WRC, ERC and national rallying 2024Rally 

Kalle Rovanpera took victory at Kenya this weekend, his 2nd start of his part time season. Taka Katstuta took 2nd and Adrien Formaux took a 2nd podium of the season.

Wasn't plain sailing, Kenya bit hard this weekend, plenty of punctures and issues, with Hyundai seeming particularly susceptible to issues throughout. Meaning they needed a strong Sunday, with Tanak taking the Sunday honours ahead of Elfyn and Neuville.

This means, again, the top 10 points scorers is a different top 10 to the actually rally result, which is impossible to find on WRC media..


Top 10 points:
1. Rovanpera
2. Neuville
3. Katstuta
4. Formaux
5. Evans
6. Tanak
7. Greensmith
8. Lappi
9. Solberg
10. Kajetan

Top 10 actual:
1. Rovapnera
2. Katstuta
3. Formaux
4. Evans
5. Neuville
6. Greensmith
7. Solberg
8. Tanak
9. Serderidis
10. Kajetan

So Formaux got a podium but didn't, Neuville didn't get a podium but did, Lappi finished outside of the points but didn't..

Here are the points standings based on the old (correct) points system:


And with the new (stupid) system.

WRC

www.wrc.com www.wrc.com

Lappi losing out on the new system, P8 on the current and should be P5, the new system devaluing his Sweden win. Tanak is P4 but theoretically should be P7 due to the issues he has had.

They've tried to make Sundays more exciting but it just means if someone has an issue on Day 1 of the rally then they just cruise to Sunday, it just shifted the boring running to a different point of the rally.

Croatia up next!
 
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Objectively, I can see what they were trying to do, seeing the Hyundai's in particular going hell for leather on Sunday was fairly entertaining to watch. The issue in my mind (based off last weekend and Sweden) is that the risk vs reward is heavily skewed towards those who have their issues early, mainly due to the Saturday point allocations being put "on ice" rather than being allocated there and then.

With Sweden in particular, it meant Ott/Kalle could go as quickly as they wished on the Sunday because they basically had nothing to lose if they stuck the car into a snow bank again, whereas Lappi et al were focused on bringing it home safe and sound.

Kenya was a bit different in that Neuville somehow ended Saturday in the top 5 despite all his issues, but even so having someone finish 5th overall in the rally and yet score the most points (which would've happened if Kalle had taken it properly easy on the power stage) would really have set the alarm bells going...

Granted it's still a 5 point gap between someone "winning" the first 2 days and effectively conceding to someone who takes a full sweep on the Sunday, but I (and it seems plenty of others) feel like there should definitely be more emphasis on the overall classification in regards to point allocations.

As an aside, super stuff from Gus Greensmith, persevering in those conditions to win the WRC2 category despite him seemingly having a swim in the Thames before jetting out there...
 
Dreadmed
Objectively, I can see what they were trying to do, seeing the Hyundai's in particular going hell for leather on Sunday was fairly entertaining to watch. The issue in my mind (based off last weekend and Sweden) is that the risk vs reward is heavily skewed towards those who have their issues early, mainly due to the Saturday point allocations being put "on ice" rather than being allocated there and then.

With Sweden in particular, it meant Ott/Kalle could go as quickly as they wished on the Sunday because they basically had nothing to lose if they stuck the car into a snow bank again, whereas Lappi et al were focused on bringing it home safe and sound.

Kenya was a bit different in that Neuville somehow ended Saturday in the top 5 despite all his issues, but even so having someone finish 5th overall in the rally and yet score the most points (which would've happened if Kalle had taken it properly easy on the power stage) would really have set the alarm bells going...

Granted it's still a 5 point gap between someone "winning" the first 2 days and effectively conceding to someone who takes a full sweep on the Sunday, but I (and it seems plenty of others) feel like there should definitely be more emphasis on the overall classification in regards to point allocations.

As an aside, super stuff from Gus Greensmith, persevering in those conditions to win the WRC2 category despite him seemingly having a swim in the Thames before jetting out there...
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They tried to absolve one problem and introduced a myriad of others. I think they should allocate points for stage wins personally.
 
Anyone watch the ITVX Highlight show of the first BRC round? It was pretty good.
 
RYAN
Anyone watch the ITVX Highlight show of the first BRC round? It was pretty good.
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Do you happen to know of a way us American viewers can watch this and ITV's other motorsport shows?

I think I would enjoy them immensely, but the options to actually view them online without being in the UK appear nonexistent.
 
paddyshift
Do you happen to know of a way us American viewers can watch this and ITV's other motorsport shows?

I think I would enjoy them immensely, but the options to actually view them online without being in the UK appear nonexistent.
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VPN would be the only way I would think.
 
www.autosport.com

Ireland’s bid to rejoin the WRC in 2025 halted

www.autosport.com www.autosport.com

Rally Ireland will not be on the 2025 calendar after failing to get the funding. Very disappointing for the championship and for Motorsport Ireland.

Current 2025 calendar

Confirmed:
Monte Carlo
Sweden
Safari Rally Kenya
Rally Islas Canarias
Sardinia
Finland
Acropolis

Expected:
Portugal
Chile
CER
Japan

Rumoured:
Hungary
Croatia
Paraguay
Argentina
Mexico
Estonia
Latvia
Poland
 
Sad to hear about the funding problems for Rally Ireland. I was looking forward to it. Ireland is such a Rally loving nation, They deserve it.

Pleased to see Osian Pryce win the second round of the BRC. He has proven he is a fast driver, When he was with Melvyn Evans Motorsport in the VW's a few years ago him and Matt Edwards were the class of the field. He has always been held back by lack of funding. Hopefully with a good result in the BRC again this year. He may be able to move on to ERC, WRC3 hopefully.
 
Has there been any more talk about an US WRC round? I remember hearing some rumors about a candidate event in Tennessee a year or so ago with a WRC round the year after. It's all been quiet since that was talked about.
 
lilcat89
Has there been any more talk about an US WRC round? I remember hearing some rumors about a candidate event in Tennessee a year or so ago with a WRC round the year after. It's all been quiet since that was talked about.
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They're shooting for 2026 now.
 
MagpieRacer
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Ten year contract. No matter what you feel about Saudi Arabia's supposed "sportswashing", this looks like it will be an interesting and different event. One day in the mountains, one day in rocky volcanic area, and one day in the sand. A Kenya-ish unique rally if you will.

What I really dislike about the "sportswashing" countries is the lack of passion. Just compare the Dakar crowds between Argentina and Saudi Arabia...
 
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Pfei
Ten year contract. No matter what you feel about Saudi Arabia's supposed "sportswashing", this looks like it will be an interesting and different event. One day in the mountains, one day in rocky volcanic area, and one day in the sand. A Kenya-ish unique rally if you will.
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If the rally route is that way and stays that way long term, it could be a classic. I just hope it doesn’t become a <300km route.
Pfei
What I really dislike about the "sportswashing" countries is the lack of passion. Just compare the Dakar crowds between Argentina and Saudi Arabia...
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I would agree with you about that. The Saudis seem to be pretty passionate about rallying though. Dakar has its own set of problems, to be fair.
 
Rules stability sounds great, but it doesn’t bring any new manufacturers in. If nothing changes, the results will stay the same.
 
Paraguay joins the calendar for 2025.



Could be an interesting one, sounds quite different to the other south American events. It joins Saudi Arabia and Gran Canaria as new events for 2025.
 
Sebastian Ogier is withdrawn from rally Poland after an RTC whilst driving the recce. All involved cleared of serious injury but Ogier will remain under observation overnight.

 
Kalle Rovanpera sensationally won rally Poland after being bought in last minute to replace the injured Ogier. A phenomenal performance with no preparation and no real knowledge of the rally.

In sad news relating to Ogiers accident and injury, one of occupants of the other car has sadly passed away. They were discharged from hospital the same day the accident happened with no treatment required but passed away 5 days later. It's unknown if it is related to the accident.

____________________________________________

Ott Tanak was preparing for Rally Latvia this weekend by taking part in his home event, Rally Estonia, at the wheel of his Rally1 Hyundai. Unfortunately it has ended in an enormous accident, completely destroying his i20. He and Martin Jarvejoa have walked away unharmed.



And finally, Toyota team principal, Jari-Matti Latvala, will take part in rally Finalnd in the WRC2 class at the wheel of the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Using the event to get familiar with the new machinery. He took part in the Rally1 class last season, finishing 5th overall.
 
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2025 calendar is locked in. Islas Canarias, Paraguay and Saudi Arabia join the calendar. Estonia returns and Poland is bumped off again.
FB_IMG_1722438675882.jpg


New rallies were expected after the rumours and confirmations. Paraguay will be very interesting and if the intended route for Saudi Arabia gets signed off then that will be a truly unique event. I expect Estonia and Latvia will rotate and I'm not surprised to see Poland dropped, whether planned or not, after the continuous crowd trouble, again, in this seasons running.
 
Ouch, Mads was fine, Co-Driver was injured but survived and will be fine.


Jimmy McRae is going to run in the next round of the BRC in a MK1 Escort! :)
 

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