Why no European Rallycross in the UK?

The STIG · 20 Feb 2008, 13:43 (Ref:2133342)

Anyone know? It's not as if we have a shortage of tracks or competitors?

Apologies if I've missed previous incarnations of this topic.

Cryos · 20 Feb 2008, 15:02 (Ref:2133389)

Hi stig, age old question.

Utlimately nobody has really put an effort in to attract it.

zac510 · 20 Feb 2008, 15:27 (Ref:2133408)

I'll leave the politics to the older fellas here. However, I notice there are 3 'candidate events' up for ERC this year (ref: http://www.rallycross.com/events/index.html). None of them are in the UK.

If one or two of them get in then it will be even harder for UK to bring the ERC back.

There could be upto 12 or 13 ERC rounds. How many can the ERC handle?

sjones · 20 Feb 2008, 18:46 (Ref:2133531)

Quote:

Originally Posted by zac510

I'll leave the politics to the older fellas here. However, I notice there are 3 'candidate events' up for ERC this year (ref: http://www.rallycross.com/events/index.html). None of them are in the UK.

If one or two of them get in then it will be even harder for UK to bring the ERC back.

There could be upto 12 or 13 ERC rounds. How many can the ERC handle?

Orginally Croft was planned to be used for a ERC round this year but due to the lack of a 5 car starting grid it can't be run. The Dorans are trying to get it to come to Lydden Hill. But with Kuovola, Finland and Kazan in Russia fighting for a round of the ERC 2009. And current regulations only allow a maximum of 12 events.

Steve Gibson · 20 Feb 2008, 21:50 (Ref:2133641)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryos

Hi stig, age old question.

Utlimately nobody has really put an effort in to attract it.

People have put a lot of effort in but sadly we don't have a track that has a wide enough start area to accomodate a grid 14.5 m wide.

DCS · 20 Feb 2008, 21:55 (Ref:2133648)

I would like to see the current ERC expand to at least 12 rounds, but if possible more, but I am sure the drivers are not so keen on that. You have to understand that most drivers have local sponsors...

The STIG · 20 Feb 2008, 22:41 (Ref:2133680)

So the track has to have a 5 car grid? Is that 5 across or 3:2 formation?

BOY BLUNDER · 20 Feb 2008, 23:21 (Ref:2133718)

Evening stig yes i do beleive its 5 cars across in 1 line,i thought lydden was wide enough,i've seen european there.

BB....

Mad Mark Watson · 20 Feb 2008, 23:58 (Ref:2133756)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOY BLUNDER

Evening stig yes i do beleive its 5 cars across in 1 line,i thought lydden was wide enough,i've seen european there.

BB....

Problem is next race has to be on gride while last race is running i.e. you have to move the start at croft and lydden

leonidas · 21 Feb 2008, 16:34 (Ref:2134323)

Any chance that Mallory could have a 5-wide ERC spec grid? If a lot of work has to be done anyway could this not be incorporated into the track from the start?

DCS · 21 Feb 2008, 16:44 (Ref:2134332)

I think Lydden would be best as it is very easy to reach for Europeans...

BOY BLUNDER · 21 Feb 2008, 16:54 (Ref:2134341)

I've actually done 5 car grids at lydden,its a bit tight,but its better than the normal 3,2,3.grids.

BB....

Steve Gibson · 21 Feb 2008, 16:54 (Ref:2134343)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The STIG

So the track has to have a 5 car grid? Is that 5 across or 3:2 formation?

Yes 5 accross each grid box 2.5 m wide and a minimum of 1m between the outermost grid boxes and track edge total 14.5m

StockHatch782 · 21 Feb 2008, 16:59 (Ref:2134348)

So presumably at Lydden they'd move the grid back to where the forming-up area is, so that they could have the next race on the grid while there was still one going on?

Steve Gibson · 21 Feb 2008, 17:09 (Ref:2134360)

I don't think that area will be wide enough and you have not got a straight line start which I think is 100 m from that point, these are just a few of the obstacles that potential organisers have to solve.

sjones · 21 Feb 2008, 18:32 (Ref:2134417)

Some of the new circuits are going into development will be pretty wide, Not heard wether they are gonna be 5's or 3-2's.

The STIG · 21 Feb 2008, 20:56 (Ref:2134507)

Hmmm, Tricky.

I was going to suggest maybe using the London Masters as a candidate round... but I don't think there will be enough room.

PhergAthor · 22 Feb 2008, 08:52 (Ref:2134810)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The STIG

Hmmm, Tricky.

I was going to suggest maybe using the London Masters as a candidate round... but I don't think there will be enough room.

Ooohhh noooo!!!! The London Masters are a great way to promote the sport, but in no way to be compared to the real thing.

You need a much wider track, much more spectator room, much better safety measures, a bigger and accessable paddock and more facilities for teams, spectators, press and so on.....

IMHO, Lydden is the most suitable track to adapt to ERC standards. Pat announced the remake of the paddock and some structures. That would leave him with the start-grid and some safety issues to solve.

Thundersports · 22 Feb 2008, 10:40 (Ref:2134877)

Could the assembly area be modified to be used as a starting grid at Lydden?

silver bullet · 22 Feb 2008, 12:15 (Ref:2134950)

Surely Pembrey would fit all the criteria needed to host an ERC round. The only downside would be persuading the European competitors to trek all the way to South Wales. I suppose if there were a back to back meeting at Mondello most would make the trip, but that would mean another country fighting for a place in an already overcrowded calendar.

StockHatch782 · 22 Feb 2008, 12:39 (Ref:2134969)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thundersports

Could the assembly area be modified to be used as a starting grid at Lydden?

From what's been said above it seems like it would have to have fairly substantial alteration i.e. it would have to move across to where the burger van and merchandise stands are, or possibly even further across, in order to make it a straight line.

Having said that, I presume the Dorans will be willing to put the work in in order to get an ERC event over to our shores.

King Arthur · 22 Feb 2008, 18:33 (Ref:2135197)

I suggest we wait and see the work that Pat is doing. I would also suggest that if reforming parts of the circuit / start / forming up area then it would be fairly easy to Shannon it.

Where there is a will there is a way.

StockHatch782 · 22 Feb 2008, 20:34 (Ref:2135260)

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Arthur

Shannon it

Nice phrase! I think it should enter common use in the English language.

Shannon (vb.) - to construct speedily, to adapt existing landscape (esp. Motorsport usage)

mel tyres · 22 Feb 2008, 20:39 (Ref:2135263)

It should be the Ollie Way, and maybe name the starting straight SHANNON STRAIGHT.

The STIG · 22 Feb 2008, 21:12 (Ref:2135283)

Quote:

Originally Posted by silver bullet

Surely Pembrey would fit all the criteria needed to host an ERC round. The only downside would be persuading the European competitors to trek all the way to South Wales. I suppose if there were a back to back meeting at Mondello most would make the trip, but that would mean another country fighting for a place in an already overcrowded calendar.

Well for a start it isn't wide enough, and the potential for gridding up a race whilst another is running is awkward - not impossible, but awkward. Other than that, it's fine.

Having said that, I would love to see such a high profile series at Pembrey.

Since Lydden is the spiritual home of rallycross, surely it should be there?

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