Why is there never much about WRC/IRC/Rally on here?
Discussion
Just wondering, but I never seem to see that much about the WRC on Pistonheads. Why is this?
Is it just a general lack of interest in WRC on here or is it more related to the general decline in the popularity of the WRC and rallying over recent years?
I've just noticed the Skoda IRC thread at the top of here, and it has occurred that as a rally fan IRC has completely passed me by!
Why?!?
Or am I just looking in the wrong place?!
Is it just a general lack of interest in WRC on here or is it more related to the general decline in the popularity of the WRC and rallying over recent years?
I've just noticed the Skoda IRC thread at the top of here, and it has occurred that as a rally fan IRC has completely passed me by!
Why?!?Or am I just looking in the wrong place?!
WRC has been well covered.
IRC is only shown on some bottom of the list channel on Sky. From what I've seen teh coverage is ace, but I don't have sky. Whats more there is no annual DVD release like there is for the WRC and BRC from duke. For years I have been buying the BRC dvds because I think those are excellent.
There are two different problems and one solution to either will help the other. Give it a proper TV show and viewership will increase. Next years rule change will hopefully have a positive effect too.
IRC is only shown on some bottom of the list channel on Sky. From what I've seen teh coverage is ace, but I don't have sky. Whats more there is no annual DVD release like there is for the WRC and BRC from duke. For years I have been buying the BRC dvds because I think those are excellent.
There are two different problems and one solution to either will help the other. Give it a proper TV show and viewership will increase. Next years rule change will hopefully have a positive effect too.
I must admit that compared to when I was younger (I'm in my mid 30s 
) it's not as good. I used to make the effort in my 20s to go to the RAC rally, I went a couple of years ago, but only to the indoor special at Cardiff and wasn't too impressed. Having the rally just in Wales never helped IMO. Wasn't the RAC the biggest UK spectator sporting event at one time?
I'm having Sky installed on Sunday, but only cos I managed to get a very cheap deal, so hopefully I can take a look at the IRC on Eurosport.
Also a shame that the UK's greatest rally talents of recent times have passed away RIP Richard Burns and Colin McRea.
Thinking about it though, BTCC has gone the same way too. Seems the harder they try to make motorsport more mainstream and appeal to the massed, the less interest it gets.
Someone is getting it wrong somewhere......
) it's not as good. I used to make the effort in my 20s to go to the RAC rally, I went a couple of years ago, but only to the indoor special at Cardiff and wasn't too impressed. Having the rally just in Wales never helped IMO. Wasn't the RAC the biggest UK spectator sporting event at one time?I'm having Sky installed on Sunday, but only cos I managed to get a very cheap deal, so hopefully I can take a look at the IRC on Eurosport.
Also a shame that the UK's greatest rally talents of recent times have passed away RIP Richard Burns and Colin McRea.
Thinking about it though, BTCC has gone the same way too. Seems the harder they try to make motorsport more mainstream and appeal to the massed, the less interest it gets.
Someone is getting it wrong somewhere......
Emeye said:
Seems the harder they try to make motorsport more mainstream and appeal to the massed, the less interest it gets.
Someone is getting it wrong somewhere......
"I know" said David Richards. "Lets make the stages shorter and closer together, perhaps reating them 4 times a weekend so that the spectators don't have to travel long distances to view the cars.Someone is getting it wrong somewhere......
"But wait" cried the masses "we like seeing different stages in different places with surfaces and different cars, i especially enjoy sleeping in my car and chasing the gravel crews"
"LA LA LA LA" said David Richards
years tick by
tick tick tick
"Now look what you've done you dick head!" Says the angry mob.
Charlie Foxtrot said:
Emeye said:
Seems the harder they try to make motorsport more mainstream and appeal to the massed, the less interest it gets.
Someone is getting it wrong somewhere......
"I know" said David Richards. "Lets make the stages shorter and closer together, perhaps reating them 4 times a weekend so that the spectators don't have to travel long distances to view the cars.Someone is getting it wrong somewhere......
"But wait" cried the masses "we like seeing different stages in different places with surfaces and different cars, i especially enjoy sleeping in my car and chasing the gravel crews"
"LA LA LA LA" said David Richards
years tick by
tick tick tick
"Now look what you've done you dick head!" Says the angry mob.
I am hoping that one day some one clever will take all the Dave/Motors TV coverage and produce a 20 mins highlight programme like what BHP used to do. None of this rushed out badly edited tosh currently gracing the screens. I think that with a suitable amount of time it would make a massive difference to the feel of the broadcast and make it more like rallies of old. I want atmosphere, action, more the field shown and wait for it... less on board stuff.
Then I want to see Autosport have the balls to move away from chasing readership and pandering to the F1 masses, and instead put rallying back on the front cover, do a full 4 page spread on the BRC rallies like they did in the old days, and do proper coverage of the IRC.
Its chicken and egg for me, to get decent coverage you need a British driver, to get a British driver you need decent coverage..
Lets hope its all change next year, with Meeke and hopefully Wilson in an equal car.
Then I want to see Autosport have the balls to move away from chasing readership and pandering to the F1 masses, and instead put rallying back on the front cover, do a full 4 page spread on the BRC rallies like they did in the old days, and do proper coverage of the IRC.
Its chicken and egg for me, to get decent coverage you need a British driver, to get a British driver you need decent coverage..
Lets hope its all change next year, with Meeke and hopefully Wilson in an equal car.
Those bemoaning the way it is now compared to the past, a few things to consider...
The cost and time needed to run an event like the mid 80's.
The tolerance of the public now to crews trying to keep to a schedule that needs the traversing of the UK on a mid 80's time schedule...quite simply there would be uproar.
Yes it's not as good as it was, but try and enjoy it for what it is as in 20 years time kids will be playing on their consoles etc wishing rallying still took place at all.
The cost and time needed to run an event like the mid 80's.
The tolerance of the public now to crews trying to keep to a schedule that needs the traversing of the UK on a mid 80's time schedule...quite simply there would be uproar.
Yes it's not as good as it was, but try and enjoy it for what it is as in 20 years time kids will be playing on their consoles etc wishing rallying still took place at all.
BEP said:
Those bemoaning the way it is now compared to the past, a few things to consider...
The cost and time needed to run an event like the mid 80's.
The tolerance of the public now to crews trying to keep to a schedule that needs the traversing of the UK on a mid 80's time schedule...quite simply there would be uproar.
Yes it's not as good as it was, but try and enjoy it for what it is as in 20 years time kids will be playing on their consoles etc wishing rallying still took place at all.
The thing is, the rally used to come to you, not you having to go to the rally - I'm sure that more people went to visit a local special stage than can be bothered slogging into depth of Wales - it's only the hardcore fans who can be bothered - or those that live in Wales. Stages like Chatsworth used to get massive turn outs.The cost and time needed to run an event like the mid 80's.
The tolerance of the public now to crews trying to keep to a schedule that needs the traversing of the UK on a mid 80's time schedule...quite simply there would be uproar.
Yes it's not as good as it was, but try and enjoy it for what it is as in 20 years time kids will be playing on their consoles etc wishing rallying still took place at all.
Why not have the WRC events over 3 - 5 days but with each day moving around the host country - surely that would generate more interest and also negate any issues with having to drive the cars the length of the country - just chuck them on the transporters for 2 to 3 hrs.
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