the future of WRC and the 2009 season...

Fidelity101 · 12-21-2008, 03:38 PM

Turns out there is a big group of rally enthusiasts here on the boards, I'd figure I would shed some light on the up and coming season.

A lot of shit has been happening recently and the 09 season starts in Jan with round 1 Ireland.

Rumors of Marcus Gronholm may run a few rallies but not compete in a whole season since subaru/prodrive quit after 20 years because "they reached their marketing goal" and are not looking to make this a short leave of absence

Suzuki pulls out of WRC with their two car SX4 team but will continue to support the super 1600 and suzuki swift programs

Christ Atkinson and Petter Solberg have a contract with Subaru till end of 09, despite all of this... somehow

The team manager of Citroen will also be the team boss of Peugot which will come in for the 09 season

Registration ends for Rally Ireland on christmas eve

Leob wins Race of Champions

tire tweaks are a must, rules are going under change and stipulation for 2009 and 2010 seaons

Instead, the WRC kit is believed to be limited to a turbo, revised inlet and exhaust manifolds, a quicker gearshift mechanism (with steering wheel paddle shift) and an aero package consisting of a rear wing and front spoiler. The bolt-on kit will cost under 30.000 Euros and should give the cars an extra 50bhp.

info:

http://wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=110

shits goin nuts

keep checking this thread for updates!

88turboii · 12-21-2008, 04:49 PM

and no 4wd in 2010, so FWD turbo only.. which would be horrible. I hope they at least change the running order for next year back the way it was (reversed top 10)

need RX7 · 12-21-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88turboii

and no 4wd in 2010, so FWD turbo only..

Seriously? Ghey...

Phoenix7 · 12-21-2008, 08:52 PM

what???? no AWD??

Fidelity101 · 12-21-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88turboii

and no 4wd in 2010, so FWD turbo only.. which would be horrible. I hope they at least change the running order for next year back the way it was (reversed top 10)

what are you talking about, got a source to back that BS up? They are just trying to move away from expensive race cars to make it more competitive for smaller teams. As for cars, they are still AWD. You cant have AWD for super 2000 group for TOURING cars, rally cars are permitted to have AWD still.

"Leading manufacturers remain opposed to this and propose a compromise Super 2000-plus, which is a base S2000 car with a kit of bolt-on parts such as a turbo-charger and a rear wing. It's the cost and complexity of the kit that's causing concern for the FIA.

The FIA also confirmed that Group N cars, including the existing S2000, will be retained in the Production Car World Rally Championship"

-Autosport.com

thats TOTALLY different than only FWD cars

88turboii · 12-22-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fidelity101

As for cars, they are still AWD. You cant have AWD for super 2000 group for TOURING cars, rally cars are permitted to have AWD still.

ah ok i did not know this. I thought all s2000 cars were FWD. that makes me feel better, but turbos are not permitted correct? which is almost just as bad. unless they create the s2000+ class mentioned above

Fidelity101 · 12-22-2008, 11:52 AM

the super 1600 are FWD and non turbo

turbos are permitted and they are actually getting a 50BHP boost with the new FIA vehicle package.

Fidelity101 · 12-25-2008, 01:38 PM

Everyone seems to be dropping out but Citroen is going to have a second factory team, a 3 car group

Chris Atkinson (formerly on the subaru team) will be piloting one of them, starting in Jan for rally Ireland in a C4

Former Citroen privateer Rautenbach will now be factory backed in a C4

Sebastien Ogier was the winner for the 2008 JWRC series and for 09 will be apart of this 3 man team dubbed "M2" driving a c4

"It is an M2 team which will predominantly run drivers who are currently learning the sport, and their average age will be 22." Call it a junior driver team but not a junior WRC team (because those are FWD N/A aka super1600)

hyperlitenerd · 12-26-2008, 11:46 PM

We will see how C. Atkinson does with Citroen, see if Subaru was having car problems or driver problems.

Fidelity101 · 12-26-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyperlitenerd

We will see how C. Atkinson does with Citroen, see if Subaru was having car problems or driver problems.

They were having economic problems, so subaru pulled out of WRC and left P. Solberg and Atkinson drivers w/o cars, well chris has one now.

hyperlitenerd · 12-27-2008, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fidelity101

They were having economic problems, so subaru pulled out of WRC and left P. Solberg and Atkinson drivers w/o cars, well chris has one now.

Oh I know, but Subaru was having trouble being competitive, and P. Solberg seemed to be pretty vocal about the cars problems in the past.

Fidelity101 · 12-28-2008, 12:02 AM

Oh I got ya now, didn't get it at first. Yeah I have a feeling Atkinson could be quite a shinning star. Sleeper hit for 09 maybe?

one320fc · 01-15-2009, 11:35 AM

I have been out of the loop for a while, but is there any of the WRC still on TV? I miss watching it

staticpat · 01-15-2009, 11:57 AM

Versus has been playing some of the Dakar Rally. I haven't seen WRC on any channel in a while.

88turboii · 01-15-2009, 04:35 PM

only aired on eurosport

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/rally/

12-21-2008, 03:38 PM	#1
Fidelity101 Reliable Source Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Michigan/Illinois Posts: 336 Rep Power: 17	the future of WRC and the 2009 season... Turns out there is a big group of rally enthusiasts here on the boards, I'd figure I would shed some light on the up and coming season. A lot of shit has been happening recently and the 09 season starts in Jan with round 1 Ireland. Rumors of Marcus Gronholm may run a few rallies but not compete in a whole season since subaru/prodrive quit after 20 years because "they reached their marketing goal" and are not looking to make this a short leave of absence Suzuki pulls out of WRC with their two car SX4 team but will continue to support the super 1600 and suzuki swift programs Christ Atkinson and Petter Solberg have a contract with Subaru till end of 09, despite all of this... somehow The team manager of Citroen will also be the team boss of Peugot which will come in for the 09 season Registration ends for Rally Ireland on christmas eve Leob wins Race of Champions tire tweaks are a must, rules are going under change and stipulation for 2009 and 2010 seaons Instead, the WRC kit is believed to be limited to a turbo, revised inlet and exhaust manifolds, a quicker gearshift mechanism (with steering wheel paddle shift) and an aero package consisting of a rear wing and front spoiler. The bolt-on kit will cost under 30.000 Euros and should give the cars an extra 50bhp. info: http://wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=110 shits goin nuts keep checking this thread for updates! __________________ My Rx-7 Vids Last edited by Fidelity101; 12-25-2008 at 01:34 PM.

12-22-2008, 11:52 AM	#7
Fidelity101 Reliable Source Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Michigan/Illinois Posts: 336 Rep Power: 17	the super 1600 are FWD and non turbo turbos are permitted and they are actually getting a 50BHP boost with the new FIA vehicle package. __________________ My Rx-7 Vids

12-25-2008, 01:38 PM	#8
Fidelity101 Reliable Source Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Michigan/Illinois Posts: 336 Rep Power: 17	Everyone seems to be dropping out but Citroen is going to have a second factory team, a 3 car group Chris Atkinson (formerly on the subaru team) will be piloting one of them, starting in Jan for rally Ireland in a C4 Former Citroen privateer Rautenbach will now be factory backed in a C4 Sebastien Ogier was the winner for the 2008 JWRC series and for 09 will be apart of this 3 man team dubbed "M2" driving a c4 "It is an M2 team which will predominantly run drivers who are currently learning the sport, and their average age will be 22." Call it a junior driver team but not a junior WRC team (because those are FWD N/A aka super1600) __________________ My Rx-7 Vids

12-28-2008, 12:02 AM	#12
Fidelity101 Reliable Source Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Michigan/Illinois Posts: 336 Rep Power: 17	Oh I got ya now, didn't get it at first. Yeah I have a feeling Atkinson could be quite a shinning star. Sleeper hit for 09 maybe? __________________ My Rx-7 Vids

01-15-2009, 11:57 AM	#14
staticpat Rally Fanboy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York Posts: 147 Rep Power: 18	Versus has been playing some of the Dakar Rally. I haven't seen WRC on any channel in a while. __________________

12-21-2008, 04:49 PM	#2
88turboii destroy, rebuild, repeat Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 395 Rep Power: 18	and no 4wd in 2010, so FWD turbo only.. which would be horrible. I hope they at least change the running order for next year back the way it was (reversed top 10)

12-26-2008, 11:46 PM	#9
hyperlitenerd Captin Safety Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Santa Clara, Ca Posts: 44 Rep Power: 0	We will see how C. Atkinson does with Citroen, see if Subaru was having car problems or driver problems.

01-15-2009, 11:35 AM	#13
one320fc one Apex @ a time Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Culpeper VA Posts: 272 Rep Power: 18	I have been out of the loop for a while, but is there any of the WRC still on TV? I miss watching it

01-15-2009, 04:35 PM	#15
88turboii destroy, rebuild, repeat Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 395 Rep Power: 18	only aired on eurosport http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/rally/