[ERC] Croatia Rally 2013

[Georgi]

Let's discuss rally Croatia here.

Well, at the moment, the date in FIAERC web site is: 6-8 June. OK. This date is probably wrong at the current moment as this rally will be moved somewhere in September.

In the final FIA calendar for 2013 from 18.01.2013 the date for Croatia rally is missing and there is a remark *Subject to signature of Promoter's Agreement.

Questions are rising...

[PLuto]

Yes, but there is still lot of time. I think that Croatia Rally will be in date which is known more than one month...

[Filip]

According to latest information from our automobile federation rally should be held on 27-29.9.2013. :confused: with start in Poreč, which is the same date as Rally Poland.

[PLuto]

According to latest information from our automobile federation rally should be held on 27-29.9.2013. :confused: with start in Poreč, which is the same date as Rally Poland.

Rally Poland will be in different date (Autosport : European Rally Championship (http://www.autosport.cz/souteze/clanky.php?id=74)). But this isnt new, we know about it more than one month, but we are still waiting for official confirmation.

[dj_masch_hr]

According to the Croatian ASN published Season 2013 calendar published on February 1st, Croatia rally 2013 will be held on the last weekend in September.

[Luis Pacheco]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1012336_540458512680481_1793038610_n.jpg What kind of logo is this? :(

[A FONDO]

:laugh:

pathetic, what else

[EightGear]

What the actual **** is that.

[NoFear85]

here is itinerary
40 CROATIA RALLY (http://www.rallycroatia.com/itinerary.html)

and here maps
40 CROATIA RALLY (http://www.rallycroatia.com/maps.html)

[OldF]

The one that can plane the longest distant on the water win that stage. ;)

[stefanvv]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1012336_540458512680481_1793038610_n.jpg What kind of logo is this? :(

That is one BIG watersplash :D

[Barreis]

Nobody wants to give an answer who made that logo... :D

[danon]

The Evolution Of Rallying - EARC Europen Aquatic Rally Chapmpionship :s ailor:

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/6633/7ouv.jpg

[tommeke_B]

Pieter Tsjoen will participate in the Fabia S2000 from DP Autosport. The team is going to compensate what happened in Ypres with that... :)

[liposh]

Pieter Tsjoen will participate in the Fabia S2000 from DP Autosport. The team is going to compensate what happened in Ypres with that... :)

I have expected something like that, because when this happened to Jaroslav Orsak few years ago, the DP Autosport also did it.

[Barreis]

Just don't look at the wallpapers. There's coming some worse sh** then this whale on the sea above, horror... :P

[mousti]

Pieter Tsjoen will participate in the Fabia S2000 from DP Autosport. The team is going to compensate what happened in Ypres with that... :)

With Casier as co again? :p :D

[tommeke_B]

Both Bernd and Pieter know Ypres-stages by heart, so the disadvantage wouldn't be so extremely bad (of course too big to be in competition for podium)... And already before the rally Bernd said he would never do that again. In Croatia, on completely new stages, it's impossible to share the drive. I expect Tsjoen-Chevaillier. :)

[mousti]

Then a podium should be very possible. :)

[edgars944]

:D
[quote=" What kind of logo is this? :( [/QUOTE"]

[cosmin_sb]

Possible entries for Roumania are Marco Tempestini and Simone Tempestini both of them with Subaru, Bogadan Marisca with Mitsubishi Evo9 and Barbu Sebastian with Citroen DS3 R3. Nothing about Delecour. Any other entries?

[mousti]

It seems afterall that it again will be Tsjoen - Casier with the Fabia S2000 :D .

Eddy Chevaillier is that weekend also not available.

[Barreis]

About 70 entries so far (rally is also valid for Croatian, Slovenian and Serbian championship)...

[tolis]

Entry list: http://www.rallycroatia.com/entryList.html

2 R5 and 8 S2000!

[Mirek]

Good list overall but again no official Peugeots...

[WRC1]

really dissapointed that there are no official peugeots :( but nice list...i hope kopecky will really be there!

[urabus-denoS2000]

Nice list, will be interesting to see what local ace Šebalj can do :)

[PLuto]

really dissapointed that there are no official peugeots :( but nice list...i hope kopecky will really be there!

Peugeot was not planning to attend Croatia Rally, same like Sibiu and Barum.

[Rallying UK]

CROATIA RALLY: Who will win Croatia Rally 2013?

Vote here, vote now!:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TVJFLJQ

[PLuto]

Official Rallyforum pickems for Rally Croatia will be ready (I hope) tomorrow.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Looks like Croatia is going for more glamour girls to make up for a lack of top drivers at the event... :rolleyes:

http://www.rallycroatia.com/images/logos_thumb/2-bestgirl.png

http://www.rallycroatia.com/miss-gallery.html

The Eastern Europeans still seem to think that balant sexism is ok ... :lips:

[pucky54]

Looks like Croatia is going for more glamour girls to make up for a lack of top drivers at the event... :rolleyes:

http://www.rallycroatia.com/images/logos_thumb/2-bestgirl.png

http://www.rallycroatia.com/miss-gallery.html

The Eastern Europeans still seem to think that balant sexism is ok ... :lips:

Cannot see anything wrong with this :)

[PLuto]

Not only Krum Donchev, but also Niko Puli? will be missing in Croatia Rally.

[mousti]

After engine failure prevented their audacious bid to share driving and co-driving duties on the Geko Ypres Rally, Pieter Tsjoen and Bernd Casier will finally get to experience life behind the wheel and reading the pacenotes on the same event.

The established Belgian drivers came up with the plan to share roles on their home round of the FIA European Rally Championship back in June as neither had sufficient funds to take part in their own right.
However, they failed to even make the start after the engine in their DP autosport-run ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 broke during Free Practice for the asphalt encounter.

“We do this rally with the same car and the same team as a compensation for the Ypres disaster,” Tsjoen explained. “Bernd will drive on Friday, I will drive on Saturday because it’s easier for the change of the seat position. The team proposed two ERC rallies to replace Ypres. I am not free for the Valais weekend so we choose Croatia, which is quite close for the team.”
Neither Casier nor Tsjoen have experience of the Croatia Rally, which marks round 10 of the 12-event ERC season from 26-28 September.

“It will be a big adventure,” Tsjoen continued. “I really considered doing this rally with my normal co-driver, as here we will have to listen very well to the pacenotes as it is a new rally for both of us. But Bernd really wanted to repeat the Ypres project, so we decided to go for it, although I am very anxious if I will get any notes at all. It’s quite a big risk and a huge challenge for both of us. I guess we will not have our normal speed, but hey, we are just there to have fun.”

[Jarek Z]

New car for Croatian multichampion Juraj Sebalj:
http://www.fiaerc.com/news/detail/id/1637

Do you think he can fight for the 2nd place in this car? Because winner is already known...

[ik1911]

In friday stages will be very fast!

[urabus-denoS2000]

Šebalj is a very good driver, I think he is the favourite for 2nd :)

[Ucci]

Šebalj is a very good driver, I think he is the favourite for 2nd :)

100 % agree !!

[Jarek Z]

Šebalj is a very good driver, I think he is the favourite for 2nd :)

Let's have a look at shakedown results then! Where are they? :)

[rage82]

A quick look: http://www.fiaerc.com/news/detail/id/1647
Kopecky first, second Aigner and third Šebalj

[stefanvv]

And here is the detailed page - http://www.rallycroatia.com/results/ss0.htm

[Mirek]

There's a bad mistake in the result page - Orsák is not driving. The 8th place is in fact Ko?ístka in his first ever foreign stage.

Anyway huge difference between Kopecký and others...

[urabus-denoS2000]

Really good atmosphere in Croatia- the rally is advertised in a lot (even at the big screen at Medveš?ak-SKA KHL match) and there is a 30-min show after each day in prime time on national television :)

[Jarek Z]

Nice! Juraj Sebalj leads after SS1:
1. Juraj Šebalj/Toni Klinc (HR) Skoda Fabia S2000 1.38,4
2. Henk Lategan/Barry White (ZA) Skoda Fabia S2000 +0,9
3. Hermann Gassner Jr/Ursula Mayrhofer (D/A) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4 +1,3
4. Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ) Skoda Fabia S2000 +1,6
5. Bernd Casier/Pieter Tsjoen (B) Skoda Fabia S2000 +2,7
6. Andreas Aigner/Barbara Watzl (A) Subaru Impreza WRX STI R4 +2,9
= Hermann Gassner/Karin Thannhäuser (D) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +2,9
8. Germain Bonnefis/Olivier Fournier (F) Renault Megane RS +3,4
9. Daniel Šaškin/Damir Bruner (HR) Ford Fiesta RRC +3,5
10. Robert Consani/Nicolas Klinger (F) Renault Megane RS +3,9
= Darko Peljhan/Tina Lazar (SLO) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +3,9

More stages tomorrow!

[Jarek Z]

An interesting interview with Kopecky, with questions submitted by rally fans:
http://www.fiaerc.com/news/detail/id/1654

[RS]

I suspect Kopecky was showboating on the SSS.

The interview with him doesn't say much, besides confirming he has a Skoda Motorsport contract next year.

[ik1911]

Link on photos from Day 1 ( SSS1 ) Croatian Rally 2013!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cc_rc/sets ... 927557423/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cc_rc/sets/72157635927557423/)

[mrakili]

There is a mistake in the results list. D. Peljhan is not a croatian but a Slovenian driver!

[urabus-denoS2000]

Heavy rain on SS2

[Fiat-131-Abarth]

Look at Aigner´s time!!!!

[Adler]

Look at Aigner´s time!!!!
good tire choice it seems :)

edit: at least for 1st stage, dont know about wheater condition on the next two!?

[Mirek]

Very strange results on SS2. Maybe hard tyres for S2000 drivers?

[Jarek Z]

Damn it! I knew Aigner was fast, but this is shocking! :eek:

I think rain played some role here, after all it's ERC 2013 so there has to be rain ;)

[Mirek]

PLuto confirmed that Kopecký is on hard tyres...

Šebalj, Šaškin, Gassner on Pirelli, Aigner on Yokohama. All of them are on old FIA slick tyres with additional cuts. No hand cutting is allowed.

EDIT: According to PLuto heavy rain stopped after first two crews.

[tommeke_B]

Kopecky made a mistake somewhere on SS2? Casier not too far off the pace in fact... :) Considering he has no proper codriver.

[Jarek Z]

It is raining at the start of SS3 as well. Let's wait for Aigner's time. I'm already scared ;)

[WUff1]

Aigner still fastest - astonishing!

Yellow flag now on SS3 - suppose there will be notional times for the drivers following Bonnefis.

[stefanvv]

SSS is nice :D - http://www.fiaerc.com/videogallery/detail/id_event/6/id/233/t/ERC-CROATIA-Jan-drift

[Rallye_106]

Stage 2 stopped, crash #68, apparently went out into spectators, ambulance dispatched.

[WUff1]

Stage 2 stopped, crash #68, apparently went out into spectators, ambulance dispatched.


Bad news ... hopefully nothing really serious ... :(

[tommeke_B]

Germain Bonnefis goes to hospital for check up, Olivier Fournier is OK...

Hopefully nothing too serious concerning the spectators...

[Rallye_106]

Bonnefis: https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1377365_618881064818356_1064700484_n.jpg

Escharavil: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/9683_10201568067540161_1153586921_n.jpg

A spectator injured in SS2 was taken to hospital for preventive measures and should be released soon.

[Jarek Z]

Bad luck for the Frenchmen!

[tommeke_B]

Apparently Germain Bonnefis has a broken vertebrae, which would ruin the rest of the championship for him...

[WUff1]

Apparently Germain Bonnefis has a broken vertebrae, which would ruin the rest of the championship for him...

Doesn´t sound very good ....

Bad luck also for Neubauer, it´s some time ago he reached the finish of an ERC-Rally ...

[Jarek Z]

In friday stages will be very fast!

Are you sure? So far Sebalj has been very disappointing. He is slower than the experimental crew Casier/Tsjoen and Henk Lategan from Africa, who are in Croatia for the first time...

[Ucci]

Don't be so disappointed over J.Šebalj's pace, the early rain made a mess, but now he is getting more and more confident. Tomorrow is another long day and we can expect full attack from him. I hope he stays on the road....
But what are your comments over Slovenian driver A.Humar?? 7th place after 1.day, big advantage in 2WD, he could be one of biggest positive surprises on this rally.
Not to forget-very solid drive from B.Caiser, first time on this stages, his co-pilot is more scared than five year old kid at the dentist-and desperately waiting for Saturday to get behind the steering wheel....
Kopecky showed on the last stage, who is the master and who are the pupils.....

[ik1911]

Link on photos from Day 2 ( ss2-7)!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cc_rc/sets ... 955778155/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cc_rc/sets/72157635955778155/)

[stefanvv]

Link on photos from Day 2 ( ss2-7)!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cc_rc/sets ... 955778155/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cc_rc/sets/72157635955778155/)
Very nice (considering erc headline on the back window of C2 :) ):
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/9971137716_8ffa680d8d_z.jpg

[urabus-denoS2000]

If you watched the Day 1 review, you could see the conditions in the morning loop. The rain started just before Kopecky started I think and the front runners (except Aigner and Gassner jr.) suffered, most of all Šebalj who lost 51 sec on that stage alone. For him the morning was marked by lost confidence, only to regain some of it in the afternoon loop. To sum up, people can be dissapointed but he is still new with the car and he proved he can be fast (look at the time at SS6). I am very impressed with Henk Lategan, he is extremely fast considering his asphalt experience. Casier was very good and consistent as expected,lets see what Tsjoen can do tomorrow. Also, note that local ace Daniel Šaškin improved a lot on the second loop- set up changes and more confidence in the car mean that he is already on the pace of Casier and Lategan on his first rally with the Fiesta RRC. But for me the men of the rally for now are Aigner, Gassner and Alex Humar- all of them doing great jobs in inferior machinery.

BTW Bonnefis out of hospital :)

[PLuto]

Very strange results on SS2. Maybe hard tyres for S2000 drivers?

I would like to notice, that some 2WD crews (like for example Prodan or Pajk) were using cutted tyres which is not allowed.

[Jerra]

Gallery from Friday

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.524599964281750.1073741851.350025611739187&type=1

[Mirek]

Onboards of Kopecký

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9WgaB4hucU

[Mirek]

Don't be so disappointed over J.Šebalj's pace, the early rain made a mess, but now he is getting more and more confident. Tomorrow is another long day and we can expect full attack from him. I hope he stays on the road....

With all respect his performance was very disappointing. Who else than him shall know the slippery Croatian asphalt in the rain than him? He was very slow at the start and when he started to get faster he crashed. Rally to forget for him I would say.

[Filip]

Šebalj:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 0717_n.jpg (https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/993066_584471131617966_1271860717_n.jpg)

[evoIX]

Don't be so disappointed over J.Šebalj's pace, the early rain made a mess, but now he is getting more and more confident. Tomorrow is another long day and we can expect full attack from him. I hope he stays on the road....

With all respect his performance was very disappointing. Who else than him shall know the slippery Croatian asphalt in the rain than him? He was very slow at the start and when he started to get faster he crashed. Rally to forget for him I would say.
I see that full attack did not end well...

[Mirek]

Crash of Šebalj on the video: http://www.fiaerc.com/videogallery/deta ... balj-crash (http://www.fiaerc.com/videogallery/detail/id_event/6/id/242/t/ERC-CROATIA-Sebalj-crash)

[RS]

I watched yesterday's Eurosport review this morning and those hard tyres looked absolutely useless on wet asphalt.

[Mirek]

Part of the reason is that they have extremely slippery asphalt in Croatia.

[WUff1]

This was a rather boring Rally Croatia. Only the fight between Aigner and Gassner Jun. was some kind of interesting. I think there were too many rallies in a short time now.

[Mirek]

Some tricky places

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei8jwI4vIQM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mikf6WSYoqE

[dimviii]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BVP8m4QIIAA7K4g.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BVP8m4QIIAA7K4g.jpg:large

[stefanvv]

wow :eek:

[ik1911]

Photos from final Day!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cc_rc/sets ... 985939873/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cc_rc/sets/72157635985939873/)


Congratulation Jan Kopecky!

[Mirek]

Another ups

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DoGsCFFzOk

[Mirek]

Jan Kopecký on the last stage, celebrating in style!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VCMg3Gi2wg

[stefanvv]

Congratulations to Kopecky. Well deserved title. ERC needs some changes I think though.

[WUff1]

Congratulations to Kopecky. Well deserved title. ERC needs some changes I think though.

Yes I think, too. Less rallies at any rate - but it still would need more attractivity for drivers.

[tolis]

Congratulations to Kopecky. Well deserved title. ERC needs some changes I think though.
Congratulations, but no competition. :(

[AndyRAC]

Congratulations to Kopecky. Well deserved title. ERC needs some changes I think though.

I'd agree, it could be a really good series - picking the events that can pay isn't guaranteeing a successful series, but i can understand why they pick them. No offence, but I thought this weekend was a bit ordinary.Too many of the events don't have proper competition - but I'm not sure how you solve this problem.

They have a good mix of Tarmac & Gravel, plus a snow round. They need to pick the best events; I reckon Ypres, Zlin, Sanremo, Corsica should always be in it, as should Valais, and probably Janner - the rest need thinking about.

[stefanvv]

but I'm not sure how you solve this problem.
Less events (at least reduce to 10) and R5 next year would solve it I think. Otherwise the variety of events is good with 2 snow events in the beginning of the season.

[zdrazeno]

Very strange results on SS2. Maybe hard tyres for S2000 drivers?

I would like to notice, that some 2WD crews (like for example Prodan or Pajk) were using cutted tyres which is not allowed.

I am codriver of Viliam Prodan and we have on our car all four intermediate tyres and not cutted because was strongly not allowed.

[cosmin_sb]

a story and movie about Barbu crash
http://www.worldrallyblog.com/2013/09/2 ... -tell-you/ (http://www.worldrallyblog.com/2013/09/29/world-of-rally/rally-can-be-cruel-sometimes-sebastian-barbu-can-tell-you/)

[Mirek]

Very nice video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bR5cagryw0

[Mirek]

Very nice!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I6CukGx ... bedded#t=0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I6CukGxozE&feature=player_embedded#t=0)

[urabus-denoS2000]

Here you can see funny video from my friend, about the experience of spectating a rally :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTE2--OS ... e=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTE2--OSvd8&feature=youtu.be)

[Jarek Z]

Here you can see funny video from my friend, about the experience of spectating a rally :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTE2--OS ... e=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTE2--OSvd8&feature=youtu.be)

Nice video! Everything that you wanted to know about the life of a rally spectator :) How many times did I see such scenes in my own life! :)

But I have one question. Does your friend wear a helmet on his head all the time? :)

[urabus-denoS2000]

[quote="urabus-denoS2000":1kxtilwr]Here you can see funny video from my friend, about the experience of spectating a rally :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTE2--OS ... e=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTE2--OSvd8&feature=youtu.be)

Nice video! Everything that you wanted to know about the life of a rally spectator :) How many times did I see such scenes in my own life! :)

But I have one question. Does your friend wear a helmet on his head all the time? :)[/quote:1kxtilwr]

Yes, he was wearing it even during Opatija night life! If you think "at least it looks sophisticated", you're wrong again- it's a popular wide lens camera used for outdoor activity ( :D ) mounted on a hockey helmet using lots and lots of cheap tape :)