[WRC] News & rumours (part II)

[Xsara Fan]

Does anyone think Østberg, Novikov, Tanak or Neuville will chrash less than Petter going at the same speed or is it okay for Wilson and the sponsors (Quatar) to "go slow" and collect 5th and 6th places after Citroen and VW??

Do you understand that private drivers must work harder to fight with factory drivers? Privateer cars are heavier (Novikov`s car was 15 kg heavier than factory cars this year) & downgraded so when Mads, Evgeny, Ott or Thierry wins the stage - it`s a VERY GOOD result. When factory driver push at 95-100%, privateer must push at 110-120%. Unfortunately due to this fact the risk of accidents increased.

[Nornbugger]

If we had this forum at the end of 91 would people have been crying that Prodrive had dropped Markku Alen to let McRae move up to WRC? They took a punt on a talent, paid off alright for them too but the short term thinking that would see Petter in a works seat next year is the same thinking as would have robbed some of our finest drivers from getting a break.(and I'm sure many will agreee that over seasons 92/93 Markku could have delivered as many points)

[sollitt]

Does anyone think Østberg, Novikov, Tanak or Neuville will chrash less than Petter going at the same speed or is it okay for Wilson and the sponsors (Quatar) to "go slow" and collect 5th and 6th places after Citroen and VW??

You don't and won't know the answer to this until you test it. What we do know is that, as much as we all like Petter, he has developed a habit of failing to finish events, which is likely to continue. You will not know whether any other driver can do better until you give them that opportunity. What you do know is that they cannot do any worse than fail to finish events.

[Gard]

You don't and won't know the answer to this until you test it. What we do know is that, as much as we all like Petter, he has developed a habit of failing to finish events, which is likely to continue. You will not know whether any other driver can do better until you give them that opportunity. What you do know is that they cannot do any worse than fail to finish events.

Sure they can. They can be slow and fail to finish

[Rallyper]

What are the technical differences between the Jari-Matti and Petter cars compared to Mads car?

Up to Greece I know there was differences in suspension, gear ratios and some parts in engines that differed.

In Finland and onwards I think Mads got as much as possible the same as JML and Petter.

[Xsara Fan]

In Finland and onwards I think Mads got as much as possible the same as JML and Petter.

It`s impossible. Privateer & factory cars always different. Privateer car always one (or more) step down.

[Xsara Fan]

Sure they can. They can be slow and fail to finish

Like Petter this year?

[Rallyper]

It`s impossible. Privateer & factory cars always different. Privateer car always one (or more) step down.

For sure. That´s true. But the difference in last rallies was much less for Mads and I would pressume Evgeni as well...?

[Kielder]

Sébastien Loeb ‏@Loeb_Seb1 Europa duerme, tenemos un rumor? )



He wrote it a few minutes ago on Twitter. Translated: "Europe is sleeping, do we have a rumour?". I'm not sleeping, tell us boss, what's up?
Maybe he is confirming that he'll run in Argentina.

[Kielder]

Latvala had an accident against a car which entered the test stage. It was a front impact. He and his co-driver are OK, but two people are injured.