2008 Rally Catalunya - official thread

[ST205GT4]

It was a done deal before they rolled off the start ramps. As is just about every tarmac rally that Loeb starts in.

In fact when was the last tarmac rally that he didn't win? Monte Carlo when he went off the road and came 2nd to Marcus?

[jonkka]

He's going to be beaten sooner or later... More likely is that he'll do mistake or car breaks, though...

[Viking]

Well that is 9 out of 9 from Loeb!

[Mauri A]

I don't think that with such a pace Latvala will learn anything.....
Yes, he has been a disappointmet. But, he now drives a different car without any testing.

[wwbroe]

I think on asfalt it is even more difficult to beat Loeb. He is fastest man around and on asfalt almost inbeatable. We have to live with it, just like the rest does (i mean the other drivers). :D

[wwbroe]

Henning was saying at finish that it was not too bad, just loosing "only" 30 sec on this one, but that is almost 2sec/km so i wonder what he is thinking?

[dimviii]

why Meeke is so slow?
any problems?

[wwbroe]

why Meeke is so slow?
any problems?

I guess he has some problem, because he is too slow, normally he should be fighting with the frontrunners in JWRC, like he did in previous rallys. But i don't know what is exactly wrong with him or the car. :(

[Viking]

"The other" Sébastien has only got 8 out of 9 stagewins :p

[wwbroe]

"The other" Sébastien has only got 8 out of 9 stagewins :p

Yes, but he is dominating his class even more then Loeb does. ;)

[A.F.F.]

Oom-pah!

Isn't that Hansons?? Phoneticly ;)

[noel157]

why Meeke is so slow?
any problems?

Down on power engine, overheating brakes since SS1 causing spin this morning, fuel problems etc, etc.

Quote from Vysledky - ""I have not feeling with the car, I don't know. We had brake problems, some smell in the car, nothing comfortable."

[N.O.T]

this rally is really boring...this thread has a slow and painful death....i even doubt if my sick dog comments can revive it....

[jonkka]

Isn't that Hansons?? Phoneticly ;)

Them? http://communities.canada.com/edmontonjournal/photos/hockey/images/144937/500x273.aspx

EDIT: Hehee... http://www.hansonbrothers.net/

[AndyRAC]

this rally is really boring...this thread has a slow and painful death....i even doubt if my sick dog comments can revive it....

Have to agree, I've been away from my PC, but Ihaven't missed a lot of the discussions. On another point, and another moan; the current format of events - 3 stages in succession, then nothing/service, then the same 3 stages repeated. How on earth is that good Motorsport. Spend far too much time away from the stages. Can't there be a rethink on routes so more time is spent actually on the stages, as opposed to the Service Park?

[wwbroe]

The long stage is live again now, so can we expect a few surprises? :D

[jonkka]

Have to agree, I've been away from my PC, but Ihaven't missed a lot of the discussions. On another point, and another moan; the current format of events - 3 stages in succession, then nothing/service, then the same 3 stages repeated. How on earth is that good Motorsport. Spend far too much time away from the stages. Can't there be a rethink on routes so more time is spent actually on the stages, as opposed to the Service Park?

Remote service would allow organisers to have more flexible route but unfortunately, repeating stages is like TV dinner. So easy that nobody cooks anymore. By repeating stages, organisers have less roads to close, less marshals to find to work for them, less planning and organising job in all. Plus it's easier for drivers from recce point of view.

[wwbroe]

Miko is actually faster as Loeb, at the fourth split that is anyhow, and about four seconds faster as Duval also. ;)

[jonkka]

Duval has slight prob? Losing steadily...

[Viking]

Stage seems slower this time, more gravel on it maybe.

[wwbroe]

Loeb is just taking it easy i think, not taking any risk and reserving his tyres for last two stages, wich are a little bit more abrasive.

[darkstar]

is there any propper working split times?

[wwbroe]

is there any propper working split times?

Yes, at wrc.com they are working quite well actually. :D

[wwbroe]

is there any propper working split times?

Yes, at wrc.com they are working quite well actually. :D And fastest time for

[wwbroe]

is there any propper working split times?

Yes, at wrc.com they are working quite well actually. :D And fastest time for Hirvonen on this one. ;)

[N.O.T]

Hirvonen takes away 0.2 secs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE BATTLE IS ON !!!!!!!!!!!

[Langdale Forest]

this rally is really boring...this thread has a slow and painful death....i even doubt if my sick dog comments can revive it....

For the second year in a row, Spain is probably the most boring rally of the year.

[jonkka]

Interestingly, no top driver has been in trouble nor retired yet...

EDIT: Except Toni's puncture yesterday

[jonkka]

For the second year in a row, Spain is probably the most boring rally of the year.

Which is a shame 'cause I like Rally Catalunya a lot.

[darkstar]

Yes, at wrc.com they are working quite well actually. :D And fastest time for Hirvonen on this one. ;)

not for me, also the ones one the racc site didnt work at first. now it works, but just the final stage times on wrc.com, no splits...

edit: my failure, i was on stage times, not on split times, shame on me :D

[wwbroe]

not for me, also the ones one the racc site didnt work at first. now it works, but just the final stage times on wrc.com, no splits...

Well, i don't have any problems with it, works fine over here. ;)

[Mauri A]

Remote service would allow organisers to have more flexible route but unfortunately, repeating stages is like TV dinner. So easy that nobody cooks anymore. By repeating stages, organisers have less roads to close, less marshals to find to work for them, less planning and organising job in all. Plus it's easier for drivers from recce point of view.

Yes. As far as I can remember, I met this system for the first time in Spain in Firestone Rally in 70´s when I acted as FIA Observer. It was a big surprise to me when I realized that there were only 3 groups of stage officials. That time we had at least 20 groups in 1000 Lakes!

[Tom206wrc]

For the second year in a row, Spain is probably the most boring rally of the year.




I thought for many on this forum every rally where there are a Citroën 1-2 followed by a Ford 1-2 and then Subaru and the others,...was boring(so not only Spain) ??? :p :

[AndyRAC]

Aren't we making the sport easier, and taking away the challenge? I understand the need for repeated stages, but all of them? Why not the 1/2nd stages repeated at the end of the day - so it is a true loop - even reverse those stages. Eveything is so 'samey' nowadays.

[pino]

For the second year in a row, Spain is probably the most boring rally of the year.

I agree and I am not suprised, as I never liked this rally and never will...sorry :)

[wwbroe]

Prokop is seven seconds faster as Ogier trough the second run of the long stage. I guess Ogier is taking it easy also, as he has over a minute in front of Prokop. Another Citroen one-two. :D

[wwbroe]

Stage 11 is live now, just a short one, but rather big time differences first run trough, so let's wait and see this time. ;)

[darkstar]

duval goes fast now. would be nice if he could attack sordo.

[Langdale Forest]

The rally should be moved back north to the 'old' stages.

[wwbroe]

Another fastest time for Sebastian, making it 10 out off 11, but no big differences between top four. :)

[AndyRAC]

The rally should be moved back north to the 'old' stages.

Yeah, agree.

[N.O.T]

The rally should be moved back north to the 'old' stages.


why ? would it change things ?

[jonkka]

why ? would it change things ?

They hope so.

[Langdale Forest]

The stages were probably more challenging there.

[wwbroe]

Last stage of the day will be live now, i wonder if anything is going to change? :(

[cut the b.s.]

Interestingly, no top driver has been in trouble nor retired yet...

EDIT: Except Toni's puncture yesterday

PG went off yesterday

[jonkka]

PG went off yesterday

Right, 1.5 problems... quite a little...

[jonkka]

Loeb takes it easier

[wwbroe]

Both Citroen's are trough the last stage off the day, returning to service now, so looks like they are well in control of things.

[darkstar]

duval sets best time! mikko lost lots of time during the last split...

[jonkka]

Petter loses out... Aava could overtake him...

[wwbroe]

Urmo Aava set good time and is now just 1.4 sec behind Solberg for fifth overall. ;)

[jonkka]

Not quite, 1.4s remaining

[Viking]

Aava likes it rough and slippery :D

[jonkka]

Some like 'em soft and slippery... :eek:

[Viking]

Rautenbach faster than Latvala, Mikkelsen and Atkinson, I want an C4!

[Mirek]

Ogier made a spin and damaged radiator. He lost 58 seconds to Prokop and needs to go 60 km to servis with damaged car!

[RS]

Yes, he has been a disappointmet. But, he (Latvala) now drives a different car without any testing.

Come on, that's a pretty lame excuse. A Focus is a Focus. Anyhow, this just shows Ford's decision was right and JML has to learn a little more on asphalt.

[Corny]

Come on, that's a pretty lame excuse. A Focus is a Focus. Anyhow, this just shows Ford's decision was right and JML has to learn a little more on asphalt.

Well, Duval said the Focus 08 was far better than the Stobart he drove.. But OK, that's his opinion ;)

[User]

The 07 Focus is still faster then the 2008 Suby for example. I think Latvala is driving on 85%, making sure he doesn't crash.

[Integrale]

It seems François will have to let Hirvonen pass tomorrow. Although he's not a championship contender I don't like it: the faster driver should finish higher.

[bluuford]

Oiger got 10 minutes penalty for not reaching to service:-) So, I think it will be deserved win for Prokop :-) he has had so much tec. probs this year:-(

[Mirek]

Wouldn't be the best way to to win (there is still one leg to go) but Prokop had a looot of bad luck this year...

[N.O.T]

pity for Ogier.... but it was an unforced mistake so Prokop deserves 100% the win if he get it.

[farquar wrc]

why Meeke is so slow?
any problems?

Brake problems,there not fading,there failing altogether,the pedal just drops to the floor with no warning but enough of a bite left to lock the backs,and he feels the engine is losing power,he is not enjoying the event,no confidence in the car

[bluuford]

Interesting figures.
There were actually 69 starters in Spain and.. 23 of them have used superally.. one of them has retired twice :-)
That means.. there are only 46 drivers without the help of superally.
There were 24 WRcars at the start line. One of them has retired, 3 of them have used superally. So, 20 out of 46 cars are WRcars that have not used superally. And figure 4 of total 23 cars that have used superally is very small.

It all says that according to the statistics many WRcars will be in trouble tomorrow :-)

(statistic maniac)

[Lalo]

What about Igier chances of getting the championship crown on the next event?

Great to see Francois in shape after such a long time without competing in a full spec car. This would definitly give him chances of being hired for an M2 team next season.

[atchoum]

Well, Duval said the Focus 08 was far better than the Stobart he drove.. But OK, that's his opinion ;)

Far better? He never said that! Just a slight improvement (about 5%) on the turbo...But that's all! :p

[ST205GT4]

Chris and Petter should just organise the funding for a M2 Citroen C4 or Focus team for next year so they have a chance of actually competing.

How much longer can Subaru use phrases like "fledgling WRC08" or "lack of testing" before they admit they've made no improvement over the old car with the new one?

[John V]

Prokop's team reported some technical problems last evening, stated in release they will try to manage everything also in this morning service.

[jonkka]

Mikko missing a split... :eek:
Does WRR say anything?

[jonkka]

There he is... pheeew...

[MikeD]

Not the best rally, but there are couple of interesting fights.

1.) Aava vs. P.Solberg
2.) Atkinson vs JML
3.) ..and will Duval be able to keep his 3. place?

[Wim_Impreza]

Not the best rally, but there are couple of interesting fights.

1.) Aava vs. P.Solberg
2.) Atkinson vs JML
3.) ..and will Duval be able to keep his 3. place?

1 I think Aava will win this fight.
2 Atkinson is faster than JML on tarmac yet.
3 No, there will be teamorders.

[Sulland]

Rautenbach faster than Latvala, Mikkelsen and Atkinson, I want an C4!

According to Mikkelsen the C4 was so quick and easy to drive on tarmac. The engine was also stronger than the ford.

His only complain was that he found the gravel set-up to be too hard.

I think the C4 is so much better than the rest right now, and especially on tarmac/asphalt.

Would be very interesting to se Mikkelsen in a C4 next year, he has a huge talent !

[Brother John]

Duval and Hirvonen slower on SS14, just try to finnish today i think.

[MikeD]

OMG this rally is so boring that WRR is doing a movie quiz med Latvala. That's just pathetic....

[Viking]

A lot of drivers are usually faster than Loeb at first split, what we need is a lot of 1km stages :D

[MikeD]

Yes! Aava faster than Solberg. Now only 0.1 behind overall...

Come on Aava :D

[A.F.F.]

Jonkka. Alahan tulla maalaismarkkinoille !! :)

[MikeD]

In the current interview on WRR with Mikko, he confirms that Duval will be asked to let Mikko into third place.

[darkstar]

yes there will be teamorder...unbelieveable...that sucks.

[User]

Ford considers tactical position switch on Sunday

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team principal Malcolm Wilson has accepted that if the top four positions on Rally de Espana remain as they are until Sunday’s final stage he is likely to ask Francois Duval to switch places with Mikko Hirvonen.

Wilson said a second manufacturers’ championship for Ford would be difficult to achieve if Loeb and Sordo finished first and second tomorrow, but an extra point would help Mikko in the fight for the drivers’ title.

“I still believe the fight for the drivers’ championship will go right to the wire,” said Wilson. “So yes, if we are in that position on the final stage then swapping their positions is definitely something we will look at. But until then both drivers will carry on the way they are. Their objective is to keep the Citroens under pressure. We saw in New Zealand that anything can happen on the final day - especially on repeated stages.”

If team orders are employed, Wilson does not foresee any problems in asking Duval to surrender his place to Hirvonen. “Part of the reason we brought him into the team was to try and help us in the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships,” said Wilson. “Up to now he’s done a very good job for us. He knows he’s here to help the team.”



FFS. Knowing Duval, he'll push 'till the last stage, and then stop just in front of the finish :D

[MikeD]

From a team point of view and from a championship point of view I can understand team orders .... but from a sporting point of view I absolutely hate it!

[jonkka]

Jonkka. Alahan tulla maalaismarkkinoille !! :)

Mitä sä oikein horiset? :eek: Täällä on ralli käynnissä!

[MikeD]

YES! Aava is ahead :D

[pettersolberg29]

YES! Aava is ahead :D


I hate you!

[jonkka]

So is Latvala...

[jonkka]

I hate you!

:eek:

[pino]

Mitä sä oikein horiset? :eek: Täällä on ralli käynnissä!


Jonkka. Alahan tulla maalaismarkkinoille !! :)

Could we have that in english...thanks ;)

[jonkka]

Could we have that in english...thanks ;)

My part:
"What are you rambling about? There is a rallying going on here!"

[MikeD]

I hate you!

I can easily live with that :D

[pino]

My part:
"What are you rambling about? There is a rallying going on here!"

Could you translate the other line too, I believe A.F.F has left...

[pettersolberg29]

I can easily live with that :D


Sorry - supporting Petter really does mess my head up!!

[pettersolberg29]

No-one ever seems to mention it but isn't Khalid Al-Qassami (sp?) rubbish!

Rautenbach and Wilson seem to bear the brunt of people's attacks, but Khalid really is awful

[jonkka]

No-one ever seems to mention it but isn't Khalid Al-Qassami (sp?) rubbish!

Rautenbach and Wilson seem to bear the brunt of people's attacks, but Khalid really is awful

They are paying part of Ford's bills so as far as I care Khalid is doing exceedingly well...

[Karukera]

Spoiling Duval's podium for a remote chance of taking an improbable crown while the Belgian kicked Hirvonen's arse fairly and squarely during the whole rally. The usual Ford coward attitude !

Ford, them lil' pussies.
Manu things are too looking bad for them.

Fortunately, Hirvonen is a Finn, he will puposedly drop a few seconds to let Duval pass him in the last stage or before the last time control... :s tare:

[MikeD]

No-one ever seems to mention it but isn't Khalid Al-Qassami (sp?) rubbish!

Rautenbach and Wilson seem to bear the brunt of people's attacks, but Khalid really is awful

His nick name is Al-Crapssimi. I think that says it all.

But if you look at the amount of WRC events that Matt Wilson has behind him, I still think he's the driver with the lesser talent of all these pay drivers. He is still as slow as he has been from the beginning and I still cannot get into my head why Stobart doesn't use their sponsor money on a british driver with talent instead.

[jonkka]

I still cannot get into my head why Stobart doesn't use their sponsor money on a british driver with talent instead.

What sponsporship money? All of their drivers pay their own drives...

[wwbroe]

Duval is loosing lot of time on stage now, he is letting Miko pass him now. It is teamorders, pitty, but we have to live with it. :(

[MikeD]

What sponsporship money? All of their drivers pay their own drives...

I thought that Stobart and VK payed for Wilson via their sponsorship? ... and of course daddys help.

[jonas_mcrae]

not a nice thing what Duval is having to do but anyway maybe in the future this will let him be a M2 driver or even maybe step up when Latvala faces some tarmac again..

[MikeD]

No, this for sure isn't Ford's finest hour!

[wwbroe]

The fight between Solberg and Aava still going on, in splits they are very close one to the other. This fight is more interesting then the one for podiumplaces. :D

[wwbroe]

Duval loosing about twenty seconds, he is doing perfect job, just enough to let Miko pass by. :D

[jonkka]

The fight between Solberg and Aava still going on, in splits they are very close one to the other. This fight is more interesting then the one for podiumplaces. :D

So is fight between JML and Atko too, this time Atko seems to have upper hand...

[pettersolberg29]

Looks like Petter may take Aava this stage

[jonkka]

Aava missing a split...

[pettersolberg29]

Aava out?

[MikeD]

no split for Aava?

[MikeD]

Dammit..he stopped on stage

[Viking]

Aava missing a split...

Or has he pulled the GPS plug?

[wwbroe]

Real pitty for Aava, who was doing a great rally once more. :(

[Brother John]

The fight between Solberg and Aava still going on, in splits they are very close one to the other. This fight is more interesting then the one for podiumplaces. :D

This fight is over!

[MikeD]

Mikkelsen in the points for only the second time in his WRC career.

[paddocknews]

broken suspension

[Salist]

Aava out of the race. :-(

[Viking]

Mikkelsen in the points for only the second time in his WRC career.

Dont jinx him too Mike :)

[N.O.T]

Once more the ford camp proved how pathetic and desparate they are....nice.

[Brother John]

Broken framework for Aava, source
http://www.pitstoptv.info/pitstop/?p=6054
How did he do that?

[MikeD]

And Loeb wins again ... win no 45. Great day to be a Loeb and Citroën fan. Getting closer to getting the double back Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees :D

[wwbroe]

And Loeb takes hid 45th win in WRC and again a very deserved one.

[KKS]

Position = numbers

Overall

Pos No Driver Time Diff Next Diff 1st

1. 1 Sébastien LOEB M 3:21:17.4 0.0 0.0
2. 2 Daniel SORDO M 3:21:42.3 +24.9 +24.9
3. 3 Mikko HIRVONEN M 3:22:19.9 +37.6 +1:02.5
4. 4 François DUVAL M 3:22:28.2 +8.3 +1:10.8
5. 5 Petter SOLBERG M 3:24:44.8 +2:16.6 +3:27.4

[MikeD]

Tirabassi finishing in 10th....not bad on first attempt

[Mauri A]

And Loeb wins again ... win no 45. Great day to be a Loeb and Citroën fan. Getting closer to getting the double back Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees :D
Take a smörrebröd and Tuborg and calm down!

[Viking]

Something like this then...

1 S Loeb 96
2 M Hirvonen 84
3 D Sordo 59
4 C Atkinson 42
5 J Latvala 37
6 P Solberg 36
7 H Solberg 22
8 G Galli 17

[Corny]

I think even Sebastien himself finds it boring this way

[RS]

Tirabassi finishing in 10th....not bad on first attempt

Was this his first event in a WRCar anywhere? He wasn't exactly quick, but better than I thought. Better than he managed in IRC.

[Mirek]

Strange and boring rally even though Prokop won. Nothin to be excited about except Urmo Aava... :(

[Karukera]

Great result for Citroën, Loeb and Sordo. Too bad Duval had to think of his career, i would have loved to see him doing a Juha.K

Both Loeb and Citroën can be WRC 2008 champions next week in Corsica in the unlikely event of Seb scoring 8 more pts than Hirvonen and if, a little more realistically although at odds, Citroën scores 9 more points than Ford.

Ogier has now to seal it for good.

Corsica Salsa !

[alleskids]

Ogier had the change to seal tjhe Junior title. He now as 4 gap to defend agianst Aaron Burkart, both driving a Citroen C2 (34 - 30 pts), The rest is out of reach for the title.

[DIMI44]

RALLY CATALUNYA

2005: 1-2 CITROEN, 3 FORD

2006: 1-2 CITROEN, 3 FORD

2007: 1-2 CITROEN, 3 FORD

2008: 1-2 CITROEN, 3 FORD

No coments.

[bennizw]

Possibly the most boring WRC-event I can remember in years. Nobody had notable problems, no one went of (Except Aava), nothing happened. Oho such exciting the WRC is these days...

[Langdale Forest]

The team orders to make Duval drop back to 4th is pathetic, and there wasn't much chance of Hirvonen winning the championship anyway. :evil:

[AndyRAC]

Possibly the most boring WRC-event I can remember in years. Nobody had notable problems, no one went of (Except Aava), nothing happened. Oho such exciting the WRC is these days...

And we wonder why there is no interest in the sport anymore from big sponsors, Manufacturers, media. It's a minority sport, the sooner people accept this the better - i;e ISC, current Manufacturers, in fact everybody connected with the sport.

[bluuford]

It was a bit boring indeed. My man of the rally was definitely Aava who gave the best fight of the rally nearly then end of last proper test and proved that he has potentitial to be allraounder.
The other thing worth of honor was Bettega who did very well with R3 car. So, most of the rally I was following the battle from 5th to eight and slower drivers in JWRC :-)
Next rally will be interesting. It will be third rally in a row with same engine. First two have been very dry and therefore very demanding for the engines.. So.. we will see what happens!

[jure dvorsek]

Rally is over, Loeb again destroyed all others, novebody was able to keep with him. I'm specaly dissapointment on following drivers: Mikko (if he want's to become a world chaimpion in the same period as Leob, he must drive faster on tarmac, but at the moment he is much slower than a driver, who drives maybe 10% of his millage in a WRC-Duval). Times, when you could become a world champion with wins yust on gravel events, are in Loeb's era over...Second on this list: Sordo, I was expecting a tight fight with Loeb. Third (again): Subaru boys, thay are lost totaly...
So to a next event-Tour de Corse: about the winner and also the second position is nothing to be discussing, maybe this time Mikko will pass Duval betwen race, not on team orders....And maybe Subaru will be beaten less than three minutes at the end of the rally....Uau, succes for them....

[I am evil Homer]

Can't really be that disappointed with Sordo...he did what he could but lets clear here - his team mate has just won his 45th WRC event and the way to, potentially his 5th crown. This team mate also happens to be the best tarmac driver ever....coming second is no shame on Sordo it's just that Loeb is so far ahead it's silly.

[Zes]

I think they should do something to Catalunya rally. This is as boring as F1. Nothing happens during the race and it has been like this for years. Is it too easy rally? Other tarmac rallies atleast have something happening.

[White Sauron]

I don't understand why so many of you blame Hirvonen for bad performance! I'm sure was Loeb driving the Focus, he would have been beaten by the same Loeb in the C4. And probably by a similar margin as Hirvonen was beaten. The problem is Ford stuck in development behind Citroens, as even Mikkelsen confirmed this fact. Yes, of course there's room for Mikko's development as an asphalt driver, but the difference between him and Loeb isn't actually that big as it may seem now.

[N.O.T]

I don't understand why so many of you blame Hirvonen for bad performance! I'm sure was Loeb driving the Focus, he would have been beaten by the same Loeb in the C4. And probably by a similar margin as Hirvonen was beaten. The problem is Ford stuck in development behind Citroens, as even Mikkelsen confirmed this fact. Yes, of course there's room for Mikko's development as an asphalt driver, but the difference between him and Loeb isn't actually that big as it may seem now.

:s mokin: :s mokin:

[RS]

I don't understand why so many of you blame Hirvonen for bad performance! I'm sure was Loeb driving the Focus, he would have been beaten by the same Loeb in the C4. And probably by a similar margin as Hirvonen was beaten. The problem is Ford stuck in development behind Citroens, as even Mikkelsen confirmed this fact. Yes, of course there's room for Mikko's development as an asphalt driver, but the difference between him and Loeb isn't actually that big as it may seem now.

I kind of agree with you here. I don't think he's at good as Loeb on asphalt but he wasn't much slower than Duval who is one of the quickest asphalt drivers in the world. I actually find Hirvonen more impressive on asphalt than gravel, but when Loeb is there he's always going to look second best.

[jure dvorsek]

Still can't agree with White Sauron: Ford did not stuck in development, it was yust a short test with Mikkelsen and with all respect to a young Norwegian driver, he still needs some skills to drive a Focus WRC on the limit, not to give a verdict, that C4 is much better on tarmac. The only two or three persons are Mikko, Duval, Marcus and maybe Gigi, all others must still find some missing seconds in their personal driving....And not yust pass a short, one day test, those cars need much more intensive test, you should know that.
And another thing: problem of all drivers, who are behind Loeb on tarmac is that Loeb is 100% all the time on the limit and others can do this yust on two or theree stages, at that time they can also be faster than Loeb. Yust look stage times on second and third leg. Loeb admited at those results, that they were simply faster...
Loeb can attack already on the first stage, others are still looking for better set-up (yust hear the statements during service), Subaru even risks with other compound of tyres...

[bluuford]

Some statistics:

69 Cars started the race, 49 ended (71 %)
1 was disqualified
36 out of 69 didn't use superally (52%)

Next there are different classes and their reliability rate (only first retirement included).
WRC -17ok+ 7 retired (superally + final day)= 24total (71%) reliability rate.
A7 - 6 + 4 =10 (60%)
N3 - 5 + 4 = 9 (56%)
A6 - 5 + 8 = 13 (38%)
N4 - 3 + 10 = 13 (23%)

Conclusion: Don´t take N4 or A6 class cars if you want to finis in Spain :-)

[Wim_Impreza]

I think they should do something to Catalunya rally. This is as boring as F1. Nothing happens during the race and it has been like this for years. Is it too easy rally? Other tarmac rallies atleast have something happening.

I agree. The roads are too wide, which makes it too easy for the drivers.

[White Sauron]

Still can't agree with White Sauron: Ford did not stuck in development, it was yust a short test with Mikkelsen and with all respect to a young Norwegian driver, he still needs some skills to drive a Focus WRC on the limit, not to give a verdict, that C4 is much better on tarmac. The only two or three persons are Mikko, Duval, Marcus and maybe Gigi, all others must still find some missing seconds in their personal driving....And not yust pass a short, one day test, those cars need much more intensive test, you should know that.
...

I know that. But you forgot to apply the same to the C4. I think it's obvious that he should have faced the same problem with that car as much is with the Focus. But somehow he felt the car was much better from the word go. Doesn't this fact prove my point even more?

[RS]

I saw the tail end of the tv footage from Spain on "Dave" on Monday and poor Mikko looked a mixture of bored and frustrated.

A lot of people have blamed Catalunya for making boring TV but I think the cars are at least as guilty. Even on that stage with the roundabout, which is obviously meant to be good for the TV and spectators, the cars were merely wiggling their tail ends a tiny bit. No sliding at all.

I think it is a bit of a myth that torque is really important to make an entertaining car. The S2000 cars now look more agile than this and I think the reason is a less sophisticated transmission and lighter weight.