Group N Makeover

[Lita]

Well, if you have read any of my earlier posts, you will all know my thoughts on the current situation in Group N. Subaru have devasted the category this year, winning just about everything they entered. And when they didn't win they were still up near the top of the tree; good results have been easy pickings.
Now I know that with the costs and effort involved in running a team in Rallying-nothing is "easy", but it would seem that Subaru have found their niche/forte in Group N and they are going great guns.
Now that the season is ended, we can reflect on it with mixed emotions. For me, a formerley one-eyed Subaru supporter, it's getting stale and unhealthy.
What we need is a shake-up of Group N. At the same time we need to be mindful of costs and make sure that team budgets aren't blown way out of proportion, but something different needs to happen.
For instance, Ford joining Group N is a big plus-even though the car lacks a bit of torque, it's still going to be competitive. And it's a sign that Ford are going to commit "big" time to the category. They have the cash and the team behind them to make this work.
And that in itself will bring a new level of expectation to rallying here, and perhaps a new group of fans as well! Ford have a very strong following.
But what else can we do in Group N-what else can be changed to make the field more competitive?
Feel free to share your comments and ideas guys-it's an interesting topic I think.
-LITA

[Mitch]

I reckon we should have a Super 1600 championship as well as the main Grp N championship. Manufacturers as well. Suzuki, Toyota (Echo), Ford (Fiesta), Mitsubishi (Colt) and Holden (Barina). 2 drivers per team. That'd be cool.

[tumbo]

Reduce funding so that teams can be brought back into parity w/ each other. Change the rules regarding service so that they favour longer service breaks further apart. Reduce in car telemetry to minimum levels covering safety so that teams don't work on previous yrs data (in SRTA's case Bourne and Crocker's old data in many cases).....prolly more but can't think rught now

[Lita]

Yeah, I like the super 1600 idea. I have thought for a while now that getting the likes of Suzuki and Holden involved-as well as the others you mentioned Mitch, would be of huge benefit and would generate more interest. The super 1600 category would float quite nicely I think.
Also, you bring up a really good point Tumbo, the amount spent on funding should be much more level-a much more even playing field.
The telemetry is one I hadn't thought about; but certainly needs an overhaul.
I think a different approach to privateers needs to be taken too-perhaps a more structured points system needs to be put into place. Some privateers are doing very well under the current rules but there are others literally on the verge of breaking through that struggle with it. I don't know what do you think?