43 replies to this topic

[EightGear]

Finally. The day has come. The WRC has found themself a new promotor.

Red Bull will promote the WRC, this is the best WRC news since a long time.

http://www.rallye-ma...oter/index.html

https://p.twimg.com/...PKnCUAAg2kQ.jpg

[Sakae]

What are implication of that decision for F1 activities?

[Ross Stonefeld]

Next to nothing.

[Risil]

The WRC is at a sort of pole right now where any step would be considered one in the right direction.

Red Bull promote some pretty hardcore Enduro events alongside the usual X-Fighters and Air Race stuff, don't they? I think they have the experience and know-how to take this job on. It's a bit weird that an F1 team also owns a major four-wheel series, but the whole RB setup is weird.

[EightGear]

It's a bit weird that an F1 team also owns a major four-wheel series, but the whole RB setup is weird.

Well they don't own it, they promote it. This decision has been made with all stakeholders involved (including manufacturers), so I'm confident it will turn out very well.

That said, WRC couldn't get ant worse than it has been the last few months considering all 'issues.'

[Clatter]

The WRC is at a sort of pole right now where any step would be considered one in the right direction.

Red Bull promote some pretty hardcore Enduro events alongside the usual X-Fighters and Air Race stuff, don't they? I think they have the experience and know-how to take this job on. It's a bit weird that an F1 team also owns a major four-wheel series, but the whole RB setup is weird.

It's not an F1 team that will own WRC, it's RB. Just as with all the other series that RB own and run they are all separate entities.

[Risil]

Well they don't own it, they promote it. This decision has been made with all stakeholders involved (including manufacturers), so I'm confident it will turn out very well.

That said, WRC couldn't get ant worse than it has been the last few months considering all 'issues.'

True. The FIA of course is still the ultimate owner of the rights to the series.

It's not an F1 team that will own WRC, it's RB. Just as with all the other series that RB own and run they are all separate entities.

Technicalities.

[Cavani]

who would thought that a drinks company initiated in asia 20 years ago , would have an f1 team with two championship , sponsoring half the drivers in motorsport, owning football teams, owning commercial rights of the WRC , young drivers program, what else for redbull ?

[TimRTC]

As motorsports fans we're roundly screwed if RB goes under, or it turns out that caffeine in absurd quantities is as harmful as smoking and they ban the advertising of it...

[jcbc3]

Nature abhorrs a vacuum. Someone else will rush in. Has worked for many years prior to RB entering the scene. Will continue after they leave.

[Clatter]

Technicalities.;)

Reality.

[Brandz07]

What are implication of that decision for F1 activities?

Nothing, Red Bull Media House are also the official promoters, not just Red Bull as a whole.

[Cavani]

what redbull is trying to acheive here ? because i think in advertising ,they dont need any more exposure ,every and each racing series in the world has redbull as a driver sponsor , team sponsor , or team owner . didn't they reach their target in consumers ?

[teejay]

They probably figure they make so much money why not put some back into something that the owner obviously loves.

[OSX]

It's a bit weird that an F1 team also owns a major four-wheel series, but the whole RB setup is weird.

Surely you know that Red Bull is first and foremost an energy drink company. It sponsors a whole lot of different sports and also owns teams in various sport categories. F1 is just a part of Red Bull's business, just as WRC will be.

[OSX]

But the so-called "technicalities" aside it is fan-ferkin'-tastic news for WRC.

[ArnageWRC]

It could be good news, and the WRC has been crying out for some good news this year. I presume they will use RedBull TV for coverage, as well as other outlets. The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is on RedBull TV and is pretty good, as was the Erzberg Extreme Enduro event.
Let’s hope there’s some fresh ideas for the sport – and away from the ‘F1 on Gravel’ which has left the sport in disarray. I also hope they realise were the sports stands – it can be a very successful 2nd tier sport.

[Tony Mandara]

Dietrich Mateschitz is trying to take over the world!

That's why he never puts his arms in the sleeves of his coat.

A sure sign of an arch-villain!


Mark my words....

[pingu666]

theres robby gordon trying todo the same in a small way too...

but rb are good at promoting/supporting various sports, i respect them for that

[johnmhinds]

Will this mean they will have to remove all their advertising support from the cars?

[Jimisgod]

Will this mean they will have to remove all their advertising support from the cars?

Promoting is different to owning or controlling.

[Fastcake]

Well good news I guess. Red Bull seems to be one of the companies willing to invest a lot of money in motorsports, so let's just hope they can bring rallying out of the gutter it's found itself in. First up, televise it somewhere I can actually see it

[johnmhinds]

Promoting is different to owning or controlling.

Sure, but there has got to be some conflict of interest.

They don't want to get accused of promoting one team more than another because they also have Red Bull sponsorship.

[pRy]

Good decision. Quite amazing really how much this brand has done for sport, mostly extreme ones but still. Ok, they get a lot back from the brand exposure etc.. but for one single energy drink brand they've done a lot.

[sharo]

who would thought that a drinks company initiated in asia 20 years ago , would have an f1 team with two championship , sponsoring half the drivers in motorsport, owning football teams, owning commercial rights of the WRC , young drivers program, what else for redbull ?

An F1 race on their track (former A1 ring) in the calendar maybe ...

[AvranaKern]

The WRC is at a sort of pole right now where any step would be considered one in the right direction.

Red Bull promote some pretty hardcore Enduro events alongside the usual X-Fighters and Air Race stuff, don't they? I think they have the experience and know-how to take this job on. It's a bit weird that an F1 team also owns a major four-wheel series, but the whole RB setup is weird.

It's like what Bernie did in the late 90's. After he got what he wanted from Mosley, he had agreed to drop WRC.

[Nobody]

As motorsports fans we're roundly screwed if RB goes under, or it turns out that caffeine in absurd quantities is as harmful as smoking and they ban the advertising of it...

Motorsport has been around a lot longer than RB, we'll be alright

[Clatter]

what redbull is trying to acheive here ? because i think in advertising ,they dont need any more exposure ,every and each racing series in the world has redbull as a driver sponsor , team sponsor , or team owner . didn't they reach their target in consumers ?

You must have realised by now that it's not just about marketing, but because the man at the top is actually a massive racing fan.

[mtknot]

You must have realised by now that it's not just about marketing, but because the man at the top is actually a massive racing fan.

I get the feeling in a few decades red bull will be known more for its promotion of sports than its energy drinks.

[Brandz07]

Will this mean they will have to remove all their advertising support from the cars?

Red Bull sponsors cars.
Red Bull Media House sponsors the event.

[Risil]

Red Bull sponsors cars.
Red Bull Media House sponsors the event.

Yeah! Totally different companies!

[OSX]

I get the feeling in a few decades red bull will be known more for its promotion of sports than its energy drinks.

For that to happen Red Bull would need to stop selling energy drinks which is not only their core business, and a massive cash cow at that, but the very product at the center of all their various marketing efforts and also the product that has enabled it all.

[Seanspeed]

I get the feeling in a few decades red bull will be known more for its promotion of sports than its energy drinks.

Its probably just cuz I dont drink energy drinks, but I already feel this way. When I think Red Bull, I think racing.

[OSX]

Its probably just cuz I dont drink energy drinks, but I already feel this way. When I think Red Bull, I think racing.

Well, it's certainly not odd for an F1 enthusiast to feel that way but for the general public Red Bull is, what it first and foremost is, an energy drink/soda brand.

[ClubmanGT]

At the risk of being unpopular, I can't help but feel that the WRC needed to find its own branding and Raison d'être rather than being shuffled into someone's else's product line-up. I worry that this points towards the WRC continuing with the overly-packaged 'three stages repeated x three days' format and less of the sport going to back to being an enjoyable spectacle for fans.

[jstrains]

I can remember when RB owners called F1 success the cheapest advertising they can have...

[Slowinfastout]

Just having some summer break fun

---------------------------------------------------------


Jo Bauer: 'not again... WTF am I supposed to do here? engine maps, floor, wheel hubs, ride-height cheating, this RB8 is about as acceptable as Briatore in a thong.'


Jean Todt: 'Yes... Jo.. wait. S'il vous plaît, I hear you. Hold on for une minute, OK? I will get back to you in a moment.'

[Jean dials a number]

'Boujour, my good friend Dietrich! How is life on Laucala?


Dietrich Mateschitz: 'In summer, the song sings itself.'


Jean Todt: 'Magnifique! So, Dietrich, we might have a small problem with your F1 team. My technical delegate is having a panique attaque. In short, he says we should have disqualified your car, several times. Maybe even.. you know, last year...'


Dietrich Mateschitz: 'GULP! 'I'm listening..'


Jean Todt: 'Don't worry Dietrich, if your brand was completely disgraced in Formule Un it would be as disastrous for us as it would be for you.. I mean, euhh, proportionally.'

[long silence]


Dietrich Mateschitz: 'Ha Ha HA HAha! Haw.. A prank call from Jean Todt. Unbelievable! HaHa! You almost had me there Jean, for one second.'


Jean Todt: 'Non non, Dietrich, this is not a joke. Listen, I'll handle it, but in exchange I need you to do something about the Rallye.'


Dietrich Mateschitz: 'WRC? what about it? What do you mean I need to do something about the rally?!'


Jean Todt: 'You take it. You do everything. I give the Rallye technical rules and you do everything. Lucille will get in touch with you. No probème OK? Don't worry. Bye Dietrich!'

[click]

[Risil]

I like the word "le rallye".

Edited by Risil, 10 August 2012 - 23:38.

[Muppetmad]

Whilst I'm not Red Bull's biggest fan, I must admit that what they do, they do well. This can only be good for the WRC.

[AvranaKern]

Well, it's certainly not odd for an F1 enthusiast to feel that way but for the general public Red Bull is, what it first and foremost is, an energy drink/soda brand.

I think for you to say something like that, you need a comprehensive field analysis and statistical data to back it up. Other than that, it's just a hunch by your side.

When I tried to get a sponsorship from Red Bull for an organization I was in charge, they had told me that they would back only the events that are considered as extreme. This was Red Bull's company motto and market strategy. I don't think it's changed since then. Therefore, Red Bull's brand awareness strategy may not focus on solely energy drink/soda products, so we cannot be 100 percent sure whether that is the case for the public unless you know something, obviously.

[JRizzle86]

Currently anything will be an improvement on the current state of the WRC. I remember when i used to keenly tune into the the rally coverage on TV. Now it seems non-existent.

Edited by JRizzle86, 12 August 2012 - 11:18.

[kosmic33]

I think for you to say something like that, you need a comprehensive field analysis and statistical data to back it up. Other than that, it's just a hunch by your side.

When I tried to get a sponsorship from Red Bull for an organization I was in charge, they had told me that they would back only the events that are considered as extreme. This was Red Bull's company motto and market strategy. I don't think it's changed since then. Therefore, Red Bull's brand awareness strategy may not focus on solely energy drink/soda products, so we cannot be 100 percent sure whether that is the case for the public unless you know something, obviously.

This makes no sense at all.......

[Risil]

I dunno, I understood it. Don't think I agree though, our own individual impressions matter. That's why we're here.

Personally -- and this goes for everyone I've spoken to -- Red Bull don't seem to have a problem connecting their sporting brands to their identity as a soft drink manufacturer. Whenever people stop being interested in nasty energy drinks though, they'll be in a good position to use awareness to continue selling other things. I don't think it's wildly fantastical to suggest that in 50 years time, Red Bull may be better known as the patrons of successful sports teams than for a drink they used to sell. Consumer habits fade fast from the memory.

[Dolph]

Will this mean they will have to remove all their advertising support from the cars?

Why on earth would it mean that?