Global Rallycross Championship 2015

[CS1]

Wonder if we will see Sverre back in the WRX once his contract finished with Subaru ?

[Distracted]

Another press release:

http://www.redbullglobalrallycross.c...-our-strategy/

[crossfades]

Maybe this should be in a new thread but its called Global Rallycross Australia, anyway, this is quite interesting. In Australia they will arrange Supercar lites tests and a championship, Sidchrome Extreme Rallycross, is planned with the first event August 28th-29th in the Gold Coast

http://www.cqmsc.asn.au/2015/03/sidc...ycross-invite/

http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home...ates-announced

[rx-guru]

Think they tried to call it Global RallyCross Championship Australia, but changed to Extreme Rallycross later...

https://www.facebook.com/ExtremeRall...type=1&theater

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Ganassi president Steve Lauletta

From the standpoint of our business, we, like all motorsports, realize that attracting the next generation of fans is very, very important. I think GRC is doing a lot of things right to do that as a series, and we focus on that on our own programming.

We’ve got three young drivers in Kyle Larson, Sage Karam, and Dylan Kwasniewski that fit that millennial demographic. We’ve done some unique programming, like our Ganassi Sound Garage, which uses music in our partnership with Big Machine Records to drive an interest in racing with a new, younger fan.

We think that GRC, and what we can do with that being part of our larger portfolio, fits right into that strategy.

It's a great idea to start with a recognized action man like Deegan (which I dislike btw). In two years they will bring young drivers.

[NaBUru38]

Is there any chance that we could see some other CGR drivers get behind the wheel this year, even for a test?

I can tell you that all of our drivers, to a man pretty much, have said to me “don’t look too far away from me if there’s an opportunity to drive those cars.” I talked to Jamie McMurray about it yesterday, and I’ve talked to (Tony) Kanaan, (Scott) Dixon, Kyle Larson. So definitely, there’s that opportunity, if the calendar and partnership presents itself.

Holy cow!

there’s a new fan in motorsports, a younger fan that is so important. I think if you look at the landscape right now, GRC is doing the best job of that. We’d like to help, and we’d like to lead the charge as that continues to happen.

As you can see, it's not just random passion, it's a strategy.

[Distracted]

Nice interview with Tanner Foust. He talks a little bit about the Beetle.

http://www.redbullglobalrallycross.c...trong-in-2015/

[NaBUru38]

Still two months to go...

Originally Posted by Tanner Foust

In the off-season both cars have been back to Volkswagen Motorsport in Europe, and the Andretti engineers have been working alongside Volkswagen engineers on development

In any racing, there’s only so much you can learn by modeling or testing in a controlled environment. That’s especially true in rallycross, which is ultimately a contact sport on a course that’s extremely variable.

Interesting fact.

[NaBUru38]

http://www.redbullglobalrallycross.c...2015-schedule/

Ken Block will do two Rally America rounds (New England and Lake Superior) and two New Zealand rounds (Whangerei and Otago), plus three Gymknhana events.

[tbtstt]

I would like to see Block win the Championship, he has been consistently quick just a pity he had such an iffy start to last years Championship.

[tbtstt]

Vermont have already switched from the GR to the GJ WRX STI for their rally program, so I was wondering if they would do the same for the GRC cars this year, I now have my answer...



...full story is on the GRC website. Interesting little snippet from that article:

Originally Posted by GRC Official Site

The new car will meet GRC and FIA Rallycross homologation standards.

Lasek and Isachsen to both run in Canada this year?

[FIRE]

The whole Subaru rx project is very disappointing.

[NaBUru38]

Do you mean because of the drivers?

[rx-guru]

Originally Posted by FIRE

The whole Subaru rx project is very disappointing.

Why?

[Distracted]

Just saw an interesting tweet:

CGR Rallycross ‏@CGRrallycross 1h1 hour ago
7 days until @mmgeneral @stevearpin's @RedBullGRC @FordFiesta arrive stateside, but who's counting?! #CGRinGRC
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBnKTHJWEAEVbqT.jpg

[NaBUru38]

Yes, Gannassi announced two weeks ago that they hired Brian Deegan and Steve Arpin.

[rx-guru]

Understood from my sources that there will be two two-car teams with M-Sport Fiestas in GRC. Run by Chip Ganassi and Bryan Herta...

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

Understood from my sources that there will be two two-car teams with M-Sport Fiestas in GRC. Run by Chip Ganassi and Bryan Herta...

Blimey. M-Sport have been busy over the winter! Are they all the same specification as Blocks car? Does one of those four include the car Block used in Europe last year, or are M-Sport keeping that one?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Do you mean because of the drivers?

Originally Posted by rx-guru

Why?

Results speak for themself:


2012


2013


2014


Not very impressive after 4 seasons, especially not if you have a 3-time ERC champion in your car.

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Not very impressive after 4 seasons, especially not if you have a 3-time ERC champion in your car.

They are a rally team really and Subarus are not the best option for rallycross. They have worked with Group N cars basically throughout the years. Besides, no one really matches the experience of the "Euro" teams or the quality of the euro-built cars. According to me they are the best US team.

Also, nice to see a sedan! Rear of them nowadays

[CS1]

Wonder what Isachsen will do in 2016 when he is not tied to Subaru. He's got to be itching to have a go in the WRX surely....?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by crossfades

They are a rally team really and Subarus are not the best option for rallycross. They have worked with Group N cars basically throughout the years. Besides, no one really matches the experience of the "Euro" teams or the quality of the euro-built cars. According to me they are the best US team.

Also, nice to see a sedan! Rear of them nowadays

But now they are in rallycross so I am judge them on their rx performance. Don't care about their rally history.

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by FIRE

But now they are in rallycross so I am judge them on their rx performance. Don't care about their rally history.

But they still have very little experience about rallycross compared to the other teams

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

Understood from my sources that there will be two two-car teams with M-Sport Fiestas in GRC. Run by Chip Ganassi and Bryan Herta...

It's been confirmed that Bryan Herta Rallysportwill field two Supercars for Austin Dyne and Patrik Sandell.

Isn't this a rebranding of Barracuda Racing?

[lennysundahl]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

It's been confirmed that Bryan Herta Rallysportwill field two Supercars for Austin Dyne and Patrik Sandell.

Isn't this a rebranding of Barracuda Racing?

Yes, but Herta has taken the opportunity to completely overhaul the rallycross operation. So it's a heavily renovated returning team.