Tyre manufacturers can't change their tyre specification as often as they want. They have homologation jokers for each soft and hard options for gravel and asphalt. I don't know how many though. Maybe someone knows the rules in full detail.
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I doubt they will challenge for a win... In Argentina all the stars aligned. They were greatly benefited from a better road position, probably better tyres and a great drive.
This time they have slightly worse road position, probably not as heroic a drive (although I'm sure Evans will give his all) and possibly the weather will work against the Tyre compound.
I believe like you, they will probably challenge for a podium, perhaps a stage win or two.
DMACK Tyres @DMACK_Tyres
This was the distance @ElfynEvans missed out on a debut @OfficialWRC victory in Argentina - 19.1 metres after 3 days of rally !
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DMACK Introduces New WRC Tyre For Season Finale
FIA World Rally Championship tyre manufacturer DMACK has launched a completely new gravel tyre for the final three rounds of this year’s championship. Aimed specifically at WRC cars and competitors, the new DMG+22 gravel tyre will first see action at RACC Rally de Espana next month – equipping Elfyn Evans’ M-Sport World Rally Team Ford Fiesta WRC.
After coming within 0.7 seconds of a debut victory in Argentina earlier this year and setting fastest times on five of the six gravel rallies this season, DMACK has re-vamped its list two tyres.
Tread pattern: The new DMG+22 tread pattern has more grooves and smaller tread blocks, providing greater performance in wet, muddy and slippery conditions.
Compounds: Both permitted compounds are softer than their predecessors. The new soft compound GS84 is similar to that used to score 12 fastest times in Rally GB last year and will deliver enhanced performance in wet conditions. The new GH34 hard compound is more suited to the conditions expected on the final three events of the season with improved overall grip.
Construction: There tyre has a reinforced, stiffer construction with a run-flat design – increasing the distance that can be driven at speed in the event of a deflation.
Size: The new tyre size designation is 205/65R15, marginally narrower that the current DMG+2 it is replacing.
Manufacture: Like all DMACK motorsport tyres, the new DMG+22 has been designed and manufactured in the UK.
Testing opportunities with the new, more powerful 2017-sepcification WRC cars was limited last year and DMACK introduced a competitive, but safe, package for this season. However, the ability to introduce a new specification tyre as permitted by the FIA regulations, allows the company to fine-tune the performance parameters for the remaining events in Spain, GB and Australia.
Dick Cormack, DMACK managing director, said: “Because DMACK has limited opportunities to test with the new generation WRC cars, the FIA’s joker system is a welcome way for us to develop our WRC tyres during the season and introduce new specifications to assess over the last few events. We’ve made some significant changes and are looking forward to evaluating the performance on the last three rallies.”
Fiore Brivio, DMACK technical director, said: “We’ve introduced a newly-designed tyre range and the aim is to improve the performance on loose gravel and, more than that, to gain experience in the most extreme conditions of cold and wet in GB and the hot temperatures expected in Spain and Australia. We took a step forward with our asphalt joker in Germany and aim to continue that development.”
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These guys and their tyres deserve a mention... :champion:
DMACK Tyres @DMACK_Tyres Oct 29
After 7 years and 88 WRC events... we've won !!! British tyres, British car, British crew, British rally !!!
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Couldn't help noticing but has Elfyn been using the same car all year PX66 DVT?
The car used by Evans in Poland had the reg plate PX66 DVR. Chassis #3 that Tanak had used for earlier '17 WRC events.
Chassis #4 used for the rest of the events by Evans.
https://www.ewrc-results.com/carinfo...c-17/?spz=2986 PX66DVT chassis #4
Dick Cormack stated this week that there will not be a DMACK sponsored WRC car in 2018.
He said he is talking with various WRC teams about running one of their car's with his tyres.
I guess M-Sport are favourite but maybe another team might try them on one of their 3 cars...
Despite their end of season win I can’t see one of the works teams taking them at this stage. Presumably there would still be some financial assistance to the crew running DMack tyres, so maybe third Fiesta with Suninen behind the wheel part subsidised by DMack?