Hello from Antony Warmbold

[Daniel]

He does it for free?

[N.O.T]

lol...

[6789]

Lol what? Free?

If Ford were worried about it I'm sure they'd just send a legal notice to Antony.

[I am evil Homer]

Nah they'd have to prove he was making false acccusations - could be tricky. Plus, this all relates to the old, old model Focus now so hardly affects M-Sport's Fiesta sales.

[Daniel]

Nah they'd have to prove he was making false acccusations - could be tricky. Plus, this all relates to the old, old model Focus now so hardly affects M-Sport's Fiesta sales.

Yes but it relates to their practices as a business. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who has a few million in their pocket and is ready to sign on the dotted line and is thinking that they're going to get top equipment? :laugh:

[MrJan]

It might also have repurcusions in the second hand market, given how popular the Focus has become for the top level drivers at a national level. I'm sure one can reasonably assume that even if a car is an ex-Marcus Gronholm registration, it's still got the cheap stuff bolted to it.

[I am evil Homer]

Yes but it relates to their practices as a business. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who has a few million in their pocket and is ready to sign on the dotted line and is thinking that they're going to get top equipment? :laugh:

True but M-Sport wouldn't be my first call ;) Then again, nor would WRC...

[Gard]

Putting pictures directly in threads is a no no. Use links instead. so the ones with slower network can read the thread.

[Barreis]

Who today has slower network?!

[MrJan]

Who today has slower network?!

Exactly, even my phone could load this thread quicker than the 56k modem I used to have.

[OldF]

Antony, did you ever run any of your cars in a dyno? If you did, what where the results?

[mousti]

I heard something of that aswel. What does he do with himself nowadays?
Changing diapers of his kid :D

[Barreis]

I like the last two stories.

[mousti]

I don't see why Duval would lie about this. He is talking now because he knows he has nothing to lose anymore.
Do you remember, back in NZ rally 2006, when Pons got Loeb's car cause Loeb broke his shoulder? Suddenly Pons was flying and finished...4th, I think. He was never that fast on gravel.
Indeed that's what I thought too, also the Xsara he used from Kronos in RACB colors was never fast with Stohl and Pons behind the wheel and suddenly Duval leads the rally and ends second with it. Pons is even on Tarmac not very fast so that explains it even more how it goes aswell in Citroën.

What I think about all your stories it's tough to read and I don't like how they treated u but doesn't surprise me too much because it's topsport it's business and that's a dirty world same in cycling and soccer behind the screens there's going on also such dirty stuff.

[Gard]

Exactly, even my phone could load this thread quicker than the 56k modem I used to have.

Have you tried loading this thread with your phone? With wifi off? I tried following this thread with my phone.

[Daniel]

Have you tried loading this thread with your phone? With wifi off? I tried following this thread with my phone.

http://m.motorsportforums.com

[tfp]

Changing diapers of his kid :D

Haha! Poor bugger!

[Antony Warmbold]

Antony, did you ever run any of your cars in a dyno? If you did, what where the results?

No, frankly I don't know how we could have done that with the 2004 car, as it was their property. As far as the 2002 cars, I don't know either as they had full control over them. What if we had done it? What should we compare it to ?

[Gard]

http://m.motorsportforums.com
Thanks. But I really use the phone as a modem for my computer. Sorry for OT

[MrJan]

Have you tried loading this thread with your phone? With wifi off? I tried following this thread with my phone.

I use Tapatalk to read the forum when I'm on my phone, it's very handy and from the times that I've used it seems to work quite well :)

[jonas_mcrae]

hey PadWRC, thanks for the pics, dont listen to NOT or alleskids. Even if all the pictures were available on google, its nice to get them all together, plus some are not that easy to find.

[padWRC]

Thanks to all !!!
Believe me , It s not easy to find !!!

[Bobcat]

No, frankly I don't know how we could have done that with the 2004 car, as it was their property. As far as the 2002 cars, I don't know either as they had full control over them. What if we had done it? What should we compare it to ?

Antony, it would be interesting to compare this with the best customer car of Citroen or the best customer car of Prodrive.

[Barreis]

Please don't forget to write about mental and body trainings. THX :)

[OldF]

No, frankly I don't know how we could have done that with the 2004 car, as it was their property. As far as the 2002 cars, I don't know either as they had full control over them. What if we had done it? What should we compare it to ?

It’s true, if you don’t have anything to compare with the data is useless. But I was just thinking if you would like to know the power of your car in case you heard some rumours from other drivers

[OldF]

Henning is probably the WRC driver with the best skillset in mechanics and electronics in the field. He has been pretty upbeat and frustrated when he has tested and found a good base setup that suites his style, and when he starts shakedown the setup is usually the base setup for the MSport team and not his one, and he is back to square one.

Do you really mean that Henning had access to the ECU. I’ve always thought the it’s accesible only for M-Sport engineers.

[tfp]

Antony, it would be interesting to compare this with the best customer car of Citroen or the best customer car of Prodrive.
+1...

[julkki]

It’s true, if you don’t have anything to compare with the data is useless. But I was just thinking if you would like to know the power of your car in case you heard some rumours from other drivers

I'm also interested of some dyno-data of WRC-cars...Impossible probably to get data from factory-cars but maybe some estimates?

[Daniel]

Antony, it would be interesting to compare this with the best customer car of Citroen or the best customer car of Prodrive.

Antony, I wouldn't bother listening or replying to Bobcat, he is either an M-Sport shill or a very very very deluded Ford fan.

Have a look at his posts http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=137597 and they're pretty much all posting some news about Ford or having a dig at Citroen. I've seen some biased fans before, but none of them post every time that a Ford driver announces a new livery or that they're eating a different brand of crisps.

[N.O.T]

back on topic....what made you quit Antony ?? the treatment you had from M-sport? no funding ? performance not good enough?

[tfp]

Antony, I wouldn't bother listening or replying to Bobcat, he is either an M-Sport shill or a very very very deluded Ford fan.

Have a look at his posts http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=137597 and they're pretty much all posting some news about Ford or having a dig at Citroen. I've seen some biased fans before, but none of them post every time that a Ford driver announces a new livery or that they're eating a different brand of crisps.

Dude, stop causing arguments on antonys thread :)
This aint the forum for arguments anyway, we have http://www.scoobynet.com/ for that :D

[Daniel]

Dude, stop causing arguments on antonys thread :)
This aint the forum for arguments anyway, we have http://www.scoobynet.com/ for that :D

I was just letting Antony know that there's an M-Sport shill around :)

[Gard]

Do you really mean that Henning had access to the ECU. I’ve always thought the it’s accesible only for M-Sport engineers.

No I don't think so. But he knows the parameters and has access to (some of) the data. He can give some input on what to change. But basically, he is stuck with the options M-sport gives him.

[Bobcat]

I was just letting Antony know that there's an M-Sport shill around :)

Said the boy with PSA's "dan306maxi@hotmail.com" email address.

[tfp]

Said the boy with PSA's "dan306maxi@hotmail.com" email address.

Hah! Funny you should mention that -

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2764507.htm
Can someone borrow me 10 grand? :D

[Daniel]

Said the boy with PSA's "dan306maxi@hotmail.com" email address.

Hilarious :D There are plenty of people on here who have met me and can safely say I don't work for PSA :laugh:

[N.O.T]

come on this is ridiculous..... this is antony thread. Padwrc post a wall of never shown google pictures so this no-point argument stops.

[Antony Warmbold]

back on topic....what made you quit Antony ?? the treatment you had from M-sport? no funding ? performance not good enough?

We had spent as much as we could and had to stop. Unfortunately at th end of 2005 Peugeot, Mitsubishi and Skoda stopped as well. I had not managed to show enough speed and consistency to hope anything from the left over manufacturers.

[Daniel]

We had spent as much as we could and had to stop. Unfortunately at th end of 2005 Peugeot, Mitsubishi and Skoda stopped as well. I had not managed to show enough speed and consistency to hope anything from the left over manufacturers.

Very interesting :) It's always good to hear things directly from the source.

Would you consider returning at a later stage?

[Antony Warmbold]

I'm also interested of some dyno-data of WRC-cars...Impossible probably to get data from factory-cars but maybe some estimates?

One thing for sure is the power was more than the official 300bhp they always announced. The numbers I always heard circulating around were anywhere between 340 and 360 BHP.

[Antony Warmbold]

Very interesting :) It's always good to hear things directly from the source.

Would you consider returning at a later stage?

I guess that I would consider it but only in the right conditions. In a professional way and only with people who are driven by sport and results, not profits. I would only work with people who do it for the love of the sport and the competition.

[N.O.T]

I would only work with people who do it for the love of the sport and the competition.

you need a time machine for that .....

[Tomi]

I would only work with people who do it for the love of the sport and the competition.

Then welcome to Finnish F-Cup

[Antony Warmbold]

Then welcome to Finnish F-Cup

exactly

[janvanvurpa]

exactly

Did you see earlier where I was asking if you might want to come to USA for fun?
Not some A8 thing, high dollar big publicity "Soooooooper Star" production; I asked because you had mentioned you had visited Finland and seemed familiar with F-cup madness there.
I've been trying for years to get some F-cup boys to come over, have a little holiday so the wife doesn't murder them, then do one of our rallies in a 2wd car.

And show just how fast a simple, but good, car can be driven.

Come on!

[mousti]

I guess that I would consider it but only in the right conditions. In a professional way and only with people who are driven by sport and results, not profits. I would only work with people who do it for the love of the sport and the competition.
Why not IRC the learning curve is what I think much better than in the WRC and the championship is more exciting and is also cheaper plus with the Eurosport coverage good for your sponsors ! Also nice rallies and rallies who aren't so stricted by rules like the WRC rallies.

[OldF]

Did you see earlier where I was asking if you might want to come to USA for fun?
Not some A8 thing, high dollar big publicity "Soooooooper Star" production; I asked because you had mentioned you had visited Finland and seemed familiar with F-cup madness there.
I've been trying for years to get some F-cup boys to come over, have a little holiday so the wife doesn't murder them, then do one of our rallies in a 2wd car.

And show just how fast a simple, but good, car can be driven.

Come on!

F-Cup, enjoy it (I hope these videos are available also outside Finland).

http://www.jent.fi/aloitus/pages/netti-tv.php

[N.O.T]

the videos work and they are fantastic...

damn i hate developed motorsport countries....

how much are these cars worth ? i know some BMW m3s can reach up to 40k euros but what are the average prices for a relative competitive car ??

[Plan9]

What about a Mini Anthony? I hear that BMW wants a German to be involved and I don't think they would be able to persuade Armin Schwartz to come back.

[N.O.T]

why you want him back ??

[Plan9]

I used him as an example. I know he is old and his heart probably isn't in it anymore. I think Anthony could do well in Mini (I hope he wouldn't be asked for too much money though)

[OldF]

the videos work and they are fantastic...

damn i hate developed motorsport countries....

how much are these cars worth ? i know some BMW m3s can reach up to 40k euros but what are the average prices for a relative competitive car ??

I must say that I’m admiring these guyst taking into account, these drivers are driving without pace notes.

Comments of course only in Finnish but the driving are the same in every language.

I can’t say anything about the car prices but I’ll try to find out something. Probably some other Finnish forum memebers could tell lot more about this cup.

BTW, Toni Gardemaister is driving these cup rallies then and then.

[N.O.T]

i know about tony and his BMW, i have some very good incars of him....

I do not think antony can bring anything to the sport anymore....maybe challenge icecube and wilson in some events. So he is better off with the money in his pocket for his and the sports sake.

[Tomi]

Its difficult to say exactly what F-Group cars cost because they are mostly self built, but something between 20000€-50000€.
Its also possible to rent cars, the price for that is about 1000€-2000€/ rally, including mechanics, tyres (full package).

[6789]

Its difficult to say exactly what F-Group cars cost because they are mostly self built, but something between 20000€-50000€.
Its also possible to rent cars, the price for that is about 1000€-2000€/ rally, including mechanics, tyres (full package).
I know this is off topic alittle, but is the F-Cup like the WRC or the Australian Rally Championship where the guy with the biggest budget wins?

[N.O.T]

can you name a motorsport where the guy with biggest budget doesn't ??

[Tomi]

I know this is off topic alittle, but is the F-Cup like the WRC or the Australian Rally Championship where the guy with the biggest budget wins?

in all sports the guy who is better prepaired, coached, have better equipment has always the upper hand, not only in motorsport, but in rally I belive skill matters very much also. In Group F there is place for everyone who wants to drive legally fast on closed good roads no matter what his or her ambitions are.

[tfp]

can you name a motorsport where the guy with biggest budget doesn't ??

Jenson button, 2009 f1 world champion:-)

[N.O.T]

lol...i said motorsport.

[Antony Warmbold]

Please don't forget to write about mental and body trainings. THX :)

Hello, I have tried to address this subject in Chapter 14, which is up now.

[Tomi]

Hello, I have tried to address this subject in Chapter 14, which is up now.

from your team atleast Grönholm did have a mental trainer back then, Latvala has the same trainer now, both are private arranigments, not from M-Sport.

[jonas_mcrae]

Hello Antony,

I want to ask your opinion about the 2005 season and specially about Dani Sola. I was lookign at some results from the 2005 season, and in the rallyes he was entered, you outperformed him in ALL but australia, where he finnished 7th and you retired. In the other rallies he competed in, he reitred and you got to the finnish (mexico 7th, japan 9th, France 13th, Spain 7th). For me, it sounds a little bit strange that a national and JWRC champion (just after Loeb and BEFORE Sordo and Andersson) like Dani could retire in so many rallyes in a FACTORY car. was he trying too hard? or maybe he was not given the same car as Gardemeister and was trying to catch up? what did it feel to see Dani not finishing in a factory car and you outperforming him? Did you ever think you had a better shot than him on that season?

thanks in advance

[mousti]

I know this is off topic alittle, but is the F-Cup like the WRC or the Australian Rally Championship where the guy with the biggest budget wins?
Those prices are cheap so here real talent with some sponsors can really win that cup ! National Championship have mostly WRC cars on the start who costs hundreds of thousands euros and running costs are also very expensive and there can a gentlemen driver win if there is no real fast driver with a WRC.

[N.O.T]

Hello Antony,

I want to ask your opinion about the 2005 season and specially about Dani Sola. I was lookign at some results from the 2005 season, and in the rallyes he was entered, you outperformed him in ALL but australia, where he finnished 7th and you retired. In the other rallies he competed in, he reitred and you got to the finnish (mexico 7th, japan 9th, France 13th, Spain 7th). For me, it sounds a little bit strange that a national and JWRC champion (just after Loeb and BEFORE Sordo and Andersson) like Dani could retire in so many rallyes in a FACTORY car. was he trying too hard? or maybe he was not given the same car as Gardemeister and was trying to catch up? what did it feel to see Dani not finishing in a factory car and you outperforming him? Did you ever think you had a better shot than him on that season?

thanks in advance

that is propaganda....please do not use words like outperformed.....i would like to have 10 solas/novikov(the 2009 version) than 100 warmbolds/wilson to fill the spots. The mistake of sola/novikov was that they did not have safe backing their approach was perfect and with 2-3 more years they could reach the top spots.

[jonas_mcrae]

ok Mr perfect grammar what words should I use? he was ahead of Sola, the definition of outperform is "perform better than"... wasnt that what happened? 7th is better than retiring isnt it?

And you are saying Novikov and Sola didnt have safe backing? come on! Novikov is loaded (financed his WRC entries the same as Warmbold did) and Sola had enough backing to first do the spanish championship, then JWRC, part of PWRC and then FACTORY support from Mitsubishi and finally drove a factory Focus backed by Telefonica and RACC. He had his chance and missed it, although I have to admit WRC was a tougher championship back then. And finally I have nothing against Mr Sola, actually he was one of my favorite drivers back then, met him in Mexico and in Catalunya and he is agreat guy, I just want to know Antony's inside view of what whent wrong with him and his car.

[Tomi]

Those prices are cheap so here real talent with some sponsors can really win that cup ! National Championship have mostly WRC cars on the start who costs hundreds of thousands euros and running costs are also very expensive and there can a gentlemen driver win if there is no real fast driver with a WRC.

I would say it depends on the national championship, here it would be impossible that a gentleman driver could win a championship.

[N.O.T]

ok Mr perfect grammar what words should I use? he was ahead of Sola, the definition of outperform is "perform better than"... wasnt that what happened? 7th is better than retiring isnt it?

And you are saying Novikov and Sola didnt have safe backing? come on! Novikov is loaded (financed his WRC entries the same as Warmbold did) and Sola had enough backing to first do the spanish championship, then JWRC, part of PWRC and then FACTORY support from Mitsubishi and finally drove a factory Focus backed by Telefonica and RACC. He had his chance and missed it, although I have to admit WRC was a tougher championship back then. And finally I have nothing against Mr Sola, actually he was one of my favorite drivers back then, met him in Mexico and in Catalunya and he is agreat guy, I just want to know Antony's inside view of what whent wrong with him and his car.

Novikov was loaded yet he did only 1 serious year...and sola had sponsors...very little came from his pocket. Sola would be a top driver if the people behiind him believed more in him...His accident at catalunya was decisive and was one of the 2 times i actually yelled "OH...^$%#%^&" at my screen when i saw his name not coming up the results board....

And no you do not outperform someone because he retires...you take advantage of the situation. and its not a word/grammar game the whole post made it sound like warmbold was a superior driver to sola.

[jonas_mcrae]

About Sola's crash in Spain, true, it was a decisive moment, he went for it and missed it, dramatic moment but that's rally, reminds a little bit of Duval, nice pace loads of crashes.

About Warmbold outperforming Sola, well, on paper it looks like it happened, sorry but its there, and will always be like that.
OK, Sola retired in most of his apperances in 2005 so comparison might be tricky, but even if you compare the results of the stage just before the retirements it doesnt look that good either, considering Sola was running a "factory" Focus.

Mexico before Sola retires: Dani 5th Antony 6th, Japan before Sola retires: Dani 13th Antony 11th, France before Sola retires: Dani 6th Antony 11th, Spain before Sola retires: Dani 8th Antony 11th and Australia before Warmbold retires: Dani 12th Antony 9th... Difference is not THAT wide is it?

And finally I doubt ANY driver starts a rally saying, "ok, I will drive very slow, get to the end, and lets hope a lot of people retire so I can take advantage of the situation" come on!

[cosmicpanda]

Wilson?

[Rich705]

Cant hold back amymore, I agree with Jonas, I think it's N.O.T who's spreading propaganda with his views, Facts don't lie - which Jonas was referring to.
I'm not sure about anybody else, but I'm getting bored of opening every thread to constantly find N.O.T spouting crap. It's like he wants to disagree with everybody else and only his opinion counts, as he's "ALWAYS" correct about everything.

Also show a bit of respect to Anthony on his own thread please, he's made the effort for fans to ask questions so if you havnt got something nice to say keep it to yourself, we don't wanna read "you'd prefer 100 driver X's than 10 Anthony Warmbold's!
You come across as a "know it all" that actually knows FA!

BTW - Hi Anthony I'm loving your blog, keep up the good work!

[tfp]

Hey Antony...I've just had another look at your blog, realised that the earlier chapters have gone :( I think it was chapter 8 you mentioned "a young Finn", I dont think you ever told us who this was? Put me out of my misery :D

Still loving the blog....Although I must admit, I'm just waiting for some official from M sport to join the forum and argue against your claims :)

And don't listen to anyone who puts you down, you have been there and done that, got the t-shirt, your critics probably haven't driven in WRC before... ;)

Keep up the good work!

[janvanvurpa]

can you name a motorsport where the guy with biggest budget doesn't ??

1) moto-cross from club level to World Championship
2) enduro from club level to World Championship
3) rally on gravel in powerful 2wd normal aspirated cars

In all of those branches you can buy whatever you want, but if you don't know how to hold throttle open, and how to brake hard, and have physical condition on the level of Tour de France bicycle guys or long distance cross country skiers, you will fail miserably.

From personal experience, not sitting on your comfy chair writing endless groundless ignorant negative crap 99% of the time, as you do so well.

[janvanvurpa]

I know this is off topic alittle, but is the F-Cup like the WRC or the Australian Rally Championship where the guy with the biggest budget wins?

F-cup is for 2wd normal aspirated cars. Of course it takes money to build a top spec motor, but look at the times and compare them to the times of even very top Finnish GpN4 guys--which I believe was your top class in OZ. (just an example but in the latest Swedish WRC there was a concurrent National Championship event, same roads, same day, running later so likey (from my experience on snow stages ), surface both "polished" and rutted up, and there were at least 3-4 Grupp H guys in a VW and a Volvo and something else putting in stage times faster than the essentially unlimited budget WRC Fiesta of ken Block.

An excellent example of the need for knowledge, or skill in driving a fast 2wd car can be seen by looking at the Youtube vids of Colin McRae Stages 08 where you can compare the excellent driving of a fleet of guys in various spec Escorts with the antics of the 2 SRTUSA "rally super stars".

That is not budget, that's driving skill.
Grupp H is more or less the Swedish equivalent of F-cup.

Part of F-cups brilliance is that it is basically ONE BIG CLASS and engine size is balanced against weight, so a guy who chooses a rwd Corolla with a bored 4AGE can match himself against say a guy in a much larger engined Volvo with a 2.3 or 2.4 liter motor--but more weight.

Contrast that with USA for example and I really can't say how many nuanced piddly classes for the fleets of blue Subaru Imprezas but I believe there is at least 4 classes. the result is people driving what appears to me not particularly hard saying "I was driving for my class position and tactically for the season overall results" (Oh I just thought the motor was missing 2 cylinders, oh well)

Group-F is in my opinion far more impressive than the current "you'll never sit in this car ever even in 20 years" World Rally Car circus.

[N.O.T]

1) moto-cross from club level to World Championship
2) enduro from club level to World Championship
3) rally on gravel in powerful 2wd normal aspirated cars

In all of those branches you can buy whatever you want, but if you don't know how to hold throttle open, and how to brake hard, and have physical condition on the level of Tour de France bicycle guys or long distance cross country skiers, you will fail miserably.

From personal experience, not sitting on your comfy chair writing endless groundless ignorant negative crap 99% of the time, as you do so well.

all the above you mention have 1 thing in common...

the budget is not too big no matter what. a top spec vehicle of the above along with parts i doubt it exceeds the 10k euro mark per event and the vehicles now that the s1600s are dead are not that expensive so budget is not an issue.

Although i still think that in case of motcross and enduro there is very little interest so the companies never spend much anyway...because they do not have a big return profit.

To claim that in a sport where equipment is a vital part and contributes at least 60% of the overall success, budget is not an issue i think it doesn't make sence.

I think its better to be an armchair critic and not knowing whats going on thus leading to some very limited wrong comments than to be involved and do the same.

[Dug83]

Hey Antony...I've just had another look at your blog, realised that the earlier chapters have gone :( I think it was chapter 8 you mentioned "a young Finn", I dont think you ever told us who this was? Put me out of my misery :D

Google is your friend

[6789]

http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums/member.php?82218-janvanvurpaHi Janvanvurpa,

Thanks for the deailed reply, F-cup ffrom the videos I've seen look awesome, guys driving hard. Plus being Finland, the roads are fast and yo get some guys ending up in a ditch :)

[Antony Warmbold]

Hello Antony,

I want to ask your opinion about the 2005 season and specially about Dani Sola. I was lookign at some results from the 2005 season, and in the rallyes he was entered, you outperformed him in ALL but australia, where he finnished 7th and you retired. In the other rallies he competed in, he reitred and you got to the finnish (mexico 7th, japan 9th, France 13th, Spain 7th). For me, it sounds a little bit strange that a national and JWRC champion (just after Loeb and BEFORE Sordo and Andersson) like Dani could retire in so many rallyes in a FACTORY car. was he trying too hard? or maybe he was not given the same car as Gardemeister and was trying to catch up? what did it feel to see Dani not finishing in a factory car and you outperforming him? Did you ever think you had a better shot than him on that season?

thanks in advance

I can't respond to all your questions because I have no idea how competitive his car was in comparison to Toni's. What I know is that he went faster than me on tarmac.

[Antony Warmbold]

Hey Antony...I've just had another look at your blog, realised that the earlier chapters have gone :( I think it was chapter 8 you mentioned "a young Finn", I dont think you ever told us who this was? Put me out of my misery :D

Still loving the blog....Although I must admit, I'm just waiting for some official from M sport to join the forum and argue against your claims :)

And don't listen to anyone who puts you down, you have been there and done that, got the t-shirt, your critics probably haven't driven in WRC before... ;)

Keep up the good work!

That's because I put all three parts into one and made the thing shorter cause it was sooo long. You can find the earlier version in google cache, as I understand. Somebody already answered the first part of your question.... ;)
thanks for your interest in the blog. It's really nice to see that many people are interested in what I have to tell about my experience.
Thanks!

[Barreis]

You should put adsense on it with 40000+ clicks. ;)

[Cloverleaf]

Chapter 15 : Differential Extravaganza

3 differentials, at least 5 parameters, infinite combinations...
So the drivers work is not only driving then. With limited testing I would have never had the confidence.

Then, if you are lucky you have a car as it runs on rails. I'm glad they've banned the active diffs.

[Antony Warmbold]

Chapter 15 : Differential Extravaganza

3 differentials, at least 5 parameters, infinite combinations...
So the drivers work is not only driving then. With limited testing I would have never had the confidence.

Then, if you are lucky you have a car as it runs on rails. I'm glad they've banned the active diffs.

You say it all right there.

[hsmed]

Chapter 16 (Did you say sponsors?) is at the blog now.

[Barreis]

Great blog posts.

[tfp]

Great blog posts.
:up: +1 It shows how much work goes on outside of the car as well as in.
The more I read Antonys blog, the more impressed I am with Petter solberg, his work load must be huge.

[Plan9]

:up: +1 It shows how much work goes on outside of the car as well as in.
The more I read Antonys blog, the more impressed I am with Petter solberg, his work load must be huge.

I agree. I don't know where he finds the energy and mental strength to perform as well as he does with all the extra things he has to worry about. I really hope he can get back into a manufacturer team very soon.

[AndyRAC]

I agree. I don't know where he finds the energy and mental strength to perform as well as he does with all the extra things he has to worry about. I really hope he can get back into a manufacturer team very soon.

Yeah, I agree. It just reflects poorly in the WRC as a whole - a WRChampion can't get a drive. Can you imagine the same happening in F1?

[hsmed]

Yeah, I agree. It just reflects poorly in the WRC as a whole - a WRChampion can't get a drive. Can you imagine the same happening in F1?

Jacques Villeneuve. None of the teams are interested even though he has tried to get drives after being dumped by BMW/Sauber.

[Tomi]

a WRChampion can't get a drive. Can you imagine the same happening in F1?

It depends on the champion, Grönholm would have got a deal this year if he would have wanted.

[Daniel]

It depends on the champion, Grönholm would have got a deal this year if he would have wanted.

Agreed. IIRC M-Sport and Petter didn't part amicably and Citroen don't really need Petter. If this were 2002 Petter would be getting paid to drive but it's not.

[tfp]

Agreed. IIRC M-Sport and Petter didn't part amicably and Citroen don't really need Petter. If this were 2002 Petter would be getting paid to drive but it's not.

I wonder what happened with Petter and M sport?
VW would be ideal for Petter to get a manu drive, they want flogging if they dont take him on!

[Daniel]

I wonder what happened with Petter and M sport?
VW would be ideal for Petter to get a manu drive, they want flogging if they dont take him on!

Well Petter will be well into his autumn years by 2013

[alleskids]

Well Petter will be well into his autumn years by 2013

Then it would make more sence putting Carlos Sainz in the VW Polo R WRCar2013. Both are world champions, both have still good marketing value, Sainz is still fit and rally ready thanks to the Dakar effort. But Sainz is already bedded in the VW team.

[Daniel]

Then it would make more sence putting Carlos Sainz in the VW Polo R WRCar2013. Both are world champions, both have still good marketing value, Sainz is still fit and rally ready thanks to the Dakar effort. But Sainz is already bedded in the VW team.
Please don't get my hopes up :D

[tfp]

Well Petter will be well into his autumn years by 2013

I hope not, the sport will take a massive step backwards when he leaves.

[N.O.T]

lol

[noel157]

Then it would make more sence putting Carlos Sainz in the VW Polo R WRCar2013. Both are world champions, both have still good marketing value, Sainz is still fit and rally ready thanks to the Dakar effort. But Sainz is already bedded in the VW team.

And Sainz will be what, 51 in 2013? Are you serious?

[Antony Warmbold]

Sainz is most likely looking at managing the team more than driving. Let's not forget VW will have a lot of budget. It's a good opportunity for anyone to keep a foot in there. Also remember his son is coming around... I would not be surprised to see him peeking his nose in the workshop...then who knows.

Something from Auto Hebdo interview of Kris Nissen was a bit strange though. They said they were first going to develop a competitive car, then look for drivers. I hope that is not true because it' the wrong way around. That is same mistake that toyota Formula 1 did. Huge budget, big everything, but no driver to build a car around from the beginning. You need to do like ferrari and schumacher. Put the money where the mouth is and hire a good driver, then build a car for him and around him, from zero. Or like peugeot and gronholm, same thing. They took him from the very start and developped the car for him. You don't need to have a champion, just a good nose to find the right guy who will develop together with the car.

[Tomi]

Put the money where the mouth is and hire a good driver, then build a car for him and around him, from zero. Or like peugeot and gronholm, same thing. They took him from the very start and developped the car for him. You don't need to have a champion, just a good nose to find the right guy who will develop together with the car.

Agree same like Audi did with Mikkola too, if it would be up to me I would pick Ketomaa, he can drive but even more important, excellent test driver and he understand about how cars should be too. Good driver does not automaticly mean good developer, a good example is Auriol.

[N.O.T]

The fact that VW advertise their budget too much can end in tears....i can see that driver choice would end up into the battle of the managers rather than picking the correct ones....Ketamaa is an excellent choice if he pays to drive...and he can do the development also like pykalisto did for peugeot.

[Tomi]

Ketamaa is an excellent choice if he pays to drive...and he can do the development also like pykalisto did for peugeot.

Pykälistö did work for Citroen, not Peugeot.
For Peugeot was involved, Grönholm, Panizzi, at beginning also Auriol but he got the boot and was replaced with Aghini.

[Daniel]

Agree same like Audi did with Mikkola too, if it would be up to me I would pick Ketomaa, he can drive but even more important, excellent test driver and he understand about how cars should be too. Good driver does not automaticly mean good developer, a good example is Auriol.

Yes, they do say he was a little sensitive when it came to setup. One wonders if there are as many people now who can develop a car as well as, say back in 2002 at the height of the WRC when you had quite a few top cars.

[Barreis]

Waitin' for another blog post. :)

[jonas_mcrae]

Sorry for my ignorance but, who developed the Xsara at the very beggining? was it Puras and Bugalski? or was there someone before them? and when did Citroen focused on building the car around Loeb?

[Daniel]

Sorry for my ignorance but, who developed the Xsara at the very beggining? was it Puras and Bugalski? or was there someone before them? and when did Citroen focused on building the car around Loeb?

Bugalski I think. I doubt the car was built around Loeb, it was just a good car.

[Viking]

Sorry for my ignorance but, who developed the Xsara at the very beggining? was it Puras and Bugalski? or was there someone before them? and when did Citroen focused on building the car around Loeb?

... and Thomas Rådström

[jonas_mcrae]

So, this could mean you its possible to build a very good car and THEN find a driver to give you championships... however I do think later evolutions of the Xsara were 100% tailor made for Loeb

[Barreis]

It's Loeb who's genious and winner with all cars he drove: saxo s1600, xsara, c4 and ds3.

[dimviii]

So, this could mean you its possible to build a very good car and THEN find a driver to give you championships... however I do think later evolutions of the Xsara were 100% tailor made for Loeb
All works rally cars are tailor made to their drivers.There is no exception for Loeb.

[Tomi]

i dont belive that the cars are tailor made, it does not make any sense, the setups offcourse are individual but the car it self is same for the works guys.

[Daniel]

i dont belive that the cars are tailor made, it does not make any sense, the setups offcourse are individual but the car it self is same for the works guys.

I wonder if sometimes it's just the number 1 driver getting the latest parts? In F1 it's easy to see who's got a different wing and so on, on a rally who knows which person has the improved wishbones or whatever.

[Tomi]

I wonder if sometimes it's just the number 1 driver getting the latest parts? In F1 it's easy to see who's got a different wing and so on, on a rally who knows which person has the improved wishbones or whatever.

i belive it depends on how reliable the part is, if it is reliable they put it in both cars, if not, then maybe only in the other to make sure that atleast 1 car finishes

[dimviii]

i dont belive that the cars are tailor made, it does not make any sense, the setups offcourse are individual but the car it self is same for the works guys.

Tomi when i said ''tailor made'' i don t mean that it is designed/built for him.Thats a complete nonsense which i ve heard plenty of times,specially for Tomi.I mean set up tailor made for each works drivers likes.From the program of the active diff(when used) to suspension adjust etc.
This is not easy when you want to take 100% of cars potential.Its a work that must be done with the conjuction of decades of persons for each car.From suspension technician guy,to engine programmer etc.One not so good technician/programmer inside this team can destroy all the hard work.

[Sladden]

Sorry for my ignorance but, who developed the Xsara at the very beggining? was it Puras and Bugalski? or was there someone before them? and when did Citroen focused on building the car around Loeb?
Thomas Rådström was developing the car for gravel. I had a magazine from 2000 were they followed him on testing for a day. He said the Xara felt better than the Focus in 1999...but it was not until Colin and Carlos came along that they sorted the gravel performance really.

[MJW]

Carlos is one guy who can actually sort out a car. There have been lots of worthy champion drivers who couldn't do the development work. Some of these drivers have won more than one championship....

[Mise]

Carlos is one guy who can actually sort out a car. There have been lots of worthy champion drivers who couldn't do the development work. Some of these drivers have won more than one championship....

I remember reading somewhere that Loeb didn't know how to set up the car at his early years.
He used what Sainz used and when Sainz retired Loeb asked him to do his set ups.

Kankkunen was a great car developer as well, wasn't he.

[jonas_mcrae]

well, lets hope that is true as Sainz will for sure be involved in the development of the Polo...

[tfp]

Hah! A mk2 golf rally car:-) Nice! Whats with the odd wheels though?lol!

[urabus-denoS2000]

well, lets hope that is true as Sainz will for sure be involved in the development of the Polo...

It is true without a doubt . Sainz is in my opinion the best set-up / mechanic amongst top drivers ...

[tfp]

It is true without a doubt . Sainz is in my opinion the best set-up / mechanic amongst top drivers ...

They dont call him king carlos for nothing:-)

[Maui J.]

Hi Antony,

Really enjoying reading your blog. I was spectating at Rally NZ on the stage that the dust episode played out. I remember seeing your car in the distance as you rounded the bend and pulled over. We saw you start again and then Duval appear moments after... was interesting to read your comments about this.

Thanks for sharing the details about paid drives in WRC cars. I wonder if Henning, Mads, PG, will read it. It may make them think twice about where to put their $$$.
Keep up the great writing.

Oh by the way, I heard VW are looking for a German driver!!! What are you waiting for?

[mousti]

Loix and Duez were also great in testing and setting up a car :)

[dimviii]

I wonder if Henning, Mads, PG, will read it. It may make them think twice about where to put their $$$.

Dont know about the above,but when i asked Jari about if he is reading motorsportforums.com he said....'' not always but sometimes yes i read''

[Barreis]

Then he knows that we know that he's a fag. :D

[Antony Warmbold]

Hi Antony,

Really enjoying reading your blog. I was spectating at Rally NZ on the stage that the dust episode played out. I remember seeing your car in the distance as you rounded the bend and pulled over. We saw you start again and then Duval appear moments after... was interesting to read your comments about this.

Thanks for sharing the details about paid drives in WRC cars. I wonder if Henning, Mads, PG, will read it. It may make them think twice about where to put their $$$.
Keep up the great writing.

Oh by the way, I heard VW are looking for a German driver!!! What are you waiting for?

I am German, that's right. My dad is German and my mom is French. We have always spoken french at home. After I was born we soon moved to Belgium where MAZDA RALLY TEAM was located. I lived in Belgium for 10 years or so and learned English there, playing in workshop with the mechanics and around the cars. There were guys from all over, working there and english was the main language. Armin Schwarz even worked for MAZDA as a mechanic, at the same time he was building his rally car in Germany, I think...

Unfortunately I have never learned German but I understand it rather well.

Since the start of my driving, I have never been considered by Germans as a fellow German, because I don't speak their language. I can understand that in a way. Although I consider myself more German than, say, an immigrant who comes to Germany, gets a German passport for work so he can send money back home to the family.

This situation alone does not put me in a situation where I can go to VW and say: Hello my name is Antony, I am german, I would like to have a chance to show what I can do on a test or something...

I know the answer will be, for 99.9% sure : ...yes but you are not a real German.... thank you.

This is a fault of my own that I assume responsability for. So you can forget the whole German - Antony connection :)

[Antony Warmbold]

Hah! A mk2 golf rally car:-) Nice! Whats with the odd wheels though?lol!

We did with what we had... It was ok.

[Hartusvuori]

Then he knows that we know that he's a fag. :D

Barreis, no matter how hard you try, always remember: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB73Ko12yiQ

[N.O.T]

Then he knows that we know that he's a fag. :D

why you hate the Finnish so much ??

[Tomi]

why you hate the Finnish so much ??

you have to show some understanding for the toss, he is coming from a place where nobody can drive a rally car, and where national heroes are guys like ante gotovina, it cant be very easy.

[pino]

Guys let's watch the language and keep the rubbish off here thank you :)

[Barreis]

Antony, please continue with work. :)

[mousti]

I am German, that's right. My dad is German and my mom is French. We have always spoken french at home. After I was born we soon moved to Belgium where MAZDA RALLY TEAM was located. I lived in Belgium for 10 years or so and learned English there, playing in workshop with the mechanics and around the cars. There were guys from all over, working there and english was the main language. Armin Schwarz even worked for MAZDA as a mechanic, at the same time he was building his rally car in Germany, I think...

Unfortunately I have never learned German but I understand it rather well.

Since the start of my driving, I have never been considered by Germans as a fellow German, because I don't speak their language. I can understand that in a way. Although I consider myself more German than, say, an immigrant who comes to Germany, gets a German passport for work so he can send money back home to the family.

This situation alone does not put me in a situation where I can go to VW and say: Hello my name is Antony, I am german, I would like to have a chance to show what I can do on a test or something...

I know the answer will be, for 99.9% sure : ...yes but you are not a real German.... thank you.

This is a fault of my own that I assume responsability for. So you can forget the whole German - Antony connection :)
U got in touch then with Jos Boon and others when he was driving the Mazda RX7?? :) Btw can u speak dutch (flemish) too? :)

[tfp]

Antony, please continue with work. :)

+1 :up:
:)

[Pinto]

things gone quiet on this,will we get more installments looked forward to them

[GigiGalliNo1]

I know the answer will be, for 99.9% sure : ...yes but you are not a real German.... thank you.


Antony, you are a funny man!

I just remebered, we had a photo taken many years ago at Rally Australia!!

[Antony Warmbold]

Antony, you are a funny man!

I just remebered, we had a photo taken many years ago at Rally Australia!!

Ok, that's nice, do you have it? I am curious to see if I can remember!

--------
Sorry guys, I have not updated in a while. Work is crazy at the moment. Very long days and no time for internet. I will post more stories when things calm down a bit over here.

[Pinto]

cheers antony liking your insight to the WRC but work must come first,looking forward to the next installment

[Daniel]

Ok, that's nice, do you have it? I am curious to see if I can remember!

--------
Sorry guys, I have not updated in a while. Work is crazy at the moment. Very long days and no time for internet. I will post more stories when things calm down a bit over here.

I'll see if I can find the ones I had. I've probably only got pictures from 2004 as that's the year I first went digital.

[Barreis]

Big like for this:
WRC behind the stages: Fotos from 2003 (http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.com/p/fotos-from-2003.html)

[R33]

I am German, that's right. My dad is German and my mom is French. We have always spoken french at home. After I was born we soon moved to Belgium where MAZDA RALLY TEAM was located. I lived in Belgium for 10 years or so and learned English there, playing in workshop with the mechanics and around the cars. There were guys from all over, working there and english was the main language. Armin Schwarz even worked for MAZDA as a mechanic, at the same time he was building his rally car in Germany, I think...

Unfortunately I have never learned German but I understand it rather well.

Since the start of my driving, I have never been considered by Germans as a fellow German, because I don't speak their language. I can understand that in a way. Although I consider myself more German than, say, an immigrant who comes to Germany, gets a German passport for work so he can send money back home to the family.

This situation alone does not put me in a situation where I can go to VW and say: Hello my name is Antony, I am german, I would like to have a chance to show what I can do on a test or something...

I know the answer will be, for 99.9% sure : ...yes but you are not a real German.... thank you.

This is a fault of my own that I assume responsability for. So you can forget the whole German - Antony connection :)

Thank you very much for your insights, Antony! I really enjoy reading your blog, as much as i enjoyed meeting you in person some years ago, which you probably won't remember anyway =)) I have just one question, although not really rally related - if you do not consider yourself to be a 'real' German, what nationality do you consider yourself to be?

[SubaruNorway]

Just saw a pic on FB of the retired rally driver testing a Mini :) (In a Ford driving suit hehe)
Edit: And here's the story. http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.com/

[Antony Warmbold]

Thank you very much for your insights, Antony! I really enjoy reading your blog, as much as i enjoyed meeting you in person some years ago, which you probably won't remember anyway =)) I have just one question, although not really rally related - if you do not consider yourself to be a 'real' German, what nationality do you consider yourself to be?

I consider myself to be German. I have the blood running through my veins, that's all I need.

[Barreis]

It would be cool to see you behind the wheel of mini wrc on WRC event. :)

[Antony Warmbold]

It would be cool to see you behind the wheel of mini wrc on WRC event. :)

I would love to!

[tolis]

I would love to!
Did you discuss anything about that?

[Daniel]

Of course he did.... He didn't just say thanks and walk away....

[Antony Warmbold]

Did you discuss anything about that?

yes, that is the ideal outcome which was talked about.

[Barreis]

We're keepin' fingers crossed. :)

[adr17]

i found this an interesting read having worked in wrc for many years .

i commented on a post on the blog which was about the spec of the customer cars at m sport answering when anthony was being negative against m sport ( which is fair enough as he sounds like he didnt have a great time )

however being in charge of a customer car at said WRC team i commented saying about the lack of differences and that we do give a sh*t about the drivers having the very best ( i certainly do) and after his comments saying the customer cars will be tweeked so they cant beat the works cars posted in april , next rally sardinia pg was quicks ford on 3 stages i believe and ostberg had very good times too

my post had to be given the go ahead by anthony to appear on the blog , but suprise suprise it never did so none of you guys could see the other side to the subject

im not saying anthony is not telling the truth because i wasnt there at that time but anthony is not there now so cant really comment

all im trying to say is there is two sides to every story

[urabus-denoS2000]

i found this an interesting read having worked in wrc for many years .

i commented on a post on the blog which was about the spec of the customer cars at m sport answering when anthony was being negative against m sport ( which is fair enough as he sounds like he didnt have a great time )

however being in charge of a customer car at said WRC team i commented saying about the lack of differences and that we do give a sh*t about the drivers having the very best ( i certainly do) and after his comments saying the customer cars will be tweeked so they cant beat the works cars posted in april , next rally sardinia pg was quicks ford on 3 stages i believe and ostberg had very good times too

my post had to be given the go ahead by anthony to appear on the blog , but suprise suprise it never did so none of you guys could see the other side to the subject

im not saying anthony is not telling the truth because i wasnt there at that time but anthony is not there now so cant really comment

all im trying to say is there is two sides to every story

Nice to hear the other side :) Surely there are two sides to every story , but Anthony isn't the only example of costumer treatment ( not only by M-Sport ) over the last few years , so I believe things aren't as they should be ...

[Daniel]

i found this an interesting read having worked in wrc for many years .

i commented on a post on the blog which was about the spec of the customer cars at m sport answering when anthony was being negative against m sport ( which is fair enough as he sounds like he didnt have a great time )

however being in charge of a customer car at said WRC team i commented saying about the lack of differences and that we do give a sh*t about the drivers having the very best ( i certainly do) and after his comments saying the customer cars will be tweeked so they cant beat the works cars posted in april , next rally sardinia pg was quicks ford on 3 stages i believe and ostberg had very good times too

my post had to be given the go ahead by anthony to appear on the blog , but suprise suprise it never did so none of you guys could see the other side to the subject

im not saying anthony is not telling the truth because i wasnt there at that time but anthony is not there now so cant really comment

all im trying to say is there is two sides to every story

Perhaps your predecessor didn't give a **** about the customer?

[Antony Warmbold]

i found this an interesting read having worked in wrc for many years .

i commented on a post on the blog which was about the spec of the customer cars at m sport answering when anthony was being negative against m sport ( which is fair enough as he sounds like he didnt have a great time )

however being in charge of a customer car at said WRC team i commented saying about the lack of differences and that we do give a sh*t about the drivers having the very best ( i certainly do) and after his comments saying the customer cars will be tweeked so they cant beat the works cars posted in april , next rally sardinia pg was quicks ford on 3 stages i believe and ostberg had very good times too

my post had to be given the go ahead by anthony to appear on the blog , but suprise suprise it never did so none of you guys could see the other side to the subject

im not saying anthony is not telling the truth because i wasnt there at that time but anthony is not there now so cant really comment

all im trying to say is there is two sides to every story

Hello adr17,

I believe this is the comment you are referring to. Not sure because this was posted by an anonymous person.


"hi, your blog is an interesting read . in answer to the current customer spec / work spec car sweden 2011 to current . i have the upmost respect for anthony but the answer to this is wrong and a bit of a bitter answer just because you had a bad experience doesnt mean it is still like it ! i am employed by m-sport and run/build a customer car in the wrc , there are very small differences between the castrol cars and customer cars however ones that are not that performance enhancing ! slightly lighter panels save bout 4 kg , however all cars are under the mininium so all have to be ballasted up to 1200kg , ride height control on castrol which means they can alter the ride by 30 mm by use of wheel brace just for superspecials how ever as they is normally a service before or after we do it to the customer cars in service , many of the drivers have tested different diffs and have ramps that they prefer . engine s!! the same !!! maps are constantly upgraged and all cars are done , experience of that is in sardinia my car was showing knock so had to take half a deg out of the ignition to make it last which shows it was mapped to the limit and it was only one rally old . the biggest difference is the drivers , what i mean is mikko and jari are testing all the time so have some much seat time compared to people like pg who was fastest ford on a few stages in sardinia and sweden in a customer car!!! reliability there have been some human errors but there have been many on the works team but they normally get covered up ; ) i have run a car for the customer team for 18 months and have never had a car build type failure / issue so i dont think you should tar us with the same brush because i have passion for my job and care about my driver getting the best for him !!! ( yeah there are some people that it is just a job and dont care but i do ) , with the new cars it is differnt to the last years when customer cars were just a year old hand me down from the works car but the fiesta era is different !!
By Anonymous on RSI (http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.com/2011/04/rsi_26.html) on 5/21/11"


You were responding to my RSI post:
WRC behind the stages: RSI (http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.com/2011/04/rsi_26.html)


I simply did not post your comment because I did not believe it belonged in my blog.

I think this subject could be better discussed by people here in the forum, in the Fiesta thread, for example.

Since I already mentioned in my RSI post various times, I don't have knowledge about the Fiesta. I merely gave my personal opinions because somebody asked.

I regret that you were offended by me not publishing your comment but unfortunately back then I had no way to contact you to give you a heads up. (Are you aware my email is available on the blog for anyone who wants to contact me directly?)

Thank you for your post on this thread so we could clear up the matter.

[tfp]

I was kind of waiting for this to happen:-) What were the differences, in say, the "yeti" engine to the "normal" one?

[Barreis]

It's better to own the car then to rent it when it's not possible to be hired works driver. Last 2 years P.Solberg had very good results with his own car and when renting ds3 wrc, bad things happen alll the time.

[mousti]

That's maybe true, the car Y3 FMC that Warmbold drove should have been very good Sainz drove it some time before Antony drove in it, so they should have replaced all the good parts when Sainz drove it by rubbish parts for Antony then.

And for now u can't really rent a WRC besides the Mini I think all Fiesta's and DS3's are being serviced by Msport or Citroen Sport.

[Plan9]

Anthony, I want to wish you the best of luck with the Mini project. I will look forward to seeing you in the Rally NZ in the future. I really hope it amounts to something. This may sound a little premature but is money going to be a factor at Prodrive as it was at Ford. I hope it doesn't meant that you will get an inferior car this time.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Of course he did.... He didn't just say thanks and walk away....

Aha!

[MSP AU]

Antony, thank you for providing an interesting insight into the sport at the top level. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog, as have several people I have shared the blog with.

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on the suggestion to offer open access to all press to WRC rounds (in the poll provided on your blog). This interests me, as Australian press (most that cover the national championship) are highly unlikely to gain access to local WRC rounds due to the small coverage the sport receives in Australia. We simply don't have the interest in the sport to satisfy media accreditation requirements at the highest level. While I see the reason for providing exclusive access to media that cover multiple WRC rounds, it would be good to see local media that are working in this country use their local knowledge and photography/videography skills to add to the WRC profile.

Currently the only way Australian media (outside of say two or three photographers at most) will shoot the event is to fly into private property, and shoot from behind the fence line. Those with a passion for the sport will still capture brilliant images and video. I have little knowledge of how the top WRC shooters operate, but I would assume that they concentrate on covering those most likely to be on the podium as local media do for our national championship.

Thanks
nigel

[Franky]

The WRC cameracrews actually have a list of people who they have to film. Once the last guy on the list passes, they are gone.

[Antony Warmbold]

Antony, thank you for providing an interesting insight into the sport at the top level. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog, as have several people I have shared the blog with.

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on the suggestion to offer open access to all press to WRC rounds (in the poll provided on your blog). This interests me, as Australian press (most that cover the national championship) are highly unlikely to gain access to local WRC rounds due to the small coverage the sport receives in Australia. We simply don't have the interest in the sport to satisfy media accreditation requirements at the highest level. While I see the reason for providing exclusive access to media that cover multiple WRC rounds, it would be good to see local media that are working in this country use their local knowledge and photography/videography skills to add to the WRC profile.

Currently the only way Australian media (outside of say two or three photographers at most) will shoot the event is to fly into private property, and shoot from behind the fence line. Those with a passion for the sport will still capture brilliant images and video. I have little knowledge of how the top WRC shooters operate, but I would assume that they concentrate on covering those most likely to be on the podium as local media do for our national championship.

Thanks
nigel

Hi Nigel, indeed I think it is a shame. I remember back in 03-05 sometimes we went to the press rooms of WRC events and there you could see how limited the press attendance was. The organisers were apparently obliged to provide huge press rooms with dozens of desks... that remained unused.

If you'd ask me to cite how many different reporters I had seen...Well lets see: France 3 press guys (autohebdo-echappement), Germany 2 (1 TV crew from RTL), Italy 1, Spain ?, Finland 1 TV crew, Britain 3 maybe 4, belgium 1 TV crew. The rest was photographers, maybe a dozen different ones who followed the Championship. I remember a couple from France, Japan, Czech Rep, Italy.

I am not sure why it's like that. Either it's too expensive to get accreditation, or denied because credentials are not good enough.

So most teams brought their own press guy and if you were private that was basically the only way your story was getting out.

Jean Todt would do well, in my opinion to open up the barb wired gate and let the press in. I don't think the sport is in a position where it can ignore potential extra coverage.

Think of the private drivers, for example. The more press the better for their sponsors.

[Antony Warmbold]

The WRC cameracrews actually have a list of people who they have to film. Once the last guy on the list passes, they are gone.

I was only appearing on TV when I crashed, except a couple times when I got inside the top 5 and still then it was not sure.

You have to pay them if you want to be filmed for your sponsors.

[AndyRAC]

Hi Nigel, indeed I think it is a shame. I remember back in 03-05 sometimes we went to the press rooms of WRC events and there you could see how limited the press attendance was. The organisers were apparently obliged to provide huge press rooms with dozens of desks... that remained unused.

If you'd ask me to cite how many different reporters I had seen...Well lets see: France 3 press guys (autohebdo-echappement), Germany 2 (1 TV crew from RTL), Italy 1, Spain ?, Finland 1 TV crew, Britain 3 maybe 4, belgium 1 TV crew. The rest was photographers, maybe a dozen different ones who followed the Championship. I remember a couple from France, Japan, Czech Rep, Italy.

I am not sure why it's like that. Either it's too expensive to get accreditation, or denied because credentials are not good enough.

So most teams brought their own press guy and if you were private that was basically the only way your story was getting out.

Jean Todt would do well, in my opinion to open up the barb wired gate and let the press in. I don't think the sport is in a position where it can ignore potential extra coverage.

Think of the private drivers, for example. The more press the better for their sponsors.

Yes, definately - in fact, all concerned should be encouraging more press coverage - not putting barriers up. Considering the number of newspapers each country has - the number of accredited journalists is pretty small. And that tells you the sport is 'small'.

[Daniel]

Hi Nigel, indeed I think it is a shame. I remember back in 03-05 sometimes we went to the press rooms of WRC events and there you could see how limited the press attendance was. The organisers were apparently obliged to provide huge press rooms with dozens of desks... that remained unused.

If you'd ask me to cite how many different reporters I had seen...Well lets see: France 3 press guys (autohebdo-echappement), Germany 2 (1 TV crew from RTL), Italy 1, Spain ?, Finland 1 TV crew, Britain 3 maybe 4, belgium 1 TV crew. The rest was photographers, maybe a dozen different ones who followed the Championship. I remember a couple from France, Japan, Czech Rep, Italy.

I am not sure why it's like that. Either it's too expensive to get accreditation, or denied because credentials are not good enough.

So most teams brought their own press guy and if you were private that was basically the only way your story was getting out.

Jean Todt would do well, in my opinion to open up the barb wired gate and let the press in. I don't think the sport is in a position where it can ignore potential extra coverage.

Think of the private drivers, for example. The more press the better for their sponsors.

Well speaking from experience your site had to lick some balls to get accreditation and as soon as you stopped with the ball licking, your accreditation was removed.

[Franky]

I was only appearing on TV when I crashed, except a couple times when I got inside the top 5 and still then it was not sure.

You have to pay them if you want to be filmed for your sponsors.

I got the TV accreditation for last years Rallye Deutschland and I remember that at the opening ceremony they literally had a list and the 2nd guy told the cameraman when to film. What gets shown on the TV is more the job of the "director" and editor.

I know that they ask a nice sum of money if you want to get 5 minutes of footage. If my memory serves me right, then it was somewhere around 1800 euros.

About getting the accredited for events. During the German round last year I saw quite many with media vests who weren't actually doing anything. More like hanging around and occasionally helping someone. Also I got the TV accreditation from North One Sport for my documentary (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufsr1BmFk8c). And I don't have anything to show because I'm still a student at the film and TV college.

I think it is a bit different for the writing press and photographers because they get their accreditation from FIA.

[Barreis]

Always nice on this thread.

[GigiGalliNo1]

I've gotten acredd 3 times :) I'll explain to you :) But yes, Australian media are not that interested in the WRC so much. One world agency I work with will have already one guy supplying on pay who travels to all rallies but based in Europe; another staffer locally plus possibly another member of staff, someone of a motorsport photog but not a rally guy (neither of them).

Japan's media conference room was a weird one a few years ago. Practically empty. Australian I cannot recall but NZ was the same as Japan...

[bennizw]

Where can we see the full documentary, Franky?

[Franky]

Where can we see the full documentary, Franky?
It's not ready yet. Had some setbacks. The premiere is on the 11th July 2011. It will be a few days later on Vimeo. I'll post the link in the video thread over here. Next week I'll post the new trailer. If you or someone else has more questions, then PM me.

Now back to the topic.

[MSP AU]

The WRC cameracrews actually have a list of people who they have to film. Once the last guy on the list passes, they are gone.

True, and that's why it's nice to have more than just a few media on the ground. It seems that media have a tendency to shoot the same locations too, nothing more rewarding than shooting a unique location.

[MSP AU]

Hi Nigel, indeed I think it is a shame. I remember back in 03-05 sometimes we went to the press rooms of WRC events and there you could see how limited the press attendance was. The organisers were apparently obliged to provide huge press rooms with dozens of desks... that remained unused.

If you'd ask me to cite how many different reporters I had seen...Well lets see: France 3 press guys (autohebdo-echappement), Germany 2 (1 TV crew from RTL), Italy 1, Spain ?, Finland 1 TV crew, Britain 3 maybe 4, belgium 1 TV crew. The rest was photographers, maybe a dozen different ones who followed the Championship. I remember a couple from France, Japan, Czech Rep, Italy.

I am not sure why it's like that. Either it's too expensive to get accreditation, or denied because credentials are not good enough.

So most teams brought their own press guy and if you were private that was basically the only way your story was getting out.

Jean Todt would do well, in my opinion to open up the barb wired gate and let the press in. I don't think the sport is in a position where it can ignore potential extra coverage.

Think of the private drivers, for example. The more press the better for their sponsors.

I had assumed that the number of television and photography crews during that era were far greater than in attendance today. The rules in our country are constantly changing, and they favour those who shoot images suited to the mainstream media. Last year they included those that have motor sport customers, and then they changed back to the old rules this year. I really like photography that tells a story, not just a sharp shot that shows the sponsor off. Work by Greg Roslon http://www.gregroslon.com the Mcklein team comes to mind as some of the best. Simply shooting for a team here doesn't count for anything, the priority is on the exposure for the entire championship through television and printed press.

I believe the top competitors here paid for television coverage in the past, but I think that has changed this year. I remember seeing you during one of the Rally Australia rounds (TV coverage), until a turbo problem. Plenty of top competitors crashed during that round from memory.

[MSP AU]

Yes, definately - in fact, all concerned should be encouraging more press coverage - not putting barriers up. Considering the number of newspapers each country has - the number of accredited journalists is pretty small. And that tells you the sport is 'small'.

exactly!

[raybak]

For the ARC you have to pay for TV coverage.

We are trying to put a deal together for Rally SA and Coffs to pay for the coverage.

Ray

[alleskids]

In the Netherlands it is the same with the Dakar rally. The television channel does not care for the results or action in stage, only who has paid for tv minuts.

[Barreis]

Drivers should be concentrated only on results, nothing else.

[Oppositelock]

I just can speak about written press. Agreed, the accreditation process is quite comlicated. Basically the national accreditation officer has to provide a list of all national applicants to the FIA media delegate. International accreditations are handleld by the FIA themselves.

But if you are working for a proper magazine and have a proper assignment you will always get a media pass for a WRC round (ask GigiGalliNo1). They just don't give away press passes to everybody who runs a website and calls himself a journalist.

TV is a complete different story. Because North One Sport is the rights holder they have to decide.

Antony: During your time there were a lot more journalists and photographers than you remember. But it's true, today there are a lot less. The habit of the manufacturers to give away free photos on their websites has killed the jobs of quite a number of WRC photographers in recent years . . . .

[Barreis]

Antony, please more. :)

[SubaruNorway]

Write something about suspension, tire pressures maybe? Basically a "How to set up a WRC car" :)

[SubaruNorway]

Write something about suspension, tire pressures maybe? Basically a "How to set up a WRC car" :)

[Daniel]

But if you are working for a proper magazine and have a proper assignment you will always get a media pass for a WRC round (ask GigiGalliNo1). They just don't give away press passes to everybody who runs a website and calls himself a journalist.

Complete BS. I remember a year where some of the best photographers in Australia didn't get passes or almost didn't get passes. As for websites, I can tell you that whether you get a pass depends on what you say :)

[MSP AU]

Complete BS. I remember a year where some of the best photographers in Australia didn't get passes or almost didn't get passes. As for websites, I can tell you that whether you get a pass depends on what you say :)

Australian rally media outlets are not large enough for photographers supplying them to meet the FIA media accreditation requirements in my short experience. And reading over the media application, the FIA requires photographers to meet commercial rates. Not sure what these are, as they are not published? But the rates I have observed locally are less than commercial, and supplying images for next to nothing does nothing for photographer or the industry. Not trying to be negative, but I see the local industry as too small to support more than several photographers at top level. And anyone wanting to climb that ladder has to give their work away to attempt to meet media guidelines, in doing so they destroy any industry that exists?

• Circulation

Accreditation decisions are based on the relative ‘media market’ in the country of the applicant. As such, the usual minimum circulation for a national weekly or monthly publication is 20,000 copies. For a national daily the minimum circulation is 50,000 copies.

Freelance journalists must apply for credentials via their own agencies. The onus is on the freelance applicant to prove the supply of regular stories to at least five publications.

Photo agencies must be able to prove that the pictures have been regularly sold to publications matching the FIA criteria and have been paid for at the normal commercial rate. A publication must be able to prove that the pictures published are the original work of the publication's accredited photographer.

Source http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/accreditation/wrc_accreditation/Documents/2011-wrc-accreditation-procedure.pdf

Our photography business has accreditation for the Australia Rally Championships, but I have been unsuccessful in getting any clarification on what this means for the WRC? Local cars (ARC/Classics) competing in the same stages as the Rally Australia (WRC) event are into stage between 30 and 90 minutes behind the WRC crews. Does this mean we can only access the stages after the last WRC car exits stage?

Sorry to take off topic. Keen to hear more from Antony, and I have been checking in on the blog daily...

[Antony Warmbold]

No no, please don't apologize. You write interesting things!

[Antony Warmbold]

Write something about suspension, tire pressures maybe? Basically a "How to set up a WRC car" :)

Hi,
It's pretty big subject. If you want we can talk on the forum. Anybody who has specific questions I can try to answer.

Tire pressures usually hovered anywhere between 1.8 bar and 2.2 bar cold at the stage start. Depending on which surface and which tires you had. I was starting stages in Catalunya with 1.8bar cold and if I remember correctly at the stage end it was not unusual to see the pressures at 2.5bar. That was with mousse. Today they might do a little different.
We put the same pressures front and rear.
On rough gravel rally I was a bit afraid to start stages with 1.8bar. So I started with 2.0 for a bit more safety in the first few kms. It's easy to knock a tire off the rim when it's got low pressure. it happened a few times to me, usually on the rear and usually when you hit banks or things like that. So either you watch out for them in the beginning or you don't care. It's a risk worth thinking about.
i had always been thinking that maybe it would have been a good idea to use a specific gas instead of air in the tires.

[SubaruNorway]

They must be using nitrogen now since it doesn't expand when it gets hot like air?
Nokian supply some new tires to where i work with that anyway, i think it's only been on winter tires.

I've always wondered how the steering feels like, is it lighter than in a roadcar?

[Antony Warmbold]

Yes, from what I have heard Nitrogen behaves more steady than air when it gets hot. I asked the tire man in the team about it once and he told me they were just using air. I would not be surprised if somebody uses nitrogen nowadays, if allowed by regulations, as it would in my opinion really help on hard surfaces.

The steering, mainly, has another ratio, which makes it more direct. So you turn quite a bit less the wheel than on a standard car. This is really useful. As far as the power steering is concerned, it depends from car to car. On the corolla wrc it was very light, to a point where you could not feel the road so well. I did not like it very much and I always thought you ended up steering too much just to look for feeling the grip.
on the focus the steering felt much better. I thought the feeling for the road was just enough. The Mini felt just right as well.
You can get this difference from road cars as well, some have more light feeling than others. It's important that the engineers get it just right, with help from driver's feedback, so you can feel the road and the grip.
Compared to a road car, I would say that it depends on the road car, but on the rally car you don't feel every rock on the road as you do in a road car. i would say the steering feels more robust than a road car. If you drive a rally car in ruts, for example, you don't get bothered at all.

This "getting it just right" also applies for the brake pedal. The skoda wrc that I tested once gave me absolutely no feeling whatsoever from the brake pedal. it felt like you were pumping air and it was very difficult to judge how much to push on the pedal. That car must have been extremely difficult to drive in slippery conditions as far as braking is concerned. In my opinion everything in a rally car has to be optimized that it gives as much feedback as possible from the road and the grip to the driver. So steering and brake pedal are VERY important for grip feeling.

That is why in my opinion a new team who wants to develop a car must, at all costs, hire drivers with experience from TOP cars as they are the only ones who know from experience how good a car can be and should be.

[Antony Warmbold]

Yes, from what I have heard Nitrogen behaves more steady than air when it gets hot. I asked the tire man in the team about it once and he told me they were just using air. I would not be surprised if somebody uses nitrogen nowadays, if allowed by regulations, as it would in my opinion really help on hard surfaces.

The steering, mainly, has another ratio, which makes it more direct. So you turn quite a bit less the wheel than on a standard car. This is really useful. As far as the power steering is concerned, it depends from car to car. On the corolla wrc it was very light, to a point where you could not feel the road so well. I did not like it very much and I always thought you ended up steering too much just to look for feeling the grip.
on the focus the steering felt much better. I thought the feeling for the road was just enough. The Mini felt just right as well.
You can get this difference from road cars as well, some have more light feeling than others. It's important that the engineers get it just right, with help from driver's feedback, so you can feel the road and the grip.
Compared to a road car, I would say that it depends on the road car, but on the rally car you don't feel every rock on the road as you do in a road car. i would say the steering feels more robust than a road car. If you drive a rally car in ruts, for example, you don't get bothered at all.

This "getting it just right" also applies for the brake pedal. The skoda wrc that I tested once gave me absolutely no feeling whatsoever from the brake pedal. it felt like you were pumping air and it was very difficult to judge how much to push on the pedal. That car must have been extremely difficult to drive in slippery conditions as far as braking is concerned. In my opinion everything in a rally car has to be optimized that it gives as much feedback as possible from the road and the grip to the driver. So steering and brake pedal are VERY important for grip feeling.

That is why in my opinion a new team who wants to develop a car must, at all costs, hire drivers with experience from TOP cars as they are the only ones who know from experience how good a car can be and should be.

[Barreis]

What's new about you and the mini project?

[Antony Warmbold]

What's new about you and the mini project?

To be honest, I would need support from whoever wants to be part of that adventure, to help make it happen.

[Tomi]

A little off topic, but you Antony might know, did Mazda Rally Team (Europe) have any collaboration with Mikael Sundströms Muurala Motors in the past? I was just thinking becaus he did build good cars as well.

[OldF]

Antony, how did you evaluate the braking points and grip?

What kind of damper adjustment did you use for different surface and roads (fast/slow bump/compression and fast/slow rebound)?

What kind of camber and caster adjustments for different surface and roads?

Btw, have you been reading “Driving style evolution” thread? Would be nice to read some comments from you about that topic.

[Antony Warmbold]

A little off topic, but you Antony might know, did Mazda Rally Team (Europe) have any collaboration with Mikael Sundströms Muurala Motors in the past? I was just thinking becaus he did build good cars as well.

I don't know of any specific collaboration.

[Antony Warmbold]

Antony, how did you evaluate the braking points and grip?

What kind of damper adjustment did you use for different surface and roads (fast/slow bump/compression and fast/slow rebound)?

What kind of camber and caster adjustments for different surface and roads?

Btw, have you been reading “Driving style evolution” thread? Would be nice to read some comments from you about that topic.

I evaluate the braking points with my gut. The moment that I start the 1st stage of the rally, on gravel for example, I already feel the amount of slip under my tires as I accelerate. This gives me an idea for braking distance. Then very soon in the stage I purposely went past what I imagined was a braking point, just to see. Many times it turned out there was more grip than expected so I just pushed the limit until a few corners later I got it and continued like that. So basically I had to scare myself a bit right at the start to find where the edge was. I found that, if I did not do that, I easily fell into a false rhythm.

I am in Finland now and I don't have any spec sheets so it's hard to give an answer for geometry specs.

As far as I know there was different specs of dampers used for different events. I don't know if my dampers were systematically the same as the factory cars but I know that I had settings that were harder than the recommended settings. Because I was looking for stability and re-activity from this car which was very difficult to get.
Those shocks were very, very soft. I could change 5 or 6 clicks on them and not feel a darn thing. Completely different from the Ohlins in the Corolla wrc where 3 damper clicks changed the car behavior radically.
It literally took something like 8 clicks on the focus before you started feeling the shocks were even there and so, if I remember correctly, I sometimes had settings that were 10 or 12 clicks harder than some, which was almost half of the total clicks you could play with.

There was 3 settings on the dampers. High / low speed compression and rebound with a single speed. I had never heard of fast rebound yet at the time. I don't remember specifics in terms of the high and low compression, all I can tell you is that I changed them around until I had something I judged was stable enough. The rebound was very open on rallies like Sweden because you wanted the wheel to follow the ground as much as possible. Although If there were jumps like in Finland you had to keep the rear rebound somewhat closed because otherwise the spring was too eager to kick the car's behind up in the air on take-off, which would result in a nose dive and a nasty landing.

On gravel the usual springs were linear with 30 kg on front and 25 kg on rear.

In 2005, before Neste Rally, I got to test the car for a few hours in Finland, and I was invited to try springs that Mikko had liked which were 30/21. basically softer on rear but same on front. This changed the car balance a lot and made it more under-steering. I was then able to drive much more aggressive and not lose the rear in endless slides. It suited me and the times were systematically quicker with this other balance.

I think somebody mentioned how a car needs to be under-steering, to be safe to drive, on the drivingstyle thread. That is true, as far as I am concerned.

It comes to a point where you have to attack and be SO aggressive and fast into corners that it is impossible to keep a neutral car or over-steering car on the road. You must set it up so the rear is "lazy to come out" and then when you push hard enough it will be just fine. If you try different setups and change the car balance like from 30/27 to 30/21 you will notice the huge differences in stage times and driveability.

[cardy]

Hi Antony

i would like to make a model of your rally poland focus the yellow one would you have any hi res photos i could use?

[Antony Warmbold]

Hi Antony

i would like to make a model of your rally poland focus the yellow one would you have any hi res photos i could use?

Yes I do, on my home computer. please remind me on the 4th of August when I will be home.
[email:3mzqp04m]antony.warmbold@gmail.com[/email:3mzqp04m]

[Barreis]

Antony, any chance to drive Rally Germany?

[cardy]

Yes I do, on my home computer. please remind me on the 4th of August when I will be home.
antony.warmbold@gmail.com

thats great thank you so much

how come there was a polish flag next to your name on the window?

[Antony Warmbold]

Antony, any chance to drive Rally Germany?

Germany could be something interesting to do although there is little time left before the event.

[Antony Warmbold]

thats great thank you so much

how come there was a polish flag next to your name on the window?

It's a Monaco flag, in fact, upside down from Polish flag. The organizer requested that I put the flag of the automobile club who issued my racing license. Apparently that was the system in Poland at the time.

[Barreis]

It would be very good.

[cardy]

It's a Monaco flag, in fact, upside down from Polish flag. The organizer requested that I put the flag of the automobile club who issued my racing license. Apparently that was the system in Poland at the time.

ah i see ive built 4 versions so far of that jolly club car 3x kulig 1x bertone so to add yours will be great

[mousti]

Germany could be something interesting to do although there is little time left before the event.
Why not next year Ypres in a S1.6t car, Belgium is familiar to u, the roads are also your terrain. IRC great series and the S1.6t a new formula what hopefully get popular :) ! And u seeing driving in our country would be a honor! Lot of respect for u!

[Barreis]

IRC will never be the same as WRC.

[Antony Warmbold]

Why not next year Ypres in a S1.6t car, Belgium is familiar to u, the roads are also your terrain. IRC great series and the S1.6t a new formula what hopefully get popular :) ! And u seeing driving in our country would be a honor! Lot of respect for u!

I would definitely enjoy that. Big challenge, the Belgian drivers are very fast. :)

[Antony Warmbold]

Why not next year Ypres in a S1.6t car, Belgium is familiar to u, the roads are also your terrain. IRC great series and the S1.6t a new formula what hopefully get popular :) ! And u seeing driving in our country would be a honor! Lot of respect for u!

I would definitely enjoy that. Big challenge, the Belgian drivers are very fast. :)
I like Belgium very much, I spent most of my childhood there, near Tervuren.

[Antony Warmbold]

IRC will never be the same as WRC.

I can see that the competition is very hard in IRC. Looks like many drivers have good machines and that is very interesting.

[Antony Warmbold]

ah i see ive built 4 versions so far of that jolly club car 3x kulig 1x bertone so to add yours will be great

looking forward to seeing it!

[Steve Boyd]

It's a Monaco flag, in fact, upside down from Polish flag. The organizer requested that I put the flag of the automobile club who issued my racing license. Apparently that was the system in Poland at the time.
The flag you show is actually a requirement of the FIA International Sporting Code (Art. 112). On a World Championship event your nationality is the same as your passport. On all other events your nationality is the same as the ASN that issued your competition licence.
If you look at event entry lists and results from the 1970's you will often see drivers like Ari Vatanen & Pentti Airikkala with their nationality shown as GB (not FIN) because they had to have a British licence to compete in the British championship. The British championship wasn't international in those days and included national as well as international events. It was also before the rule was introduced that allows nationals of EU countries to compete in national events in other EU countries with their own country's licence (NEAFP), so you could only do a national event in the country that issued your licence.

[Tomi]

If you look at event entry lists and results from the 1970's you will often see drivers like Ari Vatanen & Pentti Airikkala with their nationality shown as GB (not FIN) because they had to have a British licence to compete in the British championship. The British championship wasn't international in those days and included national as well as international events. It was also before the rule was introduced that allows nationals of EU countries to compete in national events in other EU countries with their own country's licence (NEAFP), so you could only do a national event in the country that issued your licence.

Are you sure about this, I remember Pentti once told about the Brittish licence but the reasons why he had it was very different.

[mousti]

I would definitely enjoy that. Big challenge, the Belgian drivers are very fast. :)
I like Belgium very much, I spent most of my childhood there, near Tervuren.
Offcourse with the good food and beers we have. Although u lived a bit far from Ypres u probably know for sure how great and historical the city is. WRC has maybe the very best drivers, but IRC has also great competition and is cheaper to run there and like u said go against the likes of Tsjoen who's a gentlemen driver like u but also very fast!

[Steve Boyd]

Are you sure about this, I remember Pentti once told about the Brittish licence but the reasons why he had it was very different.Pentti may have had other reasons as well, but up to 1977 it was certainly true (it's a real shame he isn't still with us so that we could ask him). The British Rally Championship changed to an Open International series in 1978 (I think) so a UK licence would not have been required from then onwards for championship events, but drivers contracted to British teams may have been expected to do additional events in Britain that required a UK licence. The fact that Pentti was a UK resident may also have made it easier for him to have a British, rather than Finnish, licence. FIA rules say that you need an address in the country that issues the licence - but don't say you have to live there! I can't remember when the NEAFP rule came in but since it was introduced it has been possible to compete on NEAFP calendar events across the EU with a suitable licence from another country.

[OldF]

I think somebody mentioned how a car needs to be under-steering, to be safe to drive, on the drivingstyle thread. That is true, as far as I am concerned.I

I’ve read from somewhere that a neutral car is the worst to drive because it’s neutral only in specific conditions. Outside the optimal conditions it’s sometimes over steering and sometimes under steering. I don’t know but I think the current drivers prefer a under steering car instead of an over steering cars.

[Barreis]

Antony, are you on entry list for Germany?

[Antony Warmbold]

Antony, are you on entry list for Germany?

No, I am not.

[Antony Warmbold]

Offcourse with the good food and beers we have. Although u lived a bit far from Ypres u probably know for sure how great and historical the city is. WRC has maybe the very best drivers, but IRC has also great competition and is cheaper to run there and like u said go against the likes of Tsjoen who's a gentlemen driver like u but also very fast!

Rallies in Belgium are very specialized and guys like Tsjoen and Loix know these roads like their back pockets. they also are very familiar with how to set up their cars, especially suspension, for the roads.
It is very difficult for a non local driver to beat them or equal them on their turf.
I personally prefer doing events where nobody has real local knowledge. You come, take notes, check them and go. Whoever has the best overall package is best.

[gravelman]

Have you ever considered doing a rally in Ireland Antony? Our stages and surfaces are renowned for being unique and granted, much like Belgium local knowledge is an asset but not a complete obstacle. The atmosphere here is fun, the events are very professionally run, some of the best run outside of the WRC it has been said and most of all its a friendly relaxed atmosphere to compete in. You can drive almost anything you want here too, from WRCs to wild Mk 2 Escorts or Metro 6r4s. You'd be more than welcome

[Antony Warmbold]

Have you ever considered doing a rally in Ireland Antony? Our stages and surfaces are renowned for being unique and granted, much like Belgium local knowledge is an asset but not a complete obstacle. The atmosphere here is fun, the events are very professionally run, some of the best run outside of the WRC it has been said and most of all its a friendly relaxed atmosphere to compete in. You can drive almost anything you want here too, from WRCs to wild Mk 2 Escorts or Metro 6r4s. You'd be more than welcome

Yeah I believe it, my dad won Donegal rally years ago in a BMW and keeps a very good memory of it. I would definitely like to compete one day over there.

[gravelman]

I have some video of that in the BMW 2002, I wasnt even a thought in either of my parents heads!! There is a car that competes here in the historic rallies in the same green and white livery driven by a man called Sean Treacy. You'd be very welcome, make sure and let us know if the thought ever crosses your mind again. Thanks for the reply Antony

[mousti]

Rallies in Belgium are very specialized and guys like Tsjoen and Loix know these roads like their back pockets. they also are very familiar with how to set up their cars, especially suspension, for the roads.
It is very difficult for a non local driver to beat them or equal them on their turf.
I personally prefer doing events where nobody has real local knowledge. You come, take notes, check them and go. Whoever has the best overall package is best.
There's one rally in the BRC though that the top drivers doesn't have the experience on it and also not the best settings because the roads are different every stage and very tricky. That Rally is called East Belgian Rally a very young rally who got since last year back in BRC after a pause of 2 years I think with a new fused organisation on it. It's for u a very interesting rally! Why, it lays just next to the German border, it's in the German part of Belgium, only 2 real top specialists there Neuville (is then doing IRC Scotland) and Thiry (but maybe doesn't start or just in a C2) the rest of the top field in Belgium doesn't know the rally very well. Very tricky but great stages in the woods and hills of the East Cantons in Belgium, niciest stages of whole Belgium! If u are interested in this u may always contact me for info about this rally.

[Antony Warmbold]

There's one rally in the BRC though that the top drivers doesn't have the experience on it and also not the best settings because the roads are different every stage and very tricky. That Rally is called East Belgian Rally a very young rally who got since last year back in BRC after a pause of 2 years I think with a new fused organisation on it. It's for u a very interesting rally! Why, it lays just next to the German border, it's in the German part of Belgium, only 2 real top specialists there Neuville (is then doing IRC Scotland) and Thiry (but maybe doesn't start or just in a C2) the rest of the top field in Belgium doesn't know the rally very well. Very tricky but great stages in the woods and hills of the East Cantons in Belgium, niciest stages of whole Belgium! If u are interested in this u may always contact me for info about this rally.

Ok, thanks for that I did not know about this rally. :)

[Pinto]

Yeah I believe it, my dad won Donegal rally years ago in a BMW and keeps a very good memory of it. I would definitely like to compete one day over there.


if there was any rally to come over and do Donegal is the one best rally in Ireland by far and not too many else would would trump it for atmosphere stages and great competion,im sure you dad can confirm this.

[Barreis]

Antony, anything new? Please continue with the blog (friendships with the drivers; relationship with McRae, etc.). THX.

[Antony Warmbold]

Hi everyone! I am in the process of updating the blog. Holidays are over.

[Barreis]

THX.

[Barreis]

Antony woke up.
WRC behind the stages (http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.com/)

[tfp]

Another good read, and a good video to boot:-)

[Antony Warmbold]

Good morning - Bonjour - Buenos dias - Guten morgen - God morgon - Huomenta - Tere hommikust :)

Chapter 17 is up.

[Antony Warmbold]

Chapter 18 is up!

[Barreis]

Thanks, Antony.

[tfp]

Thankyou once again Antony!

[Antony Warmbold]

Glad you like it!

[jonas_mcrae]

great posts anthony, thanks!

[Red bull]

Good morning - Bonjour - Buenos dias - Guten morgen - God morgon - Huomenta - Tere hommikust :)

Chapter 17 is up.
Habari gani, :D

[Antony Warmbold]

Habari gani, :D

What language is that?

Swahili??

[Red bull]

What language is that?

Swahili??

yes,jambo kenya hakuna matata.

[cliff02]

Was just wondering Anthony, after seeing the photo on your blog, what was it like to drive around that full staduim on the acropolis rally?

Any news on the possible seat with mini next year?

[Antony Warmbold]

Was just wondering Anthony, after seeing the photo on your blog, what was it like to drive around that full staduim on the acropolis rally?

Any news on the possible seat with mini next year?

It was unreal. When you drive in you can hear the roar from the spectators and in a way, it shakes you!

For the moment I am afraid there is nothing to announce regarding the Mini project but I haven't given up yet.

[Zeakiwi]

How about a back up plan of a Mazda RX-9 in the GT class perhaps. 2013 Mazda RX-9 Coupe - Top Speed (http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mazda/2013-mazda-rx-9-coupe-ar99495.html)

[Antony Warmbold]

How about a back up plan of a Mazda RX-9 in the GT class perhaps. 2013 Mazda RX-9 Coupe - Top Speed (http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mazda/2013-mazda-rx-9-coupe-ar99495.html)

I don't think so. All the Japanese manufacturers are in weak shape at the moment and motorsport is not on their agendas.

[Antony Warmbold]

Hi guys,

I just posted the translation of the interview from Polish to English over on the blog.

Have a nice day!

[Barreis]

Thx.

[Antony Warmbold]

Hi guys! The blog will get translated, chapter by chapter, in Polish on a motorsport website! Chapter 1 is ready. Those of you who are curious about it can find the link over on the blog Newsflash.

thanks!

[tfp]

Hi Antony, please keep on with the blog :)
Do you ever keep in touch with Duval or any of the other drivers?

[Antony Warmbold]

Hi tfp, I did keep in touch with some a little bit. I am facebook friends with Toni ;)

[Barreis]

Any news about some outings?

[tfp]

Hi tfp, I did keep in touch with some a little bit. I am facebook friends with Toni ;)

Good to see you guys keep in touch after the competition! :)

[Barreis]

Any news? Will it be something on your blog?

[darkstar]

Warmbold mit Mini in die DRM?*:: rallye-magazin.de (http://www.rallye-magazin.de/rallyes/dm/nachrichten/news-detail/d/2011/11/07/warmbold-mit-mini-in-die-drm/index.html)

translation:

Google Übersetzer (http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallye-magazin.de%2Frallyes%2Fdm%2Fnachrichten%2Fnews-detail%2Fd%2F2011%2F11%2F07%2Fwarmbold-mit-mini-in-die-drm%2Findex.html&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8)

[Antony Warmbold]

There you have your answer Barreis :)

[darkstar]

that´s some really good news. would be cool if you could manage to get this programm started! :)

[Antony Warmbold]

I am working very hard on it. I would really like to do the DRM :)

[Mirek]

Good luck with that! Just a question, for DRM is Mini allowed only as S2000 or even as WRC spec.?

[Antony Warmbold]

As far as I know it's S2000 or Regional Rally Car I think they call it.