WRC 2011

[cptkablamo]

The World Motorsport Council met and while we have heard oodles on the F1 stuff, Rally also featured and had a couple of big decisions.

The biggest was that the control tyre is scrapped and tyre competition will occur in 2011

Co drivers names will reappear on the windows again. A minor thing in a sporting sense but it is something that never should have been changed in the first place - the codriver deserves recognition too...

Also news on engine tuning from S2000 to the 1.6L formula and info on the paddle change gear boxes.

Link - http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre...sc_230610.aspx

[BertMk2]

So control tyres are out - on the one hand that's good as it introduces another variable but on the other it's going to push cost up again for the tyre suppliers.

[JAG]

I'm really looking forwrd to these new generation WRC cars.

The smaller hatchbacks with wider wheelarches look great and hopefully new manufactuers will enter in the coming years.

Heres a video of the DS3 WRC testing.

http://www.extremrallye.com/ds3_asphalte_sordo.html

[I Rosputnik]

Reminds me of the old Renault R5.

I'm also looking forward to these, and look more exicting then the current cars. They're more smaller and buggy like, perfect for rallying.

Seeing as the Fiesta is now going to the X-games, any chance of someone importing a DS3?

[NaBUru38]

I believe that the new B-segment cars are too small for a top class. I'd prefer C-segment cars. I agree that they look mean.

[JAG]

Is the minimum weight of 2011 WRCs 1200kg like S2000s?

[nickyf1]

FIA banned the paddle shifters too, yeah?

I hope this saves the WRC, I want it to get back to the days of 2000-2005 when you had over half a dozen great drivers going for wins..

[I Rosputnik]

Flick through Autosport today, Mini is rumoured to be testing at the end of the month. The mini should be red.

[NaBUru38]

Were it for Mini's logo, the cars would be black and white. But Minis are (un)usually coloured, and I would like that in WRC. Not red or blue, they are too classic and we have them already.

[rich_cooper]

I hope the new rules help, im a massive WRC fan but this season ive paid no attention to the series. Ive got wrc radio on at the moment of writting this, and its only the second time this season ive had it on.

I think the new rules will help the series, and it looks like there will be afew more car makes coming into the series within the next few season!

And at last they are putting co-drivers back on the windows. They are a massive part of the crew and deserve to have there names there

[nickyf1]

Without the co-drivers, the drivers themselves would probably not find the stage! Remember that time Daniel Elena told Seb to make a wrong turn and he ran out of fuel?

I really hope these new rules attract the makes, I keep watching footage from the first half of the 2000's, those were great times for rallying.

[nickyf1]

Great video from its gravel testing. I think we need not worry about the cars not looking spectacular on a stage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5nHy...ayer_embedded#!

[rich_cooper]

Originally Posted by nickyf1

Great video from its gravel testing. I think we need not worry about the cars not looking spectacular on a stage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5nHy...ayer_embedded#!

Remember that doesnt have the engine in. Its the C4 wrc engine in that!

But they are gonna look great on the stages even with the 1.6T engine

[nickyf1]

Henning Solberg is dominating the SWRC in Bulgaria at the moment, I bet he can't wait for the WRC version of the Fiesta

Anyone got any idea which car Petter will ''choose''?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

Flick through Autosport today, Mini is rumoured to be testing at the end of the month. The mini should be red.

By Prodrive?

[I Rosputnik]

Originally Posted by FIRE

By Prodrive?

Yep, all done by Prodrive. (I'm not sure how much input BMW has had.)

[JAG]

Mini WRC news.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85369

[tbtstt]

Great to see Prodrive definately confirmed for return to the WRC, bit of a downer on the car though.

Although its brilliant to see another manufacturer enter WRC, I can't imagine any amount of wide arches and slatted spoilers are going to make the Clubman look good!

[BertMk2]

It's not based on the Clubman (fortunately!) it's based on the "Countryman" which is the MINI "Crossover" vehicle. It's still a butt ugly car though

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

It's not based on the Clubman (fortunately!) it's based on the "Countryman" which is the MINI "Crossover" vehicle.

It is? Oops, my mistake, thanks for the correction...

Originally Posted by BertMk2

It's still a butt ugly car though

...sadly its still the same outcome though!

[rich_cooper]

Good to see them now in

Road car looks horrible but im sure prodrive will make it look better

[I Rosputnik]

Some pics of the "Mini"...

It's a bit big to be a WRC car; would Rally Raid make more sense?

2 supermini's vs a crossover.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

It's a bit big to be a WRC car;

I thought that about the Suzuki SX4 - and look how well that went. Oh - hang on......

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by rich_cooper

Road car looks horrible but im sure prodrive will make it look better

I have faith in Prodrive, but they really have their work cut out with this one...

[Japanese Samurai]

Toyota returns to an international race.
Tadashi Yamashina (executive director) announced by the interview.
The category that they are examining is WRC, WTCC, and DTM.
They plan to decide the category by the end of next month.

News source Yomiuri Shimbun(newspaper)
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/atmoney/ent...OYT8T00278.htm