The 2014 WRC Thread

Author
Discussion

confucuis

1,303 posts

123 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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I wonder do these guys just sit with their fingers in their ears ignoring the rest of us screaming at them that we don't want what your offering so please fk off with that kinda stuff. Or is it that they do hear us but just decide "no, you don't know what you want... we will tell you what you want!!".
This is how I imagine these guys are acting like.

Emeye

9,773 posts

222 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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Exciting news for lovers of VHS quality WRC coverage!

It seems motorstv is coming to Freeview from Thursday - channel 71.

Slippydiff

14,742 posts

222 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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Ok gents, need a recommendation/s for a good viewing point/s on Rally GB. Got a mate who worked at Ralliart for nearly twenty years, as a result of being under Tommi's car and in his latter days co-ordinating their on event service arrangements, he hasn't seen much rallying ! !

We went to rally GB two years ago, can't remember the stage, it was loose surface and we entered it via the route I used to use to get up onto Epynt to watch tarmac rallying.

We spectated on a slight uphill right hand bend (that was sufficiently tight it meant braking hard) this led into a steep uphill section 300 meters long which then went 90 left over a blind crest.

Had the uphill right not been so tight, it would've been a reasonable place to spectate, as it was the cars lost all their momentum and then wheezed up the ensuing 300 metre steep hill like an asthmatic ant wearing walking boots after traversing a wet ploughed field....... not exactly impressive

So, looking for a massively fast section with a/some sweeping corner/s that will require huge commitment, will need to be on the flat or better still downhill (I remember watching Colin Mac on just such a section, the "S" bend in the middle of the long downhill straight was too severe to straightline, so it required a small Scandinavian flick whilst flat in sixth.

Colin came through as we were walking back along the stage to leave. I'd not seen anything like it before, and I've not seen anything like it since, put simply, it was utterly mind boggling to watch (scared the cr*p out of us too, as for a brief moment the Impreza was headed our way sideways at 110-115mph ..........) yikes

I'd prefer not to have to do a "Sparrow's fart" start, and I really can't be arsed to head to the likes of Dyfi etc, both Clocaenog and Brenig are closer and easier for me to access (wouldn't do Chirk as it sounds as if it may well be a repeat of last years fiasco).

So your best recommendations please smile And if you'd rather keep your favoured viewing points "secret", feel free to PM me with them.

Many thanks in advance.

RyanTank

2,850 posts

153 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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try this page. http://www.rally-maps.com/Wales-Rally-GB-2014 (compliments of RallyMad from a few pages ago) it gives you a stage map for each stage on each day in google maps, with street view available to help judge the corners if they're flat or not.

I cant shed any light on these stages, north is alien to me compared to my years of South Wales stages. the only stages I've done for the last 3 years up north have been on timing, or a massive boring speccy area on Dyfi.

Doing Start Timing on Maesnant this year. And instage on Dyfnant (if the stage ever gets live on the RST site!)

Dyfnant this year is being run in the dark so expect a great spectacle if you do make the slog down, eyeball melting lamp pods followed by the glowing disk and turbo, before watching the glowing exhaust sprint away into the darkness!
Cant wait!!! bouncewoohoo

Trophybloo

1,207 posts

186 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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Dyfnant is where I'll be too. Gwydyr last year was a real blast from the past, especially as from my location the cars lit up a long straight as they went away. You've got a brilliant day at Dyfnant this year with a latish start in the morning, every type of bend and straight combo and a night run - only a month to go!!

RyanTank

2,850 posts

153 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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are you marshalling too Trophy?

Allyc85

Original Poster:

7,225 posts

185 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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Our current plan is Maesnant, Aberhirnant and Brenig, but I have never done any of these stages, so can't give any info! getmecoat

Trophybloo

1,207 posts

186 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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RyanTank said:
are you marshalling too Trophy?
Sorry no, Ryan. Never have had the time for the training, and a bit long in the tooth now.

RyanTank

2,850 posts

153 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I don't know a single person going to Chirk this year after the fiasco last year.
Good thing too by this latest message! which i roughly translate as "we want you there early to spend loads on merch and overpriced burger vans, before keeping you there until its too late to make your way to the next stage"

WRG Facebook said:
We understand the issues raised regarding the RallyFest stages last year and we are working to improve the experience for all rally fans.

Further exciting – and reassuring – plans were announced for the Chirk RallyFest stage during Thursday's special Media Preview in Brenig. Event organisers confirmed that a special traffic flow system had been agreed with the local police.

As already confirmed, admission will be by advanced ticket purchase only to avoid overcrowding on the day while the access road from the A5 will be one-way into Chirk until 11.30am.

The road will then be closed to ensure the clearance of any congestion before the direction of travel is reversed to one-way only for exit. Three additional car parks have been secured and viewing areas extended. Extra facilities will be in place to accommodate the large numbers of spectators.

There are stories of some great historic rally and supercar parades in advance of the WRC action, too. So, the message is: book your tickets in advance and get there early…

Alex Langheck

835 posts

128 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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They need more of those type of stages for the family/ casual fans. One isn't enough. One to miss for the proper/ hardcore fan.

Trophybloo

1,207 posts

186 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Alex Langheck said:
They need more of those type of stages for the family/ casual fans. One isn't enough. One to miss for the proper/ hardcore fan.
Yep, 4 or 5 Stately Home / Safari park stages run in between the early Sunday forest stages and a powerstage at 1400 hrs.
.... oh yeah, North Wales doesn't have anything other than Chirk, Kenmal and Wrexham, because it's full of bloody forests and hills! Which is why the International Rally is there in the first place. But as it's WR GB surely the Welsh Assembly could be made to see how enhanced their event would be if it visited Alton Towers, Oulton Park, Tatton Park and West Knowsley Safari Park to 'grow the sport and get people into the Welsh forests. I doubt many who endured the Chirk misery last year will be back for a repeat dose.

Slippydiff

14,742 posts

222 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Trophybloo said:
Yep, 4 or 5 Stately Home / Safari park stages run in between the early Sunday forest stages and a powerstage at 1400 hrs.
.... oh yeah, North Wales doesn't have anything other than Chirk, Kenmal and Wrexham, because it's full of bloody forests and hills! Which is why the International Rally is there in the first place. But as it's WR GB surely the Welsh Assembly could be made to see how enhanced their event would be if it visited Alton Towers, Oulton Park, Tatton Park and West Knowsley Safari Park
You mean a bit like they used to before the powers that be "improved" the format of the WRC events ....... smile

As I've said on here before, the Lombard RAC rally of old was one of (if not the) biggest sporting event (attended by the most spectators I'm guessing) event in the UK. The WRC and the British Open series were televised on "A world of Sport"/Grandstand ? in a fashion that was interesting for both the layman and the enthusiast to watch (god bless you Barry Hinchcliffe)

My guess is more people attended the RAC in the 70's, 80's and 90's than the current Rally Wales/GB (or whatever the current shower of sh*t is called)

The old adage that it's "quality not quantity" that counts is an apt one, whilst I appreciate we get an hour and half of WRC coverage on BT Sport/ Motors, it's parlous. Dull, uninspiring, and no insight as to what's going on generally or indeed what's going on with the lower placed cars.

The old coverage was a story told as the event unfolded, the modern coverage is just tedious, and save for the stage names you could be watching a forest stage in Italy, Wales or Portugal such is the generic commentary and parlous camerwork.

I serviced on the '86 Circuit of Ireland, 600 stage miles over what ? 5 or 6 days. Proper rallying for proper drivers and proper spectators. All joking aside, we don't need 5-600 hp Group B car lookalikes, we need decent events with decent stages (not the same stages repeated FFS !!!!!) along with decent coverage.

If I were a current driver on the WRC circuit I'd tell the organisers to go forth and multiply if they seriously expected me to turn up for the joke stage mileage on a Sunday morning/final day of the current events ! !

Alex Langheck

835 posts

128 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Can't disagree with any of that. And VW want to water it down even more. I wish they'd sod off to WorldRX, and take Capito with them.

Allyc85

Original Poster:

7,225 posts

185 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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I am praying that Ogier has a non score in Spain so the title fight goes to GB. Surely even the FIA wouldn't change the event format with that on the line? Would they?!

Trophybloo

1,207 posts

186 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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Allyc85 said:
I am praying that Ogier has a non score in Spain so the title fight goes to GB. Surely even the FIA wouldn't change the event format with that on the line? Would they?!
That's very magnanimous of you Mr C
Didn't think the bet would be won so soon!

interloper

2,747 posts

254 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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Is there a good linky or can somebody explain this new timing system? Is this another Dave Richards esque nail in the coffin?

Allyc85

Original Poster:

7,225 posts

185 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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This sums the B.S. up, the time equalisation is beyond ridiculous. Imagine trying to explain that to a casual fan, and why they have done it!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114425

Trophybloo said:
Allyc85 said:
I am praying that Ogier has a non score in Spain so the title fight goes to GB. Surely even the FIA wouldn't change the event format with that on the line? Would they?!
That's very magnanimous of you Mr C
Didn't think the bet would be won so soon!
Haha I hope Latvala wins Spain, Ogier has a DNF, before winning an ultra close Rally GB in traditional style, shoving the shootout up the FIAs arse!

It would be quite a story for Latvala to turn things around from nearly haviong nervous breakdowns at the side of the stage, to become world champ. I just hope its not for a couple more years yet! wink

ArnageWRC

2,050 posts

158 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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Explain to a casual fan - how about normal fans, especially those on the event. Remember to take your calculator.......


How about this for an idea; fastest man over 2/3/4 days wins the event. It might catch on.

Trophybloo

1,207 posts

186 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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ArnageWRC said:
Explain to a casual fan - how about normal fans, especially those on the event. Remember to take your calculator.......


How about this for an idea; fastest man over 2/3/4 days wins the event. It might catch on.
As the arrogant Herr Capito might say ' you are just a fan you don't know what you want'! I really do think a big demo at WRGB service park is needed but rally fans rarely get themselves mobilised for anything!

Ally, what we actually want is a close fought WRGB day 1(assuming the Spanish wish is granted) where both VW's end up on super rally and Kris Meeke pips Mikkelsen to the win with Elfyn 3rd. I would be an extremely happy guy. Meanwhile, the last morning with both VW's catching 6-8 place it finally depends on the power stage (with NO BS)

Alex Langheck

835 posts

128 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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It's not just the Rally fans who don't do anything; very few journalists kick up a stink. The sport has been watered down constantly over the last 10-15 years, and very few journos have grilled the top brass. What will it take for protests, or proper questions asked?
A one day/ single venue event???