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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81205

Good stuff, it's about time the FIA president was talking about more than F1.

(02-02-2010 09:12 AM)chemics Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81205

Good stuff, it's about time the FIA president was talking about more than F1.

Once he's "done" with that, there's a fair number of other FIA series that could use some attention:
http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/champions...ships.aspx

Personally, I'd love to see the Alternate Energies Cup and some of the Hill Climbs get some more attention. I didn't even know they existed.

easy to say you're going to make it better when it's at rock bottom. they're getting kimi and ken this year, then s2000 which will bring some new car choices next year. it's going to be a period of growth regardless of what todt does. if he can build it up significantly beyond that, to get it back to where the money/exposure is right to justify building new cars instead of spec ones, that will be a job well done.

I'm sure the growth of the sport will be more about the new promoters than the FIA, just as it is with F1. Like you say, Todt can hardly mess it up from rock bottom. It's still good to hear the FIA president focusing on something other than F1.

The big problem of WRC is that drivers are competing against the clock first and against each other only second. That doesn't make for much public attraction. Images on TV will always show just one car, no overtaking. Although, that last thing sounds familiar...

They have Virtual Spectator on the TV coverage to show relative position in stage. I think you can also get that live through the premium website content.

As very little WRC is streamed live there are plenty of ways for TV to make it interesting. It's not burdened with waiting 20 minutes for the next round of pit stops before anything happens like a live F1 race. Plus you can interview the drivers at the end of each stage to get their opinion on performance through the day, it would be like talking to an F1 driver during a pit-stop on the team radio...which has some merit.

(02-02-2010 03:47 PM)InterRaptor Wrote: [ -> ]The big problem of WRC is that drivers are competing against the clock first and against each other only second. That doesn't make for much public attraction. Images on TV will always show just one car, no overtaking. Although, that last thing sounds familiar...

sounds like you'll never be a rally fan then. changing what you describe as the "big problem" would alter the sport so fundamentally it wouldn't be called rally anymore.

It would be called RallyCross instead...an equally entertaining but very different sport.

i was thinking raid, but rallycross would meet that description as well.

Oh I'm not saying it should be changed, as you said it wouldn't be rallye any more. I'm just saying it makes for a less tv-able experience. Same as a 100 meter foot race is more watchable than a marathon (ok, the time factor plays a role too).

Maybe a 100 meter foot race vs. pole vaulting is a better analogy for you.
Only one of those is ever going to be broadcast during prime time.

*likes watching pole vault events*

Well now you know how all the rally fans feel about your earlier perceived snub.

I think a race will always have more broad-based appeal, but if you're willing to learn the nuances, the individual competition sports inspire a much deeper connoisseurship.

But not golf... there's no sense in watching that.

are there people that watch highlights of marathons?

but rally doesn't need mass appeal, which is part of what's great about it. it's not fancy. in fact, it's been my experience that smaller crowds in spectator areas make for a better experience.

Yes, you can't beat 3 people in a cold, damp, foggy Forrest waiting to hear the exhaust popping in the distance. Most people don't get it though.

I guess it really depends how you like to watch an event. I don't watch much live sports events because I feel with TV I get more relevant info. E.g. at a F1 race I'd just see a part of the track, but not what happens in the pit or any other part of the track. The atmosphere itself is not that important to me.

spectating a rally is an adventure. you go to the service area and you can chat with the drivers and crew and other fans. you discuss where to spectate and when, then everyone splits up and drives off to their locations, often taken bizarre routes on winding trails to get there without using any of the stage roads. then you stand around and chat with the other fans as you wait for the cars to come through, then head back to service and repeat.

it's way more than watching a race; it's a weekend of adventuring.