Colin Mcrae

[MG Freak]

These new rules have forced out the best known driver in WRC!!

If anyone doesn't know, teams are being restricted to the amount of drivers who've had a podium finish in the last 3 years, thus Colin mcrae has lost hsi place to carlos sainz. This means he has to go to skoda or hyuandai. These manufactors don't have rally winning cars so you can understand why mcrae is not moving there.

He has talked about finacing his own car, but if he doesn't bother, i believe this will be a great loss to WRC.

The rule changes worked in f1 because they were needed, WRC was fine, but of course you can't leave something thats correct, you have to fiddle, and look what thats done, lost one of the biggest drivers in rallying, who probably made it as popular as it is today. Stop fiddling with rules in all motorsports!!

Rant over. :mad:

[Les]

that's really sad. Why on earth did they want Loeb instead of McRae?

[VkmSpouge]

In fact the FIA have just changed the rules again limiting all teams to just two cars, the WRC didn't really need changing in the first place. The FIA are trying to put a cap on costs by cutting down on the number of cars a team has but then the FIA increase the number of rounds in the calender from 14 to 16 (I think) with the inclusion of Mexico and Japan for next year.

Citroen want Loeb above all else, he's younger than McRae and Sainz and certainly has the potential to be as good. The question was until today why would Citroen choose Sainz over McRae? And that's answered by one look at the points table. I can understand why McRae doesn't want to go to Skoda, Hyundai (who haven't even got a budget for next year) or Mitsubishi. It will be a great pity :( to lose the WRC's most renowned driver. Interestingly he's been link to a move NASCAR...any thoughts?

[Alan]

Well he did have a go at ASCAR last year and made a good job of it if I recall correctly - maybe that gave him ideas.

Whether he would get into NASCAR is another thing entirely of course. Whatever he drives though he will be worth watching, I seem to remember he even had a go at touring cars once, but maybe my memory is playing tricks on me.

[Claw]

Originally posted by Les
Why on earth did they want Loeb instead of McRae?

Maybe cos Loeb is a great talent. But they should have kept Loeb and McRae.

Colin is my favourite driver in the WRC, he's much better than the ginger whiner Burns, and it's a great loss. Well done FIA! :mad:

[VkmSpouge]

Originally posted by Alan
Well he did have a go at ASCAR last year and made a good job of it if I recall correctly - maybe that gave him ideas.

Whether he would get into NASCAR is another thing entirely of course. Whatever he drives though he will be worth watching, I seem to remember he even had a go at touring cars once, but maybe my memory is playing tricks on me.

I've already spoken to one American NASCAR and WRC fan on another forum about whether he would like to see Colin in NASCAR, he's all for it :) though he, like me, would rather see Colin in his natural element in the WRC.

[The Stig]

Mcrae who predates Richard Burns by a few years is a reason many British fans tuned into the WRC. Sebastien Loeb, a Frenchman, has been retained by his French team for just that reason. Loeb might not be a household name but he is a massive talent. Sainz and Colin together probably put a sizeable hole in the Citroen budget. Finances which could be put towards the cars themselves, particularly given the aspirations of the Peugeot team.

Bet Burns prospers at Subaru next year!

[VkmSpouge]

I would definitely count McRae as one of the reasons why I started watching rallying. But your right in saying Loeb is a massive talent and I think Citroen would have had to be mad to have let him go.
I think Burns will do well at Subaru but it will be interesting to see how Petter Solberg and himself match up.

[The Stig]

Subaru is where Richard Burns made his name, fortune and World Title. He knows the team, they know him and it will surely be a competitive combination. If it hasn't already, Loebs stock will surely rise. On balance, (age/salary etc), Citroen might have blundered employing Carlo Sainz and presumably Moya for next year.

Mitsubishi and Skoda won't improve unless a driver of the calibre of Mcrae or Makkinen takes the plunge towards the end of their career.

[touring fan]

Originally posted by Alan
Well he did have a go at ASCAR last year and made a good job of it if I recall correctly - maybe that gave him ideas.

Whether he would get into NASCAR is another thing entirely of course. Whatever he drives though he will be worth watching, I seem to remember he even had a go at touring cars once, but maybe my memory is playing tricks on me. He was good apart from the fact that he kept going below the white line to pass people. :D It would be interesting to see him in for a whole season.

[cos]

I'll wait and see what happens about this WRC situation. Some teams had already signed 3rd drivers before this rule came into place. Now there's talk of a 'breakaway' series because the teams are not happy about the way the rules have been forced on them. If they stay the way they are Hyundai and Ford are probably going to pull out at the end of this year. Otherwise McRae's best hope is to find some private funding to run his own team. Perhaps an all-McRae team now that his brother has been dropped by Mitsibushi.

[John]

McRae must have made a fair bit of money over the years - through the computer games if nothing else - so what's to stop him running a private ex works car next year. Don't know which car would be best, maybe a Pugeot, Subaru or Ford (if its available). Theres nothing to stop a private entry scoring driver points and it'd be nice to see if he could do a bit of giant killing.

I know its probably not very likely - but it must be possible for a private car to do well given the right backing and driver.

[The Stig]

All the ingredients are there aren't they ? Get Colin hooked up with a blue chip partner for finance and he could be in business. Would need to be a two or three year commitment which is where I doubt it would succeed. What would be better would be if Colin was offered the same two or three year deal as team leader for a new manufacturer.

One thing is for certain, the FIA have p****d on their cornflakes with this one, how many championships could afford to be without someone of the calibre of Mcrae ?? How will it benefit the WRC ? What was the rationale behind this ruling ??

[VkmSpouge]

Boy, I would love to see Colin McRae doing some giant killing as a privateer.:D
I don't think the FIA have handled this at all well. I can understand the needs to cut costs but I don't think they went about it in the right way. Even by banning third cars, teams will simply spend all that money on something else.

[MG Freak]

It looks like he will either go to NASCAR or fund is own team. He said that he woldn't go into a lower team like skoda, itsubishi etc because he wants a car that can win rallies, not have to develop a car and except for second best. The two mcrae's in there own mini-team.....driving a subaru..or last years ford.....wot a sight that would be!

[John]

Or maybe Alan Gow could try and tempt him back to the BTCC, that would get the series a lot of good media coverage.

[Claw]

Originally posted by John
Or maybe Alan Gow could try and tempt him back to the BTCC, that would get the series a lot of good media coverage.

If that happens i'll dance naked in my close!

[VkmSpouge]

Originally posted by Claw
If that happens i'll dance naked in my close!

Yeah, it doesn't stand much chance of happening does it?







:D But if it does there are people who'll hold you to that, Claw *grins evilly* Mwhahahaha!

[MG Freak]

Not a sight i would like to imagine.......:eek:

[MG-ZS EX260]

sorry, im being a bit controversial here but personally i think McRae is pretty bad. Hes being out shone by everyone, i support there decision to go for loeb and im sick of hearing colin moaning. :)

[kevin ritson]

Put it this way:

Colin MacRae: out

Harri Rovanpera: in

Crazy. Nuff said.

[VkmSpouge]

I completely understand why Citroen chose Loeb and Sainz over McRae, I just don't have to like it.:) By his standards I'm Colin McRae must feel he has had a pretty bad season, his team mates have consistently beaten him and he has failed to win a rally so far.:( However one bad season doesn't spoil the something something...I mean just because he's had one bad year doesn't mean he's completely lost it, I hope he can bounce back again next year whoever it is with:). Incidently that won't be with Hyundai as they won't be in the WRC next year.:(

[Ed- the MG fan]

Also i don't understand why Harri Rovepera has a full time drive at pud instead of Loix, Harri is rubbish o n asphalt and Loix was sheraing stage times with him in a Hyundi in Australia.

Good that Pug have decided to keep their third driver even though he can't score points.