HeilSvenska
05-08-2008, 05:36 PM
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
Rallying-FIA officials criticise Loeb's "scruffy" looks
Wed May 7, 2008 1:36 PM BST
PARIS, May 7 (Reuters) - Two senior motorsports officials have expressed concerns over four-times world rally champion Sebastien Loeb's "scruffy" looks, French daily Le Figaro reported on Wednesday.
Surinder Thatthi, chairman of the Confederation of African Countries in Motorsports (CACMS), and Morrie Chandler, president of the World Rally Championship (WRC) commission, both criticised Loeb for his appearance, the newspaper wrote.
The pair, both members of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), made their points in an e-mail exchange in March.
In a reply to Thatthi, who first raised the issue, Chandler suggested the official WRC television feed (WRC-TV) should refrain from filming the Frenchman close-up.
"I watched the WRC Mexico highlights last night and I have to voice my opinion on the poor appearance of Sebastien Loeb on WRC-TV", Thatthi wrote in his mail to Chandler, a copy of which was made available to Reuters.
"He was unshaven, scruffy looking and with unkempt hair!!," Thatthi added. "It is wrong.....when the FIA gives him global TV coverage to millions of viewers and to many children worldwide he is a hero and role model (...)
"I know there is a level of personal freedom one is allowed but I feel he is taking this too far and someone should talk to him or his team about this," Thatthi added.
Chandler, in his reply, also seen by Reuters, agreed with Thatthi that the issue should be addressed.
"Yes I watched the same as you did (...) Unfortunately it is not a problem that is unique to our sport as the same happens in football and other "male" sports," Chandler wrote. "Of course these persons are an insult to real males", he added. "My only solution is that we suggest to (rallying rights holders) ISC that the camera does not cover them close up."
Chandler copied his reply to ISC managing director Simon Long, who offered a different view.
"I do feel that it is precisely Sebastien's "ruggedly good-looking" appearance which has helped endear him to so many new and young fans both in France and around the world", Long wrote back to Chandler.
A spokesman for the FIA was not immediately available for comment.
(Reporting by Patrick Vignal in Paris, editing by Trevor Huggins)
Citroen could quit WRC for DTM
By David Evans & Steven English Friday, May 2nd 2008, 13:57 GMT
Citroen could join the DTM in 2010 if they go through with their threat to quit the World Rally Championship at the end of next season.
Citroen Sport team principal Olivier Quesnel admitted that the current promotional package of the WRC is not enough to keep the marque involved in the sport beyond 2009.
He believes the DTM currently offers manufacturers better value for money and a better platform on which to demonstrate their cars.
"I went to Hockenheim to look at the DTM race and the promotion of that series is on another planet compared to the WRC," said Quesnel.
"Citroen give me the budget and I have to use it in the best possible way. We have a new car, the C5, which is in the market with the Audi A4 and the Mercedes C-class, so we have to look at things."
Another factor in Citroen's decision will be the future of Sebastien Loeb. The four-time champion's current contract is up at the end of the 2009 season.
Quesnel added that the promotion of the WRC would need to improve significantly before he committed to developing a new car for the forthcoming rule changes in 2010.
"If we are quite sure the WRC is a good idea then we can make the investment in the new car," he said. "But we are not here to race for the sake of the race. We are here to sell cars.
"I was happy to be in Jordan, but where were the spectators? We don't sell enough cars there - we need to be in China. If there is no promotion in WRC, it doesn't matter that the costs are becoming less and less."
Funnily enough, the lack of promotion and races in potential markets was what drove Alfa Romeo and Opel out of DTM, as I recall.
Rallying-FIA officials criticise Loeb's "scruffy" looks
Wed May 7, 2008 1:36 PM BST
PARIS, May 7 (Reuters) - Two senior motorsports officials have expressed concerns over four-times world rally champion Sebastien Loeb's "scruffy" looks, French daily Le Figaro reported on Wednesday.
Surinder Thatthi, chairman of the Confederation of African Countries in Motorsports (CACMS), and Morrie Chandler, president of the World Rally Championship (WRC) commission, both criticised Loeb for his appearance, the newspaper wrote.
The pair, both members of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), made their points in an e-mail exchange in March.
In a reply to Thatthi, who first raised the issue, Chandler suggested the official WRC television feed (WRC-TV) should refrain from filming the Frenchman close-up.
"I watched the WRC Mexico highlights last night and I have to voice my opinion on the poor appearance of Sebastien Loeb on WRC-TV", Thatthi wrote in his mail to Chandler, a copy of which was made available to Reuters.
"He was unshaven, scruffy looking and with unkempt hair!!," Thatthi added. "It is wrong.....when the FIA gives him global TV coverage to millions of viewers and to many children worldwide he is a hero and role model (...)
"I know there is a level of personal freedom one is allowed but I feel he is taking this too far and someone should talk to him or his team about this," Thatthi added.
Chandler, in his reply, also seen by Reuters, agreed with Thatthi that the issue should be addressed.
"Yes I watched the same as you did (...) Unfortunately it is not a problem that is unique to our sport as the same happens in football and other "male" sports," Chandler wrote. "Of course these persons are an insult to real males", he added. "My only solution is that we suggest to (rallying rights holders) ISC that the camera does not cover them close up."
Chandler copied his reply to ISC managing director Simon Long, who offered a different view.
"I do feel that it is precisely Sebastien's "ruggedly good-looking" appearance which has helped endear him to so many new and young fans both in France and around the world", Long wrote back to Chandler.
A spokesman for the FIA was not immediately available for comment.
(Reporting by Patrick Vignal in Paris, editing by Trevor Huggins)
Citroen could quit WRC for DTM
By David Evans & Steven English Friday, May 2nd 2008, 13:57 GMT
Citroen could join the DTM in 2010 if they go through with their threat to quit the World Rally Championship at the end of next season.
Citroen Sport team principal Olivier Quesnel admitted that the current promotional package of the WRC is not enough to keep the marque involved in the sport beyond 2009.
He believes the DTM currently offers manufacturers better value for money and a better platform on which to demonstrate their cars.
"I went to Hockenheim to look at the DTM race and the promotion of that series is on another planet compared to the WRC," said Quesnel.
"Citroen give me the budget and I have to use it in the best possible way. We have a new car, the C5, which is in the market with the Audi A4 and the Mercedes C-class, so we have to look at things."
Another factor in Citroen's decision will be the future of Sebastien Loeb. The four-time champion's current contract is up at the end of the 2009 season.
Quesnel added that the promotion of the WRC would need to improve significantly before he committed to developing a new car for the forthcoming rule changes in 2010.
"If we are quite sure the WRC is a good idea then we can make the investment in the new car," he said. "But we are not here to race for the sake of the race. We are here to sell cars.
"I was happy to be in Jordan, but where were the spectators? We don't sell enough cars there - we need to be in China. If there is no promotion in WRC, it doesn't matter that the costs are becoming less and less."
Funnily enough, the lack of promotion and races in potential markets was what drove Alfa Romeo and Opel out of DTM, as I recall.