Three crews per team - best ever rule in World Rally Championship

Hi, Steemers!

Nineties and until season 2003 this rule was greatest in history of World Rally Championship. Every team could pick up the best drivers for them and it was variety of them.

Every team had tarmac or gravel specialist for some events and FIA said: two best placed drivers per team pick up the manufacturer points. It was great championship to watch.

And the suddenly someone said: we'll make cost cutting for championship and two crews per team are enough. Why is that?! Because FIA wanted to expand WRC calendar to 16 events and they succeed with that.

Two crews per team rule was accepted in 2004 and some drivers lost their job.

                     legendary Colin McRae

First of all: Colin McRae who was real legend and probably greatest promotor of sport of all times. Teams started to employ paying drivers: one of the first was Mikko Hirvonen (Subaru World Rally Team then; they don't compete anymore). Hirvonen had great career later but after that 2004 season he lost his job immediately. But there was no greatest name of the championship in sport anymore: Colin McRae. And everything because of a paying driver who had 'big money' manager. 

              Mikko Hirvonen proved himself later in Ford works team

I was confused and disapointed. My hero was gone from regular seat in series and some paying guys took some seats.

                      legendary Subaru World Rally Team

Manufacturer teams made big mistake then. Sport started to go downward from that point and you couldn't find it regularly in medias anymore. Because nobody wants to see the same champion without competition for the nine seasons in row. Big disapointment from FIA.

And that finished this season: FIA returns three crews per team in WRC.

Now more drivers have a job but still it's too much paying drivers around. For me only the best deserves to be in  a works squad.

   Citroen still has paying driver: Khalid Al Qassimi (he is also their sponsor - Abu Dhabi)

      my hero - Colin McRae onboard

And that's it.

Let the best win!

Credit (for photos and video) to WRC Facebook official  

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