 and enters the Paddonsport WRT (investment), which are necessary steps in order to sell Paddonsport Rally1.5s into the privateer rallying market (profit). There's your manufacturer and marque - Paddonsport; there's your commercial model, incentives, rewards, reasons for relaxing homologation. What's missed? Maybe Hyundai sponsor Paddonsport WRT and stick the logo on the side and announce a "strategic partnership", that's irrelevence.

Maybe Toyota do it all themselves not to sell Rally cars but their brand. Maybe Prodrive team up with Mini and go 50:50 strategy. It is pretty open. Teams would probably be acceptable too, as somebody like Prodrive will do the minimum 1 year commitment for approval to sell. So "Team Portugal" may be driving the Prodrive Pender, that's how you'd get the double-digit number of teams.