2015 World Rally Championship

NaBUru38 · 23 Sep 2014, 22:32 (Ref:3457017)

The 2015 World rally Championship calendar has been published:

25 January - Monte-Carlo
15 February - Sweden
8 March - Mexico
19 April - Argentina
24 May - Portugal
14 June - Sardegna
5 July - Poland
2 August - Finland
23 August - Germany
13 September - Australia
4 October - Alsace
25 October - Catalunya
15 November - Wales

Australia remains at NSW, whereas New Zealand doesn't return.

Portugal will be held to the north, something awesome according to Spaniards I've read.

Monte-Carlo will adopt Rally-2 regulations

- o -

Volkswagen will keep Ogier and Latvala.

Hyundai has confirmed Neuville.

Elfyn Evans will run an M-Sport Ford.

Alex Langheck · 24 Sep 2014, 12:14 (Ref:3457162)

Still a heavy bias towards gravel. And no Tarmac early in the season - Germany in August is the first pure Tarmac round.
Monte finishes on the Sunday morning; no Turini at night......

NaBUru38 · 24 Sep 2014, 16:05 (Ref:3457243)

I agree that there's too little tarmac rounds. Italy and Portugal should be tarmac, or at least mixed.

What I miss most is more non-European rallies like New Zealand and Japan, not to mention the Acropolis.

AndyS · 24 Sep 2014, 16:41 (Ref:3457251)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I agree that there's too little tarmac rounds. Italy and Portugal should be tarmac, or at least mixed.

What I miss most is more non-European rallies like New Zealand and Japan, not to mention the Acropolis.

Agreed needs to be another couple of tarmac events. If by Acropolis you mean Greece then that is very definitely in Europe. I have to say Japan never really did much for me but New Zealand is a good event. I also miss the Safari. I'm afraid unless its F1 the cost of hiking around the World for numerous events just makes it unviable these days and not just in rallying.

**BertMk2** · 25 Sep 2014, 08:32 (Ref:3457470)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Langheck

Still a heavy bias towards gravel. And no Tarmac early in the season - Germany in August is the first pure Tarmac round.
Monte finishes on the Sunday morning; no Turini at night......

The Monte Carlo is a Tarmac rally - but there is often snow on top of the tarmac! I'm not sure which gravel events you'd lose to accommodate another tarmac round?

On the whole it's not a bad calendar - events like the Safari are a thing of the past unfortunately - can you imagine how much that would cost these days? (completely different car required - not just back to base and swap drivetrain bits over). Shame to see New Zealand missing though, that always looks like a great event through some stunning scenery.

Alex Langheck · 25 Sep 2014, 11:58 (Ref:3457526)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertMk2

The Monte Carlo is a Tarmac rally - but there is often snow on top of the tarmac! I'm not sure which gravel events you'd lose to accommodate another tarmac round?

On the whole it's not a bad calendar - events like the Safari are a thing of the past unfortunately - can you imagine how much that would cost these days? (completely different car required - not just back to base and swap drivetrain bits over). Shame to see New Zealand missing though, that always looks like a great event through some stunning scenery.

Which is why I stated 'pure Tarmac' for Germany. There are far too many dry, dusty gravel events; they offer nothing. Replace Sardinia with Sanremo. And I'd get rid of Mexico, and put Ireland in.

cptkablamo · 30 Sep 2014, 11:09 (Ref:3458850)

It's not a bad calendar at all - a lot of stability which is a good thing. I personally don't mind Rally 2 - with all the other changes to Rally (i.e. things like the Safari as mentioned) I think it belongs - and is certainly not as major of a change as the Powerstage things that are being proposed. As for the tarmac rallies, I'd think you'd have to add in a round early in the Championship rather than replacing a round. Massive shame for NZ but at least with Rally Australia, I have one near by!

NaBUru38 · 30 Sep 2014, 17:12 (Ref:3458936)

Oh, no. The Rally Argentina will be held the same weekend as the MotoGP race at Termas de Rïo Hondo. This is really stupid.

Alex Langheck · 30 Sep 2014, 21:02 (Ref:3459000)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Oh, no. The Rally Argentina will be held the same weekend as the MotoGP race at Termas de Rïo Hondo. This is really stupid.

But inevitable when all other series try to avoid clashing with F1.

morningview66 · 30 Sep 2014, 21:26 (Ref:3459010)

I think the ideal calendar for me would look something like this.

JAN Monte Carlo

FEB Sweden

MAR Mexico

MAR Argentina

APR Portugal

APR Safari

MAY Tour de Course

JUN Finland

AUG Acropolis

AUG Australia

SEP Germany

SEP Sanremo

OCT Catalunya

NOV Wales

Expanded from 13 to 14 with the addition of a Safari rally, Acropolis would swap back with Poland. Tour de Course would be a direct replacement for Alsace and Sanremo for Sardegna to add a bit of tarmac back to the season.

nickyf1 · 6 Oct 2014, 11:50 (Ref:3461217)

I'd very much like to see Ireland back on the calendar. Probably one of the most rally mad countries in Europe, and the last event based in Sligo was considerably nearer to my house than Wales.

**BertMk2** · 21 Nov 2014, 10:25 (Ref:3477242)

Bringing this one back up the pile - I see Ott Tanak has now been confirmed at M-Sport for 2015. Evans and Tanak isn't a bad lineup but I can see M-Sport struggling to match the front runners next year. So the lineups for next year are something like this:

VW - Ogier, Latvala, Mikklesen?
Hyundai - Neuville, Sordo, Possible 3rd car?
Citroen - Meeke, ?
M-Sport - Evans, Tanak, Kubica?

Still some question marks over drivers but really the big question is can Hyundai take the fight to VW? Unless they can we're looking at total domination again from VW (I can't see Citroen or M-Sport spending the money needed to catch VW).

AndyS · 21 Nov 2014, 10:45 (Ref:3477246)

Kubica being considered by Citroen along with Ostberg and Paddon according to Autosport.

**BertMk2** · 21 Nov 2014, 11:05 (Ref:3477249)

Whilst I can see why people would want Kubica (high profile) he does still seem to make a lot of mistakes and realistically he's not going to be bringing in a regular haul of points all the time he's doing that. If there's a 3rd car he's a good option but I'm not sure I'd have him in a 2 car team. Also has Kubica said whether he's sticking with rallying for next year or is he going back racing - the DTM rumours still seem to crop up.

cg7aa · 8 Dec 2014, 20:38 (Ref:3483202)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyS

Kubica being considered by Citroen along with Ostberg and Paddon according to Autosport.

Glad to see Ostberg getting the gig at Citroen.

Alex Langheck · 8 Dec 2014, 20:43 (Ref:3483205)

There have have been rumours about Kubica doing the WTCC in either Citroen or Loeb Racing C- Elysse; and selected WRC events.

jim199 · 7 Jan 2015, 11:04 (Ref:3490632)

M-Sports 'retro' livery for this season looks really nice!

**BertMk2** · 7 Jan 2015, 13:02 (Ref:3490671)

Whilst it does look quite good it does highlight the lack of a title sponsor again

Alex Langheck · 7 Jan 2015, 21:23 (Ref:3490804)

It's a tough market out there, getting sponsors is hard. Last year even McLaren didn't have a title sponsor - even for high profile F1. What chance does a British WRC team have?

NaBUru38 · 7 Jan 2015, 23:22 (Ref:3490849)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Whilst it does look quite good it does highlight the lack of a title sponsor again

That Ford Ecoboost logo is huge, so I guess that Ford is still backing the team.

Now, the sponsor that has reduced investment is Castrol. There's barely any red or green in the livery.

**BertMk2** · 8 Jan 2015, 09:23 (Ref:3490928)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Langheck

It's a tough market out there, getting sponsors is hard. Last year even McLaren didn't have a title sponsor - even for high profile F1. What chance does a British WRC team have?

True - but I suspect that M-Sport would want significantly less money than McLaren for title sponsorship rights!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

That Ford Ecoboost logo is huge, so I guess that Ford is still backing the team.

Now, the sponsor that has reduced investment is Castrol. There's barely any red or green in the livery.

There is still Ford money going into the team but nothing like the amount that was when M-Sport was a works team. I'd suspect that the Castrol sponsorship is linked to the Ford money (preferred oil supplier for Ford?).

Still, wherever the money is coming from M-Sport seem to be doing ok - there are always plenty of Fiestas entered on events (in a number of classes - not just the WR cars).

tbtstt · 8 Jan 2015, 10:21 (Ref:3490934)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim199

M-Sports 'retro' livery for this season looks really nice!

I personally think it looks a bit bland, can think of a lot of other classic Ford rally car liveries that would have provided a more interesting base.

NaBUru38 · 8 Jan 2015, 13:55 (Ref:3490964)

If Castrol invested some money, they would do a retro liverly like these:

**BertMk2** · 9 Jan 2015, 13:59 (Ref:3491278)

Hyundai have confirmed their drive lineup - Neuville and Sordo for a full season and Paddon in a 3rd car from round 2 onwards. Good move I think - give drivers the full season rather than chopping and changing like they did last season.

**BertMk2** · 9 Jan 2015, 14:02 (Ref:3491281)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim199

M-Sports 'retro' livery for this season looks really nice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbtstt

I personally think it looks a bit bland, can think of a lot of other classic Ford rally car liveries that would have provided a more interesting base.

Well according to M-Sport:

Quote:

Originally Posted by M-Sport PR Guff

The livery is influenced by Mikkola’s famous Eaton Yale Escort RS1800, in which he won Britain’s Lombard RAC Rally in 1979, and the Sierra RS Cosworth which McRae drove in 1989.

Not quite sure I see either of those in there but hey ho.

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