Thursday 3rd June 2004

Acropolis Rally

FIA introduce 10 minute service zones amongst new rules

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This years’ Acropolis Rally is being used by the FIA to try out one of their new ideas: Remote Servicing. All the teams are critical of this scheme but the FIA is keep to introduce it this year as one of its measures to help WRC teams cut costs. The remote service zones will be away from the main service park where two mechanics will be allowed to meet their team for 10 minutes and will be allowed to service the cars using parts carried within the rally car.

In order to help the teams survive the long Saturday leg the cars will be loaded up with parts that would normally stay in the service park. Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson said, “We’ll look at carrying parts that can be changed within the 10-minute remote service, such as suspension arms.”

Another last minute rule has been brought into play by the FIA which means that cars which retire early from a WRC event will be allowed to continue running the stages - although they won’t be able to score drivers’ or manufacturers points the teams which suffer a retirement on one of the opening two legs of an event will be allowed to choose whether they wish to continue the rally for the remaining legs, providing the car can be repaired within the allocated service time at the end of the day.

This rule has been brought in to allow the less experienced teams such as Mitsubishi and Skoda clock up some additional mileage and get some competitive stage times to compare to the other teams. This is yet another rule introduced which has been subject to much debate, most of the details are being kept under wraps so we’ll just have to wait and see what whether the FIA’s new rules and systems turn the Acropolis into an ‘exciting and refreshing event’ or a circus!

Mitsubishi’s main man, Giles Panizzi has set some rather simple targets for the Acropolis this weekend, “Finishing is my priority, and then we will see what the performance of the car is like” says Giles. Upcoming talent Daniel Sola from the Mitsubishi talent development programme will be making his debut on the Acropolis Rally. He states, “My plan is to finish the rally.”

Skoda will be making a comeback with Armin Schwarz and Toni Gardemeister in the revised Fabia WRC. The team skipped the first half of this year’s season to develop the car further. Gardemeister says, “We have improved the Fabia quite a lot since we last competed. The handling and the response are much better than before.”

Skoda will be entering the remaining 7 rounds of this year’s championship and will return in 2005 with another new Fabia (their third now) for a full season in 2005.

[sagalout]

WRC or its predecesors used to be highly watchable entertainment. It's rapidly becoming another F1 type circus. Last event Gronholm was disquaified because his water pump impellor was plastic not metal, or vice versa. Lets get back to the old Group B days and less of the rules and regulations.
Now we've got your out but you can keep on playing..cos we need as many cars in it as possible. What we need are more teams. Where are Hyundia,Skoda, Seat, Vauxhall, Toyota, Honda, Renault and all the private entries. YES I know all the manufacturers have gone F1. Oh what a circus oh what a show....Evita.

[fto2tuscan]

YES! Thank you - my point exactly - well, not exactly, but yeah.

The problem lies in the spectators, if they are going to ruin the rally then kick em off the stages. Bring back Group B rules, so we're runnign MONSTERS on the stages and it'll all be good again.