Rally Norway 2009

[J4MIE]

Ok so what's the latest with this event? ;) I've just booked my flights and am going with DonJippo, hopefully there will be plenty more forumers around though!

Anyone any recommendations on the stages? What is the weather expected to be like (I presume it is still too early to tell yet though)? I am hoping for a proper snow event after the disappointment of Sweden 2008 :(

Also, just watched the coverage again of the 2007 event and quite a lot of stages are run when it is nearly dark, but they used a few stages only once on a day, I think I read somewhere that they were changing more to a loop repeated twice in a day, will this make it more likely to be run in daylight?

I can't wait already :bounce:

[Sulland]

Info will be posted here. http://www.rallynorway.com/en/
and especially here: http://www.rallynorway.com/en/media/rg1-2009.html
But I guess the other norwegians here that has more local knowledge are more than happy to share their plans on where to stand !

Have a nice time in my homeland !!

[Salist]

We were in 2007and we are going to Norway Rally in February too.
Here is my video from shakedown:
http://drc.racing.hu/video/2007/01_WRC_NOR/WRC_2007_Norway_Shakedown_1.rar

[Salist]

Webcam: http://www.hht.no/

[Sulland]

According to this site, here is where you see the cars the longest:
http://www.dalaust-gaard.no/

Translated: http://translate.google.no/translate?hl=no&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dalaust-gaard.no%2Findex.html&sl=no&tl=en&history_state0=
These have made a lot of effort, good to see !!!

[RS]

With everyones plans coming together late it seems like Norway could be the first decent WRC event of 2009.

[Sulland]

We were in 2007and we are going to Norway Rally in February too.
Here is my video from shakedown:
http://drc.racing.hu/video/2007/01_WRC_NOR/WRC_2007_Norway_Shakedown_1.rar


Hi !
What kind of player do I need to have on my Mac to play this one ?

[J4MIE]

Well wherever I end up we'll walk into the stage away from others, there are plenty of decent corners on any stage that can be got to with a bit of legwork ;) Pino has successfully converted me!! :eek: Also gets you away from lots of smoke from fires spoiling the light for photos :( Just a small one to warm my toes and sausages and I'm happy :p :

Hopefully there will be a decent enough entry, I have always been impressed by Østberg :up:

[Salist]

Hi !
What kind of player do I need to have on my Mac to play this one ?

Hi,

Try with this player.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html

[Salist]

Here is my 2nd video from shakedown 2007:
http://drc.racing.hu/video/2007/01_WRC_NOR/WRC_2007_Norway_Shakedown_2.rar

[Salist]

... and 3rd.
http://drc.racing.hu/video/2007/01_WRC_NOR/WRC_2007_Norway_Shakedown_3.rar

[jbmarcus21]

the entrylist limit is the 8th January not ?

[Gard]

the entrylist limit is the 8th January not ?
6th

[jbmarcus21]

ok thanks ;)

[MartijnS]

We will be there too! :D

[jbmarcus21]

Many hope and fingers cross, to see Petter & Marcus into entrylist...

[RS]

Any news on PG Anderssons plans for Norway?

I read on a Slovak site he would either start in an N4 car or a Fabia WRC, depending on budget.

[Tomi]

Any news on PG Anderssons plans for Norway?

I read on a Slovak site he would either start in an N4 car or a Fabia WRC, depending on budget.

The norwegian Fabia owner is trying to get sponsoring for him, he is not self interested to pay much for an uncompetitive car.

[pantealex]

the entrylist limit is the 8th January not ?
Thursday 8 Jan 15:00 Closing time for entries http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/RG1/RG1_09.pdf page 6
No hurry Petter!

[VFTS]

Thursday 8 Jan 15:00 Closing time for entries http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/RG1/RG1_09.pdf page 6
No hurry Petter!


The correct closing time for entries are tomorrow 6th jan 15.00 local time.

http://www.rallynorway.no/no/nyheter/frist-rally-norway-2009.html

[pantealex]

The correct closing time for entries are tomorrow 6th jan 15.00 local time.

http://www.rallynorway.no/no/nyheter/frist-rally-norway-2009.html

http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/7773610D1111EEEEC1257522005E4996/$FILE/2009%20WRC%20REGS_a.pdf page 29 Rule has been changed, now it is five week before recoinnaissance starts (before it was five week before rally starts)
So correct date for Norway is 6.1.

[bauwie]

We'll be there to with 9 persons.

[Iskald]

The norwegian Fabia owner is trying to get sponsoring for him, he is not self interested to pay much for an uncompetitive car.

What are your sources on this topic? I spoke to PG (or rather interwieved him for TV) after his victory in the Romjulsrally (28.12) in the Fabia. He was suprised and impressed with the car, and actually said that it chassis-wise was better (more stable and balanced) than his `08 Suzuki. Furthermore he added that with the technical nature of the stages in Rally Norway he could reallisticly be hoping for a good pointsfinish in Rally Norway with a Fabia WRC. Doesn`t sound especially "uncompetitive" to me...

Btw. PG will drive the Fabia in the first round of the Norwegian championship, "Sigdalsrally", coming saturday - where he will meet competition from Mats Østberg in the S14 Subaru. Would he do that in an uncompetitive car - I don`t think so.

It is true that Bernhard Kongsrud, who owns the two cars, is trying to help PG in finding sponsors. This is of course also sound business-thinking for Kongsrud who wants to see both cars running in Rally Norway. PG`s domestic swedish sponsormarket is very difficult at the moment and he is happy with all help he can get. Especially if it gets him into a Fabia drive for Rally Norway.

[Tomi]

What are your sources on this topic? I spoke to PG (or rather interwieved him for TV) after his victory in the Romjulsrally (28.12) in the Fabia. He was suprised and impressed with the car, and actually said that it chassis-wise was better (more stable and balanced) than his `08 Suzuki. Furthermore he added that with the technical nature of the stages in Rally Norway he could reallisticly be hoping for a good pointsfinish in Rally Norway with a Fabia WRC. Doesn`t sound especially "uncompetitive" to me...

Btw. PG will drive the Fabia in the first round of the Norwegian championship, "Sigdalsrally", coming saturday - where he will meet competition from Mats Østberg in the S14 Subaru. Would he do that in an uncompetitive car - I don`t think so.

It is true that Bernhard Kongsrud, who owns the two cars, is trying to help PG in finding sponsors. This is of course also sound business-thinking for Kongsrud who wants to see both cars running in Rally Norway. PG`s domestic swedish sponsormarket is very difficult at the moment and he is happy with all help he can get. Especially if it gets him into a Fabia drive for Rally Norway.

Here, http://www.vf.se/Sport/Varmland/PG-mot-start-i-Norge-090103.aspx

[Sulland]

What are your sources on this topic? I spoke to PG (or rather interwieved him for TV) after his victory in the Romjulsrally (28.12) in the Fabia. He was suprised and impressed with the car, and actually said that it chassis-wise was better (more stable and balanced) than his `08 Suzuki. Furthermore he added that with the technical nature of the stages in Rally Norway he could reallisticly be hoping for a good pointsfinish in Rally Norway with a Fabia WRC. Doesn`t sound especially "uncompetitive" to me...

Btw. PG will drive the Fabia in the first round of the Norwegian championship, "Sigdalsrally", coming saturday - where he will meet competition from Mats Østberg in the S14 Subaru. Would he do that in an uncompetitive car - I don`t think so.

It is true that Bernhard Kongsrud, who owns the two cars, is trying to help PG in finding sponsors. This is of course also sound business-thinking for Kongsrud who wants to see both cars running in Rally Norway. PG`s domestic swedish sponsormarket is very difficult at the moment and he is happy with all help he can get. Especially if it gets him into a Fabia drive for Rally Norway.

Are the two Fabias of Kongsrud now in the same spec, or doo they still have different set up when it comes to active and passive diffs and so on ?

[Iskald]

Here, http://www.vf.se/Sport/Varmland/PG-mot-start-i-Norge-090103.aspx

This will maybe be seen as semantics, but I wouldn`t translate "inte riktigt konkurrenskräftig" with uncompetitive. There is a slight but not unimportant difference...

[Tomi]

This will maybe be seen as semantics, but I wouldn`t translate "inte riktigt konkurrenskräftig" with uncompetitive. There is a slight but not unimportant difference...

As a reporter you should know the difference when speak to the press as well, or do seriously belive that an that old construction as Fabia is, will be competitive?

[RS]

As a reporter you should know the difference when speak to the press as well, or do seriously belive that an that old construction as Fabia is, will be competitive?

It all depends what you call competitive and what the entry list will be like in Norway in terms of other cars and drivers.

[Tomi]

It all depends what you call competitive and what the entry list will be like in Norway in terms of other cars and drivers.

Sure, against the GrN cars it will be competitive, but to get in top 6-7 no chance if there is no retirements.

[RS]

Sure, against the GrN cars it will be competitive, but to get in top 6-7 no chance if there is no retirements.

Maybe, entry list for Norway should be better than Ireland at least.

[Salist]

Maybe, entry list for Norway should be better than Ireland at least.

Maybe...

[VFTS]

The entry-closing for rally Norway are moved one week. So the new closing for entries will be tuesday 13.jan 15.00 local time.

40 cars was on th entrylist today.

http://www.norsk-rally.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5881 :p ameldingsfristen-til-rally-norway-utsatt-en-uke

http://www.rallynorway.no/no/pressemeldinger/pamelding-utsatt.html

[Koppomsbo]

Are the two Fabias of Kongsrud now in the same spec, or doo they still have different set up when it comes to active and passive diffs and so on ?

The one that Henning drove in Romjulsrallyt was at least planned to be shipped to Cezchia for a Total Rebuild...

Thats what ive heard

[RS]

The entry-closing for rally Norway are moved one week. So the new closing for entries will be tuesday 13.jan 15.00 local time.

40 cars was on th entrylist today.

http://www.norsk-rally.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5881 :p ameldingsfristen-til-rally-norway-utsatt-en-uke

http://www.rallynorway.no/no/pressemeldinger/pamelding-utsatt.html

Hmmm, the article says there will be several S2000s on the list, I wonder who. Might be a nice event for Hanninen to take the Fabia to...

[Salist]

The entry-closing for rally Norway are moved one week. So the new closing for entries will be tuesday 13.jan 15.00 local time.

40 cars was on th entrylist today.

http://www.norsk-rally.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5881 :p ameldingsfristen-til-rally-norway-utsatt-en-uke

http://www.rallynorway.no/no/pressemeldinger/pamelding-utsatt.html


http://www.rallynorway.com/en/pressreleases/closing-date-extended.html

Very bad news. I'm very sad. :(

[Iskald]

As a reporter you should know the difference when speak to the press as well, or do seriously belive that an that old construction as Fabia is, will be competitive?

In the right hands - in Rally Norway and in 2009 - I actually believe the Fabia could end up in a quite respectable pointscoring position, but not podium. Whether you call this competitive or uncompetitive, its up to anyone.

And furthermore, disliking you trying to patronize me, I do know PG or Henning for that matter better than just as a "reporter". I do know when I`m being fed "press-speak", and when I`m not...

[Tomi]

In the right hands - in Rally Norway and in 2009 - I actually believe the Fabia could end up in a quite respectable pointscoring position, but not podium. Whether you call this competitive or uncompetitive, its up to anyone.

And furthermore, disliking you trying to patronize me, I do know PG or Henning for that matter better than just as a "reporter". I do know when I`m being fed "press-speak", and when I`m not...

Im not trying to patronize anyone, we can take this talk about how competitive it is after the rally.
Btw will henning win rally Norway this year again ? :)

[Mirek]

By the way, Fabia which Henning drove should be mechanical and that which PG drove should be active according to a man who makes Fabia WRC history website.

[Tomi]

[quote="RS"]

except that he wont drive the fabia there.

[Iskald]

Im not trying to patronize anyone, we can take this talk about how competitive it is after the rally.
Btw will henning win rally Norway this year again ? :)

Yeah, why not? If he can be fairly ready and alert out of bed on the friday morning and not loose a minute on the first three stages...

[Koppomsbo]

]By the way, Fabia which Henning drove should be mechanical and that which PG drove should be active according to a man who makes Fabia WRC history website.


According to PG there was mechanical diffs on his car

[Mirek]

Interesting, thanks ;)

[Iskald]

http://www.rallynorway.com/en/pressreleases/closing-date-extended.html

Very bad news. I'm very sad. :(

No need to be sad, yet. Possibly Norway will have 60 entries or more with the extended closing date. Worse is ireland with only 43 entries. But isn`t this just a sign of the times? How many cars do you think will start the overseas events, especially Argentina? Less than 30....?

With the financial crisis and everybody on hold regarding spending money on rallying or other sports, who can really afford this? For a private comptitor, living in Norway, running a Gr.N Mitsu or Sub on a economybased budget in Rally Norway (his homeland!) it will cost approximately 30-35.000.- Euros to participate in the event. On top of that comes possible damages + wear and tear of the car running 350 hard SS-kms. What kind of persons, on normal salaries and with limited sponsoring, can afford that?

[MJW]

What kind of persons, on normal salaries and with limited sponsoring, can afford that? I have been thinking the same for some time.

[Salist]

No need to be sad, yet. Possibly Norway will have 60 entries or more with the extended closing date. Worse is ireland with only 43 entries. But isn`t this just a sign of the times? How many cars do you think will start the overseas events, especially Argentina? Less than 30....?

With the financial crisis and everybody on hold regarding spending money on rallying or other sports, who can really afford this? For a private comptitor, living in Norway, running a Gr.N Mitsu or Sub on a economybased budget in Rally Norway (his homeland!) it will cost approximately 30-35.000.- Euros to participate in the event. On top of that comes possible damages + wear and tear of the car running 350 hard SS-kms. What kind of persons, on normal salaries and with limited sponsoring, can afford that?


We go for the Irish rally and we would like to go the Norwegian Rally, but for only 10-15 WRC we do not go out.

[MikeD]

No need to be sad, yet. Possibly Norway will have 60 entries or more with the extended closing date. Worse is ireland with only 43 entries. But isn`t this just a sign of the times? How many cars do you think will start the overseas events, especially Argentina? Less than 30....?


I think the most important thing is the amount of WRC cars, and 22 of them in Rally Ireland is actually pretty good. Of course one can always discuss the quality of drivers, but at least the best drivers in the world are at RI, which cannot be said for the IRC event in Monte Carlo.

But I agree with you that the rallies in Argentina and Australia might be of some concern, because we might end up with only 8-9 WRC cars for those two events.

[Daniel]

I think the most important thing is the amount of WRC cars, and 22 of them in Rally Ireland is actually pretty good. Of course one can always discuss the quality of drivers, but at least the best drivers in the world are at RI, which cannot be said for the IRC event in Monte Carlo.

Yes but the IRC has a good route and may have good coverage. The drivers are hardly as bad as Wilson, Rautenbach and Icecreamguy though.

[RS]

I think the most important thing is the amount of WRC cars, and 22 of them in Rally Ireland is actually pretty good. Of course one can always discuss the quality of drivers, but at least the best drivers in the world are at RI, which cannot be said for the IRC event in Monte Carlo.


At the very top, yes. But I think the IRC field has greater "strength in depth"

[Daniel]

At the very top, yes. But I think the IRC field has greater "strength in depth"

Yeah but the WRC has Loeb and.... ummm ... err... did I mention Loeb?

[MikeD]

At the very top, yes. But I think the IRC field has greater "strength in depth"

I disagree. I actually think that most of the IRC drivers are average at best. Their biggest names are Auriol (former WRC champ, but not at his peak), Gardemeister, Meeke, Sarrazin, Loix, Vouilloz etc. None of these drivers (apart from Auriol) has ever won a WRC rally or even been close. They have scored the occasional podium but nothing more.

WRC still have Loeb, Hirvonen, Sordo, Latvala, Atkinson and hopefully Petter Solberg. Futhermore I think that Aava, Ogier, Novikov and Østberg have far more potential to make great results in WRC than any of the drivers in IRC.

But I do agree that it was a mistake to let the IRC get some of the attractive rallies like Monte & Safari. But next year I expect Abarth to be ready with a S2000+ and go to WRC, and then the IRC is what IRL is to Formula One or what Superbike is to MotoGP - which is a second hand series.

[Brother John]

No need to be sad, yet. Possibly Norway will have 60 entries or more with the extended closing date. Worse is ireland with only 43 entries. But isn`t this just a sign of the times? How many cars do you think will start the overseas events, especially Argentina? Less than 30....?

With the financial crisis and everybody on hold regarding spending money on rallying or other sports, who can really afford this? For a private comptitor, living in Norway, running a Gr.N Mitsu or Sub on a economybased budget in Rally Norway (his homeland!) it will cost approximately 30-35.000.- Euros to participate in the event. On top of that comes possible damages + wear and tear of the car running 350 hard SS-kms. What kind of persons, on normal salaries and with limited sponsoring, can afford that?

You don´t need a financial crisis to understand that WRC is to expensive, in WRC the F.I.A. have caused the crisis. :s mokin: :D

[Daniel]

I disagree. I actually think that most of the IRC drivers are average at best. Their biggest names are Auriol (former WRC champ, but not at his peak), Gardemeister, Meeke, Sarrazin, Loix, Vouilloz etc. None of these drivers (apart from Auriol) has ever won a WRC rally or even been close. They have scored the occasional podium but nothing more.

WRC still have Loeb, Hirvonen, Sordo, Latvala, Atkinson and hopefully Petter Solberg. Futhermore I think that Aava, Ogier, Novikov and Østberg have far more potential to make great results in WRC than any of the drivers in IRC.

But I do agree that it was a mistake to let the IRC get some of the attractive rallies like Monte & Safari. But next year I expect Abarth to be ready with a S2000+ and go to WRC, and then the IRC is what IRL is to Formula One or what Superbike is to MotoGP - which is a second hand series.

hahaha Gardemeister has had plenty of good results
Monte 2005 2nd
Sweden 2005 3rd
Acropolis 2005 2nd
Monte 2006 2nd
New Zealand 1999 3rd in the Cordoba....

I'm sorry but out of those drivers you've mentioned only Loeb and Petter were superstars back in the days when there was more competition. Ogier is a talent but still a rough diamond.

[MikeD]

Yes but the IRC has a good route and may have good coverage.

I agree that this is the biggest challenge for WRC. They need better coverage than IRC, and I somewhat hopre they will launch full TV coverage via the Internet, because - to be honest - the Eurosport coverage sucks (especially the time slots).

I might be naive, but I still have some faith in the choice for the global promoter for the WRC, because they need a very innovative solution to make the new S2000+ WRC a commercial success.

[RS]

I disagree. I actually think that most of the IRC drivers are average at best. Their biggest names are Auriol (former WRC champ, but not at his peak), Gardemeister, Meeke, Sarrazin, Loix, Vouilloz etc. None of these drivers (apart from Auriol) has ever won a WRC rally or even been close. They have scored the occasional podium but nothing more.

WRC still have Loeb, Hirvonen, Sordo, Latvala, Atkinson and hopefully Petter Solberg. Futhermore I think that Aava, Ogier, Novikov and Østberg have far more potential to make great results in WRC than any of the drivers in IRC.

But I do agree that it was a mistake to let the IRC get some of the attractive rallies like Monte & Safari. But next year I expect Abarth to be ready with a S2000+ and go to WRC, and then the IRC is what IRL is to Formula One or what Superbike is to MotoGP - which is a second hand series.

We are talking about Monte vs. Ireland...

Sarrazin: Good performance on asphalt back in his Subaru days vs. Petter Solberg
Kopecky: IMO one of the 4 or 5 best asphalt rally drivers in the world right now
Gardemeister: Several Monte podiums, he would have won it in his Ford year were it not for a certain Frenchman
Auriol: Even at 50, he probably still has the legs on the WRC rich boys club (Wilson, Rautenbach, Al Qassimi)
Hanninen: Highly rated and very fast on gravel (not sure about asphalt, but it might snow on Monte!)
Meeke: Another highly rated talent who has never has a good opportunity to show himself on the top level

That is not to mention IRC stalwarts Vouilloz, Loix and Basso who are also all very strong asphalt drivers.

I am quite confident that Wilson or Rautenbach couldn't make the points (on speed) in Monte, there is a real danger of that in Ireland.

[MikeD]

hahaha Gardemeister has had plenty of good results
Monte 2005 2nd
Sweden 2005 3rd
Acropolis 2005 2nd
Monte 2006 2nd
New Zealand 1999 3rd in the Cordoba....


And why didn't that fit my description of "Never won a WRC event, but having scored the occasional podium"????

[Daniel]

And why didn't that fit my description of "Never won a WRC event, but having scored the occasional podium"????


Their biggest names are Auriol (former WRC champ, but not at his peak), Gardemeister, Meeke, Sarrazin, Loix, Vouilloz etc. None of these drivers (apart from Auriol) has ever won a WRC rally or even been close.

Gardemeister hasn't been close to winning an event?

[Rally_Rocks]

Toni is a lovely guy and a talented driver, but he was never going to win a round of the WRC unless circumstances came to his assistance. I don't remember him ever genuinely challenging for a win, though I'm sure someone (daniel) will put me right on this.

And I bet if you asked any of the "top" IRC pilots where they'd rather be, to a man they'd say WRC.

Ok, I'm still a firm believer in the future of the WRC but maybe Ill try and follow IRC a little more closely this year. What's the best way to do it? Are there live splits? Or maybe radio? Or do I have to pay eurosport for the privilage? Advice welcomed!

[Helstar]

Garde on Monte 2006 2nd -> he was third ! Behind Bosse and Loeb (best superrally result ever) I think ^^

[Tom206wrc]

So entrylist published tomorrow or friday finally ??? :confused:

[MartijnS]

The entries are open until 13 January, so I think the entrylist will be available after that date?

[Mirek]

There's nothing like that in Suplementary regulations...

[Wim_Impreza]

I disagree. I actually think that most of the IRC drivers are average at best. Their biggest names are Auriol (former WRC champ, but not at his peak), Gardemeister, Meeke, Sarrazin, Loix, Vouilloz etc. None of these drivers (apart from Auriol) has ever won a WRC rally or even been close. They have scored the occasional podium but nothing more.

WRC still have Loeb, Hirvonen, Sordo, Latvala, Atkinson and hopefully Petter Solberg. Futhermore I think that Aava, Ogier, Novikov and Østberg have far more potential to make great results in WRC than any of the drivers in IRC.

But I do agree that it was a mistake to let the IRC get some of the attractive rallies like Monte & Safari. But next year I expect Abarth to be ready with a S2000+ and go to WRC, and then the IRC is what IRL is to Formula One or what Superbike is to MotoGP - which is a second hand series.

I agree with you, only in the last sentence not. Superbike has 30-35 riders and MotoGP will have only 17 this year.
For sure Superbike will be much more entertaining.

Sorry for this off topic.

[Salist]

Patrick Sandell will start on Norway Rally with a Skoda Fabia S2000.
Source: http://www.redbullrally.com/index.php?lang=eng and http://www.patriksandell.com/

[Salist]

PG Andersson drive a Skoda Fabia WRC on Norway Rally.
Source: http://www.maxattack.net/2009/01/pg-in-the-entrylist-for-norway/

[Tom206wrc]

What "success" Skoda suddenly :eek:

[Finni]

Hänninen is much better driver than many of those mentioned by MikeD.

[Salist]

PG Andersson drive a Skoda Fabia WRC on Norway Rally.
Source: http://www.maxattack.net/2009/01/pg-in-the-entrylist-for-norway/

Car details: http://www.ewrc-results.com/fabia.php?car=20

[cali]

Hänninen is much better driver than many of those mentioned by MikeD.
On gravel, he is still unknown on tarmac....

[RS]

On gravel, he is still unknown on tarmac....

True, but IRC is a perfect place to learn it. I trust that Jan and Juho will work well together and give each some tips on their respective stronger surfaces :)

[Salist]

What we know about entry list?

In WRC...

1 Loeb
2 Sordo
3 Hirvonen
4 Latvala
5 H.Solberg
6 Aava
7 Wilson
8 Rautenbach
9 Novikov
10 Ostberg
11 Qassimi
12 Van Merkstein sr.
13 Van Merkstein jr.
14 PG Andersson

it is possible...

P.Solberg
Ogier
Atkinson
Villagra
Gardemeister

unlikely...

Galli
Duval
Brynildsen


In S2000...

1 Sandell

[playmo]

I don't know about you fellows, but its the most "cold" start of season so far for me (altough i've not had that many) BUT if it weren't for this place i would have quit following WRC some time ago, curiousity drags me over here on a daily basis.
Hope that this upcoming season will be at least a bit interesting by it self.
And many thanks to all of you for making the events enjoyable with all that fighting, arguing and joking, besides those historic facts (and quotes) that come up every now and then.
Cheers from Mexico.

[Mirek]

Salist: Tarabus with Punto S2000 as well ;)

[Salist]

]Salist: Tarabus with Punto S2000 as well ;)

Thanks Mirek!

[Salist]

What we know about entry list?

In WRC...

1 Loeb
2 Sordo
3 Hirvonen
4 Latvala
5 H.Solberg
6 Aava
7 Wilson
8 Rautenbach
9 Novikov
10 Ostberg
11 Qassimi
12 Van Merkstein sr.
13 Van Merkstein jr.
14 PG Andersson

it is possible...

P.Solberg
Ogier
Atkinson
Villagra
Gardemeister

unlikely...

Galli
Duval
Brynildsen


In S2000...

1 Sandell
2 Tarabus

[JFL]

Brynildsen will drive in PWRC. Private entry. Ralliart NZ for 4 or more rallies
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=no&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorsport.no%2Fwip4%2Fkjoerer_ vm-sesongen%2Fd.epl%3Fcat%3D13747%26id%3D407204&sl=no&tl=en

[Salist]

Brynildsen will drive in PWRC. Private entry. Ralliart NZ for 4 or more rallies
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=no&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorsport.no%2Fwip4%2Fkjoerer_ vm-sesongen%2Fd.epl%3Fcat%3D13747%26id%3D407204&sl=no&tl=en

Thanks JFL.

[Salist]

Andreas Mikkelsen registered for Rally Norway
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=no&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorsport.no%2Fwip4%2Fkjoerer_ vm-sesongen%2Fd.epl%3Fcat%3D13747%26id%3D407204&sl=no&tl=en

[Viking]

Anders Grøndal has Rally Norway on his "things to do in 2009" list :up:

http://bilder.vgb.no/26289/3col/img_49624875abd68.jpg

[Viking]

Andreas Mikkelsen registered for Rally Norway
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=no&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorsport.no%2Fwip4%2Fkjoerer_ vm-sesongen%2Fd.epl%3Fcat%3D13747%26id%3D407204&sl=no&tl=en

In a Focus wrc if he can raise the money, if not maybe in the cheaper alternative Skoda Fabia wrc

[traxx]

Ogier will be there for sure (he's training on snow...)

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7006/imageupload61740246wf5.jpg
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4640/imageupload178798252lb1.jpg
http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/7274/imageupload477725646id0.jpg

[Salist]

Anders Grøndal has Rally Norway on his "things to do in 2009" list :up:

http://bilder.vgb.no/26289/3col/img_49624875abd68.jpg

Thanks Viking!
Very good news!!! ;)

[VFTS]

The norwegian privateer Øyvind Sulland will do Rally Norway in his Subaru Impreza Sti

http://www.sullandmotorsport.no/

[Krigen]

Hänninen is much better driver than many of those mentioned by MikeD.

Really!! Who?

[Finni]

Really!! Who?

Hänninen is better than Novikov, Ogier and Östberg.

Just notice:

(1) the number of stage wins in group N (appr. 50% os all stages).

(2) IRC outing and most dominating win of the season with unfamiliar car.

(3) Check also Juho's stage times in Neste Rally 2007 with Mitsubishi wrc (in second day Juho equaled the times of Sordo before engine-problem).

(4) Makes rarely any driving mistakes. This year only in NZ. Actually I don't remember that Juho would have never retired a rally due to own reason. If my knowledge is insufficient someone can correct.

[tolis]

Hänninen is better than Novikov, Ogier and Östberg.

Just notice:

(1) the number of stage wins in group N (appr. 50% os all stages).

(2) IRC outing and most dominating win of the season with unfamiliar car.

(3) Check also Juho's stage times in Neste Rally 2007 with Mitsubishi wrc (in second day Juho equaled the times of Sordo before engine-problem).

(4) Makes rarely any driving mistakes. This year only in NZ. Actually I don't remember that Juho would have never retired a rally due to own reason. If my knowledge is insufficient someone can correct.

I agree with you and I am a big fan of Juho!!!It is a pity that he didn't win the PWRC last year...
Although you cannot say that Novikov is not good , because he is very young...
Let's hope Yuho gets IRC this year!!!!!

[Sami]

Hänninen is better than Novikov, Ogier and Östberg.

Just notice:

(1) the number of stage wins in group N (appr. 50% os all stages).

(2) IRC outing and most dominating win of the season with unfamiliar car.

(3) Check also Juho's stage times in Neste Rally 2007 with Mitsubishi wrc (in second day Juho equaled the times of Sordo before engine-problem).

(4) Makes rarely any driving mistakes. This year only in NZ. Actually I don't remember that Juho would have never retired a rally due to own reason. If my knowledge is insufficient someone can correct.

Wow.

I have to admit that I can't agree. This period of time is different to any other time measured in new talent available on the driver market.. I think that Novikov, Ogier and even Östberg are exceptionally talented. Hänninen is too, but in my opinion not quite on their level.

Hänninen is intelligent and tactical driver and lacks the maximum speed of those three mentioned here. He has never been fastest on national level. And the international wins have been more or less thanks to tactics not pure speed. Tactics play big part in pwrc, but smaller and smaller part in wrc.

I agree in one thing though, Hänninen's best win of the career is Russia 2008, great performance. His driving style suits perfectly to s2000 so it will be interesting to see him fighting with another (similar level) talent, Kopecky (and Sandell too). Did I mention that I don't like his driving style at all, I predict there is not too much capacity to increase the speed...

And by the way, Hänninen is much older than those you are comparing him with. So they have several years to gather more consistensy and even speed.

[Tomi]

And the international wins have been more or less thanks to tactics not pure speed.

Difficult to agree with this, too many fastest stagetimes, still when everyone is in the game.
What amazes me most in Hänninen is that he can be right on pace, in new rallys for him, can have something to do with notes.

[Sami]

Difficult to agree with this, too many fastest stagetimes, still when everyone is in the game.
What amazes me most in Hänninen is that he can be right on pace, in new rallys for him, can have something to do with notes.

The pace of pwrc that is, which differs a lot from the pace of wrc! Or how are the scratch times of a 17 year old boy understandable?

In pwrc it is absolutely not about 100 % speed, it is about 80% speed and gentle reliability. And Hänninen is one of the best in that!

And don't get me wrong, Aigner, Flodin, Hänninen, Sandell, Ketomaa, Arai, Nittel, they are all very good. Not just the level of the best in the World.

[Tom206wrc]

Hänninen is better than Novikov, Ogier and Östberg.
...




Mmmmmh...we will see at Monte-Carlo in two weeks if Hänninen is faster than Ogier, both driving S2000s ;)

[Tomi]

The pace of pwrc that is, which differs a lot from the pace of wrc! Or how are the scratch times of a 17 year old boy understandable?

That is offcourse true, it will be different in WRC, but if the guy wins about 50% of all stages, it's difficult to see where is the tactics.

[bluuford]

That is offcourse true, it will be different in WRC, but if the guy wins about 50% of all stages, it's difficult to see where is the tactics.
It is crystal clear! His tactics is max attack from start to finish.. or until ulos ajo :-)

[pavlos_a]

Difficult to agree with this, too many fastest stagetimes, still when everyone is in the game.
What amazes me most in Hänninen is that he can be right on pace, in new rallys for him, can have something to do with notes.

After taking part in Acropolis PWRC round, I can say that Hanninen was the fastest driver of the pack. He may be older than the others you mentioned and with no experience on tarmac as Ogier, but in gravel he is the faster, going flat out even if he does not have to sometimes.

Lambros Athanassoulas

[harriswrc]

Subject : BULLETIN NO : 1

SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS
Art. 3.1 Entry procedure
New closing date for entries will be Tuesday 13. January 2009 at 15:00 hrs. For non-priority drivers entry will be open until 4. February 2009 at 15:00 hrs.

So, we won't have entrylist until 4/2/2009???

[RS]

Mmmmmh...we will see at Monte-Carlo in two weeks if Hänninen is faster than Ogier, both driving S2000s ;)

It might not be a great event to compare Ogier-Hanninen, depends on conditions. Ogier's performance will be very interesting to follow though, especially as he will start Ireland the following week in a C4. Wonder whether he can repeat his day one performance from Rally GB? :)

[RS]

Wow.

I have to admit that I can't agree. This period of time is different to any other time measured in new talent available on the driver market.. I think that Novikov, Ogier and even Östberg are exceptionally talented. Hänninen is too, but in my opinion not quite on their level.

Hänninen is intelligent and tactical driver and lacks the maximum speed of those three mentioned here. He has never been fastest on national level. And the international wins have been more or less thanks to tactics not pure speed. Tactics play big part in pwrc, but smaller and smaller part in wrc.

I agree in one thing though, Hänninen's best win of the career is Russia 2008, great performance. His driving style suits perfectly to s2000 so it will be interesting to see him fighting with another (similar level) talent, Kopecky (and Sandell too). Did I mention that I don't like his driving style at all, I predict there is not too much capacity to increase the speed...

And by the way, Hänninen is much older than those you are comparing him with. So they have several years to gather more consistensy and even speed.

I am surprised by your opinion. As has been said, Hanninen really dominated in terms of speed in pWRC, although he didn't win the title (this is where the reliability comes into the argument - not of Hanninen so much as the car) But sometimes he was snapping at the rich boys WRC club.

Ogier, Novikov obviously have a lot of speed. A bit puzzled by Ostberg's high ratings, he doesn't seem to have achieved a lot yet... Ok, he is in a Subaru, but..

[VFTS]

Sveinung Bieltvedt will also take part in Rally Norway 2009 in his N14 Sti

http://www.toolsrallyteam.no/

[JTLarsen]

What about the Shakedown?? I cannot find any info as to where is will be this year!?

[Salist]

Petter Solberg has entered Rally Norway...
http://www.rallybuzz.com/petter-solberg-entered-rally-norway/

[Tom206wrc]

Smells really like C4 in Norway Focus for the remaining rallies :mark:

[TMorel]

With all the extra money that Ford and Citroen are getting from these extra cars, you'd have thought one of them could afford to hire Marcus :(

Also, not sure I'd nominate Petter for points. As much as I want want want want him to start kicking ass at the front again, I think jumping into a new car and beating Sordo might be a struggle first time out.

[Per bach]

What about the Shakedown?? I cannot find any info as to where is will be this year!?

Hej.

The Shakedown will take place in the Hamar area. The length of the shakedown
stage is 3.38 km. The stage is located 9 km north of Hamar at Nydal.

Håber det er svar nok til dig, skal du derop & se løbet ? Vi skal 4 mand derop så helt kanon.

Mvh
Per Bach
TMRallytours.dk

[Finni]

With all the extra money that Ford and Citroen are getting from these extra cars, you'd have thought one of them could afford to hire Marcus :(

Also, not sure I'd nominate Petter for points. As much as I want want want want him to start kicking ass at the front again, I think jumping into a new car and beating Sordo might be a struggle first time out.

Lol, the question is can he beat Loeb? It would be miracle if Sordo did beat Petter in norwegian snow rally.

[Finni]

The pace of pwrc that is, which differs a lot from the pace of wrc! Or how are the scratch times of a 17 year old boy understandable?

In pwrc it is absolutely not about 100 % speed, it is about 80% speed and gentle reliability. And Hänninen is one of the best in that!

And don't get me wrong, Aigner, Flodin, Hänninen, Sandell, Ketomaa, Arai, Nittel, they are all very good. Not just the level of the best in the World.

First of all I don't understand how Hänninen can be paralleled with Aigner or Flodin. Hänninen is about 0.5 sec per/km faster than those drivers in most gravel rallies. As to Novikov's times in Japan he still was not substantially faster than Hänninen who was just doing tactical drive in order to secure pwrc-points. In normal rallies like New Zealand Hänninen was minutes faster than other drivers in terms of rally distance. In my view Hänninen's pwrc speed has been better than Latvala's for instance. Actually two years ago Hänninen rather outpaced Latvala in NZ if I remember.

My comment was concerned about who is the best at the moment. Measuring their talent is much more difficult.

You are right that Hänninen's performance in Finland 2006 is little mystery also to me after superb rookie-season in the same class. However I wouldn't judge Hänninen only by that season.

[Finni]

Mmmmmh...we will see at Monte-Carlo in two weeks if Hänninen is faster than Ogier, both driving S2000s ;)

On tarmac Juho might not be so good. It's interesting to see because in few tarmac rallies there has been no real benchmarks. In Monte, I think, Ogier is favourite in this comparison.

[Iskald]

Latest news:
Andreas Mikkelsen entered Rally Norway 20 minutes before entries closed today in a Subaru Impreza STi N14. He will drive for the russian URT-team together with Patrik Flodin in the PWRC championship, as well as continuing his drive in the Norwegian Subaru Cup in a similar car.

Mikkelsen last saturday became 2nd in Gr. N behind Martin Stenshorne (Mitsu. Evo9) in the Norwegian Championship round, and he was a clear winner among 19 competitors in the new Subaru Cup. The car they are driving in Norway is a cup-spec. car, with a little less horsepower than a full Group N car and restrictions on gearbox, dampers and diffs.

Andreas Mikkelsen and codriver Ola Fløene is reportedly delighted to announce a full PWRC drive for 2009, when WRC became out of reach.

[Xsara Fan]

Latest news:
Andreas Mikkelsen entered Rally Norway 20 minutes before entries closed today in a Subaru Impreza STi N14. He will drive for the russian URT-team together with Patrik Flodin in the PWRC championship, as well as continuing his drive in the Norwegian Subaru Cup in a similar car.


Source? For the moment URT-team said: "No comments till January,16"...

[swordsman]

Source? For the moment URT-team said: "No comments till January,16"...

http://www.rallynorway.no

[Xsara Fan]

http://www.rallynorway.no

No words about URT :)

[swordsman]

Ahh, sorry - forgot and posted wrong link :) . http://www.norsk-rally.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5929:andreas-mikkelsen-klar-for-vm-kjoring-ogsa
Also, there are other, unnamed, sources :)

[Xsara Fan]

Ahh, sorry - forgot and posted wrong link :) . http://www.norsk-rally.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5929:andreas-mikkelsen-klar-for-vm-kjoring-ogsa
Also, there are other, unnamed, sources :)

Thanks! :)

[tolis]

50 entries only for Norway and only 10 of them are from local...
http://www.norsk-rally.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5930:knallsterk-norsk-pamelding-til-rally-norway

[Tomi]

Ahh, sorry - forgot and posted wrong link :) . http://www.norsk-rally.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5929:andreas-mikkelsen-klar-for-vm-kjoring-ogsa
Also, there are other, unnamed, sources :)

could you sell the norwegian arranger a program that publish the entry soon as it arrives?

[swordsman]

could you sell the norwegian arranger a program that publish the entry soon as it arrives?

For sure :)

[Iskald]

Source? For the moment URT-team said: "No comments till January,16"...

Source? Ola Fløene, codriver of a certain A. Mikkelsen. Thats good enough for you?

[Xsara Fan]

Source? Ola Fløene, codriver of a certain A. Mikkelsen. Thats good enough for you?

Thank you :) What will be the programm? Only PWRC?

[Salist]

Official entry list?

[Sulland]

Here you are: http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/Entrylist-130109.pdf
Unofficial, but still !

[Micke_VOC]

Official entry list?

RALLY NORWAY 2009
Unofiicial Entry List 13.01.09

http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/Entrylist-130109.pdf

[Tom206wrc]

No Nasser Al Attiyah ???? :s

[Sami]

No Al-Qassimi?

And where are the 50 entries, my calculation sums up to 43...

[Rally Hokkaido]

Glenn Macneall is going to be busy!!
Or does he prefer to be called Glen McNeall, these days, depending on which passport he uses.

[noel157]

PETTER SOLBERG RALLY MSN EDITION? MSN? Bill Gates?

[Salist]

RALLY NORWAY 2009
Unofiicial Entry List 13.01.09

http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/Entrylist-130109.pdf

Thanks Mike_VOC.

[Iskald]

Thank you :) What will be the programm? Only PWRC?

PWRC + possibly one more WRC event (don`t know which one). And then additionally the Norwegian Championship/Subaru Cup with six more rallies during 2009 - and also four races in two events. The Subaru Cup is both counting rallies and cirquit races.

[Xsara Fan]

PWRC + possibly one more WRC event (don`t know which one). And then additionally the Norwegian Championship/Subaru Cup with six more rallies during 2009 - and also four races in two events. The Subaru Cup is both counting rallies and cirquit races.

All with URT-Subaru?

[Sulland]

Only the P-WRC part with URT, the rest on his own.

[Xsara Fan]

Only the P-WRC part with URT, the rest on his own.

Thank you! :)

[pantealex]

Here you are: http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/Entrylist-130109.pdf
Unofficial, but still !

Negative: No Atkinson and no Finns in PWRC!

Positive: Boland and Andersson in WRC

[pantealex]

http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/wrc/2009/Pages/wrc_entry_nor09.aspx
5 Aava
6 H.Solberg
7 Novikov
8 Rautenbach
so Ogier and Wilson are "extra"members like in Ireland

[Salist]

RALLY NORWAY 2009
Unofiicial Entry List 13.01.09

http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/Entrylist-130109.pdf

It's only 43 cars...

[RS]

Why is this entry list "unnofficial"?

[Sulland]

It's only 43 cars...


Hard times getting sponsors these days, besides the current WRC format is dying, so I guess privateers are trying to sell before it is too late.....

PWRC will be OK though, more up and coming drivers than last year !

[RS]

no Finns in PWRC!



Come and watch IRC, 2 or 3 over there :)

But no Finns in pWRC is a surprise for me, I must say. Has the financial crisis hit particularly hard in Finland?

[Iskald]

Why is this entry list "unnofficial"?

Because private entries is upen until 4th of February.
And because you shall have something to ask about...

[Sami]

Because private entries is upen until 4th of February.
And because you shall have something to ask about...

Let's hope there will be some more local entries in RN, I'm going to visit the rally for the first time and am really interested in the quality of Norwegian rallying scene.

It seems that there's a lot of talent there, Solbergs, Östberg, Mikkelsen, Brynildsen, Bieltvedt... Interesting to see the depth and width of rallying culture there. (the Norwegian spectating culture is, hmm, different...)

[pantealex]

Come and watch IRC, 2 or 3 over there :)

But no Finns in pWRC is a surprise for me, I must say. Has the financial crisis hit particularly hard in Finland?

Ketomaa didn´t get sponsor budget for pWRC

Financial crisis: hard to say, we have 30 registered entries in Finnish championship N/S2000 class and 25 in fwd class (+50 Suomi-Finlandcup and 300 in f-cup)

[tolis]

When will the official entry list be published?

[MJW]

When will the official entry list be published?
Tuesday 27th january

[tolis]

Thanks!!!

[Iskald]

Tuesday 27th january

Once more, non-priority entries close at 4th of february, so it`s not possible to publish an official entry list on tuesday.

[Tom206wrc]

We know now Petter will be present in Xsara... :rolleyes:

[Simmi]

It must be killing Mikkelsen to have to step down to the Group N Impreza. Especially on his home round.

[Viking]

Well he keeps his head up!
His pace in the half-priced gr.N cup car has shut the mouth on those who said it was just the car/money.
I think he will fight for a win in pwrc :up:

[Iskald]

It must be killing Mikkelsen to have to step down to the Group N Impreza. Especially on his home round.

Andreas Mikkelsen is actually surprisingly happy with his current situation, and looks upon it as a challenge. He is only 19 years old and knows he will be back in WRC sooner or later, in the mean time he will try to win PWRC. He would of course preferred to drive a WRC also this season, but during the last two Norwegian championship rounds in the Subaru Cup car he has been in extremely good mood, laughing a lot and repeatedly telling everybody that he is having fun.

[Halvis]

Andreas Mikkelsen is actually surprisingly happy with his current situation, and looks upon it as a challenge. He is only 19 years old and knows he will be back in WRC sooner or later, in the mean time he will try to win PWRC. He would of course preferred to drive a WRC also this season, but during the last two Norwegian championship rounds in the Subaru Cup car he has been in extremely good mood, laughing a lot and repeatedly telling everybody that he is having fun.

Not to mention his stage times, which have been very, very good.

[Sami]

And I think it is really good for his career too, building skills and learning to win for a change.

It is important for a driver to build the career step by step, to become a winner you have to be the winner type. If you step up too early, you will be doubting yourself, whether you are a winner type at all.

This problems are we familiar of from many examples, Latvala for example, who has had enormous self-esteem problems. Not to mention Wilson, who is actually a lot better than people think, I mean talent-wise.

[JFL]

I think Andreas has done the right thing by starting a wrc car! Imagine this.. You normally drive a toyota corolla diesel to work, and then you upgrade to a BMW or whatever car with a littlebit more hp.. It scares you almost, and you think its very fast.. The guy who steps down from a BMW or whatever to a old Toyota, floors it everywhere, and laughing.. Cause he is used to the speed... I imagine thats one of the reasons Mikkelsen is driving so fast in a cup-car..He has the speed in his body...Besides that he is a talented driver..

[J4MIE]

I see Sandell is to drive a Fabia S2000 in PCWRC starting in Norway :up:

http://www.rallynorway.com/en/news/sandell-enters-skoda.html

[Viking]

I see Sandell is to drive a Fabia S2000 in PCWRC starting in Norway :up:

http://www.rallynorway.com/en/news/sandell-enters-skoda.html

If all goes as planned, he is to drive it in eight wrc events in 2009.

http://www.patriksandell.com/

[Sulland]

Have the drivers tested the new wide winter tyres FIA have introduced this year ?

What differences will we see in speed, sideways driving and so on ?

[DonJippo]

Have the drivers tested the new wide winter tyres FIA have introduced this year ?

What differences will we see in speed, sideways driving and so on ?

From wrc.com


We tested it, and so have the teams, and the results are okay. As you would expect the performance is slightly worse than the old one - its about 0.5sec to 1.0sec per kilometre slower

[Sulland]

And I also guess they also will even out a bit btw WRC and P-WRC, since most of the WRC power will not go into the ground.

[swordsman]

Have the drivers tested the new wide winter tyres FIA have introduced this year ?

What differences will we see in speed, sideways driving and so on ?

Wrote a post on this yesterday, actually. http://www.maxattack.net/2009/01/how-does-the-wider-snow-tyres-affect-rally-norway-results/

Ford tested in Sweden in December and Citroen too :) The results for short are OK grip mostly but not as good as earlier, especially in very snowy conditions. This means reduced speed, which has been asked for by the FIA.

[Iskald]

Confirmed on a press conference in Oslo 15 minutes ago; Anders Grøndal will drive the second Subaru S14 for the Adapta-team alongside Mads Østberg in Rally norway. For now there are no other plans for Grøndal in the WRC, but he will of course be delighted with this opportunity.

That also means that the Adapta-team has purchased two cars, and will be able to offer the second car to different "pay" drivers for the coming rounds of the championship.

[Sulland]

What are the dimensions on the new FIA snow tyre again ?



Congratulations to Anders and Maria on the deal on S14 in Rally Norway !!

[MikeD]

Confirmed on a press conference in Oslo 15 minutes ago; Anders Grøndal will drive the second Subaru S14 for the Adapta-team alongside Mads Østberg in Rally norway. For now there are no other plans for Grøndal in the WRC, but he will of course be delighted with this opportunity.

That also means that the Adapta-team has purchased two cars, and will be able to offer the second car to different "pay" drivers for the coming rounds of the championship.

Great news, but their plans for an M2/MT entry looks like it ain't gonna happen.

[pucky54]

Great news, but their plans for an M2/MT entry looks like it ain't gonna happen.

Thats great, because they want to use the new Öhlins dampers. If they Enter as M2 team, no chance of doing this

[Micke_VOC]

What are the dimensions on the new FIA snow tyre again ?


15" and 205 width i think

[Viking]

What are the dimensions on the new FIA snow tyre again ?


205/65R15, but the tread (footprint) of the tyre is still quite narrow.

[VFTS]

Some pictures:
http://www.norsk-rally.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5975 :p ressekonferense-rally-norway

[harriswrc]

Finally 41 cars on Rally Norway.
http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/Official-Entry-List-27-February-2009.pdf

There is no quantity but there is quality!

I will be there!!!!!!!

[SubaruNorway]

Finally 41 cars on Rally Norway.
http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/Official-Entry-List-27-February-2009.pdf

There is no quantity but there is quality!

I will be there!!!!!!!

Privateres can enter until feb 4th

[Sulland]

205/65R15, but the tread (footprint) of the tyre is still quite narrow.

Is there a picture of the new tyre somewhere ?

[JTLarsen]

Does anyone have an actual map of the 3.35km. shakedownstage located 9 km north of Hamar at Nydal?
Was there any official spectator areas there in 2007

[Viking]

Is there a picture of the new tyre somewhere ?

Here you go :)

http://www.folkbladet.nu/wp-content/gallery/loeb-i-borgafjall/dsc_4044-copy.jpg

http://www.folkbladet.nu/wp-content/gallery/loeb-i-borgafjall/dsc_4067-copy.jpg

Tread looks actually wider than I remembered it, but it is a big ”groove” in the middle of it, I think it will work well on ice, not so sure on loose snow?

[SubaruNorway]

Did some recceing yesterday on Våler, Elverum and Budor. About 30cm snowbanks on start of Våler, some nice crest there where a Suzuki and impreza went off last year. End of Elverum is just very fast and not much to see really. Drove through all of Budor and i would recomend the part that takes off to the right after 2km or the top of it, about 1m snowbanks on that one. Will do Ringsaker, The Mountain and maybe Lillehammer today. Got some pics on my facebook for those who got me there :)

[Iskald]

Right now it`s a winter wonderland on the stages in Rally Norway. Weather forecast says a long period of cold and stable winter conditions ahead of us. We are all crossing our fingers to offer the same conditions this year as in the candidate rally in 2006, when it looked like a postcard on all stages.
Heres a link to the latest pictures from the stages, taken this weekend:
http://www.rallynorway.com/en/news/stage-photos-2009-02-01.html

Looks quite ok, doesn`t it?!

[MartijnS]

Looks very nice :) Really looking forward to it!

[Halvis]

Yes, it really looks perfect, and with the cold promised from the weatherpeople it should stay like that also. I actually hope that it ill be a little warmer than now during the rally, otherwise a lot of people will freeze.

I was planning on going on Friday, not remembering that it is my wife's birthday. Typical my luck...

[SchUMine]

I need some help; How I can go from Oslo airport to Hamar, is there public transportation? Do you have any idea?
Thanks,

[Krigen]

I need some help; How I can go from Oslo airport to Hamar, is there public transportation? Do you have any idea?
Thanks,


There is train going directly from the airport to Hamar every hour.

[SubaruNorway]

Right now it`s a winter wonderland on the stages in Rally Norway. Weather forecast says a long period of cold and stable winter conditions ahead of us. We are all crossing our fingers to offer the same conditions this year as in the candidate rally in 2006, when it looked like a postcard on all stages.
Heres a link to the latest pictures from the stages, taken this weekend:
http://www.rallynorway.com/en/news/stage-photos-2009-02-01.html

Looks quite ok, doesn`t it?!

Hey it's my car! :p Yeah did some driving both saturday and sunday as you can see and it's probably the nicest drives I've had my whole life. Whish i could drive the stages flat out too ;)

The snowbanks are hard enaugh to pop my fuel lid open btw :p

[SchUMine]

There is train going directly from the airport to Hamar every hour.

Thank you.

[Halvis]

There is train going directly from the airport to Hamar every hour.

Provided that it's Oslo Gardermoen and not Oslo Torp. I think some calls Torp Airport Oslo aswell.

[MartijnS]

Yes, we arrive at Torp also, it's called Oslo Torp at ryanair ;)

[VFTS]

Yes, we arrive at Torp also, it's called Oslo Torp at ryanair ;)


Torp Airport is located in the small city Sandefjord, 120km south of Oslo.

[Iskald]

Yes, we arrive at Torp also, it's called Oslo Torp at ryanair ;)

Train or bus to Oslo. Train from Oslo Central every hour to Hamar, takes a little bit less than two hours. Akkevit (aquavit) and a beer (or several) at Siste Indre Pub or some other of the many watering holes in Hamar, immediately upon arriving. Then you`re absolutely fine and ready for a few days of great winter rallying. Mind the prices, though. It`s a sad fact that drinks are terribly expensive in Norway. But if you start with the Akkevit, you soon forget it...!

[MartijnS]

We can pick up a car at the airport, so we don't need a train ;)

[Halvis]

Anyone planned to meet some forumers in Rally Norway? It would have been nice to meet some of you guys, only known from this site!

[Ghostwalker]

weather forecasts are available at http://www.yr.no

[Viking]

http://www.yr.no/place/Norway/Hedmark/Hamar/Hamar~523821/long.html

looks good :up:

[jarleb]

http://www.accuweather.com/world-forecast-15day.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&locCode=EUR|NO|NO005|HAMAR&metric=1 (http://www.accuweather.com/world-forecast-15day.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&locCode=EUR%7CNO%7CNO005%7CHAMAR&metric=1)

http://www.vaerradar.no/weatherforecast.aspx?forecasttype=dag&lat=10.47&lon=61.1&c=Norway

http://weather.msn.com/tenday.aspx?wealocations=wc:13329&q=Hamar%2c+NOR+forecast:tenday

http://weather.weatherbug.com/Norway/Hamar-weather/local-forecast/detailed-forecast.html?zcode=z6286

http://pent.no/Vaer.aspx?ID=35370

[DonJippo]

Anyone planned to meet some forumers in Rally Norway? It would have been nice to meet some of you guys, only known from this site!

Some but not all? :p :

[Jordib]

We will also be in Norway next week, coming from Catalonia. If any forumers meeting is done we would go also.

Can't wait to get there!!

[bluuford]

http://www.accuweather.com/world-forecast-15day.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&locCode=EUR|NO|NO005|HAMAR&metric=1 (http://www.accuweather.com/world-forecast-15day.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&locCode=EUR%7CNO%7CNO005%7CHAMAR&metric=1)

http://www.vaerradar.no/weatherforecast.aspx?forecasttype=dag&lat=10.47&lon=61.1&c=Norway

http://weather.msn.com/tenday.aspx?wealocations=wc:13329&q=Hamar%2c+NOR+forecast:tenday

http://weather.weatherbug.com/Norway/Hamar-weather/local-forecast/detailed-forecast.html?zcode=z6286

http://pent.no/Vaer.aspx?ID=35370

As I am very closely cooperating with meteorologists I can advise you to trust the second link. It seems to have the most realistic prognosis. As I said during rally Ireland. -30 degrees is real possibility. But at the moment you cannot guarantee it, because there is high possibility that we are having heavy snowfall instead of very cold weather:-)

[Priorat]

I need some help; How I can go from Oslo airport to Hamar, is there public transportation? Do you have any idea?
Thanks,

If you have to use the train you can save some money:

http://www.nsb.no/ticket_and_travelterms/minipris/minipris-article24726-2752.html

[Viking]

Transport from Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen
http://osl.no/en/osl/tofromairport/10_Train%2C+Bus%2C+Car+and+Taxi

Transport from Sandefjord Lufthavn Torp (Oslo Torp)
http://www.torp.no/Pages/Artikkel.aspx?pkMenu=131&pksMenu=143&Language=EN

[Halvis]

Some but not all? :p :

Of course not, I have very accurate statistics for how many times each forumer has bashed Henning - and I must say that there are quite a few Finns that have past the maximum limit, making them social unacceptable.

;) ;)

[Finni]

Of course not, I have very accurate statistics for how many times each forumer has bashed Henning - and I must say that there are quite a few Finns that have past the maximum limit, making them social unacceptable.

Hahahaha :)

In my view drivers like Stohl or Henning are richness to wrc. Even if they never will be in the sharpest end in the hierarchy

[RS]

Of course not, I have very accurate statistics for how many times each forumer has bashed Henning - and I must say that there are quite a few Finns that have past the maximum limit, making them social unacceptable.

;) ;)

Lol, I bet I know who is in P1 :)

[J4MIE]

Can't wait to get to Norway, weather is looking great and I hope it is very cold otherwise I will have brought all my thermal clothes with me to Egypt for nothing :p :

[SchUMine]

If you have to use the train you can save some money:

http://www.nsb.no/ticket_and_travelterms/minipris/minipris-article24726-2752.html

Thank you, this helps... Yes, I'll use train because I won't need car during weekend so all I need to do is to find way from oslo airport to hamar and train seems OK.
Thanks again...


Transport from Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen
http://osl.no/en/osl/tofromairport/10_Train%2C+Bus%2C+Car+and+Taxi

Transport from Sandefjord Lufthavn Torp (Oslo Torp)
http://www.torp.no/Pages/Artikkel.aspx?pkMenu=131&pksMenu=143&Language=EN

Thank you Viking,I'll check the pages for more.

[Iskald]

Final entry list, as extended date of entries was today at 15h00:
http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/Entrylist040209.pdf

43 entries, same as Ireland. Will be even less in some of the rallies this year....

Yours truly looking forward to celebrating 30 years as a competitor. Crikey how years have passed!

[Xsara Fan]

Here`s you can see Andreas Mikkelsen`s URT-Subaru Impreza N14:

http://urt.su/images/stories/imgp6646_580.jpg

http://urt.su/images/stories/imgp6649_580.jpg

http://urt.su/images/stories/imgp6659_580.jpg

[pettersolberg29]

Thanks for the pics. Looks odd with such a high number with such a good driver. It will look equally weird with Petter at number 17!

[Sulland]

Final entry list, as extended date of entries was today at 15h00:
http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/Entrylist040209.pdf

43 entries, same as Ireland. Will be even less in some of the rallies this year....

Yours truly looking forward to celebrating 30 years as a competitor. Crikey how years have passed!

I wish You and Kongsrud the very best of luck for the adventure, have fun !!

[Slipzen]

So finally everything seems to be in place for our trip to the Finnskogen area. I think I will go to SS Finnskogen, SS Ringsaker and SS Valer. Do you any of the expereced norwegian guys have some recommended spots on these stages?

[Mirek]

Is the entry list in starting order? If yes, I'm afraid that Flodin may caught Tarabus on that 25 km stage in first leg. Also don't know if Gaurav Gill has some snow experience and if he won't be caught by Brynildsen.

I also wonder how much the new wide tyres may affect first crews if there is new snow on stages...

[Iskald]

]Is the entry list in starting order? If yes, I'm afraid that Flodin may caught Tarabus on that 25 km stage in first leg. Also don't know if Gaurav Gill has some snow experience and if he won't be caught by Brynildsen.

I also wonder how much the new wide tyres may affect first crews if there is new snow on stages...

Brynildsen will certainly have a problem the whole friday...He was excellent in the second norwegian championship round, Rally Hadeland 24.01, a rally he won overall. He was of course a bit lucky with his starting position, in a rally that was affected by heavy snowfall.

The new wide tyres are reportedly 0,5 to 1 second slower pr. kilometer. The thread itself isn`t that much wider than the narrow tyres, and they are working good on ice and hard snow surfaces. It can possibly be more of a problem with loose snow, like we had on the saturday in 2007.

[Viking]

Brynildsen will certainly have a problem the whole friday...He was excellent in the second norwegian championship round, Rally Hadeland 24.01, a rally he won overall. He was of course a bit lucky with his starting position, in a rally that was affected by heavy snowfall.

The new wide tyres are reportedly 0,5 to 1 second slower pr. kilometer. The thread itself isn`t that much wider than the narrow tyres, and they are working good on ice and hard snow surfaces. It can possibly be more of a problem with loose snow, like we had on the saturday in 2007.

This is not start list, PWRC will start in 08 championship order, so Sandell, Prokop, Sousa...... Brynildsen will start as number 6, 7 or something.

If it`s not clean roads I guess we will see a lot of tactics amongst the wrc frontrunners.

[Halvis]

If it`s not clean roads I guess we will see a lot of tactics amongst the wrc frontrunners.

If so, good news for those who's only running for them self, and wants to give their sponsors good value for money. Read Petter Solberg!

[Viking]

If so, good news for those who's only running for them self, and wants to give their sponsors good value for money. Read Petter Solberg!

Yes, if it is snowing Petter, Mads, Anders and PG will all be in good starting positions on friday!

[Mirek]

18 years old Martin Semerád driving in PWRC passed some snow and ice lessons with Johny Haugland to get some experience with this type of surface.

[Mirek]

Gaurav Gill won't start because of some technical problems. He will do Australia instead of Norway.

[SubaruNorway]

Last forecast i looked at for Hamar was -5 and sun :)

[Finni]

Weather forcasts will be essential to teams, I guess we will see huge tactidcal games if there is any snow fall during the rally. Previous years the rally was esentially disturbed only if there was snow rain in the first day. With current system there needs to be only slight snow fall and leader will loose his position.

If there is snow it's not wise thing to lead rally in early days. That's good news for Petter Solberg as he can gather some familiarity with the car during the rally and attack at the end (and we know that Petter can attack). To me it's real possibility that Petter will win this rally.

[pettersolberg29]

If there is snow it's not wise thing to lead rally in early days. That's good news for Petter Solberg as he can gather some familiarity with the car during the rally and attack at the end (and we know that Petter can attack). To me it's real possibility that Petter will win this rally.

I'd love him to, but there is no chance. He's driving a car thats about 4 years old and just isnt as good as Loeb, Mikko, JML and even Henning. I wish he was, but honestly he isn't good enough to win anymore without retirements.

[Psycho!]

This difference can't be made up from the active diffs, or at least a part of it???

[Halvis]

I'd love him to, but there is no chance. He's driving a car thats about 4 years old and just isnt as good as Loeb, Mikko, JML and even Henning. I wish he was, but honestly he isn't good enough to win anymore without retirements.

Strange thing to say when you've got that nick! ;)

I'm pretty sure you're wrong in your conclusion, especially in the snow. Loeb never have been that dominant in the snow, Mikko is faster than when in Subaru, but still not blindingly fast, JML has that occational speed, but is terribly unreliable still, and Henning - I'm afraid he never will be faster than his little brother.

I'm not saying Petter will win, the car is still an unknown factor, how up-to-date will it be? Probably only Petter and his crew that knows yet, but if one should believe rumours, it could very well be pretty competetive, especially if he's allowed to use active diffs, as reported - I don't know.

Maybe he's recent lack of experience of leading a rally can be his biggest obsticle for winning?

And last, who says that there will be no retirements? There are so much snow many places now, that if you first go out, you'll be pretty stuck!

[Viking]

To win a rally these days you really have to be in a top spec M1 car, even then it’s not easy (just ask Sordo).
The Xsara is just not good enough, but for Petter I think it is the right choice, if he does well it is despite the old car, if not it’s because of the old car.
Active diffs? Not sure, Ford and Citroens were faster already next year after the ban, but then again Petter was the active diff master ;)

[pettersolberg29]

Halvis - my nick suggests otherwise, but Petter in a Xsara will NOT win Norway, not even top 3. The Xsara is not good enough, and Petter isn't as good as others. And as for Henning - on snow he would beat Petter 9 times out of 10. Retirements are the only way Petter could get a top 3, let alone top 5 position. The 4 factory drivers, Henning, AAva and Atkinson are as good if not better with their cars IMO.

Viking - completely agree. The Xsara is a good choice for 2009, as long as he gets a great car next year - just to keep his skills up. But wins, no!

[FabiaFan]

Halvis - my nick suggests otherwise, but Petter in a Xsara will NOT win Norway, not even top 3. The Xsara is not good enough, and Petter isn't as good as others. And as for Henning - on snow he would beat Petter 9 times out of 10. Retirements are the only way Petter could get a top 3, let alone top 5 position. The 4 factory drivers, Henning, AAva and Atkinson are as good if not better with their cars IMO.

Viking - completely agree. The Xsara is a good choice for 2009, as long as he gets a great car next year - just to keep his skills up. But wins, no!
But Atkinson is not there... otherwise I completely agree, without retirements or problems of the others around P7, but there will be some, so 4-5 is realistic. Or a crash :-/

[Sulland]

Bring the right clothing - snowmobilesuit, and wool underwear !

http://www.rallynorway.com/en/news/rally-norway-2009-winter-landscape.html

[SubaruNorway]

Inboard from Anders Grøndal's test today in the day 1 area, S14 tomorrow ;)
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Pre-rally-norway-test-S10_634172.htm?ref=c5c133f7-8348-4e7e-bfee-9b580042da43

[Halvis]

Halvis - my nick suggests otherwise, but Petter in a Xsara will NOT win Norway, not even top 3. The Xsara is not good enough, and Petter isn't as good as others. And as for Henning - on snow he would beat Petter 9 times out of 10. Retirements are the only way Petter could get a top 3, let alone top 5 position. The 4 factory drivers, Henning, AAva and Atkinson are as good if not better with their cars IMO.

Viking - completely agree. The Xsara is a good choice for 2009, as long as he gets a great car next year - just to keep his skills up. But wins, no!

This is my tip on the 4 factory drivers:

Loeb: Will be fast of course, faster than Petter. Last time in Norway, got stuck twice, can easily happen again.

Sordo: Hates snow, way, way off pace both in Norway 07 and Sweden 08, no way he will be faster than Petter.

Hirvonen: Will be fast, faster than Petter, but it's so easy to hit a snowbank

Latvala: Do anyone see him going around in Norway without hitting a snowbank too hard?

Amongst the factory drivers, I predict Petter third. Then you have the M2 drivers, Henning might be difficult, but he's always off to a bad start...

Aava, an uncertain card, don't know how experienced he is on snow, I would guess he won't be a challenge, if he goes in top speed, he'll go off.

My guess is Petter on the podium, probably no win, but actally I think it s possible with a bit of luck.

[Viking]

Aava, an uncertain card, don't know how experienced he is on snow, I would guess he won't be a challenge, if he goes in top speed, he'll go off.


Aava is experienced ;)

http://static.rallynorway.no/images/stories/publicphotos/2007/full/KU5E2221.jpg

[Halvis]

Aava is experienced ;)

http://static.rallynorway.no/images/stories/publicphotos/2007/full/KU5E2221.jpg

I can see that! :laugh: :laugh:

[noel157]

Ok, many people feel that Petter has lost (and will never find) his old form, others feel his car will be an issue. Fine, and my opinion may be not as informed as others, but he will surprise many, he and the car are capable of a top 4 place, maybe even P3 without the benefits of retirements.

[JFL]

Ok, many people feel that Petter has lost (and will never find) his old form, others feel his car will be an issue. Fine, and my opinion may be not as informed as others, but he will surprise many, he and the car are capable of a top 4 place, maybe even P3 without the benefits of retirements.

"Solberg is finnished", "Solberg is done", Solberg is this and that, and "game over" I read it so many times at different forums... Petter Solberg has never been a asphalt expert in anybody's eyes! Snow and gravel is his thing, as we have heard for years now.. Maybe the Le Mans test will open some eyes..?? Maybe he is a very good allrounder? Was it the car?(Subaru) I believe so.. I think we will se Petter surprise a lot of "betterwissers" around after RN, and the rest of the WRC.

[gloomyDAY]

Trying to find a flight out from here, but it's very expensive ($787).

How much is a flight to Oslo?
Please list where you are flying from. Thanks!

[Iskald]

Amongst the factory drivers, I predict Petter third. Then you have the M2 drivers, Henning might be difficult, but he's always off to a bad start...

Aava, an uncertain card, don't know how experienced he is on snow, I would guess he won't be a challenge, if he goes in top speed, he'll go off.

My guess is Petter on the podium, probably no win, but actally I think it s possible with a bit of luck.

My guess is that this is probably Henning Solbergs only chance ever to get a WRC win, and he knows it himself and will go for it, hammer and thongs. Henning got loads of confidence in Ireland with his calculated and mistake-free drive - and a very good result, of course. So he is extremely optimistic and geared up for Rally Norway. If he just can get out of bed early enough on the friday to be awake for the first few stages, he will be competing for a win...

What are your feelings and tips for PG Andersson in the Skoda Fabia? In my opinion he will be a candidate for a good points placing. He likes the car a lot, and did a couple of very impressive stages in the first Norwegian championship round, where he visually looked like he was "born together with the car".

[Halvis]

My guess is that this is probably Henning Solbergs only chance ever to get a WRC win, and he knows it himself and will go for it, hammer and thongs. Henning got loads of confidence in Ireland with his calculated and mistake-free drive - and a very good result, of course. So he is extremely optimistic and geared up for Rally Norway. If he just can get out of bed early enough on the friday to be awake for the first few stages, he will be competing for a win...

What are your feelings and tips for PG Andersson in the Skoda Fabia? In my opinion he will be a candidate for a good points placing. He likes the car a lot, and did a couple of very impressive stages in the first Norwegian championship round, where he visually looked like he was "born together with the car".

I agree on the Henning issue, it is cruitial that he overcome his bad habit of being off pace on the first day - if he does so, he can be right up there fighting for the win.

I hope you don't adresse your question on PG to me, I'm just a complete amateur follower of the WRC ;)

I have a thought, though, and that is that he might get some points, but not many. The Fabia never was very fast (just a very few exceptions), and even if he was fast in the rally you refer to, he was clearly behind Henning in another Fabia before Henning got tech probs.

[Finni]

Halvis - my nick suggests otherwise, but Petter in a Xsara will NOT win Norway, not even top 3. The Xsara is not good enough, and Petter isn't as good as others. And as for Henning - on snow he would beat Petter 9 times out of 10. Retirements are the only way Petter could get a top 3, let alone top 5 position. The 4 factory drivers, Henning, AAva and Atkinson are as good if not better with their cars IMO.

You are a clown. Petter fan who underrates Petter most in the forum.
-----------

For Iskald:

I suspect if Henning can get anywhere near to top. Last time in Norway Henning was hugely off the pace despite the fact that in Sweden he had been in tails of Hirvonen. Actually the difference stretched in Norway. I got impression that norwegian stages were very demanding for the cars and drivers and Henning just was not up to standards.

[noel157]

Going by the pictures of Petter's car can we assume he will be seeded 11?

[cosmicpanda]

personally, I can't remember what I put in my pickems - but I don't think Henning will win. Too many disappointments in the past from crashing out etc.

I'd be happy to be proved wrong though :)

[bluuford]

Yesterday I heard from Kalev Sport channel that there will be three day test for Stobbart drivers before rally Norway. So, it should help Henning to be fast from the word "Go!" And that picture where Aava´s Suzuki was on the roof was very unfortunate accident. Car before him had dragged tree stump on the road and it was right behind fast corner in the middle of the road. So, he hit that stump and broke the car and finally stopped on its side.

[pettersolberg29]

You are a clown. Petter fan who underrates Petter most in the forum.


I won't take that personally!

What I don't understand is people's confidence in Petter getting a good result. I dont know about WRC technology but surely the Xsara will be terrible compared to the Ford's and Citroen's? By terrible I mean minutes off the pace surely, even if petter himself is good enough.

I don't underrate Petter - in fact I think if he drove in a factory Ford or Citroen he would battle with Loeb, and even beat him more often than not on gravel/snow, but can someone please explain to me their confidence in the Xsara. Why isn't it terrible!?

[JFL]

A fellow forumer from Norway(nr7wave) was at the pressconference today..walking around, and heard a lot of talking! One conversation in partcular was very interesting: The PSWRT team manager Ken Rees made some comments about the xsara vs. the s14/s15 Subaru. He ment that the s14 was a good car with great potensial, but had too weak engine, bad weight distribusion, and bad suspension.. The s14 was very good up til 80%attack, but when you needed to push the last 20% it fell through! It was at this point he ment the Xsara was superior. It does whatever you want, even if pushed to the limit! He also mentioned it was sad that SWRT backed out, and that the s15 who is homolagated for Portugal this year looked very promising! Better weight distribusion, and suspension, and also a more powerful engine was promised. He was sure it could fight for a win..

[JTLarsen]

Sadly it seems that Tickster has f*cked me over with my order of tickets and program. They promised me that program and tickets would be sent wednesday/thuesday last week, I still haven't recieved anything, and now they simply ignore my emails..

So I need your help!

I would highly appreciate it if someone could send me pictures or a scan of the pages in the Fire & Ice program containing the stages, spectator points and GPS points for the spectator areas, as I have only been able to do very limited planning with the '07 program and the little info available online.

please contacte me by PM or e-mail jokumlarsen(at)gmail.com

[Tom206wrc]

... and just isnt as good as Loeb, Mikko, JML and even Henning....


:eek:

How can you write this ???? :s

[pettersolberg29]

:eek:

How can you write this ???? :s


Do you think Petter in a Xsara is better than Mikko, JML and Henning in top range Fords, and Loeb in a C4?

[JTLarsen]

Sadly it seems that Tickster has f*cked me over with my order of tickets and program. They promised me that program and tickets would be sent wednesday/thuesday last week, I still haven't recieved anything, and now they simply ignore my emails..

So I need your help!...

Problem solved!

[JFL]

a couple of Subarus had some minor incidents at a test today...
http://www.rokland.org/images/grondal.jpg
Grøndal
http://www.raceinfo.no/temp/IMG_2151.jpg
Østberg

[noel157]

I won't take that personally!

What I don't understand is people's confidence in Petter getting a good result. I dont know about WRC technology but surely the Xsara will be terrible compared to the Ford's and Citroen's? By terrible I mean minutes off the pace surely, even if petter himself is good enough.

I don't underrate Petter - in fact I think if he drove in a factory Ford or Citroen he would battle with Loeb, and even beat him more often than not on gravel/snow, but can someone please explain to me their confidence in the Xsara. Why isn't it terrible!?

What planet are you on? You think Petter will be "minutes off the pace" and that he and the Xsara will be "terrible". Prepare to eat your words. I don't think the Xsara is going to be such an antique as you think. Is Petter being truthful when he says the Citroen is better than a Focus after driving both? I think he is and his pace will prove it. Snow is a great leveller and anything the car lack will be made up by the driver.

[Mirek]

JFL: Loool Thay're testing realy hard :D

[gloomyDAY]

a couple of Subarus had some minor incidents at a test today...
http://www.rokland.org/image/grondal.jpg
Grøndal
http://www.raceinfo.no/tem/IMG_2151.jpg
Østberg
LOL! So much for testing.

[pettersolberg29]

What planet are you on? You think Petter will be "minutes off the pace" and that he and the Xsara will be "terrible". Prepare to eat your words. I don't think the Xsara is going to be such an antique as you think. Is Petter being truthful when he says the Citroen is better than a Focus after driving both? I think he is and his pace will prove it. Snow is a great leveller and anything the car lack will be made up by the driver.


I'd love to, absolutely love to eat my words. But the car is, as you say, an 'antique', and therefore chances of a good result are low. Minutes off the pace is easy - in Norway 2007 Petter was 4 minutes off the pace in a top of the range (admittedly not that good!) Impreza. Now in a Xsara, however well Petter drives, he wont get better than that.

That's my opinion and obviously my planet is slightly more realistic than where evr you are, or whatever you're smoking!!! ;)

[CABAIO E'LONA]

minor incidents? :D

I think that the ADAPTA will be the team that Petter want beat in Norway... the old xsara vs. the S14...

[Salist]

Petter Solberg World Rally Team Citroen Xsara WRC press conference photos :
http://www.rallybuzz.com/petter-solberg-world-rally-team/

[bennizw]

A couple of my pictures from todays test with Grøndal and Østberg:

http://www.raceinfo.no/temp/tn__DSC0517-2_1.jpg

http://www.raceinfo.no/temp/tn__DSC0452-2_1.jpg

http://www.raceinfo.no/temp/tn__DSC1778-_1.jpg

http://www.raceinfo.no/temp/tn__DSC0527-_1.jpg

http://www.raceinfo.no/temp/tn__DSC1744-_1.jpg

[FabiaFan]

... even if he was fast in the rally you refer to, he was clearly behind Henning in another Fabia before Henning got tech probs. Those Fabias were different specs and it was Hennings home ground, so you cannot compare it like this :s

[Iskald]

Those Fabias were different specs and it was Hennings home ground, so you cannot compare it like this :s

Agreed. Henning was substantially faster on SS1 and 2, but on SS3 and 4 he was only a second faster than PG on each of them. Henning had also tested the Fabia a lot more than PG. I don`t know exactly the difference in spec during that rally. My tip for PG in RN is still a 5th or 6th place, remember Kopecky also drove very fast in RN2007 with the Fabia.

[noel157]

I'd love to, absolutely love to eat my words. But the car is, as you say, an 'antique', and therefore chances of a good result are low. Minutes off the pace is easy - in Norway 2007 Petter was 4 minutes off the pace in a top of the range (admittedly not that good!) Impreza. Now in a Xsara, however well Petter drives, he wont get better than that.

That's my opinion and obviously my planet is slightly more realistic than where evr you are, or whatever you're smoking!!! ;)

No hard feelings, it's only a sport BUT we shall see. Bon Appétit.

[Finni]

I'd love to, absolutely love to eat my words. But the car is, as you say, an 'antique', and therefore chances of a good result are low. Minutes off the pace is easy - in Norway 2007 Petter was 4 minutes off the pace in a top of the range (admittedly not that good!) Impreza. Now in a Xsara, however well Petter drives, he wont get better than that.

Do you think that Xsara is 4 minutes slower than 2006 or is Focus now 4 minutes faster than 2006?

If Petter gets top-Xsara it will not be much off the pace. There has not happened any revolutionary developement since 2006 when Grönholm already had current Focus-model in his hands.

[Halvis]

Do you think that Xsara is 4 minutes slower than 2006 or is Focus now 4 minutes faster than 2006?

If Petter gets top-Xsara it will not be much off the pace. There has not happened any revolutionary developement since 2006 when Grönholm already had current Focus-model in his hands.

Also, Petter will have active diffs, that should help him a little, maybe?

[FabiaFan]

Agreed. Henning was substantially faster on SS1 and 2, but on SS3 and 4 he was only a second faster than PG on each of them. Henning had also tested the Fabia a lot more than PG. I don`t know exactly the difference in spec during that rally. My tip for PG in RN is still a 5th or 6th place, remember Kopecky also drove very fast in RN2007 with the Fabia. 5th or 6th, that would be too much of good ;) I think he will fight directly with Adapta Subarus and will beat Citroen juniors and non-Norwegian Focus pay drivers ;) I'm also very curious about the comparison with THE Xsara ;) ;) ;)

[Finni]

Also, Petter will have active diffs, that should help him a little, maybe?

Don't know about that but if Petter has the same car that Loeb had 2006 it can't be much off the pace. It's quite debatable if the new C4 was at all faster than Xsara on gravel when it appeared. During the winter-break between 2006 and 2007 Ford didn't have any homologations or major modifications. Loriaux admitted that they made only remarkable step before rally of Greece 2007. After Greece Ford made new evolution but it was not faster in any visible way (contrary to what it looked first) Loeb told that Citroen went in the wrong direction before Greece 2007 and it was most visible in Finland; then they recovered to their early season-level in NZ.

I would believe that Ford and Citroen have developed only 0.1 or 0.2 sec per/km from 2006.

[RS]

5th or 6th, that would be too much of good ;) I think he will fight directly with Adapta Subarus and will beat Citroen juniors and non-Norwegian Focus pay drivers ;) I'm also very curious about the comparison with THE Xsara ;) ;)

Tuohino was barely any quicker with a private Xsara than he was with the Fabia, but I think Petter is a bit better driver ;)

Hard to say what PGA can do in Norway. He is a good driver but the car is 4 years old and was never the quickest anyway.

[harriswrc]

Going by the pictures of Petter's car can we assume he will be seeded 11?That's not a mistake, Petter will have no11.
http://static.rallynorway.no/files/2009/Entrylist060209.pdf

[Finni]

Tuohino was barely any quicker with a private Xsara than he was with the Fabia, but I think Petter is a bit better driver ;)

Hard to say what PGA can do in Norway. He is a good driver but the car is 4 years old and was never the quickest anyway.

Hard to compare Tuohino's Xsara outing to Skoda drive because with Skoda Tuohino was factory driver with much more kilometres. I might be wrong but despite this Tuohino was quicker with the Xsara.