Why Going The Distance Is Worth The Effort

David Evans says longer stages are vital for WRC excitement

- David Evans

I can’t think of a week when 10 kilometres or six miles have been talked about more in the world of rallying. What did you think? Is endurance dead? Are short stages the only way to social media nirvana? Is the service park the only show in town? Let’s see...

Certainly FIA rally director Jarmo Mahonen’s thoughts on a potential future structure for the World Rally Championship didn’t do much to endear him to you, did they?

I have to say, I agree with him. We do need to develop social media exposure for the WRC and we do absolutely need to attract a younger audience – the one that WRC Promoter Oliver Ciesla rather worryingly informs us has an attention span of between eight and 14 minutes.

Mahonen’s private thoughts on the subject: “If you would really like a format for the social media, we should say that not any stage can be longer than 10 kilometres because then you have the news.”

Yes, we want – need – a social media following, but at what price?

Six-mile stages would undoubtedly generate more news, by dint of there being more interview opportunities at the end of those stages, and more Twitter chatter. Only a fool would deny or overlook the importance of social media, it’s the modern world’s chosen method of media consumption.