2019 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and all other)!
Discussion
Allyc85 said:
Absolutely bloody ridiculous that stage 1 of Rally Mexico was cancelled due to a damaged artificial jump. Could have been nasty with the crowd so close. Evans had a massive moment on Gb on rubbish like this. Hopefully it will make organisers think twice about gimmicks like this.
Didn't they remove the jump for the 2nd running of the stage on GB? I remember seeing a vid of him skidding along the road on the cars nose, then for the power stage no jump was to be seen?I just don't understand why they bother with s
t like this? if people want to see jumps then head off to El Brinco for the big one there, especially since they've rejigged it so its bigger recently!?As much as I don't get it, I fail to see how the WRC media team can post this on youtube either?? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K37OiniWJE
EP didn't seem to hit it flat out either, looked to brake more than the dab to set up the car for the jump yet it still acted as a massive kicker!
BTSport is pretty crap this weekend, can't find any of their programmes on Mexico on catch up. that may be user error however.
Sundays Tour of Epynt could be a great event and the weather will play a big part methinks. depending what weather source you use there could even be some sleet or snow! although right now I'm on the touch n go for attending. knackered disk is playing havoc on the nerves in my back and leg
Allyc85 said:
Absolutely bloody ridiculous that stage 1 of Rally Mexico was cancelled due to a damaged artificial jump. Could have been nasty with the crowd so close. Evans had a massive moment on GB on rubbish like this. Hopefully it will make organisers think twice about gimmicks like this.
https://www.facebook.com/jociusdeividas/videos/378...
Got to feel for the thousands of fans who turn up for this stage every year!
Artificial jumps, doughnuts around a roundabout, what next? And why? The sport doesn't need gimmicks, leave it alone; it's been changed enough over the last 15-20 years.https://www.facebook.com/jociusdeividas/videos/378...
Got to feel for the thousands of fans who turn up for this stage every year!
Thing is, the fans love this event, but that can be said of most events.
This level of entries for a world series is pathetic.
No Mexican drivers but an event with fewer cars than a road rally, yet if you had an event in Belgium it would bring the nation to a standstill, yet it never happens. Summer time event in Norway, the stages there are beautiful, but no Sweden and Norway are only SNOW rallies. Ireland would be amazing again. Iceland, Estonia, watch some Polish tarmac rallying, those guys race on asphalt roads that are so savage it would be like a WRC round on Epynt. In fact, why not?
Probably all due to contracts and what countries have paid, but I would rather have two Polands than this stuff.
This level of entries for a world series is pathetic.
No Mexican drivers but an event with fewer cars than a road rally, yet if you had an event in Belgium it would bring the nation to a standstill, yet it never happens. Summer time event in Norway, the stages there are beautiful, but no Sweden and Norway are only SNOW rallies. Ireland would be amazing again. Iceland, Estonia, watch some Polish tarmac rallying, those guys race on asphalt roads that are so savage it would be like a WRC round on Epynt. In fact, why not?
Probably all due to contracts and what countries have paid, but I would rather have two Polands than this stuff.
chunder27 said:
Probably all due to contracts and what countries have paid, but I would rather have two Polands than this stuff.
There's no probably about it. International sport is all about money. What the promoter (country backing) can be, TV revenue and where the manufacturers want to go for sponsor reasons. Nothing much else will be a consideration.I don't have a real issue with the evening spectator events. They get massive crowds, TV / promoters will like them, so they get the best exposure for the weekend. The way to get more people interested, so do it if you can.
I get the donuts in front of the large speccy sections like in Spain, I might not be a fan of it but I get it. but these artificial jumps are just stupid. The one in Mexico literally looked like some sort of home made contraption you used to make with mates to jump your bmx when a kid!
Chunder, the problem with running the majority of events you suggest is that they already saturate the championship. A European round is not what is needed imho, why not go to Australia and New Zealand again, it makes more sense than shipping tonnes of kit around the world for a 5 day stay. If Sweden keeps losing its snow then it either needs to be moved to later/earlier in the calendar or replaced all together. It could easily be used as the last event in nov/dec and then have a massive WRC Xmas/season end party. Or drop it and head over to Canada/America, SnoDrift rally as far as I know never has an issue with no snow. As good as Irish and Belgian rallies look theres little difference to running in a dry Monte, Spain, France etc. The question then comes down to who gets dropped and for what? would they drop Sweden in favour of an icy Belgium which will probably just be a tame Monte. Would they open the season at Sweden or is upsetting the principality too big a risk?
The championship has also gone soft. With the money chucked into the new aero parts they don't want to be replacing the carbon bumpers/wings at every service, look at the complaints of how brutal turkey was, whereas years ago cars were built just to tackle the Acropolis and Safari. The calendar and the drivers have gone soft and I think the manufacturers have dictated for too long what is good for them and what isn't. But what we like versus what makes them money matters to the FIA.
Things could be looking u as theres been a few given the nod to get their events ready for candidate inspection, Kenya being one of them and even tho it'll be a shadow of its former self it'll hopefully be like none of the other events in the championship.
Anyway its currently gloriously sunny here in Cardiff, and the forecast for the ranges tomorrow is heavy rain overnight, easing up until 10am Sunday so a wet start to the event before a forecast of sun in the afternoon which could make it for good viewing as they have the option to push harder on drying asphalt which should contribute to a cracking Tour of Epynt!
Chunder, the problem with running the majority of events you suggest is that they already saturate the championship. A European round is not what is needed imho, why not go to Australia and New Zealand again, it makes more sense than shipping tonnes of kit around the world for a 5 day stay. If Sweden keeps losing its snow then it either needs to be moved to later/earlier in the calendar or replaced all together. It could easily be used as the last event in nov/dec and then have a massive WRC Xmas/season end party. Or drop it and head over to Canada/America, SnoDrift rally as far as I know never has an issue with no snow. As good as Irish and Belgian rallies look theres little difference to running in a dry Monte, Spain, France etc. The question then comes down to who gets dropped and for what? would they drop Sweden in favour of an icy Belgium which will probably just be a tame Monte. Would they open the season at Sweden or is upsetting the principality too big a risk?
The championship has also gone soft. With the money chucked into the new aero parts they don't want to be replacing the carbon bumpers/wings at every service, look at the complaints of how brutal turkey was, whereas years ago cars were built just to tackle the Acropolis and Safari. The calendar and the drivers have gone soft and I think the manufacturers have dictated for too long what is good for them and what isn't. But what we like versus what makes them money matters to the FIA.
Things could be looking u as theres been a few given the nod to get their events ready for candidate inspection, Kenya being one of them and even tho it'll be a shadow of its former self it'll hopefully be like none of the other events in the championship.
Anyway its currently gloriously sunny here in Cardiff, and the forecast for the ranges tomorrow is heavy rain overnight, easing up until 10am Sunday so a wet start to the event before a forecast of sun in the afternoon which could make it for good viewing as they have the option to push harder on drying asphalt which should contribute to a cracking Tour of Epynt!
RyanTank said:
Didn't they remove the jump for the 2nd running of the stage on GB? I remember seeing a vid of him skidding along the road on the cars nose, then for the power stage no jump was to be seen?(
The stage was shortened for the second run due to an accident with the stunt bikes in the finish area of the first run I think?Pretty tough conditions on the Malcolm Wilson Rally today with snow and ice on the Whinlatter stages, around 14 cars retired in Comb.
DelicaL400 said:
The stage was shortened for the second run due to an accident with the stunt bikes in the finish area of the first run I think?
Could've been that. Cant remember it being mentioned but it makes sense if they needed to jig it about because of the accident to the little lad.We know the only reason Sweden is there ie because it's snow rally, but as you say there are several places you could also go where there is snow.
They have tried Turkey, Indonesia, China, Japan, Cyprus, but none have managed to stay on the calendar.
It's tough to shake things up car wise as they are not designed to run rough Acropolis, Safari type events, and back in the day they all used special cars. You just can't do that nowadays costs wise, and even if you did you would just have a softened version of the event so they could run the same cars they normally do.
So why not go where its popular. Ypres would be huge coz of Neuville.
I agree about NZ and Oz.
They have tried Turkey, Indonesia, China, Japan, Cyprus, but none have managed to stay on the calendar.
It's tough to shake things up car wise as they are not designed to run rough Acropolis, Safari type events, and back in the day they all used special cars. You just can't do that nowadays costs wise, and even if you did you would just have a softened version of the event so they could run the same cars they normally do.
So why not go where its popular. Ypres would be huge coz of Neuville.
I agree about NZ and Oz.
Just back from the Malcolm Wilson. The weather certainly played it's part. (Snow and Ice on the first stages) 89 cars started and 32 retirements.
Stage 6 Grizedale looked a bit shaky. Firstly as a lot of the marshals for the stage were caught up in the tailback for a large accident on the M6. Then a course car went off in stage, needing the rescue unit to attend (thankfully nothing too serious in the end)
Stage 6 Grizedale looked a bit shaky. Firstly as a lot of the marshals for the stage were caught up in the tailback for a large accident on the M6. Then a course car went off in stage, needing the rescue unit to attend (thankfully nothing too serious in the end)
There have been talks about moving the Swedish rally further up north, since there's more snow there. But its not that simple since all the organisation and origanizing clubs with the marshals are based in Värmland. And you have 200k spectators, which will be fewer the further up north you go. A good start would be not to run the same stage 4 times back and forth during the weekend, the stages take some beating. The stages get shorter and shorter and they drive the same runs so many times. Takes a little bit of the feeling of challenge and adventures away imo..
Talk of the WRC going to Canada for a snow rally, more snow sure conditions and mega cold.
There were a good few Mexicans on Rally Mexico, but in R5 cars not in WRC cars. One finished 6th Overall.
Not that many drivers have the required licence or budget to run full fat WRC cars.
As for world RX the numbers in the top class are pretty much the same as last year for the "permanent" competitors.
The big difference in 2019 is no works teams, there will be a new champion this year. On paper its the most open year for a few years now with no obvious stand out driver in a works team.
I might even cough up to go to Silverstone, we (lad and dad) went last year on freebie tickets, despite the speed machine hype we enjoyed it, the racing was just as lively. Not the same feel as Lydden WRX but better than not going to a world RX round at all.
Oh and before the nay sayers start on about clubbie motorsport being better to watch etc etc I'd just like to mention the club autotest I organised at the weekend and got pi55 wet through at!!
It's not all world this and world that in our motorsport calendar.
Wingo.
There were a good few Mexicans on Rally Mexico, but in R5 cars not in WRC cars. One finished 6th Overall.
Not that many drivers have the required licence or budget to run full fat WRC cars.
As for world RX the numbers in the top class are pretty much the same as last year for the "permanent" competitors.
The big difference in 2019 is no works teams, there will be a new champion this year. On paper its the most open year for a few years now with no obvious stand out driver in a works team.
I might even cough up to go to Silverstone, we (lad and dad) went last year on freebie tickets, despite the speed machine hype we enjoyed it, the racing was just as lively. Not the same feel as Lydden WRX but better than not going to a world RX round at all.
Oh and before the nay sayers start on about clubbie motorsport being better to watch etc etc I'd just like to mention the club autotest I organised at the weekend and got pi55 wet through at!!
It's not all world this and world that in our motorsport calendar.
Wingo.
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