[WRC] News & Rumours (part V) 2017

[GravelBen]

i am still not sure about the reason why they are splitting up? Anybody knows? Thanks.

JK is 58 and not getting any younger, it had to happen at some stage and this timing gives a settling in period with Seb before the 2018 season.

[tommeke_B]

i am still not sure about the reason why they are splitting up? Anybody knows? Thanks.

I'm not sure, but I can guess it's mostly because of his age. John Kennard is 58 years old now, being a codriver on top level is very demanding.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

2016 WRC Polo to run in the Austrian Rally Championship ?

Rallye-Mag (translate)
'Raimund Baumschlager will start with his Skoda Fabia R5 as usual, but it will not be. The preparations for a spectacular vehicle change have long been taking place behind the scenes. Baumschlager wants to compete with a VW Polo WRC at selected ÖRM-runs and be the first private driver to move to the world champion car.'

[sollitt]

i am still not sure about the reason why they are splitting up? Anybody knows? Thanks.

Not a "splitting up". John is simply standing down from co-driving duties but staying with the team.
Both have made no secret that John would step aside when the time was right and, as much as we all like to see JK in the car, it's been expected for some time.
With Hayden always having been focussed on 2018 for a tilt at the title, they've obviously decided now is time to make the change to bring the new guy up to speed.

[Sub_Skoda]

2016 WRC Polo to run in the Austrian Rally Championship ?

Rallye-Mag (translate)
'Raimund Baumschlager will start with his Skoda Fabia R5 as usual, but it will not be. The preparations for a spectacular vehicle change have long been taking place behind the scenes. Baumschlager wants to compete with a VW Polo WRC at selected ÖRM-runs and be the first private driver to move to the world champion car.'

Yes : http://www.lemagsportauto.com/raimund-baumschlager-soffre-polo-r-wrc/22077/

[dimviii]

its not about rally,but suppose interested some of us

Gabriele Tarquini joins Hyundai Motorsport as TCR project test driver
https://motorsport.hyundai.com/gabriele-tarquini-joins-hyundai-motorsport-as-tcr-project-test-driver/

[sonnybobiche]

its not about rally,but suppose interested some of us

Gabriele Tarquini joins Hyundai Motorsport as TCR project test driver
https://motorsport.hyundai.com/gabriele-tarquini-joins-hyundai-motorsport-as-tcr-project-test-driver/

Gabriele is a driver's driver, isn't he? He's been at it since the 80s and doesn't look to have any interest in slowing down. Contrast with someone like Nico Rosberg, who wins the title once and promptly retires.

It's sort of like Jools Holland vs Don McLean.

[dimviii]

about Toyota brake and engine problems at Mexico

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128589/toyota-to-ramp-up-testing-after-mexico-issues

[A FONDO]

about Toyota brake and engine problems at Mexico

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128589/toyota-to-ramp-up-testing-after-mexico-issues

yeah


"The other thing is the brakes - we don't have enough.

"The pads were running too hot, there's not enough cooling on the car.

"If you look at the other [cars], you can see more brake cooling [vents]. This is [a lack of] experience from us."

[rayh_mx]

Incredible, we are not part of the organization of a WRC team and we know that where more brakes are consumed is in Mexico


How could Toyota and the Brake Provider have not figured it out?

[N.O.T]

How could Toyota and the Brake Provider have not figured it out?

because they are run by a bunch of amateur nobodies.... the pain has just begun.

[danon]

.... the pain has just begun.

Take your painkillers!!!

[itix]

Take your painkillers!!!
Pain-killers for him would become suicide pills.

[dimviii]

Pacenotes Rally Magazine

Have to be careful with taking medication while competing folks...
Yves Matton Suspended

Citroen Racing’s competition director, team principal for Citroen’s WRC activities and proprietor of the MY Rally Team Yves Matton has been suspended from active competition by Belgian authorities after failing a drugs test conducted at the 2016 Condroz Rally, on which he finished fifth.
A Belgian national, he had entered this international event as an amateur driver at the wheel of an old Citroen C4 WRC. The judgment ordered that “all licences” shall be suspended for a two year period. The offending substance was Preterax, used for containing blood pressure conditions.
The information was issued by the Tribunal Sportive of the Belgium federation RACB on 20th February. It is not known whether this suspension will affect his primary manager work and no comment has been made by Citroen Racing.
Martin Holmes

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1661387710542982

[itix]

Pacenotes Rally Magazine

Have to be careful with taking medication while competing folks...
Yves Matton Suspended

Citroen Racing’s competition director, team principal for Citroen’s WRC activities and proprietor of the MY Rally Team Yves Matton has been suspended from active competition by Belgian authorities after failing a drugs test conducted at the 2016 Condroz Rally, on which he finished fifth.
A Belgian national, he had entered this international event as an amateur driver at the wheel of an old Citroen C4 WRC. The judgment ordered that “all licences” shall be suspended for a two year period. The offending substance was Preterax, used for containing blood pressure conditions.
The information was issued by the Tribunal Sportive of the Belgium federation RACB on 20th February. It is not known whether this suspension will affect his primary manager work and no comment has been made by Citroen Racing.
Martin Holmes

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1661387710542982
That's really harsh...

[KiwiWRCfan]

WRC Regroup Podcast.
Seb Marshall talks to Becs Williams about how he came to be Hayden Paddon's new co-driver as John Kennard steps aside from co-driver seat. http://progressive.laola1.at/wrc/podcast/WRC_Program_34.mp3

[RAS007]

That's really harsh...

Agreed. Totally ridiculous.

[tommeke_B]

He's suspended for 2 years on probation. Which means nothing changes until he gets caught again... ;) No big problem. It's quite common in Belgium to test competitors in rallies for doping, it has happened before with different drivers.

[Sulland]

Take your painkillers!!!

So can we read into the Matton affair, that he listened to the advise form here, took som pills, and that NOT and Matton is the same person, or not? :eek:

[BleAivano]

That's really harsh...

It really is not. A banned substance (that is used without federation permission) is a banned substance.
If anti-doping is going to work, they need to be harsh.

[macebig]

It really is not. A banned substance (that is used without federation permission) is a banned substance.
If anti-doping is going to work, they need to be harsh.

They need to be harsh but not stupid.Provided Matton had the appropriate doctor's papers banning someone for 2 years is incredibly harsh.Plus he is not a professional rally driver so there is no real benefit for him to dope.TL:DR Matton gets absolutely no benefit from doping so punish him for that isn't really setting an example or hurting anyone other than himself.

[AL14]

Is that a banned susbstance? Was that kind of ban already expected for those who use that substance?

If yes, what's wrong with the decision of ban?

Of course I'm sure Matton is not trying to improve his performances but rules are rules and not taking a very important issue like doping seriously will lead you to very big problems with it in the future.

[BleAivano]

They need to be harsh but not stupid.Provided Matton had the appropriate doctor's papers
banning someone for 2 years is incredibly harsh.Plus he is not a professional rally driver so there is no real benefit for
him to dope.TL:DR Matton gets absolutely no benefit from doping so punish him for that isn't really setting an example
or hurting anyone other than himself.

What his doctor's papers say is irrelevant. If he wants to compete while taking his medicine then he can apply for
a TUE which is a Therapeutic Use Exempt. TUE:s are granted by the sport's governing federation not by the family doctor.

The problem with your reasoning is that you use different rules for different people.
IMO the rules have to be the same for everyone and you cannot allow yourself to biased judgement such as
"he is not a professional rally driver so there is no real benefit for him to dope".
Where do draw the line for when it is a benefit and where do you draw the line for when it is not a benefit to use it?
Where do you draw the line for whom it is ok to use it and for whom it is not ok to use?

ALL rules have to be the same for everyone, professional or amateur otherwise there is no point in having rules at all.

[Franky]

What kind of an advantage does that medicine give exactly?

[Rallyper]

It really is not. A banned substance (that is used without federation permission) is a banned substance.
If anti-doping is going to work, they need to be harsh.

Now, if Matton needs those pills, it´s because he has an heart decease, which demands him taking those pills every day. I know, bcs I´m there myself. Should he be banned from doing amateur rallying because of that? NOO!!!

[SubaruNorway]

For those of you not on FB

Yves Matton:
You may have seen on the web a news saying that I am suspended from all licenses for two years. It turns out that it is incorrect and incomplete. At the end of the last Condroz Rally, I had a doping test which proved positive because of a drug declared during the test. The doctor prescribing this medication had failed to notify me that I had to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) and I confess that I did not verify its composition. Recognizing my good faith and the fact that this drug did not improve performance, the sanction was reduced to a suspended sentence. I fully accept that decision. Drivers and codrivers, be careful if you have any punctual or regular prescriptions! Good weekend to all of you...
PS: You can consult the RACB document at http://bit.ly/2niiYDs

[Nelly]

Everyone of the citroen team will be them blood pressure tablets after Mexico.

[janvanvurpa]

What his doctor's papers say is irrelevant. If he wants to compete while taking his medicine then he can apply for
a TUE which is a Therapeutic Use Exempt. TUE:s are granted by the sport's governing federation not by the family doctor.

The problem with your reasoning is that you use different rules for different people.
IMO the rules have to be the same for everyone and you cannot allow yourself to biased judgement such as
"he is not a professional rally driver so there is no real benefit for him to dope".
Where do draw the line for when it is a benefit and where do you draw the line for when it is not a benefit to use it?
Where do you draw the line for whom it is ok to use it and for whom it is not ok to use?

ALL rules have to be the same for everyone, professional or amateur otherwise there is no point in having rules at all.

All rules are made by people...We just make them up out of the blue sky..The INTENT is that the rules should make sense and BE JUST.
All men are fallible..we sometimes make mistakes in HOW we state rules..
That is when another measure MUST take place..Justice..

Not that everything is exactly the same, but that we achieve the highest possible justice in EACH case..

That is why we have not just juries, but judges too..

What you suggest is all we need in the world are clerks..

In the end reality must be considered...

[janvanvurpa]

It really is not. A banned substance (that is used without federation permission) is a banned substance.
If anti-doping is going to work, they need to be harsh.

THERE is the problem.."doping" the word..The INTENT is that some substances which can increase performance in some way....

Pharmacological action[edit (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Perindopril/indapamide&action=edit&section=4)]Using a fixed combination of an ACE inhibitor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACE_inhibitor) and a chlorosulfamoyl diuretic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diuretic) leads to additive synergy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synergy) of the antihypertensive (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antihypertensive) effects of the two constituents. Its pharmacological properties are derived from those of each of the components taken separately, in addition to those due to the additive synergistic action of the two constituents, when combined, on vascular (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_vessels) endothelium (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothelium), arteriolocapillary microcirculation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcirculation), and the target organs of hypertension.

That drug just helps his hypertension... It doesn't artificially INCREASE his performance.

By the logic of the hard ass interpretation, A good, hot cup of my favorite tea could EASILY be considered a performance enhancing drug..

No dogma

[itix]

It really is not. A banned substance (that is used without federation permission) is a banned substance.
If anti-doping is going to work, they need to be harsh.
You can also think of it like this...

Here is a slightly fat and very stressed team manager of a global Motorsport team who does one round of the Belgian championship for fun every year (and usually stuff it into a tree).

Did he
A) take blood pressure lowering pills to perform like a rally super human in order to steal the Belgian championship crown by winning one round

Or
B) take pills to lower his blood pressure from his weight and very particular stress inducing job and did the event to forget for a while that he has 100 000+ pairs of eyes judging his performance every day.

In my opinion the sensible thing to do would be to give him a friendly reminder that those pills are not allowed in the championship... but the actual measure was very very harsh in my opinion.

[Simmi]

You can also think of it like this...

Here is a slightly fat and very stressed team manager of a global Motorsport team who does one round of the Belgian championship for fun every year (and usually stuff it into a tree).

Did he
A) take blood pressure lowering pills to perform like a rally super human in order to steal the Belgian championship crown by winning one round

Or
B) take pills to lower his blood pressure from his weight and very particular stress inducing job and did the event to forget for a while that he has 100 000+ pairs of eyes judging his performance every day.

In my opinion the sensible thing to do would be to give him a friendly reminder that those pills are not allowed in the championship... but the actual measure was very very harsh in my opinion.

This is all nice in theory - but like BleAivano says when it comes to anti-doping you can't have one rule for one guy and a rule for another. You set bad precedents for people who are trying to break the rules. At the end of the day you are responsible for what goes in your body. End of story. For a guy who is not in regular competition it's reasonable Matton wouldn't know that he needed a TUE for that sort of medication. He's held his hands up. The suspended penalty reflects all that. How is it harsh? He's not banned from competing. A good lesson for everyone.

[Lousada]

Did he
A) take blood pressure lowering pills to perform like a rally super human in order to steal the Belgian championship crown by winning one round



Not all banned substances are performance enhancing. Others are banned because they impair judgement or because they have side effects that will make you tired. That could be very dangerous when you race very close alongside spectators.
Also keep in mind that drugs have a completely different effect on healthy or sick people. A sick person who takes his medicine will feel normal again, but a healthy person taking that same medicine might experience all kinds of side effects. That is why the TUE exists to determine who really needs that drugs.

[itix]

This is all nice in theory - but like BleAivano says when it comes to anti-doping you can't have one rule for one guy and a rule for another. You set bad precedents for people who are trying to break the rules. At the end of the day you are responsible for what goes in your body. End of story. For a guy who is not in regular competition it's reasonable Matton wouldn't know that he needed a TUE for that sort of medication. He's held his hands up. The suspended penalty reflects all that. How is it harsh? He's not banned from competing. A good lesson for everyone.
Like with all rules you have to understand the intent behind the rule rather than try to apply it to everything.

Even court systems manage to do this, so why can't a Belgian rally organization?

[itix]

Not all banned substances are performance enhancing. Others are banned because they impair judgement or because they have side effects that will make you tired. That could be very dangerous when you race very close alongside spectators.
Also keep in mind that drugs have a completely different effect on healthy or sick people. A sick person who takes his medicine will feel normal again, but a healthy person taking that same medicine might experience all kinds of side effects. That is why the TUE exists to determine who really needs that drugs.
Well that may be, but in this case it is pretty clear this wasn't the case.

No sane person would do a rally on 150 mg of Ritalin but blood pressure pills literally just thin out the blood, nothing else.

A skinny calm person would feel slightly dizzy and no sane skinny calm person would take them.

[Simmi]

Even court systems manage to do this, so why can't a Belgian rally organization?

Matton has got away with a slap on the wrist and he can still compete. You understand the punishment he was given right? They could have come down way harder on him but they didn't.

I understand where you are coming from but I'm glad you are not in charge of any anti-doping programme.

[Franky]

To be honest, doping rules should be abolished because it's more about who has got the latest drugs than being clean.

[sonnybobiche]

The drug he took, which I'm sure was prescribed, has only one effect, which is lowering blood pressure. It has literally no cognitive side effects and no "performance enhancing" effects unless you consider avoiding a heart attack or stroke a performance enhancement.

In fact the main side effect of the drug (actually a combination of two drugs) is A) a persistent cough and B) having to urinate much more frequently. So if anything it was a hinderance to performance.

So, so stupid to ban substances like this. I wonder, do they ban use of Tylenol or Aspirin as well? Hell, they don't even ban coffee or red bull, even though they have an actual performance enhancing effect.

Dumb, dumb, dumb, as usual from the classic mindless european bureaucracy that is the FIA.

[jbmarcus21]

Lappi 1st times tarmac test with Yaris Wrc in Corsica road, gallery photos => http://bit.ly/2nUgeie

[janvanvurpa]

The drug he took, which I'm sure was prescribed, has only one effect, which is lowering blood pressure. .....
Dumb, dumb, dumb, as usual from the classic mindless european bureaucracy that is the FIA.

I see you have never tried to deal with SCCA, Rally America, ARA, or for that matter the United States State Department's minions in the consular corps...

you from New Jersey?

[janvanvurpa]

Like with all rules you have to understand the intent behind the rule rather than try to apply it to everything.

Even court systems manage to do this, so why can't a Belgian rally organization?


THIS...That is why some places begin rules with a statement of what the problem is, and then everybody has a clear idea of what the INTENT of the rules that follow are intending to address..t.ex .Some people eat "Performance enhancing drugs or narcotics...therefore the follow rules are enacted to blah blah..."

Then you can see if the ENFORCEMENT efforts to follow the rule have net positive effects of not..

Recently the Canajian Rally Federation in the explanatory foreword began discussing the "ever increasing speeds" and spiraling costs in "Open Class"......

And then announced a) new turbo inlet restrictor rules where there had previously been none, and a complicated minimum weight schedule to b) introduce a minimum weight in the 2wd turbo class meaning any 2wd car with a turbo would be forced to add 50-100kg, find or make a restrictor and mod turbo to mount it, re-map....all in the class having only 3-5 cars nationwide...

The new rules had nothing to do with the stated purpose of the rules of addressing OPEN (that is non-homologated turbo 4wd cars) class "spiraling costs and speeds...

Rules must be internally logical.
And there must be some action called JUDGEMENT..

As somebody said...Take him aside and quietly mention that he must do the bureaucratic song and dance or NEXT time he'll get whacked on his pee pee.

[stefanvv]

You can also think of it like this...

Here is a slightly fat and very stressed team manager of a global Motorsport team who does one round of the Belgian championship for fun every year (and usually stuff it into a tree).

Did he
A) take blood pressure lowering pills to perform like a rally super human in order to steal the Belgian championship crown by winning one round

Or
B) take pills to lower his blood pressure from his weight and very particular stress inducing job and did the event to forget for a while that he has 100 000+ pairs of eyes judging his performance every day.

In my opinion the sensible thing to do would be to give him a friendly reminder that those pills are not allowed in the championship... but the actual measure was very very harsh in my opinion.

That all sounds like "remove the turbo restrictor when the car have problems running on all cylinders". Tanak would be happy in Monte:). I don't see anything harsh in suspended ban, be it whoever fail, obviously there is some as the rules allow otherwise, but it didn't happened.

[itix]

That all sounds like "remove the turbo restrictor when the car have problems running on all cylinders". Tanak would be happy in Monte:). I don't see anything harsh in suspended ban, be it whoever fail, obviously there is some as the rules allow otherwise, but it didn't happened.
Huh? You're making no sense. How would that be the same as removing the restrictor on a sick engine?

[stefanvv]

Huh? You're making no sense. How would that be the same as removing the restrictor on a sick engine?

Rally entity = 1 entity driver (and co-driver) + 1 entity car. This could be:
1) 1 healthy entity driver + 1 healthy entity car - good
2) 1 healthy entity driver + 1 sick entity car - so and so
3) 1 sick entity driver + 1 healthy entity car - so and so
4) 1 sick entity driver + 1 sick entity car - bad.

From this math You see 2 and 3 are equal. Simple mathematics.

[itix]

Rally entity = 1 entity driver (and co-driver) + 1 entity car. This could be:
1) 1 healthy entity driver + 1 healthy entity car - good
2) 1 healthy entity driver + 1 sick entity car - so and so
3) 1 sick entity driver + 1 healthy entity car - so and so
4) 1 sick entity driver + 1 sick entity car - bad.

From this math You see 2 and 3 are equal. Simple mathematics.
Still don't get it how this apply to Mattons situation.

Well to be fair we are filling up the news thread of the WRC section about non WRC things so I suggest we get back on topic and discuss actual things like Lappi etc.

[bowler]

Re Matton
There was a rule, and he inadvertently broke it.
He was punished according to the rule.
He accepts that it was his mistake, and the punishment is fair.
Move along

[stefanvv]

Well to be fair we are filling up the news thread of the WRC section about non WRC things so I suggest we get back on topic and discuss actual things like Lappi etc.

Completely agree.

[AL14]

My interview to Hayden Paddon.
It is my first to a WRC driver, and I'm not a journalist so maybe it could have been better but it has been nice do it. :)

https://www.rally.it/2017/03/paddon-si-racconta-rally-it-emozionato-sanremo-wrc-risultati-arriveranno

(english version at the end)

[dimviii]

from google translate,not so good but still...

Toyota's WRC team test this week in the French island of Corsica for the next, just being worked on Corsica WRC rally. In the first Yaris WRC needle jumped Esapekka Lapland.
Lappi drove on Sunday and Monday. Today is a turn behind the wheel Tuesday Championship runner-up and won rounds of Sweden Jari-Matti Latvala. The test sessions, decide Juho Hänninen Thursday.
Lappi drove a Toyota for the first time on tarmac.
- I'm good it felt. A surprisingly easy compared to what I expected. At first the car felt very good setup. Iskarimiehet have done a great job and a good job has been done throughout the team. Auto Some great play, Lappi says UrheiluUutiset.comille.
- I do not know, then Did I drive really hard or I understood how that kind of cars should be driving on. In my opinion I drove as hard as I dared. Of course I had to look out for that drive to shit, then the other would be missed tests running out. It was not a bush, not all tires disintegrated. One of the rim I did get broken, says Lappi.
Lapland's WRC debut approaching, but Toyota has not been confirmed in Rally-World Champion WRC2 Yari run for the first time.
- are now taking place in Finland, then we go to Corsica nuotittamaan and then seems to be the Argentine tests. There is reserved for me vissiin one day test. That test is run in Sardinia, Lappi says.
Next Rally of Corsica rally, driving the second weekend of April.

http://www.urheiluuutiset.com/esapekka-lappi-aloitti-toyotan-korsika-testit-hyvaa-tyota-on-tehty/

[dimviii]

https://medium.com/@rallyinguk/volkswagen-motorsport-flesh-out-their-rally-plans-1eb1967985ea

[sonnybobiche]

I see you have never tried to deal with SCCA, Rally America, ARA, or for that matter the United States State Department's minions in the consular corps...

you from New Jersey?

I am! How'd you know?

PS the loathing I have for the State Department is actually impossible to put into words. It can only be expressed through interpretive dance involving a melon and a hammer.

PPS Quite right, never tried to deal with rally organizations in the states. Surely they wouldn't DQ you for taking your prescribed blood pressure pills though. Or would they?

[RS]

https://medium.com/@rallyinguk/volkswagen-motorsport-flesh-out-their-rally-plans-1eb1967985ea

So it will be a rebadged Fabia.. be interesting to see what they do with the front suspension though.

[dimviii]

new polo will have same chassis as current fabia?

[RS]

new polo will have same chassis as current fabia?

No.. ok, rebadged Fabia is an exaggeration but it seems likely most of the mechanical bits will be similar.

[Mirek]

new polo will have same chassis as current fabia?

No, current Polo and Fabia share same chassis but the new Polo will have MQB-A0 platform which has been so far used only for new Ibiza.

[dimviii]

FX Demaison about polo r5
https://www.facebook.com/mwmsports/videos/597350393797901/

[the sniper]

Has it been confirmed yet whether there'll be a 3 door version of the new Polo? I know there was speculation at least that it'd only be a 5 door.

[pantealex]

Has it been confirmed yet whether there'll be a 3 door version of the new Polo? I know there was speculation at least that it'd only be a 5 door.

New Seat Ibiza is only 5-door but Polo could be different, no spy shots of new road Polo yet.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Strange one... Craig Breen is seen at the Azores Rally.. :look:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/EddieFocus/breen_zps79pnmfzh.jpg

[TheFlyingTuga]

Strange one... Craig Breen is seen at the Azores Rally.. :look:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/EddieFocus/breen_zps79pnmfzh.jpg

Probably there to support his girlfriend ;)

[itix]

Probably there to support his girlfriend ;)
Which is? Munnings?

[AL14]

Which is? Munnings?

Nope Tamara Molinaro. :)

He was at Ciocco as well btw. Anyway I like drivers who hang around other rallies. :)

[dimviii]

Mads Østberg‏*@MadsOstberg
Working with ex-racer, and driving coach of the F1 stars, Rob Wilson, this week! Working on my tarmac skills #legend #coach @OfficialWRC

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8bnLuSXgAAxwXm.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8bnMwHXkAAiGyO.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8bnNP9XoAECZRf.jpg

[dimviii]

Rally Paradise‏*@rallyparadise
Happy Birthday @JariMattiWRC! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jari-Matti_Latvala*… Tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdtkK7wdgJc&t=122s*… #WRC #rally #Ford #Volkswagen #Toyota @TGR_WRC

[dimviii]

@Thierry Neuville‏

Time to hit the road! Some questions about @TourdeCorseWRC? Post them here & I will answer to 5 of them via before the start of the rally!

[dimviii]

Rally.it‏*
@Rally_it

Giuseppe Volta R.I.P.

rest in piece Giuseppe....

[itix]

Rally Paradise‏*@rallyparadise
Happy Birthday @JariMattiWRC! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jari-Matti_Latvala*… Tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdtkK7wdgJc&t=122s*… #WRC #rally #Ford #Volkswagen #Toyota @TGR_WRC
He sure has bent a lot of metal in his career. Especially Fords. Also, not all of them were included. I can remember a few more, like the one in Argentina where the damper came through the bonnet.

Really annoying music though...

[danon]

https://media.giphy.com/media/UTD6yJUfdD9ja/giphy.gif

[steve.mandzij]

Is there anyone who genuinely dislikes Latvala?

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Mirek]

Rally.it‏*
@Rally_it

Giuseppe Volta R.I.P.

rest in piece Giuseppe....

According to PLuto it was car accident. Sad news :(

[AL14]

According to PLuto it was car accident. Sad news :(

Yes. A far as I know he had an accident and while he was filling the document (I don't know how to call it in english, the document you fill together with the other person involved in the incident) he was beaten by another car.
A really really unfortunate and absurd death. :(

[EstWRC]

sooo here we goooo


Rally Finland set to slow its stages for 2017 World Rally Cars


Rally Finland, the fastest event in the World Rally Championship, has been forced to consider ways of artificially slowing its famous roads down for the 2017-specification cars.

The FIA demonstrated its concerns over rising average speeds with the cancellation of a Rally Sweden stage deemed too fast earlier this season, when Ott Tanak's Ford Fiesta WRC registered an average of 85.63mph on the first pass of the 20-mile Knon test.

Last year's Rally Finland featured six stages with an average of more than 80mph and it is thought that number could rise to 87mph on the most famous of all its stages, Ouninpohja, with the new generation of World Rally Cars.

In a route issued last month, Ouninpohja - which returns to running in its more traditional direction of Hamepohja to Kakaristo - was cut in length to accommodate live television.

Stages taking each car around 12 minutes are preferred for TV and the full-length version was expected to take a shade over 15 minutes, but in trimming the length, organisers have removed the slower, narrower section.

"This narrow section in Ouninpohja would bring the average speed down," Toyota's Jari-Matti Latvala told Autosport.

"The FIA is worried after Sweden and the second day's stages in Finland this year, Ouninpohja, Paijala and Pihlajakoski, are all going to be very fast.

"We could even see a 140km/h [87mph] average on these stages."



Latvala expects drastic action to cut speeds and avoid the need to cancel stages.

"I think they will make some artificial chicanes to slow the cars down and this is not the characteristic of the roads in Finland," he said.

"It's unnatural on gravel [to have chicanes], it's a bit more normal on asphalt.

"It's fair to say the drivers don't like this."

Rally Finland clerk of the course Kai Tarkiainen conceded the needs to contain average speeds would inevitably have an impact.

"We will have to do something, that's quite clear," he told Autosport.

"We have talked to the FIA, to Michele [Mouton, FIA safety delegate] and Jarmo [Mahonen, FIA rally director] about this and they're very much in favour of trying to use some natural kind of chicanes, by maybe taking the cars briefly onto a smaller road for a short loop or going to long way around a junction.

"We're keen to do this to try to avoid dragging concrete or whatever's needed for a chicane into a stage in the middle of nowhere.

"Using junctions also makes the recce easier - with open public roads, we can't set the chicane up and this can make things a bit vague."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128784/finland-set-to-slow-stages-for-2017-cars

[steve.mandzij]

As good as the season has been so far, and as awesome as the new cars look and sound, these regulations are the most stupid the WRC has ever had.

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[Arnold Triyudho Wardono]

They should waiting until next year..

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[N.O.T]

I cannot wait to see how the autism masters of safety the british are going to handle the speeds... Maybe a roundabout stage and bogey times can solve the problem...

[Rallyper]

And how will they come around the top speeds, which still occur in places on the fast stages? Those spots (straights) will be as dangerous as before.

[Mirek]

This is all like from a Monty Python sketch. How on Earth could one slower section make otherwise same stage more safe? They made the cars faster so they go faster. Naturally. This following switch into a panic mode is plain ridiculous.

PS I'm well aware that our ASN has mastered this nonsense already but the more I don't like when this nonsense spread everywhere else.

[stefanvv]

They're just slaves to the utopia that slower average speed is making the stage safer, while they should focus on spectators safety more than slowing the cars down.

[wia5958]

Its ridiculous if slow section is kept at the end stage runs as normal with the fast and flowing sections. Remove the slow bit and they want to slow a stage that otherwise would have been declared safe to run. If brains were dynamite that lot at the fia couldnt blow their noses

[Simmi]

They're just slaves to the utopia that slower average speed is making the stage safer, while they should focus on spectators safety more than slowing the cars down.

Slaves to the lawyers and insurance. As we all are.

[Franky]

There's one place where the modern WRCars would be slow enough, the old Cyprus Rally route.

[COD]

First they deliberately make the cars faster and mo boring by adding stupid aero and allowing ridiculous suspension travel. Then they realise afterwards the same thing anyone with a half a brain new in advance: these cars are stupidly dangerous and boring to watch and look like driftmachines.
Now they spoil events by adding unnatural slowdown measures that will not make it any safer. My good they are stupid!

[stefanvv]

Then they realise afterwards the same thing anyone with a half a brain new in advance: these cars are stupidly dangerous and boring to watch and look like driftmachines.

There are 4 contradictions in that sentence.

[dimviii]

Confirmed! 6 VW polo R5 are reserved by the firm Diesa SA for Paraguay!

carlos zayas‏*@carloszayasf
Confirmado !! 6 VW polo R5 están reservados por la firma Diesa SA para Paraguay !!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8hHqnuXoAAUonk.jpg

[PLuto]

People at highest positions at FIA are out of reality. For a very long time...

[steve.mandzij]

There are 4 contradictions in that sentence.
Talk about an eagle eye.

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[er88]

People at highest positions at FIA are out of reality. For a very long time...
The useless dogs should be put down...

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[Doon]

"We're keen to do this to try to avoid dragging concrete or whatever's needed for a chicane into a stage in the middle of nowhere.

To even think that building a chicane from concrete to lower the average speed is safer than running the stage without, is totally in comprehendible!

[A FONDO]

This is all like from a Monty Python sketch. How on Earth could one slower section make otherwise same stage more safe? They made the cars faster so they go faster. Naturally. This following switch into a panic mode is plain ridiculous.

PS I'm well aware that our ASN has mastered this nonsense already but the more I don't like when this nonsense spread everywhere else.

Seems like everywhere bureaucrats are the same cretins.

[Eli]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128803/vw-rules-out-factory-team-with-new-wrc2-car

[Fast Eddie WRC]

M-Sport steering wheel detail. 12 buttons, 2 rocker switches and 3 rotary switches.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8rOov2XgAA63zp.jpg

[Lundefaret]

One solution to speed "problems": Use control tire with less grip (harder compounds, less space between threads)
Also better for roads (organisers) etc.

[Mirek]

Lunde, don't You think that it's just another ridiculous idea considering how much effort and money was put into the new aerodynamics, active diffs etc.?

What is happening now was bound to happen when the new regulations were introduced and everybody sane must have seen it coming. I'm sorry but I can't say anything non offensive about any new idea how to slow those things down. I just can't.

[Rally Power]

The new cars are fantastic (they are what the series needed for a long time), although a bit too fast in some special situations. If the FIA and the organizers manage to treat those special situations in a sensible way there’ll be no reason to complain. Finnish organizer comments seem to indicate they'll find a positive solution to this issue. IMO, biggest problem still is to allow those cars to be use by 2nd level drivers (Bertelli, Al-Rajhi, etc).

[jparker]

@Mirek, I think it's up to organizers to make sense of the new ruling. If they target the very fast sections, there might be positive effect in terms of safety. However, if they decide to just comply with the new ruling, yes, it's pointless.
I'm far away from being aerodynamics specialist, but even on lower speads good design should have positive effect.

[COD]

"We're keen to do this to try to avoid dragging concrete or whatever's needed for a chicane into a stage in the middle of nowhere.
!

The organizers have partly created the problem themselves. They want to use bigger roads, because they are cheaper to repair after the event. There would be smaller and slower roads in the area suitable for rally use should they want to use them. Would be hard to use those roads twice though, and that would add dificulties in finding more personnel for stages, if they used stages only once per event instead of double runs

[Hartusvuori]

Not a single crash have happened with 2017 cars in Finland. Close calls, yes, but no crashes. And they've been tested on numerous roads for numerous days.

I agree that organizers should've built the itinerary differently, had it been possible. This itinerary would be the fastest ever even with 2016 cars. I'm still sure they will come up with a sensible solution to keep FIA happy, drivers happy, spectators happy and forumers happy.

[Rallyper]

To keep forumers, the most logical people and fans, happy, isn´t possible the way FIA is ruling the sport in this matter. Maybe those who don´t understand the essential problem are going happy.
The problem was there long time ago, let´s say when GrB came up.

[sonnybobiche]

M-Sport steering wheel detail. 12 buttons, 2 rocker switches and 3 rotary switches.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8rOov2XgAA63zp.jpg

Thank you!!!! I've been looking all over for detail shots of the various teams' steering wheels. This is the best shot of any by far.

[AL14]

Where is "call mommy's heli" button?

[sonnybobiche]

Can anyone tell me definitively whether Dani Sordo is actually a Red Bull-sponsored athlete?

He still wears his Red Bull hats in every interview and drives in a Red Bull branded helmet, but I cannot for the life of me find any mention of him on the official RB Athletes site, whereas Ogier, Mikkelsen, Neuville, Evans, and many others are on there.

[N.O.T]

my suggestion to anyone who wants ways to reduce the speed of the cars is to try and be a man once in their lives... accidents will always happen, drivers will die in crashes, and so are spectators... its motorsport and its dangerous.

If you do not like it, stay away.

[sonnybobiche]

my suggestion to anyone who wants ways to reduce the speed of the cars is to try and be a man once in their lives... accidents will always happen, drivers will die in crashes, and so are spectators... its motorsport and its dangerous.

If you do not like it, stay away.

It's hard to put into words how strongly I agree with this sentiment.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Yeah great idea, forget safety and lets have lots more drivers and fans killed...

And rallying banned.

[N.O.T]

Yeah great idea, forget safety and lets have lots more drivers and fans killed...

And rallying banned.

lol no wonder the only country autistic enough to implement bogey times is britain...

in the words of guy martin 'If you think it's too dangerous then go home and cut your lawn and leave us to it.'

[KKS]

M-Sport steering wheel detail. 12 buttons, 2 rocker switches and 3 rotary switches.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8rOov2XgAA63zp.jpg
No anti-lag button/switch? or it's on dash?

[dimviii]

button ''stage'' probably, in conjuction with button ''engine'' for different levels of antilag?

[jparker]

Not a single crash have happened with 2017 cars in Finland. Close calls, yes, but no crashes. And they've been tested on numerous roads for numerous days.

Questions like "How likely is this to happen?" are usually ignored by safety people. After all they are not employed by Onebet. What usually they ask is "What's the worst that can happen, and how can we avoid it?". Yes, motorsport is highly dangerous and that can't be avoided, but without safety measures it may turn disastrous.

[Franky]

Questions like "How likely is this to happen?" are usually ignored by safety people. After all they are not employed by Onebet. What usually they ask is "What's the worst that can happen, and how can we avoid it?". Yes, motorsport is highly dangerous and that can't be avoided, but without safety measures it may turn disastrous.

But the question is, where do you draw the line? You can avoid all accidents involving spectators by banning spectators. You can avoid crew casualties by replacing humans with AIs/robots.

[jparker]

But the question is, where do you draw the line? You can avoid all accidents involving spectators by banning spectators. You can avoid crew casualties by replacing humans with AIs/robots.

So what are you suggesting? Wait for something bad to happen, and than adjust the line if required? Whether this should be done by FIA alone without agreement with drivers is different question.

[janvanvurpa]

Can anyone tell me definitively whether Dani Sordo is actually a Red Bull-sponsored athlete?

.

I keep seeing that word used in reference to drivers...I wonder where this truly bizarre attempt to idolize the drivers/pilot/pilote/ and puff them up into something they really aren't originated?

And before some of you get all excited--I've heard all the arguments..

I just wonder if drivers are "athletes" are co drivers as well?

What about the mechanics at service? They bust ass sometimes..

And IF these people are athletes, then should we re-name those people who run and jump and throw things and do physical exertion and MUST do years of physical training to reach their level of strength?
What should we call them then?

I mean if drivers are athletes, what about me when I drive in traffic?

[stefanvv]

So what are you suggesting? Wait for something bad to happen, and than adjust the line if required? Whether this should be done by FIA alone without agreement with drivers is different question.

If FIA weren't confident the new cars will be safe, they won't bring them (I suppose they wouldn't allow another GroupB flaw, history is to learn from it, right?). What we're witnessing now is circus.

[N.O.T]

And IF these people are athletes, then should we re-name those people who run and jump and throw things and do physical exertion and MUST do years of physical training to reach their level of strength?
What should we call them then?


we have a name for those.... we call them worthless overglorified drug addicts by their sposnors that are nothing without their dope.

[AL14]

I mean if drivers are athletes, what about me when I drive in traffic?

It depends where are you from.
I think the average driver in Nuova Delhi is a kind of an athlete.

[rayh_mx]

I mean if drivers are athletes, what about me when I drive in traffic?
It depends where are you from.
I think the average driver in Nuova Delhi is a kind of an athlete.

Or CDMX, Los Angeles or Manhattan as well

And if the weather it's hot... and no A/C a Super Dupper athlete

[GigiGalliNo1]

Top competition Rally drivers ARE Athletes! You go see how they train physically.

Andreas isn't competing properly but look how he trains! On holidays even.

[Toyoda]

Top competition Rally drivers ARE Athletes! You go see how they train physically.

Andreas isn't competing properly but look how he trains! On holidays even.

Agreed,to be a WRC you need to be super fit and mentally tough, just look at Hayden, he is a fitness machine now competing in some mountain bike events.

[janvanvurpa]

Then what to call those who run and jump and do things dependent not on the equipment they operate (power steering, wiggle a gearstick of wiggle the fingertips, marvelous brakes, ) but on their physical exertion of their muscles---and of course some brains and equally amazing concentration (footballers, hockey, skiiers downhill or Nordic, bicycles racers out there riding for hours, or within motorsport moto-crossers or even more enduro riders...---where all the equipment has all been nearly perfect for decades much closer in HP, torque, weight, suspesnion than rally cars are--and they are CLOSE.)

I don't know how many here have done any sports to what kind of level but I suggest that the physical training is done not because there is any need for muscles, or lung capacity but mainly as mental toughening.

I ask again if these guys are 'athletes", then what to call those that do sports where real strength and endurance and lungs are needed even at the amateur level?

Isn't calling them DRIVERS good enough??

(Its very much like here in USA when you have guys who play at rally and spend railway carriges full of money either Daddy's or whatever who call themselves "Professional racers" in a sport which pays nothing.
It is an appropriation of a word, wring all relationship to the word's meaning out of it solely to aggrandise or puff up just another rich guy dabbling at a pass-time..
If some millionaire in his 40s buys a car and service package from Malcolm Wilson for 5 million Sterling for a year--he he can call himself a "professional" then what are the guys who actually devote their lives and ear ta salary to be called? Soooooooper Professionals?)

[GigiGalliNo1]

The difference you point out is they are "Professional Racers".

An Athlete will train to drive, train to co-drive, to read notes, to mentally be able to cope with the stress of a car, the times etc. That's your difference. They are athletes, those who buy into the sport - unless they train - are not athletes.

[GigiGalliNo1]

And, a rally driver is not a racer. Rally Racing is an American term to define Rallying. Which is silly. Yes they are racing against each other but more importantly again the clock. "Rallying". Not "Racing".

[Franky]

The difference you point out is they are "Professional Racers".

An Athlete will train to drive, train to co-drive, to read notes, to mentally be able to cope with the stress of a car, the times etc. That's your difference. They are athletes, those who buy into the sport - unless they train - are not athletes.

Is a great taxi driver, who knows the city without GPS, also an athlete? I'm with John on this one. Pushing pedals and turning a wheel don't make anyone an athlete, even if they spend rest of their time training.

Also there's professional athletes and athletes.

[GigiGalliNo1]

You think driving a car for 10kms or 50kms with hundred of turns, the brain being used so much, the physical way the car moves is nothing... you're comparing a rally driver to a pilot. Of course they don't do much - push buttons, use their feet and hands. No need to be physically fit. Just hop in and take off!

[Franky]

But why do you think racing drivers classify as athletes? Just because they are fit and their body has to endure physical stresswhich they don't directly generate themselves?

[Simmi]

But why do you think racing drivers classify as athletes? Just because they are fit and their body has to endure physical stresswhich they don't directly generate themselves?

They don't turn the wheel or push the brake pedal themselves? Have you any idea how much force it takes to get an F1 car stopped for example?

Definition of an "athlete": a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill.

I'm with Matt on this. 100% these guys are athletes. Google 'Nismo Athlete' and you'll see this is the way Nissan refer to their works drivers.

[GigiGalliNo1]

It's like arguing with NOT but siding with NOT but knowing others are wrong. haha

[rayh_mx]

If Chess is a Sport... Why Rally Racing or Rallyng doesn't?

May be because we have on minda the image of J KKK smoking a cigarrete before a SS

[Lousada]

They don't turn the wheel or push the brake pedal themselves? Have you any idea how much force it takes to get an F1 car stopped for example?

Definition of an "athlete": a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill.

I'm with Matt on this. 100% these guys are athletes. Google 'Nismo Athlete' and you'll see this is the way Nissan refer to their works drivers.

I find it disappointing that you reduce the skill of a rallydriver to nothing more than physical agility, stamina and physical strength. I would say the skills of a rallydriver are things like coordination, balance, anticipation, risk-assement and intelligence. None of these things are captured in the word 'athlete'.

[Lousada]

If Chess is a Sport... Why Rally Racing or Rallyng doesn't?

May be because we have on minda the image of J KKK smoking a cigarrete before a SS

Chess is not a sport it is a game. An extremely difficult game yes, but still a game.

[Lousada]

You think driving a car for 10kms or 50kms with hundred of turns, the brain being used so much, the physical way the car moves is nothing... you're comparing a rally driver to a pilot. Of course they don't do much - push buttons, use their feet and hands. No need to be physically fit. Just hop in and take off!

In many languages, like Dutch and French for example, the word for racing drivers is actually 'pilot'.

[rayh_mx]

Chess is not a sport it is a game. An extremely difficult game yes, but still a game.

Chess is considered an Olympic sport. :)

https://www.olympic.org/world-chess-federation

[janvanvurpa]

Is a great taxi driver, who knows the city without GPS, also an athlete? I'm with John on this one. Pushing pedals and turning a wheel don't make anyone an athlete, even if they spend rest of their time training.

Also there's professional athletes and athletes.

Thanks Franky.....I seem to be having trouble making clear my question is a 2 part question IF this....then what is that?

If rally drivers are "athletes" then, what to call runners who run 1500m or sprint 100m, hurdlers, polevaulters, Tour de France or Giro D'Italia bicycle racers...

(And frankly I don't think anything of F1 or Formula Whatever drivers..From more than 50 years avoiding watching it it seems they and their fans are like an army of NOTs, and if one NOT is as annoying and lame as we all are familiar with what is thousands of them like? Zombie invasion! Go for head shots only!)

My metaphor to the Merikuhn rich fools wasting money while calling themselves "Professional Wawwy wacers" (try and think of the great cinematic charchter Elmer Fudd) that the pooofing up dilutes the reality...
Saying "this guy here Häkki Hälarna is the best rally driver in the world" ought to be enough.....without making them to be "atletes" or what next? Saints?
They aren't..

Except St. Jeanno of course...
And here's proof so who can argue?
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/681077/deuxragnottilx8.jpg

[GravelBen]

I would say the skills of a rallydriver are things like coordination, balance, anticipation, risk-assement and intelligence. None of these things are captured in the word 'athlete'.

You don't think athletes need coordination, balance and anticipation? ;)

I agree that the word 'athlete' is very general and doesn't give you much detail though.

[GravelBen]

If rally drivers are "athletes" then, what to call runners who run 1500m or sprint 100m, hurdlers, polevaulters, Tour de France or Giro D'Italia bicycle racers...

You can call them athletes too.

You seem to be missing the point that there are many different types of athlete - using that type of pedantry you would have to claim that the only people who deserve to be called athletes are those who compete in 'athletics'. So cyclists are out, as are swimmers and any other sportspeople outside the track+field events.

But then you haven't defined what level they have to compete at to be called athletes. I play an olympic sport at local club level and I used to compete in cross-country running up to regional level. Does that mean I'm an athlete?

[GigiGalliNo1]

But then you haven't defined what level they have to compete at to be called athletes. I play an olympic sport at local club level and I used to compete in cross-country running up to regional level. Does that mean I'm an athlete?

Yes.

[AndyRAC]

In this era all drivers are athletes; they all seem to do training, be it running, cycling, weights, cross country ski-ing, etc In fact, I'd be concerned if a driver didn't do any kind of training. The fitter you are, the better your concentration and overall co-ordination.

[Simmi]

I find it disappointing that you reduce the skill of a rallydriver to nothing more than physical agility, stamina and physical strength. I would say the skills of a rallydriver are things like coordination, balance, anticipation, risk-assement and intelligence. None of these things are captured in the word 'athlete'.

Come on you're kind of putting words in my mouth there. You can be an athlete, and you can also have other characteristics like anticipation etc. I think that's obvious. It's possible to be more than one thing. Are you saying if an athlete is intelligent, then they aren't actually an athlete? But that's me putting words in your mouth now ;)

I also think what we see here is what we already know - rally drivers are incredible human beings. They have a full package of skills - but I think it's wrong not to say they are athletes at the pro level.

[EightGear]

In many languages, like Dutch and French for example, the word for racing drivers is actually 'pilot'.
I have to correct you a bit there. In the Dutch speaking parts of Belgium they can indeed refer to a driver as 'piloot' but in the Netherlands that's quite unusual. We call racing drivers 'autocoureurs' which ironically is quite French.

[janvanvurpa]

In this era all drivers are athletes; they all seem to do training, be it running, cycling, weights, cross country ski-ing, etc In fact, I'd be concerned if a driver didn't do any kind of training. The fitter you are, the better your concentration and overall co-ordination.

As I earlier suggested, sure they do physical training, but that's not to make bigger---or longer lasting muscles or increase lung capacity--since that is not needed.. I suggest its really for mental training..and building mental toughness mainly.

There are motorsports where strength, both maximum effort and endurance and rather enormous lung capacity is no questions that even good amateurs need it and can do nothing without it..and the guys that have that are of course athletes..
And those guys don't have 4 wheels

[mozesii]

Assume that an amateur rally driver sleeps all year round in night temperatures of 25 Celsius, does a 6 minute mile in the high altitude of Iten, scores 110 on a Batak pro, does a 3 minute sitting balance on a bonzi ball. Would you call him/her an athlete?

[BleAivano]

As I earlier suggested, sure they do physical training, but that's not to make bigger---or longer lasting muscles or increase lung capacity--
since that is not needed.. I suggest its really for mental training..and building mental toughness mainly.

Being a WRC rally driver you don't need to have decathlonish muscles since that would require to much oxygen and nutrition. However as you say the drivers needs
mental strength BUT also a physical fitness to be able to cope with the mental strength as well as external factors such as humidity, temperatures, shaking cars
because of rough road surface, and etc. Mental strength/mental focus endurance also requires a good oxygen supply to your brain since a brain running on full
throttle requires allot of oxygen which requires a good heart and lung capacity, as well as adequate nutrition.

If your heart and lungs aren't efficient then your body (including brain) will suffer because it won't be as good at taking up oxygen/removing co2 and biproducts.

[Franky]

I think we should just head to the pub and remove the word "athlete" from use because it's become as vague as the most common adjectives

[EstWRC]

Isn't this shit out of topic ? Every time I click this thread because it is active but I don't find any news or rumors here

[GigiGalliNo1]

So rumor is that Mikkelsen will be in WRCar in Portugal?

[Rallyper]

My crystal ball prediction maybe will be true, however after Corsica not Mexico.

[KKS]

Mikkelsen told that we soon must hear something about him in wrc`17 car. And I remember that he always told he able to be fast with polo`17 from the box, and all other cars need a lot of testing.
Now we have very disappointment Ogier and very unreliable Fiesta. What if that Ogier take Red Bull money and with Nasser and Mikkelsen announce polo wrc`17 team for 2018 season?

Now it's very small chances to see Ogier in Fiesta at next season and Mikkelsen couldn't find a seat at current teams even for 2018.

[Andre Oliveira]

Not a bad thinking KKS :) Soon Nasser will annouce Rally program ;)

[KKS]

Yeah? I'm a bit away from rally news last month

[SubaruNorway]

With Ogier leading the championship with a "bad" car i doubt the other teams would rethink their decision to not let the Polo run :)

[GigiGalliNo1]

So the 2016 Polo is allowed to enter? What happens if it tops to 1st position?

[Andre Oliveira]

Forget the Polo ;)

Nasser rally program will surprise many (all) people.

[RS]

Forget the Polo ;)

Nasser rally program will surprise many (all) people.

Is it related to the news Mikkelsen is talking about?

[Andre Oliveira]

Yes

[er88]

Yes
Why don't you just spit it out if you know something. Instead of teasing everyone in the news and rumours section

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[Andre Oliveira]

Because a secret is a secret. Only tell KKS that he is thinking good.

[KKS]

Now we can make crystal ball 2 competition: who can a build a 2017 spec car for 7 month :D

[skarderud]

Now we can make crystal ball 2 competition: who can a build a 2017 spec car for 7 month :D
Skoda/seat/Audi?

Sent fra min XP7700 via Tapatalk

[BigWorm]

Ehh, Tempestini is Romanian? What's going on there

[Jewy46]

Nasser and Andreas in a kind of Citroen "B" team......just a guess?
Or am I way off Andre? :)

[stefanvv]

Now we can make crystal ball 2 competition: who can a build a 2017 spec car for 7 month :D

My guess is it is already built by a private team, but I like skarderud's suggestion.

[Andre Oliveira]

Ehh, Tempestini is Romanian? What's going on there

Yes. He got Romanian nationality and asked us (eWRC-results) to change flag. In MC he allready had it, look pics :)

[Simmi]

I'm wondering whether Mikkelsen will jump back into a 2016 Polo. Surely has to be better than beating the WRC2 crop. He can probably take time out of Lefebvre on the stages in the 2016 car. He got asked at a stage end - when will you be back in a '17 car? And they way he responded (repeating: "In a 2017 car?") just implied maybe he had something else up his sleeve. Might be me reading too much into it.

That said - with Portugal being a mandatory WRC2 round then there's a bit of a decision to make there along with Skoda team bosses. I know they have Tidemand doing really well too - but still. If Mikkelsen (or any WRC2 driver) was to miss Portugal - I assume they can still score points in WRC2 for the rest of the year - just not then eligible for championship? Do they disappear from the championship table for instance?

[KKS]

My guess is it is already built by a private team, but I like skarderud's suggestion.
And who this very talanted mechanic? And what name car have?

[stefanvv]

And who this very talanted mechanic? And what name car have?

Only time will tell.

[BigWorm]

Yes. He got Romanian nationality and asked us (eWRC-results) to change flag. In MC he allready had it, look pics :)

I thought he was Italian! I noticed it on the app too but thought it was an error

[janvanvurpa]

Isn't this shit out of topic ? Every time I click this thread because it is active but I don't find any news or rumors here

It was news to me that guys who sit in cars with power steering and paddle shift--some say they have AC --are athletes..Sportsman yes, drivers and co-divers yes..But athletes???

It was news to me, everybody agrees they are SUPERB athletes...

[samWRC]

Forget the Polo ;)

Nasser rally program will surprise many (all) people.

Hyundai??

[OHL]

It was news to me that guys who sit in cars with power steering and paddle shift--some say they have AC --are athletes..Sportsman yes, drivers and co-divers yes..But athletes???

It was news to me, everybody agrees they are SUPERB athletes...

That's a gross oversimplification of what forces and stresses a competitive WRC crew deal with over the course of a rally.
Just because you don't understand it and have never experienced going that quickly in a car, doesn't mean others aren't experiencing stress and forces that require them to train and be conditioned in the same way any other top-level athlete would.

[janvanvurpa]

That's a gross oversimplification of what forces and stresses a competitive WRC crew deal with over the course of a rally.
Just because you don't understand it and have never experienced going that quickly in a car, doesn't mean others aren't experiencing stress and forces that require them to train and be conditioned in the same way any other top-level athlete would.

First welcome aboard Noob.

No idea who you are but you certainly send a vibe of certainty bordering on arrogance in your assumption that "just because I don't understand it AND have never experienced going that quickly in a car"...

Well well well.......HUGE presumption..
My own 2 rally cars certainly aren't anywhere near as quick as WRC cars....but the one I rallied for 10 years does go pretty fast fairly quickly, about 105 mph or, since like so many you hide behind who you are and where you are because of misguided paranoia or fear, if you're metric 170 klm/hr...

so you are right in the "in a car" part....

But I did spend a significant and important part of my life in motorsports on things that were/are about as quick in acceleration either zero to XX or in time to speed..

And I rode these things on surfaces many times muddier, rockier, grassier, dustier and did it 2 to 4 times a week and raced 4-6 times a month----eventually good enough to earn quite good money.. 2 or 3 times the national average salary per month...

As every even extreme key-boarded-fan boi knows, serious frequent--(sometimes over night pack and drive 300km to the next event) calls for extremely good leg strength, and ling capacity as well as stress from environment and tactical decisions, mental toughness, near imperviousness to pain...Finishing events with 2-3 freshly broken fingers was firly commonplace..

If you are such a guy that you can say with deifinitiveness that "I have no idea", surely you must know about the strength and endurance in carrying out a largely physical motorsport, so I will assume you just momentarily forgot..

Somehow, I have a a big curiosity what your name is and what sort of racing did you do and at what levels...

[Lundefaret]

That's a gross oversimplification of what forces and stresses a competitive WRC crew deal with over the course of a rally.
Just because you don't understand it and have never experienced going that quickly in a car, doesn't mean others aren't experiencing stress and forces that require them to train and be conditioned in the same way any other top-level athlete would.

I think this is a question of definition, and I dont know how relevant it is.
Every top driver in the WRC is in very good physical shape, and they need to be to help them be mentally fit enough to have the same reactions, clear thinking, mastering of stress etc, on the end of an event as on the start.

The forces encountered in a WRC car, especially on tarmac, but also on rutted gravel, are unquestionably great (as displayed by non-rally people given rides in these circumstances often having physical reactions afterwards), but in contrast to an athletic sport, like running 5.000 meters, you can be the fastest driver even if your competitors are in better physical shape than you.

In several countries there are these "best of the best" TV-shows where top athletes from different disciplines meet. In Britain there have often been F1-drivers winning these contests. So again, a question about definition.
But great sportsmen they are, this we can all agree on :)

[pantealex]

I'm wondering whether Mikkelsen will jump back into a 2016 Polo. Surely has to be better than beating the WRC2 crop. He can probably take time out of Lefebvre on the stages in the 2016 car. He got asked at a stage end - when will you be back in a '17 car? And they way he responded (repeating: "In a 2017 car?") just implied maybe he had something else up his sleeve. Might be me reading too much into it.

That said - with Portugal being a mandatory WRC2 round then there's a bit of a decision to make there along with Skoda team bosses. I know they have Tidemand doing really well too - but still. If Mikkelsen (or any WRC2 driver) was to miss Portugal - I assume they can still score points in WRC2 for the rest of the year - just not then eligible for championship? Do they disappear from the championship table for instance?

No, they can have WRC2 points without entering Portugal (ie. not all of DMack WRC2 prize winners are doing Portugal),
but they can´t replace Portugal (or Germany/Wales) with any other rally, so maximum number of events without Portugal is 6.

[Simmi]

No, they can have WRC2 points without entering Portugal (ie. not all of DMack WRC2 prize winners are doing Portugal),
but they can´t replace Portugal (or Germany/Wales) with any other rally, so maximum number of events without Portugal is 6.

Cool thank you! That's interesting. So in theory you could miss one mandatory round like Portugal and still win the championship from your other six rallies. You just don't have as much margin for error without the 7th round/drop score.

[Rally Power]

Is Mikkelsen eventual WRC program linked with Nasser codriver talk to L’Equipe? According to ‏@planetemarcus Baumel mentioned something about a possible return to WRC (GB and AUS), but that seems a bit too late for Mikkelsen. Still, Nasser is a Toyota Gazoo (and Red Bull) driver in Rally Raid, so a sort of Toyota’s B team, with one car for him and another to Mikkelsen (or to Lappi, if Mikkelsen gets his work’s seat) seems to be a logical speculation…or not.

#WRC @matthieubaumel speaks on live @lequipe21 maybe returns with Al-Attiyah in GB + Australia

[EstWRC]

Ogier wants tech issues sorted after "stressful" Rally France

https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/ogier-wants-tech-issues-sorted-after-stressful-rally-france-892355/

[Watson]

am i right in assuming that each driver has been using the same car since the beginning of the season?

if so, isn't it likely that the hydraulic and electrical problems are a result of wear?

anyway i'm pretty confident they'll be able to adress the issues before the start of argentina.

btw i saw in the corsica thread that you were really frustrated with the all the technical problems tanak encountered during the tour de corse.

look at it this way: corsica is his weakest hunting ground, he was already pushed out of contention due to his crash and if you have to have mechanical issues (which you do in rallying), you better have them all there and then when everything else has already failed as well. the law of averages says he will have a couple of smooth events laying ahead of him.

[EightGear]

am i right in assuming that each driver has been using the same car since the beginning of the season?


According to ewrc.com all M-Sport and Hyundai drivers have used the same chassis on all rounds so far.

Toyota appears to be switching between chassis #1 and #2 on one round and #3 and #4 on the other, etc.
Citroen used 2 different chassis in Sweden, the rest of the events they used the same chassis.

Of course we don't know if that is valid information, they could easily transfer big parts or systems from one chassis to another, etc.

[Watson]

interesting, thanks!

[AL14]

I'm hearing very unreliable rumours about Mikkelsen replacing Hanninen at Toyota.

But according to what I'm reading here they don't seem too much improbable...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I'm hearing very unreliable rumours about Mikkelsen replacing Hanninen at Toyota.

But according to what I'm reading here they don't seem too much improbable...

Mikkelsen has his own thread... please use for his rumours.

[AL14]

So we shouldn't use news & rumours thread if we want to talk about rumours? Sounds strange for me...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

So we shouldn't use news & rumours thread if we want to talk about rumours? Sounds strange for me...

Of course but AM is a bit of a special case and people dont want to miss the latest info if it's mixed in with all the other stories...

[AL14]

Of course but AM is a bit of a special case and people dont want to miss the latest info if it's mixed in with all the other stories...
Sorry, I don't want to continue this pointless discussion

[Meekefan]

It is probable that they are using the same car (chassis) from the begining of the season, but the material is replaced between the rallyes, for sure. So, the problems are not related with that kind of wearing issue that you point.

[Simmi]

Have to say I completely agree with Penasse here around manufacturer points:

http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home/wrc/11332-hyundai-dislikes-invisible-drivers-in-2017-wrc

Still score points with two but don't allow drivers to take points they didn't earn.

[focus206]

Have to say I completely agree with Penasse here around manufacturer points:

http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home/wrc/11332-hyundai-dislikes-invisible-drivers-in-2017-wrc

Still score points with two but don't allow drivers to take points they didn't earn.

I actually thought it was already like this, I agree as well.

[HaCo]

I agree as well!

[jparker]

Well, having 3rd car playing role is not that bad. It adds additional level of competition. I don't see it as unfair.

[er88]

I actually disagree, I like it the way it is

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[sollitt]

I actually disagree, I like it the way it is

Sent from my SM-G920F using TapatalkMe too. Penasse's idea is nonsense. You get 3 shots at 2 scoring spots. Your 3rd placed competitor doesn't score points for manufacturer and doesnT block others points. That's exactly as it should be.

[Tarmop]

I on the contrary, also agree with Penasse and can`t see any nonsense. TDC for example...Paddon finished the whole event and didn`t score points (I`m ok with that two car rule, so Neuville and Sordo took the points) but rally2 driver Tänak finished 11th, but took 6th place points. For what? IMHO 7th place (7th best RC1 car) would have been more honest.

[jparker]

I would like to correct my statement, because I misunderstand the article. I think blocking the points is more fair, and it does add additional level of competition. Not only that, I think WRC2 cars should also block points, because with 10 WRC cars on average, they will score points even after restartin next day after retirement.

[bluuford]

It was like now in the past, I do not see any reason for changes. We do not change all the things all the time when something is not as we like. World is unfair to someone anyway. Next they find some other things unfair? I like when the things are stable. Keep the rules as they are, it is nice competition right now. No need to add extra confusion and changes. Rules are the same for everyone. At the end of the day, one loses in one event other loses in other event. DO NOT TOUCH THE RULES! ;)

[Coach 2]

It depends on how far back you're talking about # Bluuford #, when you say it's been like that in previous times.
Normally I agree that one should not change the rules too often, and it should be very good reason to do it too.
But all that "can" give more drivers the opportunity to drive at the highest level, I welcome. If Penasse get his will, it "may" mean that teams are giving more chances for new drivers in their third car.
Why: Because it is important to try to prevent the other teams in taking team points.

[electroliquid]

Everyone wants bend rules for himself, and use what strong sides they have, last year we had VW and Capito complaining about running order and Citroen with Meeke, now Hyundai want changes. Hyundai have best balance in team, best average pace among team members, so it would be easy win in team's championship for Hyundai. It would be same nonsense if Malcolm start talking about 1 driver to score points for manufacturer.

[Eli]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128960/fia-rules-out-caps-on-average-stage-speeds has anyone seen this?

[Watson]

"If a slow average speed means a safer rally, then Corsica must be the safest rally around, except it's not."

Very good point. The most important thing is to not have spectators in dangerous places.

[Simmi]

Keep the rules as they are, it is nice competition right now. No need to add extra confusion and changes. Rules are the same for everyone. At the end of the day, one loses in one event other loses in other event. DO NOT TOUCH THE RULES! ;)

I'd argue the current manufacturers point-scoring system is far more confusing. Anyone that has tried to tot up the points themselves after the final stage of an event knows it is not the work of a moment to get the correct totals. It's not going to have any ground-breaking or damaging effect on the championship. It just encourages closer competition and battles.

[bluuford]

Funny fact is that Difference between Ford and Hyundai would have been 2 points bigger as Hyundai would have lost 4 points, M-Sport 2 points. Actually, current rule keeps the points differences smaller. If we would take another option, that third car is blocking points then Ford would have 2 points less, Hyundai 4 points less, Toyota 5 points less and Citroen 11 points less, this is exactly the current standigs and when you take those points off, total differences will be bigger. So, this rule is to keep points tabel more close

[PLuto]

Funny fact is that Difference between Ford and Hyundai would have been 2 points bigger as Hyundai would have lost 4 points, M-Sport 2 points. Actually, current rule keeps the points differences smaller. If we would take another option, that third car is blocking points then Ford would have 2 points less, Hyundai 4 points less, Toyota 5 points less and Citroen 11 points less, this is exactly the current standigs and when you take those points off, total differences will be bigger. So, this rule is to keep points tabel more close

I will summarize your long description in 4 words - actual version is better :)

[jparker]

I think the discussion is about what point system is better, not the results it produces. If one team is better than other, it will win no matter what the scoring is. I don't think Hyundai are complaining about point scores in comparison with Ford. It was just an example.

[seb_sh]

IMO when making a rule you need to look at the consequences and effects and compare with the intention.

In this case the actual rule means closer competition in the manufacturer standings and for me that is by far the strongest argument in this discussion.

[Coach 2]

You understand clearly not the consequence of what I previously wrote. The intention to nominate three cars but that only the two best take points, is getting closer competition. That's good.
But if one also blocked other teams from championship points by having a highly placed third car, teams are being pressured to have as good drivers as possible in the third car (I'm not sure, but maybe).
I think and I repeat "think" this could mean that more drivers can be given a chance at the highest level.
Maybe asphalt specialists get a chance in asphalt races and gravel ........................ etc.
And I repeat, everything that could cause more drivers (new and old) gets a chance to show themselves at the highest level, I welcome.

[Franky]

Coach, I think in current environment, you're thought is on the wrong path. As the level of drivers' has become very high and we basically don't have any real specialists who could threaten the series regulars, then the teams would most likely have more experiences drivers in the team. So in my opinion it would cause the opposite effect - having less new faces in the series.

[Lousada]

You understand clearly not the consequence of what I previously wrote. The intention to nominate three cars but that only the two best take points, is getting closer competition. That's good.
But if one also blocked other teams from championship points by having a highly placed third car, teams are being pressured to have as good drivers as possible in the third car (I'm not sure, but maybe).
I think and I repeat "think" this could mean that more drivers can be given a chance at the highest level.
Maybe asphalt specialists get a chance in asphalt races and gravel ........................ etc.
And I repeat, everything that could cause more drivers (new and old) gets a chance to show themselves at the highest level, I welcome.

In your scenario you will get more Sordo's and Ostoberg who cruise around in 5th place so they can block points for top-drivers who ran into some bad luck earlier in the rally.

The only way to bring specialists back is to stop with this nominating nonsense. Just best two cars of one brand score points no matter how many are entered. Like it was in the good old days.

[jparker]

IMO when making a rule you need to look at the consequences and effects and compare with the intention

.... and that could only happen if you have the new rule actually in place.

[Coach 2]

In your scenario you will get more Sordo's and Ostoberg who cruise around in 5th place so they can block points for top-drivers who ran into some bad luck earlier in the rally.

The only way to bring specialists back is to stop with this nominating nonsense. Just best two cars of one brand score points no matter how many are entered. Like it was in the good old days.

You might be right, but it is probably also something you "think".

Perhaps what I am saying (writing) will provide Andreas M, Temu S, Pontus T etc etc a chance, maybe. I think in any case that if it becomes even more important with a good third driver, chances will increase.

[Coach 2]

I forgot to thank you for the answers that explain why you believe as you do and why you think I'm wrong, Franky and Lousada. ;)

[bluuford]

Another thing with this blocking idea is the budget question. I remember it from the past. Teams with more money has possibility to hire better drivers and teams with smaller budget must use what is left.. currently, it is good to have 2 good divers and third is more or less backup and.. the only non-official-manufacturer is leading both championships, by not having the larget budget, which is great for championship;) But I think, this question has got enough attention already, so, I stop here :)

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Yes, time to move on. If Hyundai dont win the Manufacturers title they will have no-one to blame but themselves.

[jparker]

Wow, Ford boys want everything for free. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way, WRC is not charity organization. Strange why M-Sport share same philosophy with its fens (or the other way around). It's a wrong one, and is bound for a failure (again). We all know it, but supporting the looser seems appealing for some.

[jparker]

Yes, time to move on. If Hyundai dont win the Manufacturers title they will have no-one to blame but themselves.

Probably that's why Ford supporters got so protective about this discussion.

[Watson]

Wow, Ford boys want everything for free. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way, WRC is not charity organization. Strange why M-Sport share same philosophy with its fens (or the other way around). It's a wrong one, and is bound for a failure (again). We all know it, but supporting the looser seems appealing for some.
it's bog standard fan bias, no reason to get worked up about it. besides, you must see the appeal to be fan of the plucky underdog. it's not why i am an m-sport-ford fan in the first place but if you're a loyal fan you won't just turn your back on whoever you support just because they are having a rough patch. simple as.

[bluuford]

The best things in this world are for free :):):):):)

[Andre Oliveira]

According Motorsportmonday, Lappi in all remaining european rallies alongside Latvala and Hänninen

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Probably that's why Ford supporters got so protective about this discussion.

What the hell are you on about now ?
Your anti-Ford bias is 100x stronger than any pro-Ford support.

And Hyundai has the best 3 driver team by common consent so they just have to perform. The rules are the same for everyone.

[Eric]

What the hell are you on about now ?
Your anti-Ford bias is 100x stronger than any pro-Ford support.

And Hyundai has the best 3 driver team by common consent so they just have to perform. The rules are the same for everyone.

Hyundai may have the best 3 drivers but they are still looking for a fourth ;)

[stefanvv]

What the hell are you on about now ?
Your anti-Ford bias is 100x stronger than any pro-Ford support.

And Hyundai has the best 3 driver team by common consent so they just have to perform. The rules are the same for everyone.

I think Hyundai are worried when CS3 & Toyota come with 3 drivers also.

[AL14]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129050/mikkelsen-closing-on-wrc-return-with-hyundai

Andreas Mikkelsen closing on World Rally return with Hyundai

(the title is a bit unclear. Mikkelsen is just going to test Hyundai but well it's a sign...)

[er88]

Paddon needs to buck up his ideas. Fallen off a cliff performance wise since his Argentina win last year

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[rallyfiend]

Paddon needs to buck up his ideas. Fallen off a cliff performance wise since his Argentina win last year

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I can't imagine the accident in Monte was a big motivator...

[spiderem]

Why has Mikkelsen got his own thread? I mean let's face it, we are not following a sport with a lot of exciting news and rumors everyday... so if we remove the topic that keeps us a bit entertained at this moment, I don't really see the meaning of this thread.

[Simmi]

Why has Mikkelsen got his own thread? I mean let's face it, we are not following a sport with a lot of exciting news and rumors everyday... so if we remove the topic that keeps us a bit entertained at this moment, I don't really see the meaning of this thread.

He's had one of the more interesting driver careers in recent history and him being without a works seat is one of the dominating stories of the last six months. There are bigger things in life to worry about than which post goes where on a forum.

[Rally Power]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128960/fia-rules-out-caps-on-average-stage-speeds has anyone seen this?

So, Mahonen asked Finnish organizers to change this year rally route but they didn’t care, despite knowing that new cars would be quite faster. If we remember that French organizers were forced to run Corsica only 6 months after last year and Portugal was pressured a couple of years ago to move their rally to the north, it seems FIA is not being equally tolerant to all WRC organizers…

[AnttiL]

The itinerary of Rally Finland 2017 may look the same as 2016 but apart from a few stages they're not the same at all even if the names are the same. Different roads and directions etc. Although I wonder why they dropped some slow stages and kept all the fastest ones.

[Rally Power]

So, they’ve made some changes but they didn’t comply with FIA demand to get a slower route; that’s even worse…

[AnttiL]

So, they’ve made some changes but they didn’t comply with FIA demand to get a slower route; that’s even worse…

http://yle.fi/urheilu/3-9525388?origin=rss

This article (in Finnish) states that they made changes to make the average speeds slower. It says they had a version of the route in january, but changes were applied after Rally Sweden and the high average speeds. All the stages on Saturday are now run in the opposite direction to reduce the speed. They are also considering chicanes but I'm not sure if that applies anymore with Mahonen's later statements.

However, the Power Stage is the same as last year, I think it will be very fast. But then again, there will be no further stages to cancel at that point. And Ouninpohja is always a problem by being super popular and dangerously fast.

[SubaruNorway]

http://yle.fi/urheilu/3-9525388?origin=rss

This article (in Finnish) states that they made changes to make the average speeds slower. It says they had a version of the route in january, but changes were applied after Rally Sweden and the high average speeds. All the stages on Saturday are now run in the opposite direction to reduce the speed. They are also considering chicanes but I'm not sure if that applies anymore with Mahonen's later statements.

However, the Power Stage is the same as last year, I think it will be very fast. But then again, there will be no further stages to cancel at that point. And Ouninpohja is always a problem by being super popular and dangerously fast.

That's funny, you never have as many accidents as when you run a stage in reverse, like we saw in Ouninpohja last year. Slower yes, but not safer...

[Thousandlakes]

Marcus Grönholm said in finnish rally magazine (VM) that he will drive Toyota Yaris wrc in Rally Finland. He is not real competitor. He is doing only VIP. He said that he will drive only city stage Harju and maybe power stage in sunday. Also some negotiations about driving shakedown stage. Some lucky fan of Bosse can win "codriving" next to him.

[electroliquid]

Marcus Grönholm said in finnish rally magazine (VM) that he will drive Toyota Yaris wrc in Rally Finland. He is not real competitor. He is doing only VIP. He said that he will drive only city stage Harju and maybe power stage in sunday. Also some negotiations about driving shakedown stage. Some lucky fan of Bosse can win "codriving" next to him.

Nice gesture from Toyota to promote rallying, it would be good to see similar actions more often from other teams.

[Hartusvuori]

That's funny, you never have as many accidents as when you run a stage in reverse, like we saw in Ouninpohja last year. Slower yes, but not safer...

Ouninpohja and Päijälä stages are returned to their more normal form for this year. Last year Ouni caught quite a few. The year before it was not that bad. I'm not sure how it'll lower the average speed though.

[Eli]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129101/hyundai-pleased-with-mikkelsen-test-debut

[Simmi]

Interesting discussion here. Just watching it now. Some good info from Mads on the realities of being a customer team, settings, information sharing etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ8eqBMt-x4&feature=youtu.be

[Eli]

https://www.rallye-magazin.de/wrc/artikel/d/2017/04/22/wrc-promoter-skizziert-die-zukunft-der-rallye-wm/
promoter wants 16 instead of 13 rallies, and they dropped the idea of shortening the european rallies (& the whole shakedown concept) as it doesn't save them a substantial amount of money.

[Simmi]

https://www.rallye-magazin.de/wrc/artikel/d/2017/04/22/wrc-promoter-skizziert-die-zukunft-der-rallye-wm/
promoter wants 16 instead of 13 rallies, and they dropped the idea of shortening the european rallies (& the whole shakedown concept) as it doesn't save them a substantial amount of money.

Good to see that complete lunacy about shortening the events has been forgotten. Didn't realise there was a movement to remove shakedown too.

But it still seems that they want to add 3 extra rounds (long-haul at that) with no real idea of how to reduce costs. No team will accept that.

[GigiGalliNo1]

NZ back in WRC in 2018? Any more info on what Paddon said?

[GigiGalliNo1]

English version translated.

Great to hear words from the WRC guy...

https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&nv=1&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=https://www.rallye-magazin.de/wrc/artikel/d/2017/04/22/wrc-promoter-skizziert-die-zukunft-der-rallye-wm/&usg=ALkJrhi-uzwrYw9Y2mGsxUt9YyQPwDzMlg

[Franky]

I've got a feeling that they are dreaming or in the fantasy land again. John has multiple times ridiculed the idea of a WRC event in the States. Another thing is that studs aren't allowed in North America. So it would be a studless winter rally.

They are thinking about Chile, North-America, Kenya, NZ, South Korea, China, Japan, India, Turkey and Russia.

NZ, Japan and Turkey had pretty healthy entry lists last time they were part of WRC. But how much potential do the other events have?

[Watson]

I've got a feeling that they are dreaming or in the fantasy land again. John has multiple times ridiculed the idea of a WRC event in the States. Another thing is that studs aren't allowed in North America. So it would be a studless winter rally.

They are thinking about Chile, North-America, Kenya, NZ, South Korea, China, Japan, India, Turkey and Russia.

NZ, Japan and Turkey had pretty healthy entry lists last time they were part of WRC. But how much potential do the other events have?
Aren't most of the new and 'old-new' supposed places gravel rallys? I like the idea of introducing another winter rally but I think there are too few aspalt events aready. Japan would have some twisty tarmac mountain places in store, but the last time it was held it was a gravel rally as well. Also I'd like to see the round of Italy going back to San Remo instead of Sardegna.

I would like Kenya back as I was really disappointed when they took this challenging event out of the calendar. I do have a feeling that if it returns it might be a bit too polished compared to when it was last held.

So here you have my opinion which is probably just adding to the confusion. Sorry for that. I'd be in favour of having more rallys but not at the expense of the length of the single events. But where do you get the money from? I guess there hope is that a more global calendar would attract a bigger number of sponsors and fan attention. It's anyone's guess if the maths on it are going to work out.

[pantealex]

Nice gesture from Toyota to promote rallying, it would be good to see similar actions more often from other teams.

It´s Grönholm´s GRX-teams money gathering thing (for future of Finnish RallyDrivers)
They are selling T-shirts and every shirt is "lottery ticket" to YarisWRC ride.
Toyota is this years official car of NesteRally, so in that way it´s also commercial deal.

[Simmi]

Regarding all the extra events - it still feels like a properly organised Chinese round would be a win for the series and the manufacturers. But if that debacle has shown us anything it's that there's no point trying to force an event on a country that doesn't want it. So really instead of flashing a long list of countries around they need to target one, at the most two, countries that actually have money, fanbase, government support and an existing candidate rally and organisation structure.

If those things aren't in place you are just wasting time and money.

[EstWRC]

Cmooooonnn, give Estonia a lot of money and we will make an event :p

[skarderud]

1 more snowrally should be a good extension, maybe a real crossover tarmac+gravel rally could be fun?

Sent fra min XP7700 via Tapatalk

[janvanvurpa]

I've got a feeling that they are dreaming or in the fantasy land again. John has multiple times ridiculed the idea of a WRC event in the States. Another thing is that studs aren't allowed in North America. So it would be a studless winter rally.



Funny thing is is that Michigan law does allow studs..Its the rule in the BOOK that says no studs..
What most people don't realsie in just how low the level of competition is.. Here for example is Michigan rally from this year, and this is typical
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RoiuUYfAEE8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoiuUYfAEE8


39 entries....17 Subarus..

That was a "Rally America" event, one of the 3 private corporations "sanctioning" events

This weekend 300km South was "Oregon Trails Rally" sanctioned by the new "American Rally Association", a new sanctioning body
49 cars and 28 Subarus

2 are driven with some vigor: Dave Higgins and Travis Pastrami-Sammich.
the rest could not win a B class in a Swedish Regional level event against clubbie spec 2wd cars..

Thisa is what passes for exciting driving in North America
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s4rzdpeMKRw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4rzdpeMKRw

How can anybody think there is any way to bring a WRC event here or Canada if this represents a Chamionship level event?

[tc10a]

Also if they dont allow studs for normal cars, no one says it's impossible to make an exception for the rallycars during the rally.
It would be a major event. Everyting is negotiable.

[SubaruNorway]

Too many people daydreaming a bit too much, here's one from India who doesn't seem to pay much attention to WRC.
Didn't bother to check if the APRC had a national event running alongside but the APRC had 10 entries...
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/gill-hopes-india-can-host-a-wrc-rally-in-a-few-years-895996/

[Franky]

Too many people daydreaming a bit too much, here's one from India who doesn't seem to pay much attention to WRC.
Didn't bother to check if the APRC had a national event running alongside but the APRC had 10 entries...
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/gill-hopes-india-can-host-a-wrc-rally-in-a-few-years-895996/

I checked the national list and about 41 crews were there, but I'm not sure how many of those cars have FIA homologation. (Link to the national list - http://www.mscc.org.in/img/CoffeedayRally/2016/IRC/IRC-ENTRY-LIST-2016-1.pdf)

[drive]

any one knows something about this?

https://scontent.fvno2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/17966277_10155299887989973_4109438180882025139_o.j pg?oh=19a7eba7138fb7fb626fa32c2d56668c&oe=597BAF96

[tc10a]

any one knows something about this?

https://scontent.fvno2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/17966277_10155299887989973_4109438180882025139_o.j pg?oh=19a7eba7138fb7fb626fa32c2d56668c&oe=597BAF96

More pictures and information here:
http://www.ir7.at/content/news_raimund_baumschlager_pirmin_winklhofer_vw_pol o_wrc_orm_2017.html

[pantealex]

Too many people daydreaming a bit too much, here's one from India who doesn't seem to pay much attention to WRC.
Didn't bother to check if the APRC had a national event running alongside but the APRC had 10 entries...
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/gill-hopes-india-can-host-a-wrc-rally-in-a-few-years-895996/

Both Mexico and Argentina, way less than 10 "outsiders", so India will be is as worse (or good).

In my mind NZ is only event which is ready for WRC just now.

[AnttiL]

Aren't most of the new and 'old-new' supposed places gravel rallys? I like the idea of introducing another winter rally but I think there are too few aspalt events aready. Japan would have some twisty tarmac mountain places in store, but the last time it was held it was a gravel rally as well. Also I'd like to see the round of Italy going back to San Remo instead of Sardegna.

I would like Kenya back as I was really disappointed when they took this challenging event out of the calendar. I do have a feeling that if it returns it might be a bit too polished compared to when it was last held.

Exactly, there should be new kinds of events, usually a new rally is just another slowish rough/muddy gravel rally that is not very competitive. NZ would be a great addition as the roads are quite unique there and almost as fast as Finland and the drivers have always enjoyed it. Kenya, yes, but how would it be organized? A Tour de Corse kind of itinerary with 10 long stages could probably work, but could they close the stages properly?

[Andre Oliveira]

Dakar stages are closed? So why Safari should be?

[Mirek]

Lukáš Kostka, co-driver of Martin Koči ended his career. New co-driver for Martin is Filip Schovánek. For me a strange choice because Filip hasn't done a single rally in nearly a decade since he split with Jan Kopecký.