@N.O.T. My commendations to you. You have been a much more mature member of our forum community. At least in commenting the Lukyanuk matter.
(this no sarcasm - I really mean it)
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@N.O.T. My commendations to you. You have been a much more mature member of our forum community. At least in commenting the Lukyanuk matter.
(this no sarcasm - I really mean it)
Stop that nationalism. To beat everybody in NZ championship is completely different thing than beating everybody in Estonian roads with N4 car where most of fast ERC regulars were present. Paddon is supperb driver but I can easily say that Lukyanuk is among those. And when Estonian says so about Russian driver (who beats most of Estonian drivers) then he is really worth it. Onlyone who was faster than him during last two years was Tänak. I belive that huge competition that Lukyanuk offered to Tänak in Estonian Championship 2 years ago made a big favour to Ott to learn how to get the last out from the car while not crashing.
Estonian event is good for N4 cars but it is not perfect. I still belive that R5 should be slightly better solution on our roads. His skills (experience and bravery) on these roads were just better that the others. Aus, Kaur and Plangi are all fast and experienced drivers ith N4 and they have proved it internationally as well.
Many drivers have crashed on the jumps and I feel that Lukyanuk was extremely unfortunate with this. Looking him at the stages is pure pleasure. It is not crazy driving, mostly, It is extremely fast, efficient and therefore spectacular.
I really hope that someone in Russia has too much money and we will se him behind the wheel more times. When it is not WRC then at least R5 in ERC. And I am not afraid that he is slow. After his accident in Viru Rally in 2013, he came back to Rally Estonia, rented old car from Plangi (Evo9) and was third overall, 30+ seconds in front of Kaur and a few seconds behind Kruuda who was driving Fiesta R5.
From this
http://static.fiaerc.com/wp-content/...ns-800x600.jpg
to this, in just over a week ... Rallying is cruel.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CK6T2ACXAAAPkQW.jpg:large
Dreams crushed along with the car...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CK6JwSNW8AAayvl.jpg:large
ERC interview Alexey Lukyanuk
With his first victory in ERC Rally Estonia 2015, Alexey Lukyanuk was able to confirm his talent and good times achieved in this season. But he mostly knew pass a course, the game-winner. A St Grail that has escaped many drivers entered in ERC, and even officials as Sepp Wiegand (Skoda Motorsport ex Germany driver) for example. So imagine, when one is a private pilot and besides driving on a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X N4!
Alexey Lukyanuk agreed to answer our questions following his victory at the last round of the ERC, details:
The Sport Auto Mag: What are your feelings after your first win in ERC?
Alexey Lukyanuk: It's a feeling of pure joy! The path to this result was so long and so hard and I can say that now I am totally satisfied with our performance!
You were untouchable this weekend, what is your secret? Do you think your Evo X had an advantage over R5?
AL: Professionals know that a car category R5 will always be faster than N4. Many world that the max speed of our N4 was an advantage, but we do not drove at maximum speed! We exceeded 180km / h only a few times during the rally. I "managed" to win with fewer special max speed, so everything is a driving issue. I believe him. And let my secrets stay secret;)
What are your goals for the next rallies ERC? Will you participate?
AL: At the moment we have no program for the future because of our financial worries. We are still looking for sponsors and if we find we will do other rallies ERC.
What are your goals for Rally Finland 2015? How did you have the opportunity to participate in Ford Fiesta RS WRC?
AL: The plan is to take a max of fun doing this rally. I guess this will be my first and last start in a WRC car. I will not waste this opportunity and do everything to reach the finish.
The opportunity was provided by Michael Lepekhov who supported Evgeniy Novikov WRC for many years. We are on good terms and Michael gave us the opportunity to take the start in Finland. Only a rally, nothing more.
3rd in Jänner, first before going off the road in Liepaja, 6th in Ireland, and now first in Estonia. What a result for your 2015 ERC season! Did you expect it to before the start of the season?
AL: For a first on European roads is not too bad. Our main problem, our lack of experience on asphalt. I'm good on snow and earth, but just over 500km of asphalt experience at present. This season, some fast drivers are engaged in ERC, and so it inflates our results are not so good, usual, well I think.
Do you have plans for the 2016 season?
AL: No, ...
What are your dreams for the future? May become the first Russian driver to win the ERC ... or win a WRC rally?
AL: I am no longer young enough to have sweet dreams. We desperately need sponsors to go further ... without that, nothing will.
At the end of the year 2014 and early this season, your livery was "We Want Peace", a message about the Ukrainian crisis. Do you think that sport, and more specifically the rally can bring peace?
AL: Of course not. My co-pilot, Eugene Chervonenko, is a politician in Ukraine, so it was his idea.
http://www.lemagsportauto.com/erc-in...ukyanuk/11164/
https://scontent-bru2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...92542157_o.jpg
I like the photo when he was still in the air. The others... Pitty that it happened, the timing couldn't be worse but you can't plan it...
he has a tendecy crasing with back
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/UHOUql_w0Zk/maxresdefault.jpg
In my opinion this crash had nothing to do with being unfortunate. Had been on SS1 when the clock is ticking, then fine, but on a pre-event test before the most important start of his career, on his first run in Fiesta WRC, on first kilometres into the stage, not knowing how the car behaves, not knowing how the road behaves. He had limited test mileage (we don't know that for a fact), but still, why? Don't get me wrong, Lukyanuk is great character and simple pleasure to spectate on stages. After Otepää the question was why team bosses aren't fighting over him. After a maneuvor like today, if you were Capito, Matton or Nandan, would you give this guy a car?
why? You answered in some way - "the clock is ticking" for him. Purely his mistake no doubt, but if You have only limited chances, You just try to give everything You got on them. Gutted for him, he deserves much more than this. As for Matton, he gave Meeke enough chances I think, though Meeke had much more IRC/WRC experience....