Rally Italia Sardinia 2017

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Meeke now quickest.. :)

[EstWRC]

Ogier already 30 seconds down from Meeke

[abxyz]

Juho, wow

[CoyoteVillagra]

This could be one of the worst 1st leg for Ogier. Too much gain from the back runners

[KKS]

Meeke stops after stage at same spot as Breen, trying to help him?

[KKS]

Hanninen to the lead of rally!

[Thousandlakes]

And Juho set the fastest time. Go Juho Go!! Mikkelsen can do better times with fabia r5

[Watson]

It's all down to start position guys.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Breen out !!! :(

[abxyz]

Breen retired, Citroen seems to have more problems than just suspension

[electroliquid]

Looks like Andreas get that slow one Lefebvre's C3...

[KKS]

Fcuk! Shitroen! Can you build something what doesn't break?

[Watson]

Looks like Andreas get that slow one Lefebvre's C3...
The guy needs some time to get used to the car. Besides Sardinia is really unforgiving and not a good place to test the cars limits. This was pretty obvious but a lot of people had too high expectations in him to go fast straight away.

[EstWRC]

Didnt expect Mikkelsen to win but this is slow even for his standards at the moment.


Lappi lost 2n gear.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Shame for Lappi that gearbox fault.

[Eli]

Fcuk! Shitroen! Can you build something what doesn't break?

Shame for Craig, really gutted for him, he deserves better than this.

[AnttiL]

Now, I just hope the fast guys stay on the road. Hänninen, Paddon and Meeke. All have crashed notoriously this season. Sad to see Breen go out. If Meeke has an issue, then it looks bad for Citroen again.

[electroliquid]

The guy needs some time to get used to the car. Besides Sardinia is really unforgiving and not a good place to test the cars limits. This was pretty obvious but a lot of people had too high expectations in him to go fast straight away.

With his skill and road position I expected him to be in 7th - 9th place in stage, not last of '17 WRC. I hope he'll improve during rally, It would be nice if he had OK rally and get some more seat time in next rallies.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Didnt expect Mikkelsen to win but this is slow even for his standards at the moment.
.

Even for his standards ??

[HarriK]

Breen moving again.

[BigWorm]

It's completely normal for Mikkelsen to be this slow right now. Expecting him to win straight away was madness anyway.

[abxyz]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3CSPQVoAATGfu.jpg:large

[KKS]

This was pretty obvious but a lot of people had too high expectations in him to go fast straight away.
Ray of light!

[KKS]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3CSPQVoAATGfu.jpg:large
speechless pic!

[CoyoteVillagra]

Lappi: SS3 13th fastest: "I lost second gear on the first stage. I think we can get through but I cannot drive normally. I need to keep calm."

[KKS]

Breen stops again

[René]

More about @Craig_Breen: gearbox housing damaged after a heavy landing. Oil leak...

[er88]

That Citroen is trouble. Maybe now you kids will get that through your heads. Andreas isn't happy in it and it breaks or struggles with compressions

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[er88]

It's completely normal for Mikkelsen to be this slow right now. Expecting him to win straight away was madness anyway.
He's much slower than he should be. Poor

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[KKS]

And it's all over for Breen for today.

[Rallyper]

Mikkelsens´ speed right now just shows how hard the competition is among the top WRC17 drivers. None of those guys can be accused for being slow. Mikkelsens "short" absence show clearly how neccesary it is to be competing all the time without interruption.

[Allez Andruet]

Mikkelsens´ speed right now just shows how hard the competition is among the top WRC17 drivers. None of those guys can be accused for being slow. Mikkelsens "short" absence show clearly how neccesary it is to be competing all the time without interruption.

My thoughts exactly. Is Mikkelsen worse than we thought he'd be? No. It's just that the competition is so incredibly tight at the moment.

[er88]

Mikkelsens´ speed right now just shows how hard the competition is among the top WRC17 drivers. None of those guys can be accused for being slow. Mikkelsens "short" absence show clearly how neccesary it is to be competing all the time without interruption.
Lefebvre wouldn't even be happy with the times Andreas is posting. What a disaster for the fella in the first two stages

[Lundefaret]

It's completely normal for Mikkelsen to be this slow right now. Expecting him to win straight away was madness anyway.

Dont forget:
- Meeke came in for some one offs last year. It went quite well ;)
- Østberg did Sweden with basically no testing, had OK times, had a long brake and did Argentina and was fighting for the win.
- So to have high expectations for Andreas isn't as mad as as you think ;)

[Eli]

Dont forget:
- Meeke came in for some one offs last year. It went quite well ;)
- Østberg did Sweden with basically no testing, had OK times, had a long brake and did Argentina and was fighting for the win.
- So to have high expectations for Andreas isn't as mad as as you think ;)

1- He did Monte, Sweden & then Portugal, Finland & after that Corsica Etc. so he didn't have too much of a time gap in between rallies.
2- Yes he did but that was in February, competition wasn't as tough as it is now, as crews we're only on their second outing with the '17 cars. Argentina was his second Event (still makes a different) and he also had a test beforehand (@ the end he finished 9th) so we'll see how well it goes for the Norwegians here.

[Rallyper]

Dont forget:
- Meeke came in for some one offs last year. It went quite well ;)
- Østberg did Sweden with basically no testing, had OK times, had a long brake and did Argentina and was fighting for the win.
- So to have high expectations for Andreas isn't as mad as as you think ;)

However back in sweden it was early in the season and new cars. Now it´s quite different half way into the 2017 season.

[er88]

My thoughts exactly. Is Mikkelsen worse than we thought he'd be? No. It's just that the competition is so incredibly tight at the moment.
He's doing a lot worse than he probably expected. Hopefully he can pick up the pace. Must be really struggling in that C3

[KKS]

Evans stopped?

[abxyz]

Seems like it

[Rallyper]

Evans off.

[EstWRC]

Evans off, dmack wont win it like they wanted

[BigWorm]

Dont forget:
- Meeke came in for some one offs last year. It went quite well ;)
- Østberg did Sweden with basically no testing, had OK times, had a long brake and did Argentina and was fighting for the win.
- So to have high expectations for Andreas isn't as mad as as you think ;)

yes, yes it is

[EstWRC]

very slow first splits for Meeke and Hanninen

[KKS]

This stage not so good for late runners as prev. stage. Meeke and Juho much slower here. Rutted road?

[EstWRC]

https://www.upload.ee/image/7100078/DB3SGioUAAA8qKT__1_.jpg

[abxyz]

-late-

[BigWorm]

https://www.upload.ee/image/7100078/DB3SGioUAAA8qKT__1_.jpg

Pushing hard this year, Evans. His offs have certainly increased

[EstWRC]

what on earth Tänak did in the end of the stage, he is faster than others in splits


Mikkelsen very slow again

[Eli]

Hopefully, fingers crossed, Paddon will win this...

[abxyz]

Mikkelsen slowest again..

[EstWRC]

just wait, he will win it :p

[Thousandlakes]

Mikkelsen can do better times with r5. This one he lost 1.5 sec/km. Same as normally r5. Ok waiting him to do better and better. learning the car still.

[KKS]

Seems like Lappi went off somewhere

[jparker]

Mikkelsen slowest again..

I think he will be faster with Skoda.

[BigWorm]

Seems like Lappi went off somewhere

Still without 2nd gear isn't he? Not the gear you'd want to lose in sardinia

[giù tutto!]

Lappi lost the second gear on the first stage of this morning.

[EstWRC]

stop that Polo talk already Mikkelsen, enough

[BigWorm]

stop that Polo talk already Mikkelsen, enough

What is he saying?

[Watson]

stop that Polo talk already Mikkelsen, enough

Thank you. The guy sounds like a broken record.

[KKS]

Lappi lost to Ogier by sectors:
1st - +40.6
2nd - +2.2
3rd - +18.6

Looks like problem at 1st sector

[Tarmop]

Thank you. The guy sounds like a broken record.

Missing it badly, not used to anything else etc. What you`d expect...only there`s no Polo available so quite pointless.

[Simmi]

Interesting stage that one. Didn't seem to sweep conventionally. Let's see how the next one plays out. Meeke and Paddon will need to take some more time.

[Lundefaret]

Interesting stage that one. Didn't seem to sweep conventionally. Let's see how the next one plays out. Meeke and Paddon will need to take some more time.

Was the same last year. Ogier won it fro the front if I remember correctly.

[AL14]

hi guys, I am taking a break and can send you some pictures I have taken yesterday and today.
No action pictures because I suck at it and most important because I prefer to watch the cars :)

anyway here is a little clip I've made as an exception https://www.instagram.com/p/BVHH1M9lo1C/

(yeah i am not good at it either) https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170609/d8d35bd3b10be593ebc0e8b7600db97f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170609/8dc9f8ea5d3b62452a34d71e79aba470.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170609/e2801e873a75e50e93029ea6c7105197.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170609/d2b645fabf8b2417759fc2ee1b4683fc.jpg

[Simmi]

Thanks AL14. Enjoy the rally mate!

[Eli]

Shame about that Citroen

[abxyz]

Engine problems for Sordo

[EstWRC]

Sordo with a problem...Tänaks stage ends are nightmare

[KKS]

Sordo blown-out engine. This rally knock another good driver

[Eli]

Tough rally for everyone, imagine if Cyprus or Greece would be these days in the calendar or god forbid Safari Rally:)

[EstWRC]

What is he saying?

same old, he is used to that car and it was the best and bla bla bla

[Simmi]

Shame for Sordo. Hope it's not terminal.

[abxyz]

Meeke stopped, here we go again

[EstWRC]

diaster for citroen again

[Eli]

Meeke Stopped, Citroen's season going from bad to worse....& this rally they have Mikkelsen. They really imho, need to get Carlos Sainz to help them sort it out.

[KKS]

Meeke on move again after crash

[BigWorm]

Oh, surprising

[EstWRC]

and stopped again

[KKS]

and stopps. That Meeke get me crazy! Aggggrrrr!!!!!
Can you lead a rally without crash?

[Arwel Davies]

I think this is the beginning of the end for Meeke unfortunately.

[EstWRC]

Mikkelsen the best citroen, lol

[EightGear]

Someone drag Meeke out of that C3 and put Mikkelsen in it!

Oh wait.

[Simmi]

At least Juho got through and isn't caught in Meeke's dust. Interested to hear what happened with Meeke.

[René]

With Meeke we have a Brexit every Rally weekend !

[EstWRC]

Hanninen through, very nice morning from him.

[Tauri_J]

At least Juho got through and isn't caught in Meeke's dust. Interested to hear what happened with Meeke.




what do you expect, its always like this

crashed and damaged suspension

[PLuto]

Meeke Stopped, Citroen's season going from bad to worse....& this rally they have Mikkelsen. They really imho, need to get Carlos Sainz to help them sort it out.

Mikkelsen is fastest Citroen now...

[abxyz]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3iMU5V0AMAzN8.jpg

[Eric]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3iMU5V0AMAzN8.jpg

Ohhh Meeke..

[EstWRC]

a stage win for Mads

[abxyz]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3inNEV0AEBuBR.jpg Classic

[Franky]

a stage win for Mads

Lappi with five gears isn't going slow either

[Rallyper]

Ostberg fastest on SS5. Nice.

[Rallyper]

Lappi with five gears isn't going slow either

"-Tell Tommi five is enough."

[N.O.T]

long way to go still... its anyones rally.

[COD]

Why do I keep including Meeke in my pickems, I should know better by now

[abxyz]

I'll take a Paddon Hanninen Ostberg podium, thank you very much

[KKS]

"-Tell Tommi five is enough."
Nice one! :D

[abxyz]

Gearbox seems to have fixed itself for Lappi

[KKS]

Why do I keep including Meeke in my pickems, I should know better by now
I pick without him, I thought it would help

[KKS]

Hahahah :D
Lappi win a stage without 2nd gear

[Thousandlakes]

Lappiiii!!! fastest. What is happening here

[KKS]

"-Tell Tommi five is enough."
And he done it :D
WWWWhoooaa :D

[Simmi]

Very nice Esapekka. Entertaining rally so far.

[Eli]

Mikkelsen is fastest Citroen now...

Fastest?, that's a bit of an overstatement, you mean he is the only Citroen running....btw what a time by Lappi!!!! & that without 2nd gear, brilliant drive!!

[Mirek]

Gearbox seems to have fixed itself for Lappi

It was rather fast stage where You don't need lower gears that much.

[macebig]

Roll again for Meeke....

[Francis44]

WTH Citroen, I am really sorry for Breen, he has been doing well but the car lets him down time after time, but the rest of the team, what is happening?! Sort that out because if things dont improve surely the big bosses might pull the plug on the program come end of the year.

[Eli]

WTH Citroen, I am really sorry for Breen, he has been doing well but the car lets him down time after time, but the rest of the team, what is happening?! Sort that out because if things dont improve surely the big bosses might pull the plug on the program come end of the year.

They won't get Peugeot back by any chance ey?

[Tarmop]

Probably no, semi-works WRX and Dakar for Peugeot. No new Peugeot R5 also, C3 R5.

[Thousandlakes]

"-Tell Tommi five is enough." -Lappi-

[smsgrafica]

Meeke is a joke...

[Francis44]

They won't get Peugeot back by any chance ey?

What difference would that make?! Im sure many of the same people would be involved.

[PLuto]

Mikkelsen is doing his own race - nobody close in front of him, nobody close behind him...

[bassist]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3iMU5V0AMAzN8.jpg

Oh my god- not again? Say Goodnight Kris!

[Franky]

Oh my god- not again? Say Goodnight Kris!

Unfortunately it seems that he is the official crash tester for Citroen. But on a positive note, we can say that Citroen is a very safe car.

[mknight]

Very interesting first loop.

Road cleaning huge factor so the results are about the reverse of the road running order, but even considering that, couple of drivers are doing well (Hanninen, Lappi, Paddon - that one is maybe least of a surprise though).
Really shame for Breen. Meeke, well no vids yet so we dunno what happened, but clearly 3rth rally in the row with crash on first day is kinda telling. I mean IF the car is hard to drive, would it be so much of a problem to drive just a bit slower and not crash all the time. (he crashed again from 1st place)

While I didn't believe Mikkelsen would be top-runner immediately this is clearly slower than just about everyone expected. First split on first stage was on par with Meek and most others, from then on it went down. I have no doubt he is fast (just yesterday he beat the other 2 Citroen drivers in his first stage with the car). But 1 day of testing in France and running with Lefvfebre's setup obviously wasn't enough.
How he improves and loss/km is something to watch for. Not sure if I would be more happy if he lead after 3 stages like Meeke and then rolled.

[Eli]

Unfortunately it seems that he is the official crash tester for Citroen. But on a positive note, we can say that Citroen is a very safe car.

That's the only positive note there, not fair towards Craig, showing good speed & consistency considering his experience, should get into a Fiesta or something.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Such a shame for Breen..

We have to retire from today's leg. Gearbox housing was damaged after a heavy landing and that caused an unfixable oil leak...

[AnttiL]

Very interesting first loop.

It's been interesting now at many rallies in a row. Many stage winners, many rally leaders, and none of them is Ogier. I like this.

[Co-FIN]

Funny to see how such a bad village team as Toyota (Quote from mr N.O.T) is doing such a good job with only dogs driving their cars :)

Go Lappi!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WUff1]

If Meeke goes on like this, he won´t drive a WRC car in 2018.

[EstWRC]

but but but its the cars fault not him!

[Tarmop]

Took the whole blame this time...too fast in a corner, touched the bank with rear and we know the rest.

[AnttiL]

too fast in a corner, touched the bank with rear

It's always the same

[stefanvv]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3iMU5V0AMAzN8.jpg

Now I know what the shape of C3 is like - it's a washing machine.

[Tarmop]

It's always the same
Mostly yes, but we have heard excuses, this time none.

[Susiraja]

Funny to see how such a bad village team as Toyota (Quote from mr N.O.T) is doing such a good job with only dogs driving their cars :)

Go Lappi!

And now of course there are two questions to answer:
A) is the car built by the village idiots amazingly good so that even dogs can drive it fast?
B) are the drivers superhuman that they can drive a s**tbox that fast?

Not naming anybody. Like mr N.O.T :)

It never stops to amaze me why people always put the new teams and drivers down. Of course it isn't going to be easy for to new guys in town and the odds are against them, but like our ex-president said "Let's assume that everything is going to turn out alright"

[TWRC]

I think Meeke's finished and done. I fully expect Citroen to bench him next.

Also, I hope that now after the service Mikkelsen can do a bit better.

[Eric]

Meeke retired

[OldF]

Hyundai Motorsport‏ @HMSGOfficial (https://twitter.com/HMSGOfficial) 15m15 minutes ago (https://twitter.com/HMSGOfficial/status/873121910791356416)More



https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/2757.pngUPDATE #Sordo (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sordo?src=hash): turbo issue on SS5, mechanics will fix the car in service. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f6e0.png #WRC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/WRC?src=hash) #RallyItalia (https://twitter.com/hashtag/RallyItalia?src=hash)

[Simmi]

I have to wonder - normally when a driver has a real terrible run like Meeke is having - normally the first thing that changes is the co-driver. Not saying for one second Paul is to blame for any of these issues, but that tends to be the way it goes.

[KKS]

gameover
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB343WhV0AEiY6n.jpg

[Mirek]

I have to wonder - normally when a driver has a real terrible run like Meeke is having - normally the first thing that changes is the co-driver. Not saying for one second Paul is to blame for any of these issues, but that tends to be the way it goes.

Come on, Meeke has been like this always. He had some shorter periods without crashes but otherwise a sort of overdriving has been typical for all his career. With the current situation with seemengly uncompetitive Citroën it brough back memories to his years in Peugeot in IRC. It was exactly the same. He was pushing and crashing and people kept saying it was because Peugeot was crap compared to Škoda. Not saying it wasn't but it feels like a real deja vu now.

[itix]

Just got off work for lunch break. Meeke, this endless disappointment :(
I don't see him in the team for 2019 if this doesn't change pronto. Unfortuantely he has a contract until the end of 2018 unless I'm mistaken.

He should see a psychologist or something, seriously. He never ever ever ever learn.

[TWRC]

Just got off work for lunch break. Meeke, this endless disappointment :(
I don't see him in the team for 2019 if this doesn't change pronto. Unfortuantely he has a contract until the end of 2018 unless I'm mistaken.

He should see a psychologist or something, seriously. He never ever ever ever learn.
He's not exactly young, is he? This is his last big chance I think, and if he keeps flopping like he has been this season, I would be worried if he's still in the team next year, let alone 2019...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Great time for Mikkelsen to join Citroen... things cant get any worse !

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Interesting...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB34uuQXkAA6b1O.jpg:large

[seb_sh]

You know how Meeke after yesterday's SSS said he put the previous rallies out of his mind and is focusing on this one? My first thought was that if that's his first end stage comment in fact he has done the opposite and he will undoubtedly go off. Glad I left him out of the pickems. I feel sorry for him but he's doing this to himself. Reminds me a lot of Petter Solberg when the Subaru wasn't quite up to scratch and the kept trying to compensate and kept crashing which dented his morale which led to more crashing.

[Tarmop]

Not really significant comparison imo.
Meeke`s car has rollcage damage so he`s out.

[mknight]

Mikkelsen is 10 years younger than Meeke.

[itix]

He's not exactly young, is he? This is his last big chance I think, and if he keeps flopping like he has been this season, I would be worried if he's still in the team next year, let alone 2019...

A contract is a contract... we can see that with Lefebvre. Meeke had a spell of non-crashing, but if you look at the onboards he is having tiny moment and lucky escapes in almost every event (and many times more than once), even those he finish and win.

I had hopes for this season... now not so much. I am very impressed by Matton for keeping his calm in all of this. He has put a lot of faith in Meeke after all.

[itix]

I don't envy Matton now actually. He has got to be under a lot of pressure from above. The choice to hire Lefebvre and Meeke was his after all.

[René]

Citroën Racing‏ @CitroenRacing

#WRC #RallyItalia
We sadly have to confirm that @krismeeke and @paulnagle1 won't restart @Rally_d_Italia, as the roll cage is damaged...

[AnttiL]

Mikkelsen is 10 years younger than Meeke.

Yeh, he's almost 38. Solberg and Loeb retired at that age, Grönholm and Mäkinen at 39. The youngest big names to retire were Biasion and McRae at 36 and Hirvonen at 34.

EDIT: for comparison, Latvala is now 32 and Ogier will be 34 this year.

[mknight]

I had hopes for this season... now not so much. I am very impressed by Matton for keeping his calm in all of this. He has put a lot of faith in Meeke after all.

Matton should be more worried about his own seat.

I will again repeat the comments when 3 VW drivers became available:

"I have not spoken with Sebastien. It's for him to decide what he wants to do.

"It's his decision to take about the future, but I want to make clear that there is no idea in this team to change the driver line-up we have made."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126956

Asked if he would take a call from Ogier's team-mates, Matton added: "I would not say I would not take the call from Jari-Matti Latvala or Andreas Mikkelsen, of course I will - I am a polite guy!

"But the story is different for them: they are not French and they don't have the world title."

[Watson]

Funny to see how such a bad village team as Toyota (Quote from mr N.O.T) is doing such a good job with only dogs driving their cars :)

I don't want to be hating but if anything else than Hyundais and Fords end up on the podium on Sunday it would still be a big surprise for me.

[KKS]

Come on, Meeke has been like this always. He had some shorter periods without crashes but otherwise a sort of overdriving has been typical for all his career. With the current situation with seemengly uncompetitive Citroën it brough back memories to his years in Peugeot in IRC. It was exactly the same. He was pushing and crashing and people kept saying it was because Peugeot was crap compared to Škoda. Not saying it wasn't but it feels like a real deja vu now.
When I watch onboards from Meeke and follow Paul pacenotes - I always notice that callout distance so short, any slight delay and Meeke doesn't know where to drive. And I suppose that 50% of crashes - because of it.

[Lead]

Not surprised about speed of Mikkelsen. Not his favorite rally, completely new car for him, there is no way he could preform better than it is now. And he is last Citroen left...

[TWRC]

A contract is a contract... we can see that with Lefebvre. Meeke had a spell of non-crashing, but if you look at the onboards he is having tiny moment and lucky escapes in almost every event (and many times more than once), even those he finish and win.

I had hopes for this season... now not so much. I am very impressed by Matton for keeping his calm in all of this. He has put a lot of faith in Meeke after all.
We are not even through the first day, and he's already lost 2 of his 3 cars, his lead driver is in shambles, etc etc... I think Matton has a good poker face, but he must be feeling very hot under the collar.

[Tarmop]

A contract is a contract... we can see that with Lefebvre. Meeke had a spell of non-crashing, but if you look at the onboards he is having tiny moment and lucky escapes in almost every event (and many times more than once), even those he finish and win.

I had hopes for this season... now not so much. I am very impressed by Matton for keeping his calm in all of this. He has put a lot of faith in Meeke after all.


And as we have seen before, contracts can be terminated. No contract is made with a suitable clause or many for both parties to stop or change it. Lefebvre for example, was told to compete everywhere expect Argentina but who is in his car atm? Tänak after a bad 2012, which was supposed to be the first year of a five-year deal etc...

[jparker]

When I watch onboards from Meeke and follow Paul pacenotes - I always notice that callout distance so short, any slight delay and Meeke doesn't know where to drive. And I suppose that 50% of crashes - because of it.

Are you trying to say that Meeke is not aware of this? No way Meeke is having navigation issues.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Maybe Meeke has always been too influenced by his mentor McRae, who only won one title mainly due to his inconsistency and win it or bin it approach.

And he's too old to change now.

[N.O.T]

arab team of nobodies... do not bother.

[EstWRC]

And as we have seen before, contracts can be terminated. No contract is made with a suitable clause or many for both parties to stop or change it. Lefebvre for example, was told to compete everywhere expect Argentina but who is in his car atm? Tänak after a bad 2012, which was supposed to be the first year of a five-year deal etc...

to be fair, that contract was with Ford and beause Ford left in the end of 2012.......

of course Ott had an awful season too

[tolx]

Yeah, just miss one morning and so much has happened.
About citrone - are there any options to develop the car mid season? Or it's forbidden now, by rules?

[KKS]

And he is last Citroen left...
Breen restarted tomorrow under Rally2

[EstWRC]

Meeke after crash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOBgHlSOQMI

Michelin Motorsport‏Verified account @Michelin_Sport 7m7 minutes ago
More
#Tyre info:
Ogier/Hyundai/Toyota: 5 Michelin LTX Force H4
Tanak/Mikkelsen: 6H
Ostberg: 4H +2S

[TWRC]

Yeah, just miss one morning and so much has happened.
About citrone - are there any options to develop the car mid season? Or it's forbidden now, by rules?
Yes, they'll have a suspension update later this year, and I expect that won't be the only thing they develop on the car.

[mknight]

That tire choice.... Tanak has been scared about tires so no surprise. But do I smell Citroens desire to finish in decent points in Mikkelsen's choice?

[KKS]

Are you trying to say that Meeke is not aware of this? No way Meeke is having navigation issues.
Maybe not navigation issues, but he didn't build up his line beforehand. And when he receive information too late - he done some hurry movements. Sometime he survive, sometimes not.
I remember that Mikko tells that his mind always 300meters ahead, as I see in Meeke onboards - it's maximum 50-70 meters.

[tolx]

But if that's the style he has developed, I can't see it changing without himself realizing it. Co driver, trying to adjust this can only lead to more drama.

[tomhlord]

Breen restarted tomorrow under Rally2

Another gearbox issue after a compression in the road. Not cool, Citroen.

[tomhlord]

Meeke after crash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOBgHlSOQMI

Michelin Motorsport‏Verified account @Michelin_Sport 7m7 minutes ago
More
#Tyre info:
Ogier/Hyundai/Toyota: 5 Michelin LTX Force H4
Tanak/Mikkelsen: 6H
Ostberg: 4H +2S

Such drama in that video!

[Watson]

It'll be an interesting afternoon Ladies and Gents. Second passes of the morning stages coming up, road cleaning shouldn't be as big of an issue anymore.

[AnttiL]

It'll be an interesting afternoon Ladies and Gents. Second passes of the morning stages coming up, road cleaning shouldn't be as big of an issue anymore.

But we'll probably see some punctures

[Marcco]

Just got off work for lunch break. Meeke, this endless disappointment :(
I don't see him in the team for 2019 if this doesn't change pronto. Unfortuantely he has a contract until the end of 2018 unless I'm mistaken.

He should see a psychologist or something, seriously. He never ever ever ever learn.

Just to be fair. I don't think that to change things (not crash) is as easy as someone might think. I am sure Meeke is working hard on this, analyzing etc etc...
I remember when I was competing in local slalom championship (driving around cones in parking lot), I was fast but prone to hitting cone... and no matter how hard I tried to work on that (driving different lines, driving slower, smoother, different strategy etc etc...) I was still hinting those cones... and every time it was due to different reasons. And the worst thing is the more you fail the harder it gets.

[er88]

Maybe Meeke should be taken out the car for Poland and brought back in Finland, but you get the feeling any decision Matton makes now will be wrong. Both men are under huge pressure and their futures are linked to eachother. Doesn't help Citroen that again they've had a mechanical issue on Breens car and "saviour" Andreas is mirroring Lefebvre for pace. Truly a disaster of a season for them, and if Andreas gets more rallies and can't find any decent pace Ogier will look at that team and think "Am I fuck going there next season"

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[Tarmop]

I believe that Ogier has said many times that he wants a competitive car and that costs money. He also said that he would be quite happy with the Fiesta if it was developed as this year (which is the biggest issue for M-Sport rigght now, as according to Wilson, he put his all savings in this year and it wouldn`t be possible without a big financial support next year). Citroen also seems to have lot lower budget than Toyota and Hyundai.

[mknight]

Think it's very unlikely Hyundai will be interested in signing Ogier when they have Neuville. So Toyota > Citroen (team funding/speed) and M-sport (without Ford).

EDIT: But Latvala would certainly not want Ogier in same team.

Mind that contracts for next season are typically signed by rally Finland.

[COD]

Maybe Meeke should be taken out the car for Poland and brought back in Finland, but you get the feeling any decision Matton makes now will be wrong. Both men are under huge pressure and their futures are linked to eachother. Doesn't help Citroen that again they've had a mechanical issue on Breens car and "saviour" Andreas is mirroring Lefebvre for pace. Truly a disaster of a season for them, and if Andreas gets more rallies and can't find any decent pace Ogier will look at that team and think "Am I fuck going there next season"

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Not to be driving is the last thing a driver in trouble needs. How can he build back confidence sitting home. Let him drive this season and then decide

[denkimi]

Not to be driving is the last thing a driver in trouble needs. How can he build back confidence sitting home. Let him drive this season and then decide

confidence is not meeke's problem. the problem is he's unable to understand that you can't be the fastest on every single stage. he can't seem to settle for second on a stage, not even when he's comfortably in the lead.

[dimviii]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3r48PVoAA2XJZ.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3r6yzUMAQCKb0.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3r5qLUIAIyQD9.jpg


Sordo working on engine problems

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3n05PUIAAZtx2.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3n05PU0Ak_bVX.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3n05aUAAE3Jcw.jpg

[dimviii]

Prokop ss4

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3oz-NUQAEZGdQ.jpg

[dimviii]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3nrFEUAAEW198.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3qmYjVwAEjBW8.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3qmYiUwAUfHi4.jpg

[EstWRC]

It'll be an interesting afternoon Ladies and Gents. Second passes of the morning stages coming up, road cleaning shouldn't be as big of an issue anymore.

TOP3 now starting with just some cars behind the TOP4-TOP7 guys now. im expecting Hanninen and Ostberg to fall out of TOP3 by the end of the loop.

[dimviii]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB3jPRQUMAAuimT.jpg

[Eli]

So what do you think guys, will PSA pull the plug by the end of the year?

[N.O.T]

So what do you think guys, will PSA pull the plug by the end of the year?

what PSA has to do with that arab advertising billboard ?

[mknight]

So what do you think guys, will PSA pull the plug by the end of the year?

Too early to tell. Think that M-Sport and Ogiers future will play a role. IF C3 shows some more potential in near future and if they have a chance to get Ogier I think they will stay. If none of those two happen then it's more likely they leave.

Btw. I have been commenting about this as early as Sweden. Not good performance considering a year off, unstable/weak lineup and seemingly limited funding.

[KKS]

Too early to tell. Think that M-Sport and Ogiers future will play a role. IF C3 shows some more potential in near future and if they have a chance to get Ogier I think they will stay. If none of those two happen then it's more likely they leave.

Btw. I have been commenting about this as early as Sweden. Not good performance considering a year off, unstable/weak lineup and seemingly limited funding.
Bring Loeb back and he's make setup for this ...... C3

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Citroen’s deputy team principal Marek Nawarecki told Motorsport.com: “It was a disappointing morning. We have two cars which are not in the race anymore.

"The positive thing from the first stages was the pace of Kris – this was good and he was leading provisionally. But after this mistake, we have no possibility for him to continue.

“It’s disappointing. It was important for Kris to finish the rally and to bring some manufacturer points – this was the target of this rally.”

[EstWRC]

Ogier 8 secs faster than in the morning in the split

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Neuville +9.2s Split 1 !!

[dimviii]

Sordo 4 min late at TC5A (Regrouping In) and 5 min late at TC5C (Service OUT)

[Eli]

what PSA has to do with that arab advertising billboard ?

Do I need to spell it out for you? Money.

[EstWRC]

Neuville has made a mistake or something....Ogier 16 secs faster than in the morning in second split

[Watson]

Weirdly Neuville almost even with Ogier on the second split.

[Watson]

I think Ogier had some blooper before the second split.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

What's the point of Colin Clark on rally radio when he's not at stage end ? :(

[EstWRC]

man these TOP4 guys are so good, just 2.1secs between them

[KKS]

close splits so far, Tanak, Paddon, Neuville

[KKS]

What's the point of Colin Clark on rally radio when he's not at stage end ? :(
SS6 and SS7 it's one stage, separated just by public road. So he at the end of this stage

[AnttiL]

What's the point of Colin Clark on rally radio when he's not at stage end ? :(

These two stages are so close to each other, the drivers hardly take their helmet off between. Ogier's starting the next one any minute now.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

SS6 and SS7 it's one stage, separated just by public road. So he at the end of this stage

I know, so he cant inform us of anything useful til after SS7 but continues his blather.

[stefanvv]

Sordo's problem not fixed.

[KKS]

Juho 1st split same as Paddon. =)

[abxyz]

So close at the top

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Clark talking crap about Sordo's dust when he knows less than us about what is going on.

[AnttiL]

SS7 again already live, Ogier past first split.

[abxyz]

Anyone have the Hanninen time?

[Allez Andruet]

Where's Hänninen's time?

[Franky]

Where's Hänninen's time?

Italians have it

[Fast Eddie WRC]

He's passed the finish on tracking.

[dimviii]

Lappi with crazy 1st split

[KKS]

He passed the finished but system didn't expect that Juho by ahead of Sordo - and they have a glitch :)

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Neuville up 3.2s on SS7.

[AnttiL]

Is Latvala in trouble? no split for SS7 and map shows him stopped

[N.O.T]

Neuville attacks on this one it seems... -7.3 on the second split from ogier.

[mknight]

Looking at the splits Mikkelsen lost like 10s due to Sordo's dust. Without seeing the onboard I wonder how this is resolved compared with Neuville in Portugal.

[Eric]

Latvala stopped?

[KKS]

Is Latvala in trouble? no split for SS7 and map shows him stopped
freeze on 58kph - all OK

[abxyz]

Hanninen 10:02 on SS6 according to Autosport, Lappi wins the stage again

[KKS]

Hah, Lappi win another stage :D
Welldone!

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Sounds like a lucky moment for Neuville... damage to both rear tyres.

[Mirek]

Yeah, those Finnish sick dogs won third of six finished normal stages.

[stefanvv]

Neuville with puncture, no good for next stages.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Latvala through ok !

[Watson]

Neuville with puncture, no good for next stages.
Aren't they carrying two spares in a rally infamous for the many punctures it causes?

[AnttiL]

Latvala and Neuville made a whole of 0.1s of difference during SS6-7

[DonJippo]

Yeah, those Finnish sick dogs won third of six finished normal stages.

Driven with a sihtbox made by village idiots :hot:

[stefanvv]

Aren't they carrying two spares in a rally infamous for the many punctures it causes?

Only Tanak, Mikkelsen & Ostberg I think.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Tanak not so quick final split.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Only Tanak, Mikkelsen & Ostberg I think.

And Latvala.

[EstWRC]

damn Tänak, how come you didnt learn how to hold tyres with dmaks last season....damn makes me so angry, every stage the same story

[Fast Eddie WRC]

damn Tänak, how come you didnt learn how to hold tyres with dmaks last season....damn makes me so angry, every stage the same story

Not the issue - he said it was a more technical section which he struggles on, plus the extra tyre weight.

[EstWRC]

Not the issue - he said it was a more technical section which he struggles on, plus the extra tyre weight.

ok fine but still im angry.

about tyres, only MIkkelsen and Tänak have 6 tyres. the others 5

[KKS]

Sordo again stop to let Haninnen through

[steve.mandzij]

Fuck I love Lappi :D his quote consolidated his place in my list of favorite drivers, and he's even winning stages!

Interesting rally atm. Latvala's in for a fight with Neuville and Ogier fell quite a bit back. Also, Meeke really doesn't deserve to drive anymore. Eight crashes in seven rallies is unacceptable.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Dont really see the point in Sordo crawling through these stages.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Hanninen with another fine run.

Sloooooooooooow Mikkelsen... stalled a few times.

Can Lappi win again !?

[abxyz]

He does it again!

[KKS]

+1 for Lappi :D

[Rallyper]

Lappi!!!

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Yes he can !!

[KKS]

I like that kid :)

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Such a shame he had that gearbox issue this morning...

[A FONDO]

Mikelsen is not slow, he is performing decent enough for a debut. Difficult car, difficult event, it's good that he keeps it on the road without troubles. I hope people who were promoting him so much here on the forum now realise how foolish they were.

[EstWRC]

third stage win in a row for Lappi, impressive

[Rallyper]

Mikelsen is not slow, he is performing decent enough for a debut. Difficult car, difficult event, it's good that he keeps it on the road without troubles. I hope people who were promoting him so much here on the forum now realise how foolish they were.

Promoting him wasn´t foolish at all. He´s just smart enough to take time to adapt. Top drivers with brain usualy do that, I´d suppose.

[wrc2017]

Ive heard the Citroen have pulled 2 devlopment tests...
But if that's the style he has developed, I can't see it changing without himself realizing it. Co driver, trying to adjust this can only lead to more drama.


So what do you think guys, will PSA pull the plug by the end of the year?

[steve.mandzij]

Watching Meeke's onboards I find it really hard to understand what Paul is saying. He speaks too fast and tries to pack too much information into each corner. Prime example: his Mexico crash.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Mirek]

He speaks too fast and tries to pack too much information into each corner. Prime example: his Mexico crash.

Sorry but it's driver himself who dictates during the recce what he wants to hear during the race.

[EightGear]

Watching Meeke's onboards I find it really hard to understand what Paul is saying. He speaks too fast and tries to pack too much information into each corner. Prime example: his Mexico crash.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Well he's Irish so that automatically makes him hard to understand. :D

[steve.mandzij]

Sorry but it's driver who dictates during the recce what he wants to hear.
I'm not pointing fingers, just stating facts. Whoever is at fault needs to change, or at least that's what I'd do.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[steve.mandzij]

Well he's Irish so that automatically makes him hard to understand. :Dq
I meant apart from that, but it's still a good point :)

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[tolx]

Sainz/Moya duo also had very detailed pacenotes....

[dimviii]

impressive pace from Lappi,and very clever rally till now for Neuville.

[Watson]

Sainz/Moya duo also had very detailed pacenotes....

But Moya could talk fast as hell :D

[N.O.T]

Watching Meeke's onboards I find it really hard to understand what Paul is saying. He speaks too fast and tries to pack too much information into each corner. Prime example: his Mexico crash.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

go watch some andrew nesbitt onboards kid... then we can talk about it.