[MERC 2013] Welcome to Citroën Abu Dhabi...

[Tom206wrc]

Hi,

It's been presented in the same time as the 2013 WRC program of Citroën Abu Dhabi, today thursday...

In addition to the participation of Khalid Al Qassimi in the new DS3 RRC, Citroën and Abu Dhabi will create a young drivers talent detection(equivalent to the FFSA Rallye-Jeunes in France)...the selected drivers will run MERC in the DS3 R3T.

Really good idea to my point of view :up: :cool:

[OldF]

Imo the FFSA Rallye-Jeunes has been very successful. :)

[Kielder]

First photo of the new livery on the DS3 R3:

http://i46.tinypic.com/mb7tza.jpg

The closer, the uglier...

[tommeke_B]

It's better than nothing... ;)

[Kielder]

It's better than nothing... ;)

Tell Ford... ;)

[Prisoner Monkeys]

First photo of the new livery on the DS3 R3:

[...]

The closer, the uglier...
I actually quite like it. It's much simpler than the Red Bull liveries.

[Tom206wrc]

We already know the names of the two young drivers from Abu Dhabi who will drive the DS3 R3Ts in MERC 2013: Mohammed Al-Mutawaa and Mohammed Al-Ali ;)

[Kielder]

Al Qassimi has tested the DS3 RRC.

http://i46.tinypic.com/omn7p.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/2qxb0ph.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/1tu0t0.jpg

[Kielder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pmEfYFCHPOs

nice, abu dhabi

[Tom206wrc]

So here we go, this coming week-end is International Qatar Rally :)
Qatar International Rally - Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) (http://www.qmmf.com/index.php?page=qatar-international-rally)

Interesting to notice: all Citroën drivers will have british codrivers(Scott Martin is Wilslow's usual codriver) :)

[tolis]

Citroen had a test today

http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/484801_10200190043850763_462703757_n.jpg

[Tom206wrc]

Sporttraxx Timing (http://timing.sporttraxx.com/races/qatar-2013/#itinerary/)
From tomorrow friday ;)

[Rasantes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxa5vt6H7Wg

[rage82]

Live tracking maps from Qatar international rally - Qatar International Rally 2013 (http://tracking.sporttraxx.com/races/qatar-2013/)
All you have to do is to download a little file for google earth and you can track the cars into the special stage and road sections. Of course you need the google earth program!

[Mad cat jnr]

So here we go, this coming week-end is International Qatar Rally :)
Qatar International Rally - Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) (http://www.qmmf.com/index.php?page=qatar-international-rally)

Interesting to notice: all Citroën drivers will have british codrivers(Scott Martin is Wilslow's usual codriver) :)

Isnt he doing full year with Al-Qassimi?

[Georgi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxa5vt6H7Wg

Some very crazy driving... Rough terrain though :D

[Georgi]

Whoa Al Qassimi is leading ! Bit of surprise for me.

[fegh]

Al Qassimi Big jump with the DS3 RRC in Testing
Video Khaled Al Qassimi,Big Jump | MMS Rally (http://new.mmsrally.com/news/video-khaled-al-qassimibig-jump)

[fegh]

what happened to Al RAJHI, he was leading by 11.3 s after SS2 ?

[bjalverud]

He hit a stone

[tolis]

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/72927_10151445157200242_1431765644_n.jpg

http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/23355_10151445113505242_11731197_n.jpg

http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196411_10151445114775242_1773399666_n.jpg

http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/430034_10151445115355242_111832440_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/530842_10151445115510242_1688462412_n.jpg

Polish flag for Bernacchini?

[Coach 2]

Maybe it's the Monaco flag upside down?

[Tom206wrc]

WOW I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Al Qassimi really a run for his money to Al Attiyah !!! :D

[fegh]

Al Attiyah leads Al Qassimi by 4.8 s at end of Day 1

[Tom206wrc]

Both DS3 R3s drivers retired :(

[fegh]

Both DS3 R3s drivers retired :(

classification
Sporttraxx Timing (http://timing.sporttraxx.com/races/qatar-2013/#results/6)

AL MUTAWAA/DS3 R3T is still listed

[Tom206wrc]

They changed the result: now Qassimi leading Attiyah for 2"2 after day one :confused:

[tolis]

Day 1 video: 2013 Qatar International Rally. DAY 1 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHlUtDSyu1o)
I think we should change the name of the thread to MERC 2013

[bluuford]

Quite difficult to go off road..

[stefanvv]

Quite difficult to go off road..

...and still some does it, I saw rolled car

[tolis]

...and still some does it, I saw rolled car
Indeed, the Catinkaya's Evo IX.

[stefanvv]

Indeed, the Catinkaya's Evo IX.

These are tough roads, on the other hand I might say - what roads? BTW I always wondered in Jordan how drivers are so sure where the road is on some stages. :)

[Mad cat jnr]

I have thought that too, will explain why Al-Attiyah is so good at Dakar ;)

[vino_93]

These are tough roads, on the other hand I might say - what roads? BTW I always wondered in Jordan how drivers are so sure where the road is on some stages. :)
And Matthieu Baumel, who codrived Al-Rajhi some years ago, said that Jordan was really different from other events, because roads were easiest to see :) But it was more difficult for middle-east crews, because they weren't used to this !

[Kielder]

Al-Qassimi's car:

http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/ac48cb8e67dd11e29a9c22000a1fbe09_7.jpg

[dimviii]

he was runing with flat tyre probably.

[Kielder]

he was runing with flat tyre probably.

Yes, for more than 12 kms.

[dimviii]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdYW_286ca4

[Kielder]

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/72927_10151445157200242_1431765644_n.jpg


The weight distribution of this car mustn't be OK.

http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/bde1523c688511e2974222000a1fbdac_7.jpg

[dimviii]

you can t judge from these photos,but i doubt citroen racing didn t balanced it.

[stefanvv]

It can depend alot of how you approach the jump

[alleskids]

BTW, the tread carries the wrong name. It is the ABU DHABI Citroen Total WRT team. The main WRC team is Citroen Abu Dhabi, the M2 team is Abu Dhabi Citroen.
:)
but a terrific battle of the Sheikhs

[bluuford]

I think its alltogether: bad approach to the jump, probably two spares and some tools for rough rally and very new car (not well balanced yet)

[dimviii]

very nice video from tests with some high speed passes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ogMAsp01R2g#!

[Kielder]

I think its alltogether: bad approach to the jump, probably two spares and some tools for rough rally and very new car (not well balanced yet)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j399I-NV2b0&feature=youtu.be

[stefanvv]

That's what happens at full speed at the jump, the nose lifts because the air kicks it from below when the ground effect is gone.

[Tom206wrc]

Rally of Kuwait this coming week-end ;)
kmrc (http://www.kmrc.com.kw/rally.php)

[Rallyewerk]

Nice! Looking forward to image from Kuweit

[Humber]

Nasser 1, Khalid 2, etc

Kuwait International Rally 2013-Review day 2 by mmsrally.com - YouTube (http://youtu.be/5--nKAtFzAU)

citroen rrc ds3 rally kuwait 2013 - YouTube (http://youtu.be/OPdMbuTx05U) (Citroen)

[dimviii]

some very nice photos ,bravo to photographer!!
http://www.ewrc.cz/images/2013/photos/kuwait_international_rally_2013/mac_mch_0056.jpghttp://www.ewrc.cz/images/2013/photos/kuwait_international_rally_2013/mac_mch_9701.jpghttp://www.ewrc.cz/images/2013/photos/kuwait_international_rally_2013/mac_mch_0108.jpghttp://www.ewrc.cz/images/2013/photos/kuwait_international_rally_2013/mac_6o1a9845.jpg

eWRC.cz - Fotogalerie Kuwait International Rally 2013 Marin Chytka (http://www.ewrc.cz/ewrc/fotogalery.php?events=7974&fotograf=283)

[fegh]

Tomorrow starts the 2013 Jordan Rally. Very interesting entry list 2013 Jordan Rally (http://biser3a.com/international-rallies/merc/2013-jordan-rally-entry-list/)

[tommeke_B]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/21302_416468961794051_1502586996_n.jpg Who will get out first? :D

[Kielder]

Who will get out first? http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

The car was dangling for 20 minutes over the wadi. Three cars tried to help, but the first rope snapped the towing eye. As Harryman wrote on Twitter, "that's when it got interesting!"
Another pic, even scariest:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BJ5nfS9CAAAY261.jpg:large


Majed Alshamsi/John Higgins hadn't the same luck at the same corner. Fortunately, both are OK.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BJ5tbNLCcAIk-Q_.jpg:large

[makinen_fan]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/294860_281213798682577_950308259_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/943220_281213805349243_1815158561_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/270959_281213812015909_493788991_n.jpg

[Kielder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ks_09b3psyM

[Kielder]

Really a rally for tightrope walkers:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/923378_10151454387662987_430395669_n.jpg

[Leon]

Cyprus Rally MERC, entry list

http://www.cyprusrally.com.cy/2013/wp-c ... tries1.pdf (http://www.cyprusrally.com.cy/2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/List-of-Entries1.pdf)

[makinen_fan]

Khalid testing in mixed surface before Cyprus Rally (not my video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg7889yxRiE

[makinen_fan]

The Super Special will be shown live here
https://webtv.cytanet.com.cy//cls/page. ... 5&langID=0 (https://webtv.cytanet.com.cy//cls/page.php?pageID=15&langID=0)
I am not sure yet if this is only for Cyprus based users or not

[stefanvv]

I am not sure yet if this is only for Cyprus based users or not
Not. Always nice to watch gravel setup on asphalt :D

[makinen_fan]

I am not sure yet if this is only for Cyprus based users or not
Not. Always nice to watch gravel setup on asphalt :D

Great that they have it available for abroad, you will not understand much though... :p.
The show is ok so far, but the better Cypriot drivers still to come. Watch out for Chips, No 7

[makinen_fan]

Nasser won again as expected in Cyprus. Check out this video with nice action, completely different stages this year to what you have seen in the WRC and IRC years:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jUAwKLg ... pp=desktop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jUAwKLgvio&feature=youtu.be&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D_jUAwKLgvio%26feature%3 Dyoutu.be&app=desktop)

[Tom206wrc]

Note for 2014 MERC, there will be 5 drivers in DS3 R3...a small "DS3 R3 cup" in 2WD class ;)

[vino_93]

who ?
Still young guns detected by Citroën ?

[pantealex]

who ?
Still young guns detected by Citroën ?

There is a video on "Citroen Racing" webpage with 3 winners
So I think those 3 + 2 who drove already 2013.

New names:
Juma Al Falasi
Mansoor Bel Helei
Saeed Bintouq