53º Rally RACC Catalunya – Costa Daurada 2017

[Simmi]

Good day. Think I inhaled half the dust in Catalunya. Went to Terra Alta this morning and then Caseres this afternoon. Managed to snap this of Lappi overcooking it. Basically the first proper corner of the stage. Big breaking point, slid too wide on the first part of the S-bend and took to the bushes. It's quite a cool sequence I'll post some more photos after the rally.

Savage traffic heading back to Salou but we will do it all again tomorrow - with less dust!

[dimviii]

Good day.

any other impressions about cars drivers?( c3 Ogier Meeke Neuville,Toyotas?)

[Eli]

The biggest miracle of today has to be Meeke staying on pace and on the road at the same time... This can't possibly last a weekend though, surely?

We'll see, his best result here is 5th (I think) back in 2011 & 2015...still a long way 2 go, and 2 days of Tarmac, I just hope his engine survives (hmm Corsica)....

[mknight]

Well Mikkelsen being fastest Hyundai and leading the rally in first rally in the car, supposedly without being able to change diffs from the ones Paddon uses is quite suprising to me.
Sure some road position advantage and so on but still I expected him somewhere around Sordo's position.

Others:

Ogier quite impressive pace with the road position
Meeke also quite good, let's see how long it lasts

Tanak and Sordo as expected
Neuville big disappointment, but friday is always his worst day
Lappi second biggest disappointment.. where is his Sardinia pace? Similar question for rest of Toyota.

[Allez Andruet]

What a pace from Mikkelsen. I never would've believed. And the same goes for Östberg as well. Have the Norwegians transferred their PED-knowledge from cross-country skiing to rallying or what the hell is this about?

The rally's been great so far, but I must say the overall performance of Toyota has been a disappointment. It's not only that Latvala just doesn't seem to have any luck this year, but also that the car hasn't been catching up its competitors lately, which in a way is a bit surprising to be honest. If I'd be Tänak, I wouldn't switch from M-Sport to Toyota, for 2018 atleast.

[CoyoteVillagra]

[racerx1979]

Ostberg had a great rally today. He lost a bit of time on the last stage which put him 5th, but first at the end of day 1 would have been amazing for a privateer.

Mad's unfortunately is not amazing on tarmac, but lets hope he keeps pace.

[EstWRC]

6 guys having a chance to win this!

Had a great day, terra Alta in the morning and afternoon and caseras afternoon. Ostberg by faaaar the most aggressive and flamboyant style.

Very impressive day from ogier. Other quite like I expected, neuville and Tänak always not so good on Friday’s.


Just got back from service park and eating now.


Can’t wait for tomorrow

[dimviii]

silly mistake from Meeke with near no speed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA8r...ature=youtu.be


Neuville a bit wide
https://www.ewrc-results.com/video/2...atalunya-2017/

[Tarmop]

What a pace from Mikkelsen. I never would've believed. And the same goes for Östberg as well. Have the Norwegians transferred their PED-knowledge from cross-country skiing to rallying or what the hell is this about?

The rally's been great so far, but I must say the overall performance of Toyota has been a disappointment. It's not only that Latvala just doesn't seem to have any luck this year, but also that the car hasn't been catching up its competitors lately, which in a way is a bit surprising to be honest. If I'd be Tänak, I wouldn't switch from M-Sport to Toyota, for 2018 atleast.

What do you count as lately? 1-2-3 (allmost, if not for tech. issues for Latvala) in Finland and in Germany 4. place for Hänninen and 7. place for Latvala with tech. issues 3rd time in a row, Lappi driving error... Hyundai was also quite week in Finland and Germany, people were talking that they are getting behind, now they are back up. Apart from the stupid technical issues i wouldn`t say they`re bad.