Mark Higgins brave new world suggestion for BRC

[MJW]

According to Autosport magazine Mark Higgins called for the BRC to undertake a brave and radical review. His suggestion is that cars would be 2WD (I think RWD) with 2.5 Liter normally aspirated engines, a fixed transmission kit, and suspension and brakes. He reckons cars could cost approximately £60,000 and would be spectacular on gravel and asphalt. The cars would be "modern" cars, e.g Vauxhall / Opel Astra and instead of the conversion work needed for 4WD that would be required for S2000 and S2000+ the work on the shells could be made to accomodate RWD.
According to Mark current top Group N cars are £125,000 and whilst fast and incredibly efficient in power delivery and handling they are boring to watch, with no spectacle and noise.
At present the BRC is an FIA sanctioned championship and is bound by their rules and when asked about this Higgins said why stay in the FIA championship, this type of car could easily establish itself as the way forward and other countries and even FIA could follow this lead.
Mark also said that the whole rally world was "hung up about 4wd and this was no longer spectacular"

[MrJan]

I'd agree that Group N is often boring to watch, far better to see a 2WD car having it's nuts driven off. That said it's a bit of a dream really because people are so attached to 4wd and see anything else as a step backwards (of course that is what most of us spectators want to see).

[sal]

Seem to remember Colin McRae proposing something similar and this was kind of behind his self built machine. Great idea in principle rwd can be very spectacular and the Historic championship certainly is full of good to watch rwd machines!
Thing is though this would seem to fly in the face of the MSA's drive to rid the sport in the UK of "specials" and align us with the FIAs vision for regional championships. I think the MSA may be frightened of upsetting the FIA and run the risk of losing Rally GB's spot in the WRC and so wouldnt go for this option.
It would be a brave decision to go down this route and it would remain to be seen how many "manufacturers" would field cars. Ostensibly I could see the BRC becoming a British form of "DTM" but without the manufacturer involvement . Interesting to see the BRC promotor offering his opinion and good that people are talking about this rather than sitting back and thinking everything is ok in the garden.

[MrJan]

everything is ok in the garden.

In this weather? ;) :p :

[AndyRAC]

Agree with his point about 4WD. I can no longer see the point in 4WD, it has served it's purpose, proved it's point. How many Manufacturers sell 4WD cars? Subaru, Mitsubishi, not many others - hell, even Ford's new RS is only FWD.
Anybody remember the F2 cars - now they were seriously good!! And spectacular - and 'only' FWD. Bring 'em back!!

[MJW]

Regarding the 4 WD thing whilst Subaru have been loyal to rallying Mitsubishi seem to have given the WRC the 'finger' in that the new Lancer is destined for Dakar type events. Whilst the cost of converting a production C4, Focus, FIAT, 206, Fabia etc from FWD car a 4WD car would remain if RWD was selected I would imagine there is a significant saving in doing away with expensive 4wd transmissions. I wonder what the outcome would be if the FIA forced manufactureres to make 4 wd variants of their WRCars. Maybe then they would accept an F2 type future or a RWD future.

[Zico]

MH is spot on.. and obviously reads the same hymm sheet as me. I'd imagine this notion will be very popular with a vast majority of rally pilots.

[imull]

Said it for years, this is the future - 2.5Ltr N/A up to 6cyl any configuration. 2WD up to manufacturers which two wheels. Standardised brakes, diff and sequential transmission without flat shift.

That should make it fun

thanks a lot , bump up up up!!