Rally Argentina

[WRC2006]

You are mostly right, but Renault F1, had an Italian manager, Spanish driver, English race team, English chassis, French engine, French tyres, Japanese sponsors :D

Maybe Subaru need to learn from these teams and sort out every thing.

[Bluewaves620]

the fatal accident was in a road section, if im not wrong, after last morning stage.

[MartijnS]

It was at a road section apparently.

[bt52b]

Maybe Subaru need to learn from these teams and sort out every thing.

Maybe they should hire Flavio :)

Won't be long before they divert all their attention to the S14. Hope that is better.

[WRC2006]

Maybe they should hire Flavio :)

Won't be long before they divert all their attention to the S14. Hope that is better.

Yeah they need someone like Flavio or Todt.

[WRXedUSA]

What stage was that. WRC.com haven't reported it?

This rally couldnt be more of a disaster.

Just a thought.

[Rally Hokkaido]

Nice to see Andrew Hawkeswood & Jeff Judd quietly working their way up through the field in a (very) well used Evo VII. This is Andrew's first visit to this rally and he was one of the competitors who had his car unloaded and customs cleared something like 25 or 30 minutes prior to the rally start.

Not really the best pre-event preparation for an event such as this.

Yes, been following his progress, Carlo - good times and looking like he'll overhaul Pastrana, shortly. Is the car a GpN or in his more favoured GpA spec?

[cyd]

:eek:
Is this rally cursed, or what?

[klm-607]

:eek:
Is this rally cursed, or what?


DAMN... sure seems like it huh??!! Not good at all.

[GigiGalliNo1]

This rally, from reading 6 pages of the forum has gotten interesting.....sad to hear bout the death on road section and petter retiring/engine probs.....I was betting on him to take out the win........ going to watch day 2 now review on wrc.com and wait for the official ep to be on the net somewhere.. :)

Plus anyone know of or that there is an official championship for rallycross? (and is televised?) I'm kinda fond of it after playing that RallySport Challenge 2 on XBOX a few years back :) They have the Skoda Octavia in one championship and its a nice bug chunky car to drive!

[jbmarcus21]

New program for today

http://planetemarcus.free.fr/programmeargentine07.htm



GO MARCUS

[GigiGalliNo1]

New program for today

http://planetemarcus.free.fr/programmeargentine07.htm



GO MARCUS

yay

[Carlo]

Yes, been following his progress, Carlo - good times and looking like he'll overhaul Pastrana, shortly. Is the car a GpN or in his more favoured GpA spec?

Gp A as best I can tell as he is entered in class A8 but then as we all know yesterdays Gp A cars are no match for todays Gp N cars.

At least he will be entertaining the locals.

[SubaruNorway]

When did we last see Loeb loose a front bumper http://www.vgb.no/6339/

[pentti]

Gp A as best I can tell as he is entered in class A8 but then as we all know yesterdays Gp A cars are no match for todays Gp N cars.

At least he will be entertaining the locals.Well. My Mitsu 1989 had 380 hp so?

[alleskids]

It is Sordo. You can see a bit of red and yellow on the air intake on the roof. And on the Eurosport coverage Sordo has driven the mornuing stages without his front bumper.

[Corny]

Just seen the Eurosport coverage of day 2 (or was it day 1?)
I think they made a step forward, I enjoyed watching!

[jonas_mcrae]

Just seen the Eurosport coverage of day 2 (or was it day 1?)
I think they made a step forward, I enjoyed watching!

Yeah I watched it also, and it was quite good, sorry for petter he seemed very upset (as always...) also atko a little bit(very) angry and yes it was sordo who lost the front bumper, good coverage I should say. Today IRC at 4.30 if anyone is interested... I going to watch it to see if the managed to improve from last time in kenia.

[GigiGalliNo1]

its on this weekend?! (IRC) sweeet

[GigiGalliNo1]

Yeah I watched it also, and it was quite good, sorry for petter he seemed very upset (as always...) also atko a little bit(very) angry and yes it was sordo who lost the front bumper, good coverage I should say. Today IRC at 4.30 if anyone is interested... I going to watch it to see if the managed to improve from last time in kenia.

Today? Probably a repeat of Safari!(?)

[Carlo]

Well. My Mitsu 1989 had 380 hp so?

But not with todays restrictor fitted

[jonas_mcrae]

well it said Saturday from 4.30, but I dont know if its this saturnday or the next, i have the TV guide from the newspaper, it says nothing, but anyway most of the times its wrong, so Im going to chek out today and if its not on, its going to be next saturday

[Corny]

Today? Probably a repeat of Safari!(?)

I thought it was Turkey, saw that in a commercial

[jonas_mcrae]

sorry it its next saturday, I confused for fridays stages cancelled, sorry about that... for me it still saturday today sorry

[GigiGalliNo1]

Round Event Date Surface
1. SAFARI 9-11 March Gravel
2. TURKEY 11-13 May Gravel
3. YPRES 22-23 June Asphalt
4. RUSSIA 13-14 July Gravel
5. MADEIRA 2-4 August Asphalt
6. BARUM 24-26 August Asphalt
7. SANREMO 27-29 September Asphalt
8. VALAIS 25- 27 October Asphalt
9. CHINA* 23-25 November Gravel

[GigiGalliNo1]

1 hour till stage start!

[pentti]

But not with todays restrictor fittedCorrect. I asked japanise engine man(he always flew with engines same time from Japan and nobody else was allowed to touch)how much power without restrictors. :Aah easy 600 hp.:

[KKS]

no splits today too :(

[Woodeye]

I dunno about you guys, but at the moment we can easily see the main problem of current WRC. There's the top two competing and the rest just follow. It is utterly boring to watch this!!

At the moment Seb and Marcus are in their own league and there's nobody to challenge them. Petter could be the one to do so, but he has no proper car at the moment. Dani and Mikko unfortunately cannot match the big boys at all. That is the sad fact.

I think it is enough for me to see the final result. I don't care who is fifth or sixth. Top two is well know from the start these days.

Something should be done to even the match. Maybe add some weights to winners cars or something. If this boring trend continues it surely won't increase the number of spectators.

[KKS]

online results stop at Stohl :(

[malscar]

If this boring trend continues it surely won't increase the number of spectators.

Neither will the type of joke we have this weekend. Lack of radio, splits or even stages run. Reminds me of 30 years ago. At least back then the organisers realised the overall event was more important than one silly stage.

With all the garbage being served up with this rally, I hope to never see it run again.

[White Sauron]

Fight is over, guys... The title is decided... If there's no match for oeb on gravel, no one can beat him on tarmac in the second half of the season...

[GigiGalliNo1]

True White Sauron....... but i think ford will take out the manu's.. :)

I so say they should have a privateers cup as well!! Well not that many WRC privateers but would be better then the Munchi's team or Stobart. Just drivers for the guys whom are not taken by a proper manu team like Citroen or Ford/SUbaru.

[pentti]

I dunno about you guys, but at the moment we can easily see the main problem of current WRC. There's the top two competing and the rest just follow. It is utterly boring to watch this!!

At the moment Seb and Marcus are in their own league and there's nobody to challenge them. Petter could be the one to do so, but he has no proper car at the moment. Dani and Mikko unfortunately cannot match the big boys at all. That is the sad fact.

I think it is enough for me to see the final result. I don't care who is fifth or sixth. Top two is well know from the start these days.

Something should be done to even the match. Maybe add some weights to winners cars or something. If this boring trend continues it surely won't increase the number of spectators.Trye F1!

[N.O.T]

Loeb is just from another planet.....Probably the best of all times !!!

[GigiGalliNo1]

Well I hope he doesn't get the title this year as Mäkinen has his title for 4 Championships! Just like Loeb didn't win Monte 4 times in a row this year! Only Mäkinen has! :D

[Corny]

you can't compare him with for example Mäkinen/Sainz/Alen or whatever..
I'm sure if he would've been 10 years earlier, he wouldn't win this much, if he would win at all! (Loeb)

[GigiGalliNo1]

So thats like saying you cannot compair Loeb and Sainz and McRae when there were in the same team? Same car? So they are in their own ways not competing against each other?

[N.O.T]

you can't compare him with for example Mäkinen/Sainz/Alen or whatever..
I'm sure if he would've been 10 years earlier, he wouldn't win this much, if he would win at all! (Loeb)

why he wouldn't ??? he was demolishing Sainz and Mcrae in the same car....

[N.O.T]

Sordo is pushing he might pass Atko if he continues like that....anyone knows why he lost 2 mins yesterday?

[GigiGalliNo1]

my point taken.....he's (LOeb) is not or wasn't in a well ok he was..... in his own league kicking their behinds! but still... you can compare world champs to other world champs in a sort of way.... if you know what i mean!? :p

[GigiGalliNo1]

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Leszek Kuazj don't restart!!! :( :( :(

[jonkka]

Sordo is pushing he might pass Atko if he continues like that....anyone knows why he lost 2 mins yesterday?

In-car footage showed him using manual gear-change.

[Corny]

why he wouldn't ??? he was demolishing Sainz and Mcrae in the same car....

He got their help, and Carlos/Colin were at the end of their career.. BTW, Carlos beated him several times on gravel during 2003..

[GigiGalliNo1]

I think it's time to start a Jordan thread :D LoL!!

[N.O.T]

Gronholm very slow on that one .....

[N.O.T]

The Battle is on in PWRC...Arai now just 4 seconds off Villagra.

[Bluewaves620]

Hi guys ! good morning (at least for me ;) ) There is not much i can say about this rally, i know all of u are angry and have enough reasons.
What is possible to know today is that it s totally foggy and looks like Marcus is keeping his second place. I think he does right cause he tried to reach Loeb yesterday pushing very hard, but was not possible, then today maybe he is doing as good as possible trying to secure his 2nd place.

[Bluewaves620]

villagra has some problems with the car :( then for sure arai will try to reach him..

[Sulland]

Henning again has problems finding the right speed on the first stages each day, and then drives faster and faster.

He said in his blog that they changed things in the set up, and that helped, but 53 behind Loeb on 19 is too much.

[TMorel]

G'morning Bluewaves.


Pentti
Do you have any suggestions regarding how certain drivers (such as Henning) could improve their slow morning starts?
Do the others do mental/physical activities to get switched on before the first stage or is it just one of those things you can't help?


Oh dear, it's this one again. Personally Corny, I think it's dangerous to compare any champion to the stars of a previous era. The sport has evolved (for better or worse) so much.
Who is to say that past great could have cut the mustard in todays short sprint races with constant media pressure and round the clock globe trotting.
Likewise we'll never know if the current crews could have handled the long drawn out battles of old.

All we know is that right now (with according to the word of certain loonytunes the help of a nationalistically biased FIA and magical mystical tyres) that Seb is kicking butt

[Bluewaves620]

anyway he is near to get the 5th position.. only 3sec to atkinson

[jacko]

He got their help, and Carlos/Colin were at the end of their career.. BTW, Carlos beated him several times on gravel during 2003..

... you're really blind to think Loeb is not one of the greatest or maybe the best ever and to find some reasons to think something else, results do count, what can he prove more??
Marcus is riding faster than ever (and when he can't beat him he's driving for second place) but only on snow and his home rally he can beat Loeb. Gronholm beats Sainz and McRae for example 2 times clear and both Ford drivers were still in the best days of their careers!

[GunsofNavarone]

I think someone just started the 'who is the best of all-time' debate...

[Rally_Rocks]

I cant believe that there are so many folk out there who consistently look to criticise or doubt Loeb.

The guy is a genius - end of debate.

What he has is a very rare thing. He has has a combination of attributes that we have rarely seen before in any single rally driver.

He may not be the quickest ever, but he's not far off.
He may not be the bravest ever, but he's not far off.
He might not be the most intelligent driver we have ever seen, but i think he is.
I also think he is one of the coolest drivers under pressure that we have ever seen.

Put all these attributes together in one single talent, and you have a world beater in any era.

Stop criticising and be thankful that we are all around at time where we can appreciate and enjoy a unique and truly world class driver at the very top of his form.

By the way, I firmly believe that Loeb would be at the very top of whichever motorpsort discipline he chose to compete in. So in someways we are very lucky to have him.

Vive la France et allez Seb!!!

[GunsofNavarone]

So in someways we are very lucky to have him.

I think people are frustrated at the fact that he is so dominant in the sport. The same debate went on for years about Schumacher. To put it simply, people are just tired of seeing a one man show, I think.

[Zico]

Havent seen all the posts on the thread but has anyone got any more info on the spectator killed on Stage 11 ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/world_rally/6629123.stm

"But the day's driving was overshadowed by an accident involving Argentine driver Gonzalo Alenaz, who lost control of his Subaru on stage 11 and hit a group of three spectators, killing one."

If it was poor spectator control... that coupled with the SS fiasco could spell the end for this rally in the WRC callander, What do you guys think?

[jonkka]

It's been said it was on road section, not stage.

[Finni]

It seems that Citroen is even more unbeatable in high altitude stages. Hirvonen said in Mexico that their engine differencies to Citroen seems to be biggest in high altitude. Now even Sordo took clear stage win.

[jonkka]

You see what I see?

[jonas_mcrae]

yes, and now its marcus +1min

[jonkka]

Crazy...

[René]

I cant believe that there are so many folk out there who consistently look to criticise or doubt Loeb.

The guy is a genius - end of debate.

What he has is a very rare thing. He has has a combination of attributes that we have rarely seen before in any single rally driver.

He may not be the quickest ever, but he's not far off.
He may not be the bravest ever, but he's not far off.
He might not be the most intelligent driver we have ever seen, but i think he is.
I also think he is one of the coolest drivers under pressure that we have ever seen.

Put all these attributes together in one single talent, and you have a world beater in any era.

Stop criticising and be thankful that we are all around at time where we can appreciate and enjoy a unique and truly world class driver at the very top of his form.

By the way, I firmly believe that Loeb would be at the very top of whichever motorpsort discipline he chose to compete in. So in someways we are very lucky to have him.


Vive la France et allez Seb!!!

Thank you Sir, :up:

It is pleasant sometimes to read some intelligent comments, not marked by the jealousy or of xenophobia.
The sport must be the place or the tolerance is the rule, and to applaud a competitor when he won, which of any nationality or any team, remains the most elementary gesture that an person which respect himself must express.
They are all great champions, they deserve great supporter too !

Vive le sport

[KKS]

+2 min for Seb and Gro?

i hope its mistake

[René]

yes its a mistake,


http://www.vysledky-rally.cz/vysledky/?rz=433

[Bluewaves620]

baldacci quit

[GigiGalliNo1]

wat you mean he quit!?!?

[bt52b]

Neither will the type of joke we have this weekend. Lack of radio, splits or even stages run. Reminds me of 30 years ago. At least back then the organisers realised the overall event was more important than one silly stage.

With all the garbage being served up with this rally, I hope to never see it run again.

Think the splits were ok any time I tried them.

[Koz]

Very sad to see such a rally...
What happened about the 50% distance to get full points rule?
Have extra stages been added or will the teams be getting only 50% points?

[JAM]

Very sad to see such a rally...
What happened about the 50% distance to get full points rule?
Have extra stages been added or will the teams be getting only 50% points?

One extra stage was added today to full 2/3 of the route and could be awarded full points.

[GigiGalliNo1]

So any WRC stages live final stage live with video!??! :(

[Fischer]

The popularity of a driver is not relative to his success. Loeb may be the best driver ever, but his character and driving style is boring if you ask me. Therefore I can understand people who are tired of seeing Loeb win every time.

[Koz]

The popularity of a driver is not relative to his success. Loeb may be the best driver ever, but his character and driving style is boring if you ask me. Therefore I can understand people who are tired of seeing Loeb win every time.

We cant compare that to "I am fed up with this car!!!" :D

[White Sauron]

The popularity of a driver is not relative to his success. Loeb may be the best driver ever, but his character and driving style is boring if you ask me. Therefore I can understand people who are tired of seeing Loeb win every time.

But it's his driving style that makes him be the best!

[GigiGalliNo1]

The popularity of a driver is not relative to his success. Loeb may be the best driver ever, but his character and driving style is boring if you ask me. Therefore I can understand people who are tired of seeing Loeb win every time.

When he's driving or interviews or what ever....theres nothing special. at least you get something from gronholm at the end of the stage saying something like driving like his grandmother lol also you have dudu driving with his tongue poking out haha other then that...not much of a character.

[bt52b]

So any WRC stages live final stage live with video!??! :(

Last SSS free on wrc.com at 1600-1700gmt

[Will L]

Why were all those stages cancelled ?

[GigiGalliNo1]

Last SSS free on wrc.com at 1600-1700gmt

finally....something free that i am paying for!!!(???????)

[GigiGalliNo1]

Why were all those stages cancelled ?

transport from city to city after SSS because of weather/airport

[N.O.T]

because the super special was 700 kms away from the proper stages and because of bad weather the planes carrying the drivers couldn't fly.

[Mickey T]

Have you seen an International Team winning something for long time?

International Team I mean, a team with many differents culture and with diffrent people from around the world. This is the same case with Subaru now. Hope I don't upset

1st Driver : Norway
Co-driver : UK
2nd Driver : Australia
Co-driver : Belgium
Team Boss : UK
Principal Engineer : Japan
Principal Marketing : Japan
Rally Operations Director : UK
Director of Engineering : Australia


Steve Farrell is Subaru's Director of Engineering, and he's
English...

[TMorel]

GigiGalliNo1
Loebs driving style may be boring, but at least he HAS a driving style unlike those "entertaining" characters such as Duval and Gigi who don't seem to be doing much driving at all lately...

[oh I know, that was a low blow but I just couldnt resist it]

[olmy]

finally....something free that i am paying for!!!(???????)

is there anybody else that is seeing a soccer game (from England i guess) when following the link to SSS on wrc.com ?

[GigiGalliNo1]

don't worry i get you! i didn't mean or did i say he has bead driving style :( sorry if i did! i didn't mean to write that! yEH HELLO HE SURE DOES HAVE DRIVING STYLE!!! but other drivers to me have much more personality!

also wtf is being shown on WRC+ live stream!?!? an empty football stadium with people walking on the grass?!?!!?!?

i see it too olmy lol someone must be watching from video! now with god damn sounds hahaha

[bt52b]

is there anybody else that is seeing a soccer game (from England i guess) when following the link to SSS on wrc.com ?
From Scotland, on Setanta(setanta.com) :confused:

[jonas_mcrae]

Im getting nothing in the Livestream, is anyone watching?

[bt52b]

Dundee v St. Mirren!!!!!!!!!! :confused: :vader: :mad:
http://pix.nofrag.com/3d/43/2440d8a263d6e1862ff861aea457t2.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/3d/43/2440d8a263d6e1862ff861aea457.html)

[White Sauron]

Im getting nothing in the Livestream, is anyone watching?

it starts in one hour

[pentti]

G'morning Bluewaves.


Pentti
Do you have any suggestions regarding how certain drivers (such as Henning) could improve their slow morning starts?
Do the others do mental/physical activities to get switched on before the first stage or is it just one of those things you can't help?


Oh dear, it's this one again. Personally Corny, I think it's dangerous to compare any champion to the stars of a previous era. The sport has evolved (for better or worse) so much.
Who is to say that past great could have cut the mustard in todays short sprint races with constant media pressure and round the clock globe trotting.
Likewise we'll never know if the current crews could have handled the long drawn out battles of old.

All we know is that right now (with according to the word of certain loonytunes the help of a nationalistically biased FIA and magical mystical tyres) that Seb is kicking buttGreat question. I have some answers next week.

[WRC2006]

When he's driving or interviews or what ever....theres nothing special. at least you get something from gronholm at the end of the stage saying something like driving like his grandmother lol also you have dudu driving with his tongue poking out haha other then that...not much of a character.

You are right sir. I am fed up with the kind of answer like : " Everthing is perfect, the car perfect and the driver is perfect....."

Did you follow his interview on Eurosport after day 2? Asked how was the stages, he replied : " It was good, the car good and driver good" Is it him to say he is perfect or is up to others to say and notice that ?

But when you follow Marcus' interview he is nice guy, joking and saying real things like " I have one gear ..."

We know Loeb is one of the best in WRC but he has to wait others saying that and no one could imagine Michel Schumacher beaten by young driver in F1 for 2 consecutives year after such brilliant career in F1 for 7 years. Every thing has an end.

[GigiGalliNo1]

now stupid BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEe

noise................ arggggg

[jonas_mcrae]

oh, thanks white sauron

[HaCo]

Hope all the fords stay in front of Sordo... :) Sordo going well on El Condor. :)

[pentti]

From Scotland, on Setanta(setanta.com) :confused: I somehow do not like football. I mean 11 men in shorts hugging each other and another 30.000 men watching it.Sick. At least if they had two balls, would it make more interesting to watch?

[SubaruNorway]

Steve Farrell is Subaru's Director of Engineering, and he's
English...

Nope he is australian, atleast thats what he said on Enginering the world rally

[bt52b]

Nope he is australian, atleast thats what he said on Enginering the world rally
found this:
http://www.rally-action.com/news/2002/8/1507.shtml

[bt52b]

I somehow do not like football. I mean 11 men in shorts hugging each other and another 30.000 men watching it.Sick. At least if they had two balls, would it make more interesting to watch?

Now QPR v Stoke and two goals so far :eek:
http://pix.nofrag.com/38/60/0f9c57e6f17ee0e172acabe3fca2t2.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/38/60/0f9c57e6f17ee0e172acabe3fca2.html)

[GunsofNavarone]

Now QPR v Stoke and two goals so far :eek:
http://pix.nofrag.com/38/60/0f9c57e6f17ee0e172acabe3fca2t2.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/38/60/0f9c57e6f17ee0e172acabe3fca2.html)

PTV, the company that hosts the live broadcasts, must use the same live stream for all of their web-based live content. This isn't the first time I have seen a soccer match waiting for the super special to start... gives me something to do at least.

[bt52b]

Southampton v Southend on WRC.com
http://pix.nofrag.com/3e/a4/a4da5db586ecd8535ce23abf987dt2.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/3e/a4/a4da5db586ecd8535ce23abf987d.html)

Wonder if I email Becs would they show the Sunderland game?

[WRC2006]

Is this true or ? I can't imagine this happening on wrc.com?

[WRC2006]

The SS is on now

[jonas_mcrae]

anyone watching?

[WRC2006]

anyone watching?


Yes on TV for me!!

[SubaruNorway]

Nothing on wrc+ tough

[jonas_mcrae]

well I cant make it work on wrc.com

[WRC2006]

Ohhhhh, Sordo lost time!!! He went wide in the corner and got stuck in the barrier!!!!

[swordsman]

On WRC+ live video? I can't get it working :(

[KKS]

LiveStream works?

[WRC2006]

well I cant make it work on wrc.com

The reason why I never pay the membership because of the poor service.

[WRC2006]

Again Sordo out?!!!

[wrc_flipper]

anyone getting sound?

[White Sauron]

No sound for me in the stream...(

[bt52b]

no sound :(

[wrc_flipper]

armchair wrc is not working very well this weekend! ;)

[GigiGalliNo1]

live stream working no sound blleehhhhh paying for something thats free and not even getting what i want for free!

[WRC2006]

Now the Rally is over!!!

Why is Loeb is looking so serious now?!!! Strange?!!

[jonas_mcrae]

this is the one to watch, Arai vs Villagra

[WRC2006]

How Loeb can't smile at least a little bit at the end of the rally as the winner?

The Iceman. It is boring.

[jonas_mcrae]

maybe he is angry about the organisation of the event... as we all are, althoug in the resume of yesterdays legs, petter seemed quite comprehensive about that...

[Bluewaves620]

villagra won, i feel happy for him. he is a man who works in low profile with his brothers. they do by themselves

[jonas_mcrae]

you see you CAN win with pirellis LOL

[GigiGalliNo1]

wow that was an amazing rally this weekend.. shall never forget what a great one it was!

[COD]

you see you CAN win with pirellis LOL

Next year it will even more easy :laugh:

[GigiGalliNo1]

good nite guys! labtop is about to die out of batteries! 1am cyaaaaaaaaaa

(tomorrow) haha

[jonas_mcrae]

well the nightmare is over

[GigiGalliNo1]

i should dream of better nightmares! hahha :D

[WRC2006]

you see you CAN win with pirellis LOL

Yeah, next season when every one will be on Pirelli, obviously there will be a winner!!!

[Viktory]

well the nightmare is over

Where you hinting at GigigalliNo1's laptop running out of batteries or the rally?



joke :p

[L5->R5/CR]

... you're really blind to think Loeb is not one of the greatest or maybe the best ever and to find some reasons to think something else, results do count, what can he prove more??
Marcus is riding faster than ever (and when he can't beat him he's driving for second place) but only on snow and his home rally he can beat Loeb. Gronholm beats Sainz and McRae for example 2 times clear and both Ford drivers were still in the best days of their careers!




As soon as Loeb can win a true marathon event like the Safari of old, I'll give him the best ever.

Until then, he is the greatest driver of the common era. But what we have now in the WRC isn't the true embodiment of the pinnacle of rallying, until that changes, he will never match some of the other greats in my all time perspectives. But there is no way, any sane person, can't give him atleast the greatest driver of the modern era, but the greatest ever? I don't know, what is the point of being the greatest in one of the worst eras of WRC?

[N.O.T]

Why is this the worst era ?? what about the late 80s? early 90s? or the mid 90s?


Definately this isn't the best period of the sport but also not the worst either.....

[L5->R5/CR]

Why is this the worst era ?? what about the late 80s? early 90s? or the mid 90s?


Definately this isn't the best period of the sport but also not the worst either.....




One of the worst is what I said.

The sanitized WRC favors the most santized driver...


Lets see some night stages, some marathons, remote servicing, real river corssings, true tests of man and machine. Or some freaking heart and passion. Rallying has some of the best character of any motorsport. The push on regardless, help your fellow competitor, passionate, crazy, and flavorfilled personalities is what makes rallying great. This is almost gone from the WRC and with the crushing domination of Loeb and his ice robotic like driving style and personality, what flavor is left is slowly being pushed away.

My best memory from the Loeb era is a dissapointed Gronholm leaving his abandonned car and sitting down to have a beer at a stage side cantina

What we have now are sprints that re-use the same roads with very little flavor or flair. There is no real endurance anymore. None of the excitement and fascination of night stages...

As in most things, I was born 20 years too late...

[SubaruNorway]

The river crossings on day 2 was realy small compared to earlier years i think and were have the 100m ones gone

[Woodeye]

This was one sad rally. Glad it's over.

And could we agree that at the moment Loeb dominates WRC? He is an amazing driver. Could we also agree that we cannot know if he could have been the champion in the 80's or 90´s? That is something rediculous to debate of IMO. At the moment he is stunningly fast and that is sometimes quite boring to follow. Still all the respect to him.

[SubaruNorway]

Hopefully he is starting to feel bored and leaves the whole wrc

[Erki]

Perhaps he can use the Citroen-Peugeot link and get a seat i one of the Pug Le Mans sportscars...he seems to be quite fast in them as well.

[Carlo]

Correct. I asked japanise engine man(he always flew with engines same time from Japan and nobody else was allowed to touch)how much power without restrictors. :Aah easy 600 hp.:

Andrew has a hillclimb car, it is a space frame built around evo 8 components with a kevlar evo 8 bodyshell covering it. He used it at the Race to the Sky here in NZ and in last years Pikes Peak. It is reputed to have 850bhp. This year for the race to the Sky he added NO2 to it so as to get it spool up the turbo quicker and be better out of the tight hairpins further up the hill.

Sure must be like arm wrestling an Alligator

[Carlo]

Lets see some night stages, some marathons, remote servicing, real river corssings, true tests of man and machine. Or some freaking heart and passion. Rallying has some of the best character of any motorsport. The push on regardless, help your fellow competitor, passionate, crazy, and flavorfilled personalities is what makes rallying great.

......

There is no real endurance anymore.

......
As in most things, I was born 20 years too late...


Come to NZ in October 2008. DVD's of last years event available from http://www.silverfernrally.co.nz

[N.O.T]

Hopefully he is starting to feel bored and leaves the whole wrc

Yes hopefully he goes away and the wrc becomes a battle of the has beens and the managers kids.....

[TMorel]

So what exactly do you all want Seb to say?
"yeah, this is all p!$$ easy, I'm not even pushing that hard and I can beat that old guy Marcus. I've asked Elena to buy a calendar so we can keep track of the gap back to Mikko.
I've been thinking of trying sports cars again. If I remember right they have rival teams who can build cars good enough to last the distance unlike Subaru"

[L5->R5/CR]

Come to NZ in October 2008. DVD's of last years event available from http://www.silverfernrally.co.nz




We still have that in the Rally America championship here in the US.

Just a couple weeks ago at Round 3, one team had a terminal mechanical failure so they helped their rivals change a transmission over night so they could stay in the rally. While they were doing that a team from a different class also with terminal mechanical problems came over to help keep the car in the event.

Round 5 will be ~100 stage miles all on one day. First car should finish at about 12:45 am. About 45 miles should be all in the dark. Normally only 40% of the field finishes, if not less.

This kind of attitude is alive and well in the national and "lesser" championships but it is sad to see it lacking in the WRC.

PS I'd love to get to NZ for a rally or 3, maybe one day...

[Will L]

That is an example of poor organization, why have the first super special stage - which is, lets be honest, doesnt exactly change the event in any way bar a few tenths of a second, around 700k from the following stage?

Who's idea was that?!

[SubaruNorway]

Maybe the engine dying on Solberg had something to do with his off 2km before

[Livewireshock]

Just had a thought, if Leg 1 was so short, especially compared to the other two longer legs, then that means it was cocked up in more ways than one when you think about it.

If a Leg becomes too short, can we refer to it only as a 'stump'??????

[WRXedUSA]

No mention of the spectator death in the Eurosport coverage after Day2.

Solbergs front bumper was torn off after his engine let go. I wonder if they knocked off a IC pipe or got water into the engine. It does appear that the hoodscoop on the '07 car is a intake for the air filter element. Similar to a Dodge ViperGTS.

[SubaruNorway]

Thats the first question i asked when i saw it, how do they keep the water out of it?

[WRXedUSA]

Some cars use a type of baffle in conjunction with a "ram air" type intake, like the Pontiac WS6 that they sell here, but no such thing on the ImprezaWRC.

http://www.swrt.com/img_gallery/227701841.jpg

With that much smoke coming out of the car, it's gotta be something pretty bad.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Hopefully he is starting to feel bored and leaves the whole wrc

Interview I heard that if or when Gronholm retires at the end of year.... Loeb will be much more happier! (????) And somewhere I hear Gronholm moving or going to be with Suzuki next year...?

[A.F.F.]

Interview I heard that if or when Gronholm retires at the end of year.... Loeb will be much more happier!

I very much doubt that. Marcus is the only one now who even remotely keeps up twith Sebastien. And Loeb loves nothing more than fights on stages. So, should Grönholm retire, there won't be no-one to put him pressure.

[GigiGalliNo1]

I very much doubt that.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1wapq_aroma-and-seb-loeb-rally-argentina

A.F.F - Last mins in the vid :p

[Roy]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1wapq_aroma-and-seb-loeb-rally-argentina

A.F.F - Last mins in the vid :p
Loeb has a contract until 2009 0r 2010. by Citroen. I think he quits WRC and do something others.
He is happy if Gronholm leaves because he can easier win. He like win rallies. More, more more. I read in a interview two year ago.

I say it earlier. It is a good driver, but his dominance make the WRC boring. I am afraid there is a day i don't watch rally. Because the dominance of one person. I don't like it. I hope there is comming soon better drivers, or he quits.

NOT AGAINST HIM! He is very good. To much good! ;)

[Fischer]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1wapq_aroma-and-seb-loeb-rally-argentina

A.F.F - Last mins in the vid :p

Loeb says that if Gronholm beats him in 2007, he will be happy if Gronholm quits after that.

[COD]

BTW. Argentina was the second of three PWRC events that have been won by the "guest" driver. The championship in that category will be extremely interesting until the end, although Arai looks very good at the moment. Such shame that Hänninen got the DSQ in Sweden, without that he would be a strong contender.

Flodin was for me disapointment of the event in this group, not a single good time and many mistakes

[Roy]

Have some of you pics of the Munchi's boys? (great 1024x683)

thnx

[Finni]

BTW. Argentina was the second of three PWRC events that have been won by the "guest" driver. The championship in that category will be extremely interesting until the end, although Arai looks very good at the moment. Such shame that Hänninen got the DSQ in Sweden, without that he would be a strong contender.

Hänninen is astonishingly steady and mature; he finnish always and has top-pace in every round - even in total foreign rallies where experience is normally counted. Actually being both fast and reliable in pwrc has been big problem for many talented drivers (look at Latvala, Sola, Galli, Paasonen etc). I bet that Hänninen will win pwrc despite his lack of ten points from Sweden.

[A.F.F.]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1wapq_aroma-and-seb-loeb-rally-argentina

A.F.F - Last mins in the vid :p

Like Fischer said.

[Tomi]

Hänninen was supposed to do testing in ARG before the rally, but there was some logistic problems and the car came too late, so his first run was at the shakedown, so a quite good result really.
Yes it's incredible how good he drives, even its the first time in many places, i think he is on right track now when he drives many events with WRC cars too.

[JAM]

One question about Rally Argentina:

The spectator that died during the rally was in a stage or in a liasion? I saw so many news about that and heard the two versions.

The portuguese television made a new about Rally Argentina, they only informed the spectators that a person was killed in a accident with a rally car :dozey: didn't informed too much about the winner....

[Mv Toy]

Flodin was for me disapointment of the event in this group, not a single good time and many mistakes[/QUOTE]

Flodin had engineproblems, the engine got to hot and he lost power!
On teh last SSS he did a got time (4th overall)

[Jaanus]

Has anyone seen a nice photo of car #11 Luís Pérez Companc / José María Volta in action in Argentina? Thanks in advance.

[ZequeArgentina]

Let me sum up my feelings of the event and what I saw about different drivers.

I will write from home, but first comment is the ""brillant" idea of doing the superspecial in Buenos Aires: with Mauri during our trip to Cordoba on Thursday mornin, we were talking abou how risky and unncessary ot was. Mari (with his experience on rally organizing) was very clear that he would never have auhorize that if he was the rally manager.

This night at home I will add a further comment.

[Hayden Fan]

From what I heard, it must have been a great battle. Sucks that in America we don't see a thing.

[Mauri A]

Got back to Buenos Aires last night.
I've now read all your comments and the first thing I want to say is:
You, who are sitting in front of your computers and yelling about splits and bad organizing wanting to delete Rally Argentina. Come here and see the millions of rally enthusiast filling every meter of the road, stage or liaison. I think you'll change your opininion very fast.
More of the rally from me will follow when I'm back home.

[DonJippo]

Got back to Buenos Aires last night.
I've now read all your comments and the first thing I want to say is:
You, who are sitting in front of your computers and yelling about splits and bad organizing wanting to delete Rally Argentina. Come here and see the millions of rally enthusiast filling every meter of the road, stage or liaison. I think you'll change your opininion very fast.
More of the rally from me will follow when I'm back home.

I bet they were very very enthusiastic while they waited cars to run on Friday stages...

[Bluewaves620]

I must say that i agree with Mauri A about fans... they really enjoy, u should come and see, that s true.
I feel and know how the organisation failed, and i hurt a lot and i am sorry for those who missed stages, but in the other hand, im sure when they knew the stage was cancelled, instead of shouting and arguing about, they quickly tried to move to see other stage.
Is not easy to explain... Rally atmosphere is great here. Has own spirit.
Mauri A: I AM VERY HAPPY THAT YOU HAD A NICE STAYING HERE.

[Josti]

Was there any negativity towards the spectators then!?

The only ones were bashing here are the organisers and of course the FIA, which speaks for itself :p :

[ZequeArgentina]

Well here I am.
Organizers and FIA were not clever enought to see that the Sport shuld not be risked so much because of trying to get bussiness from main city in Argentina: Buenos Aires.

Rally was also complicated by weather, May is not the best time for this rally (foggy conditions are usual), but as long as it remains in the calendar, any date is Ok for me. Today all the mountains are covered with snow.

Spectators were as usual, hundred thousands and even 1 million or more.

Rally was not as interesting as other times because of little fight, only some between Henning, Sordo and Atko.

Very interesting fight in PWRC.
Villagra (National champion) broke one wheel ending second day (or should I called it first day?) and lost his lead but gain it back.
I woul also mention Haninen: first time in Argentina, took him 2 stages to get into the rithm (those 2 were in thick fog and very tricky conditions).
He was fighting for the lead till the end and ended very close to Arai and Ligato. I even saw him spin in first pass through El Condor Copina (one of the most difficult stages in Argentina) and only loosing the stagewin for 7 seconds (as much as he lost in the spin), and he looked fast all rally long.
Pitty about Pozzo (engine stall in day 2, and 2 broken wheels).

Latvala was also a confirmation, and henning (which I do not like very much) showed very good rythm in last day.
Sordo was somehow unlucky with several problems in day 2, but amazing speed in terrible conditions in last day.

Hope interest come back to WRC in Acropolis with some fight and Solberg back to winning fight with marcus and Seb.

[N]

OMG, I just realized that I won pickems for Rally Argentina, my first win ever, :D :) I got 7 out of 8 drivers right.

[sal]

Perhaps Ford can keep up with Citroen if they copy their front suspension set up as clearly illustrated here by Sordo!

http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/2007/wrc/ar/pl_a_161_sordo_2.jpg

[sal]

OMG, I just realized that I won pickems for Rally Argentina, my first win ever, :D :) I got 7 out of 8 drivers right.

Yes but I got the first five in correct order so you only just beat me!

[Roy]

Have some of you pics of the Munchi's boys? (great 1024x683)

thnx

My repeat.
No one have these?

[GigiGalliNo1]

Perhaps Ford can keep up with Citroen if they copy their front suspension set up as clearly illustrated here by Sordo!

http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/2007/wrc/ar/pl_a_161_sordo_2.jpg

LoL!

[Finni]

Nice observations Zeque.. You did right decision watching Hänninen closely. He will be interesting to watch in Sardinia with Mitsubishi wrc.

[Tomi]

for the ones who understand finnish, bosses toughts about rally ARG, and little else too.
http://www.mtv3.fi/bossensilmin/

[White Sauron]

for the ones who understand finnish, bosses toughts about rally ARG, and little else too.
http://www.mtv3.fi/bossensilmin/

Thanks a lot! I start to like this finnish channel.. Often take some good info from it.

[White Sauron]

By the way, there's a good poll on this site:

In your opinion is it a good idea to hold Rally Finland superspecial in Helsinki? I voted NO

[SubaruNorway]

WTF! http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/image_browse.php?fc=55&nc=60&id=10208
:rotflmao:

[COD]

WTF! http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/image_browse.php?fc=55&nc=60&id=10208
:rotflmao:

Yeah? There is nothing there :?:

[A.F.F.]

WTF! http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/image_browse.php?fc=55&nc=60&id=10208
:rotflmao:

This reminds me of that that legendary site called; " The Big Red Button That Does Nothing". There was a big red button in the middle of the site and it indeed did nothing when you pressed it. I just think it was more fun. :)

[Bluewaves620]

Hi people ! do you already know that Villagra will replace JP Raies in Munchi´s ford seat for the rest of the championship???? It was in the news today (newspaper and TV ) I think it s the oportunitiy Villagra always wanted and i think he deserves it.
Good day/night for all of you! hugs

[SubaruNorway]

Yeah? There is nothing there :?:


Trying again, the bottom left one

http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/fotky.php?co=218&a=pl&__utma=1.844525920.1174141271.1178737443.117874573 5.59&__utmb=1&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1178361473.49.3.utmccn%3D(referral)%7Cutm csr%3Drallyforum.com%7Cutmcct%3D%2Fforums%2Fshowth read.php%7Cutmcmd%3Dreferral&__utmv=-&__utmk=53437993

[gloomyDAY]

Trying again, the bottom left one

http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/fotky.php?co=218&a=pl&__utma=1.844525920.1174141271.1178737443.117874573 5.59&__utmb=1&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1178361473.49.3.utmccn%3D(referral)%7Cutm csr%3Drallyforum.com%7Cutmcct%3D%2Fforums%2Fshowth read.php%7Cutmcmd%3Dreferral&__utmv=-&__utmk=53437993 (http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/fotky.php?co=218&a=pl&__utma=1.844525920.1174141271.1178737443.117874573 5.59&__utmb=1&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1178361473.49.3.utmccn%3D%28referral%29%7 Cutmcsr%3Drallyforum.com%7Cutmcct%3D%2Fforums%2Fsh owthread.php%7Cutmcmd%3Dreferral&__utmv=-&__utmk=53437993)
:erm: ...LOL!!

That's probably the most entertaining portion of Rally Argentina.

[White Sauron]

for the ones who understand finnish, bosses toughts about rally ARG, and little else too.
http://www.mtv3.fi/bossensilmin/

For those who understand russian, the translation of Gronholm' article:

http://rallyzone.ru/.contents/1102847351909996/1178747594562622/0/ru/

[L5->R5/CR]

This reminds me of that that legendary site called; " The Big Red Button That Does Nothing". There was a big red button in the middle of the site and it indeed did nothing when you pressed it. I just think it was more fun. :)



Here is one for you AFF, http://www.zombo.com

[Roy]

for the ones who understand finnish, bosses toughts about rally ARG, and little else too.
http://www.mtv3.fi/bossensilmin/

And in English?

[A.F.F.]

Here is one for you AFF, http://www.zombo.com

Wow... thanks L5. It's equally stressing :)

[janneppi]

And in English?
Somewhat accurate translation



What a rally, not much positive to tell the kids, actually nothing positive.

Rally began in Buenos Aires with a SSS, not a good decision. Equipment and personnel were hauled hundreds of kilometres away from the rally area by planes just for one stadion stage. Even that extra hassle made in unnecessary. but it didn't stop there.
Me and other drivers critisized the the SSS before the rally and asked if every possible problem is taken into account.
"Si si, it all being take care of."
Yeah right...

Radar problems and the storm prevented some of the drivers to getting into Cordoba in time which lead to cancelling of seven stages, drivers were frustrated and fans disappointed, the most annoying thing was that problems were seen beforehand but were downplayed


There are more and more super special stages in rallies. Now AKK boss want's something similar in Neste Rally, i understand the marketing idea behind it, but I'm not a fan of them.
In my opinion stadions are for football, not for rallying.



The worst part of Argentina was that i couldn't keep up with Loeb, except for the very end i drove 110% but still Loeb was faster That is worrying, something needs to be done becauseI can't afford to give him any more victories in gravel. In tarmac, he's so fast that it will be very difficult to beat him.
Sardinia is in two weeks and there isn't much that can be done in that time.
After four concecutive scond places, a in would taste good. Which is the plan.
Maybe I should buy Loeb a new mountain bike

[Roy]

Maybe I should buy Loeb a new mountain bike

:laugh:
Thnx for translate

[GigiGalliNo1]

Here is one for you AFF, http://www.zombo.com

ROFL

its just randomly stupid lol

[SubaruNorway]

Petter had a hole in the radiator after his offroad excursion http://www.pettersolberg.no/article/blog/2007/05/11/phils-blog/

[Mauri A]

Before Rally Argentina disappears from the front page I´d like to make some comments what I experienced.
First of all, I have to thank ZequeArgentina and his friend "Juantanorena". Without them I couldn´t have had all the program I had. I saw 1500 kms of pampas and 1000 kms of sierras, what an experience!
The rally itself didn´t start well as you all know, but sadly, nowadays money counts. That´s the reason to have SSS in Buenos Aires I was told. Anyway we had time to find good spectating places for saturdays stages and a very good lunch in the mountains.
To my surprise there were practically no marshals controlling the crowd, this was made by the police officers. They were thousands and thousands, all very friendly and polite and many of them were beautiful females, a pleasant sight for my old eyes!
I´ve never been for SSS´s, but the Cordoba Stadion was something different.An overenthusiastic commentator and full packed stadium with even more overenthusiastic spectators made it a spectacle.
As I have written before, it would be a shame if Rally Argentina could not keep it´s place in WRC. It has a fantastic popularity there, and that´s what rallying needs.
All in all, a very, very nice experience for an old man!

[GigiGalliNo1]

Great to hear you had a good time and it was i good event. I too hope this unique Round stays in the calendar for years to come and experience it my self soon!

[JAM]

I´ve never been for SSS´s, but the Cordoba Stadion was something different.An overenthusiastic commentator and full packed stadium with even more overenthusiastic spectators made it a spectacle.
As I have written before, it would be a shame if Rally Argentina could not keep it´s place in WRC. It has a fantastic popularity there, and that´s what rallying needs.


The comment about SSS is bvery interesting.

Rali of Portugal until 2001 had a very entusiastic crowd. In 2001 with all that storms the rally had more spectators than the majority of WRC rallyes. But the rally was put out of the callendar. Now returned in 2007 with less than a quarter of spectators that had in the past. But agree with you, rally needs enthusiastic crowds. Simply FIA don't believe that.