Wrc Deutschland 2017

[AnttiL]

Where do you guys get shakedown times from?

eWRC https://www.ewrc-results.com/shake/3...tschland-2017/

[racerx1979]

Mikkelsen second overall in shakedown. Is he driving the same car which Loeb tested or did Loeb test a different chassis?

[mknight]

Mikkelsen second overall in shakedown. Is he driving the same car which Loeb tested or did Loeb test a different chassis?

You trying to imply that it's a special "faster" car? For real?

Mikkelsen won the shakedown in Germany last year, being the fastest in every run in same car as Ogier and Latvala. His result in the first run is no big surprise, specially considering he ran it as 3rd on the road.

[racerx1979]

You trying to imply that it's a special "faster" car? For real?

Mikkelsen won the shakedown in Germany last year, being the fastest in every run in same car as Ogier and Latvala. His result in the first run is no big surprise, specially considering he ran it as 3rd on the road.

No, but I am asking a for real question? Has no difference on how well he does or did, just curious. I'm not a fanboy or hater of anyone, but thanks for your contribution. For real!

That being said you never know what kind of input Loeb had on the car. Could or could not make a huge difference for Citroen. I can think of many examples as a rally car driver at a lower level where small changes can completely change the car and increase confidence of the driver. So yeah, the car can be special, but I was not implying that...

[KKS]

Looking carefully through the results there are no big surprises, some points:

- Hanninen is just behind Latvala, but it's only on the first pass, other passes are slow
- Tanak and Sordo are low but again it's only the first pass, others are fast (3-5 place)
- Citroens fast on the first pass, then in mud they drop a bit but still around Latvala
- reality check on tarmac for "Finland heroes" Lappi and Suninen

Sordo's first pass was nearly a latest of all others... 8 or 9. He could more if he start ahead

[racerx1979]

Tomorrow will be the real test. Some sections in SD were muddy and you can see the drivers taking it easier as conditions got worse. Road position will play a huge role at this rally. Nueville in good position to do extremely well.

[AnttiL]

Nueville in good position to do extremely well.

But the stages are run twice and Ogier seemed to be on the pace on the latter runs of the shakedown. Also, the road order is different on Saturday and Sunday.

I'm also considering that Ogier has more experience of winning and thus better handling of pressure. All season, Neuville has been chasing Ogier, but now it's the first time he's also being chased (as much as he's chasing Ogier), it's psyhologically a new situation for him, but nothing new for Ogier.

But in any case, an exciting rally ahead, again.

[tomhlord]

Usual post-Shakedown ifs, buts and maybes. Shows we are chomping at the bit for the rally to start. Hoping for an unpredictable corker of an event.

[jparker]

But the stages are run twice and Ogier seemed to be on the pace on the latter runs of the shakedown. Also, the road order is different on Saturday and Sunday.

I'm also considering that Ogier has more experience of winning and thus better handling of pressure. All season, Neuville has been chasing Ogier, but now it's the first time he's also being chased (as much as he's chasing Ogier), it's psyhologically a new situation for him, but nothing new for Ogier.

But in any case, an exciting rally ahead, again.

They are going to chase each other only. I don't expect them to fight for the win. The stakes are too high now for both of them.
Since Portugal, Neuville is driving conservatively, and that seams to pays off.

[EstWRC]

WRC crews say new Rally Germany route 'really boring'

The revised Rally Germany route has been labelled "dull" and "boring" by World Rally Championship crews.

The event was moved south after Saarbrucken outbid the rally's traditional host city Trier, but the move has forced revisions to the route that have proved unpopular.

Rally Germany retains its format of using three distinct road types in the vineyards, plus the Baumholder military roads and the Saarland country lanes.

It is the country lane sections that have caused disquiet.

"They have changed the whole nature of this event," said one leading WRC driver.

"It was really one of the greats before, but this time it's really boring.

"It's just straight all of the time, straight and then a nearly straight corner.

"What's the point in this? It's, for me, quite dull."

Hayden Paddon's co-driver Seb Marshall reckons the rally will be decided after the second run of the Baumholder stages on Saturday given the nature of the rest of the route.

"We have the vineyards on Friday, and, love them or loathe them, they have a real character to them," said Marshall.

"On Saturday, obviously it's Panzerplatte and we all know what a huge challenge that is.

"But the stages after that on Saturday and Sunday are all quite quick; certainly it's going to be hard to make a lot of time in those stages.

"The difference could come from the car, with a strong engine and good aero working really well - then it comes down to whose car sticks the best and gives enough confidence to keep the speed through the corners with a 'flat maybe' attached to them."



Citroen driver Craig Breen's main concern was with the six-mile Wadern-Weiskirchen superspecial, used three three times on Friday.

"I understand why the organisers have included the stage, it makes sense to bring the people in, but we're doing a couple of laps of this stage and we're doing it three times during the day," Breen told Autosport.

"In between us going in there, the organisers are going to be doing VIP runs on that road - by the time it's finished there could have been as many as 600 cars passing.

"If it rains, it'll be a nightmare - you can cut so, so much."

Rain is forecast for the opening day on Friday and Breen said wet weather will make a real difference.

"It would give [Thierry] Neuville a real advantage, a huge advantage [for running first on the road," he said.

"There's so much scope to cut corners, it'll be a real mess the further down the field you go.

"It's fair to say it's not the best route this time around.

"Once we get away from the vineyards and Baumholder and into the country roads, it's not so interesting.

"We've lost a lot of character of the rally."


https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...y-route-boring