RE: WRC 2013: preview

[thiscocks]

The first time I've actually looked forward to a wrc season since about 2004. Although Leob will still probably win with only four starts... If that doesn't happen then I'd back Ogier.

[Del195]

It is very disapointing that currently there is no proper TV coveridge in the UK but hopfully this will change soon as Red Bull sort themselves out. Again I cant help but think that this has been caused by the FIA and there lack of interest in WRC compaired to F1. This is most dispointing considering who the president is and his back ground. Jean Todt, former co-driver and boss of Peugeot in the Group B era.

As for this years winner don't discount Mr Loeb just yet. He maybe only doing 4 rounds but what if he wins those 4 rounds and then all these other very talented drivers fight it out for the other 9 and we have lots of winners?

In all honesty I cant see to far past Seb Mk2. It maybe a new car but the amount of time and money VW has thrown at the project will pay dividends.

[strike4A]

Everyone stick in your diary the Racing Legends programme on BBC2 - 9PM straight after Top Gear on Sunday 27th January. Sir Chris Hoy profiling Colin McRae.

[Tartan Pixie]

List of the WRC's international broadcast partners here.

Britain, Germany and the whole of America (north and south) seem to be missing from that list, though I'm sure sponsors will be glad that residents of Bhutan and Nepal will get exposure to their products.

To add insult to injury a search of the red bull site turned up this:



The stupid thing is that they've already got the footage but seem to be stuck at the last stage of adding commentary and making it available. Someone needs a damn good slap for that.

I was looking forward to this season and would happily pay a subscription to red bull for regular WRC coverage, though apparently they don't want my money. Guess it's going to be yet another year of st quality you tube videos but this time in french, welsh or some language I've got even less understanding of.

[RichardR]

JaguarsportXJR said:

chrisgtx said:

Is it going to be on the television this year?,it was on motors tv but that is like watchin it with glaucoma.

"... television coverage on these shores will be limited to the Welsh-language channel S4C."

It looks like S4C is available via Sky.

Does anyone know what "World Rally Championship" is in Welsh?

[RichardR]

RichardR said:

It looks like S4C is available via Sky.

Does anyone know what "World Rally Championship" is in Welsh?

It looks like Ralio is the S4C programme that has the coverage, although there's no mention of the 2013 WRC on their website and the programme's not appearing in a search of the TV listings...

[MartinM]

strike4A said:

Everyone stick in your diary the Racing Legends programme on BBC2 - 9PM straight after Top Gear on Sunday 27th January. Sir Chris Hoy profiling Colin McRae.

Thanks for the heads-up

Regarding the subject of WRC, its all about the coverage (or, lack of at the moment). This is THE key thing fans amd potential fans are in need of. Everythng else with then follow suit IMO.

The most tedious and predictable thing regarding threads and articles connected to the WRC is people banging on about "The group B days" and RWD etc etc ad nauseam. The current crop of WRC cars actually have no traction or stability control, they sound amazing, are very quick and can be provoked to go sideways (and actually quick sideways)at will. Go and spectate at a WRC event and see for yourself. The very fact that people assume the current machinery is "boring" is largely down to the shiite coverage we get, which brings me back to the point I was making above.

After all the excitement and hope that Red Bull may rectify this situation, I'm not encouraged so far. Does anyone know how long they are going to be involved?

[EDLT]

MCBrowncoat said:

The only thing that would make me watch this, if I could, was if they went back to the spirit of Group B. Not necessarily in terms of power, as I don't think people would be able to discern the difference in outright speed, but in terms of it being homologated specialised cars. It's not a viable business though I guess?

The fact that the all conquering Citroens of the past few years didn't translate their rally success into road models doesn't help

If Group B never got banned on safety grounds it would have been replaced on cost grounds a couple of years later. They were already looking at replacements, which included Group S - essentially a prototype championship where they only had to homologate ten cars. Sound familiar?

[jon-]

PH should agree to publish all the WRC highlights in the news section, just for the love of an awesome sport and supporting the WRC community.

Might be a good way of drumming up a bit of an audience again, and who knows what that could lead to. Maybe some manufacturer teams...

[MartinM]

MCBrowncoat said:

The only thing that would make me watch this, if I could, was if they went back to the spirit of Group B. Not necessarily in terms of power, as I don't think people would be able to discern the difference in outright speed, but in terms of it being homologated specialised cars. It's not a viable business though I guess?

The fact that the all conquering Citroens of the past few years didn't translate their rally success into road models doesn't help

Whilst I certainly see where you're coming from and, as a fan and owner of a rally homologated specialised car, would love to see the return of the 'rally car for the road' models in the show rooms. But, when I think about it, why do we want this from rallying but not other motorsports? We don't insist that F1 cars resemble road cars in any way and what about the BTCC? Hardly any of those cars are closely related to their road-going counterparts. I'm thinking of stuff like Plato's "MG" and the RWD Audis!

[MrKipling43]

Dan Prosser said:

But for those of us who adore the sport as enthusiasts the championship’s credit rating has defaulted. Until it proves to be a series on the up with innovative promotion and broadcasting, expanding manufacturer interest and genuinely exciting competition, we shouldn’t extend the WRC the courtesy of considering it anything other than a championship in decline.

A perfect summation.

[Twincam16]

MrKipling43 said:

Dan Prosser said:

But for those of us who adore the sport as enthusiasts the championship’s credit rating has defaulted. Until it proves to be a series on the up with innovative promotion and broadcasting, expanding manufacturer interest and genuinely exciting competition, we shouldn’t extend the WRC the courtesy of considering it anything other than a championship in decline.

A perfect summation.

A dismissive death sentance.

[300bhp/ton]

Part of me wants to say:

"blimey is there still a WRC these days?? "

Then when you actually look at the sham that it is, you remember, no not really


Still at least I'm off to see some proper rally cars soon.

http://www.southdownsstages.co.uk/

[BaronVonVaderham]

Lots of love for the WRC here.

Terrible shame that it's not on TV.

Listening on the website now. http://www.wrc.com/fanzone/wrc-live/

Great to see new manufacturers on the scene. Big thumbs up to VW and Hyundai.

Looking forward to the season but not sure how I'm best going to follow it...

[micawrx]

Small point

JML had been at Ford since about 2003..16 year old!

[breakfan]

Heads up for anyone interested, here are a couple of good Youtube channels to watch some of the action filmed by spectators

http://www.youtube.com/user/rallyelange?feature=wa...

http://www.youtube.com/user/rallyexara

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9wG6TzjCVy3...

[Ranger 6]

jon- said:

PH should publish all the WRC highlights in the news section.

This

[Red than Dead]

MCBrowncoat said:

The only thing that would make me watch this, if I could, was if they went back to the spirit of Group B. Not necessarily in terms of power, as I don't think people would be able to discern the difference in outright speed, but in terms of it being homologated specialised cars. It's not a viable business though I guess?

The fact that the all conquering Citroens of the past few years didn't translate their rally success into road models doesn't help

Huge Group B fan....but it's demise was prompted by safety not business.....basically it ended with the death of Henri Toivenen and his co-driver in their Lancia S4 in May 86. Group B ended within hours of that tragedy....

[Del195]

Group B was amazing but was far to fast and dangerious for the time when specators were out of control.

There is little wrong with the current crop of cars for speed, noise and excitment. In fact the last lot of WRC cars i.e C4 & Focus were faster on the same stages than Group B. Just shows what modern Tyres, Suspension, Brakes and Diffs can do for safety.

It is all about the coverage and therefore Red Bull must get it right. Take a leaf out of Euro Sports book and see what they did with the IRC and its live stages.

[MartinM]

Ranger 6 said:

This

+1