Rally Liepāja 2016

[Jarek Z]

Good fan video from Liepaja, with lots of "big moments":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdqO...&feature=share

[Mirek]

About gr.N4: I remember the first drive of a Punto Grande S2000 in Italy in March 2006 (Ciocco), I was there; Andreucci destroyed N4 drivers. After the rally there was full of whining (interviews, magazines..) from N4 drivers that S2000 will destroy N4 cars, N4 are written off, blablabla....
After ten years we have successors of S2000 cars-much faster R5 cars, but the N4 are the same as ten years ago....and still capable to clinch podium on ERC level.....funny.

You are a good example that people quickly forget. Gr.N rules in 2006 and now are significantly different.

Those days when S2000 came the gr.N had these limitations:
- suspension was mounted in rubber silent blocks
- cars had small brakes
- cars had maximum 17" wheels
- engines had 32 mm restrictor

- the S2000 had 1100 kg

It was actually the faster S2000 which made FIA to try to make gr.N cars somehow competitive. They tried to make gr.N quicker and S2000 slower (by adding 100 kg in 2009). They ended with the unsuccessful R4 attempt after which they finally stopped trying.

I do believe that today with 2006 spec. gr.N car You would be slower than R2 on quite a number of stages.

[RS]

Sirmacis incar ss2
https://youtu.be/zt2uSJCTHdE

Great driving and nice footage! I like how they mix onboard and hele shots so it is almost like watching a live stage.

I love Ralfs' perma-smile

[Leon]

Whose car will he drive in Cyprus? PSA doesn't seem like a good idea there..

Fabia R5 from Motorsport Italia

[Ucci]

You are a good example that people quickly forget. Gr.N rules in 2006 and now are significantly different.

Those days when S2000 came the gr.N had these limitations:
- suspension was mounted in rubber silent blocks
- cars had small brakes
- cars had maximum 17" wheels
- engines had 32 mm restrictor

- the S2000 had 1100 kg

It was actually the faster S2000 which made FIA to try to make gr.N cars somehow competitive. They tried to make gr.N quicker and S2000 slower (by adding 100 kg in 2009). They ended with the unsuccessful R4 attempt after which they finally stopped trying.

I do believe that today with 2006 spec. gr.N car You would be slower than R2 on quite a number of stages.

You are partly right-but the brakes were already bigger-I remember for 110% as I was guest in the Aimont team, who was responsible for Piero Longhi's Impreza. Piero was very happy for the new item, but one day later he (and other N4 drivers) realized, that the S2000 spec car is a different world.
What I want to say (and you are always commenting and finding excuses...), gr.N4 made a very small progress in last ten years (the basic cars are still the same), where as the R5 group is a ''missile technology'' compare to N cars....
And about R2 being faster than N4 : nothing unusual in Slovenia, where Rok Turk with P208 R2 is constantly faster than N4 drivers.....

[skarderud]

I do believe that today with 2006 spec. gr.N car You would be slower than R2 on quite a number of stages.

Also steve røkland is faster than most 4wd's with his 208R2 in Norwegian championship, top3 total in the classification almost every time.
And not just N4's , even R5's and old wrc's is behind him
As i have said for a long time, the guy behind the steeringwheel is the most important piece in rally.

Sent fra min XP7700 via Tapatalk

[Mirek]

What I want to say (and you are always commenting and finding excuses...), gr.N4 made a very small progress in last ten years (the basic cars are still the same), where as the R5 group is a ''missile technology'' compare to N cars....

That's true but the reason is all in the rules. All classes including S2000, R5 or even WRC are as fast as FIA wants them to be. There is no reason why they could not be faster if they were not restricted by the rules.

[RS]

Fabia R5 from Motorsport Italia

Thanks.

Anyone know if these Opel Juniors are on multi-year contracts? And any news on the Opel R5?

[sindroms]

Quick impressions from me. About SS9 actions wrote yesterday already, Eurosport gave me 2 seconds of fame by showing from heli how I'm gonna "save the world" alone
Apart from this it was let's say - usual, event. Biggest and one and only disappointment was very short entry list. That's a problem which goes to local organizers and ASN. It's affect spectators in two ways - less to see and no fight between drivers which results in easy drive on stages. That's why Juniors on R2 were spectacular till the end - aggressive driving, attacking style. Thumbs up to guys.
Sirmacis did what he had to do - didn't crack under pressure of all these expectations and that's a good sign definitely. Lukyanuk... I know what he is capable for on these roads on Evo X but... I didn't see anything from his flamboyant style, anything! But result is here.
When we walked away from SS5 we saw Jets car. He was retired in a stupid way by cutting corner way to deep - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvMiOjMWTKM That's second time in a row when Skoda has caught by fire after an accident (previous was in Barum when Sirmacis car was seriously damaged by fire after crash) I am asking myself now - coincidence or what?
I start to used to Kalle's Rovannpera driving, so only one new impression. In very high speed and technically place (200m downhill straight - two blind crests - blind long downhill lefthander) way how he downshiffted, layed car before turn and accelerated... First association for me was - wow, loked like a VW WRC

[Ucci]

That's true but the reason is all in the rules. All classes including S2000, R5 or even WRC are as fast as FIA wants them to be. There is no reason why they could not be faster if they were not restricted by the rules.

Agree....