2025 World Rallycross

[tbtstt]

I see that a 2025 discussion has started in the 2024 thread, so I thought I'd open up a new thread for next season.

Calendar announced and currently looks like this:



Obviously great to have some "proper" circuits on the calendar, plus a return to the UK again (though I can't say that the decision to go to Coventry over Lydden is a little disappointing).

Question mark over where the Australian round is going to be. Quite a drawn out season as well?

[BertMk2]

Coventry? That's just bizarre. Where on earth is that going to be?

[AndyS]

As you say, Coventry is bizarre to say the least. In recent years something called motofest has been run there, on closed public roads. It seems to be wrapped around this event in the city centre.

[MotorsportMentalist]

The World RX promoters went to Coventry Motofest in the summer to presumably re-raise the profile of the sport here in the UK, whilst also teasing the idea of the event coming to fruition. I think its an interesting idea, but I don't understand their reluctance to race at Lydden, especially now that the Silverstone rallycross circuit has since closed.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by MotorsportMentalist

I think its an interesting idea, but I don't understand their reluctance to race at Lydden, especially now that the Silverstone rallycross circuit has since closed.

Yeah, I am curious as to why they have opted for Motofest over Lydden. Is it Lydden saying no, or are the promoters looking at other options?

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

I would also suggest that British fans have next to zero interest in modern WRX and Lydden would probably make a loss if they hosted it.

The World Rallycross weekend at Lydden last year seemed to have pretty decent numbers. Not quite as rammed as some of the previous World rounds at Lydden, but must have been the busiest event at Lydden in 2023.

I know it doesn't work this way, but I feel like Lydden earned another go at hosting a World round with what happened last year. Despite all the drama and disruption of the fire just before the weekend, they managed to host a pretty decent weekend of racing.

[flatlandsman]

They will only be going there because it is in a city and the local council will probably be giving them a budget to run the event, look at FE, it always goes to cities, it is nothing to do with racing or existing fans, it is about pushing the sport onto people who might take an interest locally who know nothing about it, the Motofest has been around for a long time.

I would also suggest that British fans have next to zero interest in modern WRX and Lydden would probably make a loss if they hosted it. The bubble burst here a while back

[flatlandsman]

It will be to do with Coventry having more cash to host the event, plus being in a city it appeals more to the marketing people

[Adam43]

Coventry! Brilliant.

They should combine it with motofest.

[AndyS]

Up side Coventry will be far more accessible for me and a lot of other people. Also plenty of other stuff to see with Motofest.

Downside these temporary street tracks can be very hit and miss to say the least. Also how strong will the car count be.

I'll keep an open mind for now.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Downside these temporary street tracks can be very hit and miss to say the least.

Yeah, that's my concern as well. At least Motofest is an established event, so hopefully the organisers there will already have some idea what does and doesn't work.

Originally Posted by AndyS

I'll keep an open mind for now.

Ditto: if this is the only way we can get World Rallycross in the UK then I won't write it off, hopefully there will be a decent entry as well.

[flatlandsman]

Motofest is not very well attended, it was initially, but I think the locals see it as more of a pain int he arse really, as it closes some very busy roads, all they have done in recent years is run a sprint and some other stuff.

[flatlandsman]

Interestingly the FIA have advertised the tender for promoting WRX is open, I don't know if this means Red Bull are quitting, or they have decided to carry on and financial fair play necessitates they have to advertise it as available, the date to lodge a bid is only a couple of weeks away so I expect the latter.

[MotorsportMentalist]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

Interestingly the FIA have advertised the tender for promoting WRX is open, I don't know if this means Red Bull are quitting, or they have decided to carry on and financial fair play necessitates they have to advertise it as available, the date to lodge a bid is only a couple of weeks away so I expect the latter.

I think someone new might be stepping in. There were reports in the summer by Autosport that 'WRC Promoter' (so also Rallycross Promoter) was preparing for a sale, with Dirtfish reporting today that Rallycross Promoter is expected to disband at the end of the year. How reliable Dirtfish are I don't know, but the Autosport report doesn't make it seem like everything's rosy behind the scenes.

[ArnageWRC]

Leave it to be run by those who know the sport; and realise it's not a global series. It's a small, niche sport with its stronghold in Europe.

There's nothing wrong with not being global. Both IMG & WRC Promoter are trying to big it up into something it's not.

[flatlandsman]

This is obvious, and was the case from the very start to be honest, the sad thing was there were a lot of people involved in the IMGWRX launch and organising stuff initially that were from rallycros history that just took the money and went with it.

the sport has been largely ripped apart and where are they now? Sitting in a big mansion probably just like IMG!