Motorsport On Monday: 17/2/2014
Why F1 can learn a thing or two from Rallycross
In fact, I've got a soft spot for the sport - and I reckon Formula 1 could learn a thing or two from Rallycross.
Lydden's own Liam Doran plays world stage
It's this great fan base which should see it succeed. Take a guess what the FIA's European Race Series of the Year in 2013 was? FIA GT3, with its grids full of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches and McLarens? Nope. The European Le Mans Series, offering spectators bespoke carbon fibre prototypes. Guess again. It was European Rallycross. Seems that World Championship status in 2014 is justified, then.
Over 72,000 spectators turned up to the French round of the continental series last year to watch loose surface legend and annihilator of the Pikes Peak hill climb record, Sebastien Loeb, take on the huge character that is Petter Solberg and factory Citroen driver Kris Meeke - not to mention drivers like Liam Doran (that family name runs deep in Rallycross) and reigning champ Timur Timerzyanov.
Doran Senior is a Rallycross legend too
It's not necessarily the drivers' fault. They don't dictate what they can and can't do. But the sponsors, who ultimately stump up the cash to go racing, decide who has what commitments and when. Money talks, after all.
But it goes beyond that. PHers are blessed with a vested interest; we're petrolheads who want to watch close racing, but even we get bored by artificial competition, with cars on fresh tyres in a DRS zone blowing by their rivals on the straights. That's not racing. That's a semi-orchestrated massacre.
The average Joe sitting in his armchair on a Sunday afternoon arguably can't relate to the technology, either - even with Formula 1 moving to a more efficiency-based rulebook this year (yeah, we won't go into those nose designs here) to supposedly show the road car market the way, communicating to the paying punter what ERS-K and ERS-H actually are, and why the downsized V6 turbos don't sound quite as crisp as the 2.4 V8 screamers, is not the work of a moment. With Rallycross, fans can understand the humble formula.
What's not to like about action like this?
With more manufacturers committing to the series now its gained World Championship status - Peugeot is the latest marque to commit to 2014, for example - the bigger the sport should grow, too.
There's one former F1 World Champion who's been rather vocal about both championships recently. Last week Jacques Villeneuve confirmed he'll be racing in this year's WorldRX series. He also said he doesn't 'get' modern Formula 1, and that the sport was now "artificial" and in danger of losing the respect of its fans.
Wild cars, wild driving - Rallycross always had it
Real, unmolested cars, real drivers and a solid, reliable rulebook. That's what F1 needs, and why the new FIA World Rallycross Championship could show it a thing or two in 2014.
In the 8 or so years I've been seriously following the sport I have yet to find any other circuit based racing I enjoy as much.
My only concern is that the rapid growth the sport has experienced recently will see some much loved aspects of the sport lost (the open paddocks for example). Still, I was worried last year when the European Championship became "RallycrossRX" and I ended up thoroughly enjoying the season, so I hope the World Rallycross Championship does the same again.
The French round at Loheac last year was one of the best race weekends I've experienced: I've already got it in my calendar again for 2014!
From a spectating point of view there is very, very little F1 can do now to turn things around. Track safety dictates that we're all sat/stood miles away from the track edge, and the sheer popularity means drivers would never get anywhere if all of a sudden 60,000 people were allowed to autograph hunt around the paddock.
As already said just look at how F1 has become; a big money manufactured clinical show.
1) all action, short laps
2) Lot of spectacle (power, flames, sideways, bit of nudging)
3) Easy to televise due to compact tracks etc
In fact, so far, only not having "top name" drivers seems to have been an issue, and that is easily fixed it seems
Glad to see the sport going through another popular phase .
I have seen some of the best and most dramatic racing at rallycross meetings , with friendly and knowledgeable crowds , at Lydden we also get plenty of European visitors many of them absolutely nuts for the sport.
See a good rallycross meeting and you will be hooked for life .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGqADxBTvfo …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-RNLquBWvs …
I really like Lydden Hill, both because I used to spectate there in 70's when at college and because I've sprinted there for the last few years. Sadly, there's no sprinting there this year presumably because the track charges have risen beyond the ability of the clubs to pay them. I shall miss it.
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