2024 WRC and ERC discussion
Discussion
It looks like they're hedging their bets so have come to this conclusion.
As ever, people (understandably) concentrate too much on the cars.....and not the other issues with the sport. 99% of live coverage is behind a paywall.....Until that changes, things aren't going to get much better. And they could have been braver with the event formats; allow a few events to finish Saturday evening/ night......they're obsessed with the Sunday finish and Power Stage.....
As ever, people (understandably) concentrate too much on the cars.....and not the other issues with the sport. 99% of live coverage is behind a paywall.....Until that changes, things aren't going to get much better. And they could have been braver with the event formats; allow a few events to finish Saturday evening/ night......they're obsessed with the Sunday finish and Power Stage.....
They are probably into that as it ties in with their coverage deals.
I do think it is time to accept that rallying is not a sport that works with ANY tv package, it only worked in this country during its last truly peak period n the late 90's early 00's when we had two great driver duking it out. It was not even huge on tv when McRae was winning titles, it was on Grandstand and it was enough for the RAC to get vast coverage back then.
It has been on literally every channel known to man since those days and really the only option was to paywall it, every other Motorsport does it, so why not rallying, you can get enough coverage free from the owners own red Bull websites to see it if you want. Rallying is a live sport and in that sense it is working, all over the world rallying is a sport you have be at over and above many other forms of racing.
Enough people MUST be buying it for it to still be paywalled so blame them,
I do think it is time to accept that rallying is not a sport that works with ANY tv package, it only worked in this country during its last truly peak period n the late 90's early 00's when we had two great driver duking it out. It was not even huge on tv when McRae was winning titles, it was on Grandstand and it was enough for the RAC to get vast coverage back then.
It has been on literally every channel known to man since those days and really the only option was to paywall it, every other Motorsport does it, so why not rallying, you can get enough coverage free from the owners own red Bull websites to see it if you want. Rallying is a live sport and in that sense it is working, all over the world rallying is a sport you have be at over and above many other forms of racing.
Enough people MUST be buying it for it to still be paywalled so blame them,
ArnageWRC said:
Blimey - over a month without a comment.
WRC East African Safari.....carnage with cars suffering mechanicals, punctures, etc And the organiser wants a 5 day Safari in future. Bring it on!!
Like that idea, get the Safari back to what it was like in the good old days......before it went over to the special stage format in 1996.WRC East African Safari.....carnage with cars suffering mechanicals, punctures, etc And the organiser wants a 5 day Safari in future. Bring it on!!
A mate of mine did the Safari twice in the early 1980's as clubman entry......5,000km of competitive open road event....best events he ever did in his opinion.
ArnageWRC said:
Another farcical situation with the points scoring........It's been said before, but the WRC gets the outcomes it deserves........
Rally finished hours ago and the WRC.com points haven't been updated yet. Wiki shows the points though, all very silly, the part timer wins, scoring only 1 point more than 5th.
Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
I can’t even work out where to find the results. Let alone the winner. Utter codswallop!
The live timing page is actually quite good. https://www.wrc.com/live-timing?liveTimingMenu=ove...
Well, it turns out that the Irish bid for a WRC round might be on shaky ground, with the government not (yet) confirming any funding.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/othersport/ari...
To be honest I agree with the point that the potential economic impact seemed rather optimistic, but let's see.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/othersport/ari...
To be honest I agree with the point that the potential economic impact seemed rather optimistic, but let's see.
It was always possible that the economic benefits were over optimistic - same as in Wales for RallyGB. The WRC isn't a 'Premier League' level world sport......
If it was, then those in charge wouldn't have any hesitation to handover the cash........And it must be said, the hosting fees are eye watering for a 'niche' motorsport. The WRC isn't as big or popular as those in charge like to think it is......
If it was, then those in charge wouldn't have any hesitation to handover the cash........And it must be said, the hosting fees are eye watering for a 'niche' motorsport. The WRC isn't as big or popular as those in charge like to think it is......
ArnageWRC said:
It was always possible that the economic benefits were over optimistic - same as in Wales for RallyGB. The WRC isn't a 'Premier League' level world sport......
If it was, then those in charge wouldn't have any hesitation to handover the cash........And it must be said, the hosting fees are eye watering for a 'niche' motorsport. The WRC isn't as big or popular as those in charge like to think it is......
The difference is that Wales had many years of WRC presence and could actually present economic benefit figures based on measured facts. If it was, then those in charge wouldn't have any hesitation to handover the cash........And it must be said, the hosting fees are eye watering for a 'niche' motorsport. The WRC isn't as big or popular as those in charge like to think it is......
2019 WRGB measured about £10million benefit to the local area. I read somewhere that Rally Finland 2023 was about €14 million. Both of these were well-established events.
Whereas the Irish bid apparently was going to deliver €100 million in each of its first three years. I find that incredibly hard to believe.
No doubt that the roads are great, the rally culture is strong, the organisation is a step above what we see in Eastern Europe WRC events, local crews will be plentiful and Ireland is a cracking place to visit. But my view (which I expressed at the time) was there's a whiff of BS about the business case.
thepawbroon said:
ArnageWRC said:
It was always possible that the economic benefits were over optimistic - same as in Wales for RallyGB. The WRC isn't a 'Premier League' level world sport......
If it was, then those in charge wouldn't have any hesitation to handover the cash........And it must be said, the hosting fees are eye watering for a 'niche' motorsport. The WRC isn't as big or popular as those in charge like to think it is......
The difference is that Wales had many years of WRC presence and could actually present economic benefit figures based on measured facts. If it was, then those in charge wouldn't have any hesitation to handover the cash........And it must be said, the hosting fees are eye watering for a 'niche' motorsport. The WRC isn't as big or popular as those in charge like to think it is......
2019 WRGB measured about £10million benefit to the local area. I read somewhere that Rally Finland 2023 was about €14 million. Both of these were well-established events.
Whereas the Irish bid apparently was going to deliver €100 million in each of its first three years. I find that incredibly hard to believe.
No doubt that the roads are great, the rally culture is strong, the organisation is a step above what we see in Eastern Europe WRC events, local crews will be plentiful and Ireland is a cracking place to visit. But my view (which I expressed at the time) was there's a whiff of BS about the business case.
Agree - €15 million isn't a large sum in government terms, but it's a huge sum when the potential return is not significantly greater.
From my dealings with other governments on other events, they are looking for at least a 10x return on their "investment".
This whole business case and project seemed to rely more on the BS and riding a wave of successful but privately funded Irish drivers.
Seems a shame to get everyone's hopes up.
From my dealings with other governments on other events, they are looking for at least a 10x return on their "investment".
This whole business case and project seemed to rely more on the BS and riding a wave of successful but privately funded Irish drivers.
Seems a shame to get everyone's hopes up.
It's not a surprise, is it? The hosting fees for the WRC are ridiculously high, for what is a niche motorsport. This isn't F1 or even MotoGP.......
You can't just hand over millions of public money - for what in return? It's not the Ryder Cup, a globally recognised sporting event, with superstar players....
Just because other countries do it, doesn't mean Ireland or the UK can.
You can't just hand over millions of public money - for what in return? It's not the Ryder Cup, a globally recognised sporting event, with superstar players....
Just because other countries do it, doesn't mean Ireland or the UK can.
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