FIA decision could kill World Rally Championships

[FourWheelDrift]

Autosport said:

The controversial ruling to expand the World Rally Championship to 16 events, but restrict manufacturer teams to just two cars each, has been approved today (Tuesday). The decision will have a wide-reaching impact on the WRC, as many of the teams have already signed third drivers after a previous decision to limit all third cars to drivers who had not finished a WRC event on the podium in the last three years. Peugeot and Citroen are amongst those to have been caught out by the FIA's change of heart. The new raft of rule changes also approved today means that gravel crews will be banned, while the 'Milles Pistes' recce system, using either rally or road cars, will also be implemented. The 16-round calendar will allow the inclusion of events in Mexico and Japan.

They killed off the successfull BPR Global Endurance Challenge when it became the FIA GT Championship, they killed off the old DTM when it became the FIA ITC, they are doing their best to screw up Formula One and now they are doing the same to the WRC.

Morons

[dazren]

I wasn't impressed with the decision to knobble teams from having a decent third driver, but now with this sh1te it's bye bye Newbie drivers, how is this good for the sport? Less top cars hooning about? It's beyond belief.

Left hand, meet Mr Right hand, I don't believe you've ever met. Meddling muppets.

DAZ

[docevi1]

pillicks. absolute pillicks. They have destroyed the WRC once, and now they have done it again!

Shame, whats going to happen to all the 3rd drivers? Or can they drive works cars as privateers?

[FourWheelDrift]

With 2 cars only per team this is how the drivers are lining up for next year.

Peugeot - Marcus Gronholm & Harri Rovanpera
Citroen - Sebastian Loeb & TBA
Subaru - Richard Burns & Petta Solberg
Ford - Markko Martin & Francois Duval
Mitsubishi - Gilles Panizzi & Francois Delecour (TBC)
Hyundai - Armin Schwarz & Jussi Valimaki
Skoda - Didier Auriol & Toni Gardemeister

Now with only Citroen's 2nd seat to be announced and Delecour to be confirmed at Mitsubishi it will mean no factory drives for the following factory contracted drivers and who they are currently with.

Freddy Loix, Daniel Carlsson & Cedric Robert (Peugeot)
Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz & Simon Jean-Joseph (Citroen)
Mikko Hirvonen (Ford)
Kenneth Eriksson (Skoda)
Philippe Bugalski (Citroen)
Alistair McRae (Ex-Mitusbishi)

So 10 drivers left to fill 1 factory drive, meaning 9 drivers out for 2004, most of whom will not look at Semi-works drives (Sainz, McRae C, Loix, Eriksson).

Although I would like to see Colin take up the reigns in a different category (BTCC maybe?)

I reiterate my earlier comment, FIA = Morons

Edited because I can never spell Citroen properly.

>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Tuesday 9th September 16:49

[dazren]

docevi1 said:

Shame, whats going to happen to all the 3rd drivers? Or can they drive works cars as privateers?

Abso"bloody"lutely. Did I read somewhere that Colin MacRae was already going to be out of a drive due to the 3rd driver needing to be newbie/crap. How the hell is the sport going to benefit from this meddling of not even having third drivers? All I can think is the governing bodies are looking at more revenue from the additional locations and are telling the teams look don't worry about the extra cost of two more events each year, sack your third driver, team of mechanics etc and we all come out on top!!! All except the drivers, the mechanics and the car mad fans like us lot. It bloody stinks.

DAZ

No need to go to the Gym, I can keep my blood pressure up on pistonheads.

Edited to say thanks FWD for answering my first outburst on this posting.

>> Edited by dazren on Tuesday 9th September 16:49

[V8 Archie]

FourWheelDrift said:

I would like to see Colin take up the reigns in a different category (BTCC maybe?)

IIRC he's looking at NASCAR.

[FourWheelDrift]

Do you know I thought I heard them mention it on C4 the other night but I put it down to how late it was on.

I wonder how well he is known over there, discounting Rally Games. He could get good support but I'd prefer to see him race over here. Start in Ascar maybe or the new V8 series.

[tuffer]

McRea's manager is in talks with NASCAR on his behalf, I reckon he could do well. If he is able to display his usual flamboyant style and cause some spectacular accidents then he will become a bit of a celebrity in the States and coin it in (which will undoubtably be his main reason for going).

[steviebee]

FIA = Forget Interesting Autoracing

[Graham]

steviebee said:

FIA = Forget Interesting Autoracing

Mcrae is the only reason i watch the rallying, love him or hate him he can be amazing to watch when he's on it. if he's out then i'll probably not bother...

The FIA only seem interested with having as many countries as possible
running events ( unless its the old countries who have historicaly hosted them and presumerably wont pay as much as new hosts)

[McNab]

Mosely and his clerks need their corporate heads looked at.

Why ruin a brillant WRC series with changes nobody wants?

Maybe someone can tell me...

[Podie]

McNab said:

Mosely and his clerks need their corporate heads looked at. Why ruin a brillant WRC series with changes nobody wants? Maybe someone can tell me...

Not me McNab, not me... seems a bloody shame...

[Izza]

The FIA REALLY need a kick up the arse.
This is bloody ridiculous.

I agree that Colin is good to watch. If he makes a mistake or gets a penalty you can beat that he'll be going maximum attack, and prolly stack it. Great entertainment.

With Tommi Makinen retiring next year, the WRC will be without it's 2 most famous stars. grrrrrr. Everybody I know had heard of Colin McRae or Tommi Makinen, even if they arnt interested in cars or rallying, even my mum knows who Colin McRae is!!!


So who's up for an armed take over of the FIA??

They obviously never listen to their customers, US, the viewing public

[docevi1]

it does beg the question why they think that many drivers should be retired. I really can't understand the justification of getting rid of 9 drivers for two more events.

Oh, hangon. Just releasied (no really I did!), TV shows only ever show you the top runners (in fact I didn't recognise most of the third drivers in FWD second list), so whats the point of having them? In reality all the viewer gets to see is McRae, Burns, Gronholm, Solberg, Sainz, Martin, Makinnen, Rovanbera & Panizi. Sometimes you seen Loinz (sp?) but thats it. Even Hyundai & Skoda barely get a look in on the Ch4 coverage.

I bet thats there logic, maybe the logic is to try and bring more teams in next year (maybe thats on the cards but hasn't been announced - they might be doing a Burns moment - keeping quiet until certain).

Still, FIA did a good job for the television viewing of F1 (along with helping hands from the weather & bad reliability on Ferrari's part) so maybe they feel adequate to meddle with Rallying.

Incidently, did you know that Ch4 are trying to get rid of the Rallying coverage? Thats why they are putting it on at late times, re-arranging it on the day... they don't want the cost of the coverage. If no-one else picks it up we're going to be without any coverage next year!

[FourWheelDrift]

In truth many of the 3rd drivers are specialist drivers who only compete on certain rallies, eg. Gravel or Tarmac. But introducing young talent with a rally or two like this is the way they learn.

[condor]

The full story is as follows:-

-------------------------------------------------------September 9, 2003

The FIA has confirmed a number of rule changes which are set to change the shape of World Championship rallying.

Teams will henceforth only be allowed to score Manufacturers points from two cars entered.

Proposals regarding testing, telemetry and concerning "flexi-service" will be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council in October

In addition to a new 16 event calendar major changes have been made to the recce system. Henceforth only "absolutely standard" road cars or actual rally cars may be used, and gravel note cars are banned.

With the exception of the first two events in the calendar, Monte Carlo and Sweden the following structure will be adopted:

Wednesday
First single pass reconnaissance

Thursday
Balance of first reconnaissance (if any), scrutineering, shakedown and optional ceremonial start.

Friday
Second single pass reconnaissance of Friday stages, followed by Friday stage.

Saturday
Second single pass reconnaissance of Saturday stages, followed by Saturday stages

Sunday
Second single pass reconnaissance of Sunday stage followed by Sunday stages.

Events where this structure will result "in a day which is too lengthy" organisers can apply for a waiver to reduce stage distance.


By fax vote the council ratified the following 16 event calendar for 2004:

Monte Carlo Rally January 23-25
Swedish Rally February 6-8
Rally Mexico March 12-14
Rally of Argentina April 30-May 2
Cyprus Rally May 14-16
Acropolis Rally May 28-30
Rally of Turkey June 25-27
Rally of New Zealand July 16-18
Rally Finland August 6-8
Deutschland Rally August 20-22
Rally of Japan September 3-5
Rally GB September 17-19
Rally of Italy September October 1-3
Tour of Corsica October 15-17
Catalonia Rally October 29-31
Rally Australia November 12-14

-------------------------------------------------------

So two cars score manufacturers points -meaning they can still enter more cars if they want to. But will the teams want to run more than 2 cars? With the extra 2 rallies (Mexico and Japan)....most of the teams couldn't afford to run more than 2 cars.

Presumably the FIA need the teams support to push through major changes...and it's more about saving costs and pleasing sponsors than anything else.

[FourWheelDrift]

The manufacturer points from the top two cars includes privateers (in case one should get into the points). So they will still only be able to have 2 factory cars in a rally.

[Izza]

The other thing that this change in reconn will do is reduce the number of competitive stages by HALF!!!!
Rallies have just been cut down in numbers by 1 third and now will only run 1/2 the stage distance.

That's gonna suck for the spectator! Yes I enjoy having double the conjestion and only seeing the cars once or twice (if lucky) each day!

Cheers FIA, way to fckn ruin everything!

And oh yeah before I forget, thanks for putting Rally NZ in the middle of winter, where it pisses down for weeks on end!

FCKN HELL!!!!!

Why dont they just put rallies on circuits and be done with it.

[dazren]

Izza said:

Why dont they just put rallies on circuits and be done with it.

On the offchance this isn't

Wash your mouth out.

DAZ

[Izza]

It was very

But thats the way it looks liek its going. Centralised servicing, repeated stages, practice runs.
I'm just sad the motorsport I worship and the sport that got me into cars and motorsport in general is being systematically destroies.