2019 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and all other)!

[Allyc85]

It would seem that Citroen are about to pull out of the WRC. Tbh I've felt there was a strong possibility ever since they dropped to a 2 car team, with little hope of the constructors title.

[df76]

Allyc85 said:

It would seem that Citroen are about to pull out of the WRC. Tbh I've felt there was a strong possibility ever since they dropped to a 2 car team, with little hope of the constructors title.

Not hugely surprising is it, and that cash will be going towards the Pug Hypercar Le Mans effort.

[E34-3.2]

Problem is that Citroen were hoping a bit more in term of marketing with Ogier in France. Sadly is not in the same league as Loeb was when representing the brand. You still see posters of Loeb in Citroen Garages in France, hardly any of Ogier. On top of that PSA is not keen of the WRC low coverage of any events so they don't want to invest.
He has been eyeing Toyota for a little while now, it should happen very soon.

[ArnageWRC]

I find it slightly strange that PSA are likely to move from the WRC to the WEC, which has even less coverage than the WRC. Even the great race in June doesn't get coverage anything like what a normal F1 race does. Whilst the WRC isn't perfect, it's miles better run than the WEC which is currently a shambles

I did see a comment somewhere about the ACO wanting Peugeot to repay their favour following the late pull out in 2012, just before the WEC started. And here we have it.

[Munter]

To the general population LeMans has "something", style, class, history. The image they have is one of stylish people sipping wine and saying bravo old chap, shame about the prang, try again next year eh.

WRC has...err...whats WRC? Rally? Err...like a protest where people get together for a cause? No? Oh! wkers in subarus and chaved up ford focus like you get in McDonalds car park! God I want nothing to do with that lot.

If you were going to associate your brand with one or the other of those images. Which would you pick?

[Big Robbo]

To be honest I don't think Citroen have ever fully embraced the WRC. You can buy performance Fords, Hyundais and even a hot Yaris. The best you can get in the C3 is a 1.3?

It won't be such a suprise to see Ogier in a Toyota before he retires

[Slippydiff]

Big Robbo said:

To be honest I don't think Citroen have ever fully embraced the WRC. You can buy performance Fords, Hyundais and even a hot Yaris. The best you can get in the C3 is a 1.3?

It won't be such a suprise to see Ogier in a Toyota before he retires

Strange comment
They saw Loeb to nine consecutive WRC driver’s titles, it that’s not embracing the sport, I’m not sure what is ?

[Big Robbo]

Slippydiff said:

Big Robbo said:

To be honest I don't think Citroen have ever fully embraced the WRC. You can buy performance Fords, Hyundais and even a hot Yaris. The best you can get in the C3 is a 1.3?

It won't be such a suprise to see Ogier in a Toyota before he retires

Strange comment
They saw Loeb to nine consecutive WRC driver’s titles, it that’s not embracing the sport, I’m not sure what is ?

I mean from a marketing point of view. Loeb's run of titles were celebrated with a few stripes on a not so hot C4, contrast that with Hyundais approach of WRC, WTCC, BTCC as well as getting Herr Biermann as a focal point for their N brand. Ford have however subtly always been associated with Motorsport and even Toyota have admitted that not having a "halo" car (supra) allied to top class competitive motorsport hurt. That is what I meant

[Allyc85]

So Citroen have said they will definitely not be part of the hybrid era, but not when exactly they will be pulling out. It would be great to have someone buy the C3's if they do go before next season, but given Paddon raised 600,000k for his 2 events which didn't happen, it would seem current WRC costs are way too high for this.

Munter said:

To the general population LeMans has "something", style, class, history. The image they have is one of stylish people sipping wine and saying bravo old chap, shame about the prang, try again next year eh.

WRC has...err...whats WRC? Rally? Err...like a protest where people get together for a cause? No? Oh! wkers in subarus and chaved up ford focus like you get in McDonalds car park! God I want nothing to do with that lot.

If you were going to associate your brand with one or the other of those images. Which would you pick?

This is so unbelievably wrong I can barely put it into words!!

Mention anything about endurance racing to non-motorsport fans and all they will say is "boring" and "what is the point". But rallying gets peoples attention far more than Le Mans, and that's from actual experience.

[ajprice]

"Citroen leaves World Rally Championship and blames Ogier's exit"

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/147264/citroen-...

[E34-3.2]

ajprice said:

"Citroen leaves World Rally Championship and blames Ogier's exit"

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/147264/citroen-...

It has been month Citroen knew Ogier intention to move. Not sure why they blame him... They haven't made him want to stay. Looks like they are surprised that he is going to Toyota... Hilarious.

[Big Robbo]

The only top line seat left is the vacant Fiesta drive so who will MSport go for? They are somewhat spoilt for choice with the number of good drivers looking for a drive.
Hyundai have Tanak, Neuville, Loeb and Sordo while it looks likely Ogier, Evans and Rovanpera will be in Toyota's. Malcolm Wilson can choose from Mickelson, Meeke, Latvala and at least 5others that will be cheap

[thebigmacmoomin]

Big Robbo said:

The only top line seat left is the vacant Fiesta drive so who will MSport go for? They are somewhat spoilt for choice with the number of good drivers looking for a drive.
Hyundai have Tanak, Neuville, Loeb and Sordo while it looks likely Ogier, Evans and Rovanpera will be in Toyota's. Malcolm Wilson can choose from Mickelson, Meeke, Latvala and at least 5others that will be cheap

Hayden Paddon is racing in New Zealand TCR for 2020 so thats one driver less.

https://www.motorsport.com/tcr/news/tcr-race-deal-...

[Allyc85]

Nice to see Seb defending his fellow drivers, after st-roen blamed a lack of top drivers for it's decision to pull out! He has also said the car is difficult to handle for anyone, even him!

Rumour has it he, Evans and Rovanpera will be announced at Toyota shortly.

[tyrrell]

I think MSport could be next to throw in the towel, they could not afford the repair bills for the above mentioned.

[Allyc85]

I see the crews in the RAC rally are only doing one run through Radnor tonight, due to the thick fog. Quite glad I wimped out of it and will just be out on Crychan tomorrow instead.

[ArnageWRC]

They don't have much luck with Radnor; 2 years ago the first run was delayed because of a lack of marshals - and the second run was cancelled. And now the fog..

I'm off to the ranges tomorrow; can't decide between Epynt or Halfway.....

[DelicaL400]

ArnageWRC said:

They don't have much luck with Radnor; 2 years ago the first run was delayed because of a lack of marshals - and the second run was cancelled. And now the fog..

And the one stage that was actually running has been cancelled.

[Jim_Clark]

According to this, VW is out of ICE (internal combustion engine) motorsport:

Ready for the electric future: Volkswagen is focusing its motorsport strategy on e-mobility

Only Polo GTI R5 is remaining, but it's notfFactory-backed...

The Polo GTI R5 remains an integral part of Volkswagen Motorsport’s customer sport offering and will continue to be produced for customer teams. The Hanover base will be responsible for continued customer support, spare parts supply and the competitiveness of the Polo. Factory-backed competition entries with the Polo GTI R5 will no longer go ahead.

https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/press-relea...

[Pericoloso]

Allyc85 said:

So Citroen have said they will definitely not be part of the hybrid era, but not when exactly they will be pulling out. It would be great to have someone buy the C3's if they do go before next season, but given Paddon raised 600,000k for his 2 events which didn't happen, it would seem current WRC costs are way too high for this.

Munter said:

To the general population LeMans has "something", style, class, history. The image they have is one of stylish people sipping wine and saying bravo old chap, shame about the prang, try again next year eh.

WRC has...err...whats WRC? Rally? Err...like a protest where people get together for a cause? No? Oh! wkers in subarus and chaved up ford focus like you get in McDonalds car park! God I want nothing to do with that lot.

If you were going to associate your brand with one or the other of those images. Which would you pick?

This is so unbelievably wrong I can barely put it into words!!

Mention anything about endurance racing to non-motorsport fans and all they will say is "boring" and "what is the point". But rallying gets peoples attention far more than Le Mans, and that's from actual experience.

Not to mention that Subaru left the WRC years ago and the Focus hasn't been used by Ford for ages either.