2013 World Rally Championship

[ArnageWRC]

Can't say I blame you - Croydon to North Wales is quite a trip; costing quite a few £££££ just on fuel, before even paying to get in. Likewise for any Rallyfan in Yorkshire or Scotland; it's too far to travel.

I think it will be an improvement on last year, but still needs a massive overhaul, if it wishes to generate national publicity.

[Distracted]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

Can't say I blame you - Croydon to North Wales is quite a trip; costing quite a few £££££ just on fuel, before even paying to get in. Likewise for any Rallyfan in Yorkshire or Scotland; it's too far to travel.

I think it will be an improvement on last year, but still needs a massive overhaul, if it wishes to generate national publicity.

I looked into going, but it was too expensive. I'm up near Durham, so it's quite a trip. I'll be following it online too.

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by Distracted

I looked into going, but it was too expensive. I'm up near Durham, so it's quite a trip.

Likewise, although I was aiming at going for a day. Despite the move to North Wales its just too far and then theirs the cost of the diesel. I can get to Silverstone quicker. Sticking with following online and the rallycross at Croft next weekend.

[Starfish Primer]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

Anybody else heading off to the Rally of GB??

Starts tomorrow evening, with 3 stages in the dark. 'Old Skool' Rallying.

I suspect, that 10-15 years ago, there would have been loads of interest on here; sadly WRC doesn't interest the general Motorsport fan anymore.

I'd like to go to Chrik Castle or Deeside on Saturday. I couldn't get advance tickets, I hope not to do a 3 hour trip for nothing.

[The Fat Clerk]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

Anybody else heading off to the Rally of GB??

Starts tomorrow evening, with 3 stages in the dark. 'Old Skool' Rallying.

I suspect, that 10-15 years ago, there would have been loads of interest on here; sadly WRC doesn't interest the general Motorsport fan anymore.

Are you surprised?
57 cars and not one of them had their number illuminated, couldn't tell who was who

[BertMk2]

Well Kubica rolled on SS4, Hirvonen rolled on SS6 - maybe Citroen should put a set of wheels on the roof too

[tbtstt]

Looks like the Ogier show up front, but good scrap in WRC2.

[Starfish Primer]

I was at Chirk Castle yesterday, very nice day but the show was quite short me. More Group B or historics laps would be great. Lots of people and some not obeying the safety marshals, there were threats of cancellation if they don't stand in the right place.

When I arrived home I read that some people couldn't get into the stage, the parking was full and many of them had an advance ticket. I got lost at the exit (not the best signalling) and had a long excursion though the Welsh forests narrow roads at night.

It's also sad on how unpolite people is. I saw some adults with cameras pushing kids and everybody to get the best pics. I'm an amateur photographer and I know how important a good spot is, but come on if there are children put them in front of you. They'll see the show and you can take the pic anyway, they aren't going to disturb too much.

Next year I'll try to go to a proper stage.

[chunder]

To be honest I find a lot of amateur photographers are very rude

I remember being at Lydden a few years back and there were quite a few guys just after the start line at Lydden really moaning about the pro guys with bibs on track standing in the way and totally blocking a whole viewing area from other fans of the chicane, they were there for hours without moving.

Some of the moaning and comments shouted at proper photographers was totally uncalled for and utterly pathetic, it is a spectator viewing area, not your personal picture space, and the men doing their pictures in bibs are there for a reason, not just coz they had a bib spare! They are registered and accredited.

Rallying has always had this too, and to be honest some of these pillocks stand in stupid places to take pictures, thank goodness for our rally marshals who are tough enough to tell them to move, many of these guys are simply club members, and some of the abuse from these so called fans I have seen hurled at them warrants a punching really.

If someone was ever rude to me (and they have been) at an event like this, I would simply stand in front of them, it really annoys me I am sorry.

If they spent more time watching what was going on instead of twitching at their stupid screen they might enjoy what the rest of us are enjoying.

[leonidas]

Originally Posted by Starfish Primer

When I arrived home I read that some people couldn't get into the stage, the parking was full and many of them had an advance ticket. I got lost at the exit (not the best signalling) and had a long excursion though the Welsh forests narrow roads at night.

Yes, I heard there were quite a few problems. It really is pathetic. We were always told you have to pay a fortune to ensure there is 'effective organisation'. Then you find the organisation is chaotic / non-existent anyway. So what exactly are fans paying for?

[ArnageWRC]

Hmm, the organisers defended themselves by saying they didn't expect the level of spectator numbers - a great compliment to their event.....
There was only one way in, which was also the exit.....oh dear.

I went to Hafren on Friday, and Dyfi on Saturday; on both occasions I got there before the official opening times.

The majority of stages only have one car park route; maybe a few others are needed. They also close a lot of the surrounding 'unclassified' roads, so other routes in aren't allowed.

I think the event will be judged as a success, but still needs great improvements. I enjoyed my trip, the top WRC/WRC2 boys are mind blowingly quick - and some of the Nationals were pretty committed.

I also saw Kubica's 2nd off - quickish downhill into a tightening right hander, greasy surface, misty, a wrong pace-note = sideways, then backwards down a Welsh hillside. And a big cheer when both the crew appeared out of the car. Not nice to see a car roll off a hillside, for a split second your heart is in your mouth.

[leonidas]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

Hmm, the organisers defended themselves by saying they didn't expect the level of spectator numbers - a great compliment to their event.....
There was only one way in, which was also the exit.....oh dear.
.

Yes and nothing annoys me more than when people screw up and then try to 'spin' their way out of trouble. The bottom line is that Joe Rallyfan is getting a poorer deal than when the whole thing was free.

[Suze]

If any of the marshals are reading this, thank you. Everyone seemed friendly and happy despite very, very early starts for many of you.

We had an amazing, incredible weekend. We competed on the two day national having never done a forest event before and it was only our second on pacenotes. We both got more into it as the event went on and the support from people on road sections and in the stages, particularly the power stage, was like nothing we have ever experienced before. Very pleased to finish although with results going postal we do not know how we did.

If anybody has any photos of car 294 a red Micra, please get in touch.

[cg7aa]

Does anyone know why Kubica had a different co-driver for Wales? You would have thought for his first outing in a new car at a new event, reducing the unknowns would have been a good idea, how often has he used Italian pace notes for instance? Maybe there are perfectly good reasons for all of this.

[kober]

Originally Posted by cg7aa

Does anyone know why Kubica had a different co-driver for Wales?

Kubica's previous co-driver, Maciej Baran, had had enough. The official reason given was too-busy schedule for Baran, now that he became a father. But, I doubt a single event would made a difference.

[Starfish Primer]

On Kubica, if you mix a new car, a new codriver and one of the fastest and most difficult rally the chances of an accident if you go flat out are very high. What is very hard to understand is that after a crash the previous day, not to take it easy the next day.

Meeke was supposed to drive here but after not doing in Australia what was asked by Citroen management, they sacked him.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Starfish Primer

On Kubica, if you mix a new car, a new codriver and one of the fastest and most difficult rally the chances of an accident if you go flat out are very high. What is very hard to understand is that after a crash the previous day, not to take it easy the next day.

Meeke was supposed to drive here but after not doing in Australia what was asked by Citroen management, they sacked him.

What did they ask?

[cmk]

Originally Posted by FIRE

What did they ask?

Take it easy, don't wreck, bring home a finish. He wrecked.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Starfish Primer

Meeke was supposed to drive here but after not doing in Australia what was asked by Citroen management, they sacked him.

Is this a recent development? Last I read Yves Matton still hadn't ruled him out for more drives in 2014 and Meeke was testing for PSA in Wales last week.

[ArnageWRC]

As already said, a combination of factors contributed to his Big off on Saturday; first time on GB, first time in a WRCar, first time with a new co-driver. Add in that he was first on the road on Saturday, so had no lines or braking marks to follow = accident waiting to happen.

As for Meeke - he hasn't been sacked, he's still part of the PSA team, and tested the 208 R5 last week. Whether he gets a full time drive with Citroen is another matter. He hasn't been helped by 'one off' drives - they should have given him until the end of the season.

[leonidas]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

As for Meeke - he hasn't been sacked, he's still part of the PSA team, and tested the 208 R5 last week. Whether he gets a full time drive with Citroen is another matter. He hasn't been helped by 'one off' drives - they should have given him until the end of the season.

Yes, I don't see what one-off drives achieve. If you want to develop a driver you have to give him proper seat time. I don't really understand the criticism of Meeke - he's not reckless in his driving style. I suspect there's quite a bit of 'politics' in PSA and some rivals are whispering in journalists' ears.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by sethmate

Unfortunately it turns into a familiar circular argument - "WRC doesn't interest the general Motorsport fan (much less, the casual sports fan / spectator)anymore" as it barely gets any coverage, and it doesn't get any coverage because there's no groundswell of interest. On a whole-championship level I guess the reasons for that have been discussed at length here and elsewhere on 10-tenths, but at an event level (and what was a major british sporting event) its a pretty poor show! For the majority of media outlets, motorsport doesn't exist beyond F1. And as a promotional tool, I can't even see the Welsh Gov't getting much for their millions in promoting the event (and thereby Wales) to the rest of the UK.

Still, I can tune into S4C on Freesat and hopefully the Welsh-language rally show will still be covering the event..

Or you could have watched it in English on ITV4.