The Marcus Grönholm Rally Thread

The place for anything and everything else to do with F1 history, different forms of motorsport, and all other randomness
Myrvold
Posts: 1106
Joined: 28 Nov 2009, 21:03

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Myrvold »

*sigh*

Are there any rally threads anywhere that haven't become a Kubica-circle-jerk?

Yes, Kubica impressed massively in his WRC 2 campaign. But with all due respect the WRC 2 guys, the level of competition was nothing but awful. And I have no belief in a driver like Elfyn Evans stepping it up, and being a top driver the next year, or two. And he was the best of the ones behind Kubica in speed towards the end of the year.
Yes, Kubica is by far a better rally driver than Raikkonen. But it is quite a gap from Raikkonen level to top 3 level.

Now, looking at the team for next year. The Citroën lineup isn't that bad. Østberg, well, like I've said, there are better Norwegians than him,but he is handy, he have finished every rally but one since 2011. Needs to get to his 2012-form though, if not, I'll keep making daddys boy remarks. Kris Meeke is underrated. He might not be a future world champ. But the guy is fast on gravel, and fast on tarmac. Needs to stay on the road.

M-Sport Lineup is, sad. Hirvonen, yet again a driver who needs to find his 2012-mojo, if he's able to do that, he is a quick driver. He cannot afford another 2010 or 2013 though. Evans... meh. They could've had almost every single other driver and been better.

VW, well, Ogier is the new SuperSeb. Latvala is very quick if he can get the car more to his liking, and keep it on the road.

Hyundai have, maybe the most interesting lineup. Neuville do have the speed, but not sure if the car is good enough. Sordo showed that he could win, Hanninen, 2nd PWRC, won IRC, Won ERC, 2 additional podiums in IRC. but he haven't really showed great WRC pace. Not sure how he will do. Atkinson... hmmm. He beat Petter in the last year together at Subaru, and Petter showed with his privateer Citroën that he hadn't lost everything. Still not convinced. And with maybe just Mexico, Argentina and Australia he won't be able to show much either.

The other entries. Mikkelsen, did what he was told. Not risk anything, just drive to get experience, get km's in, and finish. Still a bit disappointed. Don't think the co-driver change did any good either. He isn't right on Ogier level, but not too far off. I personally believe that he have a great potential, and have learned a lot after having to rebuild himself without money, and sadly killing that little girl during a rally in Norway.
Martin Prokop will do what he always does. Finish, far behind. But stack up points. Hopefully with one of the better liveryes yet again. Al Qassimi. Well, he drives what he want, without him, there wouldn't be much Citroën WRT. And then Kubica. Impossible to say. He'll most likely be between Prokop and the rest on gravel. On tarmac he'll be closer, setting some good times, but not being able to keep it up through the whole rally.
One thing Kubica have is lot of natural talent for driving whatever that have four wheels. And with WRC being standarized, sanitized rallies, it will be easier for drivers without too much experience to drive fast, compared to before. That will help.

I'll happily eat my words when 2014 ends. But Kubica in WRC, won't be anything close to what he showed in WRC-2. And that won't change for 2015 either.
User avatar
DemocalypseNow
Posts: 13185
Joined: 17 Aug 2009, 09:30
Location: Lost, send help
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by DemocalypseNow »

Myrvold wrote:*sigh*

Are there any rally threads anywhere that haven't become a Kubica-circle-jerk?

What else do you expect? There is nothing else left in WRC to be excited about. He is the only young(ish) driver that stood out in 2013 in any international series. Sebastien Chardonnet dominated WRC3, but that's even a small car compared to the WRC2 DS3. Maybe he's not used to the power of a WRC1 standard car and wouldn't be ready.

Other drivers who did exceptiponally well this year; Jan Kopecky, he destroyed everyone in ERC this year, but we saw him in WRC before for Skoda, and he did nothing. In IRC, he was always 2nd. Yes, in '09, he did one less rally than Meeke, but if he gets 10 points for winning another event, he still comes 2nd. In 2010, team-mate Hanninen took him to the cleaners. In 2011, yes, it's stupid that Mikkelsen gets the title instead of him (double points at Cyprus), but Hanninen was almost always faster still, just did less rallies. 2011, it was a joke, only Mikkelsen and Wiegand did proper campaigns all year, both works Skodas part-time, and again, whenever Kopecky and Hänninen are head-to-head, the Finn is faster. This year, only Bryan Bouffier, Jaroslav Orsak and Craig Breen turned up often enough to challenge. Francois Delecour hardly showed up at all and still managed 4th in the championship. Even Ketomaa, Basso and Loix, only did one rally all season, and they finished 9th, 10th, 11th in the title race.

Hayden Paddon won his domestic championship, yet again. You look at the multiple champions in national series, and you see guys like Juha Salo, who are well into their thirties and therefore not really viable as an investment for a top team. Paddon is only 26. This is the type of driver who perhaps should be considered. Quite like Mikkelsen I suppose, except not with the manufacturer then dropping him after one year of doing what he was told to by the team.

The point is, nobody around has any money to put a decent challenge together in anything even somewhat high-profile. We get talented guys like Ketomaa, Grondal etc stuck in their national championships because they can't afford to progress. Then you see guys like Prokop and Kosciuszko, who are okay drivers but mostly are just running good cars full-time because they have the money. Even Kubica probably would not have a WRC drive next year without Lotos.

WRC has no credence anymore, because nobody apart from Sebastien Ogier or Thierry Neuville has been hired by a manufacturer team in the last 5 years based on god-given talent alone. I can't say 10, because you had Gronholm being picked up by Ford, Martin to Peugeot (a real shame how that worked out, he would probably have been a major contender during the Loeb era, maybe going back to Ford to replace Gronholm after retirement), Duval to Citroen (well, the idea was he had talent, didn't quite turn out that way), Sordo at Citroen (first time round, when he was JWRC champ, not the second time when Citroen gave up finding something better to sub for Loeb in '13), Atkinson (not bad), Gardemeister (didn't really work out too well).

From what I understood of what Yves Matton said when replying to rumours of a Francois Duval return, he was seriously considering hiring him. When you are in this position, having someone like Kubica turning up is the only source of excitement one is going to find, and therefore, the only driver anyone is ever going to gravitate towards.
Novitopoli wrote:Everytime someone orders at Pizza Hut, an Italian dies.
Novitopoli wrote:Juve's Triplete: Calciopoli, doping & Mafia connections.

Image Image
Myrvold
Posts: 1106
Joined: 28 Nov 2009, 21:03

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Myrvold »

Chardonnet did one race in 2012 with a DS3 WRC, think he ended 10th, right behind Prokop.

Now, WRC-2 will get a little boost next year. Paddon with a more serious attempt. Ott Tanak and Jari Ketomaa in the DMACK team. Pontus Tidemand (which I do regard as a massive talent) also going to drive in the WRC 2 next year. Everyone in R5 cars, which will make it a more... even fight. At the same time Skoda and Peugeot is going to concentrate on ERC for 2014.

As I've said, I'll be happy to see Kubica do well. But I really to think he looked a lot better than he is at this point by the catastrophic level of the drivers in 2013.

I saw you mentioned Grøndal. While I know we scanids are supposed to be awesome at snow, he did almost win the WRC-2 class in a Subaru that isn't even up to the old N4 spec. It was originally what we in Norway had as a "Subaru-Cup" car. Which was a car with H-pattern box, standarized suspensions and a lot other non-performance parts. Leading, the WRC-2 class with that car, shows something about the level, not too much about Anders.
User avatar
DemocalypseNow
Posts: 13185
Joined: 17 Aug 2009, 09:30
Location: Lost, send help
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by DemocalypseNow »

Myrvold wrote:Chardonnet did one race in 2012 with a DS3 WRC, think he ended 10th, right behind Prokop.

Now, WRC-2 will get a little boost next year. Paddon with a more serious attempt. Ott Tanak and Jari Ketomaa in the DMACK team. Pontus Tidemand (which I do regard as a massive talent) also going to drive in the WRC 2 next year. Everyone in R5 cars, which will make it a more... even fight. At the same time Skoda and Peugeot is going to concentrate on ERC for 2014.

As I've said, I'll be happy to see Kubica do well. But I really to think he looked a lot better than he is at this point by the catastrophic level of the drivers in 2013.

I saw you mentioned Grøndal. While I know we scanids are supposed to be awesome at snow, he did almost win the WRC-2 class in a Subaru that isn't even up to the old N4 spec. It was originally what we in Norway had as a "Subaru-Cup" car. Which was a car with H-pattern box, standarized suspensions and a lot other non-performance parts. Leading, the WRC-2 class with that car, shows something about the level, not too much about Anders.

For sure, Pontus Tidemand is one for the future, I would have him in a works car a year or two down the line if he continues at this rate of progression.

Anyway, I found an old WRC programme on my DVR yesterday and had a look, and it reminded me of something - most of the great drivers didn't make it to works teams until their thirties. I had totally forgotten this, thanks to the likes of Ogier, Latvala, Neuville making these jumps in their mid twenties. Mäkinen was 31 when Mitsubishi signed him, and Grönholm was 32 before Peugeot signed him to a full campaign. Yes, Jari Ketomaa is already 34, but maybe it's not too late for him to make a start with a works team as I thought. I always thought of him as one of the best Production/WRC2 drivers out there, who never really got a chance beyond that level.

Certainly, the DMACK team has a very strong lineup. But for me, maybe you are talking down Anders a little too far. He can be on the same level as Ketomaa et al.
Novitopoli wrote:Everytime someone orders at Pizza Hut, an Italian dies.
Novitopoli wrote:Juve's Triplete: Calciopoli, doping & Mafia connections.

Image Image
User avatar
mario
Posts: 8090
Joined: 31 Oct 2009, 17:13

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by mario »

Stramala wrote:
Myrvold wrote:*sigh*

Are there any rally threads anywhere that haven't become a Kubica-circle-jerk?

What else do you expect? There is nothing else left in WRC to be excited about.

And therein lies the problem with the WRC - it has become an empty husk these days compared to what it was in the past. The shrunken pool of manufacturers and driver hurts their image, not to mention some of the utter farces that have taken place in recent years - the continued mismanagement of the media rights, the rows over the timing equipment, the tyre problems in the Rally of Portugal in 2012 (where Michelin had to tell the drivers not to use the soft tyres because they were ripping apart) and above it all a governing body that seems indifferent to the problems of the sport.
The fact that M-Sport seem to be more interested these days in closed circuit racing - M-Sport are responsible for the GT3 version of the Bentley Continental GT and are looking to rapidly expand that part of their activities - says it all; not even some of the specialist rally companies believe that it is viable to focus just on the WRC these days.
Martin Brundle, on watching a replay of Grosjean spinning:
"The problem with Grosjean is that he want to take a look back at the corner he's just exited"
User avatar
roblo97
Posts: 3847
Joined: 16 Sep 2012, 16:42
Location: my house \M/ (Brent Knoll)
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by roblo97 »

mario wrote:The fact that M-Sport seem to be more interested these days in closed circuit racing - M-Sport are responsible for the GT3 version of the Bentley Continental GT and are looking to rapidly expand that part of their activities - says it all; not even some of the specialist rally companies believe that it is viable to focus just on the WRC these days.

Didn't said Bentley come 4th overal on its debut in Dubai?
Mexicola wrote:
shinji wrote:
Mexicola wrote: I'd rather listen to a dog lick its balls. Each to their own, I guess.

Does listening to a dog licking its balls get you excited?

That's between me and my internet service provider.

One of those journalist types.
270 Tube stations in 18:42:50!
Alextrax52
Posts: 2943
Joined: 17 Apr 2013, 20:06
Location: Bromborough near Liverpool

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Alextrax52 »

mario wrote:
Stramala wrote:
Myrvold wrote:*sigh*

Are there any rally threads anywhere that haven't become a Kubica-circle-jerk?

What else do you expect? There is nothing else left in WRC to be excited about.

And therein lies the problem with the WRC - it has become an empty husk these days compared to what it was in the past. The shrunken pool of manufacturers and driver hurts their image, not to mention some of the utter farces that have taken place in recent years - the continued mismanagement of the media rights, the rows over the timing equipment, the tyre problems in the Rally of Portugal in 2012 (where Michelin had to tell the drivers not to use the soft tyres because they were ripping apart) and above it all a governing body that seems indifferent to the problems of the sport.
The fact that M-Sport seem to be more interested these days in closed circuit racing - M-Sport are responsible for the GT3 version of the Bentley Continental GT and are looking to rapidly expand that part of their activities - says it all; not even some of the specialist rally companies believe that it is viable to focus just on the WRC these days.


Yeah I miss great Driver/Co Driver pairings like Gronholm/Rautianen and Solberg/Mills for example. There was hardly any animosity between them. Too bad the McRae/Grist pairing broke down in New Zealand 2002 because that was a great pairing.

The WRC died when Peugeot and Subaru pulled out I'll say no more
User avatar
mario
Posts: 8090
Joined: 31 Oct 2009, 17:13

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by mario »

roblomas52 wrote:
mario wrote:The fact that M-Sport seem to be more interested these days in closed circuit racing - M-Sport are responsible for the GT3 version of the Bentley Continental GT and are looking to rapidly expand that part of their activities - says it all; not even some of the specialist rally companies believe that it is viable to focus just on the WRC these days.

Didn't said Bentley come 4th overal on its debut in Dubai?

They did, although they were battling for 3rd place earlier in the race until a gearbox problem cropped up (and then, in the closing stages, part of the underbody fell off too). I understand that M-Sport are committing to running a full campaign in the Blancpain series for 2014 on behalf of Bentley, so it should be interesting to see how they manage that against the WRC.
Martin Brundle, on watching a replay of Grosjean spinning:
"The problem with Grosjean is that he want to take a look back at the corner he's just exited"
Myrvold
Posts: 1106
Joined: 28 Nov 2009, 21:03

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Myrvold »

Prodrive did both WRC with Subaru and F1 with BAR from 2001 to the end of 2004. That worked out.
User avatar
Shizuka
Posts: 4793
Joined: 27 Jul 2010, 15:36

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Shizuka »

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:The WRC died when Peugeot and Subaru pulled out I'll say no more


You mean when Subaru pulled out.
Peugeot was in until 2005, and 2007 for example was a close call between Loeb and Grönholm... and Subaru was still there.

Code: Select all

14:03   RaikkonenPlsCare   There's some water in water
Alextrax52
Posts: 2943
Joined: 17 Apr 2013, 20:06
Location: Bromborough near Liverpool

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Alextrax52 »

Shizuka wrote:
Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:The WRC died when Peugeot and Subaru pulled out I'll say no more


You mean when Subaru pulled out.
Peugeot was in until 2005, and 2007 for example was a close call between Loeb and Grönholm... and Subaru was still there.


Yes people say the WRC died after Subaru's exit but for me a part of it died when Peugeot left after 2005 which is a shame because the 307 was coming good in 2005. Who knows what it could have done in 2006 after all Manfred Stohl got 4 podiums in a Norway OMV squad using it that year.
Vepe
Posts: 400
Joined: 20 Dec 2010, 17:18
Location: Vantaa, Finland

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Vepe »

According to rumours Ford have made a 3-year deal with Vodafone.

Could this be the livery?
Image
User avatar
OsellaFA1L
Posts: 134
Joined: 28 Oct 2013, 09:15
Location: The Democratic Peoples Republic of Frankston

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by OsellaFA1L »

The WRC has been in a poor state in the last few years, but I think that 2014 is shaping to be the healthiest year since Gronholm retired. Four manufacturers represented with reasonably good driver lineups and a exciting new big name driver in Kubica. I am actually looking forward to next year.
RIP Jules Bianchi

Only Bernie could pay his way out of a bribery court case
User avatar
mario
Posts: 8090
Joined: 31 Oct 2009, 17:13

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by mario »

Vepe wrote:According to rumours Ford have made a 3-year deal with Vodafone.

Could this be the livery?
Image

There is an indication that it might be a prank being played by the Spanish media on their equivalent of April Fool's day - if so, then credit to them for a relatively believable story with which to bait the press.

OsellaFA1L wrote:The WRC has been in a poor state in the last few years, but I think that 2014 is shaping to be the healthiest year since Gronholm retired. Four manufacturers represented with reasonably good driver lineups and a exciting new big name driver in Kubica. I am actually looking forward to next year.

It is promising, but we will have to hope that they can build on that momentum and keep all of those manufacturers committed - the concern is that Citroen may back out in the next few years to focus on touring cars instead, whilst the commitment of Ford to rallying is also not entirely clear given that some of their partners, such as M-Sport, are looking outside of rallying to supplement their workloads.
Martin Brundle, on watching a replay of Grosjean spinning:
"The problem with Grosjean is that he want to take a look back at the corner he's just exited"
Myrvold
Posts: 1106
Joined: 28 Nov 2009, 21:03

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Myrvold »

mario wrote:whilst the commitment of Ford to rallying is also not entirely clear given that some of their partners, such as M-Sport, are looking outside of rallying to supplement their workloads.


Well, Ford pulled out after 2012. M-Sport was just saved by Qatar money into the 2013 season.
User avatar
mario
Posts: 8090
Joined: 31 Oct 2009, 17:13

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by mario »

Myrvold wrote:
mario wrote:whilst the commitment of Ford to rallying is also not entirely clear given that some of their partners, such as M-Sport, are looking outside of rallying to supplement their workloads.


Well, Ford pulled out after 2012. M-Sport was just saved by Qatar money into the 2013 season.

My understanding was that Ford withdrew their works supported teams, but are providing a limited amount of support to private customers who are persisting with their cars.
It is a bit like BMW's continued provide limited support for privateer teams in the WTCC up until this year for their customer teams, even though BMW itself long ago withdrew their works support. However, much like BMW in the WTCC, sooner or later you would assume that Ford is going to drop that long term support for their customer teams when it is no longer economically viable, and it is what happens then that is an interesting question.
Martin Brundle, on watching a replay of Grosjean spinning:
"The problem with Grosjean is that he want to take a look back at the corner he's just exited"
User avatar
Londoner
Posts: 6423
Joined: 17 Jun 2010, 18:21
Location: Norwich, UK
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Londoner »

I have a query concerning M-Sport. There was an Autosport article back in September which stated that M-Sport's Qatar sponsorship would continue in 2014 on condition that the team retain Thierry Neuville in their line-up. Neuville has since joined Hyundai. On this basis, has Qatar pulled their sponsorship of M-Sport? If so, where are the team finding the money to run Hirvonen, Kubica and Evans this year? I think it's pretty much a given that the Vodafone rumour was a hoax...
Fetzie on Ferrari wrote:How does a driver hurtling around a race track while they're sous-viding in their overalls have a better understanding of the race than a team of strategy engineers in an air-conditioned room?l
User avatar
RonDenisDeletraz
Posts: 7380
Joined: 27 Oct 2011, 08:21
Location: Flight 643
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by RonDenisDeletraz »

East Londoner wrote:I have a query concerning M-Sport. There was an Autosport article back in September which stated that M-Sport's Qatar sponsorship would continue in 2014 on condition that the team retain Thierry Neuville in their line-up. Neuville has since joined Hyundai. On this basis, has Qatar pulled their sponsorship of M-Sport? If so, where are the team finding the money to run Hirvonen, Kubica and Evans this year? I think it's pretty much a given that the Vodafone rumour was a hoax...

Kubica brings Lotos money for himself, but other than that I have no idea
aerond wrote:Yes RDD, but we always knew you never had any sort of taste either :P

tommykl wrote:I have a shite car and meme sponsors, but Corrado Fabi will carry me to the promised land with the power of Lionel Richie.
Myrvold
Posts: 1106
Joined: 28 Nov 2009, 21:03

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Myrvold »

mario wrote:My understanding was that Ford withdrew their works supported teams, but are providing a limited amount of support to private customers who are persisting with their cars.
It is a bit like BMW's continued provide limited support for privateer teams in the WTCC up until this year for their customer teams, even though BMW itself long ago withdrew their works support. However, much like BMW in the WTCC, sooner or later you would assume that Ford is going to drop that long term support for their customer teams when it is no longer economically viable, and it is what happens then that is an interesting question.


Nope, all the Fiesta's that are run, are either privateers that have bought the car and have their own teams. Or they pay M-Sport to run the car for them.

Kubica brings Lotos (or the opposite, who knows).
I do believe however that M-Sport does have the finances to pull through with at least one season without a major backer. They should have some money in reserve, they have sold lots of rally cars.
andrew
Posts: 1648
Joined: 18 Mar 2012, 19:34

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by andrew »

Myrvold wrote:
mario wrote:My understanding was that Ford withdrew their works supported teams, but are providing a limited amount of support to private customers who are persisting with their cars.
It is a bit like BMW's continued provide limited support for privateer teams in the WTCC up until this year for their customer teams, even though BMW itself long ago withdrew their works support. However, much like BMW in the WTCC, sooner or later you would assume that Ford is going to drop that long term support for their customer teams when it is no longer economically viable, and it is what happens then that is an interesting question.


Nope, all the Fiesta's that are run, are either privateers that have bought the car and have their own teams. Or they pay M-Sport to run the car for them.

Kubica brings Lotos (or the opposite, who knows).
I do believe however that M-Sport does have the finances to pull through with at least one season without a major backer. They should have some money in reserve, they have sold lots of rally cars.




On this crash.net poll Kubica go an average of 9.7 out of 10
Myrvold
Posts: 1106
Joined: 28 Nov 2009, 21:03

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Myrvold »

andrew wrote:On this crash.net poll Kubica go an average of 9.7 out of 10


Of course, emotions running. F1 being way bigger than rally.
andrew
Posts: 1648
Joined: 18 Mar 2012, 19:34

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by andrew »

Myrvold wrote:
andrew wrote:On this crash.net poll Kubica go an average of 9.7 out of 10


Of course, emotions running. F1 being way bigger than rally.


I think he deserved a high score, but not an avarge 2.7 more than the word champion
andrew
Posts: 1648
Joined: 18 Mar 2012, 19:34

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by andrew »

shite
World Rally Championship seals BT Sport TV deal with live coverage




http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112090
User avatar
RonDenisDeletraz
Posts: 7380
Joined: 27 Oct 2011, 08:21
Location: Flight 643
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by RonDenisDeletraz »

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112142

After only one stage Kubica is leading and Neuville has already crashed his brand new Hyundai.
aerond wrote:Yes RDD, but we always knew you never had any sort of taste either :P

tommykl wrote:I have a shite car and meme sponsors, but Corrado Fabi will carry me to the promised land with the power of Lionel Richie.
User avatar
Benetton
Posts: 832
Joined: 13 Apr 2010, 17:48

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Benetton »

Stage 3 really shook things up. Bouffier apparently with the right tyre choice to go into the lead ahead of Meeke. Kubica behind Sordo (+1 sec) but ahead of Ogier by some 35 sec. Hirvonen and Latvala already minutes behind. Say what you will about WRC, and the state of rallying in general, but Rallye Monte Carlo is one of the best events still in motorsport.

http://www.ewrc-results.com/results.php?e=13442&s=51499&t=Rallye-Monte-Carlo-2014
User avatar
Londoner
Posts: 6423
Joined: 17 Jun 2010, 18:21
Location: Norwich, UK
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Londoner »

Bobby K has crashed out, and it looks like OGIERWINSLOL is about to resume. A shame really. :(
Fetzie on Ferrari wrote:How does a driver hurtling around a race track while they're sous-viding in their overalls have a better understanding of the race than a team of strategy engineers in an air-conditioned room?l
User avatar
DanielPT
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 6126
Joined: 30 Dec 2010, 18:44
Location: Porto, Portugal

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by DanielPT »

East Londoner wrote:Bobby K has crashed out, and it looks like OGIERWINSLOL is about to resume. A shame really. :(


Bobby K crashed out? So it is business as usual. Only Latvala in is crazy years crashed more often than Bobby K.
Colin Kolles on F111, 2011 HRT challenger: The car doesn't look too bad; it looks like a modern F1 car.
User avatar
ryangregg12345
Posts: 138
Joined: 19 Jan 2013, 22:16

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by ryangregg12345 »

Sebastien Ogier has won Round 1 of the 2014 WRC season in Monaco! :D

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112187

And Kris Meeke becomes the first Briton since Richard Burns in Australia 2003 on a WRC podium! :D :D :D

That has made my day
1989 Monaco Grand Prix
Murray Walker: Rene says the reason he is going so slow is because he’s used to turbo cars, and these exasperated engine cars are a different kettle of fish to drive.
James Hunt: And all I can say to that is bullsh*t.
User avatar
mario
Posts: 8090
Joined: 31 Oct 2009, 17:13

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by mario »

DanielPT wrote:
East Londoner wrote:Bobby K has crashed out, and it looks like OGIERWINSLOL is about to resume. A shame really. :(


Bobby K crashed out? So it is business as usual. Only Latvala in is crazy years crashed more often than Bobby K.

Unfortunately, it does seem that Kubica is very quick on tarmac but is still unable to balance up speed with making it to the end - mind you, Ogier also had a few slow speed accidents himself (Ogier nearly ended up in a ditch on the same stage that Kubica crashed out on), so even some of the more experienced drivers were making a few mistakes themselves.
Martin Brundle, on watching a replay of Grosjean spinning:
"The problem with Grosjean is that he want to take a look back at the corner he's just exited"
User avatar
Jocke1
Posts: 2604
Joined: 31 Dec 2010, 00:13

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Jocke1 »

I just watched a 1-hour highlights show of the Rally, and what a farce stage 8 was. I'm talking, of course, about the finish area debacle. :oops: :oops:
-*:-
User avatar
watka
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 4097
Joined: 26 Apr 2009, 19:04
Location: Chessington, the former home of Brabham
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by watka »

Here's the aforementioned video (see stage 8): http://www.redbull.com/en/motorsports/o ... 014-videos
Watka - you know, the swimming horses guy
User avatar
dr-baker
Posts: 15426
Joined: 29 Mar 2009, 17:30
Location: Here and there.

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by dr-baker »

watka wrote:Here's the aforementioned video (see stage 8): http://www.redbull.com/en/motorsports/o ... 014-videos

Love the fact that you also see a banner for the FIA's Action for Road Safety in the same video clip!
watka wrote:I find it amusing that whilst you're one of the more openly Christian guys here, you are still first and foremost associated with an eye for the ladies!
dinizintheoven wrote:GOOD CHRISTIANS do not go to jail. EVERYONE ON FORMULA ONE REJECTS should be in jail.
MCard LOLA
User avatar
DanielPT
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 6126
Joined: 30 Dec 2010, 18:44
Location: Porto, Portugal

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by DanielPT »

Hirvonen fears this year's format tweaks are the only hope of defeating the all-conquering VWs.

Obviously, Hirvonen. Funny how, whatever your car is, the competition always seems 'unbeatable'. :?
Colin Kolles on F111, 2011 HRT challenger: The car doesn't look too bad; it looks like a modern F1 car.
Myrvold
Posts: 1106
Joined: 28 Nov 2009, 21:03

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Myrvold »

Me and a friend was in Sweden with one action camera each.
Now, a problem was two completely different qualities and recording settings on the two cameras, which means that there had to be some black bars, which, sucks to be fair.

Quite good after the 5min mark anyway!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrPOTYjAo1M
User avatar
go_Rubens
Posts: 3415
Joined: 25 Mar 2013, 21:12
Location: A raging river somewhere in the Eastern (cough) United States (cough)

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by go_Rubens »

Ogier still leads the Mexico Rally. At least Latvala seems like he'll be able to contend with Ogier this year.
Felipe Baby, Stay Cool

Albert Einstein wrote:Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
Myrvold
Posts: 1106
Joined: 28 Nov 2009, 21:03

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Myrvold »

While Kubica now actually have to drive from now, until the end of Rally Poland without going off, to get down to 1 crash pr. rally.
User avatar
DanielPT
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 6126
Joined: 30 Dec 2010, 18:44
Location: Porto, Portugal

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by DanielPT »

Myrvold wrote:While Kubica now actually have to drive from now, until the end of Rally Poland without going off, to get down to 1 crash pr. rally.


That is proving difficult. We are still only in SS4 in Portugal and Kubica already had his first crash.

Summary of "Kubica crash watch":

Monte Carlo:
SS9 - Went off the road.

Sweden:
SS12 - Went off and got stuck in snow banks.
SS14 - Went off and got stuck in snow banks. Again.
SS20 - Brushed the snow banks.

Mexico:
SS10 - Rolled.
SS13 - Rolled. Again.

Portugal:
SS4 - Clipped a rock and lost a wheel.
Colin Kolles on F111, 2011 HRT challenger: The car doesn't look too bad; it looks like a modern F1 car.
User avatar
TomWazzleshaw
Posts: 14370
Joined: 01 Apr 2009, 04:42
Location: Curva do lel
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by TomWazzleshaw »

DanielPT wrote:
Myrvold wrote:While Kubica now actually have to drive from now, until the end of Rally Poland without going off, to get down to 1 crash pr. rally.


That is proving difficult. We are still only in SS4 in Portugal and Kubica already had his first crash.

Summary of "Kubica crash watch":

Monte Carlo:
SS9 - Went off the road.

Sweden:
SS12 - Went off and got stuck in snow banks.
SS14 - Went off and got stuck in snow banks. Again.
SS20 - Brushed the snow banks.

Mexico:
SS10 - Rolled.
SS13 - Rolled. Again.

Portugal:
SS4 - Clipped a rock and lost a wheel.


Bobby K's making it really, really difficult to be a Kubica fan right now :|
Biscione wrote:"Some Turkemenistani gulag repurposed for residential use" is the best way yet I've heard to describe North / East Glasgow.
User avatar
Londoner
Posts: 6423
Joined: 17 Jun 2010, 18:21
Location: Norwich, UK
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by Londoner »

So yesterday Kubica hit a rock, today he's put the car into a ditch. Kubica, what are you doing? Kubica, STAHP! :|
Fetzie on Ferrari wrote:How does a driver hurtling around a race track while they're sous-viding in their overalls have a better understanding of the race than a team of strategy engineers in an air-conditioned room?l
eytl
F1 Rejects Founder
Posts: 1197
Joined: 31 Mar 2009, 12:43
Location: Sydney, Australia
Contact:

Re: The World Rally Championship thread

Post by eytl »

Wizzie wrote:Bobby K's making it really, really difficult to be a Kubica fan right now :|


I agree. I like to consider myself quite a Robert supporter but this is becoming more than a bad joke. He'll probably need another new navigator soon!

I know just the man for the job! To pull out an old chestnut ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU1v3OFL7uI
Post Reply