No Citroën in WRC 2013?

[kober]

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

Like how the WRX and Evo helped Subaru and Mistubishi gain their market base from their performances in the WRC.

In the Group A/N homologation era, the manufactures needed to create Evo and WRX to be able to compete in the rallying. Yes, the involvement in WRC helped them to gain market share, but the world is different now. I don't think that creating a "Citroen Racing"-badged DS3 would help them to sell more of the car in the current circumstances.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Peat

PSA have announced that they will carry on in WRC with Citroen. It seems extraordinary that they value Loeb dominating a series in major, major decline over their successful sportscar team which they axed.

If you ask me, they should have plonked Loeb in a 908HDIFAP (like he wanted) and scrapped the WRC team.

The sportscar team cost more than twice what the WRC team costs and in addition other than Le Mans, the rest of the races didn't have much value.

Loeb is also a star.

Personally I don't see the WRC in major, major decline, when there is plenty of driving talent, no shortage of rallies that want to be on the calendar, full fields at all the rallies and 2 new manufacturers coming in.

[tbtstt]

I still believe that the Group A era was the greatest for the WRC and I would like nothing more then to see those sort of regulations come back, as the cars were a much closer reflection to what you could buy in the showroom (which, as a spectator appeals to me a hell of a lot more).

In the current financial climate I suspect similar regulations would dissuade most manufacturers from competeting though, as they would have to start from scratch to build a suitable car. Manufacturers like Citroen have never directly reflected the WRC/rally cars in a showroom product and, as Kober says...

Originally Posted by kober

I don't think that creating a "Citroen Racing"-badged DS3 would help them to sell more of the car in the current circumstances.

...I don't think its a market they would suddenly pick up if they did.

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

Maybe Nasser is going to bring a shed load of money from Qatar, and maybe Loeb will quit? What is happening with the RedBull backing? I would think they'll switch to VW.

I forgot Red Bull backed VW in the Dakar, so it would make sense. As for Loeb I've always had the impression that with rallying he could either take it or leave it. When he signed his latest contract I seem to recall he wasn't that sure prior to making his decision. Time will tell.

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Personally I don't see the WRC in major, major decline, when there is plenty of driving talent, no shortage of rallies that want to be on the calendar, full fields at all the rallies and 2 new manufacturers coming in.

Who's the second manufacturer? I thought it was only VW. BMW Mini seem to have canned the full works programme. I'd agree that the talent ia about and that there are plenty of rallies but not sure I'd agree about full entry lists.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Who's the second manufacturer? I thought it was only VW. BMW Mini seem to have canned the full works programme. I'd agree that the talent ia about and that there are plenty of rallies but not sure I'd agree about full entry lists.

Hyundai.

Entry lists are full, with other classes and national classes filling out the rallies.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by kober

I don't think that creating a "Citroen Racing"-badged DS3 would help them to sell more of the car in the current circumstances.

http://www.citroen.co.uk/new-cars/ds...s3/ds3-racing/

[kober]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

http://www.citroen.co.uk/new-cars/ds...s3/ds3-racing/

So it actually exists But, if they sell one of these than they don't sell a regular DS3, so in fact they're not selling more of the car.

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

A Higgs Boson particle enters a church, loudly proclaiming that the “God Particle has arrived!”. The priest, angered at the particle’s arrogance, orders the particle to leave.
The particle responds "But without me, you can't have mass".

[kober]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Hyundai

Toyota might join too:

Toyota to build Yaris RRC - autoklub.pl

Quite a few interesting details about TMG-funded Yaris RRC (S2000 1.6T) in the above mentioned article:
- according to TMG's Director of Business Operations Rob Leupen, 1.6T Global Engine has been in testing since January,
- chassis #1 of the S2000-spec car should be ready by Autumn,
- first tests planned for the beginning of 2013,
- homologation planned for mid 2013,
- they're planning to actually make money on the project (how many cars will they need to sell to accomplish that?).
- they chose to built RRC, instead of R4T, because of a lower cost of the program, and more opportunities to sell the car.

Also, it has been said that the decision to enter WRC with a factory team will be made by TMC, not by TMG. Which is rather obvious. Regardless of a WRC campaign, Yaris RRC will be ready for the 2014 season.

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Hyundai.

Entry lists are full, with other classes and national classes filling out the rallies.

Is Hyundai confirmed? I thought it was only rumour at this stage.

Entries may be full but certainly in the UK you only have 100 cars running versus nearly 200 in the days of the RAC. Granted I think they probably limit the number now, but if they didn't would they get that number anymore? If you did I doubt it would be made up of top crews and cars. I think filling out the entry says it all.

[ArnageWRC]

I’ll only see the WRC as back to full strength when we have 4-5 factory teams, each with 2-3 full paid seats. Going back to 2002, there were 6-7 Manufacturers, with anything up to 4 seats – and we had about factory 20 seats. That’s before counting the pay drivers. Is that really realistic??

As for the entries, take the RAC Rally/ RallyGB; it was the end of year event for all, even the clubmen. In recent years very few of these have entered, and there have been years with not one BRC winner entered. Now the organisers have decided to add a National event on, to encourage the clubmen to take part. Something tells me the modern WRC model hasn’t really worked.

[kober]

Hyundai is back! i20 WRC will be shown at the end of the month... or so they say.

With another (although only rumored) manufacturer joining in, one can only dream that Prodrive will be able to run the whole 2013 season with at least two cars.

[BertMk2]

Autosport seemed to think Citroen would most likely be in for 2013 too - apparently they need to find 60% of the total bidget from sponsorship and are close to getting that with heavy backing from Qatar. So if all the rumours come to fruition it's not looking too bad for 2013 in terms of entries - just got to sort out coverage now.....

[ArnageWRC]

Yes, I agree – coverage is everything! Not much point in joining if there’s no regular media outlet. Sort that out, and hopefully RedBull will do this – then the WRC immediately starts to look a little better. Citroen, Ford, Mini??, VW, Hyundai, Toyota??

[chunder]

Not sure you will get good coverage in the UK until there is a Brit doing much, or someone like Ford or VW want tog et it on telly.

Put it this way, it wont get on mainstream unless it is heavily sponsored or there is a reason to show it.

And neither are likely, and in all fairness, its not as popular here as it used to be in my eyes.