2020 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and national rally)

[GravelBen]

For NZ its probably more that as the rules currently stand everyone arriving in the country would have a 14 day quarantine before being allowed to do anything, makes it hard to be viable for an international event.

Local motorsport is getting back up and running already though, my local club has a gravel hillclimb this saturday which I might pop out to watch.

[Allyc85]

I know Rally GB is a long way off, but given they need to sell tickets to fund it, and they currently aren't able to, i'm fully braced for cancellation.

My local hillclimb track at Wiscombe Park has said it doubts spectators will be allowed this year, which has further fuelled my negativity!

[Drumroll]

Allyc85 said:

I know Rally GB is a long way off, but given they need to sell tickets to fund it, and they currently aren't able to, i'm fully braced for cancellation.

My local hillclimb track at Wiscombe Park has said it doubts spectators will be allowed this year, which has further fuelled my negativity!

Loton Park have cancelled their meetings this year, but may run one meeting later on.

I know a lot of preperation work is still going on for Rally GB, but there are a lot of questions being asked as well.

[df76]

I can only see circuit or airfield based rallies happening this year (perhaps single driver sprint format), and at the moment I can’t imagine there being any spectators at any motorsport event In 2020. Hoping that it’s more manageable in 2021. Just pleased that tv coverage is so good for many series, will make the most of that and perhaps get on a track day at some point.

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

Allyc85 said:

I know Rally GB is a long way off, but given they need to sell tickets to fund it, and they currently aren't able to, i'm fully braced for cancellation.

My local hillclimb track at Wiscombe Park has said it doubts spectators will be allowed this year, which has further fuelled my negativity!

I think the lack of promoter involvement in finding alternatives also shows you how little money there is sloshing about in WRC. You could run a rally in a forest without speccies if someone is prepared to pay for it. Liberty are paying the circuits to hold F1 races.

So yes I think you are right, I cannot see rallying taking place until a government says it's ok to attend sporting events.

[Allyc85]

Thing is I don't think you could hold non-spectator events, as us more hardcore rally fans are pretty good with a map, and could find a way in. Not that I would though.

[ArnageWRC]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

Allyc85 said:

I know Rally GB is a long way off, but given they need to sell tickets to fund it, and they currently aren't able to, i'm fully braced for cancellation.

My local hillclimb track at Wiscombe Park has said it doubts spectators will be allowed this year, which has further fuelled my negativity!

I think the lack of promoter involvement in finding alternatives also shows you how little money there is sloshing about in WRC. You could run a rally in a forest without speccies if someone is prepared to pay for it. Liberty are paying the circuits to hold F1 races..

Quite agree. It may surprise many people, but rallying isn't a massive sport; I doubt it has the TV money like F1 to do similar and run events 'non spectator'. As already said, most events need ticketing/ VIP, etc for revenue.

[DelicaL400]

It needs a complete end to social distancing if Rally GB is going to happen unless they're planning on not having co-drivers. Some events in October have already been cancelled, I suppose they'll hang on as long as possible with Rally GB.

[Drumroll]

Allyc85 said:

Thing is I don't think you could hold non-spectator events, as us more hardcore rally fans are pretty good with a map, and could find a way in. Not that I would though.

True. That is why I said earlier the only events likely to run will be at circuits.

[ArnageWRC]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/rally-gb-cancelatio...

Season is being decimated, as we thought it would.....

[Allyc85]

Someone had an idea of joining what has been run this year, onto the next, which wasn't the worst one I've heard so far.

I see Neuville has been out testing. Not sure for what now though!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doFC_LOU0FY

Edit: Apparently he has had a big crash. Crew ok, but the car is heavily damaged!

Edited by Allyc85 on Monday 8th June 17:51

[GravelBen]

Allyc85 said:

Someone had an idea of joining what has been run this year, onto the next, which wasn't the worst one I've heard so far.

I see Neuville has been out testing. Not sure for what now though!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doFC_LOU0FY

Edit: Apparently he has had a big crash. Crew ok, but the car is heavily damaged!

I've heard (from someone who was inside the team for a few years) that testing crashes are a rather common habit of Neuville's, but the team manages to keep most of them quiet.

[Skylinecrazy]

I can’t see events being behind closed doors for much longer if you can go to the pub by July...

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

Skylinecrazy said:

I can’t see events being behind closed doors for much longer if you can go to the pub by July...

the problem is that the leader of the Sennedd appears to want to make a name for himself by running his own programme of lockdown restrictions to his own timetable. He has already said that sporting events are at the bottom of the list.

[Allyc85]

GB officially cancelled.

[ArnageWRC]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

Skylinecrazy said:

I can’t see events being behind closed doors for much longer if you can go to the pub by July...

the problem is that the leader of the Sennedd appears to want to make a name for himself by running his own programme of lockdown restrictions to his own timetable. He has already said that sporting events are at the bottom of the list.

One wonders, purely hypothetically, if the Welsh hosted a major international sporting event ( i;e a Ryder Cup type event), would they give it a waiver?

Anyway, as already said, RallyGB is cancelled, and it really looks unlikely there may be very few, if any, rally events in Wales this year. Will be interesting to see how many English events go ahead.

[DelicaL400]

BRC cancelled too.

No surprise. Hopefully the virus goes and there are enough marshals, organisers and competitors in a position to support rallying next year.

[Skylinecrazy]

I’ve got a hotel booked for Ypres If we can go which I think we will be able to. I’d highly recommend getting over to Belgium to watch if you can! Way better than here...

[mike80]

I presume you know it's been postponed til October?

I love Ypres, I've been to the rally for the past 3 years, pretty gutted not to be going this year!

[Allyc85]

I'm tempted by Ypres, as it's at the end of a week I've already booked off. But the uncertainty over having to quarantine on return, and the fact it's going to be rammed with spectators is a bit off putting at the moment.