Loeb for Donegal!

[Bazza2541]

Finally. The best tarmac driver on the globe, in the best tarmac rally on the globe.

[sills]

Finally. The best tarmac driver on the globe, in the best tarmac rally on the globe.

Couldnt of put it any better myself,
Donegal International Rally June 15-16-17

[MJW]

I reckon the Irish regulars will destroy him.............(not)

[sills]

I reckon the Irish regulars will destroy him.............(not)

:) course they will ;)

[sills]

I reckon the Irish regulars will destroy him.............(not)

:) course they will ;)

[jso1985]

(not) ;)

anyway I always thought Donegal was "upgraded" to be the Irish WRC event. guess I was wrong, dunno any other Irish rally

[BDunnell]

That's excellent news. It'll hark back to the days when top WRC drivers used to compete regularly on Irish roads.

[sills]

(not) ;)

anyway I always thought Donegal was "upgraded" to be the Irish WRC event. guess I was wrong, dunno any other Irish rally

well if your going to know any rally in Ireland Donegal is probely the best to know out of them all, Donegal will be as good as the Ireland round of the world rally championship, just cant wait to see them mk2 escorts headin up the classic stages,

"BDunnell"
i was'nt around when the best drivers in the world competed on the stages as i was only born in 86 , but have seen all the videos and dvds and if its as good as it was back then when Hannu-Ari-Stig and Henri just to name a few, were graceing the stages there will be another golden era on Irish Tarmac

[BDunnell]

"BDunnell"
i was'nt around when the best drivers in the world competed on the stages as i was only born in 86 , but have seen all the videos and dvds and if its as good as it was back then when Hannu-Ari-Stig and Henri just to name a few, were graceing the stages there will be another golden era on Irish Tarmac

Glad to hear that, even though you weren't around at the time, you know all about it. That's how it should be.

I was a kid in the '80s, and one of my most vivid memories of watching the fantastic British Open Rally Championship in that era was Walter Röhrl in the Sport Quattro on the 1984 Ulster Rally. Hope you've seen it. There is a fantastic bit of film showing cows in a field next to the first stage running away from the hedge adjoining the road, so surprised were they by the noise of that car. A wonderful moment. I'm sure Loeb will provide just such a spectacle.

[alleskids]

I think that Rally Ireland is the only rally were the local drivers have a real change of a victory against the WRC crews. Especially when it wil be a wet Rally Ireland, the proffesionals of the WRC wil have a tough match agiant the mostly privateers/bussiness man from Ireland.

[BDunnell]

I think that Rally Ireland is the only rally were the local drivers have a real change of a victory against the WRC crews. Especially when it wil be a wet Rally Ireland, the proffesionals of the WRC wil have a tough match agiant the mostly privateers/bussiness man from Ireland.

I do hope so, because it would be brilliant, but I very much doubt it.

[sills]

Glad to hear that, even though you weren't around at the time, you know all about it. That's how it should be.

I was a kid in the '80s, and one of my most vivid memories of watching the fantastic British Open Rally Championship in that era was Walter Röhrl in the Sport Quattro on the 1984 Ulster Rally. Hope you've seen it. There is a fantastic bit of film showing cows in a field next to the first stage running away from the hedge adjoining the road, so surprised were they by the noise of that car. A wonderful moment. I'm sure Loeb will provide just such a spectacle.

1984 ulster would be the yearwhere role was 2 seconds a mile quicker on most stages than anyone else he arrived in ireland a couple of days before the rally and could only do a very short recce a incridable drive, i might be young but im a proper rally fan and have seen most videos dvds etc on the sport,

[DonJippo]

I think that Rally Ireland is the only rally were the local drivers have a real change of a victory against the WRC crews. Especially when it wil be a wet Rally Ireland, the proffesionals of the WRC wil have a tough match agiant the mostly privateers/bussiness man from Ireland.

Will not, they have no changes against WRC crews.

[alleskids]

You don't think that local knowlegde and the big Irish balls wil stand against Hirvonen, Gronholm. Sordo and especially Loeb? Not even in th eusually wet conditions ?

[sills]

You don't think that local knowlegde and the big Irish balls wil stand against Hirvonen, Gronholm. Sordo and especially Loeb? Not even in th eusually wet conditions ?

I wont be suprised if you see Donnelly challenging for the bottom spot on the podium, espically as now he does'nt have to worry about the finances of his car, I'm confident of saying there is a chance of 3 irish tarmac championship competitors in the top 8 in rally Ireland and if Kris Meeke is out in an wrc he'll be close enough aswell.

[farquar wrc]

I wont be suprised if you see Donnelly challenging for the bottom spot on the podium, espically as now he does'nt have to worry about the finances of his car, I'm confident of saying there is a chance of 3 irish tarmac championship competitors in the top 8 in rally Ireland and if Kris Meeke is out in an wrc he'll be close enough aswell.
Couldn't agree more,just hope Kris gets the chance he deserves,if he gets the time in the car before Rally Ireland then i think there will be two irishmen in the top 4,as for Donegal,Donnelly loves this rally,but Loeb is a different class of driver than Gronholm,but if Loeb isnt on it big time,Genie will have him

[sills]

People say the best irish drivers cant match the likes of loeb and Gronhlom, well its not much different now to what it was on the golden days on Irish tarmac when rohrl, Pentti, Jimmy Mcrae and the likes of Sigstrom etc graced these roads in the monster group b cars and the might of the irish tarmac series of Fisher Machale Fitzgerald and the o'Connels were able put it up to them.
I take alot of people have forgotten these past days on the Irish tarmac, but i havnt and if it could be done back then why cant it be done now,

Donnelly will be there or there abouts along with a couple of others, give him more time in that car where he can actually get quicker he said the car is still only improving after the circuit so lets see what happens

[jparker]

People say the best irish drivers cant match the likes of loeb and Gronhlom, well its not much different now to what it was on the golden days on Irish tarmac when rohrl, Pentti, Jimmy Mcrae and the likes of Sigstrom etc graced these roads in the monster group b cars and the might of the irish tarmac series of Fisher Machale Fitzgerald and the o'Connels were able put it up to them.
I take alot of people have forgotten these past days on the Irish tarmac, but i havnt and if it could be done back then why cant it be done now,

Donnelly will be there or there abouts along with a couple of others, give him more time in that car where he can actually get quicker he said the car is still only improving after the circuit so lets see what happens

Dare to dream Sills, dare to dream :)
But the question is why Loeb wants to run this Irish event? I think he is too greedy to show what he can do and this acknowledges the fact that he has respect for the local drivers. Anyway, it will be interesting battle, that's for sure.

[Tom206wrc]

You all will see, Loeb will be as off the pace as Bosse was when he entered an irish rally earlier in the year !! :D :laugh:

[MJW]

(not) ;)

anyway I always thought Donegal was "upgraded" to be the Irish WRC event.

That's what should have happened - I reckon Donegal is the best Irish rally.

Seriously though I dont think anyone will be on the same minute as Loeb in a factory C4.

wrc is the pinnacle - look at Meeke, leading Ulster rally last year in a S1600 C2 until it rained. Wilks another driver who has excelled his performance by being in the WRC. If you think I.R.C drivers are a match for WRC why are not Mc Hale and Wilson always on the podium?
Each championship has its best drivers, as you step up the level gets higher, being in the Wrc raises your game.

[sills]

That's what should have happened - I reckon Donegal is the best Irish rally.

Seriously though I dont think anyone will be on the same minute as Loeb in a factory C4.

wrc is the pinnacle - look at Meeke, leading Ulster rally last year in a S1600 C2 until it rained. Wilks another driver who has excelled his performance by being in the WRC. If you think I.R.C drivers are a match for WRC why are not Mc Hale and Wilson always on the podium?
Each championship has its best drivers, as you step up the level gets higher, being in the Wrc raises your game.

well i dont want to turn this into another driver bashing forum but the 2 drivers you picked are not the best examples, how about looking at latvala a good consistent top 6 driver now and donnelly is alot quicker than him, wait and see i didnt say donnelly will challenge for the lead on rally ireland but the bottom step of the podium hes well good enough

[pantealex]

Petter, Mikko and Dani Sordo are also lot quicker drivers than Donnelly. I`ll say no Irish drivers in top8, I am sorry!

[VodkaKick3]

At the end of the day, they should be quicker the WRC Boys as its their job. Its the irish boys hobbies, but a few of them will spring a few surprises in Rally Ireland i bet you.

[sills]

Petter, Mikko and Dani Sordo are also lot quicker drivers than Donnelly. I`ll say no Irish drivers in top8, I am sorry!

what are you sorry for your entitled to your own opinion like everyone else thats what these forums are all about,

[sal]

I remember reading somewhere that when a certain Mr Nesbitt ventured overseas a few years ago there was great expectation amongst Irish rally fans that he would stick it to the WRC regulars based on his speed on ITC events. Andrew was more realistic and suggested that a top 20 place would be more than acceptable!

I think that whilst no-one can deny that certain Irish drivers have great speed and certainly reasonably up to date machinery the difference between a professional and a privateer however well heeled is still pretty big. A professional knows that he aint picking up the bills for the car so can drive it accordingley and the infrastructure around him allows him to concentrate on his sole purpose which is to push as hard as possible. A privateer/amateur dosnt have that luxury. If it was purely a case of local knowledge then the 1000 Lakes would have 3 or 4 Finns who weren’t regulars in the WRC in the top 8 every year and that just dosnt happen.

Just enjoy Donegal and Rally Ireland but don’t expect too much

[sills]

I remember reading somewhere that when a certain Mr Nesbitt ventured overseas a few years ago there was great expectation amongst Irish rally fans that he would stick it to the WRC regulars based on his speed on ITC events. Andrew was more realistic and suggested that a top 20 place would be more than acceptable!

I think that whilst no-one can deny that certain Irish drivers have great speed and certainly reasonably up to date machinery the difference between a professional and a privateer however well heeled is still pretty big. A professional knows that he aint picking up the bills for the car so can drive it accordingley and the infrastructure around him allows him to concentrate on his sole purpose which is to push as hard as possible. A privateer/amateur dosnt have that luxury. If it was purely a case of local knowledge then the 1000 Lakes would have 3 or 4 Finns who weren’t regulars in the WRC in the top 8 every year and that just dosnt happen.

Just enjoy Donegal and Rally Ireland but don’t expect too much

yes and was it not on the snow and ice of sweden where nesbitt ventured to a man who had barely even done a rally on gravel let alone swedish conditions, there might be just a slight difference in driving on tarmac than snow and ice just a slight little one ;) not to many people expected alot from him on the snow and ice.

Donnelly now doesnt have to pick up the bills for the car now aswell so he can now start really concentrating on his driving and pushing himself and the car,

[sal]

No from memory it was San Remo.

[sills]

nope finished like 26 r 27th something like that in sweden and 5th privater home

[sills]

just correcting it on his finishing position it was sweden he finished 28th overall and 5th private driver home,

[sal]

You have missed my point. The event he was talking about entering and be lucky to finish in the top 20 was San Remo. I'm fully aware of his result in Sweden.

Am also aware of Genie's deal with Reid's which should take some of the pressure off of him. Lets see what happens in Killarney and if he beats Miggins and Meeke comprehensively rather than settle for points then perhaps his chances of a top 8 in Rally Ireland will be more realistic.

[MJW]

well i dont want to turn this into another driver bashing forum but the 2 drivers you picked are not the best examples, how about looking at latvala a good consistent top 6 driver now and donnelly is alot quicker than him, wait and see i didnt say donnelly will challenge for the lead on rally ireland but the bottom step of the podium hes well good enough
Andreas Mikkleson is starting to get good results in Ireland after his 2nd ITC rally. Cork 20 2006 and Easter Rally 2007. At one time top 3 were Meeke, Higgins and Mikkelson. Point I am trying to make is that at whatever sport you compete playing at a higher level improves your game. WRC is the pinnacle and they will be the best drivers out there. Frankly I think the gap to Loeb will be huge!

[sills]

Andreas Mikkleson is starting to get good results in Ireland after his 2nd ITC rally. Cork 20 2006 and Easter Rally 2007. At one time top 3 were Meeke, Higgins and Mikkelson. Point I am trying to make is that at whatever sport you compete playing at a higher level improves your game. WRC is the pinnacle and they will be the best drivers out there. Frankly I think the gap to Loeb will be huge!

to loeb yes but you come back down a little bit from the top 2 and see what happens

[Bazza2541]

Please Sills, shut up. You are embarrassing me!

[jso1985]

well Finland is supposed to be another "specialists" rally where locals should be way faster than regular WRC drivers, yet Loeb beats everyone but Grönholm there easily and even Sordo on his first WRC year was beating them or at least giving them a good fight.
So I really don't see the locals winning or even getting a podium.

[Bazza2541]

So I really don't see the locals winning or even getting a podium.

................Or a top eight finish.

[BDunnell]

Sadly, I agree with this pessimism. I would of course love to be proved wrong, though.

[typerboy]

I have been 2 many wrc events and i understand the speed of the top wrc drivers on a charge... especially in finland, crazy stuff... but anyway, loeb will of course win donegal, 2 b honest i think the gap over the rest will be around 1 and a half mins...

[Bazza2541]

I don't know why we expect the ITC boys to put it up to the WRC regulars.
ITC are amateurs and WRC are professionals. If genie and the boys were at WRC pace then would it not follow that Ford, Citroen et all would be hiring them?