RoC Mexico - under the radar.
Discussion
I used to rate the Race of Champions as an event. I went along to a few, my most enjoyable being at the Stade de France for the French version - proper figure of 8 course, interested drivers and some great cars. Then of course the delights of Paris. Will never forget when they inexplicably decided to demonstrate a jet powered dragster within the confines of the stadium, everything/everyone within 50 metres of the blunt end of the car went flying...
Anyway you may not have noticed that this year's event took place last weekend in Mexico. Autosport and others seem to have given up on coverage - I only found out by trawling the weekend TV sport schedules and tumbling upon it - anything for an off-season motorsport fix ( I'll even watch Formula E).
Half-filled stadium with "Crofty" vainly trying to drum up enthusiasm. For the record local boy Benito Guerra beat TK in the final, Seb Vettel (still loyal to the event) and D.C. being knocked out in earlier rounds. Terry Grant provided the entertainment - brilliant as ever but when you've watched the show 10 times there is a degree of predictability.
So, given the apathy, has the RoC had it's day. Personally I think the track design in particular has killed the last 3 events - you really need the Scalextric flyover. So should the weekend be quietly shelved, or does it just need refreshing/re-vamping ?? Maybe the same question re the Paris-Dakar which has shared a similar fate....
Anyway you may not have noticed that this year's event took place last weekend in Mexico. Autosport and others seem to have given up on coverage - I only found out by trawling the weekend TV sport schedules and tumbling upon it - anything for an off-season motorsport fix ( I'll even watch Formula E).
Half-filled stadium with "Crofty" vainly trying to drum up enthusiasm. For the record local boy Benito Guerra beat TK in the final, Seb Vettel (still loyal to the event) and D.C. being knocked out in earlier rounds. Terry Grant provided the entertainment - brilliant as ever but when you've watched the show 10 times there is a degree of predictability.
So, given the apathy, has the RoC had it's day. Personally I think the track design in particular has killed the last 3 events - you really need the Scalextric flyover. So should the weekend be quietly shelved, or does it just need refreshing/re-vamping ?? Maybe the same question re the Paris-Dakar which has shared a similar fate....
The event was utterly ruined by it becoming a franchise to sell to anyone. As a lot of series have been also.
It as at its best in Gran Canaria where it originated, rally drivers using numerous cars on proper stages not the mickey mouse garbage they run on now.
It should have died a long, long time ago, but as with most of these things, some clever sod keeps being able to sell it to anyone, regardless of heritage, basically anyone who wants to buy it.
it is awful, embarrassing and needs to be shot.
It as at its best in Gran Canaria where it originated, rally drivers using numerous cars on proper stages not the mickey mouse garbage they run on now.
It should have died a long, long time ago, but as with most of these things, some clever sod keeps being able to sell it to anyone, regardless of heritage, basically anyone who wants to buy it.
it is awful, embarrassing and needs to be shot.
Altrezia said:
I still like it. It's a bit of fun for a bunch of drivers in their off-season isn't it? What's wrong with that?
That about sums it up but it doesn’t make it any more worthwhile or interesting. I noticed it was on Sky but, in all honesty, if you see one race, you’ve seen them all.
‘Tubby’ Croft doesn’t help; he really has a face for the radio.
chunder27 said:
The event was utterly ruined by it becoming a franchise to sell to anyone. As a lot of series have been also.
It as at its best in Gran Canaria where it originated, rally drivers using numerous cars on proper stages not the mickey mouse garbage they run on now.
It should have died a long, long time ago, but as with most of these things, some clever sod keeps being able to sell it to anyone, regardless of heritage, basically anyone who wants to buy it.
it is awful, embarrassing and needs to be shot.
I guess that was my point, it does seem very lame now and I'm amazed that the likes of Vettel, Gasly & Coulthard still make the effort. Just take a look back to coverage of the RoC Wembley event in 2007 and you can gauge how far it has fallen. It's a bit like the FF festival at Brands - I still feel obliged to go along, but compared to what went on over 20 years ago it is of no real significance and lacks any of the raw passion.It as at its best in Gran Canaria where it originated, rally drivers using numerous cars on proper stages not the mickey mouse garbage they run on now.
It should have died a long, long time ago, but as with most of these things, some clever sod keeps being able to sell it to anyone, regardless of heritage, basically anyone who wants to buy it.
it is awful, embarrassing and needs to be shot.
I suspect it will just plod along forever as a cash cow franchise with Mickey Mouse circuits and manufactured excitement. I would favour Lydden as the venue. 3 lap races, drivers alternate between one lap on the RX circuit and one lap on the short tarmac circuit (cutting out Hairy Hill) - then they rejoin the main circuit (theoretically neck and neck) for a final lap blast on the full tarmac circuit. Keep the RoC buggies and rally/RX cars and perhaps the crazy trucks but bin the rest. Add a "classic" class for identical MK1 RS Escorts/911's.
Only snag is that Lydden in January would probably attract me and half a dozen other spectators...
I agree, current ROC format is s
t.
It was quite good when in Gran Canaria, however I think it should be like the old Austin Rover Rallysprints, except maybe they'd be using Fords?
F1, WEC , WRC and DTM/BTCC drivers in Fiesta R5 for a 5 mile rally stage, 10 lap race in Focus Cosworth, or more likely Focus ST, then auto test in a KA, perhaps a drift competition in a mustang?
does anyone know the organisers e-mail address?
t.It was quite good when in Gran Canaria, however I think it should be like the old Austin Rover Rallysprints, except maybe they'd be using Fords?
F1, WEC , WRC and DTM/BTCC drivers in Fiesta R5 for a 5 mile rally stage, 10 lap race in Focus Cosworth, or more likely Focus ST, then auto test in a KA, perhaps a drift competition in a mustang?
does anyone know the organisers e-mail address?
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