Subaru And Suzuki Drop Out Of Wrc

[phunky_monkey]

True and agree Dane, I just meant the lack of manufacturer variety isn't a deal breaker for me.

Me either, still the best form of motorsport by a long shot going around imo!

yeh right on phunk.. bring back the SWRT cars from the early 2000-2006.. they are hwat...

You're not wrong!

Pity the 06 was a bit of a dog...

[irin thomas]

hi

[trackracer88]

Agreed that WRC USED TO BE the best motorsport around. I was involved in rallying for a while, ran an AE86 Trueno notchback. Wicked fast and fun, but rally is all but dead. It's getting harder and harder to get approval to run events, and more teams keep pulling out on many different levels. It's sad to say, but in Australia at least, rally won't be around much longer. And if lower level rally dies, you can bet they won't see reason to fund WRC events. That's why I've been building up a Superlap car, was going to build a rally car but couldn't justify the outlay for maybe a season or two of use.

[Marlin]

^^^ And this is why so many clubs are struggling, particularly old school clubs like mine (BSCC who host the APRC in Qld) who have failed to see the writing on the wall for gravel events. Their efforts would be much better spent on focussing on tarmac events where the interest and money seems to be now.

[NZM.031]

its just because australia is such a large country... with a small and young population.. it takes hours and hours to get anywhere from anywhere else.. and as is the australian way... half of us just CBF'd

its a viscious cycle, and the same cycle that everyone and everything is in.... without public support, events wont get big attractions... but without big attractions, events wont get public support...

[Necx0]

^^^ And this is why so many clubs are struggling, particularly old school clubs like mine (BSCC who host the APRC in Qld) who have failed to see the writing on the wall for gravel events. Their efforts would be much better spent on focussing on tarmac events where the interest and money seems to be now.

Sorry Benny but can't agree with that at all. I'm sure Timmy well tell you stories from last weekend's first round of the TRS. 25 entries, biggest field in Tassie rallying for a while. ARC is a bit of a joke sure but to say gravel rallying has no future is just absurd. There are still plenty of people out there willing to support gravel rallying, it will only die if people take an attitude like "oh it's got no future, may as well give up". Tarmac rallying is going through a purple patch at the moment, but that's because it is still relatively new and exciting. Personally I think we need both and the person that wins in both disciplines will probably be the best driver in Australia.

As for the WRC thing, next year's Citroen challenger. I feared the next-gen cars may be a bit pedestrian, but they don't look much slower to me.

[giant]

the ARC in general couldnt get anymore boring if they tried. ( the only one having fun are those in the car) the cars are faster in the carpark.

and please dont take this the wrong way as not a shot at you , but 25 entries being a big field is a bit of a worry.

i remember going to state rallies in the early nineties when group A (no restrictors) were allowed ( and group g before that! ) with fields of 60 plus cars.

for a rally to be worth it because of the effort to close the roads , volunteers etc you need large fields! just my opinion though.

[Marlin]

Sorry Scott, but a field of 25 is pus. You must becyoung, as giant and I both recall, 70 plus is where it's at. As it stands now, no sponsor worth a vent would place their name on z. aRC car today, because they're the opposite of what today's sportsfans expect, and that's excitement, something that the turf ARC cars just cannot bring. Us mullets need rooosting weapons!!!!

[Marlin]

All care taken, no responsibility taken for the above post. I was ejeculating when this was written.

[Necx0]

Remember I am talking about a Tassie state round here though. If every round of the Tassie series attracted 25-30 cars it would be in rude health. Obviously for NSW/Vic you would expect more around the 50-60 mark (but I have no idea how many they attract). Look at the Alpine though attracting 100+ entries.

You will get no argument from me about the ARC being rubbish and Group N being boring as batshit, which is unfortunate, but to say that justifies gravel rallying dying is a bit iffy. Hopefully ALL forms of rallying (gravel and tarmac) can find ways to live and prosper for many years!

Rally on!

[Marlin]

For sure mate, and I'm not wishing death on ANY form of motorsport, but one only need to look at the fields for tarmac rallies........., oversubscribed entries, fields of 200+ cars, manufacturer support etc..... and this, despite the typical entry fee for tarmac events being outrageously high compared to a typical state gravel round.

[iplen]

The ongoing death of forest rallying is a sad but true fact... Although amsag is not doing too bad. Perfect example is Bega rally, 2003 entry was capped at a bit over 100, this year the event did not cover costs due to poor entries. I think the problem is that people with money used to go gravel rallying, but now the people that would have dirt rallied go Tarmac rallying, possibly because they more often than not are promoting their own business and there is simply no way they can justify dirt rallying to any accountant

[giant]

yes dont get me wrong either

i love gravel rally, it also has the most skilled drivers on the planet in my opinion. i crewed for a gravel team for almost ten years.

i used to love watching possum & neal battle it out in group A weapons and then the wrc cars!! i can still remember how fantastic possums liberty sounded in the forest!!!

rallying is along way from that and i hope they find there way back sometime soon.