wrx287

iTrader: (8)

After what looks like being another championship for Monsieur Loeb i think the WRC has become a bit of a farce. At the end of the day,in rally Japan Sebastien Loeb deliberately did'nt win the rally just to win it in his home event. This to me just makes it a pointless sport anymore that he can pick and choose when he wins

So i was thinking,how about a Touring car style success ballast? After every rally the top 5 cars or so has weight added according to where they finish the previous rally.

I think this would make it a far more competative championship.
Or hopefully the new S2000 wrc will be a more level playing field.
I hope so anyway.

Daz187

iTrader: (2)

I think it needs more manufacturers.. Hopefully with Mini coming back with hopefully Marcus Gronholm driving for them. Could make things interesting.. However I do feel Loeb will win, no matter what anyone does. He's just a awesome driver. Probably one of the best ever...

I think also that they have changed to many rallies. Dont think many of them have the same caracter as old the old rallies.. Where's Safari rally gone. It was a challenge all of its own.. Didnt have to be quick, just look after your car.. Classic Rally.. Damn Health nd Safety.....

Like the idea of weights though..

bigredrob

They should go back to the good old days, 1500+ miles five days and nights and all over the place, not micky mouse money grabbing stages, 300 miles and lots of sleep.

Dan W

I watch the rallying when I remember that its on, in fact I just watched it this morning, the episode where they did a piece on rally corsica.

I dont get too deeply interested in the technical side nor pay much care for the rules etc, I just like to see cars going flat out through different terrain. Particularly on winding tarmacadan.

Even so over the years it just seems to have become too clinical. A bit like what formula one has become. There is definately not enough manufacturers involved.

Given the cult following Subaru has develped due to its Rallying heretage I'm surprised that other manufacturers havent developed and produced their own equivalent road/rally car for the masses. I know Ford have the Focus RS but (please tell me if I am wrong) is there anything on the roads today that has the same background as the Impreza?

Looking at what I have written above I dont know if I am making myself understood.

Subaru enter WRC- Impreza -big following - long run of production for customers. Mitsubishi like wise. Who else????


Back on the subject of actual rallying WRC I appreciate there is different classes and many private entries but (again correct me if i got the wrong impression) when they changed the rules so that manufacturers could build purpose built cars that was sort of the end of the traditional rallying in my opinion. No less fun to watch tho.

A true rally to me is one where anyone can enter with any car which goes over several hundred miles over varying terrain with permissable stops to refuel, service, repair etc.

The 'amateur' drivers and the 'professional' drivers should be driving cars that are not too dissimilar so that even the plucky upstart can take on the top drivers.

Or I have totally got the wrong end of the stick in which case I will get me coat.

wrx287

iTrader: (8)

Maybe it's not just the top level of rallying either,clubman rallying is going the same,whoever has the most money wins. I think the governing bodies need to take an overall look at the sport as a whole. At the end of the day,anytime you go up to somewhere like Epynt the winner will either be Peter Lloyd or Damien Cole because they can afford WRC cars when the proper clubman has to struugle to get the car ready and gets mothing at the end of it.

bigredrob

I agree the selection of cars years ago was great, as well as the varied skills of the drivers, when was the last time you saw porches aganist escorts, minis, vw bugs, saabs, skodas,triumphs, ladas, nissans, mazdas, volvos,..etc, the list goes on and on.

Dan W

Exactly. Why is it so hard to go back to those days?

To me its a case of take stock cars make a few alterations to allow for safety, reliability on the more demanding terrains etc and crack on.

This means anyone can have a pop. Surely there is still alot of kudos to be earned for the most reliable, fastest cars etc.

bigredrob

I can remember bits being scourced from cars in the car parks to keep the cars on the rally, to many rules, to much money now involved, or is it the need to have managers, pr people, accountants, employed that is important.

wrx287

iTrader: (8)

I suppose its down to Health and saftey again,just look at the Petter Solberg mudflap incident a few years ago

Like Dan said,where are the road car replicas of the rally versions? The only production car that looks similar to its rally sister is the Focus RS.

The other problem with WRC is the prices to spectate. Just had a look now and an adult can watch the Scottish IRC for £50 for a weekend pass wher as for Rally GB it is £100. After being a marshal for the last 6 years i have noticed a drop in spectators.

Dan W

To me I dont really see why there is a particular need for specially built cars.

They banned group B due to their power so why cant they decommission purpose built cars and go back to stock cars? They should set rules where the cars can only be modified to a certain level that doesnt price out the average entrants. None of the money=better car=more likely victory.

I reckon more manufacturers would enter plus it would level the playing field.

Surely the kudos for the winning cars would increase the likelyhood of people going out and buying the same car for themselves.

Reliability, quality etc etc etc.....

bigredrob

What would happen if they ran the cars backwards, ie slowest ,least experienced first, works, experieced , teams last, then the more experienced drivers would have more to think about, ie ripped up track , slow cars , crashes, etc not just a blast and dissapear to the next coffee break.

KJD Mk1

iTrader: (3)

I'm off to Spain again very soon for the Wrc, can't falt the med rallys it's got the lot and tbh cheaper than watching in the uk.

As for Loeb that's just how good he is if he is in a position to chose where he wins, hat off to him.

Next years wrc is returning to a more individual format more like the old days but I don't suppose we will ever return back to all day/ night rallies due to safety.

wrx287

iTrader: (8)

I totally agree but he is making a mockery of the sport at the minute and has done for a few years now.
Maybe a handicap is in order,a blindfold maybe

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Loeb is a bit like Rossi in the Moto GP (until he broke his leg). Awesome with the right machine but Rossi never had the charisma bypass.

Now my thoughts. A basic 2 ltr car, roll cage, rwd, fwd or 4wd classes and safety kit. End of.

Simples.

STI Glenn

Just seen the new cars for next year look nice ,but not poweful and mean like a WRC car should be

belliott69

iTrader: (3)

thats how it should be but it won't happen, they changed the rules for next season so that it would drive down the prices that it costs to make the cars but guess what, there more expensive than the wrc cars so that kills that straight away. i think they are trying to think of safety but it does get very tedious and boring.

bring back group b or group a rules and hope that there is a driver out there who does like to show off to the spectators and thrash opponents at the same time, then rallying may well pick up again otherwise it will die out very quickly.

Dan W

I think Ian has got the right idea, in having different classes for fron rear and all whell drive.
2Ltr should be maximum CC plus there could be a horse power limit for safety reasons.

But to me uppermost (with safety concerns taken into account) they should use cars that are basically the same as we could go buy from a dealer.

Its not that hard to make these cars safe.

Surely some of the safety modifications would filter down to the mass produced cars aswell.

Isn't that the real spirit of rallying.

DYL 4N

that would mean a return of the homolegation rules. Then the teams will aproch manufactures to build a vehicle fit for purpose. Ie Subaru impreza with 2.0 4x4. Ie group A.

I'm all for a big shake up in WRC. But who is out there to compete againt seb loab apart from seb ogier? If petter can get a worx drive I think he might have a chance.

SPEN555

RWD and 2.0ltr would do it.

Like to see see Loeb try and be quick and neat in a RWD car

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Dam,

That's my point. They go to a dealer. Buy a 2.0 ltr car and cage it, safety it, rally slag it up and away you go.

KJD Mk1

iTrader: (3)

They already have that it's called group N.

TBH I'd much rather see a WRC or old skool group B car than a weezy production class running around


Just bring back Mk 1 and Mk2 Escorts, Mantas, and all the 80's stuff back

Gregsti01

iTrader: (1)

Money and greed is the big killer just like other sports,I use to go to Twickenham to watch rugby,then the money people bought the seats for a thuper day out for people who did not give a toss for the game other than a glass of sparkling wine and hospitality,the people who support the game all year round with their clubs cannot afford £200 for a ticket.Football the same,I love motor sport but will not pay the money to fill fat cats pockets.The answer avoid going to these events will bring back a normality!

Gregsti01

iTrader: (1)

Sorry thought you said Leyland Marinas

KJD Mk1

iTrader: (3)

I had one of those in green

Truly a **** car but it got me on the road many many years ago for £30

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

My father had a Marina Coupe back in the day, they were **** then and age has not improved them.

I think a return back to the mid 90's in the heyday of Subaru and Mitsubishi would be welcome, the GB rally is a shadow of it's former self.

I remember the Lombard RAC rally which would take in lots of UK regions and had night and day stages, I've never watched a night stage in a forest section but it must be a sight to behold.

We need more manufacturers involved, I would welcome a return to Group B that is when rallying was at it's best for thrills, spills and excitement.

KJD Mk1

iTrader: (3)

Sorry but I have to disagree with you!








Nearly all of them have now rotted away so age HAS improved them

bluerigster

iTrader: (9)

Imoa the starting orders need addressing, so teams don't purposely run the clock down at the end of a stage to gain an advantage by not being first out on a gravel stage etc. As trailing drivers gain an advantage by driving on swept roads resulting in better traction.

The previous stage winner should have an option on whether being first out depending on conditions and road surface. ie if on tarmac the advantage is on being first out so no mud etc is has been dragged over the road by drivers cutting corners. This would make for a more competative competition as all drivers would try and win each stage due to being award the choice of optimum starting position. This would leave drivers no option but to try and drive on the limit resulting in more mistakes being made.

I think the S2000 will be better than the present WRC cars as a lighter chassis with a lower torque & higher reving engine will make drivers work the cars harder to maintain speed and allow for faster cornering.

Loeb would still win though!

Gregsti01

iTrader: (1)

I should not slag Leyland cars off they made me a lot of money over the years welding etc,engineering real old crap a sad reflection of the mentality of the British motor industry,you can understand why the Japs did so well here

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Having been to Prodrive and seen them, a Grp N car is still miles away from a forecourt car. You buy the cars from a local dealer in the area of the Rally and you have two weeks prep time to strip it and cage it and away you go.

F1 CJE UK

iTrader: (8)

Grp N are slow fact. they have less power and Weight than a road going Subaru sti. Now they make great rally cars reliable drivable etc but after seeing a few WRC car fly past they look very slow and dull.

i think modern racing has been killed by all the improvements in grip and reduction in power the drivers don’t seem to fight the cars any more.