Volkswagen WRC
Discussion
Alan_I_W said:
Wouldn't it be great if we found out the WRX STI, Focus RS and the new Lancer were entering WRC again.
You're not giving up are you? 
Personally, I don't want to see those big cars return, things have moved on.
The rules have changed for next year.. Next years engines will be higher revving, 380bhp and "cars will be bigger due to a 55mm increase in the permitted width and a greater overhang at the front and rear, electronically-controlled centre differentials will return and they will be 25kg lighter."
Bigger rear wings too... there's something for you
HighwayStar said:
You're not giving up are you?
Personally, I don't want to see those big cars return, things have moved on.
The rules have changed for next year.. Next years engines will be higher revving, 380bhp and "cars will be bigger due to a 55mm increase in the permitted width and a greater overhang at the front and rear, electronically-controlled centre differentials will return and they will be 25kg lighter."
Bigger rear wings too... there's something for you
Wouldn't be the same with the big machines if McRae and Burns aren't there to drive them anyway D:Personally, I don't want to see those big cars return, things have moved on.
The rules have changed for next year.. Next years engines will be higher revving, 380bhp and "cars will be bigger due to a 55mm increase in the permitted width and a greater overhang at the front and rear, electronically-controlled centre differentials will return and they will be 25kg lighter."
Bigger rear wings too... there's something for you
Alan_I_W said:
HighwayStar said:
You're not giving up are you?
Personally, I don't want to see those big cars return, things have moved on.
The rules have changed for next year.. Next years engines will be higher revving, 380bhp and "cars will be bigger due to a 55mm increase in the permitted width and a greater overhang at the front and rear, electronically-controlled centre differentials will return and they will be 25kg lighter."
Bigger rear wings too... there's something for you
Wouldn't be the same with the big machines if McRae and Burns aren't there to drive them anyway D:Personally, I don't want to see those big cars return, things have moved on.
The rules have changed for next year.. Next years engines will be higher revving, 380bhp and "cars will be bigger due to a 55mm increase in the permitted width and a greater overhang at the front and rear, electronically-controlled centre differentials will return and they will be 25kg lighter."
Bigger rear wings too... there's something for you
I'm sad about the state of WRC. I used to love it, back in the day (yeah, I know, rose tinted glasses and all that). Subaru vs Mitsubishi prompted me to buy a 22B, which I loved for 7 years.
I just have absolutely nothing that interests me today regarding the rally cars and any possible counterpart I can buy for the road. I mean, how on earth can you support something when theres no connection to what you can buy?
The rally cars we used to run were very quick even in stock format on the road, and with very cheap mods turned into ridiculously quick machines. Today? Pfft.
I just have absolutely nothing that interests me today regarding the rally cars and any possible counterpart I can buy for the road. I mean, how on earth can you support something when theres no connection to what you can buy?
The rally cars we used to run were very quick even in stock format on the road, and with very cheap mods turned into ridiculously quick machines. Today? Pfft.
HighwayStar said:
No chance of that even if the big machines returned! Burns was a fav of mine but Marcus was the man. I had a 205 GTi 1.9 and a GTi-6 back in the day.
McRae had a perfect response to why he doesn't drag race that I still love to this day "Straight roads are for fast cars, Corners are for fast drivers"smifffymoto said:
You only have to look at crowd numbers to see rallying needs an injection of something new.
I too used to frequent Chatworth,Trentham gardens to watch the Toyotas,Lancias etc with my mates and a bottle of Glenfiddich.I hate to say it but those days are gone,long gone.
Rubbish, car parks were rammed at the weekend with stages like Gartheniog full up. You have to be at a stage at least 2 hours before to get parked a reasonable distance from the stage. Also there were plenty of "lads" there drinking, even early in the morning. Wonder how many of them drove home too.I too used to frequent Chatworth,Trentham gardens to watch the Toyotas,Lancias etc with my mates and a bottle of Glenfiddich.I hate to say it but those days are gone,long gone.
aka_kerrly said:
I'd be surprised if that many people on PH care.
Sadly WRC has been largely rubbish for years anyway, I'm not blaming Mr Loeb for being an outstanding driver, more that whichever teams signs him up and puts the most £££ & resources into their program will dominate hence Citroen cleaned up for years when Ford weren't as interested and VW have dominated since being more commited than Citreon.
It's a real shame as the TV coverage that is now available with the use of drones and the ability to upload/send data live from the field has given arm chair spectators a far better opportunity to see what rallying is all about.
Not helped by WRC+ being.. a bit rubbish. I've stopped subs.Sadly WRC has been largely rubbish for years anyway, I'm not blaming Mr Loeb for being an outstanding driver, more that whichever teams signs him up and puts the most £££ & resources into their program will dominate hence Citroen cleaned up for years when Ford weren't as interested and VW have dominated since being more commited than Citreon.
It's a real shame as the TV coverage that is now available with the use of drones and the ability to upload/send data live from the field has given arm chair spectators a far better opportunity to see what rallying is all about.
HighwayStar said:
Ahhhh, how you jest
Ogier doesn't really have close to ties to Malcolm Wilson at all. He has far stronger ties with Peugeot/Citroen, he was there with Loeb for 3 seasons. Would Citroen make room for him? It wouldn't be much fun for Meeke. The new C3 is bound to be competitive from the off. Meeke has beaten Ogier in rallies this season, should they end up in the same team and he beat Ogier to the championship it would be all the more sweeter. Who knows.
Even better if VW hadn't pulled out and we could've seen the drivers battle it out in the new Pole and C3.
Quote from AutosportOgier doesn't really have close to ties to Malcolm Wilson at all. He has far stronger ties with Peugeot/Citroen, he was there with Loeb for 3 seasons. Would Citroen make room for him? It wouldn't be much fun for Meeke. The new C3 is bound to be competitive from the off. Meeke has beaten Ogier in rallies this season, should they end up in the same team and he beat Ogier to the championship it would be all the more sweeter. Who knows.
Even better if VW hadn't pulled out and we could've seen the drivers battle it out in the new Pole and C3.
At the same time, there's a huge mutual admiration between Malcolm Wilson and Ogier. The pair talked about a possible deal towards the end of 2011 and relations have always remained very warm ever since.
Obviously this means nothing as I am sure if Ogier stays he will want a works team.
smifffymoto said:
You only have to look at crowd numbers to see rallying needs an injection of something new.
I too used to frequent Chatworth,Trentham gardens to watch the Toyotas,Lancias etc with my mates and a bottle of Glenfiddich.I hate to say it but those days are gone,long gone.
The funny thing is that I bet the Neil Howard Stages at Oulton Park on Saturday will be very busy with spectators, it certainly was last year.I too used to frequent Chatworth,Trentham gardens to watch the Toyotas,Lancias etc with my mates and a bottle of Glenfiddich.I hate to say it but those days are gone,long gone.
smifffymoto said:
If rallying was as popular as I remember it surely it would be more visible to the public at large, not just die hard fans.
It's nowhere near as popular as it was - that's really unarguable, especially here in the UK; as you say, it's mainly the 'die hards' who attend RallofGB. On Midweek Motorsport last night they commented that the event/ sport is in a vacuum - a pretty accurate summation. And nobody seems to want to do anything about it. Just go on the popular motorsport websites/ forums, and the evidence is there. Even for our home round, the number of comments are pitifully small. Too many people in the sport, including fans are in denial.
andy97 said:
The funny thing is that I bet the Neil Howard Stages at Oulton Park on Saturday will be very busy with spectators, it certainly was last year.
I'm there Saturday, if the weather stays like it has been it will be rammed again. But part of that is down to the fact Oulton Park advertise that it's on, maybe MSV should publicise the WRC 
Alex Langheck said:
Just go on the popular motorsport websites/ forums, and the evidence is there. Even for our home round, the number of comments are pitifully small.
Go to motorsportforums.com and the WRC section has about 13,000 more comments than the F1 section (262k vs 249k). Maybe you've just been looking at the wrong forums for rallying discussion.I can't speak for the UK but rallying in NZ is the healthiest its been in years, and you see some big spectator crowds in the coverage of European and South American WRC rounds as well as events like Fafe and Rallye-Legend.
GravelBen said:
Go to motorsportforums.com and the WRC section has about 13,000 more comments than the F1 section (262k vs 249k). Maybe you've just been looking at the wrong forums for rallying discussion.
I can't speak for the UK but rallying in NZ is the healthiest its been in years, and you see some big spectator crowds in the coverage of European and South American WRC rounds as well as events like Fafe and Rallye-Legend.
That's basically a rallyforum, so will get more comments. Look at the general motorsport forums; here on Pistonheads, TenTenths, Autosport, crash.net, evo.co.uk, etc It's just not as popular as other series - why I have no idea. I can't speak for the UK but rallying in NZ is the healthiest its been in years, and you see some big spectator crowds in the coverage of European and South American WRC rounds as well as events like Fafe and Rallye-Legend.
I've never visited any of those other forums you listed but have noticed it's less popular here (and a fair few people only post to complain about how it's not as good as used to be).
Most of the online rally discussion here in NZ seems to happen in Facebook groups rather than forums.
but have noticed it's less popular here (and a fair few people only post to complain about how it's not as good as used to be).Most of the online rally discussion here in NZ seems to happen in Facebook groups rather than forums.
A common theme here is Mcrae and Burns were great and now its crap.
All sports have a golden age, that was certainly a great period as was Group B,even though enough lives were lost.
What made it great was great drivers, lots of drivers and their contribution to the sport.
McRAE started autotest in his teens, no doubt he mucked in with the local club.
One of the problems now is there is not enough people in grass roots, driving, marshalling etc.....
The media control people too much. How can you complain as a few have ' I didn't know it was on' there wasn't enough advertising.
Sad state of affairs if you have to be told what and when to watch stuff by the media.
Rather than complain about the WRC+ and FIA, (who are not great) do something about it.
All sports have a golden age, that was certainly a great period as was Group B,even though enough lives were lost.
What made it great was great drivers, lots of drivers and their contribution to the sport.
McRAE started autotest in his teens, no doubt he mucked in with the local club.
One of the problems now is there is not enough people in grass roots, driving, marshalling etc.....
The media control people too much. How can you complain as a few have ' I didn't know it was on' there wasn't enough advertising.
Sad state of affairs if you have to be told what and when to watch stuff by the media.
Rather than complain about the WRC+ and FIA, (who are not great) do something about it.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff