Todt, the FIA and WRC
Discussion
I've been reading a few of the articles on autosport regarding the WRC with Todt at the Helm of the FIA.
It seems to me he wants to get the WRC back on track, more of an endurance type of event in the true spirit of rallying than we've seen over the last decade of sprint type rallies.
I really hope he does manage to get some of the changes through that the sport deserves.
Maybe we might see a resurgance of the sport.
The current TV coverage has been shockingly lacking in any depth, admittedly likely due to such a short period time for the deals to be made.
As for the super-rally rules. I'm in favour of this rule. I like the fact that the fans get to see more cars, and it can't be anything but a good thing for a small privately funded team, having swallowed all the costs of actually getting to an event to be allowed to 'start again' after a retirement.
It seems to me he wants to get the WRC back on track, more of an endurance type of event in the true spirit of rallying than we've seen over the last decade of sprint type rallies.
I really hope he does manage to get some of the changes through that the sport deserves.
Maybe we might see a resurgance of the sport.
The current TV coverage has been shockingly lacking in any depth, admittedly likely due to such a short period time for the deals to be made.
As for the super-rally rules. I'm in favour of this rule. I like the fact that the fans get to see more cars, and it can't be anything but a good thing for a small privately funded team, having swallowed all the costs of actually getting to an event to be allowed to 'start again' after a retirement.
EDLT said:
Monte Carlo hasn't been much of an endurance event. All they've done is spread the stages over more days, that has to be more expensive for the teams with no benefit I can think of.
Yeah. Shakedown = 1 day, powerstage = 1 day... but the total stage distance is higher than typically (433.36 km - http://juwra.com/monte_carlo_2012.html).Rally of Argentina later in the year should also be more of an endurance type event. Original route plans even made a trip to Urugauy, but those plans were apparently shelved.
Then Todt obviously has mentioned going to back to Africa many times... I can hear Safari calling.
I think OP is referting to this Q&A: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97111
Edited by exhaustfume on Saturday 21st January 19:56
Well F1 is totally sewn up by Bernie, the WRC is a shadow of its former self, so almost anything Todt does will improve it. Can't wait to see his manager type son take it over and make a load of money. That will confirm what I think : They are all in it to make a fortune.
Whilst I have no problem at all from people becoming wealthy, I do hope its not some sleazy deal in the old Moseley tradition.
Whilst I have no problem at all from people becoming wealthy, I do hope its not some sleazy deal in the old Moseley tradition.
Todt is an improvement over Mosley, who was influenced too much by his mate Bernie - and as such, when the WRC was strong in the early 00's strange rules came in and slowly the sport was strangled.
When Todt was elected, one of the first things he set about was returning the WRC to it's former glory. We must give him time, and also, he's quite prepared to upset the current Manufacturers who have run the sport as they see fit recently.
Three days of 9-5 Rallying is not what the WRC is about - about time somebody spoke up. It will take time, but he seems determined to get his way.
When Todt was elected, one of the first things he set about was returning the WRC to it's former glory. We must give him time, and also, he's quite prepared to upset the current Manufacturers who have run the sport as they see fit recently.
Three days of 9-5 Rallying is not what the WRC is about - about time somebody spoke up. It will take time, but he seems determined to get his way.
The best thing they could do IMO would be to tap up Subaru, Mazda, Toyota, BMW and Audi see if they would be interested in rallying their coupe models.
All do a model with a two-litre motor around the 200bhp mark, they're all available in rear wheel drive (apart from the Audi, which could be converted from 4WD). Only allow the addition of safety devices and minimal performance/durability enhancements and minimise body modifications.
It would drive down costs, which would open up the championship to more manufacturers and privateers and longer rallies, make the cars 'look' fast again and they'd look like road cars too.
They need to take rallying back to what it was - racing road cars against the clock, in extreme conditions. K.I.S.S.
It's getting far too tied up in faffing about with technology and regulations.
All do a model with a two-litre motor around the 200bhp mark, they're all available in rear wheel drive (apart from the Audi, which could be converted from 4WD). Only allow the addition of safety devices and minimal performance/durability enhancements and minimise body modifications.
It would drive down costs, which would open up the championship to more manufacturers and privateers and longer rallies, make the cars 'look' fast again and they'd look like road cars too.
They need to take rallying back to what it was - racing road cars against the clock, in extreme conditions. K.I.S.S.
It's getting far too tied up in faffing about with technology and regulations.
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