FIA confirm restrictions on third drivers

x_dt · 25 Jun 2003, 18:23 (Ref:642921)

See http://www.fia.com/PRESSE/DCM-A/25-06-2003.pdf
(near the top of page 2)

The FIA have confirmed that

Quote:

any third nominated driver in a manufacturer's team must not have been placed in the first three positions in a FIA World Rally Championship event in the previous three calendar years.

So for 2004 no driver who has had at least 1 podium finish in 2001-3 can be nominated as a third driver - those drivers are:
Didier Auriol
Philippe Bugalski (3rd on the 2002 Catalan Rally)
Richard Burns
François Delecour
François Duval
Marcus Grönholm
Sébastien Loeb
Tommi Mäkinen
Markko Märtin
Colin McRae
Gilles Panizzi
Jesús Puras
Thomas Rådström
Harri Rovanperä
Carlos Sainz
Armin Schwarz (3rd on the 2001 Safari Rally)
Petter Solberg
(the list could grow depending on who else finishes on the podium in the remaining 2003 rallies)

The teams clearly affected by this rule are Peugeot (need to drop 2 of their current drivers for 2004) and Citroen (need to drop 1). So who will they drop, who will replace them and where will those dropped by Peugeot/Citroen go? Is Makinen still intending to retire? - if he does so one of the Peugeot/Citroen refugees may slot in there.

Drivers not listed above can go anywhere they want next year. Providing they don't finish on the podium this year, that is.

Any predictions on who will go where in 2004?

garcon · 25 Jun 2003, 20:22 (Ref:643046)

I'm sure this is well-intentioned, but will it really work? One thing I guess we'll see is a number of private entries from those who miss out on works drives.

I'm still hoping the Subaru 2004 line-up will be Solberg and Burns, but that's a wish rather than a solid prediction

Knowlesy · 25 Jun 2003, 21:01 (Ref:643087)

Bye bye Sainz, Burns and Panizzi.

esorniloc · 25 Jun 2003, 21:21 (Ref:643120)

Well Peugeot run 4 cars most of the rallies, so what happens to the 4th driver (Panizzi?)

rdjones · 25 Jun 2003, 21:51 (Ref:643149)

I can see Panizzi ending up at Mitsubishi with McRae Jr and a young gun as number 3, Bruns will go back to Subaru and I reckon Sainz might retire all together. I belive that Loix has never finished 3rd or higher on a WRC event so he is the prime spot to pick up a top level drive next year.........

JAG · 25 Jun 2003, 21:56 (Ref:643157)

Loebs talking to Peugeot.

Lee Janotta · 25 Jun 2003, 22:54 (Ref:643205)

Stupid rule. But this should put Rovenperra and Panizzi as #1 drivers at some other teams.

Who'll get the boot from Citroen?

I can't understand this. Rallying is incredibly popular right now, exploding into the world's biggest economic market... And Richards and the FIA seem intent on ruining the whole thing.

SJ Spode · 26 Jun 2003, 08:17 (Ref:643436)

I can't believe they've done this - the changes are being made to stop Peugeot using specialists. A better way would be to have all drivers competing in all rounds.

I wouldn't rule out Panizzi as being the second driver at Peugeot with Gronholm though. Gilles is performing well on gravel, Burns hasn't set the world on fire in the 206 and Harri isn't as good as Marcus.

It's interesting that PSA are looking to move Loeb from Citroen to Peugeot; that could leave McRae and Sainz in the Xsaras. But if Loeb stays put who'se going to have to go; again McRae is on a huge salary but hasn't delivered so far this year.

This is also going to make the 2nd seat at Subaru very interesting. Even if Tommi wants to stay on, can Subaru resist the urge to get Burns or McRae back in an Impreza.

And as for the line ups at Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Skoda; I don't think anyone's safe now, not even Alister.

garcon · 26 Jun 2003, 11:12 (Ref:643589)

What's to stop the manufacturers entering their own team and then supporting another team - say Peugeot Sport France or something - thus effectively running four cars?!

racer69 · 26 Jun 2003, 12:04 (Ref:643651)

garcon - I was wondering the same thing, i really can see that happening, especially from Peugeot, who haven't been in favour of the rule.

Stupid rule

429CJ · 26 Jun 2003, 17:00 (Ref:643897)

The quality of drivers will blunder, that is for sure.

rdjones · 26 Jun 2003, 17:13 (Ref:643904)

Marcus Grönholm and Sébastien Loeb both in Pug's next season interesting stuff, what ever happens, I reckon Bruns is on his way

JAG · 26 Jun 2003, 18:56 (Ref:644001)

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
Stupid rule. But this should put Rovenperra and Panizzi as #1 drivers at some other teams.

Who'll get the boot from Citroen?

I can't understand this. Rallying is incredibly popular right now, exploding into the world's biggest economic market... And Richards and the FIA seem intent on ruining the whole thing.

Burns and the FIA have MADE the WRC what it is today, like it or not.

The third driver rule, as has been said, is to stop specialists and to stop teams signing up all the best drivers. What could a Fabia or Accent do with someone like Loeb or McRae behind the wheel.

Bob Irvine · 26 Jun 2003, 18:57 (Ref:644003)

Cant be many other sports that deny employment,this is an effing joke

SJ Spode · 27 Jun 2003, 08:05 (Ref:644454)

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob Irvine
Cant be many other sports that deny employment,this is an effing joke

Yes, just look at football. Imagine telling Real Madrid that they can only have 3-4 players who played in the last World Cup.

With this rule we need more manufacturers entering the WRC, or for Peugeot to take up garcon's suggestion, and show what a mockery it is.

racer69 · 27 Jun 2003, 08:30 (Ref:644477)

Quote:

Originally posted by JAG
What could a Fabia or Accent do with someone like Loeb or McRae behind the wheel.

The same they did with Auriol, Erikkson, Kankkunen and Alistar McRae behind the wheel.

This stupid rule will eliminate drivers from the championship. What happens if a new third driver wins a rally in his first year, he therefore cannot be retained by the team the next year unless they drop one of their other drivers. If they don't, the driver would have to find another team or be eliminated from the championship. Teams won't be able to build up a young driver for the future to be with their team.

Quote:

Originally posted by JAG
The third driver rule, as has been said, is to stop specialists and to stop teams signing up all the best drivers.

What is wrong with specialists, they in my opinion add interest to the championship, a local taking on the big guns. And what is wrong with the best drivers wanting to drive the best cars, and the best teams willing to have them?

Quote:

Originally posted by JAG
Burns and the FIA have MADE the WRC what it is today, like it or not.

What exactly have the FIA done?

JAG · 27 Jun 2003, 15:53 (Ref:644911)

The FIA have put together the WRC formula and S1600, transformed servicing rules, media coverage etc, etc.

This has resulted in a boom in manufactuer and fan interest. You may not like what the WRC is today but it sure has been a huge success.

BTW theres nothing wrong with specialists, such as locals. The problem is Panizzi is hardly a local specialist, he's a fully paid up works driver who should be given a full WRC drive by Peugeot or be released to another team, not used as a wild card to deny points to other teams drivers on tarmac events only.

racer69 · 28 Jun 2003, 07:19 (Ref:645299)

Quote:

Originally posted by JAG
The problem is Panizzi is hardly a local specialist, he's a fully paid up works driver who should be given a full WRC drive by Peugeot or be released to another team, not used as a wild card to deny points to other teams drivers on tarmac events only.

But isn't that Panizzi's fault for accepting that deal which Peugeot gave him? If Peugeot have him at their disposal to take points off other drivers to help their drivers, why is this wrong?

The new rule is basically tampering with driver contracts. What if a team has a deal with 3 drivers for next year who have all won rallies. Who has to pay the contract out?

Hammerwerfer · 28 Jun 2003, 21:18 (Ref:645631)

Rallying really doesn't need rules like this! Absolute rubbish. There are only so many teams for these guys to frive for and there is now an incredibls disincentive to get on the podium for an up and coming driver! There are far too few teams allowed in WRC rallies anyway. To send a guy packing just because he did well is absolutely absurd!

More cars, more classes, more teams, more drivers and back to longer, spread out rallies as far as I'm concerned.

I wouldn't want to hike out to a stage to see just 17 cars go by...

Lee Janotta · 29 Jun 2003, 01:54 (Ref:645756)

Y'know something I just realized about this? What if some guy like Alister McRae who's not highly regarded has the chance to win a rally through attrition? He's going to have to back off and let someone else win, lest he lose his job for the next season!

Hammerwerfer · 29 Jun 2003, 08:29 (Ref:645830)

Lee,

That is precisely the point! Can you imagine if a few of the top guys drop back or are eliminated in a rally. The number three drivers for each team are in position for their first ever podium finish. It might also be their last season in a WRC car if it happens.

Do you think we would see much of a battle for those top three places? A few judicious mechanical problems would certainly crop up...

Ed

Speeddemon555 · 30 Jun 2003, 01:57 (Ref:646693)

This rule stinks and with teams that are cash strapped such as Hyundai can't afford to get a third driver to be full time. Whoever made this third driver rule is a dumbass.

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