Hes right, i chinese rally would help WRC alot.

Quote from ATC Quicksilver :

When everyone gets digital TV that works it should improve a lot, because nobody in my area can get Dave, and it seems thats the case for a lot of people.

You have to start to wonder when they sell exclusive rights to the coverage to some random station that coughs up the requisite amount of dough and then turn around an complain because no one is watching. I have no idea who broadcasts the WRC in Norway these days as it changes every year. I'm tired of trying to figure out which cable package I'll need to be able to watch. These days I just download the Eurosport/Dave coverage instead as it's by far the easiest way to keep up.

I think that rallying was never good for broadcasting on TV, it's not within one 2 hour sunday afternoon as F1 or similar motorsport (or even football). But I still think that those marketing gurus are still thinking to turn a rally into a F1 like event, neat and tidy to present.

They should focus again on the persons who actually go to a rally. When watching the eurosport broadcast of the Jordan Rally I hardly spotted any people standing next to the track scream (compare that to the old youtube rally clips). The Rally should be where the fans are, not where the new hip place to be and maybe market is.

Another thing that keeps me bugging is the permanent complainment about how expensive it is. Does anyone really belive that if the car is closer to the average boring road group B car, meaning having a cheaper basis, that they won't spent the money on other stuff? When they can't afford to finance a motorsport project they shouldn't be thinking about doing one. It's like going to court to complain about that your favorite car is too expensive...

At least that's my 2 cents

Well with it being expensive nobody will make the cars. Or maybe only 2 manufacturers, which is enough to try to outdesign eachother. THat raises the costs. And with only 2 manufacturers it's not really interesting. Well, ATM we have 3. So yeah. Being cheaper there's a bigger chance that there will be more cars out there. There are 307s or 207s (whichever, don't really car ), Puntos and Clios in S2000/S1600. As much competition as in WRC right there. Add the JWRC C2 and Swift and you have 5 different (though in 2 classes) cars.

some interesting reading about tv coverage
http://www.wrc.com/resources/2007%20WRC%20Fact%20Book.pdf

We`ll see what happends in 2010, when the WRC cars should be replaced by S2000 cars with turbos - i think it might not be totally stupid....and theres a chance of more different manufacturers, because currently there is Fiat Punto, VW Polo, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 207, Toyota Corolla, MG ZR, Skoda Fabia and some Proton something S2000....

It's such a shame, what should be one of the most amazing TV spectator sports has turned into a snore-fest.....

Whatever they end up doing with the cars will only matter if we start to get some decent coverage again.

I'm all for dropping to a 2L NA 2WD spec with todays technology and increase the stage lengths dramatically.

I have so much respect for the top level rally drivers and their crazy skillz - lol - the way they have been sold short is criminal. Some of the in-car footage is just mental

WRC has been a big joke for a while now. I still like to follow what is happening and how Finnish drivers do, but if I want to see some real rally action I go to some local F-group / historic event and enjoy some RWD action with sounds of naturally aspirated engines.

These modern AWD cars are just boring.

News just in, WRC is going to adopt an army style short back and sides look for all the drivers.

http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/67205

"Of course these persons are an insult to real males", he added. "My only solution is that we suggest to (rallying rights holders) ISC that the camera does not cover them close up."

An insult to real males...what real males that are clean shaven with neat hair, that sit in an office tapping on keyboards and doing pointless bloody interviews complaining about scruffy people? Last time I checked nobody was questioning Chuck Norris' manhood because he needed a shave. The reason WRC is going downhill? Idiots in suits like these 2 guys are in charge, they are more concerned about drivers shaving than the sport they run.

Is this for real? Who the hell are these people, and more importantly, who the hell do they think they are? I vote for all drivers in the WRC to let their hair and beard grow as a response to these fools. Bonus points for now showering during a rally weekend.

After reading that article I've lost all respect for the WRC and the people who run it. Commenting on a rally driver's LOOKS? This is not a modelling show! Its a World Rally Championship!

Those guys need to be stabbed, or something.

Thats the most important thing to complain about... the looks of Sebastien Loeb... Unless of course they are planning some kind of FIA's next top model...

Anyway... some small comparison...

before / after


which looks more manly?

Any Similarity to Persons Living is Purely Coincidental

Maybe Loeb should shave his head and beard and join a neo-nazi group. That'd be better role model! Even better if he'd get cought on tape doing sex orgy.

Here's a bit more in-depth story about this: http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20321.html

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/1770819

Morrie Chandler interview