No matter what the business, if you stand still and fail to innovate as markets change there is a risk of being left behind and the prospect of not achieving the potential. This is the crux of Thierry Neuville’s comments made in the lead up to Rally Portugal. The Hyundai driver claimed that the WRC is facing a critical point and needs to “react” and “change” to improve its appeal to current and prospective manufacturers, the media and fans.
His words have since triggered plenty of debate between stakeholders, but the situation regarding the future direction of the WRC is a complex one with many layers. There is enough evidence to justify that the WRC as a whole doesn’t need to completely reinvent the wheel, but there is plenty of room for improvement in several areas.
However, this isn’t a unique situation felt only by the WRC, but one almost all motorsport categories are currently facing. This pressure to evolve can be traced to some degree to the unprecedented boom in popularity Formula 1 is experiencing under Liberty Media’s stewardship, which has left other categories wishing for a slice of that pie.
In Portugal Neuville stated: “Before COVID I would say it [WRC] was reasonably OK, after COVID for me WRC went on the downhill slope. And I have the feeling like, nobody really realises it, how drastic it is.
“But as a driver you can feel it in terms of media attendance, I can feel it in Belgium, nobody really cares about WRC anymore. I feel that the manufacturers' involvement is not the same as it has been in the past. So there is a lot of things which gives it a feeling that yeah, we need to react.
"But not only this, we also see that Formula 1 is capable of changing the format, during the season, with the new format for the race in Baku with the qualifying on Friday.
"MotoGP is adding sprint races, and rally - there is no change. And we live in a time where nobody wants to follow anymore just cars driving through the forest. Yes it's spectacular when you go and watch, but when you are on the TV it's not the same.”
While Neuville made his views clear, he isn’t the only member of the service park frustrated by the current situation.
Source: Autosport