2022 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and national rally)
Discussion
LukeBrown66 said:
My opinions are simply based on many years watching, that doesn't mean a lot to some but it also means I have experienced a lot of change in the past few years, most of it forced on the sport, its competitors, organisers and fans by insurance companies!!
I may not be a huge fan of modern circuit rallies but I still attend one or two every year, and usually a few other events, I would attend more but modern rules prevent me from doing so over and above other things that treat fans with a bit more than lip service
I am not a fan of spectator "pens" but realise that is really the only option. SO open roads events are an option I hope that expand.
What I do see is a lot of footage or rallying abroad and I do see that in the UK fans are treated far worse then just about anywhere else in Europe, for reasons not inked to clubs, organisers or anything else and that is a damn shame.
I may not be a huge fan of modern circuit rallies but I still attend one or two every year, and usually a few other events, I would attend more but modern rules prevent me from doing so over and above other things that treat fans with a bit more than lip service
I am not a fan of spectator "pens" but realise that is really the only option. SO open roads events are an option I hope that expand.
What I do see is a lot of footage or rallying abroad and I do see that in the UK fans are treated far worse then just about anywhere else in Europe, for reasons not inked to clubs, organisers or anything else and that is a damn shame.
OK so know you have said it can we leave it there and not repeat it (or variations of the same) for the rest of this thread. As others have alluded to it does get a bit boring and doesn't actually contribute anything. (Something you have accused others of doing.)
Edited by Drumroll on Sunday 16th January 11:21
100 cars at Brands today and whilst its nothing like standing in a forest (or even the Clacton road stages) it is a very accessible way for people to see some cool cars. If (like me) you are of a certain age, then a load of mk2 and even a mk1 escorts never gets old. With cars on 30 sec starts and parts of the circuits used twice per stage, at times you can see 6-8 cars or maybe more at any one time. A wander through the paddock seemed to have more teams willing to have a chat than a normal Brands paddock for cars. If only it wasnt so damn cold today !...Really was chilly, but the steak and ale pie in the cafe/restaurant was very good and warmed us up a bit!!
DelicaL400 said:
Really like it!! Come on Breen, really looking forward to this year! 
Hopefully he can pull together a few wins, I don't he will be challenging for a title but M sport can build a car so hopefully it should be near to or on par with the others this year. The problem in my opinion is that they won't be able to develop it at the same rate as the others as shown by the last generation of cars so this will be probably be Breens best shot at winning some rallies.
Interesting they got Redbull sponsorship, that should be a big boost over last year? Hopefully that will mean they'll be getting a big cash injection.
That is a shame but hopefully it is back soon wherever that may be in the UK. I wonder if the days of the larger UK World Rally events are long gone with stages in England, Scotland and Wales over the duration of one event. I'd imagine the costs to plan an event of that size these days are ridiculous along with the roads being much busier.
Apart from the odd stage or super special just outside Wales I don't think they have done this since 1999 maybe?
Apart from the odd stage or super special just outside Wales I don't think they have done this since 1999 maybe?
Ranger 6 said:
Infrastructure is key - having somewhere that can host the WRC 'circus' and from a location perspective, still comply with the distance/format of the event.
As you say, cost is also a factor, however that is less of a burden than, say F1, with the huge charges just to host an event.
but a WRC event is still very expensive to host, not only do you have to pay WRC gmbh but also the forestry costs. I can't remember the exact figs, but it's something like £3m to run Wales Rally GB and about £1m for something like Ypres.As you say, cost is also a factor, however that is less of a burden than, say F1, with the huge charges just to host an event.
Moving on to tarmac is the only real option, but not in Northern Ireland. We need a mainland based WRC event on tarmac, utilising longer stages etc and rebuilding the event. There are always moaners but most people are ambivalent to intrigued to interested about attending a rally close to home.
On another note, re - reading the history of the RAC and the pioneering spirit of motoring makes me think we need to start something again in the spirit of the 1930's style but for EV's. It's almost like history is repeating.
TO73074E said:
That is a shame but hopefully it is back soon wherever that may be in the UK. I wonder if the days of the larger UK World Rally events are long gone with stages in England, Scotland and Wales over the duration of one event. I'd imagine the costs to plan an event of that size these days are ridiculous along with the roads being much busier.
Apart from the odd stage or super special just outside Wales I don't think they have done this since 1999 maybe?
It is a great shame, perhaps a non-COVID environment where government funding was available might have saved it.Apart from the odd stage or super special just outside Wales I don't think they have done this since 1999 maybe?
1995 was the last time the "full" WRC did any significant forest stages outside of Wales, 1996 was a similarly expansive route, but that was WRC 2WD only. 1997 on and it's been almost all in Wales. And nothing wrong with that, some amazing stages. But there doesn't seem to be any Welsh government funding any more. Figures I have seen suggest funding of about £2million is needed to make the WRC event feasible.
Yes the days of a long WRC rally over many part of England, Scotland and Wales seem to be over. That is now the preserve of the Roger Albert Clark Rally, every other year, for Historic and 2WD cars.
What is the future? I think it must be closed roads, to bring the rally closer to the people. Where? Well Northern Ireland have a long tradition is closed road rallies, lots of hotels and major airports around Belfast. Where else? Scottish Borders (based in Edinburgh)?
Wales backed the event for nearly 20 years - you can't expect them to continue to back it. The MSUK put all their eggs in the Welsh basket, and nobody else is willing to back the event, be that a regional/ tourist board, or even a commercial sponsor. I think that tells it's own story.....
It's bad enough we don't have a WRC event, but the event can't even exist as a national/BRC event......
It's bad enough we don't have a WRC event, but the event can't even exist as a national/BRC event......
Ireland will happen, it has been done before and dont really remember why it didn't last, maybe WRC did not want two rounds in the UK, and other countries were able to offer more in terms of hosting fees, this is how sport works these days, hence you get rallies in places that maybe they should not go to and ones that miss out.,
I was always astounded that Ypres was never on the schedule but it is only a one day event really so WRC did not fit it. Estonia makes sense die to the number of drivers and Tanak, but we really should be going to Czecho or Poland still. In my opinion, but crowd control seemed a problem.
I was always astounded that Ypres was never on the schedule but it is only a one day event really so WRC did not fit it. Estonia makes sense die to the number of drivers and Tanak, but we really should be going to Czecho or Poland still. In my opinion, but crowd control seemed a problem.
Helmet cam from Monte-Carlo testing in a Citroen C3 R5. Great viewing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLM0FqMVnAo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLM0FqMVnAo
TO73074E said:
Helmet cam from Monte-Carlo testing in a Citroen C3 R5. Great viewing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLM0FqMVnAo
its like a computer gamehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLM0FqMVnAo
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