wrc ?

JAMES VTI S

what happened this once AWSOME sport

i was big into wrc a few years ago when colin was on form, richard burns was still alive when carlos sainz hit the spectators

WOW they ware the days

but WTF happened

no subaru, mitsu, peugeot, Hyundai, Seat and then there that french guy :eek: C,mon

it dose not feel as respected as it was its a pitty

ford and france thats no sport

JAMES VTI S

oh and ken block :pac:

De Hipster

WRC is still going well...just not in this part of the world.

Without getting into the politics & mud-slinging WRC Rally Ireland was a highly lauded event with safety and stages deservedly applauded and praised by all from spectators to teams to competitors.

However from a tourism perspective it was ultimately an organisational nightmare - the host regions charged absorbedent rates, fleecing fans for everything from accommodation, snacks, parking, wellies...to enforced park & ride (locals not event organisers) where the local GAA club reaped the benefits.

Ireland's toe-dipped into WRC greatness accumulated losses of €145,164. (see here: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/kfmhsnqlkfsn/rss2/)


Other reason why WRC isn't as it was...I would say the banning of GroupB was the beginning of the end of one of the most exhilarating, spectatular and dangerous sports of all time. But a wise decision nonetheless perhaps.

2012 WRC - If you're talking about the lack of coverage and promotion... then, the issues with the promotional company 'North One Sport' going under and the antics of the FIA's messing about for the 2012 season which resulted in each host nation sourcing their own local coverage did nothing to help.

There is a pretty good article & backstory here: http://openpaddock.net/2012/01/21/rally-wrc-promotion-contract-how-it-all-went-wrong/

Rally – WRC Promotion Contract: How It All Went Wrong

Posted by Doug Patterson on Saturday, January 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment

At the beginning of this month, the World Rally Championship was thrown into enormous turmoil after the FIA prematurely terminated its contract with promotor North One Sport. The sequence of events that lead up to this is rather convoluted, but let’s see if we can’t untangle the mess that ended up with the premier rally series in the world, the WRC, making its triumphant return to the premier rally in the world, the Rallye Monte-Carlo.

Arrival of North One Sport and Convers Sports Initiatives
In 2009, North One Sport, a subsidiary of North One Television, signed a long-term deal with the FIA to promote the WRC until 2020. Things started out smoothly, and we even got rally coverage (albeit delayed) here in the States on Discovery HD Theater. Good news for us, and it was great to see rally back on the television here. Unfortunately, North One Sport lost money on the WRC promotion deal and was suffering in the beginning of 2011. Coming to the rescue, so to speak, was Convers Sports Initiatives, a conglomeration of companies founded by Russian businessman, Vladimir Antonov. Converse Sports Intiatives purchased (took over) North One Sport in the first quarter of 2011, but left in tact the majority of the North One Sport infrastructure. It appeared that CSI would simply be a benefactor for NOS, lending financial and logistical aid to the struggling promotion group, but not interfering with the day-to-day business.

The Vladimir Antonov Backstory
The key to this whole mess lies with one man, Vladimir Antonov. Mr. Antonov is a Russian multi-millionaire who built a banking empire amid the ruins of the Russian economy in the late 90s and early 2000s. He’s been either on the board, if not chairman, of several banks and financial groups including International Financial Group Convers Group, JSC Finasta Holding and JDC Bank Finasta, Latvijas Krājbanka, and the ill-fated Bankas Snoras AB.

Antonov’s interest in fast cars and motorsports would colour his future investments, including his move to have Snoras purchase a majority share of Spyker Cars from Saab in 2008. The Swedish National Debt Office did a background investigation of Antonov before approving the purchase primarily because of allegations that he and his family were involved in organized crime in Russia. Swedish securities police continued this investigation of Antonov, found that the connections were more than rumor, and there was evidence of his involvement in money laundering. These allegations would later be refuted, clearing Antonov’s purchase of the niche sports car marque.

Shady Dealings in Eastern Europe
Late last year, Antonov’s activities finally had generated enough notice and left enough evidence that Lithuanian prosecutors issued a European arrest warrant for his arrest in connection with suspected asset stripping of Snoras, which at the time held Convers Sports Initiatives as one of its properties which in turn held North One Sports. The stripped assets were replaced by phantom “off shore assets” on the official books and the discrepancies were not revealed until Lithuanian authorities began an earnest investigation of the bank’s dealings. They ended up nationalizing (read seized) the bank in the middle of November and suspending its operations. At the time Convers Sports Initiatives maintained that they were independent of Snoras and would continue operations as normal. While on the surface, that seems legit, keep in mind that Antonov owned both and as the British Financial Services Authority noted in 2009 when he applied for a UK operating license for Snoras, “These failures [to provide full disclosure] are not an isolated instance but are examples of an ongoing pattern of behaviour by institutions controlled by Mr. Antonov.” Antonov was arrested on the 24th of November in London.

Convers Sports Initiatives Collapse
In spite of their statement not a week earlier that CSI was continuing “business-as-usual” operations and that they were unaffected by the seizure of Snoras by the Lithuanian government, the company went into receivership (that’s bankruptcy hearings for us in the States) on the 1st of December. Concern for the various sports assets that CSI owned, including Executive Sport Ltd., Portsmouth Football Club, and North One Sports, immediately erupted and was just as quickly refuted by the various companies. North One Sports released a statement that same day.

In response to today’s announcement that parent company Convers Sports Initiatives (CSI), has been placed into administration, North One Sport would like to categorically confirm that the business is a stand-alone subsidiary and that it is not in administration.

The priority is to ensure that North One Sport continues to successfully promote the WRC to fans, stakeholders and partners.

Following a spectacular 2011 season we look forward to an exciting 2012 Calendar starting with the return of the iconic Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo in January. — North One Sports statement regarding CSI’s bankruptcy

Famous last words…

North One Sport Collapse
North One Sport would end up following their parent company into bankrupcy. In spite of their claims to being an independent operation from CSI, the FIA began reevaluating its current contract with North One Sport and formulating plans to ensure the long-term health of the World Rally Championship barely a week after CSI’s failure. North One Sport, while adamant in its statement that it was an independent operation from CSI, was hard-up for cash having lost their primary benefactor. They were close to securing an investment deal with Qatar. That deal fell through on the 6th of January leading the FIA to terminate North One Sport’s contract for having “conspicuously failed to deliver its contractual obligations and is in fundamental breach of contract,” according to the FIA. This left the World Rally Championship without a promoter, without a video production plan or assets, and without timing and scoring equipment, which although operated by Stage One Technology was owned by North One Sport. All of this comes a mere two weeks from the season opener, the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo which the WRC recently re-acquired after the event had spent the past few seasons on the IRC calendar.

Eurosport, The (temporary) Savior
With North One Sport plunged into bankruptcy after the FIA rejected the Qatari investment deal, promotion of the fast-approaching Rallye Monte-Carlo and the rest of the 2012 World Rally Championship season was left in question. Eurosport, promoter and broadcast producer for the Intercontinental Rally Championship, agreed to step in to film and broadcast Monte-Carlo, but nothing has been settled beyond that. Whether Eurosport continues as the promoter for the balance of the 2012 season remains to be seen.

The Road Forward
FIA President, Jean Todt, has stated that a new promoter agreement for the WRC will be in place before Rally Sweden which begins on 9th of February. His goal is to secure a five-year with the new promoter, with an emphasis on sustained and steady growth and restoring the sport of rallying. The WRC this last year has made some great strides forward in regaining some of the prestige it lost last decade. Rallye Monte-Carlo has returned to the schedule, more manufacturers are becoming interested competing, the FIA has a president that actually gives a crap about the sport. MINI continues to develop its Countryman, Ford and Citroen have expressed their commitment to the WRC, and Volkwagon will be joining in the fun in 2013 with their Polo. Now what is needed to launch the WRC and the sport of rallying to the next level is quality exposure on the airwaves. Securing a reliable and competent promoter for the WRC could be the most crucial challenge the sport has ever faced. We’re at a crossroads right now and a good choice for the WRC promoter will elevate the sport to its proper and rightful place among motorsports elite racing series, but a poor choice will squander all of the good efforts teams and manufacturers have place into growing the sport and rallying will fall back to a niche sport few will remember and fewer still will appreciate.

Having said all of the above, I attend at least one WRC event most years (usually Spain & GB), the events are well organised, well worth the travel & expense (not the cheapest or most restful holiday you'll ever have).

The drivers & teams in general are extremely grounded, approachable, friendly & fun. Most local events do a 'meet & great' pre-event PR session & post-event 'nightclub' finish-up.

If you enjoy rallying - it's worth a go.

wobbles

The FIA has all but abandoned the WRC these days. They have done nothing to resolve the situation it is in at the moment and dont seem any closer to finding a solution.

Paddy@CIRL

Have Red Bull Media not taken over the coverage for 2013 and beyond? If so, I reckon WRC should hopefully be on the rise again. Last weekend's Rally GB promotion was a disgrace TBH.

De Hipster

Paddy@CIRL wrote: »

Have Red Bull Media not taken over the coverage for 2013 and beyond? If so, I reckon WRC should hopefully be on the rise again. Last weekend's Rally GB promotion was a disgrace TBH.

Indeed they have but seem to be very slow off the start ramp (excuse the pun).

Good quality television coverage is vital for the life-blood of any sport. Ch4's coverage with Jon Desborough anchoring was always good. North One Sport did a good job also - prior to their collapse & the ensuing fiasco.

Fingers crossed for 2013 coverage.

Another read here:

The Welsh-based Rally GB took place last weekend, but you’d be forgiven if you failed to notice. The profile of rallying has perhaps never been lower since the formation of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 1979, as the sport has struggled with poor promotion and utter dominance by one driver in the form of Sebastien Loeb.

Just a decade ago, things were very different indeed. At that time, the WRC was awash with star drivers at the wheel of manufacturer-backed entries from the likes of Peugeot, Ford, Subaru and Mitsubishi. Two British champions in the form of Colin McRae and Richard Burns ensured that TV coverage on terrestrial stations in the UK was readily accessible, attracting many motor racing fans who had grown tired of watching Michael Schumacher win nearly every Formula One race.

2003 arguably marked the turning point. McRae and Burns both suffered poor seasons, the latter having to withdraw from the final rally of the season due to what was later diagnosed as an ultimately fatal brain tumour. McRae meanwhile lost his seat at Citroen at the end of the season, and would only participate in sporadic events before his unfortunate death in a helicopter crash in 2007.

Incidentally, 2003 was also the last season that the sport’s current undoubted superstar, Sebastien Loeb, didn’t win the title; since 2004, the Frenchman and his Citroen team have won the drivers’ championship every year. His eight WRC titles (which look likely to become nine by the end of the year) and 75 rally wins make Loeb by far the sport’s greatest ever exponent, but it hasn’t exactly made for exciting viewing.

Combined with a dearth of regular top-level British competitors after McRae and Burns departed the stage, it’s hardly a shock that TV coverage has suffered. After stints on Channel 4 and ITV, the WRC became accessible only to Freeview viewers in 2007 as the series moved to ITV4 and then Dave. Things then took a fresh turn for the worse last year as the subscription-only channel ESPN secured the TV rights, reducing the championship’s potential audience even further.

The hegemony of Loeb and Citroen combined with the global economic crisis has also led to numerous manufacturers pulling out of the championship during this period, leaving only Ford as the French manufacturer’s sole serious rival. That means, unlike the halcyon days of the early 2000s, only a small handful of drivers begin each rally with any realistic shot of winning. And even then, on any given event, barring exceptional circumstances, there’s a good chance that driver will be Loeb.

However, for all of this doom and gloom, there does appear to be light at the end of the tunnel for the WRC. First of all, last month, the media arm of Red Bull was announced as the championship’s new promoter. The energy drink giant, which has commercial interests in F1, MotoGP, NASCAR and DTM (German Touring Cars) amongst others, isn’t known for doing things by halves – expect them to pull out all the stops in their attempts to revitalise the WRC brand.

There’s cause for optimism when it comes to next year’s entry list, too. In addition to Citroen and Ford, Volkswagen will be joining the party with their all new Polo-based contender. With the help of rising star Sebastien Ogier, who seriously challenged Loeb as his Citroen teammate a couple of years ago, the German manufacturer could prove to be a major threat to the Loeb-Citroen axis of dominance.

Factor in the return of Hyundai (who last competed in rallying in 2003), interest from Toyota and a renewed assault from the Prodrive-run Minis, and suddenly the championship is looking far more open than it has done for some time. What’s more, Britain’s most promising rally driver of recent years, Kris Meeke, is working hard on a return to the championship for next year having spent this year on the sidelines due to budgetary issues.

You could make a convincing case to say that Loeb, Ogier and the other competitors of the WRC are, all things considered, the most skilful drivers in the world. If Red Bull can draw attention to that fact as well as the prospect of four of the world’s five largest car manufacturers going all out to topple Citroen, then there seems no reason why WRC couldn’t get back to the glory days of yesteryear.

marco2068

Well when you see the wrc 2012 tread on here has 24posts, and nascar has 209. It pretty much sums it up. It wouldn't have happened 10 years ago.

I do hope it comes back bigger and better.

will it be on motors tv again next year does anyone know?

recyclebin

Loeb has yet to decide whether he will race next year. His retirement could be the best thing to happen to WRC as he has dominated for the last 9 years which has turned the fans away from the sport.

WRC also needs a few more manufacturers because at the minute there are only 7 drivers that actually compete in every round of the season.

guyfo

Wrc is struggling at the moment but i reckon this year is the lowest point. Red Bull as promoter will help no end. North one never had the money or expertise to promote the championship, ever since they got involved the coverage got less and less year on year.

Also with VW coming in and mini/bmw supposedly planing a full program next year with Toyota and Hyundai poised to come in in 2014 the future looks bright!

Ps. You cant blame Loeb, the man can only compete against whoever shows up, and at the moment that is an underfunded semi works ford team.

JAMES VTI S

but he wins it all =/ and no more crashes

Tea 1000

recyclebin wrote: »

Loeb has yet to decide whether he will race next year. His retirement could be the best thing to happen to WRC as he has dominated for the last 9 years which has turned the fans away from the sport.

WRC also needs a few more manufacturers because at the minute there are only 7 drivers that actually compete in every round of the season.

It's a pity when we need someone as talented as Loeb to go away from a sport to make it exciting. No one said that when Tiger was dominating Golf!
I think though that more manufacturers would make a bigger difference.
Maybe N/A engines with RWD again would liven it up!

guyfo

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Maybe N/A engines with RWD again would liven it up!

Totally irrelevant to modern road cars. No manufacturer sign up to that. Wrc's being driven by the best in the world don't need livening up, they're bloody spectacular to see as it is.

There are 3 new manufacturers coming in in the next 2 years.

4 manufacturers will be on the stages in 2013 and 6 in 14, Wrc is on the up and the last thing we need is technical reg changes to go and f everything up.

More manufacturers will mean more talent coming through too so it should stop the domination of Citroen.

What i would say is needed is comprehensive online coverage (live stages etc) and then a half hour event wrap up on free to air stations to attract joe soap into the sport.

De Hipster

Tea 1000 wrote: »

It's a pity when we need someone as talented as Loeb to go away from a sport to make it exciting. No one said that when Tiger was dominating Golf!
I think though that more manufacturers would make a bigger difference.
Maybe N/A engines with RWD again would liven it up!

Completely agree ...the competition needs to step up to Loeb's level not have him flushed out for being too talented. It's not all down to the Citroen's engineering either - proved this year by Hirvonen's performance so far this year.

More manufacturers 'for sure' would make for better competitive championships - it's difficult to justify with the global economic downturn, environmental movements & drive for fuel efficiency, electric vehicles etc - rallying is not as fashionable as it was - I doubt it ever will be again.

Motorsport is not P.C. & especially on Public highways - tracks are contained, easy to charge and control the fans/spectators too.

Tea 1000

guyfo wrote: »

Totally irrelevant to modern road cars. No manufacturer sign up to that. Wrc's being driven by the best in the world don't need livening up, they're bloody spectacular to see as it is.

There are 3 new manufacturers coming in in the next 2 years.

4 manufacturers will be on the stages in 2013 and 6 in 14, Wrc is on the up and the last thing we need is technical reg changes to go and f everything up.

More manufacturers will mean more talent coming through too so it should stop the domination of Citroen.

What i would say is needed is comprehensive online coverage (live stages etc) and then a half hour event wrap up on free to air stations to attract joe soap into the sport.

Yet everyone waits around for the Mark 2's to go through! Some of the S2000's were more exciting to watch than the last of the WRC machines, they were getting too competent at cornering.
4WD has f**k all relevance to modern living also. There are more RWD cars on the road than 4WD!

Tea 1000

De Hipster wrote: »

Completely agree ...the competition needs to step up to Loeb's level not have him flushed out for being too talented. It's not all down to the Citroen's engineering either - proved this year by Hirvonen's performance so far this year.

More manufacturers 'for sure' would make for better competitive championships - it's difficult to justify with the global economic downturn, environmental movements & drive for fuel efficiency, electric vehicles etc - rallying is not as fashionable as it was - I doubt it ever will be again.

Motorsport is not P.C. & especially on Public highways - tracks are contained, easy to charge and control the fans/spectators too.

They did take steps in the downturn with modified S2000 spec cars now versus the full WRC spec from 3 years ago, but maybe there's more to go. Plus we don't see any road going spin-off's, so that's also a bit of a problem. But seeing as more manufacturers are planning on entering in the next year or two does prove that reducing the cost has a big bearing.
Global advertising and coverage and further reduced costs would bring more manufacturers in. With that comes talent.

De Hipster

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Yet everyone waits around for the Mark 2's to go through! Some of the S2000's were more exciting to watch than the last of the WRC machines, they were getting too competent at cornering.
4WD has f**k all relevance to modern living also. There are more RWD cars on the road than 4WD!

At an actual WRC event - MkII's (much as I love them), would look like they could be pushed around faster compared to the elite machinery.

The skill involved in MKII driving and full tilt commitment at IRC/WRC level is completely world's apart.

I went up to the IRC night stages in the north this year - the speed, coupled with the action in the dark & sheer commitment of the drivers was literally breathtaking.

JAMES VTI S

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Yet everyone waits around for the Mark 2's to go through! Some of the S2000's were more exciting to watch than the last of the WRC machines, they were getting too competent at cornering.
4WD has f**k all relevance to modern living also. There are more RWD cars on the road than 4WD!

this is going to turn in to a flame party soon

i have one question
why are these cars 4wd when on the road models are fwd

Drummerboy08

A RWD Darrian won the Wexford rally this year, finishing ahead of a WRC Focus that had one the event for the two years previous.

Is it the car or the driver? The driver I'd think.

The WRC drivers need to step up to the plate. Nobody is showing a hint of the talent that was and is possessed by the likes of Mcrae, Burns, Loeb etc etc at the minute.

De Hipster

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

A RWD Darrian won the Wexford rally this year, finishing ahead of a WRC Focus that had one the event for the two years previous.

Is it the car or the driver? The driver I'd think.

The WRC drivers need to step up to the plate. Nobody is showing a hint of the talent that was and is possessed by the likes of Mcrae, Burns, Loeb etc etc at the minute.

A lot of the monied drivers with WRCs in Irish Rallying have bigger worries on their plates at the moment - many businesses/sponsors/customers have gone under & rallying at amateur level is always seen as a luxury.

Internationally, look at Meeke & then compare to the likes of Mikkelsen...raw talent alone counts for very little in Motorsport (and that goes generally for all forms).

Mediocre talent + money + marketability = sponsored works drive & varying levels of career success.

Top Dog

guyfo wrote: »

Totally irrelevant to modern road cars. No manufacturer sign up to that. Wrc's being driven by the best in the world don't need livening up, they're bloody spectacular to see as it is.

To be fair - how relevant are the WRC machines to modern road cars? Citroen don't make a 4WD, they don't even make a proper performance car. Ford's icon car is a FWD. And haven't Toyota just brought out their new N/A RWD coupe? Bring back the M3's, the modern equivalent of an AE86 ... the entertainers!

Watching the WRC motors in action is spectacular, but only because of the speed. The entertainment is long gone.

Robbo

Two instesting stories in the last 24 hours

1. Hyundai are officially back in, with a partial programme in 2013, ramping up to full time in 2014.
2. Loeb is taking a partial gig in 2013.

This, should introduce some movement in the driver market, especially if Toyota are to enter as well. I can't see Citroen taking a punt on promoting Neuville to the full time seat vacated by Loeb.

Moreover, if Red Bull start working their promotional magic soon enough, there might be some faint glimmer that the Mini project can get the funding it deserves.

De Hipster

Robbo wrote: »

Two instesting stories in the last 24 hours

1. Hyundai are officially back in, with a partial programme in 2013, ramping up to full time in 2014.
2. Loeb is taking a partial gig in 2013.

This, should introduce some movement in the driver market, especially if Toyota are to enter as well. I can't see Citroen taking a punt on promoting Neuville to the full time seat vacated by Loeb.

Moreover, if Red Bull start working their promotional magic soon enough, there might be some faint glimmer that the Mini project can get the funding it deserves.

I'll bet Loeb still gives them a good run for their money in 2013 - even in a part-time capacity!

Robbo

De Hipster wrote: »

I'll bet Loeb still gives them a good run for their money in 2013 - even in a part-time capacity!

I'd say it could be a situation where he does his favourite events in the first half of the year and does well enough to warrant a full time drive to clinch the championship in the second half.

recyclebin

Loeb could probably enter a privately owned Citroen next year with a small crew and still win the championship.

De Hipster

LIGHTNING wrote: »

At this stage he could probably cycle a bike around the stages backwards & only on one wheel whilst blindfolded & handcuffed and win :pac:

FYP

Pdfile

recyclebin wrote: »

Loeb has yet to decide whether he will race next year. His retirement could be the best thing to happen to WRC as he has dominated for the last 9 years which has turned the fans away from the sport.

WRC also needs a few more manufacturers because at the minute there are only 7 drivers that actually compete in every round of the season.

WRC needs 3 classes... FWD RWD and 4WD imo... xzara and focus fighting hard in the FWD cat... subaru and mitz going hard at it in RWD...

limitingthe budgets and light increases in power would be ideal

JAMES VTI S

hyundi are go for next yeaqr

h3000

Ford are to withdraw as a title sponsor from 2013. Which basically means no Ford manufacturer team. M-Sport say they will continue but it's such a major blow to the sport.

http://www.crash.net/world+rally/news/185161/1/ford_quits_wrc_m-sport_to_continue_with_fiesta.html




I'm really pissed off now

De Hipster

Out with the old & in with the new...

It's difficult to call what exactly what will happen with WRC & what the impact of losing Ford will have for the championship. But times are always changing & moving on - who would've thought that without Audi, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Subaru (not to mention the other greats of long since gone years) the sport would still be going (relatively) strongly.

Maybe a good shake-up is exactly what's needed for 2013/14?

JAMES VTI S

Citroen - Hyundai - who els

h3000

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

Citroen - Hyundai - who els

VW

h3000

De Hipster wrote: »

Out with the old & in with the new...

It's difficult to call what exactly what will happen with WRC & what the impact of losing Ford will have for the championship. But times are always changing & moving on - who would've thought that without Audi, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Subaru (not to mention the other greats of long since gone years) the sport would still be going (relatively) strongly.

Maybe a good shake-up is exactly what's needed for 2013/14?

We've been through it before alright. What annoys me most is Ford were really starting to catch Citroen again. They were the closest they have been in a long time and if Jari-Matti and Petter kept it between the ditches they had a real chance to take at least the constructors if not the drivers titles.
I really can't see VW being close enough straight out of the box, I know the Fabia S2000 is one of the best but there's only so much that will carry over to the Polo R WRC. I think Hyundai are only doing part of the season so can't see them being too quick either.
I'm just bored with Citroen running away with it. In saying all that though I believe M-Sport do a lot of the development directly for the Ford rally cars and Ford were more of a sponsor than a team. Malcom Wilson runs a great team so with a bit of luck there will still be Fords challenging for wins.

h3000

So Jari-Matti Latvala will join Ogier at VW for the 2013 season. Not much of a surprise particularary after yesterday's announcement by Ford.

recyclebin

So next year we will have:

Citreon
Citroen Junior
M-Sport Ford
VW
Prodrive Mini
Hyundai on a partial basis.

In the interests of cutting costs, WRC teams are no longer obligated to participate in two races outside Europe to be eligible for World Constructors' championship points. Instead, they must contest at least one non-European rally, but are still required to compete in a minimum of seven rallies over the course of the season.

kksaints

Will M-sport Ford even be there with Ford pulling out?

If Latvala can keep the car on the road and the car is fairly reliable he will be champion with Loeb doing half the events.

Robbo

LIGHTNING wrote: »

IMO that's a poor list, its such a shame to see the WRC in its current shape. Wouldn't be surprised if Prodrive pull out halfway through next year.

2 things which have yet to have a bearing on it are what Red Bull are going to pull out of the bag in terms of promotion and TV and what the driver market holds. In relation to Prodrive, maybe I was falling for the spin but I think that now a final divorce settlement has been arranged with BMW, they might be better fixed for 2013 than they have been in the last year and a half.

VW have Latvala and Ogier, Citroen have Hirvonen, half a season's worth of Loeb and AN other and everything else would appear to be up for grabs.

There's plenty of space there and plenty of talented drivers to fill it; Sordo, Solberg, Ostberg, Meeke, Tanak. Already a rumour has started that owing to his extensive development background, Hyundai are interested in Meeke.

Of course the worst case scenario involves a ****ty TV deal being done for free to a station who don't care about backing it and all the spare drives are taken up by Emirati princes.

kksaints

Sordo confirmed for Citroen for next year.

Robbo

Looking like Petter and Ostberg for Ford, with a third car for Al Attiyah and his Qatari lucre

As it Stands:
Ford: Solberg, Ostberg, Al Attiyah
VW: Ogier, Latvala, Mikkelsen
Citroen: Hirvonen, Sordo, Loeb

Hyundai and Mini, completely unknown. There's a rumour going around that Meeke is in for the Hyundai gig but that could just be ****e talk. He's currently doing the Baja 1000 on a bike.

kksaints

Are Hyundai doing the full season or a half season? Hope Atkinsion gets one of the Mini drives.

Robbo

kksaints wrote: »

Are Hyundai doing the full season or a half season? Hope Atkinsion gets one of the Mini drives.

Selected events in 2013 is the official line from Hyundai.

kksaints

Robbo wrote: »

Selected events in 2013 is the official line from Hyundai.

Hopefully it will be better then their last attempt at the WRC. Should be a good season next year, hopefully there will be some decent tv coverage.

rusty_ie2004

anyone know what channel is showing the wrc on in ireland ??

JAMES VTI S

NONE!! FFS =/

marco2068

motorstv on an old sky box with card

recyclebin

marco2068 wrote: »

motorstv on an old sky box with card

It's not on motorstv this year. We have a new thread for WRC and all the info is there.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056808115

Is it possible a mod could lock this thread instead so we won't have two threads asking the same questions??