Update

rx-guru · 10 Dec 2011, 19:28

@ tbtstt: When the Group B cars had "driveable" 650bhp a lot of people were talking about 800+bhp. These days it is nearly the same with 600+bhp. I bet no Supercar with 45mm restrictor has more than 560bhp while racing.

@ I Rosputnik: FIA will defo "wake up" when some people are trying to establish a World Rallycross Championship, no matter if 'World' is replaced by 'Global'.

NaBUru38 · 11 Dec 2011, 01:13

I keep thinking that they should use GRX rather than GRC. It's more unique, more X Gamesy.

I hope that Latin Americans get all races live with Agulla and Pombo narrating.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stakeholder memo

prevent conflict with other relevant race series schedules including European Rallycross, Rally America, Formula Drift and WRC

That's very sensible, that helps to attract entries from those championships. At this point I'd try not to force teams to run just the GRX.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Be cool if Block did a bit of rallycross testing in Europe (though I suspect the ERX regulars would run rings round him!)

LOL

rx-guru · 11 Dec 2011, 01:23

GRX for Global Rallycross?
GRC = Global Rallycross Championship.
So GRXC would actually be what you prefer?

I Rosputnik · 11 Dec 2011, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I keep thinking that they should use GRX rather than GRC. It's more unique, more X Gamesy.

I hope that Latin Americans get all races live with Agulla and Pombo narrating.

That's very sensible, that helps to attract entries from those championships. At this point I'd try not to force teams to run just the GRX.

LOL

I concur, I wonder if we might see Liam race again. He's been doing some things in the USA with Monster and he's recently done a round in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. What would be cool to see would be Kenneth Hansen Motorsport enter the X games with two DS3's next year rather then just the one C4, but then I have no idea how much it would cost to do that.

USRallycross · 11 Dec 2011, 15:55

In 2011, the ERC spec engines were slightly higher than the GRC ones. Think that will change in 2012 given the new engine rules in the ERC. The higher output figures are for marketing purposes. Not as many purists here checking the facts!

Don't think any historic tracks will feature in 2013 as ESPN want to keep this in the streets as much as possible and learnt that the closer rallycross is to the X Games venue the better it is for sponsors and production logistics.

I am sure the FIA will take notice. But they will also recall the battle with CART in the early 1990's. American laws re restriction to work are very different from Europe and the FIA learnt that fighting the US could be very expensive and painful.

Roll on April 15 when the talking stops and we get the cars out. Not heard anything on Liam for RX but know the off-road guys love him! Did Citroen care that he won X Games?

Mark

I Rosputnik · 11 Dec 2011, 16:46

I'm ok with them not visiting the older tracks, but rather then doing it on the streets, would it not make sense doing it inside of a stadium similar to Race of Champions? I've always thought that rallycross could make a good stadium sport when done right, as you can build the track in the way you want, it's easy for sponsors to get their adverts displayed clearly and you get to see all of the action.

I wouldn't be suprised if Citroen could care less if one of their cars won the X-games, but it's a different story for KHM and Liam, and hope this gives both them some strong exposure. (I just found it funny when everyone was arguing about Ford and Subaru, a car that is not sold in the USA, comes along and beats them both.) I would like to think Citroen might start paying attention in 2013 however if there were races in South America and Europe.

AndyS · 11 Dec 2011, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

I'm ok with them not visiting the older tracks, but rather then doing it on the streets, would it not make sense doing it inside of a stadium similar to Race of Champions? I've always thought that rallycross could make a good stadium sport when done right, as you can build the track in the way you want, it's easy for sponsors to get their adverts displayed clearly and you get to see all of the action.

I suspect you'd struggle to fit a decent circuit in a stadium. ROC always looks very cramped to me. Straights wouldn't be long enough and it would be too tight, twisty and thin. The only way you could do it would be to have it going outside of the stadium. Having said that I'm basing it on European stadiums. The ones in the States may be bigger.

tbtstt · 11 Dec 2011, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by USRallycross

In 2011, the ERC spec engines were slightly higher than the GRC ones. Think that will change in 2012 given the new engine rules in the ERC.

The ERC cars were higher spec? Oops, I really got the wrong end of the stick there then!

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyS

I suspect you'd struggle to fit a decent circuit in a stadium. ROC always looks very cramped to me. Straights wouldn't be long enough and it would be too tight, twisty and thin. The only way you could do it would be to have it going outside of the stadium. Having said that I'm basing it on European stadiums. The ones in the States may be bigger.

I agree. Consider X-Games 16 where "rallycross" made its debut (as "Super Rally"). Even using the stadium and a (very small) section outside the best circuit layout they could manage was a big oval.

Including a stadium as part of a circuit could work (for spectator purposes), but I think you need more track elsewhere.

I know a lot of the old guard didn't rate it, but I thought the layout at X-Games 17 was a huge step up. Just needs more dirt!

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

I just found it funny when everyone was arguing about Ford and Subaru, a car that is not sold in the USA, comes along and beats them both.

I believe Ford were in the process of marketing the Fiesta in the US around X-Games 16 weren't they? Hence why they were keen to get the Fiesta exposure at X-Games and Pikes Peak?

I Rosputnik · 11 Dec 2011, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbtstt

The ERC cars were higher spec? Oops, I really got the wrong end of the stick there then!

I agree. Consider X-Games 16 where "rallycross" made its debut (as "Super Rally"). Even using the stadium and a (very small) section outside the best circuit layout they could manage was a big oval.

Including a stadium as part of a circuit could work (for spectator purposes), but I think you need more track elsewhere.

I know a lot of the old guard didn't rate it, but I thought the layout at X-Games 17 was a huge step up. Just needs more dirt!

I believe Ford were in the process of marketing the Fiesta in the US around X-Games 16 weren't they? Hence why they were keen to get the Fiesta exposure at X-Games and Pikes Peak?

Yeah, Ford were pushing for the Fiesta MK7 quite a bit at X-games 16. I know there was a MK6 racing as well.

If the X games do find their way to the UK two stadiums of the top of my head that might work would be Murrayfield or Wembley. Or if that does not work then why not use Battersea Power Station?

Yeah, there does need to be dirt. Just for added thrills why not have a mud pit, or for the winter x games why not have some snow sections?

USRallycross · 12 Dec 2011, 00:49

I think, and wouldn't be surprised, if you find that the car has to be sold in the US to be eligible in 2012. With more manufacturers getting involved they want to compete against relevant product. This is only a personal opinion!

I struggle to see stadiums work both for size and for the image that is desired for the series which is more post industrial - think Dirtfish (GRC round 2) and the early Gymkhana and even the recent Battle Cross show. Remember this is all about the "show".

LA wasn't great for spectators - although that could be fixed - but I think some cities could put on great events with huge crowds. Similarly, there are ovals that could have great tracks inside.

Mark
Best Buy RallyCross team

tbtstt · 12 Dec 2011, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

If the X games do find their way to the UK two stadiums of the top of my head that might work would be Murrayfield or Wembley. Or if that does not work then why not use Battersea Power Station?

I reckon Battersea would be spot on. They have already run a number of motocross events there and a gymkhana demo, there is loads of room there to build a nice big circuit and its accessible for people to get to. Plus I saw last week that the company that were suppose to be developing it have gone pop, so turning it into a rallycross track seems like a good use of the site to me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by USRallycross

I struggle to see stadiums work both for size and for the image that is desired for the series which is more post industrial - think Dirtfish (GRC round 2)...

Again I know the traditional rallycrossers weren't keen, but I thought the Dirtfish location worked better than the ovals did for the GRC events. Its seemed closer to a "proper" rallycross track.

Quote:

Originally Posted by USRallycross

...even the recent Battle Cross show. Remember this is all about the "show".

Speaking of this did anyone manage to see it? Most of the motoring news sites reported it was going to be shown, but the day after it was shown there wasn't a mention of it anywhere. I managed to find out who won (I wasn't surprised

) but not a whiff of coverage anywhere on the internet: most odd!