Rally Sweden 2017

[onemanband]

that Sordo was spanish

Sordo was only a waterboy to Seb...

[N.O.T]

Sordo was only a waterboy to Seb...

but still in the team long before Ogier arrived.

[macebig]

Funny that you mentioned Sordo.Sordo got a C2 and factory backing thanks to Carlos Sainz, who was driving for Citroen at the time and still has very good relationship with the Frenchs...

[Rallyper]

Tommi Mäkinen "This win is dedicated to my longtime fan Greg, from Greece! Thanks for your kind words and support during the years!"

Excuse me. Did Tommi really say that? I guess it´s forum member driving NOT crazy only. Right?

[onemanband]

but still in the team long before Ogier arrived.

Yes, but even in the Loeb era the Citroen was pretty much as French as Toyota is Finnish today.
I think the reason for the 100% Finnish line up for Toyota is simple - the best available drivers at the time for them were Finnish. When they hired Hänninen there was basically nobody else and even after last year, Latvala is still a better driver than Mikkelsen, as he has already proved this year. Or you think Toyota would have a podium and a win without Latvala? And if you look at young guys who are ready(ish) for WRC, 2/3 of them are Finnish.

[itix]

Is 33 to 32 mm so much different?

Well the cross section of 32 vs 33 is certainly affected (33² * pi /4 is a bit bigger than 32² * pi /4).

[N.O.T]

Yes, but even in the Loeb era the Citroen was pretty much as French as Toyota is Finnish today.
I think the reason for the 100% Finnish line up for Toyota is simple - the best available drivers at the time for them were Finnish. When they hired Hänninen there was basically nobody else and even after last year, Latvala is still a better driver than Mikkelsen, as he has already proved this year. Or you think Toyota would have a podium and a win without Latvala? And if you look at young guys who are ready(ish) for WRC, 2/3 of them are Finnish.

Their results were a fluke, in Monte latvala would be 8th and below under normal conditions, and in sweden he would be 3rd and below because he knows sweden.

The only reason they have assembled this team was because of managers and nationality.

Do not get upset kids... the season has just begun, we will see who is who in the next 2-3 events.

[Jewy46]

Anyone else think we should be glad Hyundai (seemingly) had no interest in signing Ogier?

I think if Ogier was in that car he would have 2 wins under his belt already and we could be looking at another VW situation with the best driver in (again seemingly) the best car with a strong supporting cast for the manufacturers championship.

Thankfully what we have instead is 4 teams truly fighting for honours this year!

[onemanband]

Their results were a fluke, in Monte latvala would be 8th and below under normal conditions, and in sweden he would be 3rd and below because he knows sweden.

The only reason they have assembled this team was because of managers and nationality.

Do not get upset kids... the season has just begun, we will see who is who in the next 2-3 events.

Sweden is not as much of a specialist event as you think, specially this year when road surface was consistent and there were no snowbanks... And Latvala with a Toyota gave Thierry Neuville with a very good Hyundai a hell of a fight on day one from 2nd on the road... Even if he is Finnish and knows the Swedish road, don't you think he was the best driver available for Toyota after what he has already achieved?
And the Toyota Yaris after 2 events is the most reliable car in the series.

[Simmi]

Their results were a fluke, in Monte latvala would be 8th and below under normal conditions.

I'd argue that we got the normal conditions at this year's Monte? A bit of everything.