Rally Discussion and Bar Talk Thread

[deephouse]

Everyone knows that SUVs are total nonsense but still buy them. It's just that human is very stupid regarding their own thinking and using their brains. But on the other hand what could they do? Even if they would boycott manufacturers who sell only those, eventually every one of those brands will sell only those cars, no matter what interest or wishes would be in other segments. And that's why Toyota will probably still be on first place around the world. They cover all possible segments, offer fun cars in GR versions, are involved in many motorsport activities around the globe. It's just like they know how thinhs should be done. I say, let the brand die if they think that EV and SUV should be the only thing that should be out there. Is it not enough already that many of brands offer only one crappy 1.0 engine in "all their models" novadays.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

How a Ford Kuga shows where WRC and motorsport is going wrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkHFw1_p3qw

I think Jon's on the path to seeing why WRC27 is both necessary and inevitable. But not sure why he thinks the WRC and motorsport is going wrong? Maybe the title should be How a Ford Kuga shows why WRC and motorsport is going wrong.

I agree with him but also with you.

The car buying public are being sold SUV's and they are awful cars compared to hatches and saloons. Plus they wont make into a rally car and rallying wont promote them well.

But as this wont change any time soon the only possible answer is the spaceframe with panels attached.

Time will tell if this works. And with 8 months til Monte 2027 no Manufacturer apart from Toyota is convinced...

[WRCStan]

And with 8 months til Monte 2027 no Manufacturer apart from Toyota is convinced...

Which is precisely why it's time to stop talking in terms of production 'SUV' manufacturers taking part.

And it's also long past time to stop using this term SUV. Revive 'town car', or MV 'mobility vehicle', which is all they are. There's no sports, nor utility but personal luggage. Regulations say all cars need to have 4G/5G connection, microphones and automated data transmission to the authorities, so I go back to what I said before that these are Surveilled Urban Vehicles if anything 'SUV'. Just digital devices that the data-point masses will obey, comply and oblige. Once you get into that level of social engineering thinking, tinfoil hat aside, you can definitely stop thinking about manufacturers selling cars that driving enthusiasts want and motorsport programmes.

[Ferranis]

Out there oppinion, but in my oppinion WRC caters to the fundamentally wrong types of cars now.

We should be racing real wheel drive sports cars (Rally Porsche, Rally Ferrari -> RGT) and not family cars.

Buyers of that cars are for sure more likely to "win on Sunday, buy on Monday" than the everage normal guy today

[WRCStan]

the everage normal guy today

It's funny, but also funny because it's true

[Belrally]

Out there oppinion, but in my oppinion WRC caters to the fundamentally wrong types of cars now.

We should be racing real wheel drive sports cars (Rally Porsche, Rally Ferrari -> RGT) and not family cars.

Buyers of that cars are for sure more likely to "win on Sunday, buy on Monday" than the everage normal guy today

I’ve always wondered why no serious effort has ever been made to establish an RGT rally championship with RGTs as the top class. Separate from the WRC and ERC. Last year in the Belgian Championship, the Porsche 992 RGT driven by Cedric Cherain was very popular with the public. A championship featuring cars such as the Porsche 992, BMW M2/M3,… would be quite popular and attract a different kind of audience to rallies. Because these are the cars the average joe dreams of. And it would indeed attract an audience that can actually afford to buy such cars. But just to be clear: I don’t really see it as a solution for the WRC. But it might help the sport of rallying.