To the WRC?

"King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider" (king-ginger) 08/11/2013 at 18:47 • Filed to: WRC

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So let us speak of the WRC for a moment. You love it, I love it, a lot of other people love it. Its good family fun most of the time unless you dislike a Frenchman winning.

While the US has yet to catch on (a different issue for a different day), the majority of Europe gets it. Unfortunately, for the past several years, the WRC has meant 2 things: 1) Seb Loeb collecting trophies and 2) less than 4 manufacturers.

Now, ignoring the actual business case (not enough exposure compared to F1 or evening WEC, so ipso facto less players), let us assume that we are the WRC. Your last name, naturally, has more accents; you crave wine. Ready? Grand.

Our goal of increasing our audience is paramount and we are working on it with the television contracts and the whole interwebz thing. What to do next? Oh...you know. Court some manufacturers.

The question comes now (twss): were you the WRC in search of auto companies to join, who would you ask and what type of car would you find most desirable? I'll even allow a future timeframe (for your citizenship in Europa to take effect) of 3 years for upcoming cars.

My example of choice would be the entry level Jeep that will be making its way on a Fiat platform to the world in the next couple of years. AWD, prob a manual, a "go anywhere, do anything" attitude; what part doesn't scream decent-business-case to the FIAT/Chrysler group.

Thoughts?

wacopalypsenow > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 08/11/2013 at 18:58

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Mercedes. Because A45 AMG

Fred Smith > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 08/11/2013 at 19:00

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The issue with the WRC is that, despite what some seem to think, practically nobody nobody actually "gets it". The overall interest in the championship is very, very, very low, because the list of people who are fans of the WRC and the list of people who watch the WRC are disproportional. It's not big in Europe, it's not big in the US, it's not big in South America, it's not big in Asia. It's just not big at all in the physical world. It's big on the internet, and the people to whom it is big often don't actually watch it.

The amount of factories and the factory money in the series is completely disproportional to this. They're lucky to have what they have now, really, especially as Ford's just left and Citroen is half way out the door. Hyundai and VW are nothing to laugh at and it's what you should expect as the future of the WRC.

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > wacopalypsenow 08/11/2013 at 19:00

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Yes. A thousand times.

wacopalypsenow > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 08/11/2013 at 19:04

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+1

for Spirited Away.Gif

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > Fred Smith 08/11/2013 at 19:06

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All (mostly) true, but the "how to fix the WRC" will be a different question for a different day. Today is a day for dreams my friend :-)

Somethingwittyer likes noisy > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 08/11/2013 at 19:11

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Dodge/Fiat. Dart SRT-4 is coming soon, and it will most likely have 4wd. Also, to add on to what Porsche said, Rallycross is the future. Wither the European series or GRC becomes the main focus remains to be seen.

f86sabre > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 08/11/2013 at 19:37

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My wife and I watched pretty much every bit of televised WRC from 1997-2007. The current state of things makes me sad. Another time as you said...

I'd ask everyone and I imagine they have. Mitsubishi, Subaru, Toyota, Hyundai, Audi, Aston, BMW, Merc, Ford, Chevy, Fiat, Chrysler. Open the rules up and figure out some horsepower/torque/weight ratio that allows for good competition between hatches and coupes.

Also, bring back Gronholm, Makinen and Sianz.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 08/11/2013 at 20:17

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My thought is to Make different leages to draw different crowds.

1. Supercar class.

High performance cars.

2. Low-class/ cheap cars

Production cars that do not cost much, also a great way for car brands to advertise your new entry level car.

3. Imaginary class

Car producers can go all out in this class showing what they've got, and discovering new technologies.

No limits.

think Group B and cars like Rally Fighters.

4. The Amateur class.

Here everyone with a car and a rollcage can enter and this will make for a great show and maybe even new proffesional drivers.

Dusty Ventures > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 08/11/2013 at 20:30

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Actually, the low cost and amateur class pretty much already exist. They allow lower price cars and amateur drivers to participate in all WRC events, in a similar fashion to the regions division at US rallies. That's how Caswell (and many other American racers) participated at WRC Mexico.