Rally Discussion and Bar Talk Thread

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Hollie McRae is doing today's stages in a Mini. Her first ever rally and on the 30th anniversary of dad Colin's 1995 World Championship:

https://www.facebook.com/RogerAlbertClark/videos/2557647911273280/

Edit - She's reported to have gone off and put it on its roof on the first stage !

[saco0o]

would

sorry, 9gag habits

[Jarek Z]

Did you know that Vivian Campell from Def Leppard is a rally driver? :)

https://blabbermouth.net/news/def-leppard-guitarist-vivian-campbells-rally-car-to-go-on-display-at-2025-performance-racing-industry-show

https://www.performanceracing.com/magazine/industry-news/12-01-2025/def-leppards-vivian-campbell-pri-show

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Campbell

[WRCStan]

Did you know that Vivian Campell from Def Leppard is a rally driver? :)

https://blabbermouth.net/news/def-leppard-guitarist-vivian-campbells-rally-car-to-go-on-display-at-2025-performance-racing-industry-show

https://www.performanceracing.com/magazine/industry-news/12-01-2025/def-leppards-vivian-campbell-pri-show

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Campbell

https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/280327-vivian-campbell/

I'd like a thread of rally drivers who are famously known for something else.

[PLuto]

I'd like a thread of rally drivers who are famously known for something else.

You can start that thread ;)

[deephouse]

As it was expected Toyota deepens co-operation with Haas F1 team. I know it's not rallying related, but having Rovanpera left for glory in formula, we can only see in some years Kalle driving for TGR F1 team.

[240RS]

Slightly off WRC, there are some interesting names at this year's Safari Classic event.

Jourdan Serderidis navigated by Greg Munster. PG Anderson co-driving Evgeny Kireev. Jos Verstappen in a Porsche 911. A host of well-known names such as Martin Rowe, Stefan Prevot, Alex Gelsomino, Osian Pryce, Michel Perin on the list of those entered.

https://results.statusas.com/events/657/classifications

[Jarek Z]

https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/280327-vivian-campbell/

I'd like a thread of rally drivers who are famously known for something else.

It's interesting what Vivian Campell says here:

"It amazes me that it is such a great, great motorsport, and the people who do follow it are so passionate about it. It's such a great community and a very, very helpful and inclusive community. But it's really a little bit under the radar here in North America, where it's such a massive sport in WRC in Europe and the rest of the world."

source:
https://www.performanceracing.com/magazine/industry-news/12-01-2025/def-leppards-vivian-campbell-pri-show

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/280327-vivian-campbell/

I'd like a thread of rally drivers who are famously known for something else.

André Villas-Boas, the former manager of Chelsea and Tottenham, who stepped away from football to compete in the Dakar Rally and Rally Portugal.

[Rallyper]

Ok, first test for Kalle, but he interrupted and didn´t test in the afternoon at Suzuka. After being 22nd out of 22, and 7 secs behind, his "illnes" seems mystic. They told media he needs rest after a hectic year, but to me it seems like a wake up...

My bet is he joins WRC in 2027 again.

[deephouse]

He will have paved way into F1 with Toyota. Why would he quit so early

[denkimi]

Ok, first test for Kalle, but he interrupted and didn´t test in the afternoon at Suzuka. After being 22nd out of 22, and 7 secs behind, his "illnes" seems mystic. They told media he needs rest after a hectic year, but to me it seems like a wake up...

My bet is he joins WRC in 2027 again.
It wouldn't suprise me. It will be a good reality check.

[focus206]

Ok, first test for Kalle, but he interrupted and didn´t test in the afternoon at Suzuka. After being 22nd out of 22, and 7 secs behind, his "illnes" seems mystic. They told media he needs rest after a hectic year, but to me it seems like a wake up...

My bet is he joins WRC in 2027 again.

Autosport.com:
On social media, Rovanpera wrote: “During [the] midday break I got symptoms of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, which affects balance and vision through [the] inner ear. I got [a] ban from the doctor to drive this week. Really disappointed as we didn’t have any chance to do any proper driving other than our aero test this morning."

I don't think he made up the illness. It sounds like something similar I have, I can't drive when it happens.

[TypeR]

Lol, yea he made it up that his medical condition and doctor doesn't allow him to drive for some time..
Super formula + suzuks is pretty difficult combo for first outings..

Doohan, who drove in F1, was ca 4s down

[Kras]

Vertigo is what chicks fake when they want some time off work lol

[TypeR]

Haven't seen proper vertigo then.. 50+ dad had it out of nowhere, couldn't stand or sit properly and took couple weeks to fully recover the balance/stability while walking..

[focus206]

I had it only once as a severe case, other times more lightly, but in the severe case I couldn't do anything. Even standing still felt like I was falling if I moved my head, every object was out of focus, so reading or grabbing things was very difficult. But I have no idea of the scientific names, so I can't judge what Kalle said.

[Kras]

I'm sure vertigo exists. It's just that it's often faked due to the fact that it's impossible to disprove

[Rallyper]

Maybe the G-forces was to much?

[deephouse]

Ben Sulayem re-elected as FIA president. And again we will listen to that imbecil for four years

[Rallyper]

So what happened at Suzuka and Kalle? Did he do anymore testing?

[denkimi]

So what happened at Suzuka and Kalle? Did he do anymore testing?
I think he got banned from driving for the entire week.

[Rallyper]

I think he got banned from driving for the entire week.

Banned or retired because of fatigue?

[TypeR]

Doctors didn't allow him to drive no more for some time

[Steve Boyd]

Maybe the G-forces was to much?
If it's brought on by high G-forces, he can kiss goodbye to a top single seater or sports protoype drive.

[Rallyper]

If it's brought on by high G-forces, he can kiss goodbye to a top single seater or sports protoype drive.

That´s what I thought. Just look at the top drivers necks... from long time in F1 and training.

[WRCStan]

Martijn Wydaeghe didn't disgrace himself on his first driving start

https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/98202-rallye-regional-du-pays-vencois-2025/

[Jarek Z]

Martijn Wydaeghe didn't disgrace himself on his first driving start

https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/98202-rallye-regional-du-pays-vencois-2025/

Yes, not bad! He even managed to win one stage :)

[Jarek Z]

A very interesting article about the last time when a private team won the World Rally Championship - Kronos and Loeb in 2007, told by the man at the helm of the operation: Marc Van Dalen:
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/when-a-part-time-driver-won-the-wrc-with-a-privateer-team/

P.S. I'm over 40 and I find it interesting, but it may be considered too long for the members of Generation Z ;)

[Steve Boyd]

A very interesting article about the last time when a private team won the World Rally Championship - Kronos and Loeb in 2007, told by the man at the helm of the operation: Marc Van Dalen:
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/when-a-part-time-driver-won-the-wrc-with-a-privateer-team/

P.S. I'm over 40 and I find it interesting, but it may be considered too long for the members of Generation Z ;)
I didn't think it was too long.

I'm over 70 and could still remember the beginning when I got to the end. :)

[GigiGalliNo1]

You guys had any time to vote for:

WRC Photo of the Year?

https://www.riddle.com/view/x7iyrU8t

I'm the 11th one down :D

[Jarek Z]

You guys had any time to vote for:

WRC Photo of the Year?

https://www.riddle.com/view/x7iyrU8t

I'm the 11th one down :D

We can't even see those photos in higher resolution. What kind of a photo competition is it?!

Your photo is good, but it will be hard to top the first one!

[GigiGalliNo1]

Timo's if the car is on fire? It's a cropped in version of the last image...

I'm surprised they didn't cut it down to 10 images... :)

[GigiGalliNo1]

Also

https://rallyjournal.com/jari-matti-latvala-completes-multi-million-deal-buys-a-successful-rally-team?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=comment&fbclid=IwY2xjawO_DYhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFJRm5qU 2NJQzZob1RwMUE5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg 5MgABHj1Goz1ZSPLdbUobWav5HTjfLX-p0i9hhhSqVGPEaYPfgz5YLHNhmnI44ykz_aem_xTcGUwe-JuncYnGTy4YbxA

[dimviii]

We can't even see those photos in higher resolution. What kind of a photo competition is it?!

Your photo is good, but it will be hard to top the first one!

right click in the photo,open photo in new page,and it opens in full size.

[Jarek Z]

right click in the photo,open photo in new page,and it opens in full size.

Works in Chrome, but not in Firefox.

[dimviii]

this would be my choice

https://cdn.riddle.com/embeds/v3/images/transformed/w_1439,h_960/049/0492da22b5443a04b63b7ec1edbb0eb0.webp

[Jarek Z]

Timo's if the car is on fire? It's a cropped in version of the last image...

I'm surprised they didn't cut it down to 10 images... :)

So it's cropped? In my opinion that should not be accepted!

I quite like this one:
https://cdn.riddle.com/embeds/v3/images/transformed/w_1440,h_960/2a2/2a2fdd77be251322486a8a84988837b7.webp

[TypeR]

Timo Anis himself about the photo:

This photograph was taken at this year’s WRC Rally Chile, on the Power Stage finish jump.
I noticed how high the cars were jumping, which allowed me to shape the composition in a very specific way — capturing only the sky, the car, and the flames.

My intention was to keep the frame as clean and minimal as possible, letting only the most important and striking elements define the image.
I positioned myself behind the take-off ramp, waiting for that one precise moment.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

New Lancia first gravel test ! ;)

https://youtu.be/NEi-ie-k3ME?si=vIm3e3Epv75pITun

[GigiGalliNo1]

So it's cropped? In my opinion that should not be accepted!

I quite like this one:
https://cdn.riddle.com/embeds/v3/images/transformed/w_1440,h_960/2a2/2a2fdd77be251322486a8a84988837b7.webp

What I mean is it's a differently framed version. Still cool with the flames/fire but if you scroll down the other entrant has the same image - but wider.

[Eli]

Happy New Year everyone! May we have a great year of rallying with seeing these magnificent beasts with a proper livery for each for one more year!

[Fast Eddie WRC]

What a passenger ride is really like with Ott Tanak in the i20 Rally1...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15230403/Why-needed-fireproof-underwear-leisurely-spin-Bavarian-countryside.html

[Rallyper]

What a passenger ride is really like with Ott Tanak in the i20 Rally1...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15230403/Why-needed-fireproof-underwear-leisurely-spin-Bavarian-countryside.html

Most laughs at the end on gravel...

[AndersX]

If anyone else here is following Dakar, then i strongly recommend official Dakar Youtube channel - this year they have introduced super exciting and very well edited 1h material from every day, called The Film of The Day. Superb material. And, it seems that Ford Racing is on a mission - M-Sport know how to build fast cars.

[deephouse]

Cool, I only watched extended highlights from prologue and stage 1. Will check that out instead. Thanks

[Jarek Z]

You guys had any time to vote for:

WRC Photo of the Year?

https://www.riddle.com/view/x7iyrU8t

I'm the 11th one down :D

And? Did you win? ;)

[GigiGalliNo1]

And? Did you win? ;)

I have no idea when it's announced!! :D :D

[M3 Jambo]

Stefan Bejenaru's image of Munster over the jump at CER has been announced as the winner. Too large a percetage of the image of the fans and not enough car for me!

[GigiGalliNo1]

Who?

[satnav]

https://www.wrc.com/en/news/bejenaru-s-central-europe-stunner-crowned-wrc-photo-of-the-year

[GigiGalliNo1]

Yes, but who?

[Jarek Z]

Perhaps you should have tried also here?
https://www.fiaerc.com/en/news/voting-opens-to-decide-best-erc-photograph-of-2025

[Jarek Z]

Photographer André Lavadinho explains how his vision of new Rally Series:
https://dirtfish.com/rally/the-lessons-the-world-can-learn-from-rally-series/

[deephouse]

It's funny how Nasser Al-Atiyah is so bad in WRC, while on Dakar he beat up nine time world championship driver every single time

[giu canbera]

It's funny how Nasser Al-Atiyah is so bad in WRC, while on Dakar he beat up nine time world championship driver every single time

Wait.... He is a two time WRC2 champion.

[WRCStan]

I've created a MF league on fantasy WRC if anybody is interested: https://fantasywrc.com/c/viewleague2.php?LeagueID=14246

Motorsport Forums
League # 14246

[GigiGalliNo1]

I've created a MF league on fantasy WRC if anybody is interested: https://fantasywrc.com/c/viewleague2.php?LeagueID=14246

Motorsport Forums
League # 14246

Lets Goooooo!!!!

[Jarek Z]

Sven Kollus, from Germany, wins the ERC Photograph of the Year competition for 2025:
https://www.fiaerc.com/en/news/sven-kollus-wins-erc-photograph-of-the-year-contest

[GigiGalliNo1]

At least we know who Sven is :D

[becher]

So how long was the forum gone? Or was the issue just on my side?

[skarderud]

So how long was the forum gone? Or was the issue just on my side?Been of and on last month or so for me.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

[satnav]

Been of and on last month or so for me.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

The same here for me as well, wouldn't open then eventually it would, on and off .

[deephouse]

Usually became very slow when the night is coming. I thought that is maybe overcrowded. Probably because F1 fans haha. I'm only checking out WRC section.

[EstWRC]

its been bad for two months at least for me, so slow and loads so long

[saco0o]

it gets so slow here for me too sometimes. cant log some other times.

[WRCStan]

It's haemorrhaging time Becs.

But it's free beer, free speech and free spirit unlike most other things on the internet.

[Rallyper]

Just have some patience guys. The sight works but sometimes slowly.

[wyler]

some section (expecially private msg) is still broken for me.

[becher]

Ah thanks, on my side it died right around the Monte Powerstage. I gave up trying after a few days.

[WRCStan]

Also 'valuer' has been the newest member for several months. It may be necessary to stop spam or something I don't know, but is a great shame new human members cannot join and contribute, which will contribute to its downfall and the rise of alternative spaces.

[saco0o]

saw an "ask me anything" clip with Jon Armstrong on wrc yt channel... one can only hope wrc's new promoter doesnt transform wrc into what f1 has become: social media content.
"oi, but this is how you promote stuff nowadays. if they dont move into that direction wrc is dead" .

dammit, im getting old. LET IT DIE THEN. dont want to see grown man getting media training so they can guess each other's height or favorite pizza in front of a camera, jeezz.. cringe

thats NOT wrc vibes imo

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Also 'valuer' has been the newest member for several months. It may be necessary to stop spam or something I don't know, but is a great shame new human members cannot join and contribute, which will contribute to its downfall and the rise of alternative spaces.

Yep a shame, but there's probably not many younger rally fans that would join a forum nowadays anyway. Social media is the place they use, but you dont get proper serious discussions there.

I just hope this place can keep going. I'd be willing to help fund it if required.

[saco0o]

petter solberg went on a great new rallycross podcast where he told some really awesome stories from his early carrear.
he mentioned something about WRC 2012 to 2013, where he left the sport very angry because of something that he cannot share (around 29 min maybe?) - I wonder what that may be... ? i would say maybe something related to new promoter and/or vw coming in demanding stuff like "no, petter cannot build his cars from scratch anymore, nope" but idk, he had a good relationship later in RX with VW, so i have no idea. he also mentions these next wrc rules 'were not FIA, were the teams trying to find a solution", which is curious in a way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzC7R_rSQ2s

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HA8scdJbsAYmFmn?format=jpg&name=small

[Dimitris]

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but I made a database where you can compare drivers based on their average s/km deficit across a season:

https://www.powerslideblog.com/stats

Inside the database you can find more than 90 drivers across 20 seasons, as well as individual performances from 250+ rallies from 2005 to present day!

I will continue to update it as well.

[saco0o]

damn this forum became so slow to navegate...
are you european fellas watching the ice hockey championship in the olympics?
boooy the czechia game today was good. watching suomi vs swiss now. also really fun
never paid much attention to hockey, better start following some of the leagues. reaally fun

[saco0o]

yep... f1/liberty PAVED THE WAY for the complete enshitification of motorsport.
i always thought indycar were more roots, more hardcore. those guys race cars with no powersteering in terrible street track conditions, scary ovals. thats really impressive.... but eeeeeeeeeh, nope, we gotta filme these grown man making GUESSES IF THESE NAMES ARE ACTUAL HONDA CARS... https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6AU6gAroc8o
...sure, there are lots of younger drivers on the grid apparently. every series needs newcomers and young guns
but look how , idk, will power looks unconfortable doing these silly stunts.
haha i know its just a matter of "well, dont watch these contents then" - but thats whats happening to everything. its so weird, fellas
im old... im yelling at the cllouds now, dont know how to 'not care' about this enshitification.
"WRC NEEDS TO DO THAT TOO IN ORDER TO SURVIVE" aaahhhh ffs

[Steve Boyd]

im old... Sounds to me like you might not be old enough.

I'm in my 70's, so I'm completely oblivious to social media sh*te. Much happier than if I was younger!

[saco0o]

im 40 and not on social media - but youtube is where i watch most stuff.
i was checking to see something on dario franchitti returning to do a race with those nascar trucks during indycar's first round this weekend - found that instead lol

[Negaiss]

petter solberg went on a great new rallycross podcast where he told some really awesome stories from his early carrear.
he mentioned something about WRC 2012 to 2013, where he left the sport very angry because of something that he cannot share (around 29 min maybe?) - I wonder what that may be... ? i would say maybe something related to new promoter and/or vw coming in demanding stuff like "no, petter cannot build his cars from scratch anymore, nope" but idk, he had a good relationship later in RX with VW, so i have no idea. he also mentions these next wrc rules 'were not FIA, were the teams trying to find a solution", which is curious in a way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzC7R_rSQ2s


Sounds like he is talking about the situation, that Manufacturesr are playing dirty. That it is not possible to win with a private team. Sounds like he was told, that he will not win if in a private car. I think he is telling, that manufacturers ar messing up with cars maybe even remotely. I have also had thoughts about this, for example Sesks was faster than evey manufacturer in Saudi and sudenli engine issue. Maybe even slow puncures could be remotely induced.

[deephouse]

M-Sport is desperate for good results and I don't think that they would mess up the only car who could actually bring them those, as all others were slow, hit the troubles and were conpletely nowhere. It could be, if full season drivers would fight for the win, but they weren't.

[PLuto]

M-Sport is desperate for good results and I don't think that they would mess up the only car who could actually bring them those, as all others were slow, hit the troubles and were conpletely nowhere. It could be, if full season drivers would fight for the win, but they weren't.

Maybe he was thinking that it was other manufacturers meesed up his car/tyres :D

[focus206]

Today Sandro Munari has passed away.
He was 1973 European champion and won the 1977 FIA Rally Drivers Cup, which was basically the first drivers world championship in everything but the name. He was also the highest scoring driver in the 1974 and 1976 seasons, if I recall correctly, but there was no driver title those years.
RIP

[becher]

I always found it strange how he was the man in a Stratos but disappeared basically together with the original Lancia Squadra Corse.

[focus206]

I always found it strange how he was the man in a Stratos but disappeared basically together with the original Lancia Squadra Corse.

I guess he decided to retire few years before the average (great) driver of the time. He was 38 in 1978, his last "full" season. He helped FIAT develop the 131 Abarth, after they decided to close down the Lancia team.
After that, he tried to win Safari few times but never managed to.

[Jarek Z]

Sandro Munari and Lancia Stratos will be rally legends forever. They say he was in poor health since 2022 here:
https://www.fiaerc.com/en/news/sandro-munari-1940-2026

[deephouse]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/the-idea-to-bring-back-modern-group-b/

Wow, it's like someone listened to me. Haha joke. I completely support that idea. People like watching old cars and put legends in it would be awesome aswell.

[wyler]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/the-idea-to-bring-back-modern-group-b/

Wow, it's like someone listened to me. Haha joke. I completely support that idea. People like watching old cars and put legends in it would be awesome aswell.

i don't like the idea of a friday off, but maybe a sunday could be done, with morning running before the wrc stage, and an added show afternoon.

btw, i remember in some rally germany they were doing it a little on the parzerplatte day, having legends to drive legend cars before the wrc.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Aberdeen, Scotland takes another step in bid for a WRC event:

https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/news/bid-world-rally-championships

I did say it was coming ... ;)