Why? Considering all the transportation, logistics, the amount of support and that a Rally is more than a one day event....and I would venture a competitive rally car cost no less than a DTM.. WRC = more.
You all make good points, but I am still having trouble with this. TV is a wonderful thing, but most of the people who would watch WRC on TV are going to follow it anyway on the web, news paper or what have you. I don't believe that having it on TV every week is going to convert that many folks to it. Sure, running a WRC car is not cheap, but BMW knew that going in last year. They made everyone think they were really going for this, then fizzled out. Did anyone consider that this might have been the plan all along? They tossed out some bucks, went for the big hype, got the name in lights and now they will just fade out of sight, claiming money problems, no TV coverage, questionable schedule or whatever. I don't think BMW was ever committed seriously to the WRC. Jim
Well what ever happens I for one will be checking my TV schedule for the first event and every event after. Its still the most entertaining motorsports event out there.
I will be doing the very same thing. Just not necessarily pulling for the MINI factory, if you can call it that, team. Going more for the drivers, now that I know who they are, thanks to Steve. Jim
You might be right. I just remember reading something a while back that said DTM was one of the most expensive motor sport series after F1. Of course that could have been written about the version of DTM that shut down in the mid-90s. I understand they did some things designed to lower costs when they resurrected it. They've taken significant additional steps for the coming season, including common carbon monocoque (therefore identical wheelbase, etc), common transmission, control tires, standard brakes, etc, so who knows? I've read that manufacturers think of DTM as better value for money (esp. for German makes), because of the much greater coverage and exposure. That says nothing at all about the actual relative costs, just that they may feel every advertising dollar (or equivalent) nets a greater return from DTM.
Purely speculation on my part Steve so I could be way off. It would need to be broken down into cost per event and then how many events there is... Then a cost per potential customer thing...much to consider it is...:crazy:
I have no info at all, just general impressions from things I've read. The other thing that affects my impression of relative costs is the last sentence in this article....not that Abarth's other options include DTM, but it at least implies that WRC isn't relatively pricey. Abarth linked to top-level rallying return (MaxRally.com)
The pre-rally shake down was today. Coverage is sparse and wrc.com seems all but dead with little to no new information posted. I imagine the site is run and/or fed by folks from the sponsoring company in administration so I'll be looking elsewhere for info. The rally proper starts tomorrow! In the meantime, here's a little video from the shake down (sorry about the dramatic music). [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFHx9bTJ2k0]Shakedown - 2012 Rallye Monte-Carlo - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]
In the old days the Monte had snow in the mountains. Don't you remember past Monte's with a snow covered col de turini? I do, but I think I'm a bit older than you are.
I know and I was looking for it too. Just sayin', might have to wait for Sweden to see a rally in snow this year. There are 5 days of Monte Carlo to go though, it could still snow at any time. :fingerscrossed:
Now the main guy steps aside and assurances that Kris is still in the game are tossed out. All the flowery talk is nice, but I'm not buying any of this. I know all of you have been following racing a lot longer then I have, but this smells of BS to me. Jim BTW" I'll keep my mouth shut now. (Do we have a zipped mouth smiley?)
Snow makes every rally better just as rain adds to the racing fun. Snow snow snow.... :fingerscrossed: