MOTOR SPORT
WIWAT CHANG
IRC challenging WRC for global audience. |
TV revenue from WRC's commercial arm - ISC - has declined in recent years that many world rally organisers could not afford to host them and car makers find it harder to participate.
Then came a new knight in shining armour called Eurosport television that offers global coverage for less money.
Many of the former WRC rally organisers switched to Eurosport's new Intercontinental Rally Challenge like the Kenya's Safari Rally, Italy's San Remo Rally and Rally Portugal.
Upgrading from top tier of the European Rally Championship include Swiss Rallye du Valais, Belgium's Ypres Westhoek Rally and Czech Republic's Barum Rally.
In 2008, the calendar has grown to eleven (including the Safari Rally which had to be dropped to political crisis early this year) with the season-ending event in China.
Knowing they cannot suddenly steal manufacturers away from WRC, IRC focused on building a sport on the second fastest (read cheaper) groups of rally cars - S2000 and Group N.
Such a 280hp car costs only one-fourth of a 300hp world rally car and a team's running cost is also several times less than that of a WRC team.
So it come to no surprise that the financial advantages have attracted a few European car manufacturers in to participating on official works basis.
Now IRC has even more manufacturers' participation with five (Abarth/Fiat, Honda, Peugeot, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen) than WRC's four (Citroen, Ford, Subaru and Suzuki).
There have been talks in trading entries and rallies among the two championships in the near future.
The idea is to hold WRC and IRC on alternate years.
Each of the WRC/IRC season will comprise exactly 12 events, so in a paired two years the same teams take part in 24 events rather 15 WRC rallies like this year.
But of course, the technical regulations would have to be the same to allow top cars and teams to be equally competitive.
There are discussions that the new world rally car formula could be based on the cheaper S2000 class (4WD + non-turbo Group A 2-litre engine) which would be key in making alliance with IRC.
Will spectators boo and TV viewers switch channels if they see slower rally cars?
Of course they would, so they must see to it that the new formula does not take away excitement away from the sport or else they can dig a new grave for themselves.
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