As WRC decided they didn't want Rallye Monte Carlo in their calendar every year (probably the most famous rally in the world) it is in IRC next year instead. The series promoter has just announced live tv footage from real stages, which is quite unprecedentd for rallying. I reckon it's exactly what the sport needs to gain a greater fan base.

The best thing about this is that Skoda should be debuting the Fabia S2000 on this rally next year and it will hopefully be a strong contendor for victory!

More here: Unprecedented live TV for Monte 2009 : Rallye-Info.com

Saw this news last night on another forum - it's great news - probably the best ever coverage of the Monte

with Col De Turini televised twice. Great stuff!!

What idiots the people running the WRC are, you don't drop your most famous events, imagine no Monaco in F1, no Open in Golf, no Wimbledon in Tennis - madness!

As for the new Fabia S2000, just hope enough testing has been done and it's right on the pace, won't be easy against the 206 & Grande Puntos

Hi Andy,

I'm "RS" on Motorsportforums which I suspect is where you saw this news? Also editor of the site in my signature.

WRC are really crazy to dump Monte, even if only for one year. It looks like IRC may have Monte, Safari and Sanremo next year plus possibly a traditional "RAC" Rally here in GB too.

As for the Fabia S2000, as I expect you know they have been doing a lot of testing and also running as zero car on Barum and Sanremo this year. The car looks extremely competitive and from the stage times that have been leaked, very fast too. With no problems I honestly expect Kopecky to run at or near the front on Monte

They trialled this live tv at the Rally du Valais last weekend and it was really great stuff. It should revolutionise rally coverage on tv, can't wait till Monte!

They trialled this live tv at the Rally du Valais last weekend and it was really great stuff. It should revolutionise rally coverage on tv, can't wait till Monte!

Yeah, I saw it as well, it was fantastic. The thing is, it wasn't a Mickey Mouse Superspecial, but proper Stages, the WRC could learn a lot from this, but won't. With a few more tweaks here and there, the Monte coverage should be brilliant, can't wait.

This weekend sees Rally Japan, just compare the coverage.........

..........:thumbdwn: