Is Atko out of favour with Proton?

[curry]

Just wondering if anyone knows why Chris Atkinson didn't get a drive in Zlin and now I hear he won't get a drive in Sanremo either with one seat going to McShea and the other to 'interesting name'.

I've heard unconfirmed reports that Rally Indonesia isn't going ahead which means Chris has lost another drive.

Anyone got any info?

[rsmith16]

Just wondering if anyone knows why Chris Atkinson didn't get a drive in Zlin and now I hear he won't get a drive in Sanremo either with one seat going to McShea and the other to 'interesting name'.

I've heard unconfirmed reports that Rally Indonesia isn't going ahead which means Chris has lost another drive.

Anyone got any info?

I was sure I'd read somewhere that Proton's main championship this year was the APRC which is what Atko & McRae had been employed for with the IRC / ERC etc as an extra & that the 2 named drivers may or may not compete on the additional events.

[Mirek]

I would like to see Keith Cronin again in Proton. He was maybe the nicest surprise of Barum rally for me.

[pettersolberg29]

I agree with Mirek - Cronin showed surprising pace and put McShea to shame really. Lets hope McShea picks up his pace in Sanremo.

Looking forward to the 'interesting name'. Maybe Basso or Travaglia with their local knowledge?

[Mirek]

Basso and Travaglia are both under contract for C.I.R. which is run in Sanremo also.

[pettersolberg29]

Fair enough - any other top class Italian drivers availible, or do they all have other plans already? How about Andreucci who showed great pace in Sardinia?

Personally I'd like to see someone like Duval, Gardemeister or even Panizzi get the drive. Panizzi would provide invaluable knowledge, and may be tempted out of retirement. He was linked to being a test driver for Proton I believe.

[Mirek]

Andreucci is official driver of Peugeot Italia. Again no way :)

[Gordini]

Put in Rossetti in a Proton, or Ostberg. But I agree Cronin was the surprise of the rallty :-)

[pettersolberg29]

]Andreucci is official driver of Peugeot Italia. Again no way :)

I don't think I'll try any more guesses before my hideous lack of knowledge is further exposed ;)

edit: Rossetti - that's who I was thinking of. Thanks Gordini!

[Mirek]

Rossetti is factory driver of Abarth. Sorry to spoil Your wishes again... :D

Anyway good news is that all of them will be in Sanremo :)

[pettersolberg29]

Seems that Cronin is the only driver left now! :D

[stepunk]

Fair enough - any other top class Italian drivers availible, or do they all have other plans already?

Only Gigi Galli could be available, but he wants only WRC so... I'm afraid we won't see him anymore in a rally car!
Back in topic, where can i find the standings of APRC?

[noel157]

Only Gigi Galli could be available, but he wants only WRC so... I'm afraid we won't see him anymore in a rally car!
Back in topic, where can i find the standings of APRC?

Points table, 2nd on the left: http://www.fiaaprc.com/

[RICARDO75]

Just wondering if anyone knows why Chris Atkinson didn't get a drive in Zlin and now I hear he won't get a drive in Sanremo either with one seat going to McShea and the other to 'interesting name'.

I've heard unconfirmed reports that Rally Indonesia isn't going ahead which means Chris has lost another drive.

Anyone got any info?

I also found strange. Proton also did not participate in rally New Caledonia, on the last weekendand and the Rally of Indonesia has indeed been canceled.

[noel157]

Just wondering if anyone knows why Chris Atkinson didn't get a drive in Zlin and now I hear he won't get a drive in Sanremo either with one seat going to McShea and the other to 'interesting name'.

I've heard unconfirmed reports that Rally Indonesia isn't going ahead which means Chris has lost another drive.

Anyone got any info?

Rally Indonesia has been cancelled as a WRC candidate event.

[stepunk]

Points table, 2nd on the left: http://www.fiaaprc.com/

Thanks!

[bluuford]

Rally Indonesia has been cancelled as a WRC candidate event.
Rally Indonesia is now completely canceled:-(

[noel157]

Seems that Cronin is the only driver left now! :D

Last round of the BRC in UK (Yorkshire I think) clashes with San Remo.

[Barreis]

Must be Seb.Loeb inside that car (proton) goes really well..

[Mirek]

Proton also did not participate in rally New Caledonia...

Teams in APRC nominate events where they get points before the start of season. It's not like every start counts.

[Sulland]

Someone mentioned Østberg, and he might be one to call. He was very quick in the Fiesta while fighting in the top in Germany, and want experience in S2000.

[Mirek]

There were no real asphalt specialists in Germany while Sanremo will be full of them. They need someone who is extremely good on asphalt and in best have large experience with Sanremo (and also with BFG tyres). It's an event where You needs precise almost circuit lines and just very aggressive style which can work on some events is not enough. Don't think Ostberg can do anything remarkable there.

[Sulland]

]There were no real asphalt specialists in Germany while Sanremo will be full of them. They need someone who is extremely good on asphalt and in best have large experience with Sanremo (and also with BFG tyres). It's an event where You needs precise almost circuit lines and just very aggressive style which can work on some events is not enough. Don't think Ostberg can do anything remarkable there.

So who should that be, who is the best available ?
Panizzi would be cool, but want money.

[Barreis]

Six or seven years ago Panizzi was paid with six zeros and this days it's you who must pay to drive.. Rich sons destroyed rally sport..

[S77wrc]

I agree with Mirek - Cronin showed surprising pace and put McShea to shame really. Lets hope McShea picks up his pace in Sanremo.

Looking forward to the 'interesting name'. Maybe Basso or Travaglia with their local knowledge?
I don't think you can put some one to shame if you crash out and they don't...

[S77wrc]

Six or seven years ago Panizzi was paid with six zeros and this days it's you who must pay to drive.. Rich sons destroyed rally sport..
Agree with you

[chris16valve]

maybe duval. :confused: ??????? id love to see keith cronin in the proton again but he is in a very important rally that weekend

[pettersolberg29]

I don't think you can put some one to shame if you crash out and they don't...

Maybe not, but Cronin beat McShea by up to 1s/km if I remember correctly. That's quite a crushing bearing in mind they are in the same car.
Also, McShea retired so for all we know he wouldn't have reached the end without crashing either.

[Sulland]

Maybe I am remembering incorrectly: It was a driver a couple of years ago that said that he would not drive anymore if he did not get paid, he did not want to risk his life for nothing. Just getting sponsormoney enough to pay the team to get a car was not good enough.

Was this Panizzi or was it someone else ?

[noel157]

Maybe I am remembering incorrectly: It was a driver a couple of years ago that said that he would not drive anymore if he did not get paid, he did not want to risk his life for nothing. Just sponsormoney enough to pay the team to get a car was not good enough.

Was this Panizzi or was it someone else ?

Panizzi and Duval I think.

[Addicted]

Six or seven years ago Panizzi was paid with six zeros and this days it's you who must pay to drive.. Rich sons destroyed rally sport..

Bull****. It ain´t Rautenbach´s or Wilson´s reason that there is only so few factory seats available in rallying.

Stop that idiotic crying about it, you´ve been seen.

[RS]

Duval drove Sanremo last year in a Punto and was really slow.

[Barreis]

Bull****. It ain´t Rautenbach´s or Wilson´s reason that there is only so few factory seats available in rallying.

Stop that idiotic crying about it, you´ve been seen.

I don't like you Finns 'cos without that manager Joukhi you'll be in the place you really deserve.. Latvala cries - you need a video of prove?!

[cali]

I don't like you Finns 'cos without that manager Joukhi you'll be in the place you really deserve.. Latvala cries - you need a video of prove?!

Has this something to do with JML driving abilities?

[User]

Duval had been offered the drive Atkinson currently has. He denied it, so no chance in Duval driving a Proton.

[mousti]

Bernd Casier is an asphalt man!

[curry]

Duval had been offered the drive Atkinson currently has.

Was that before Atko took the drive?


He denied it, so no chance in Duval driving a Proton.

Was that before or after Cronin set those amazing times in Zlin?

[mousti]

Was that before Atko took the drive?



Was that before or after Cronin set those amazing times in Zlin?
That was in the beginning of this year so before Atko and Cronin.