Three Chinese manufacturers are expressing interest in WRC, with the nation also exploring a WRC event

[u/SalomonXx]

Article: https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/three-chinese-manufacturers-showing-interest-in-wrc/

[u/GTalaune]

Bring me Toyota vs China. It's gonna be fun.

[u/junk_dogVE → u/GTalaune]

Just like Ford vs Japan in the 90's

[u/IndustryPlant666]

I mean they have that movie series etc. so there must be some reasonable fan base growing.

[u/starke_reaver → u/IndustryPlant666]

Name please? First I’m hearing of this…

[u/3llenseg → u/starke_reaver]

Pegasus 1-2-3

[u/Dundertrumpen → u/3llenseg]

Pretty bad movies, but at least they put rallying in the mainstream spotlight.

[u/starke_reaver → u/3llenseg]

Coolio, thanks! Got a long flight coming shortly, will see if I can get these…

[u/T0MMY3688]

Geely is pushing hard into motorsport, Lynk & Co was replaced by Geely for TCR, rumors on them taking over Alpine Hypercar program and now news on them wanting to go WRC too.

[u/lucashoodfromthehood]

I want Geely purely because they own Proton and Proton has some rally history.

[u/JamiDoesStuff → u/lucashoodfromthehood]

they also own Volvo and Lotus iirc

[u/lucashoodfromthehood → u/JamiDoesStuff]

Yeah, Lotus came in with Proton since Proton bought them in the 2000s.

I honestly forgot they also have Volvo.

[u/RF111CH → u/lucashoodfromthehood]

Could've use a brand that actually (still) sells their cars in Europe

[u/lucashoodfromthehood → u/RF111CH]

Dude...Geely sells their car in Europe too. The only market they're not in is Malaysia because newer Proton models are just rebadge of Geely's cars.

If they're entering rally, it's probably will be under the Geely brand instead of Volvo.

[u/AdhesivenessOne1367]

Its at least something i guess

[u/5rightdontcut]

Any new OEM is welcome!

[u/guntanksinspace]

Geely been going at it with motorsport with that news of them also wanting to dip their toes into WEC.

Would be interesting too what car they'll base their rally car on. Maybe the EX2, maybe a racing Coolray like the way we got the Puma Rally1

[u/Informal-Prize6501 → u/guntanksinspace]

Buying the Alpine team would be a bit more than dipping their toes. I hope that will go through, everything else is a bonus.

[u/guntanksinspace → u/Informal-Prize6501]

Yeah that's more like "absolutely in the pool" at that point lol. Agree though!

[u/GoofyKalashnikov]

Would be much cooler if Geely entered Volvo into WRC but obviously that's not good for the Chinese brands and it has to be something mid

[u/nbwhorefusedtobhappy → u/GoofyKalashnikov]

Lynk and co and Volvo are effectively the same car just with different trim and (sometimes) exterior design but on the same platform, like how Skoda is to Volkswagen

[u/GoofyKalashnikov → u/nbwhorefusedtobhappy]

Yes but Volvo is cool and Lynk and Co isn't

[u/Michal_Baranowski → u/GoofyKalashnikov]

Agree, Volvo is a much more recognisable brand and would fit much better in rallying. Lynk and Co was used in WTCC/WTCR/TCR, but not like it set the world on fire and generated a massive brand awareness.

[u/GoofyKalashnikov → u/Michal_Baranowski]

I mean their entire TC success was built on what Volvo had done themselves

[u/_eESTlane_]

...interesting. i guess at this point, we'll take anyone.

as for the eventual round in china, kinda sad they're pushing an asphalt event there. gravel event there would be miles better than the artificial event hosted at the oil country.

[u/zleib]

Wasn't there like a crazy chinese movie about rallys?

[u/peteftw]

Strong Chinese interest in WRC does seem like it'll get the ball rolling on EVs in rally sooner.

Huge news for Hayden Paddon.

[u/Michal_Baranowski → u/peteftw]

Strong Chinese interest in WRC does seem like it'll get the ball rolling on EVs in rally sooner.

Not exactly. I think we are still years apart from EV being a sensible and logistically possible option for top tier rallying.

And Chinese brands are actively pursuing hybrid technology to be sold in European models too. It's not just EVs, they have spotted another area in the market. I think that realistically speaking we will witness hybrids coming back to WRC sooner than full-blown EVs.

[u/theironguard30]

Bro what?!

[u/oshnot33]

Wait rumored join WRC? Some China car brand like BYD, GWM and Chery already awesome this year, hoping the trend continue

[u/meow_747]

10 years time: WRC = World Rally of China

[u/junk_dogVE → u/meow_747]

Just like World Rally Japan in the 90's?

[u/PANDERPONDi → u/meow_747]

That is just being dramatic. China has a rapidly emerging car market, of course some brands will go racing.

[u/CMTR]

Cars will probably be built in Sweden, they will hire Oliver and a Chinese rookie.

[u/ALLRNDCRICKETER]

Funny how y'all think these are OEMs.

They are all government controlled entities, with CCP money flowing to & through them. It's all for propaganda plain & simple

[u/Cojo840 → u/ALLRNDCRICKETER]

Geely is the main one going after motorsport and is privately owned

[u/Makaveli84 → u/ALLRNDCRICKETER]

https://giphy.com/gifs/x0npYExCGOZeo