2023 rallying thread (WRC, ERC, national and historics)

Apart from the poor UI of the website I really enjoy watching it live. I think it's a far better experience than watching a recap at the end of the day. Especially if they are like the old WRC recaps where they pretended to be watching live...

I love more manufacturers to join back in but that doesn't look likely. At least with an R5+ type category you'd have Msport, Skoda, Hyundai, Toyota, Citroen and kinda Volkswagen though that's only developed by privateers now.

However, my unpopular opinion is that we don't need the likes of Subaru or Mitsubishi back. We want strong manufacturers who can guarantee a mature program and be in it for the long term. Subaru/Mitsubishi are neither of those things. I'm seeing way too much hero worship for two manufacturers that left the sport 20 odd years ago. Sick of it tbh as it's screams a lack of respect for the likes of Msport who've been there through thick and thin and Toyota/Hyundai who continue to bring full factory teams. IMO, the minute a team pulls out, they should cease to exist in public discourse, they made the decision to not compete, so they should no longer the marketing benefits of being associated with rallying.

There's hints of a return. - https://dirtfish.com/rally/subaru-linked-to-wrc-re...

Aaah yes, though I reckon they'd be glad of the possibility given the state of interest from manufacturers considering the rumours about Ford.

Could be spicy at Hyundai next year then. Not a good thing for M-Sport and the series though, Tanak at Ford balanced the driver line ups a bit more and gave Ford a chance of results. It could be a struggle without him

Have a great weekend, I'm missing it this year. I'll be "watching" online tho.

I'd be interested to know how you feel about it after the rally, and any direct feedback from competitors, volunteers, spectators and residents.

Obviously when I was part of the org team, we floated a similar idea for the 2021 event and were subject to some vile and insulting abuse as a result, such that a few of us will never be involved again. But it would be quite interesting to see how it plays out in reality.

I can never understand that, abusing the organisers who are volunteers. And I'd bet my live that those fkers doing the abusing would never actually volunteer to run an event.

About 6 months ago a local event to me was extremely popular, it's online entry was exceeded after about 5 mins of going live. The comment section on FB made me livid. All sorts of comments about how "it's fixed", "only looking out for their friends", "accepting money under the table no doubt" and other stuff like "I've to tell a child they won't be competing now, you've ruined it for them" (the event had a junior category).

I was fkin livid as a competitor and enthusiast over these comments. The organisers were and are the only ones offering real affordable motorsport and are all volunteers. They had already put on extra events to meet the demands and were traveling all over the country to run events. I think they were running at least 2 events per month at one stage. And all it took was for some people not to get an entry and they immediately feel it's ok to disparage the character of the people running it. Jesus if I was organising it, I'd have banned those commentators for life from my event. Even now I'm getting very angry over it.

I was reflecting on the whole situation today, partially because it is World Metal Health day.

I'm much happier, and much more available for my family, now that I'm not knee-deep in other people's expectations of the Mull Rally. I can also volunteer on a wider range of local events ( I live in London). I could have a lot to say to many people about their behaviours, especially on social media. But the best thing to is detach myself from it. I guess that'll be hard for you to do, but I recommend trying it.

This is the first year that I have made a conscious decision to miss the Mull Rally since I can remember - maybe since the 80s, rather than being forced / encouraged into missing it by other factors.

Raining on Mull as they head to stage 3 the last one for Friday.

MacCrone is in service changing his gearbox and front drives Harts.