[verizon]

I don't think that reputation of Monte Carlo is dependent on championship it participates in. It's something special like Dakar, I can imagine Monte even aside any championship.

[Yartonbler]

I don't think that reputation of Monte Carlo is dependent on championship it participates in. It's something special like Dakar, I can imagine Monte even aside any championship.

It's a bit like Le Mans in that regard.....

[dmoiknlasd]

Watching a load of almost identically-sized small hatchbacks, no matter how well-driven, somehow doesn't do it for me.

:-DDD Just watch the following WRC round - what you'll see: just two different types of "almost identically-sized small hatchbacks"... So where's the point?

[Aswdwdfg]

:-DDD Just watch the following WRC round - what you'll see: just two different types of "almost identically-sized small hatchbacks"... So where's the point?

I'm not denying that this is the case either. But at least the WRC cars won't just be understeer-y small hatchbacks.

[Yartonbler]

Both series could do with plenty of over-steery 911 GT3's competing - real crowd pleasers!!

[xtrudood]

But being an IRC event means it has even less profile amongst the wider public than it would as a WRC event. How many non-enthusiasts have heard of the IRC? Not nearly enough. And, as I said, the cars are just too dull.

Maybe IRC rallies are not well known by the less enthousiastic rally fans, but still they have their own identity. IRC is great by letting rallies run their own scedule, instead of the standard friday-saterday, and hen a half program on sunday. I can hardly see the difference between rallies in Mexico, Argentina, Portugal, Sardinie, Greece. WRC rallies are becoming 1 taste sausages. I hardly bare to follow it, sometimes only seeing the results pages in the evening. IRC offers great possibilities for drivers who cannot make it to the WRC because theuy lack the multi million budget.
Group N has failed in being the step stone to WRC. How many drivers who had succes in Group N, made it to the WRCars? Only Tommi Makinen (1990 3 wins) comes on top of my memory. And Grabriele Pozzo (champion in 2001) had a half change with Skoda in 2002.
Formula 2 (1993-1999) brought Seat, Peugeot, Skoda, Citroen Alister McRae, Rovanpera, Panizzi
JWRC (2001-2010) brought Loeb, Duval, Sordo, Ogier, Anderson, Meeke
F2 and JWRC were so much more fruitfuller championships for new teams and young drivers. IRC brings the same posisbilities as these had. WRC needs IRC and vice versa

[verizon]

I'm not denying that this is the case either. But at least the WRC cars won't just be understeer-y small hatchbacks.

I have to tell You that both S2000 and new WRC have same transmission and suspension so their handling is generally same.

[Aswdwdfg]

Maybe IRC rallies are not well known by the less enthousiastic rally fans, but still they have their own identity.

Very true, and I very much like this about the IRC, but this doesn't mean much without the championship as a whole having some wider status. Again, I'd make the comparison with A1GP, because I think this is entirely relevant. A1GP was an excellent idea, the cars were good, there were some good drivers, it used good circuits — and it failed.

Group N has failed in being the step stone to WRC.

I very much agree. As I've said several times before, it holds almost zero interest for the spectator — even the enthusiastic spectator. The only time I've ever had the slightest interest in a Group N battle was when British Touring Car driver James Thompson did the RAC (as I insist on calling it) in 2002, and nearly won the category, for that would have been a tremendous achievement on his first WRC event. Other than that, Group N bores me rigid, I'm sorry to say.

Formula 2 (1993-1999) brought Seat, Peugeot, Skoda, Citroen Alister McRae, Rovanpera, Panizzi
JWRC (2001-2010) brought Loeb, Duval, Sordo, Ogier, Anderson, Meeke
F2 and JWRC were so much more fruitfuller championships for new teams and young drivers. IRC brings the same posisbilities as these had. WRC needs IRC and vice versa

I'm not sure about that. What I think is needed is one world championship with a meaningful secondary formula, something like F2 was, and a genuine variety — formats, locations, stages — of events. Maybe Jean Todt thinks this way as well? We shall see.

[Aswdwdfg]

Both series could do with plenty of over-steery 911 GT3's competing - real crowd pleasers!!

Not a bad idea, but in my opinion only if they were in some way competitive. It would be strange indeed for supercars to be just bit-players against small family hatchbacks.

I probably sound like a cracked record, but I feel quite strongly that world rallying was at its best when large numbers of different types of car were able to compete on a fairly level playing-field, if not on every type of event. The sort of variety to be found in 1981, with Escorts, 131 Abarths, Sunbeam Lotuses, 911s, Asconas, R5 Turbos, Quattros, even the occasional Ferrari and more all competing at the top level was very appealing. What a shame the Group B supercars came along and spoiled it. The early post-1986 period of Group A being the primary category saw a brief return to such variety, something which, for me at least, was much to be welcomed.

[Yartonbler]

Not a bad idea, but in my opinion only if they were in some way competitive. It would be strange indeed for supercars to be just bit-players against small family hatchbacks.

I probably sound like a cracked record, but I feel quite strongly that world rallying was at its best when large numbers of different types of car were able to compete on a fairly level playing-field, if not on every type of event. The sort of variety to be found in 1981, with Escorts, 131 Abarths, Sunbeam Lotuses, 911s, Asconas, R5 Turbos, Quattros, even the occasional Ferrari and more all competing at the top level was very appealing. What a shame the Group B supercars came along and spoiled it. The early post-1986 period of Group A being the primary category saw a brief return to such variety, something which, for me at least, was much to be welcomed.

I'm afraid I'm in full agreement with you.......
Variety, different solutions to a question? RWD, 4WD, FWD, front engine, rear engine, mid engine, hot hatch, family hatch, coupe, sportscar, etc
I'd love to see some kind of equivalency formula - together with a mixed calendar of gravel, tarmac, mixed, and a snow event - meaning on a certain type of event a particular car would be the favourite, but on another event, it would be another type of car - however, at the end of the season it would even itself out, and would be extremely interesting!!
But, it's not going to happen - too many vested interests will see to that.

[Aswdwdfg]

I'm afraid I'm in full agreement with you.......
Variety, different solutions to a question? RWD, 4WD, FWD, front engine, rear engine, mid engine, hot hatch, family hatch, coupe, sportscar, etc
I'd love to see some kind of equivalency formula - together with a mixed calendar of gravel, tarmac, mixed, and a snow event - meaning on a certain type of event a particular car would be the favourite, but on another event, it would be another type of car - however, at the end of the season it would even itself out, and would be extremely interesting!!
But, it's not going to happen - too many vested interests will see to that.

Look at the moaning, especially from Subaru, when the 306 Maxis 'stole points from them' on tarmac. I thought it was great to see two-wheel-drive cars being competitive again.

Of course, just what you describe was habitually the case in the British Open series from 1982-85. Generally, Quattros would win on gravel, Asconas/Mantas on tarmac. It was always a close-run thing at the end of the season.

[Yartonbler]

Look at the moaning, especially from Subaru, when the 306 Maxis 'stole points from them' on tarmac. I thought it was great to see two-wheel-drive cars being competitive again.

Of course, just what you describe was habitually the case in the British Open series from 1982-85. Generally, Quattros would win on gravel, Asconas/Mantas on tarmac. It was always a close-run thing at the end of the season.

Yes, I do remember, eventually the kit cars had their minimum weight increased to decrease their competitiveness - an extremely short sighted decision!! I just wish the FiA had the balls to stand up to these Manufacturers once in a while. It seems Ford/ Citroen have virtually run the show the last few years deciding what regs/rules can come in - whether that benefits the sport as a whole, doesn't matter.

[Aswdwdfg]

Yes, I do remember, eventually the kit cars had their minimum weight increased to decrease their competitiveness - an extremely short sighted decision!! I just wish the FiA had the balls to stand up to these Manufacturers once in a while. It seems Ford/ Citroen have virtually run the show the last few years deciding what regs/rules can come in - whether that benefits the sport as a whole, doesn't matter.

The good thing is that I can't see Jean Todt standing for this if it continues for much longer (as I fear it will even when the Mini effort is up and running). It does seem strange to be thinking of the boss of the FIA as a potential saviour, but such might end up being the case.

[Yartonbler]

The good thing is that I can't see Jean Todt standing for this if it continues for much longer (as I fear it will even when the Mini effort is up and running). It does seem strange to be thinking of the boss of the FIA as a potential saviour, but such might end up being the case.

Whatever people might think of him and his previous role at Ferrari - he's actually spoken a lot of sense regarding the future of the sport - event formats, endurance, etc So I'm fairly hopeful he might get things done. Whether that includes a merger between WRC-IRC, I'm not sure.