[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

[rallyfiend]

Meanwhile in IMG 's world we have big grids if 600bhp supercars driven by the likes of Petter, Villeneuve, Ekstrom, and allegedly Wurz and Button,......

Yeah, but who's paying attention?

By al accounts Lydden Hill had no more than about 5,000 per day attendance.

Most of the broadcast partners of RallyX are IMG's own channels.

[MJW]

Yeah, but who's paying attention?

By al accounts Lydden Hill had no more than about 5,000 per day attendance.

Most of the broadcast partners of RallyX are IMG's own channels.

I didnt know the attendance figures for Lydden, but I guess even though its the British home of rallycross its a long way from the heart of motorsport population. I am not suggesting Rally X is there yet but I hear more and more about it as a sport and the impression I get is that it is gaining popularity.

[Jack4688`]

I will not watch the WRC anymore. The ERC is miles better currently anyway. Eurosport Events know how to run a good championship so that'll do for me as a rally fan

[BDunnell]

This would be the end of the WRC — the form of world motorsport in which I first became interested — for me, too. Such a format would mean it ceased any longer to be 'rallying'. Easy for an aficionado to say, I know, but that's the way it is, without any over-reaction.

Where did it go so wrong? I fundamentally believe the reason lies in the way the FIA's chosen technical regulations have rendered the WRC's top-level cars out of the financial reach of national/local championships. It has reduced the talent pool of drivers and the amount of meaningful rallying available to spectators. As a result, the WRC suffers. With the greatest of respect to all involved, why would one wish to go and see, let alone watch on TV, a championship that bears little relation to the top level of the sport? The WRC was always strongest when there were strong national/regional series of quality running in parallel. The one time there existed a technical formula below the top WRC level that people found appealing, namely the Formula 2 rules of the mid-late-1990s, the FIA effectively canned it.

As for the supposed rise of rallycross, there's not much evidence of it yet. Rallycross used to be really big in the UK, thanks in no small part to BBC coverage — as quick-fire Saturday/Sunday-afternoon TV entertainment, with commentary from Murray Walker to match, it was ideal. In no way has the sport returned to those levels of popularity yet, at least in Britain. For it to do so, it requires mainstream, prime-time TV coverage. That's not about to happen. Even the British Touring Car Championship, which may not be to the taste of all but is thriving at present, can only be found on what amounts to a minority (albeit national, free-to-air) channel.

I see that someone, quite rightly, has mentioned above the possibility of Jean Todt intervening. I wouldn't bet on it. For all his talk, and the supposed benefits of his more 'hands-off' approach, can anyone name a single achievement of his time as FIA President?

[rallyfiend]

I see that someone, quite rightly, has mentioned above the possibility of Jean Todt intervening. I wouldn't bet on it. For all his talk, and the supposed benefits of his more 'hands-off' approach, can anyone name a single achievement of his time as FIA President?

He got the co-driver's names back on the rear windows!!!

[BDunnell]

He got the co-driver's names back on the rear windows!!!

How on earth could I have forgotten that? I take back everything I said.

[AndyRAC]

So this move is going to bring more TV and Manufacturers? Is that what they think?

Somebody earlier stated that the more they change it the less interest there is. Will there even be a WRC in 10 years?
I can't think of another sport that has sold itself down the river in the last 10-15 years.

What I find annoying is being told this is progress and we should swallow it. No we shouldn't....

[BDunnell]

So this move is going to bring more TV and Manufacturers? Is that what they think?

Somebody earlier stated that the more they change it the less interest there is. Will there even be a WRC in 10 years?

Are enough people currently interested even to know that it will change, let alone care?

[RAS007]

I will not watch the WRC anymore. The ERC is miles better currently anyway. Eurosport Events know how to run a good championship so that'll do for me as a rally fan

This^^^.

[RAS007]

Perhaps RBMH and the manufacturers, well Capito, Nandan and Wilson, (note Citroen not mentioned) think this is a better idea at building interest in wrc, maybe they missed the obvioys alternative, get fans to text into wrc.com at £1 or €1 per text who they think is fastest or more spectacular on the stage they were watching. Just think of the drama if a text vote and all if those text charges going to the promoter. ;-)

Why not have a panel at the finish, consisting of maybe Simon Cowell, Mel B and Gary Barlow, who have the final say as to who the winner is?