The 2014 WRC Thread

[Alex Langheck]

jsf said:

WRC never has been and never will be a good sport for live TV.

Just forget about doing live TV, go back to an endurance sport with a TV post event package. It's been utter drivel ever since David Richards took it down this format 12 years ago.

Can't disagree with that. DR tried to make it 'F1 on a Gravel'....a simply dumb idea.

[Alex Langheck]

Emeye said:

They must be blinded by other live sport TV revenues like football and F1.

Do you get the feeling the manufacturers want to be making money or at least breaking even running a WRC team to market their cars rather than just spending millions?

They must be mad if they think like that. No offence, but the WRC is 2nd division level of world sport; F1 & football are Premier league. I just don't know what they want - or what they expect. All non F1 series would like better coverage; How much mainstream coverage does Le Mans get? Not too much, Eurosport - yet they don't complain or think of adding 'gimmicks'.

Talking about the UK only; 3 TV stations show WRC...BTSport, MotorsTV and ITV4....that's more than ever. They're not being realistic.

[SAGTAFF]

Alex Langheck said:

They're not being realistic.

And its not as if the vehicle manufacturers are doing much to market themselves - when is the last time you saw a billboard or advert from VW, Citroen, Ford or Hyundai with an image or reference to their WRC machines? I live in Cardiff and you would have never known the Wales Rally GB was on unless you went looking for it

[Allyc85]

My fking god they have cracked it, they have worked out how to save the WRC!!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114499

[RyanTank]

I bet Pirelli & Michelin are behind this idea!! think of the coin they will be making off all the extra tyres needed for this farcical idea!

If this isn't a wind up, and tbh anything coming out of FIA HQ that's WRC related lately could be a wind up, then why not just leave it as it is, drivers stop on a road section and change tyres if they want/need.

Spectators can stop and watch them at any time if they so chose. and get closer to the action of it than watching the cars in a pit box.


I'm beginning to lose all hope in the FIA & WRC organisers. not even obi wan could restore any hope atm!

[Allyc85]

It is hard to know what to say now, they have truely lost the plot and are so far out of touch with reality that its beyond hope.

In other news today VW want to keep the similar tech regs to what we have now, and in a way I do agree as change generally means much more money to spend developing.

[RyanTank]

does anyone else remember thinking things should be looking up for the WRC when Todt and Mouton were appointed to the FIA hierarchy? or was that just me beign a fool thinking ex wrc drivers would have an interest in the good of the sport??

[Allyc85]

I had some hope back then, it has almost all gone now though! The only thing that makes me feel a tiny bit better is that there are many stupid ideas being put into F1!

Any who Rally Poland this weekend. Bob Kubica rolled on stage 2, losing just under 30 seconds, while that French bloke leads..

Leading positions after SS3:

Pos Driver Car Time/Gap
1. Sebastien Ogier Volkswagen 17m49.2s
2. Andreas Mikkelsen Volkswagen +2.8s
3. Kris Meeke Citroen +7.0s
4. Juho Hanninen Hyundai +7.8s
5. Mads Ostberg Citroen +8.9s
6. Thierry Neuville Hyundai +21.1s
7. Hayden Paddon Hyundai +23.2s
8. Jari-Matti Latvala Volkswagen +23.5s
9. Mikko Hirvonen M-Sport Ford +29.4s
10. Martin Prokop Czech Ford +31.0s

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114657

[Emeye]

RyanTank said:

does anyone else remember thinking things should be looking up for the WRC when Todt and Mouton were appointed to the FIA hierarchy? or was that just me beign a fool thinking ex wrc drivers would have an interest in the good of the sport??

Just look at the joke that is FIFA and the FIA appears no different - all about making a boys network as much money as possible - not about the sport.

[Allyc85]

Ogier benifiting from better stage conditions and leads Mikkelsen by 1.5 seconds! Shame to see the 2nd loop of stages in Lithuania cancelled due to the massive ruts apparently making it too hard for some cars to get through!

edit: pic of the ruts!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-...

Mikkelsen back in the lead!

Edited by Allyc85 on Friday 27th June 18:48

[Allyc85]

Leg 1 - 2014 WRC Rally Poland - Best-of-RallyLive.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnGMXZ4GTW4&fe...

[GravelBen]

Allyc85 said:

Ogier benifiting from better stage conditions and leads Mikkelsen by 1.5 seconds! Shame to see the 2nd loop of stages in Lithuania cancelled due to the massive ruts apparently making it too hard for some cars to get through!

edit: pic of the ruts!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-...

The cynic in me was wondering if the leading cars/teams put some pressure on the organisers to cancel the second run through after gaining a massive advantage from being first cars through the first time... sounded like everyone running after the first 4 was losing buckets of time to it. Those ruts are pretty incredible though!

Good to see Paddon showing some pace, almost cracked fastest time on SS4. Not bad for the new boy.

[TRad]

Allyc85 said:

My fking god they have cracked it, they have worked out how to save the WRC!!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114499

I'm all for changing things to keep up with an ever changing world, but this does sound a bit ridiculous.

[RyanTank]

Allyc85 said:

edit: pic of the ruts!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-...

Edited by Allyc85 on Friday 27th June 18:48

Crikey! they look like the ruts left by tanks on the Epynt military ranges!

[Trophybloo]

RyanTank said:

Crikey! they look like the ruts left by tanks on the Epynt military ranges!

Just goes to show the folly of handing out a round of WRC not proven in a candidate event (including every stage you'll use in the WRC event). Surely some sort of pre-event FIA inspection of proposed stages should be taking place! And they say Ireland wasn't properly organised!! (in fact it was fine from the fan's pov).
As for Todt and Mouton - They are the Platinis of rallying - get a cushy number and hold on to it at all costs. Well known that Mouton is anti-GB, but they allow this fiasco to occur! Now she says they'll think about pit stops, JH Christ!

[Allyc85]

Apparently the super soft stages were nothing to do with the Polish organisers! I think it was somehow, they obviously should have been working together with the Lithuanians!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114748

But as long as the FIA get their nice back hander from Bob Kubica's sponsors then who cares eh?

Give us the Acropolis back please FIA!

[Alex Langheck]

Poland is the 2nd oldest Rally, only behind the Monte. However, for most of its history it's been on Tarmac.....(which it should still be) To get in the WRC, they went to a gravel event. The FiA strike again..... And to be fair it ran in 2009, and in last years ERC - but as already said, it's only in because of Kubica. Likewise, France's round moved to Alsace because of Loeb.

I don't like events changing their routes, formats, etc solely to enter/ stay in the WRC. France should be Corsica; Italy should be Sanremo.

WRC 2014; NZ, Acropolis, Sanremo, Corsica, Safari - no longer in wanted in the top tier. Replaced by what?

[Allyc85]

Those with the money and the man of the moment! Fair point about Poland and its history. The fast stages were a big plus point but there is a huge amount to learn from this years event!

In some good news for the WRC M-sport and Citroen have announced they will be heavily updating their cars for next year. Quite relieved about Citroen as with the financial state of the PSA group it wouldn't have surprised me if they had left.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114803

[Allyc85]

Anyone going to the Nicky Grist Stages this Saturday? Looks like a really good entry so I will be out on Route 60

[RyanTank]

I was meant to be there. Marshalling on a tidy downhill hairpin speccy area apparently. Sadly I couldn't get cover for my weekend shift

I am on out the Harry flatters on the 27th tho! not sure if running any start/finish flying or instage! been told its a good turnout of top cars so far too, all competing for the King of Epynt title