Any WRC Fans?

I'm a WRC fan. Subura and Suzuki backing out is a blow for and although the numbers haven't been dented much after Ford and Citroen picked up the slack, the lack of varyation is a shame. The s2000 rules should be coming in next year and if done well the sport could bloom again, if not it could be dead. I read recently that a new promotion deal has been struck from this year onwards and that the company have big plans to make the sport accessable and sponsor/fan friendly with Tv coverage and such, but i also read they are the same promo company thats been in place for years so i don't know how much will change.

As for Loeb, he's incredible. I think he is the single best driver not in F1 today, and i really hope he makes the transition to tarmac as soon as possible as he's already the greatest rally driver ever. Its probably too late for him to go to F1 but i think he could have success in DTM or Le Mans with the Peugeot/Citroen group, so i'm hoping.

Oh, the Sebastien Loeb funfest. Yes and no. Racing action? No! WRC has not been exciting in the past decade. Great drivers? Totally.

IRC and S2000 is the way to go. And hopefully Subaru figures that out when WRC goes that route in 2010, or many fans will not care anymore.

The scheduling system of rotating races on a yearly basis needs to go. Leaving the Rally Monte Carlo off the schedule for the Irish Rally is just plain sickening. Nothing wrong with Ireland, but it is the Monte Carlo Rally for ..... sake.

I think unless Travis Pastrana makes the move in 2010 with Subaru, I do not see any TV network getting involved with rally. SpudTV does not cover racing outside Nascar very well. All motorbike coverage is a joke. F1 is covered well, but outside the pre-race and post-race, it is hardly mentioned.

Sorry to go OT, but if this network can get off the ground, it would cover all racing that SpudTV has left out, which is most racing. http://www.theracingnetwork.com/

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hayden Fan @ Feb 24 2009, 12:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The scheduling system of rotating races on a yearly basis needs to go. Leaving the Rally Monte Carlo off the schedule for the Irish Rally is just plain sickening. Nothing wrong with Ireland, but it is the Monte Carlo Rally for ..... sake.

I think its a great system, the championship reaches further with a wider range of terrains and characteristics than before. Also, The mote was still run this year just as part of the IRC. I don't think thats a big deal because that event and its herritage stretch way back, and have only been part of an organized championship in more recent times anyway.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Feb 23 2009, 07:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think its a great system, the championship reaches further with a wider range of terrains and characteristics than before. Also, The mote was still run this year just as part of the IRC. I don't think thats a big deal because that event and its herritage stretch way back, and have only been part of an organized championship in more recent times anyway.

Well, the system is a bad idea in that it takes away top races. I can see doing the rotation but for the lesser rallies. Rally Jordan, Rally Mexico, Greece. But if you rotate out Monte Carlo, Great Britain, Australia (if they get a proper promoter with money).

Bring back the Safari Rally as a WRC round.

Bring the WRC to the Canada. I know no one on earth could afford to hold a rally of that size in the US, but Canada has great mountain areas. Great wooded, tree lined roads that stretch for hundreds of miles. Drop the cars in Alberta and let them off.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (truent @ Feb 24 2009, 11:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yeah I haven't followed it closely enough lately to be up on everything, I missed 07 and 08 completely.. WRC to me was never about close championships although it'd be nice, it was just about seeing them do what I would only have the balls to do in a video game. Also other than a guy like Loeb, anything can happen in a rally.. so there's always incentive to watch until the end..

As for WRC over here in North America, that'd be hot.. always wondered why they didn't do it here in the US.. we got Rally America that Travis Pastrana was in a few years back.. but I think you're right.. cost is definitely a factor as well as the lack of viewership.. As far as racing goes man America definitely went their own way.. dunno which way was right but I should've been born in Europe

Well rally has a big following in the US, especially in areas like New England and Michigan,Wisconsin, Minnesota.

Insurance costs would keep a WRC round out the US. Many of the factories like the idea, but they themselves won't help cover the costs, as just one injury, and you have a 50 million dollar lawsuit,

Rally America is doing well with Travis Pastrana winning the last 3 titles, and DC Shoe founder Ken Block running always second or third. BMW legend David Mira has taken to rally, as well as Top Gear USA (please get dropped before airing episode 1 NBC) host Tanner Foust.

If you are a rally fan, being born in the UK is the only way you'd live the rally life. They are the only people who really seem to get rally. Oh... forgot about the Fins. Those people are just plan nuts though.

follow the series whenever i happen to see it on TV...we get few coverage of WRC, though this year has been better with longer highlights shows. but that's about it, highlights.

I like WRC...and im sure i'd love it..but we get NO coverage here...

HEY but who needs WRC coverage when we have Poker and Dog Shows on ESPN!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Feb 25 2009, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I like WRC...and im sure i'd love it..but we get NO coverage here...

HEY but who needs WRC coverage when we have Poker and Dog Shows on ESPN!
At one stage fairly recently over here with many fewer channels than you guys different televised poker was on 3 channels simultaneously (I was looking for some motorsport to watch ). I don't get it either.

We do actually get fairly good motorport coverage here on cable, albeit delayed for a number of sports, including wrc and stewart destroying reed in the supercross.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hayden Fan @ Feb 25 2009, 02:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If you are a rally fan, being born in the UK is the only way you'd live the rally life. They are the only people who really seem to get rally. Oh... forgot about the Fins. Those people are just plan nuts though.

It's still a relatively hard sport to follow, as the events are staged in the middle of nowhere. We do get TV coverage of the world championship on 2 different channels though. Motors TV also covers some less high profile events

Loeb won again ... as usual, Latvala tried very hard to win, but the shortcut didn't quite workout, the car got a big damaged lol, both driver and driver are fine.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Apr 7 2009, 09:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Loeb won again ... as usual, Latvala tried very hard to win, but the shortcut didn't quite workout, the car got a big damaged lol, both driver and driver are fine.

It's rediculous how good Loeb is, he's just so fast and consistent. Latvala really needs to calm down, he's been talking about being more measured for while now but it just hasn't come. Also from the driver shuffling thats gone on this season it looks to me like the car doesn't make a great deal of difference in WRC, most of the people who have driven other cars have performed approximately where they did previously.

I like WRC but the tv coverage is really poor in the UK.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (an4rew @ Apr 10 2009, 12:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I like WRC but the tv coverage is really poor in the UK.

Rally is a hard sport to cover on the TV. The arena based superspecials are the most tv friendly but they are crap anyway. I think our coverage is actually pretty good.

And Loeb wins another one ... Sordo 2nd making a Citröen 1,2. coupled with Ford reliability disaster puts the title on plate for Seb. Not that they were anywhere close to threaten him anyway.

WRC needs more manufacturers involved and give the good cars to the ing good drivers!! Why's Ford employing those 2 morons while Solberg is driving a 4 y old Citröen and almost beating them!!!

I agree, its getting rediculous but i think an increase in manufacturers or a few driver swaps will stop Loeb from being considerably better than all of them

S2000 is coming next year. Don't worry.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (truent @ Feb 22 2009, 06:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ever since they stopped World Rally Championship programming in the States, I haven't followed too closely, but it was definitely one of the fav's when they did.. I recently started watching some torrents as the 2009 season just started.. but wondering if there was any other fans out there, past or present.. and your thoughts on subaru backing out.. and Loeb's perpetual domination

Also, anyone know of any talk of bringing them back to Speed or otherwise? I mean you'd think with the economic crisis they'd be willing to make some deals and not be so snooty about giving up the license for coverage..


Rally was another motorsport Rossi took part . Definetly a lot of fans outthere including me. Myself drive turbocharged WRC specs car having close to 400+ bhp and AWD. It's fun to drive, rain, shine or snow.. Unfortnately it couldn't match with italian sport car top speed though..