Why the 2011 WRC calendar falls short

5th May 2010

By Charlie Contadeli

Last year, we were told that next year’s World Rally Championship calendar would be the calendar to end all calendars. It was, we were told, going to provide the perfect blend of old classics and new markets. Not quite what we’ve got, is it?

It’s hard not to feel sympathy for North One Sport here. When Simon Long and co signed up for the role of global promoter, it was reckoned they would promote the sport globally. And, in doing so, take control of the calendar. Let’s face it, if you buy a shop, the least you expect is carte blanche to decide what you’re going to sell. Granted, you’d take advice from experts, but you’d decide what to stick in the window.

That, it would appear, is far from the case for North One Sport. Before his departure from the president’s office last year, Max Mosley made clear the WRC calendar would be North One Sport’s. At the start of this year, Mosley’s replacement, Jean Todt, publicly stated the FIA would be having the final say on which rallies are in and out.

Todt’s stance is understandable. He’s new to the job and he wants to take a good long look at every aspect of the sport – not least the 2011 calendar. He’s promised a root and branch inspection of rallying. He’s out to fix our sport and he’s not going to do that by delegation.

That’s the peripheral debate, what’s important to the World Rally Championship is next year’s schedule of events. And, in all honesty, it’s hardly the masterpiece we’d hoped for, is it. Even Long is talking ‘natural evolution’ rather than finished product right now.

For a starter, there’s no Monte Carlo. North One Sport could not have done more to entice the Automobile Club de Monaco back to the fold, but, it would appear, there’s no end in sight to the love affair between the Monaco-based classic of classics and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. The IRC’s gain is undoubtedly the WRC – and arguably world rallying’s – loss. That’s not to decry Sweden as a start venue for a season. This year’s Swedish was fantastic – just what the organiser’s deserved for an overhaul of the route and a heck of a lot of hard work.

There’s been talk of Poland being drafted in to start the season. That would be all wrong. Yes, the place could offer a mixed-condition winter event in the mould of the Monte, but Mikolajki is not Monaco.

The rest of the calendar is predictable: Mexico, Portugal, Jordan, Argentina, Italy, Greece, Finland, Germany, Australia, France, Spain and GB. Hardly the stuff of WRC dreams is it?

Granted, Long can’t just wave a wand over the 2011 calendar, but where are the prospects from the much talked about emerging economies? Where’s Brazil, Russia, India, China? And what about North America? Those are the key territories which should bring the manufacturers and the media to turn the global population into a big bunch of rally fans.

And then there are there’s Africa. Where’s the Safari? As much as we need the key markets, we need the hero-making events and the Safari is just that. It’s well known that a win in Kenya was as marketable as the title as the end of the season.

I’m disappointed at the absence of Japan, as well. Okay, the absence of one-time WRC heavyweights Subaru and Mitsubishi and even relative minnows Suzuki means there’s not the same emphasis on Japan as there once was. But Japan was among the best-organised and enthusiastically supported rallies on the calendar. Frankly, I’d rather have Japan than Mexico. Argentina represents the Americas better than any other event could ever hope to. But no representation in Asia is a mistake.

Firmly on the soapbox, what is Sardinia doing in there? I’m Italian-born and I have spent many a happy holiday on the island, but that’s not where our nation’s WRC history is at. It’s in the north, in Tuscany and Sanremo. Much as it troubles me to say it, we shouldn’t be in until we’re in the right place.

And where does the FFSA get off on switching the legend that is the rally of 1,000 corners for a Sebastien Loeb benefit? How absurd is that? We’ve been shifted from one of the finest places to rally to a mainland backwater in order for France’s six-time champion to wave to his fans without them having to leave their own backyard.

Tell me, precisely what challenge does the new Alsace-based event bring to WRC? Not much beyond mirroring the monotony of the Trier-based drear-fest next door.

With BMW and Mini reckoned to be imminently inbound, Germany is an absolute must for us. But surely there’s a more interesting event than the current Rallye Deutschland. And the same can be said for Rally GB. For goodness sake, we’ve been at the wrong end of the M4 for far too long. There’s no disputing the awesome challenge of the Welsh woods, but there’s more to British rallying than Resolfen or Rheola.

Portugal, Catalunya, Finland and the Acropolis are all awesome festivals of fever and we should never be without them.

You’ll notice I haven’t mentioned Australia. That’s because, to my mind, there’s no sense in going where we’re not welcome or racing through a national park, with all the environmental sensitivities that this might bring. We absolutely need Oz, but the right bit.

And as for the 14th slot next season, if it is indeed a scrap between Turkey, Poland and New Zealand, the Kiwis win it hands down.

It might be at the bottom of the world, but those roads are more than worth the trip.