It's not only about that but also the fact that M-Sport doesn't sell stock cars while Škoda uses rally as a marketing tool for its ongoing worldwide expansion.
Printable View
It's not only about that but also the fact that M-Sport doesn't sell stock cars while Škoda uses rally as a marketing tool for its ongoing worldwide expansion.
Andreas Mikkelsen on his facebook:
Testing is underway for Rally Corsica #fightbacktowrc
https://scontent.fvno2-1.fna.fbcdn.n...7c&oe=5955014F
This car has the same number plate as the Fabia they tested in Portugal which appeared to be more powerful than the current version. So maybe the Fabia Evo (sorry pedants) will debut in Corsica?
Portugal test: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9DPaKvl69vk
Fabio Andolfi withdraws from Tour de Corse :(
Sarrazin is starting his own team. The Fabia he's using at Corsica is the first car run by Sarrazin Motorsport. The team will have another Fabia R5 and one i20 R5. Best luck to them!
http://www.leblogauto.com/2017/04/sa...rsport-ne.html
Interesting line about R5's in Martin Holmes interview with Michel Nandan.
"R5 cars will have the possibility to have the paddle shift gearshift system next year. So this is something we are also working on and it will require a bit of testing"
Full interview here http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home...dai-motorsport
I don't like the news at all. I see absolutely no sense to do so.
Do we have here a tyre experts? :) last year Michelin introduced a new symmetrical tread tyres for wrc2 cars: LTX Force S81 and H91 (for rally mexico). In Michelin press release they were nicely announced:
'In 2015, Michelin completely renewed its range of gravel tyres in order to provide its partners with increasingly competitive solutions designed specifically for the latest R5 cars. When they were launched last June, the Michelin Latitude Cross H90 (hard compound) and S80 (soft) got their careers off to a flying start with back-to-back wins in Poland and Finland, both with Skoda Motorsport.
This week’s Rally Mexico sees the introduction of their successors: the Michelin LTX Force H91 (hard) and S81 (soft) (17/65-15).
Much more than mere evolutions, these two new tyres feature a new symmetrical pattern and a new construction. Their symmetrical tread means there is no longer a right- and left-hand tyre, and that’s a plus for the WRC2 teams who have a smaller quota per event than their WRC counterparts. Meanwhile, the new pattern’s grooves are slightly wider in order to improve their ability to clear loose dirt, sand and mud.
Although the LTX Force H91 and S81 are marginally wider than the tyres they replace, their revised construction and profile means they are lighter and just as resistant to pinch and crown punctures.
Simulation work carried out by Michelin Motorsport’s engineers and developers, followed by testing with the firm’s different WRC2 partners last autumn, revealed an enviable performance gain of three-tenths of a second per kilometre with no adverse effect on wear or consistency.'
http://michelinmotorsport.com/var/mi...ship_large.jpg
These tyres were used in Argentina rally also, Michelin saying that they were good in Argentina rally press release Argentina rally press release :
'This was probably one of the toughest Rally Argentinas we have ever seen, yet our WRC tyres performed impeccably, as did our new MICHELIN LTX Force S81 and H91 gravel tyres we have developed for our WRC2 partners. They were used for the first time last month in Mexico where they won out of the box. Here in Argentina, they played their role to the letter once again, despite the stages being significantly churned up in places by the WRC competitors running ahead of the WRC2 crews.'
So, a bit wider but lighter symmetrical tread tyre, which suppose to be quicker... but somehow they were not used much later on (ok, some were used in other 2016 events) - WHY? were those tyres 'too good to soon' or they didnt perform as expected? as this year wrc2 cars are back to H90 or S80 'old tyres'
Japanese guys of Gazoo Racing will constest Amarante Rally in Fiesta R5 to prepare Rally de Portugal.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C-LDo9GW...jpg&name=large