Chris Atkinson 2009

[Tom206wrc]

For sure Ireland is not the easiest place to make a first outing. There's little place for errors and let's face it, Atkinson is the one who might make some

However, I wish him best of luck.

No rally is easy to debut with a new car !!! Every has its own road particulraties and traps... :

[Daniel]

I think Chris will do well. If the car is decently prepared I think he'll easily get a top 5 finish.

[Lousada]

With his experience and reputation he should be at least near the BP-Fords. Supposedly he and his car should even be better on tarmac than Latvala and perhaps Hirvonen.

[jacko]

[quote="Tomi"]Agree, I think on gravel he should easily beat Sordo QUOTE]
Well, if he beats easily Sordo he even will match the times of Loeb.
On gravel Sordo was really good driving, for sure with the knowledge he had to deal with the manufacturers points.
Sordo did for sure a better job than Latvala this year.

[jacko]

I'm a little bit worried Atko wont get the "proper" C4 WRC. I bet Oiger will get the same as Seb and Dani (as citroen want him to shine) but will Citroen play the same thing as they did with Kronos and those rubbish Xsaras? (because of Atko comming from a different team of course)

I don't think there will be a huge different in cars, can't be.
Kronos did get good Xsara's from Citroen, both drivers Stohl and Carlson were the problem i think.

Atkinson does a brave job to invest his money in a good car and indeed it will important what he delivers this year. But he's young, so he will eb back also 2010.

[Tomi]

Agree, I think on gravel he should easily beat Sordo QUOTE]
Well, if he beats easily Sordo he even will match the times of Loeb.
On gravel Sordo was really good driving, for sure with the knowledge he had to deal with the manufacturers points.
Sordo did for sure a better job than Latvala this year.

The difference between Loeb and Sordo on gravel is about the same like the difference of night and day, I agree Sordo did a better job than Latvala this year.

[Micke_VOC]

I don't think there will be a huge different in cars, can't be.
Kronos did get good Xsara's from Citroen, both drivers Stohl and Carlson were the problem i think.

Atkinson does a brave job to invest his money in a good car and indeed it will important what he delivers this year. But he's young, so he will eb back also 2010.

The Carlsson/Sthol Xsaras was a really crap car with other dampers and lot of other things than the "factory" cars.

[Psycho!]

You understand it easily,if you compare Stohl's performance with the Xsara and the 307 which is reported to be difficult to drive.Thus,the problem isn't Stohl!!!

[jacko]

[quote="Micke_VOC"]The Carlsson/Sthol Xsaras was a really crap car with other dampers and lot of other things than the "factory" cars.[quote]

Why would Citroen gave bad cars to Kronos? I remember a fastest stage time in Mexico by Stohl. Okay, the stage was about 10km and mostley straight, but it was on the first or second day when the top guys still were fighting.
But when the roads became more difficult the problem were the drivers. Both men are simply not fast enough. Carlsson did made some good rally's in the past, Stohl too, both are good but nothing more. Duval came in on the tarmac rounds and he did even match the Loeb times in Germany. And no, he didn't had any special parts within the car.
Remember also friend Xavier Pons back in 2006 in the "factory" Xsara. His performance was also very bad compare Loeb's time. It was that reason why Citroen did choose Sordo as the second driver in 2007, although he didn't have that much experience.
It's normal that a superb driver can do more with a car than a average driver...

[jacko]

You understand it easily,if you compare Stohl's performance with the Xsara and the 307 which is reported to be difficult to drive.Thus,the problem isn't Stohl!!!

Look at the (stage-)times, there was still a huge gap to the top.
I agree it was a good season for both H. Solberg & Stohl @ Bozian Peugeot, but the competition in 2006 was low in numbers.
Also the 307 was still with active dampers instead of the top drivers/ manufacturers cars.
I think every rally car has it's + and -.
Main problem for Gronholm in 2005 with the 307 were the tyres.