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2026 WRC News & Rumours
- Thread starter PLuto
- Start date
I am absolutely convinced you come here just to whinge and moan. Like, why post that, again?
But that's just my opinion. Maybe I need to take a break from the forum.
Because the emperor has no cloth and it was funny. Blame the FIA & WRC
deephouse
Senior member
No offense, but you always sounds like you defend all moves from FIA & WRC. Why? On a paylist? You been secretly Sulayem?
It's also just not true, have a look at the individual rally threads & when something good about rally happens. I am very positive there, because Rally is amazing (some shi*talking about tires is allowed though). But certainly not when my beloved sport get's destroyed by, frankly, idots at the wheel and I don't mean the drivers. FIA / Promoter / what have you have consistently proven that if there is a choice to make, it's the wrong one, over several years now. Same with RX which I also highly enjoyed before its stupid move into E. What else is a passionate fan to do? Be positive?
I agree it maybe sounds like that a lot, but it's because I'm a realist and they're human and we're in an imperfect world. When things aren't smooth I try to find the reason, that's all I'm doing. I come here to discuss, discover and learn from knowledgeable people, and maybe share what I can from what I know. OK, not everybody is here for that, so I sometimes challenge people's opinions and responses and because we're mainly blokes on an internet forum, tone is lost with text, so it's often taken as a personal attack on identity, and the atmosphere erupts.
But feels like recently that all that reasoning and knowledge isn't here anymore and is too much Facebook quality style rants from a collection of lonely uncles who think they know or could do better. Never was perfect in that regard, didn't always function technically well, and was sidelined during the age of social, but there was enough good stuff and voices to justify coming here. I'm not interested in bashing and joining a bitch-clique - that's why I left Twitter before even Musk bought it, now not on any socials. Think I share what I like and don't like enough, but the repetitive whinging and circular moaning is pollution IMO. It sucks energy and life out of any room, and I've walked out of meetings and conversations before and later been thanked for it. If I'm in the wrong place for what I'm looking for, please let me know. I already have enough negativity in life and don't need any more.
But also, I used to work in and talk to various folk in motorsport who get talked about here and elsewhere. Not many in rally, but I read things I know to be factually untrue but it's not my place or signed off not to talk about (circuit racing stuff). I know what it's like to be on the other side of a closed door. Nobody will mind speculation but when it gets to territory of personal insults, it crosses a line IMO and I will call it out; and 'I know better' from those maybe with zero credentials who think they live in a perfect world and don't have the full information, it's just sad and embarrassing for us all.
Steve Boyd
Senior member
That'll be Tuesday then!
As far as I can see the argument might be that from where Toyota & Hyundai top management are looking there's a war in Arabia so it's dangerous and they don't want to go. From where Ben Sulayem and the Saudi organisers are sitting it's over 1000 miles (1600 km) from Jeddah to the Straits of Hormuz so it's quite safe.
Maybe they'll finalise their discussion in Chile and we'll get the answer on Tuesday, maybe not . . . . . . .
The bigger problem for the rally isn't Iran or Hormuz but the Houthis of Yemen that sit a lot closer. And in that regard the situation right now is far worse than a couple of weeks ago.
www.aljazeera.com
Fighting escalates in Yemen; Houthi attacks trigger alerts in Saudi Arabia
Yemen's government accuses Houthis of killing three children as rebels claim Saudi forces launched 54 air raids in 12 hours.
deephouse
Senior member
And we are desperately impatient to hear long-awaited news that Saudi will not be final. Doesn't matter which or even if one will be, as long as it not this joke of event. We don't need another heartbreaking Sesks, Armstrong and Fourmaux story destroyed, while Ogier, Katsuta, Solberg, Neuville and Evans will fight ho will have less punctures.
That's why we are even more angry, frustrated and keep shouting the same things.
That's why we are even more angry, frustrated and keep shouting the same things.
rallyfiend
Senior member
Eli
Senior member
Didn’t they change Qatar to someplace else? And at least WEC took care of it.
Fast-Eddie
Senior member
Fast-Eddie
Senior member
Good piece by João Pereira on FB today...
It is simply incomprehensible how the WRC could be on the verge of ending in 15 days !
Although it remains hard to believe that this scenario will actually happen, the fact that it is even a real possibility is extremely serious. The most outrageous part of all this is the deafening silence from the FIA, which remains completely silent without saying a single word or giving any clarification about the future of the competition.
A championship with this history only shows how the FIA and the promoter poorly reflect and manage what should be the best sport in the world. It is an absolutely unacceptable situation ! Teams are completely in the dark, not knowing whether to prepare logistics for Saudi Arabia or for another rally altogether, and fans don't know whether to book travel or stay home. An absolute SHAME !
The decision regarding Rally Saudi Arabia remains pending due to geopolitical instability in the Red Sea and advancing Houthi attacks, a situation that puts the event in Jeddah—located 600 km from the conflict zone—in a dynamic and uncertain environment. Furthermore, the likelihood of Spain stepping in as a backup plan has become much more difficult, as RallyRACC has already published the official regulations for this year's edition, making a last-minute swap to host a WRC round far less probable.
In terms of team readiness, Toyota and Hyundai have already stated they lack insurance coverage for the trip to Saudi Arabia and face legal restrictions regarding some of their staff. On the other hand, M-Sport Ford is taking a more cautious approach. Team Principal Richard Millener stated that the team will follow the UK Foreign Office guidelines, confirming that if the UK government deems it safe to travel, they will go.
Millener highlighted that Saudi Arabia has made a massive financial investment and signed the longest contract in WRC history, meaning that refusing to travel or canceling the event involves serious contractual and commercial implications, especially with a newly appointed promoter in place. The main frustration for M-Sport is the ongoing logistical uncertainty and the financial risk of shipping equipment without clear guidance. While Millener acknowledged that moving the event to Salou would be a popular choice among fans and an interesting extra European round for Rally1 cars, he stressed that a decision must be weighed carefully and urged authorities to provide clear logistical direction immediately.
It is simply incomprehensible how the WRC could be on the verge of ending in 15 days !
Although it remains hard to believe that this scenario will actually happen, the fact that it is even a real possibility is extremely serious. The most outrageous part of all this is the deafening silence from the FIA, which remains completely silent without saying a single word or giving any clarification about the future of the competition.
A championship with this history only shows how the FIA and the promoter poorly reflect and manage what should be the best sport in the world. It is an absolutely unacceptable situation ! Teams are completely in the dark, not knowing whether to prepare logistics for Saudi Arabia or for another rally altogether, and fans don't know whether to book travel or stay home. An absolute SHAME !
The decision regarding Rally Saudi Arabia remains pending due to geopolitical instability in the Red Sea and advancing Houthi attacks, a situation that puts the event in Jeddah—located 600 km from the conflict zone—in a dynamic and uncertain environment. Furthermore, the likelihood of Spain stepping in as a backup plan has become much more difficult, as RallyRACC has already published the official regulations for this year's edition, making a last-minute swap to host a WRC round far less probable.
In terms of team readiness, Toyota and Hyundai have already stated they lack insurance coverage for the trip to Saudi Arabia and face legal restrictions regarding some of their staff. On the other hand, M-Sport Ford is taking a more cautious approach. Team Principal Richard Millener stated that the team will follow the UK Foreign Office guidelines, confirming that if the UK government deems it safe to travel, they will go.
Millener highlighted that Saudi Arabia has made a massive financial investment and signed the longest contract in WRC history, meaning that refusing to travel or canceling the event involves serious contractual and commercial implications, especially with a newly appointed promoter in place. The main frustration for M-Sport is the ongoing logistical uncertainty and the financial risk of shipping equipment without clear guidance. While Millener acknowledged that moving the event to Salou would be a popular choice among fans and an interesting extra European round for Rally1 cars, he stressed that a decision must be weighed carefully and urged authorities to provide clear logistical direction immediately.
Eli
Senior member
Such a f**king joke they made this championship into, pardon my french. Even when Max Moseley or Jean Todt were around things weren’t as badly managed as they are now with no transparency what so ever.