WRC2 news & rumors 2024

[Mary Mary]

You are right that what you enjoy is what you enjoy, that is fair, and am happy you answered.

However, there are many great rallies happening across Europe most weekends of the year that could be televised and be good entertainment. The question isn't about the entertainment value of individual rallies, it's what links several of them together to form a championship calendar each year that is really behind my question. I never suggested about 'merging' but perhaps part of Mirek's answer was the explanation that involvement with the championship helps with sponsorship is all that it is.

But, 5 of the ERC rally winners have only done one rally. Mirek's answer now doesn't make sense. "I'm competing in one rally of the ERC, it's my home rally, please sponsor me". Apparent to me is a dualistic approach from the entrants. I am not convinced that Paddon is thinking about the rally wins but the championship points each rally. So, the championship regulars are putting all the effort into making what is attractive about the series for the local and specialist drivers.

So why not, for example, make a touring series out of ERC for entertainment value, expand the series to 20, 30, 40, + rallies a year. A tour is what WRC2 is but restricted to the WRC calendar, is it not? Do either need championship points from classification and a champion?

I realise I may be thinking out loud and poorly explaining my thoughts.

[Mirek]

You are right that what you enjoy is what you enjoy, that is fair, and am happy you answered.

However, there are many great rallies happening across Europe most weekends of the year that could be televised and be good entertainment. The question isn't about the entertainment value of individual rallies, it's what links several of them together to form a championship calendar each year that is really behind my question. I never suggested about 'merging' but perhaps part of Mirek's answer was the explanation that involvement with the championship helps with sponsorship is all that it is.

But, 5 of the ERC rally winners have only done one rally. Mirek's answer now doesn't make sense. "I'm competing in one rally of the ERC, it's my home rally, please sponsor me". Apparent to me is a dualistic approach from the entrants. I am not convinced that Paddon is thinking about the rally wins but the championship points each rally. So, the championship regulars are putting all the effort into making what is attractive about the series for the local and specialist drivers.

So why not, for example, make a touring series out of ERC for entertainment value, expand the series to 20, 30, 40, + rallies a year. A tour is what WRC2 is but restricted to the WRC calendar, is it not? Do either need championship points from classification and a champion?

I realise I may be thinking out loud and poorly explaining my thoughts.

What you describe exists. It's called European Rally Trophy. Nobody except for the hardcore fans know about it. That's the effect of having dozens of rallies where nearly no regulars start. No interest.

The current ERC has its own regulars however you are right that for them it is difficult to beat the local specialists because they don't have the advantage of different machinery like in case of WRC. But that is fine. Please also take into account that there are ERC regulars in other classes. ERC3, ERC-Junior or ERC4 and there is quite a lot of them.

[Danny0405]

Pajari saves the win by the smallest margin possible after his puncture.

For the title fight:

- Solberg is clearly the front-runner, if he wins in Chile, he clinches the title… however, in case he doesn’t win, it would open a shot for Rossel (depending of Chile results) and Pajari in Central Europa rally.

- Pajari will rely on Chile’s result…

- For Rossel, this is harder: he must win in Chile and Solberg not being better than 3rd to be able to play the title in Central Europa rally.

[Danny0405]

Situation pretty clear in WRC-2 now

- If Pajari wins in Japan, he clinches the title
- If Rossel doesn’t win in CER and Pajari does 2nd in Japan, Pajari clinches the title
- If Rossel wins in CER and Pajari doesn’t win in Japan, Rossel clinches the title
- every other result would give the title to Solberg

Only thing that could change the situation is Rossel withdrawing from CER to fight directly with Pajari in Japan but I don’t think it’ll occur.

Question mark about which level of competition will be in Japan… should be very weak but Citroen (Gryazin would still have one event remaining) or, less probably, Toksport/Skoda could bring someone depending on the result in CER.

[mknight]

Greensmith is likely going to Japan (maybe Skoda funds it a bit?).
He is not nominated for points in CER and still has one round available.

Both him and Gryazin are likely to beat Pajari on tarmac.

[deephouse]

Right now:
1. Solberg 123
2. Rossel 111
3. Pajari 108

Solberg did finish scoring points. Pajari will drive Rally1 car in CER so he will probably score points in JPN. Rossel is competing in CER.

Possibility after CER (if Rossel win the event)
1. Rossel 136
2. Solberg 123
3. Pajari 108

Possibility after JPN (if Pajari win the event)
1. Rossel 136
2. Pajari 133
3. Solberg 123

[Danny0405]

You have to remove 10 points to Rossel in your calculation (it’s only 6 best results so Sardinia would be removed if Rossel wins CER)

[saco0o]

if i was a billionaire i'd fund lappi, mikkelsen, loeb, ostberg, paddon in toksport entries to try to hold pajari and rossel hahaha

also, curious how wrc2 top guys are always on top. in erc its so common to have local entries beating the full timers/top drivers. wish we could have more of that in wrc2.

[macebig]

So, Rossell has to win CER and Pajari has to finish at least 2nd in Japan respectively for one of them to win WRC2. Any other result and Oliver is champion.