WRC Driver Conduct On Road Sections - Case Tänak at Monte Carlo

[Mk2 RS2000]

"IF" the dog had not stopped for a leak he would have caught the rabbit.

No wonder Europe is in the state that it is today when we have the level of pedantic nit picking attitudes of its residents as displayed here. Bloody hell, have you never driven on an iced up road let alone in a car with the horsepower that a WRC car has on tap. The slightest movement of the throttle pedal in a decent road car is sufficient to provoke wheel spin in these conditions.

[mknight]

The driving by Tanak is not that bad, the only problem for me is the close pass of the car.

However the general problem of not "behaving" on road sections is there and currently FIA and event organizers do little to prevent it. In some ways it's even encouraged. If a crew for any reason is delayed and them manage to catch up by driving illegally fast on the road section they are "rewarded" by not getting a penalty. If they keep within legal limits they get punished by time penalty. Only very rarely they get some penalty (Solberg in 2011 Sweden when he lost his driving license and Patterson had to drive the last short stage).

In 2017 there were at least 2 horrible examples:
Ogier in Poland after having issues with starting the car went at 170 km/h on a road with 90 allowed, then took a roundabout in the wrong direction (he got fined about a 1000 euro for that but that was all).
Hanninen in Finland after his suspension fix doing over 170 km/h on public roads.

Thing is, once anything happens in a situation like that or it gets reported on extensively by the press, manufacturers might simply pull the plug and leave. Doesn't matter what rallyfans think about it. They can try to explain left and right how "safe" it was, but the series will just end. We have seen that in 1986.

I would encourage FIA to introduce some speed-monitoring similar to what is already done at Dakar. Should be very simple to do.

[Tarmop]

You have a 4wd rallycar on a slippery surface with wiiiiide tires. It`s hard to drive it "steadily", not like a regular roadcar, especially when slowing down because of a car stopping in a bad place to have a look in front and then gently (this is quite gently in these conditions for that kind of a car) go past him. Worst case scenario would have been understeering into a ditch.

[Integrale]

Isn't this getting too far now? Same thing with Ogier looking at his phone on the liasion. I think there is a point where everything goes just too far and there is a lot of IF's everywhere. Life happens and life would be a tad bit boring thus meaningless if everythin is covered safety-wise (which is unrealistic)...

I couldn't disagree more about the phone. It's a pest.

[Rallyper]

This had been nothing if Tanak had a car without noice, like an Vauxhall Astra or something. And no revs.

The speed was low and the driver had full control.

The whats and ifs isn´t a motivation for blaiming him either.

[the sniper]

This is how Jackie Stewart must have felt in the early 1970s when trying to talk reason.

You should give Jackie a call and share the story of your own great struggle...

Is this forum being trolled or has the increased popularity brought F1 darlings out? First we're being asked whether Loeb or Ogier is cutest. Now they're crying because Tanak put on a slow sideways show for some fans and saying he should be banned...

Which was potentially more dangerous. Tanak doing what he did fully in control or any random Tom, Dick or Harry driving 'normally' in those conditions who doesn't have any experience in those conditions? There would have been far more of the latter about causing far more risk without putting on any show... It's a scary world out there!!!Why are people talking about tight road section timing here too? He just got the back out for the boys. If he was in a rush, he wouldn't be pretending he's in a Mk2 Escort.

Questionable stuff occurs on road sections sometimes, with risks, no doubt. This 'incident' was nothing though.

and it just went viral in estonian media with headlines like "Tänak was in dangerous traffic situation!"

so much fuss about nothing.

The price of fame. The attraction of the media vultures. There are some advantages of rallying being positioned as an obscure sport in the UK!

[cali]

I couldn't disagree more about the phone. It's a pest.

I wouldn't go as far as saying it is okay to have your nose in phone while driving but then again today people make a big fuss over small things. Is he worse person now? I'm just utterly annoyed by this morale hypocrisy

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

[AnttiK7]

Why are people talking about tight road section timing here too? He just got the back out for the boys. If he was in a rush, he wouldn't be pretending he's in a Mk2 Escort.

And that's exactly what makes it even more condemnable for me.

And people shouldn't try to justify it with the car and conditions. Is it a lot more fun to drive a WRC car on these conditions like Tänak does on the video? Yes definitely. Is it actually necessary and safer for other road users? No. Besides a modern WRC car has a myriad of engine map settings and diff settings to take advantage of for road driving vs. stage driving all adjustable from the steering wheel.

[AnttiL]

Is this forum being trolled or has the increased popularity brought F1 darlings out?

I know the original poster from another forum from years back, he's a big rallying fan. I bet many of you have enjoyed his video work on youtube.

Actually outside this thread I have seen motorsport fans mostly reacting negatively to Tänak's drifting.

[cali]

I know the original poster from another forum from years back, he's a big rallying fan. I bet many of you have enjoyed his video work on youtube.

Actually outside this thread I have seen motorsport fans mostly reacting negatively to Tänak's drifting.

That's why human race is doomed. We started as hunters to have something to eat and have come this far...I'm sorry, I feel there is not much hope left for the western civilization. It's just not this but looking how we have "progressed" to come to this.....

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk