The 2014 WRC Thread
Discussion
This final stage sprint which is just not rallying, why can't they think outside the box a little? Apart from it not then being rally, given that Ogier is the king of the Powerstage, then surely it makes it more predictable as he will win everything.
Here's a few things that I would think about:
- I totally agree with the comments about bringing back the longer rallies. Bring back the endurance element.
- The Sunday stages are boring because the results are generally known by the Saturday evening so everyone saves their tyres for the Power stage therefore why not make all the sunday stages power stages where points are on offer?
- I like the BTCC where they put ballast in the cars winning. It would slow Ogier a little and add competition - that's what people want to see
- how about making it more of a team thing. Include having a service in the stage - remember the old Monte days when they changed the tyres mid stage? A bit like an F1 pit stop.
If they go the way they are then you might as well just have one stage and that is that - how boring would that be. If they do this final stage shoot out thing I will probably lose interest and not watch. Bring back the endurance.
SAGTAFF
Here's a few things that I would think about:
- I totally agree with the comments about bringing back the longer rallies. Bring back the endurance element.
- The Sunday stages are boring because the results are generally known by the Saturday evening so everyone saves their tyres for the Power stage therefore why not make all the sunday stages power stages where points are on offer?
- I like the BTCC where they put ballast in the cars winning. It would slow Ogier a little and add competition - that's what people want to see
- how about making it more of a team thing. Include having a service in the stage - remember the old Monte days when they changed the tyres mid stage? A bit like an F1 pit stop.
If they go the way they are then you might as well just have one stage and that is that - how boring would that be. If they do this final stage shoot out thing I will probably lose interest and not watch. Bring back the endurance.
SAGTAFF
jsf said:
"People want an unpredictable outcome that keeps the result open as long as possible and that's what we need to try to solve: how can we arrange that, despite a long-distance run over 300km and three days?"
Who are these "people"?
I want to see the fastest driver on the event over the stage mileage of the event winning the event, thank you very much.
If you want unpredictable outcomes after 300km of hard fought driving, find another sport to screw up.
Exactly!! Also, 300km is hardly Endurance, is it?? Monte, RallyGB should be at least 500km of stages.Who are these "people"?
I want to see the fastest driver on the event over the stage mileage of the event winning the event, thank you very much.
If you want unpredictable outcomes after 300km of hard fought driving, find another sport to screw up.
They really don’t get the sport, do they?? If they ran Sportscars we’d have the 4 Hours of Le Mans, and run on the Bugatti circuit – with a fastest lap contest in the last 10 minutes to decide the winner.
Everything that made the WRC a fantastic spectacle they want rid of.
World RX already exists, there's no need to compete with it. Return the WRC to it's roots.
I saw a comment on Twitter from Colin Clark stating that the Manufacturers aren't happy with the TV figures - what are they expecting? Most Motorsport series figured are dropping... PayTV is not the answer.
Emeye said:
Below is the new promotional video with FIA's manager of the World Rally Championship, Michèle Mouton* explaining the proposed format changes for the FIA 2015 WRC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU4TUCh-HwE
*= Don't you think Michele looks well different with Blonde hair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU4TUCh-HwE
*= Don't you think Michele looks well different with Blonde hair.
we finally get to see ogier throw his toys out of the pram at the start of that vid 
Alex Langheck said:
I saw a comment on Twitter from Colin Clark stating that the Manufacturers aren't happy with the TV figures - what are they expecting? Most Motorsport series figured are dropping... PayTV is not the answer.
I had some promotional trash mail from BT Sport come through the letter box this morning - mentioned all the sports that they have with some big lovely pictures but with the exception of the rallying. Not even mentioned in the whole booklet - how do they expect to increase the audience when Joe Bloggs does not know its on as its not promoted? I really cannot understand why BT Sport would pay for the TV rights and then not promote itSAGTAFF said:
I had some promotional trash mail from BT Sport come through the letter box this morning - mentioned all the sports that they have with some big lovely pictures but with the exception of the rallying. Not even mentioned in the whole booklet - how do they expect to increase the audience when Joe Bloggs does not know its on as its not promoted? I really cannot understand why BT Sport would pay for the TV rights and then not promote it
I work for BT and only remembered they were showing it when it was mentioned as "coming up later" after moto GP last night. Haven't watched more than about 5 minutes of it in the last 2 years
SAGTAFF said:
Alex Langheck said:
I saw a comment on Twitter from Colin Clark stating that the Manufacturers aren't happy with the TV figures - what are they expecting? Most Motorsport series figured are dropping... PayTV is not the answer.
I had some promotional trash mail from BT Sport come through the letter box this morning - mentioned all the sports that they have with some big lovely pictures but with the exception of the rallying. Not even mentioned in the whole booklet - how do they expect to increase the audience when Joe Bloggs does not know its on as its not promoted? I really cannot understand why BT Sport would pay for the TV rights and then not promote itAlex Langheck said:
They've done what ESPN did; buy up loads of 'filler' for when there is no football. The viewing figures are obviously low, so don't bother to mention they have Exclusive Live WRC..... Will they have it next year??
But didn't BT buy ESPN? So they may have a multi year contract.RE: TV coverage - I was watching ITV4 for the WRC highlights the other day. their own advert came on during the break. and if i wasn't mistaken they had everything from MotoGP to DTM listed. but unless i blinked and missed it there wasn't even a clip of WRC. in the middle of the WRC program ffs!
He hasn't, as far as I know, got much experience of the current crop of wrc cars, as there's quite a difference in them now from the old focus he used to pilot. but cant see it being too long for him to get the gist of the polo.
I'd much rather see him back as a 4th driver, the sport needs his personality as its gone a bit flat. JML tries, but you can just tell hes keeping a bit of emotion back to make good PR & TV.
Pwig said:
Anyone have any thoughts about Gronholm going to be a test driver for VW? Seems a good appointment and will only help VW stretch their advantage
This is good for VW, hes a 2 time champ during one of the most contested periods of WRC. so knows how to drive a car!He hasn't, as far as I know, got much experience of the current crop of wrc cars, as there's quite a difference in them now from the old focus he used to pilot. but cant see it being too long for him to get the gist of the polo.
I'd much rather see him back as a 4th driver, the sport needs his personality as its gone a bit flat. JML tries, but you can just tell hes keeping a bit of emotion back to make good PR & TV.
Pwig said:
Anyone have any thoughts about Gronholm going to be a test driver for VW? Seems a good appointment and will only help VW stretch their advantage
Good move for VW, a man of his talent and experience can only be a good thing. I see he has ruled out entering any rallys, which is a shame!http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115455
Interestingly that said that the current cars are faster than the old 2.0 WRCs, even though they had the tricky diffs, paddle shift and more torque. Not bad for s
tty little shopping cars You can see they're quicker on national events too, I was servicing for one of the 2.0L WRC's on the recent Nicky Grist stages and someone was competing in a Fiesta RRC (I think) which was happily trading times with the older generation of WRcars.
In full WR spec I can imagine it would have been a fair bit quicker.
In full WR spec I can imagine it would have been a fair bit quicker.
Allyc85 said:
Interestingly that said that the current cars are faster than the old 2.0 WRCs, even though they had the tricky diffs, paddle shift and more torque. Not bad for stty little shopping cars
I suspect they're pretty much bullet proof and driven with simply massive amounts of commitment that couldn't/wouldn't have been entertained with the previous generations of WRC cars . tty little shopping cars As I understand it Jua Kankkunen took the time out to explain to Walter Rohrl when he was driving an S5 Prodrive Impreza back in '99 ? that the modern WRC cars were designed to allow them to be driven pretty much flat out over the roughest stage terrain such as those found on the Acropolis.
He cited as an example that the cars could be driven up huge "steps" without fear of them breaking. The Group B cars, for all their fearsome power and speed, weren't that strong.
I believe Walter was less than impressed, believing rallying to be an endurance event that placed a premium on a blend of mechanical sympathy, speed and looking after one's car.
Even though the modern WRC cars encourage/allow their drivers to drive them with massive levels of commitment, I suspect Loeb managed that balance of commitment and mechanical sympathey better than most.
I've a mate who works for a brake manufacturer and is required to be at the WRC service areas to monitor, record and report brake data. He made me aware that whilst Loeb's teammates would have their brake pads replaced at service every evening, the wear rates typically being 3-5 mm. Loeb's would be in the region of 0.5-1mm. Accordingly Loebs pads would often be used as hand-me-downs to his teammates ..........
Well there is a rumour that they will be opening up the turbo restrictors a bit for next season, so the cars should be around the 400bhp mark. Thats got to help the entertainment 
Bad start to rally Germany for Neuville, rolling the car 6 times through a vineyard!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5xx47w1g98
Luckliy for him no damage to the cage, and the car is now fixed.
Bad start to rally Germany for Neuville, rolling the car 6 times through a vineyard!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5xx47w1g98
Luckliy for him no damage to the cage, and the car is now fixed.
RyanTank said:
God I love Tarmac WRC cars. Great video !!For the record (and I know it's testing) but that car sounds and looks waaaaay more lairy/potent than the Citroens I saw in Germany last year. It also looks like it has far superior traction too. Citroen redoubling their development program perhaps ?
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