WRC mainclass from 2027

[flat_right]

Sordo, paddon, pajari, katsuta, mcerlean. Maybe even evans and fourmaux.

To put Evans and Fourmaux, even with a 'maybe', on this list is a pure insult to their talent.

[wyler]

This is a joke?

no. it's not.
i don't see many erc drivers smashing wrc2 competition (don't even mention wrc), while i see the opposite: medium tier wrc (and wrc2) drivers winning erc race and championship (suninen, sesks, paddon,...)

[wyler]

Some drivers are in WRC1 because of quality, some of them are there because of money. I am sure that half of the WRC1 drivers will have problems to be in top places with Rally2 machinery...

i just see the opposite, sorry, like this massively competitive ERC Sweden - wrc mid tier drivers constantly in top3/5.

[wyler]

Sordo, paddon, pajari, katsuta, mcerlean. Maybe even evans and fourmaux.

paddon won the last erc championshid he did...

[PLuto]

i just see the opposite, sorry, like this massively competitive ERC Sweden - wrc mid tier drivers constantly in top3/5.

Problem is that there are drivers which are fast on specific type of surface. Drivers like Sesks or Heikkilä are very fast on fast gravel events and also in WRC/WRC2 they are able to fight for podium. But on other surfaces they are almost nowhere, especially on tarmac...

[Ferranis]

The consistency of WRC1 drivers is underappreciated. Some WRC2 may be higher placed on a single day and perhaps a single rally, but certainly not in a full season

[wyler]

Problem is that there are drivers which are fast on specific type of surface. Drivers like Sesks or Heikkilä are very fast on fast gravel events and also in WRC/WRC2 they are able to fight for podium. But on other surfaces they are almost nowhere, especially on tarmac...

agreed!
That, to me, is another reason why wrc is on a different level. being specialist (as your appropriate sesks example) is not enough to be a stable contestant. add that wrc can have more and more structured seat time, and development on cars and drivers/team. that make a divide. i'm not so optimistic about the levelling with the new cars. for the competition's sake, I wouldn't be unhappy to be wrong!

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Indeed. That's why I think the likes of gryazin or rossel could be just as fast as he is, and thus better than half of current wrc1 drivers.

Or maybe not, we will never know untill we have more available seats in the top cars.

We will know... next year !

[PLuto]

The consistency of WRC1 drivers is underappreciated. Some WRC2 may be higher placed on a single day and perhaps a single rally, but certainly not in a full season

For me some drivers in WRC (not only WRC1, but also some in WRC2) are overrated. That you are doing WRC does not automatically mean that you are better driver than drivers doing national championships or ERC. But more and more I see that there is not so many drivers who can be fast on all surfaces or types of stages. We have more and more specialists to some specific surfaces, but not so many universal drivers which are able to be fast (and in finish) on all surfaces.

[Ferranis]

For me some drivers in WRC (not only WRC1, but also some in WRC2) are overrated. That you are doing WRC does not automatically mean that you are better driver than drivers doing national championships or ERC. But more and more I see that there is not so many drivers who can be fast on all surfaces or types of stages. We have more and more specialists to some specific surfaces, but not so many universal drivers which are able to be fast (and in finish) on all surfaces.

I would go so far to say that with the exception of the S-Rank drivers (Ogier, for example) the talent pool is not that deep in WRC1, comparatively.

But this is what you get when you have a series that needs massive (monetary) commitment without giving so much back.

Or in other words: The pool of potential F1 drivers, for example, is so much greater then the pool of potential WRC1 drivers. Netting you more S-Rank or A-Rank drivers as a result.

Where we differ though is our perception of WRC2, I personally think the pool is even shallower there than WRC2. But as it was said, we will see