New to WRC--How should I watch and what should I watch for

[N.O.T]

Still researching, and gaining a solid understanding of this sport day by day.....In preparing for Monte Carlo, I have heard references to teams sending a passenger car out on the course to assess conditions. In Monte, specifically looking for ice/snow. Does this happen daily during any rally, or is this practice exclusive to ice/snow races?

yes their are called gravel crews, in most cases they are ex-rally drivers, all of the manufacturer teams have them and they are different for each of their drivers and some of the rich privateers also. They are used on every rally.

[Revman]

Apologies for all of the questions. I am so grateful for your patience.....So, in F1 for example, Schumacher was fabulous in the rain. In rally, are there specific drivers who excel on specific surfaces? Is there a driver, for example, who can gain ground in a rally in snow section?

Another question.... Is it common practice to replicate a specific stage....For example, can two stages be run on the same course?

[N.O.T]

you see kid, i was just starting to like you, but then you bring the ladyboy F1 sport in here and we are going to have problems and we do not want that. but i am willing to forgive you this time...

there are specialists as in every motorsport.

Usually nordic drivers are good on snow and French and Spanish on tarmac but that was in the old dog days of the sport, in todays masterrace sport you cannot afford to be a specialist.

About the stages if you mean that if it is possible to run a stage 2 times in a rally then that is the common format, usually each day has 4-6 stages that are repeated once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

[Revman]

you see kid, i was just starting to like you, but then you bring the ladyboy F1 sport in here and we are going to have problems and we do not want that. but i am willing to forgive you this time...

there are specialists as in every motorsport.

Usually nordic drivers are good on snow and French and Spanish on tarmac but that was in the old dog days of the sport, in todays masterrace sport you cannot afford to be a specialist.

About the stages if you mean that if it is possible to run a stage 2 times in a rally then that is the common format, usually each day has 4-6 stages that are repeated once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Apologies for the F1 reference! It will not happen again! Thank you for your patience.

Another question....Is there any preparation done to the course? I am specifically thinking about snow/ice removal...

[N.O.T]

Apologies for the F1 reference! It will not happen again! Thank you for your patience.

Another question....Is there any preparation done to the course? I am specifically thinking about snow/ice removal...

no, its a mens sport we do not care about excessive snow/ice/rain especially on snow rallies (sweden and sometimes monte) you need ice on the road for the spikes on the tyres to work properly and have grip.

On some rough gravel rallies usually a week before the rally the organisers pass through the stages with grader vehicles to smooth the surface a bit and remove stones and debris from the roads and thats about it.

[Revman]

I am a passionate Toyota fan following the company wherever they go. So, please allow me one more reference to girly F1. The only reason I make this reference is because Toyota entered that formula new, and although I know that they have been in rally in the past, everything has changed. When Toyota came to F1, really the only hope I had of a quality result was typically a rain race when the car performance was leveled, and it came down to driver skill. My question is this: What type of rally would Toyota need to have to be able to pull out a podium (or better result)? It would seem to me that car for car and driver for driver--all things being equal, Toyota will struggle for quality results. What would have to happen for this to be different from what I expect?

[Revman]

Here are a couple of pretty straight forward question: Can a brilliant rally car make an average driver champion? Conversely, can a brilliant driver win a championship with an average car?

[Rallyper]

I am a passionate Toyota fan following the company wherever they go. So, please allow me one more reference to girly F1. The only reason I make this reference is because Toyota entered that formula new, and although I know that they have been in rally in the past, everything has changed. When Toyota came to F1, really the only hope I had of a quality result was typically a rain race when the car performance was leveled, and it came down to driver skill. My question is this: What type of rally would Toyota need to have to be able to pull out a podium (or better result)? It would seem to me that car for car and driver for driver--all things being equal, Toyota will struggle for quality results. What would have to happen for this to be different from what I expect?

Now you are on hot roof talking about Toyotas´commitment to WRC again, N.O.T.-wise. You already learnt to get to know N.O.T. whom don´t like F1 (reasons I can accept for 85%) but especially don´t think Toyota will gain any success in their comeback and he has let us know that since about one and a half year or so. So a good advice, don´t mention Toyota when N.O.T. can hear you. Else he is a good guy sometimes coming with some provoking and annoying comments, which will stand for him. Often he´s joyable to read.

[Rallyper]

I am a passionate Toyota fan following the company wherever they go. So, please allow me one more reference to girly F1. The only reason I make this reference is because Toyota entered that formula new, and although I know that they have been in rally in the past, everything has changed. When Toyota came to F1, really the only hope I had of a quality result was typically a rain race when the car performance was leveled, and it came down to driver skill. My question is this: What type of rally would Toyota need to have to be able to pull out a podium (or better result)? It would seem to me that car for car and driver for driver--all things being equal, Toyota will struggle for quality results. What would have to happen for this to be different from what I expect?

Now you are on hot roof talking about Toyotas´commitment to WRC again, N.O.T.-wise. You already learnt to get to know N.O.T. whom don´t like F1 (reasons I can accept for 85%) but especially don´t think Toyota will gain any success in their comeback and he has let us know that since about one and a half year or so. So a good advice, don´t mention Toyota when N.O.T. can hear you. Else he is a good guy sometimes coming with some provoking and annoying comments, which will stand for him. Often he´s joyable to read.

And to be WDC (World rally driverchampion) you need to have excellent skills and a excellent car.

[N.O.T]

Here are a couple of pretty straight forward question: Can a brilliant rally car make an average driver champion? Conversely, can a brilliant driver win a championship with an average car?

Νο and No.