2023 Rallying

[ArnageWRC]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Neuville arguably should have had a title or two, but threw away a good few chances. Particularly in 2018

He was leading the first two events of 2017, and comfortably.......and didn't win either. Two silly mistakes lost him both events......and the championship.

[S griffin]

Considering he was still in contention with a few rounds to go, yes he threw away quite a good opportunity there

[cg7aa]

Rewinding back to the Monte...

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

...I thought it was a pretty uneventful rally...

I think a few folks on here have already expressed similar sentiments as the one above from Arnage. I meant to chime in at the time to add that I was actually bored watching the highlights on UK TV. I can't recall the last time that happened, I would probably have to go back to the days when Motors TV had coverage and it seemed like they only had one camera at the finish line.

The production of the highlights is obviously much improved but how can such a spectacular sport (let's put aside it's long term unsustainability due to low manufacturer count) be made to look so ordinary by the official highlights packages?

When I first discovered the phenomenon of 'pure sounds' WRC fan-recorded and edited footage years ago, I was blown away and continue to be blown away by just how dynamic the action is. When I first got into the WRC in the Group A era in the late 90s and early 2000s as a youngster, I used to watch 30 minute highlights on BBC 2 Top Gear in the UK and even the most predictable events were made to look good by virtue of how the cars were filmed and presented. They managed to cram a lot of spectacular action into just 30mins with no hysterical commentary, just measured, calm, and informative summaries.

I've noticed people have started commenting about how much more spectacular the fan footage on youtube is. Are the official highlights producers that hamstrung with what they have to work with or are they just completely lacking in imagination?

I appreciate the fan footage is complimentary and it's produced to different timescales but it's still so much more interesting to see even if it gets repetitive. I found this Monte footage and after the first minute I was just thrilled to bits like I was to be 20-odd years ago, it reminded me just how incredible the cars and drivers are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKGMWONJbEY

It made me rethink my initial feeling that this year's event was dull! It wasn't at all dull if you were stage-side watching the cars come by. TV needs to do a much better job, maybe they are doing a good job but it's behind a paywall?

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by justracing

... love the enthusiasm and excitement he shows competing at this level compared to the bland PC responses from other competitors.

Yes, that was fantastic. Who knows what went wrong at MSport last year! Anyway, while I broadly agree that a lot of the other driver comments are just uninteresting, we need to keep in mind English is the second langauge (and probably the third) for a lot of the drivers.

[NaBUru38]

How about this highlights video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG2Ws7GMU2o

It doesn't tell a story or presents sponsors, it's just racing.

[ArnageWRC]

Originally Posted by cg7aa

When I first got into the WRC in the Group A era in the late 90s and early 2000s as a youngster, I used to watch 30 minute highlights on BBC 2 Top Gear in the UK and even the most predictable events were made to look good by virtue of how the cars were filmed and presented. They managed to cram a lot of spectacular action into just 30mins with no hysterical commentary, just measured, calm, and informative summaries.

I've noticed people have started commenting about how much more spectacular the fan footage on youtube is. Are the official highlights producers that hamstrung with what they have to work with or are they just completely lacking in imagination?

TV needs to do a much better job, maybe they are doing a good job but it's behind a paywall?

Those 90s WRC highlights are still on YouTube; narrated by Mark James, Tiff Needell - and as you say, they're far superior to what we get now.

And as someone who has watched Red Bull TV produced events, I can't believe they have much input into the WRC broadcasts; it's like night & day. Dull, unimaginative coverage and commentary not much better.

It's just not selling the sport - and no wonder we don't see more manufacturers interested. And the paywall is the absolute killer......
This forum like Autosport, Pistonheads gets very little comment as very few watch the live stuff - and there's very little stories outside of events.

[BertMk2]

Rally Mexico underway and already all 3 Pumas have had problems - looks like a turbo issue for Tanak and the other two have clattered rocks and damaged the steering/suspension. Not a good day for Msport (again).

[NaBUru38]

Rally México final results:

• 1. FRA Sébastien Ogier (Toyota), 3:16'09
• 2. BEL Thierry Newville (Hyundai), + 27.5
• 3. GBR Elfyn Evans (Toyota), + 27.9
• 4. FIN Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota), + 1'55
• 5. ESP Daniel Sordo (Hyundai), + 2'58
• 6. GBR Gus Greensmuth (Skoda)
• 7. FIN Emil Londhoilm (Skoda)
• 8. SWE Oliver Solverg (Skoda)
• 9. EST Ott Tänak (Ford)
• 10. POL Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Skoda)

Standings after Mexico:

• 1. FRA Sébastien Ogier (Toyota), 56 pts
• 2. BEL Thierry Newville (Hyundai), 53
• 3. FIN Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota), 52
• 4. EST Ott Tänak (Ford), 47
• 5. GBR Elfyn Evans (Toyota), 44
• 6. IRL Craig Breen (Hyundai), 19
• 7. ESP Daniel Sordo (Hyundai), 17
• 8. FIN Esapekka Lappi, 15

[NaBUru38]

Meanwhile, the WRC still has no TV partner anywhere in the Americas except for Mexico...

[BertMk2]

The results in Mexico really highlight how thin the WRC1 field is - four of the top ten places taken by WRC2 cars.

Ogier picking up another win - I guess road position helped him a bit but still an impressive result. Another poor event for Msport - Tanak with a turbo problem, were the others driver error resulting in damage or just car breakages where the car is too fragile?