| WRXedUSA | 01-23-2006 12:41 PM |
Like IKEA, but faster: Rally Sweden Starts Feb 3! (Official Thread)
�
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[url]http://www.swerally.se/resources/documents/entry_list_approved_by_fia.pdf[/url]
^^^^ Entry List
[url]www.swedishrally.com[/url]
^^^^ Official Site.
[IMG]http://swrt.com/img_gallery/429286038.jpg[/IMG]
As predicted, Loeb is certainly not slower because his car is not painted red.
Many interesting entries in this year's rally, including Thomas Radstrom, Mattias Ekstrom, Gigi Galli and Harri Rovanpera driving ex-works LancerWRC's.
This year, the Swedish rally is not part of the PCWRC.
Report is that it is cold and snowing on and off 3-4" per day in the area.
My top 5?
1. Solberg
2. Gronholm
3. Loeb
4. Atkinson
5. Ekstrom
^^^^ Entry List
[url]www.swedishrally.com[/url]
^^^^ Official Site.
[IMG]http://swrt.com/img_gallery/429286038.jpg[/IMG]
As predicted, Loeb is certainly not slower because his car is not painted red.
Many interesting entries in this year's rally, including Thomas Radstrom, Mattias Ekstrom, Gigi Galli and Harri Rovanpera driving ex-works LancerWRC's.
This year, the Swedish rally is not part of the PCWRC.
Report is that it is cold and snowing on and off 3-4" per day in the area.
My top 5?
1. Solberg
2. Gronholm
3. Loeb
4. Atkinson
5. Ekstrom
| WagonMonster | 01-23-2006 12:46 PM |
HEY!
I'm the one who gets to do the clever Thread Titles, NOT YOU! :mad:
I'm the one who gets to do the clever Thread Titles, NOT YOU! :mad:
| WagonMonster | 01-23-2006 12:47 PM |
Of course, I have editing power :D
| Brabus | 01-23-2006 12:53 PM |
The swedish rally was always my favorite rally. I noticed Makinen's ex co driver on the entry list. Would be nice to see Tomi too.
| asquaredrex | 01-23-2006 12:57 PM |
I'll be in Norway at that time... wonder if it's on at the bars. Maybe they'll break into the "We love you Petter Soleberg" song?
| WRXedUSA | 01-23-2006 01:03 PM |
[QUOTE=WagonMonster]HEY!
I'm the one who gets to do the clever Thread Titles, NOT YOU! :mad:[/QUOTE]
:furious: :furious: :mad: :furious: :furious:
I'm the one who gets to do the clever Thread Titles, NOT YOU! :mad:[/QUOTE]
:furious: :furious: :mad: :furious: :furious:
| WagonMonster | 01-23-2006 01:04 PM |
:p :) :p
| bemani | 01-23-2006 01:05 PM |
Snow = no Petter win this year :(
| WRXedUSA | 01-23-2006 01:08 PM |
[QUOTE=WagonMonster]:p :) :p[/QUOTE]
I'll be the one smiling in a few days!!
Do I hear any requests for viking hats anyone?
I'll be the one smiling in a few days!!
Do I hear any requests for viking hats anyone?
| WagonMonster | 01-23-2006 01:14 PM |
I'm going to Rally Mexico, so :p
I'm also gonna try to go to Turkey this year.
I'm also gonna try to go to Turkey this year.
| XenoWolf | 01-23-2006 02:03 PM |
I'm not going to predict the results, we're just better off predicting how Petter will DNF. I love the man, but damn he has the worst luck.
I hope Galli and Rovampera do well though, Galli got screwed by Mitsubishi... I would have loved to see Gronholm/Galli in WRC Focuii.
I hope Galli and Rovampera do well though, Galli got screwed by Mitsubishi... I would have loved to see Gronholm/Galli in WRC Focuii.
| meebs | 01-23-2006 10:58 PM |
Looking forward to READING about another great Rally. Burn in hell speed channel.
| cdvma | 01-24-2006 12:48 AM |
[QUOTE=meebs]Looking forward to READING about another great Rally. Burn in hell speed channel.[/QUOTE]
You are SADLY misinformed. Eurosport barely got the coverage rights from the FIA this year and BARELY got it in time for WRC Monaco. Speed uses the Eurosport coverage so Speed had no reason to put WRC in their lineup until recently. Lets hope they make room. If you wanna get pissed, get pissed at the FIA for being lemurs.
You are SADLY misinformed. Eurosport barely got the coverage rights from the FIA this year and BARELY got it in time for WRC Monaco. Speed uses the Eurosport coverage so Speed had no reason to put WRC in their lineup until recently. Lets hope they make room. If you wanna get pissed, get pissed at the FIA for being lemurs.
| bemani | 01-24-2006 02:25 AM |
[QUOTE=XenoWolf]I'm not going to predict the results, we're just better off predicting how Petter will DNF. I love the man, but damn he has the worst luck.
[/QUOTE]
Oh come on, since Petter crashes more often than Seb, he will get to take more advantage of the super rally rule. Look what Seb did with it.
[/QUOTE]
Oh come on, since Petter crashes more often than Seb, he will get to take more advantage of the super rally rule. Look what Seb did with it.
| RBelcher00 | 01-24-2006 02:29 AM |
[QUOTE=meebs]Looking forward to READING about another great Rally. Burn in hell speed channel.[/QUOTE]
hahahahha
I second that
hahahahha
I second that
| XenoWolf | 01-24-2006 06:04 AM |
[QUOTE=cdvma]You are SADLY misinformed. Eurosport barely got the coverage rights from the FIA this year and BARELY got it in time for WRC Monaco. Speed uses the Eurosport coverage so Speed had no reason to put WRC in their lineup until recently. Lets hope they make room. If you wanna get pissed, get pissed at the FIA for being lemurs.[/QUOTE]
The world would be a much brighter place without the FIA. I'm not a 'french-basher', but god damn the FIA makes France look like **** to the rest of the world.
The world would be a much brighter place without the FIA. I'm not a 'french-basher', but god damn the FIA makes France look like **** to the rest of the world.
| WRXedUSA | 01-24-2006 09:39 AM |
[QUOTE=cdvma]You are SADLY misinformed. Eurosport barely got the coverage rights from the FIA this year and BARELY got it in time for WRC Monaco. Speed uses the Eurosport coverage so Speed had no reason to put WRC in their lineup until recently. Lets hope they make room. If you wanna get pissed, get pissed at the FIA for being lemurs.[/QUOTE]
I thought Speed used a voiceover of BBC Channel4's coverage.
Folks, for alternate news sources, snoop around [url]www.rallyforum.com[/url]
There are many video clips available there in the WRC forum.
I thought Speed used a voiceover of BBC Channel4's coverage.
Folks, for alternate news sources, snoop around [url]www.rallyforum.com[/url]
There are many video clips available there in the WRC forum.
| asquaredrex | 01-24-2006 09:57 AM |
[QUOTE=cdvma]You are SADLY misinformed. Eurosport barely got the coverage rights from the FIA this year and BARELY got it in time for WRC Monaco. Speed uses the Eurosport coverage so Speed had no reason to put WRC in their lineup until recently. Lets hope they make room. If you wanna get pissed, get pissed at the FIA for being lemurs.[/QUOTE]
I thought that David Richard's organization (ISC?) held the commercial rights to WRC, and they're the ones charging outrageous prices for footage. FIA is just a governing body.
I thought that David Richard's organization (ISC?) held the commercial rights to WRC, and they're the ones charging outrageous prices for footage. FIA is just a governing body.
| skuttledude | 01-24-2006 10:08 AM |
Petter for the win.
Gronholm close 2nd.
Harri for a distant 3rd.
Loeb...this time when you go "off"......stay that way.
<----DKP[IMG]http://www.swetrans.com/images/flag_sv.gif[/IMG] ..hopefully going to the Swedish Rally in 2007
Gronholm close 2nd.
Harri for a distant 3rd.
Loeb...this time when you go "off"......stay that way.
<----DKP[IMG]http://www.swetrans.com/images/flag_sv.gif[/IMG] ..hopefully going to the Swedish Rally in 2007
| WRXedUSA | 01-24-2006 11:11 AM |
Here is pics from a rally last weekend. This is Oscar Svedlund, he will be driving this Spec-C in the Swedish Rally. This pics are from Sunne-Torsby areas which are only minutes from the stages.
[IMG]http://goto.glocalnet.net/fjonken3/valtraklassiker2006/images/vk2006%20012.jpg[/IMG]
[url]http://www.fotofritid.com/[/url]
[IMG]http://goto.glocalnet.net/fjonken3/valtraklassiker2006/images/vk2006%20012.jpg[/IMG]
[url]http://www.fotofritid.com/[/url]
| WagonMonster | 01-24-2006 11:15 AM |
So WRXedCCCP, do you go to Sveeden every year?
Ever been to any other WRC event?
Ever been to any other WRC event?
| WRXedUSA | 01-24-2006 12:10 PM |
[QUOTE=WagonMonster]So WRXedCCCP, do you go to Sveeden every year?
Ever been to any other WRC event?[/QUOTE]
Germany & GB.
Yes, I go every year to see my friends.
Ever been to any other WRC event?[/QUOTE]
Germany & GB.
Yes, I go every year to see my friends.
| WagonMonster | 01-24-2006 12:15 PM |
I guess you like your rallies cold & ****ty :lol:
I'll be thinking of you when I'm in Mexico and Turkey this year :D
I'll be thinking of you when I'm in Mexico and Turkey this year :D
| 10th Warrior | 01-24-2006 12:45 PM |
[quote]If you wanna get pissed, get pissed at the FIA for being lemurs.[/quote]
no need to besmeerch the name of a good lemur!
[img]http://www.hlasek.com/foto/lemur_catta_6780.jpg[/img]
no need to besmeerch the name of a good lemur!
[img]http://www.hlasek.com/foto/lemur_catta_6780.jpg[/img]
| WRXedUSA | 01-24-2006 12:50 PM |
[QUOTE=WagonMonster]I guess you like your rallies cold & ****ty :lol:
I'll be thinking of you when I'm in Mexico and Turkey this year :D[/QUOTE]
Sw33dish women > Turkish Women
I'll be thinking of you when I'm in Mexico and Turkey this year :D[/QUOTE]
Sw33dish women > Turkish Women
| WagonMonster | 01-24-2006 12:51 PM |
Well yes, but it's not like you get to touch the hiney anyway :lol:
I wish they had a WRC event in Poland, because Polish Women >*
I wish they had a WRC event in Poland, because Polish Women >*
| WRXedUSA | 01-24-2006 12:56 PM |
[QUOTE=WagonMonster]Well yes, but it's not like you get to touch the hiney anyway :lol:
I wish they had a WRC event in Poland, because Polish Women >*[/QUOTE]
Pfftt. Go to a club over there, oontz a bit, tell the first one you see that you are from Ooo Esss Ahh, and [SIZE=5][COLOR=Blue]*clamp* [/COLOR] [/SIZE] they are on you like Solberg on a Kangaroo.
I wish they had a WRC event in Poland, because Polish Women >*[/QUOTE]
Pfftt. Go to a club over there, oontz a bit, tell the first one you see that you are from Ooo Esss Ahh, and [SIZE=5][COLOR=Blue]*clamp* [/COLOR] [/SIZE] they are on you like Solberg on a Kangaroo.
| WagonMonster | 01-24-2006 01:00 PM |
I can just see you in your Shiny Shirt, spiky hair and Oontzy shoes.
*shudder*
*shudder*
| Coati | 01-24-2006 07:47 PM |
[QUOTE=XenoWolf]I'm not going to predict the results, we're just better off predicting how Petter will DNF. [/QUOTE]
It can be like CLUE:
In stage 5, with the snow/impact-damaged overheating engine! :lol: :(
It can be like CLUE:
In stage 5, with the snow/impact-damaged overheating engine! :lol: :(
| leaknoil | 01-24-2006 09:43 PM |
[QUOTE=asquaredrex]I thought that David Richard's organization (ISC?) held the commercial rights to WRC, and they're the ones charging outrageous prices for footage. FIA is just a governing body.[/QUOTE]
Either way I'd like to hear more about this story. I find it hard to belive there was so much demand for WRC rights that the FIA or ISC wanted too much for it.
In a 'rebuilding' year for the WRC it would seem funny timing to hold a hard line on rights fees. The timing of eurosport picking up the broadcast makes it hard to tell who was the bad guy. Totally a gut feeling but, it feels like it was the broadcasters who were holding out for a cut rate price. Maybe not ISC demanding outrageous fees. Who knows though. Very little chance we'll hear the details.
The way the quality of wrc+ has declined I'd suspect some budget cuts and staff reduction on the ISC side of things.
Either way I'd like to hear more about this story. I find it hard to belive there was so much demand for WRC rights that the FIA or ISC wanted too much for it.
In a 'rebuilding' year for the WRC it would seem funny timing to hold a hard line on rights fees. The timing of eurosport picking up the broadcast makes it hard to tell who was the bad guy. Totally a gut feeling but, it feels like it was the broadcasters who were holding out for a cut rate price. Maybe not ISC demanding outrageous fees. Who knows though. Very little chance we'll hear the details.
The way the quality of wrc+ has declined I'd suspect some budget cuts and staff reduction on the ISC side of things.
| WagonMonster | 01-24-2006 10:04 PM |
Now that I can download the Eurosport Coverage, it's not so bad.
I still wish it was on US TV though.
I still wish it was on US TV though.
| datageek | 01-24-2006 10:08 PM |
[QUOTE=leaknoil]The way the quality of wrc+ has declined I'd suspect some budget cuts and staff reduction on the ISC side of things.[/QUOTE]
ISC was hit as hard as the teams by upping the number of rounds from 14 to 16 -- which is why we got Rally Radio and splits dropped in 2004 and converted to a pay service starting in 2005. I'd suspect that having the number of manufacturers competing effected their marketing strategy. Fewer manus = less spectical = reduced value in the product. (Though I'm starting to wonder about that, since the number of WRC cars competing seems to be at an all-time high.)
We have this weird coverage dance every year. This year is a bit unusual in that it effected Europe as well as North America. Oh, and that we've finished the first rally of the season and still have no word on if we are getting coverage or not. :rolleyes: But the point is, being up in the air about the state of the coverage is mostly situation normal.
ISC was hit as hard as the teams by upping the number of rounds from 14 to 16 -- which is why we got Rally Radio and splits dropped in 2004 and converted to a pay service starting in 2005. I'd suspect that having the number of manufacturers competing effected their marketing strategy. Fewer manus = less spectical = reduced value in the product. (Though I'm starting to wonder about that, since the number of WRC cars competing seems to be at an all-time high.)
We have this weird coverage dance every year. This year is a bit unusual in that it effected Europe as well as North America. Oh, and that we've finished the first rally of the season and still have no word on if we are getting coverage or not. :rolleyes: But the point is, being up in the air about the state of the coverage is mostly situation normal.
| meebs | 01-24-2006 11:26 PM |
[QUOTE=cdvma]You are SADLY misinformed. Eurosport barely got the coverage rights from the FIA this year and BARELY got it in time for WRC Monaco. Speed uses the Eurosport coverage so Speed had no reason to put WRC in their lineup until recently. Lets hope they make room. If you wanna get pissed, get pissed at the FIA for being lemurs.[/QUOTE]
It would be sad if I was, but no actually. :rolleyes: I knew of the Eurosport issue, but the way speed has not commented on the situation means I can get pissed at them. Also it's still not on their schedule as of today, being two rallys behind is unacceptable. Eurosport FTW, I too care less about Speed's programming.
Back on topic, looking forward to Petter winning, he should be able to win this one.
It would be sad if I was, but no actually. :rolleyes: I knew of the Eurosport issue, but the way speed has not commented on the situation means I can get pissed at them. Also it's still not on their schedule as of today, being two rallys behind is unacceptable. Eurosport FTW, I too care less about Speed's programming.
Back on topic, looking forward to Petter winning, he should be able to win this one.
| Predwolf | 01-24-2006 11:33 PM |
:)
A;right, I'm putting the last rally behind me. GO PETTER!!!
Slide that beast like you've never slided it before!!
A;right, I'm putting the last rally behind me. GO PETTER!!!
Slide that beast like you've never slided it before!!
| Brabus | 01-25-2006 10:49 AM |
[QUOTE=meebs], being two rallys behind is unacceptable. [/QUOTE]
:confused: did I miss one?
:confused: did I miss one?
| gh32 | 01-25-2006 11:25 AM |
[QUOTE=WRXedUSA]Pfftt. Go to a club over there, oontz a bit, tell the first one you see that you are from Ooo Esss Ahh, and [SIZE=5][COLOR=Blue]*clamp* [/COLOR] [/SIZE] they are on you like Solberg on a Kangaroo.[/QUOTE]
:lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol:
| Bonzo | 01-25-2006 01:17 PM |
My favorite WRC event.
It looks like from the pic above they will have enough snow. That's important.
It looks like from the pic above they will have enough snow. That's important.
| ToddStratton | 01-25-2006 02:40 PM |
Hey Wrxed, I'll be there again this year....I'll PM you my handy #.
Nice to see the snow...maybe I should bring my snowshoes. It has been frigid here in my corner of Germany lately...
Seeya
Todd
Nice to see the snow...maybe I should bring my snowshoes. It has been frigid here in my corner of Germany lately...
Seeya
Todd
| WagonMonster | 01-25-2006 02:42 PM |
Part of me wants to just quit my job, hop on a plane, and go.
But I feel like that all the time.
But I feel like that all the time.
| WRXedUSA | 01-25-2006 02:56 PM |
[QUOTE=ToddStratton]Hey Wrxed, I'll be there again this year....I'll PM you my handy #.
Nice to see the snow...maybe I should bring my snowshoes. It has been frigid here in my corner of Germany lately...
Seeya
Todd[/QUOTE]
No prob. If we go out to that nasty pizza joint in Eksharad, I'll give you a ring.
:banana:
C'mon wagon, just one more rally this year!! :crymeariver: ;)
Nice to see the snow...maybe I should bring my snowshoes. It has been frigid here in my corner of Germany lately...
Seeya
Todd[/QUOTE]
No prob. If we go out to that nasty pizza joint in Eksharad, I'll give you a ring.
:banana:
C'mon wagon, just one more rally this year!! :crymeariver: ;)
| MPME | 01-26-2006 11:57 AM |
Playing off the WRC
�
�
Playing off the WRC
The Ford WRC team are adamant that the world rally needs a live TV action finale to every championship round, or it will face further extinction and decaying media interest. The rally purists reject the idea with disdain, but is it really such a bad one? Tim Redmayne weighs the arguments for and against
By Tim Redmayne
autosport.com's international news editor
Imagine using two balls in a soccer match. Imagine allowing 20 players per side in a rugby team. Imagine holding a two-hour Grand Prix only to then decide the winner by a one-lap race between the podium finishers.
Although the essence of the 'sport' remains unchanged, with these fake scenarios the fundamental dynamics dramatically change.
But if Ford have their way, something like this could actually happen to the World Rally Championship.
At last weekend's Monte Carlo Rally, Ford Team RS director Jost Captio firmly nailed the Blue Oval's mast to a radical plan to have a televised and meaningful superspecial stage to end each rally.
There are various ideas being suggested, but one variation on this 'meaningful' format means that a driver could enter the final stage with a comfortable two-minute lead in his pocket, yet still lose the rally.
The idea would be to line up the ninth and tenth placed runners in the superspecial to decide the ninth placed finisher in the rally. This would then be followed by match-ups for the seventh and eighth-placed drivers and so on, until the ultimate shoot-out - a play-off between the top two for the overall rally win itself.
There are other variations on that theme, but the idea is seriously being looked at. Radical? Yes. Bad idea? Not necessarily.
The idea of having play-off matches in a superspecial stage to decide rallies surfaced last September, but this was the first time a manufacturer has come out so strongly in favour of a format based on such an idea.
"It is important we increase the coverage of our events, and the only way to get an exciting live finish is to organise a superspecial with meaning to end the event," Capito says.
"There must be some decision rather than drivers just cruising round at the end. We need to find a way that respects rallying and keeps the sport of rallying as an endurance event, but it is important we change and have live television coverage on a Sunday."
Captio admits the practicalities of the idea have yet to be worked out, but any driver going into the superspecial with a lead could have it turned into a headstart in a superspecial.
"We need to work on the details and find a solution that people are happy with and the sport is respected," he adds. "But if the WRC is to survive as a top-level manufacturer and professional sport, then this idea is the only way for it to survive. We need exciting ends to rallies.
"What we can't do is make it too complicated to understand for the viewers. If you had a two-minute advantage over 200 km then that could equate to 0.6 seconds over 1km. Then over a 2km superspecial the green light for the second competitor could go on 1.2 seconds after the other one.
"Other ways could be to use brackets of time - say, between 30 seconds and a minute and the one and two minutes or whatever, and allow simply half a second advantage for every bracket they cross.
"I'm confident that something will be introduced at some time in the future. Maybe 2007 is too fast and we would need some trials this year, but maybe it is the right time to introduce it when it becomes a winter series in 2007/2008. But I think it will happen eventually."
Rallying will always survive on the world stage but with manufacturers dropping out like flies, now is a crucial time to decide whether the WRC continues as a professional or privateer sport.
The way other global spectator sports have grown in the modern era puts rallying in the shade. Multi-million dollar contracts are negotiated worldwide for the televising of soccer matches and Formula One. The World Cup and the Olympics are the most viewed events on television around the world.
WRC events, spread out over three days and many kilometres of stages, make it extremely difficult to cover and be a viable commercial proposition for television. Despite relatively recent switches to centralised service parks and the soon to be introduced winter season, the WRC just doesn't generate the worldwide media attention in the same league as other top league sporting world championships.
It can be argued that if the WRC ever has ambitions of coming close to the worldwide audience of these sports, then radical change must be made.
A superspecial play-off idea could alienate a handful of hardened rally fans, but that would have to be weighed up against the benefits of the live coverage and drama that would be created, bringing more fans and therefore manufacturers and prestige into the sport.
NASCAR offers one recent example of how radical change, despite initial fears, has helped increase television viewership and interest. In 2004, the American racing series tried something just as radical to decide how its title was won over 36 races.
There was unrest in 2003 when the consistency-rewarding points' system meant that Matt Kenseth (with one victory) cruised to clinch the title early rather than Ryan Newman (with eight victories). So series organisers changed the rules for 2004, to guarantee an exciting title race.
With ten races to go, the top ten drivers now have their points reset and compete in a mini series - called the Chase for the Cup - to decide the overall champion.
There was public outcry when the idea was first suggested. Many thought the sanctity of the sport had been broken by the then-new sponsor Nextel. The system meant that a driver with a seemingly unassailable championship lead could have it wiped out with ten races to go and be beaten to the flag by someone who scraped into 10th place.
But it turned out to be a success. Viewing figures went through the roof, and interest was formed at the usually quieter parts of the season when people were switching off. There now was a Chase 'qualifying' element to the first 26 races, and everyone was interested in who would make the final ten. Then there was the Chase itself, which went down to the final lap of the 2004 season.
Because of Sebastien Loeb's dominance, there were many WRC events last year when anyone could switch off and lose interest. But a superspecial on Sunday afternoon could, just like the Chase did with NASCAR, provide interest where they isn't any.
David Lapworth, Capito's counterpart at Subaru, urges some caution with the play-off idea, however.
"A live TV spectacle would be good for the sport," Lapworth says, "but there are still a lot of questions to ask. This idea is such a radical one that it will need careful thinking and regulation, otherwise we will have cars built purely to run on that superspecial, which would push the costs up. It would require special tactics and tyres.
"If we could get a sponsor to put up a trophy and a cash prize for the best driver over the year on the televised superspecials, then that is an idea worth looking at.
"The play-off idea is extreme and doesn't fit with the sporting purity of rallying. If we are going to use the play-off idea, then an idea of only having the play-offs for drivers within certain timeframes is worth looking at.
"If a driver had a lead of more than a minute then they could keep that win, but if they were only out front by ten seconds, then the other driver behind had earned the right to play off against them.
"You can't deny that a play-off would provide drama, and people want to watch drama on television. We may hate penalty shoot-outs (in soccer) but nobody goes to turn the kettle on during them. But penalties are not used when someone has won by 4-0. They are only used to settle draws, and I like the idea of that being true in rallying."
Whatever the sport decides to do about this, the drivers need to be onside. The last thing the WRC needs is a revolt from its biggest stars who don't want to change how they compete on a Sunday afternoon.
When the play-off idea was first suggested, back in September 2005, Sebastian Loeb said: "This is not what the sport is about. There would be zero reason to fight on the proper stages if the rally is going to be decided on two kilometres in a stadium or something like that."
Marcus Gronholm then also publicly denounced the idea, but now as Ford driver, his opinion has changed, according to Capito. "Marcus didn't like the idea initially but we have spoken about it now and he also sees it as a necessity," Captio adds. "I explained it all to him and he went away to think about it and he agrees that this is the leading solution to increase the value of the championship."
To implement such a meaningful superspecial will be brave and will require the unanimous support from all factions of the sport.
But to dismiss the current wave of ideas would be unwise. The purists will still have three days of regular rallying to enjoy, and it is just a question of how such an idea devalues the nature of the competition.
A live superspecial shoot-out for victory is not exactly rallying as we know it, but who would be turning their television off?
The Ford WRC team are adamant that the world rally needs a live TV action finale to every championship round, or it will face further extinction and decaying media interest. The rally purists reject the idea with disdain, but is it really such a bad one? Tim Redmayne weighs the arguments for and against
By Tim Redmayne
autosport.com's international news editor
Imagine using two balls in a soccer match. Imagine allowing 20 players per side in a rugby team. Imagine holding a two-hour Grand Prix only to then decide the winner by a one-lap race between the podium finishers.
Although the essence of the 'sport' remains unchanged, with these fake scenarios the fundamental dynamics dramatically change.
But if Ford have their way, something like this could actually happen to the World Rally Championship.
At last weekend's Monte Carlo Rally, Ford Team RS director Jost Captio firmly nailed the Blue Oval's mast to a radical plan to have a televised and meaningful superspecial stage to end each rally.
There are various ideas being suggested, but one variation on this 'meaningful' format means that a driver could enter the final stage with a comfortable two-minute lead in his pocket, yet still lose the rally.
The idea would be to line up the ninth and tenth placed runners in the superspecial to decide the ninth placed finisher in the rally. This would then be followed by match-ups for the seventh and eighth-placed drivers and so on, until the ultimate shoot-out - a play-off between the top two for the overall rally win itself.
There are other variations on that theme, but the idea is seriously being looked at. Radical? Yes. Bad idea? Not necessarily.
The idea of having play-off matches in a superspecial stage to decide rallies surfaced last September, but this was the first time a manufacturer has come out so strongly in favour of a format based on such an idea.
"It is important we increase the coverage of our events, and the only way to get an exciting live finish is to organise a superspecial with meaning to end the event," Capito says.
"There must be some decision rather than drivers just cruising round at the end. We need to find a way that respects rallying and keeps the sport of rallying as an endurance event, but it is important we change and have live television coverage on a Sunday."
Captio admits the practicalities of the idea have yet to be worked out, but any driver going into the superspecial with a lead could have it turned into a headstart in a superspecial.
"We need to work on the details and find a solution that people are happy with and the sport is respected," he adds. "But if the WRC is to survive as a top-level manufacturer and professional sport, then this idea is the only way for it to survive. We need exciting ends to rallies.
"What we can't do is make it too complicated to understand for the viewers. If you had a two-minute advantage over 200 km then that could equate to 0.6 seconds over 1km. Then over a 2km superspecial the green light for the second competitor could go on 1.2 seconds after the other one.
"Other ways could be to use brackets of time - say, between 30 seconds and a minute and the one and two minutes or whatever, and allow simply half a second advantage for every bracket they cross.
"I'm confident that something will be introduced at some time in the future. Maybe 2007 is too fast and we would need some trials this year, but maybe it is the right time to introduce it when it becomes a winter series in 2007/2008. But I think it will happen eventually."
Rallying will always survive on the world stage but with manufacturers dropping out like flies, now is a crucial time to decide whether the WRC continues as a professional or privateer sport.
The way other global spectator sports have grown in the modern era puts rallying in the shade. Multi-million dollar contracts are negotiated worldwide for the televising of soccer matches and Formula One. The World Cup and the Olympics are the most viewed events on television around the world.
WRC events, spread out over three days and many kilometres of stages, make it extremely difficult to cover and be a viable commercial proposition for television. Despite relatively recent switches to centralised service parks and the soon to be introduced winter season, the WRC just doesn't generate the worldwide media attention in the same league as other top league sporting world championships.
It can be argued that if the WRC ever has ambitions of coming close to the worldwide audience of these sports, then radical change must be made.
A superspecial play-off idea could alienate a handful of hardened rally fans, but that would have to be weighed up against the benefits of the live coverage and drama that would be created, bringing more fans and therefore manufacturers and prestige into the sport.
NASCAR offers one recent example of how radical change, despite initial fears, has helped increase television viewership and interest. In 2004, the American racing series tried something just as radical to decide how its title was won over 36 races.
There was unrest in 2003 when the consistency-rewarding points' system meant that Matt Kenseth (with one victory) cruised to clinch the title early rather than Ryan Newman (with eight victories). So series organisers changed the rules for 2004, to guarantee an exciting title race.
With ten races to go, the top ten drivers now have their points reset and compete in a mini series - called the Chase for the Cup - to decide the overall champion.
There was public outcry when the idea was first suggested. Many thought the sanctity of the sport had been broken by the then-new sponsor Nextel. The system meant that a driver with a seemingly unassailable championship lead could have it wiped out with ten races to go and be beaten to the flag by someone who scraped into 10th place.
But it turned out to be a success. Viewing figures went through the roof, and interest was formed at the usually quieter parts of the season when people were switching off. There now was a Chase 'qualifying' element to the first 26 races, and everyone was interested in who would make the final ten. Then there was the Chase itself, which went down to the final lap of the 2004 season.
Because of Sebastien Loeb's dominance, there were many WRC events last year when anyone could switch off and lose interest. But a superspecial on Sunday afternoon could, just like the Chase did with NASCAR, provide interest where they isn't any.
David Lapworth, Capito's counterpart at Subaru, urges some caution with the play-off idea, however.
"A live TV spectacle would be good for the sport," Lapworth says, "but there are still a lot of questions to ask. This idea is such a radical one that it will need careful thinking and regulation, otherwise we will have cars built purely to run on that superspecial, which would push the costs up. It would require special tactics and tyres.
"If we could get a sponsor to put up a trophy and a cash prize for the best driver over the year on the televised superspecials, then that is an idea worth looking at.
"The play-off idea is extreme and doesn't fit with the sporting purity of rallying. If we are going to use the play-off idea, then an idea of only having the play-offs for drivers within certain timeframes is worth looking at.
"If a driver had a lead of more than a minute then they could keep that win, but if they were only out front by ten seconds, then the other driver behind had earned the right to play off against them.
"You can't deny that a play-off would provide drama, and people want to watch drama on television. We may hate penalty shoot-outs (in soccer) but nobody goes to turn the kettle on during them. But penalties are not used when someone has won by 4-0. They are only used to settle draws, and I like the idea of that being true in rallying."
Whatever the sport decides to do about this, the drivers need to be onside. The last thing the WRC needs is a revolt from its biggest stars who don't want to change how they compete on a Sunday afternoon.
When the play-off idea was first suggested, back in September 2005, Sebastian Loeb said: "This is not what the sport is about. There would be zero reason to fight on the proper stages if the rally is going to be decided on two kilometres in a stadium or something like that."
Marcus Gronholm then also publicly denounced the idea, but now as Ford driver, his opinion has changed, according to Capito. "Marcus didn't like the idea initially but we have spoken about it now and he also sees it as a necessity," Captio adds. "I explained it all to him and he went away to think about it and he agrees that this is the leading solution to increase the value of the championship."
To implement such a meaningful superspecial will be brave and will require the unanimous support from all factions of the sport.
But to dismiss the current wave of ideas would be unwise. The purists will still have three days of regular rallying to enjoy, and it is just a question of how such an idea devalues the nature of the competition.
A live superspecial shoot-out for victory is not exactly rallying as we know it, but who would be turning their television off?
| TimStevens | 01-26-2006 12:15 PM |
What's the weather report right now? Is this going to be a true snow rally this year and not a mud rally?
| WRXedUSA | 01-26-2006 12:23 PM |
^^^^ That idea is plain retarded. Wow, they really got Gronholm by the balls.
<---- Wants to see a return to GroupN as the top class.
<---- Wants to see a return to GroupN as the top class.
| WRXedUSA | 01-26-2006 12:25 PM |
[QUOTE=TimStevens]What's the weather report right now? Is this going to be a true snow rally this year and not a mud rally?[/QUOTE]
Clickar har: [url]http://www.rallysport.se/vinter06b.htm[/url]
Clickar har: [url]http://www.rallysport.se/vinter06b.htm[/url]
| TimStevens | 01-26-2006 12:31 PM |
[QUOTE=WRXedUSA]Clickar har: [url]http://www.rallysport.se/vinter06b.htm[/url][/QUOTE]
Oontz!
Oontz!
| WagonMonster | 01-26-2006 12:32 PM |
That's some funky looking mud.
| dakwrx | 01-27-2006 01:19 PM |
great idea!
�
�
Yeah! that rally ending superspecial to decide the overall winner is a great idea!
They can hold it in a large stadium forming the track into a large oval shape so all the fans can see the players really well, and the cars can all race around turning left. In a couple years they can eliminate all the cost of shipping the cars and teams to all the rally stages and just concentrate on the stadium events!
It can be called RALCAR!
Git 'r done!!
(sarcasm)
:furious:
They can hold it in a large stadium forming the track into a large oval shape so all the fans can see the players really well, and the cars can all race around turning left. In a couple years they can eliminate all the cost of shipping the cars and teams to all the rally stages and just concentrate on the stadium events!
It can be called RALCAR!
Git 'r done!!
(sarcasm)
:furious:
| ralliharri | 01-27-2006 04:58 PM |
[QUOTE=asquaredrex]I'll be in Norway at that time... wonder if it's on at the bars. Maybe they'll break into the "We love you Petter Soleberg" song?[/QUOTE]
Petter Solberg is one of the most popular sportsmen in Norway (after some of the crosscountry skiers) and 90% of the population in Sweden knows about the Swedish Rally so yes, I think you'll find the WRC event on bars in Norway...lucky....
Petter Solberg is one of the most popular sportsmen in Norway (after some of the crosscountry skiers) and 90% of the population in Sweden knows about the Swedish Rally so yes, I think you'll find the WRC event on bars in Norway...lucky....
| ralliharri | 01-27-2006 05:01 PM |
[QUOTE=WRXedUSA]Clickar har: [url]http://www.rallysport.se/vinter06b.htm[/url][/QUOTE]
mmmm....makes me a little homesick...buddies renting a house in Karlstad for the event...
mmmm....makes me a little homesick...buddies renting a house in Karlstad for the event...
| MPME | 01-27-2006 11:24 PM |
Swedish Rally - Preview
�
�
Swedish Rally - Preview
Posted by: kak on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 09:58 PM
Next week the FIA World Rally Championship will swap the French Riviera for the snow-bound forests of southern Scandinavia when it heads to Sweden for round two of the 16-round series, the Swedish Rally. The event, commencing with a ceremonial start on Thursday 2 February from its base in the small university town of Karlstad, is the only true winter rally in the WRC. While it's not unusual for temperatures in the area to plummet to minus 30�C at this time of year, full snow conditions are by no means guaranteed. Last year the event was run in relatively mild conditions, giving a real mix of road conditions, including snow, ice and sections of frozen gravel.
The Swedish Rally remains a specialist event that demands a totally different approach from other rallies. With top speeds approaching 200kph, the ability to use the snow banks is essential and drivers 'lean' their cars against them on the exits of fast corners to help guide them round at maximum speed. To increase the grip, cars are run on narrow snow tyres fitted with tungsten carbide tipped studs that cut down through the icy surface to provide maximum traction. Local knowledge of the conditions still counts for a lot though - in fact only one non-Scandinavian driver has won the event in the last 53 years.
Following the start in Karlstad on Thursday evening, the competitive action gets underway on Friday morning at 0650hrs with a 10 minute service before the first of Leg one's six stages. The rally includes 19 special stages and a competitive distance of 349,02km, four stages fewer than 2005. The total route is also 300km shorter this year. The event will conclude on Sunday at 1502hrs when the winning car crosses the finish ramp back in Karlstad.
Entries
The Subaru World Rally Team will enter two Impreza WRC2006 cars in the Swedish Rally. Having contested the event seven times in previous years, Petter Solberg finally achieved his dream of winning the rally he considers his 'home' event last year. He is aiming to repeat the win this year.
Chris Atkinson will drive the second car, his first competitive outing in the Impreza WRC2006. Chris made his Swedish Rally debut last year, his first rally with the Subaru team.
Driver Quotes
Petter Solberg: "At the moment it's very exciting to see how the car and set-up perform in competitive conditions. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to show how good the car was in Monte Carlo, but the feeling is good. I hope we have a good chance to get the same result as last year in Sweden. This would just be brilliant as there will be a lot of people I know and a lot of support from Norway. I view this rally just like Rally Japan - as my home event."
Chris Atkinson: "We're obviously looking forward to the Swedish Rally, as it's one of the most enjoyable rallies of the year for a driver. However it's still a specialist event and although we'll be aiming for a good result, we'll still have to tread carefully. This will be my first rally with the new car, although I got a good feel for it when we tested in Sweden earlier this year. I'm quite happy with the performance but we've got a lot more learning to do. For this rally, a realistic goal is to get in the top six. There will be a lot of local drivers who know the conditions and roads well, however we'll aim to be towards the front."
The Car / The Challenge
Subaru World Rally Team Performance Director, David Lapworth: "In many respects, the hardest part is preparation. This is the only rally of the year that takes place in full snow conditions with winter temperatures to match and there is a lot of work that's exclusive to just this event, for instance, making sure that components and seals work in the low temperatures and don't ice up. Bizarrely enough, overheating is a big problem in Sweden as the radiator can become blocked with snow. A few degrees above or below zero can make a huge difference to the conditions and since teams are only allowed to test for four days, you'd need to be very lucky to experience every eventuality. In this case, we draw on the experience of previous years.
To add to this, the tyres we use in Sweden are completely unique and, in reality, we prepare a range of tyres for just this rally. The tyres are very tall and narrow with long studs, which stick out from the tyre by as much as 8mm. This gives much more grip than you would expect on snow, but the car is still much less precise and doesn't respond as quickly as when it's on slicks on tarmac. On the other hand, it's much more forgiving and you can put it into lovely long slides, steering mostly with the brakes and the throttle. Great fun, once you relax!
The challenges of this rally are compounded as the conditions of the road can vary massively. The hardest point is if there hasn't been any snow or ice and the gravel is showing through - it can rip the studs out of the tyres and if you lose them there is a big impact on performance. When you start to lose studs, you start to lose grip as 90% of it comes from the studs, not from the tyre itself. Temperatures have got relatively mild in recent years, so we could see the patches of gravel showing through again this year. In fact Petter won the rally last year as he looked after his tyres better on the stages where there was a lot of exposed gravel.
The average speed of the rally is quite high: at approximately 120kph it's probably the second fastest after Finland, but the top speed can reach 200kph in places where they're flat out in sixth gear. The grip level from tyres is much higher than you would expect, but still relatively low compared to every other rally so you end up compromising the high speed slightly and running the car reasonably soft, looking for grip.
Petter's goal this year is to win the rally. As far as we can tell from the variable conditions in Monte Carlo, we're pleased with the new car's performance. There are so many different factors in that event - tyres, conditions, driver - that it's difficult to draw absolutely objective conclusions about the cars. From what we could see, and from our analysis of split times and knowing who's on which tyre at what time, we think we're very competitive. Chris has one year's experience of the rally behind him, but he's not a Scandinavian so he hasn't grown up on snow and ice, and a podium could be asking a lot. He can, nevertheless, make the top six, as he showed last year that he can go fast when conditions are predictable. He can't seriously challenge the experienced Scandinavians, but he will be close."
Between the Rallies
Since the close of Rallye Monte Carlo Petter Solberg has been spending time relaxing with his family - but this hasn't been a holiday! Petter has been looking through statistics from Sweden last year in preparation for this year's event and training to be on top form for the harsh Swedish weather. Petter then flew to Sicily to join the test team for two days of development work with the new Impreza WRC2006.
When we spoke with Chris Atkinson he was sitting in the back of the Subaru World Rally Team test truck in Sicily where the team were developing the new Impreza WRC2006. Chris flew directly to Sicily after the end of the Monte Carlo rally to observe the test and learn more about the handling and performance of the new Impreza in advance of his first competitive outing in the car in Sweden. To get over to Sweden, Chris was hoping to find a spare seat on Petter's plane...
Posted by: kak on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 09:58 PM
Next week the FIA World Rally Championship will swap the French Riviera for the snow-bound forests of southern Scandinavia when it heads to Sweden for round two of the 16-round series, the Swedish Rally. The event, commencing with a ceremonial start on Thursday 2 February from its base in the small university town of Karlstad, is the only true winter rally in the WRC. While it's not unusual for temperatures in the area to plummet to minus 30�C at this time of year, full snow conditions are by no means guaranteed. Last year the event was run in relatively mild conditions, giving a real mix of road conditions, including snow, ice and sections of frozen gravel.
The Swedish Rally remains a specialist event that demands a totally different approach from other rallies. With top speeds approaching 200kph, the ability to use the snow banks is essential and drivers 'lean' their cars against them on the exits of fast corners to help guide them round at maximum speed. To increase the grip, cars are run on narrow snow tyres fitted with tungsten carbide tipped studs that cut down through the icy surface to provide maximum traction. Local knowledge of the conditions still counts for a lot though - in fact only one non-Scandinavian driver has won the event in the last 53 years.
Following the start in Karlstad on Thursday evening, the competitive action gets underway on Friday morning at 0650hrs with a 10 minute service before the first of Leg one's six stages. The rally includes 19 special stages and a competitive distance of 349,02km, four stages fewer than 2005. The total route is also 300km shorter this year. The event will conclude on Sunday at 1502hrs when the winning car crosses the finish ramp back in Karlstad.
Entries
The Subaru World Rally Team will enter two Impreza WRC2006 cars in the Swedish Rally. Having contested the event seven times in previous years, Petter Solberg finally achieved his dream of winning the rally he considers his 'home' event last year. He is aiming to repeat the win this year.
Chris Atkinson will drive the second car, his first competitive outing in the Impreza WRC2006. Chris made his Swedish Rally debut last year, his first rally with the Subaru team.
Driver Quotes
Petter Solberg: "At the moment it's very exciting to see how the car and set-up perform in competitive conditions. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to show how good the car was in Monte Carlo, but the feeling is good. I hope we have a good chance to get the same result as last year in Sweden. This would just be brilliant as there will be a lot of people I know and a lot of support from Norway. I view this rally just like Rally Japan - as my home event."
Chris Atkinson: "We're obviously looking forward to the Swedish Rally, as it's one of the most enjoyable rallies of the year for a driver. However it's still a specialist event and although we'll be aiming for a good result, we'll still have to tread carefully. This will be my first rally with the new car, although I got a good feel for it when we tested in Sweden earlier this year. I'm quite happy with the performance but we've got a lot more learning to do. For this rally, a realistic goal is to get in the top six. There will be a lot of local drivers who know the conditions and roads well, however we'll aim to be towards the front."
The Car / The Challenge
Subaru World Rally Team Performance Director, David Lapworth: "In many respects, the hardest part is preparation. This is the only rally of the year that takes place in full snow conditions with winter temperatures to match and there is a lot of work that's exclusive to just this event, for instance, making sure that components and seals work in the low temperatures and don't ice up. Bizarrely enough, overheating is a big problem in Sweden as the radiator can become blocked with snow. A few degrees above or below zero can make a huge difference to the conditions and since teams are only allowed to test for four days, you'd need to be very lucky to experience every eventuality. In this case, we draw on the experience of previous years.
To add to this, the tyres we use in Sweden are completely unique and, in reality, we prepare a range of tyres for just this rally. The tyres are very tall and narrow with long studs, which stick out from the tyre by as much as 8mm. This gives much more grip than you would expect on snow, but the car is still much less precise and doesn't respond as quickly as when it's on slicks on tarmac. On the other hand, it's much more forgiving and you can put it into lovely long slides, steering mostly with the brakes and the throttle. Great fun, once you relax!
The challenges of this rally are compounded as the conditions of the road can vary massively. The hardest point is if there hasn't been any snow or ice and the gravel is showing through - it can rip the studs out of the tyres and if you lose them there is a big impact on performance. When you start to lose studs, you start to lose grip as 90% of it comes from the studs, not from the tyre itself. Temperatures have got relatively mild in recent years, so we could see the patches of gravel showing through again this year. In fact Petter won the rally last year as he looked after his tyres better on the stages where there was a lot of exposed gravel.
The average speed of the rally is quite high: at approximately 120kph it's probably the second fastest after Finland, but the top speed can reach 200kph in places where they're flat out in sixth gear. The grip level from tyres is much higher than you would expect, but still relatively low compared to every other rally so you end up compromising the high speed slightly and running the car reasonably soft, looking for grip.
Petter's goal this year is to win the rally. As far as we can tell from the variable conditions in Monte Carlo, we're pleased with the new car's performance. There are so many different factors in that event - tyres, conditions, driver - that it's difficult to draw absolutely objective conclusions about the cars. From what we could see, and from our analysis of split times and knowing who's on which tyre at what time, we think we're very competitive. Chris has one year's experience of the rally behind him, but he's not a Scandinavian so he hasn't grown up on snow and ice, and a podium could be asking a lot. He can, nevertheless, make the top six, as he showed last year that he can go fast when conditions are predictable. He can't seriously challenge the experienced Scandinavians, but he will be close."
Between the Rallies
Since the close of Rallye Monte Carlo Petter Solberg has been spending time relaxing with his family - but this hasn't been a holiday! Petter has been looking through statistics from Sweden last year in preparation for this year's event and training to be on top form for the harsh Swedish weather. Petter then flew to Sicily to join the test team for two days of development work with the new Impreza WRC2006.
When we spoke with Chris Atkinson he was sitting in the back of the Subaru World Rally Team test truck in Sicily where the team were developing the new Impreza WRC2006. Chris flew directly to Sicily after the end of the Monte Carlo rally to observe the test and learn more about the handling and performance of the new Impreza in advance of his first competitive outing in the car in Sweden. To get over to Sweden, Chris was hoping to find a spare seat on Petter's plane...
| WRXedUSA | 01-29-2006 02:04 PM |
[url]http://murallying.xhosting.cz/foto_video/test_na_swedish_rally_-_crt_skoda_-_kopecky/ipage00005.htm[/url]
^^^ Skoda Testing.
[url]http://www.rallysport.se/vinter06f.htm[/url]
^^^ Colin's Crest
More wintry pictures!!!
^^^ Skoda Testing.
[url]http://www.rallysport.se/vinter06f.htm[/url]
^^^ Colin's Crest
More wintry pictures!!!
| SparkysJDMSpeedWagon | 01-29-2006 02:26 PM |
[QUOTE=WRXedUSA]^^^^ That idea is plain retarded. Wow, they really got Gronholm by the balls.
<---- Wants to see a return to GroupN as the top class.[/QUOTE]
They're only promoting the rally ending superspecial because they know that Gronholm will almost always be in the top 2 places. So, they can be 5+ minutes behind Loeb (hell, if it wasn't for his 5-minute penalty after Day 1 of Monte, he would have won by over 4 minutes) and luck out by beating him in the final round, then claim victory. They might as well have a qualifying round, then their superspecial and be done with it. Talk about some watered-down competition. Ford has been in rally longer than any of the other manufacturers; they should know that the appeal of rally-racing is that 1) the race takes all weekend, and 2) the race is in all sorts of dangerous and uncontrolled environments. I liked the random stadium event they had in GB Wales (IIRC) last year, but it would be a sham to use it as a finale, especially if they toss out the driver's times beforehand.
<---- Wants to see a return to GroupN as the top class.[/QUOTE]
They're only promoting the rally ending superspecial because they know that Gronholm will almost always be in the top 2 places. So, they can be 5+ minutes behind Loeb (hell, if it wasn't for his 5-minute penalty after Day 1 of Monte, he would have won by over 4 minutes) and luck out by beating him in the final round, then claim victory. They might as well have a qualifying round, then their superspecial and be done with it. Talk about some watered-down competition. Ford has been in rally longer than any of the other manufacturers; they should know that the appeal of rally-racing is that 1) the race takes all weekend, and 2) the race is in all sorts of dangerous and uncontrolled environments. I liked the random stadium event they had in GB Wales (IIRC) last year, but it would be a sham to use it as a finale, especially if they toss out the driver's times beforehand.
| WRXedUSA | 01-29-2006 11:22 PM |
The thing about Ford is, they have had thier eyes on the manufacturer title for some time. They want it more than anything else. I can see them winning out and quitting. They have been budget bitching every year lately.
| WagonMonster | 01-29-2006 11:32 PM |
Personally, I wouldn't mind if it went all to privateers.
After Monte Carlo, I can say it's been MORE exciting than before.
After Monte Carlo, I can say it's been MORE exciting than before.
| MPME | 01-30-2006 01:29 PM |
GOOOOOD News: Regis stands down from FIA role
�
�
Regis stands down from FIA role
By Jonathan Noble January 30th 2006, 16:37 GMT
The President of the FIA's World Rally Championship Commission, Jacques Regis, has decided to stand down from his position, the sport's governing body announced on Monday.
Regis took over the role in December 2004, and his decision comes against the backdrop of declining manufacturer interest in the rally championship. A successor has not yet been appointed.
A statement from the FIA said: "Mr. Regis will continue in the role until the next meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council which will be help in Paris on March 22."
At the end of last year, Regis said he was determined to increase the profile of the WRC and keep costs down in the bid to attract manufacturers back to the series.
"Our main objective is to make the championship more accessible and to increase the media coverage," he said.
"A number of things have already changed, so that from 2006, costs will be reduced and the championship will be open to a greater number of teams and drivers, and that the media impact, a project which we are working on in collaboration with the ISC, can be more increased throughout the world.
"Concerning the regulations, it is important that the rules remain stable. We hope that thanks to our efforts, other new manufacturers will accompany Citroen on their return in 2007."
By Jonathan Noble January 30th 2006, 16:37 GMT
The President of the FIA's World Rally Championship Commission, Jacques Regis, has decided to stand down from his position, the sport's governing body announced on Monday.
Regis took over the role in December 2004, and his decision comes against the backdrop of declining manufacturer interest in the rally championship. A successor has not yet been appointed.
A statement from the FIA said: "Mr. Regis will continue in the role until the next meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council which will be help in Paris on March 22."
At the end of last year, Regis said he was determined to increase the profile of the WRC and keep costs down in the bid to attract manufacturers back to the series.
"Our main objective is to make the championship more accessible and to increase the media coverage," he said.
"A number of things have already changed, so that from 2006, costs will be reduced and the championship will be open to a greater number of teams and drivers, and that the media impact, a project which we are working on in collaboration with the ISC, can be more increased throughout the world.
"Concerning the regulations, it is important that the rules remain stable. We hope that thanks to our efforts, other new manufacturers will accompany Citroen on their return in 2007."
| Chromer | 01-30-2006 01:57 PM |
[QUOTE=MPME]drivers, and that the media impact, a project which we are working on in collaboration with the ISC, can be more increased throughout the world.[/QUOTE]
Translation: We want to be on TV in America on a channel with more viewers than "Speed."
Translation: We want to be on TV in America on a channel with more viewers than "Speed."
| WRXedUSA | 01-30-2006 03:06 PM |
[QUOTE=Chromer]Translation: We want to be on TV in America on a channel with more viewers than "Speed."[/QUOTE]
Pretty much.
Not promoting your world wide sport in the largest, most lucrative market in the world = teh lose.
Pretty much.
Not promoting your world wide sport in the largest, most lucrative market in the world = teh lose.
| MPME | 01-30-2006 05:37 PM |
Lapworth: Solberg can win in Sweden
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Lapworth: Solberg can win in Sweden
By Tim Redmayne January 30th 2006, 17:34 GMT
Subaru chief David Lapworth believes Petter Solberg can repeat his famous victory from last season in the Rally of Sweden next weekend.
Last year Solberg was involved in an epic fight for victory with Finn Marcus Gronholm. The lead swapped hands six times between the pair during the three days, but Gronholm crashed trying to catch Solberg up on the final day.
Lapworth believes that, despite Solberg's retirement in the season-opening Rally Monte Carlo, he still has the potential to win the championship's only snow event.
"We can definitely win Sweden again, depending on the snow and tread pattern of our tyres," Lapworth told autosport.com. "If the conditions suit Petter, we can win and I'm confident he can win.
"Last year was a good battle, but Petter always believed the rally was his. He had it won even though Marcus wasn't too far behind. He wasn't concerned."
By Tim Redmayne January 30th 2006, 17:34 GMT
Subaru chief David Lapworth believes Petter Solberg can repeat his famous victory from last season in the Rally of Sweden next weekend.
Last year Solberg was involved in an epic fight for victory with Finn Marcus Gronholm. The lead swapped hands six times between the pair during the three days, but Gronholm crashed trying to catch Solberg up on the final day.
Lapworth believes that, despite Solberg's retirement in the season-opening Rally Monte Carlo, he still has the potential to win the championship's only snow event.
"We can definitely win Sweden again, depending on the snow and tread pattern of our tyres," Lapworth told autosport.com. "If the conditions suit Petter, we can win and I'm confident he can win.
"Last year was a good battle, but Petter always believed the rally was his. He had it won even though Marcus wasn't too far behind. He wasn't concerned."
| MPME | 01-30-2006 05:38 PM |
Traffic woes threaten Monte rally
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Traffic woes threaten Monte rally
By David Evans January 30th 2006, 17:30 GMT
The Rally Monte Carlo could be cancelled if the organisers of the event do not satisfy the requirements of an FIA investigation, according to this week's Autosport magazine.
Traffic problem at the principality last weekend lead the majority of the competitors to miss four stages.
The problems began when spectators parked cars on both sides of the road and walked into the opening stage of the event.
The D2205 road became blocked when there was not enough room for two buses to pass. Eleven competitors made it into the stage before the blockage, but the rest were trapped behind.
By the time the road was cleared, spectators were walking out of the stage and it was deemed too dangerous to run at competitive speed.
The second test was cancelled again after 11 competitors had already run, while the third was cancelled for all. Stage 11, on Leg Two, was cancelled to all crews for the same reason.
No comment was made from the FIA, but a source inside the sport's governing body told Autosport: "This was a very difficult situation. We want some answers about why this happened. There has to be an investigation into this.
"I'm sure this won't happen again but, if it does, it's not going to look good for this rally. I'm sure organisers will do everything they can to sort it out."
By David Evans January 30th 2006, 17:30 GMT
The Rally Monte Carlo could be cancelled if the organisers of the event do not satisfy the requirements of an FIA investigation, according to this week's Autosport magazine.
Traffic problem at the principality last weekend lead the majority of the competitors to miss four stages.
The problems began when spectators parked cars on both sides of the road and walked into the opening stage of the event.
The D2205 road became blocked when there was not enough room for two buses to pass. Eleven competitors made it into the stage before the blockage, but the rest were trapped behind.
By the time the road was cleared, spectators were walking out of the stage and it was deemed too dangerous to run at competitive speed.
The second test was cancelled again after 11 competitors had already run, while the third was cancelled for all. Stage 11, on Leg Two, was cancelled to all crews for the same reason.
No comment was made from the FIA, but a source inside the sport's governing body told Autosport: "This was a very difficult situation. We want some answers about why this happened. There has to be an investigation into this.
"I'm sure this won't happen again but, if it does, it's not going to look good for this rally. I'm sure organisers will do everything they can to sort it out."
| Rallycarperson | 01-30-2006 09:32 PM |
Hope this will be a great rally...
My predictions:
1. Gronholm
2. Solberg
3. Loeb
I don't think Loeb will be as fast as Gronholm and Solberg on snow. But as usual, Im mostly wrong about him...so...:D
~Mark
My predictions:
1. Gronholm
2. Solberg
3. Loeb
I don't think Loeb will be as fast as Gronholm and Solberg on snow. But as usual, Im mostly wrong about him...so...:D
~Mark
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