2020 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and national rally)

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Only four weeks until the new WRC season, so a new 2020 focused thread needed.

Toyota making a real commitment to rallying with the launch of the GR-4 road car. Assume that they're staying for the immediate future. Less certainty from everyone else, and no driver confirmation yet.

I've enjoyed the MSN Rally coverage this winter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mF72NP7Q-o

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DelicaL400 said:

M-Sport have finally confirmed Lappi, Suninen and Greensmith. Hopefully Lappi will benefit from being at Dovenby, he didn't look too happy last year!

Yes, probably the best line up that they could hope for given the circumstance. Lappi has a chance of a decent result.

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woodypup59 said:

I wonder if / when it will be shown on ordinary UK TV ie spike / ch 5 or w h y ?

No clear information about Channel 5 coverage yet, wasn't confirmed until after the Monte round last year. Red Bull TV (free) shows that they will be having a catch up show each evening, and there will be a live stage on Saturday afternoon.

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Allyc85 said:

Just been confirmed as being on ITV4, mainly on Tuesdays at 8pm.

https://motorsportbroadcasting.com/2020/01/15/worl...

Thanks for that, positive news.

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ceesvdelst said:

I would guess because it is still trying to be sold, WRC has been on just about every channel and never seems to stay anywhere for long as it always has poor figures, yet somehow it still seems to be sold every renewal.

That is it is restricted, plus of course the WRC+ thing which restricts everything to such a point as to lose a lot of fans anyway. Great job guys, make people pay so your restrict the viewers to the smaller and smaller amounts. Or make it free so more can watch in a series with dying tv figures Modern sports marketing in a nutshell.

As I understand it, the Channel 5 figures weren't that bad but just not good enough for a mainstream at peak times. ITV4 is probably a good fit, just like BTCC. There's more coverage on Red Bull TV for free (including live), and a little surpised that full live coverage is on BT Sport as well. Can't see it getting any better than that these days.

[df76]

Agree about the C5 / itv4 coverage, I just record and fast forward a lot. The red bull tv nightly shows were good last year and provided more. 100% live coverage on bt sport is a massive bonus.

[df76]

Cars sound great here. https://youtu.be/Kn1fZmKLEYw

Looking forward to the weekend.

[df76]

Nice to see Evans going so well this morning.

I’m tempted by a 2021 Monte trip, anyone done it before?

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Slippydiff said:

Tanak massive off early in Stage 4. Both crew ok. Car looks to be a long way off the road from the in car footage.

Large air. https://youtu.be/QqOWqN7N5ao

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Slippydiff said:

Proper Shunt that ...

Tanak’s note to his engineers : Must run the car slightly higher on Tarmac from now on ...

Edited by Slippydiff on Friday 24th January 15:00

Looking at that accident again, that’s probably the biggest that I’ve ever seen and everyone “walks away”. He was flat in top when he lost it and no braking before airborne.

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Would love to see Evans close this out tomorrow, only a couple of stages. Hoping that team orders won’t kick in at this stage of the season.

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Actually they repeat the leg, so more chance for a swing.

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Was going to ask whether you flew or drove? Cheap flights to Marseille.. and i guess that finding convenient accommodation is key.

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Allyc85 said:

We flew from Gatwick to Nice as its closer for the sunday stages. Flights can be around £50 plus what ever luggage allowance you need.

Last time we had an Air Bnb about 30 minutes west of Gap, and a cheap hotel near the airport. We should have gotten a hotel on the coast for for saturday night too, as taking into account getting past some road closures for the rally meant leaving at 1am!!

Sounds like a good plan, and 1am starts wouldn't be needed!

BT Sport seem to have messed up their Extra channels this more. Current stage isn't being streamed..

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DelicaL400 said:

df76 said:

BT Sport seem to have messed up their Extra channels this more. Current stage isn't being streamed..

It's on Extra 3.

Thanks. Found it on the laptop. They’ve messed it up on the App.

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Slippydiff said:

DelicaL400 said:

It's on Extra 3.

Thus, they swapped it from Extra 1 to Extra 2 yesterday, luckily I thought to do some channel hopping

Is there any way to record the Extra Live streams ?

And anyone know if you can get to the Extra channels on the app? Only seems available when they provide a direct link, and that’s been wrong this morning.

Seems the same in the webpage, but you can google search for the Extra channels and you can do a log in. Bit odd.

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ArnageWRC said:

To be honest, the Circuit Rally championship is pretty successful, and is an example of giving the customer (i;e the competitors) what they want; a series run on circuits during the winter months, no road sections, and seemingly value for money.
As already said, people aren't interested in BRC forest events, with the £900 registration fee, recce, other costs, etc

However, I've no idea what the solution is; other countries manage to make it work, but we can't/ don't.

Yes, seems to be the way. Forest rally costs for competitors must be scary. Rallying on tarmac at a single circuit venue is much more manageable and clearly what competitors want at the moment. Also seem to be getting reasonable crowds. All positive.

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Rally Sweden is going ahead, but the schedule is very truncated..

https://rallysweden.com/en/the-race/

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Drumroll said:

Ardennes92 said:

Looks like Elfyn is having a good day at the office in Sweden, let’s hope he can keep it together

Still leading at the end of day one.

Quick again this morning!

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Surely Evans has done this now! Only one sprint stage left today and just 21km tomorrow, with a massive lead.