I tend to think it isn't even though there seems to be a feeling amongst those rallying that it is.
For example the WRC has attracted Volkswagen for next year, which must be a great move. Well has it attracted VW? With the current chaos regarding television rights for the WRC Volkswagen's board have started to re-think their huge commitment and there is certainly some doubt as to whether the Polo WRC will start a stage next year as a works entered car in the WRC..... Should Volkswagen pull out before even entering the blow to the WRC would be huge and can't be under estimated!
Is British rallying healthy? It seems to be surviving which is all it can hope to do in reality through the present economic climate. Once the economic dark clouds have lifted there are more battles to be fought though..... Forestry rallying may well decline due to increase costs, lower available miles and worse road condition ensuring more vehicle damage.
Should forest rallying decline further where will those cars go? Single venue events are becoming harder to organise and venues are becoming fewer and with no closed road rallying at present the future is far from bright, bleak may be a better choice of adjective.
Closed road rallying offers a sustainable future for British rallying but there seems to be an apathy to promoting the economic benefits events can bring. I remember being at Lurgan Park and hearing just how many millions of Pounds/Euros Irish rallies brought into local communities, an income stream totally unavailable to those areas without a rally. For a day of potential noise and congestion as well as limited access to certain roads the locals see their economy boosted beyond all recognition - surely this is a great selling point!!!
Will rallying still be around in 10 years? Of course but with economic and environmental pressures mounting it may be a different beast to when I was doing the Heart of England, BTRDA, West Midlands Road Rally and Welsh Road Rally Championships - all in the same year with a selection of drivers. That was a fun time and I was lucky enough to get class and championship victories galore that year!
