Rally d'Italia-Sardegna

[N.O.T]

Altough it's reasonable supposition that C4 is little faster because it has the best engine in the field and we have no reason to suppose that its driveability is lower than Ford's. It's very natural to suppose that C4 is fastest on asphalt and in rallies where acceleration is important.

Why it has the best engine ?

[N.O.T]

Im not saying Gronholm is better or quicker than Loeb but that Marcus is certainly not a "has-been" as you put it, which implies he has lost his speed... The whole reason this debate started.

Lets have a vote-count, hands up all those who think Marcus is past it..

A has been means exactly what the words say.....He has Been a champ and he will never be again....i didn't say he lost his speed...i say his speed is not enough anymore to win.

And NO i don't wish him to retire yet.....

[Finni]

Why it has the best engine ?

Watch my posts in thread "Ford's straight line speed".

[Brother John]

Why it has the best engine ?

They have the best engine becouse they took the Xsara engine from 2006 and left Kronos everything from before 2006! :p :

[Zico]

A has been means exactly what the words say.....He has Been a champ and he will never be again....i didn't say he lost his speed...

I wish you would have cleared that up earlier when I asked..
it doesnt mean hes lost his pace as the term "has been" means.. at least to me?

Would have saved me wearing my fingerprints on this d*mned keyboard.. Yes it looks like Marcus may retire at the end of the year though I sincerly hope not.. and so yes it doesnt look like he will be WDC again, unless of course Ford can pull something out the bag development-wise, however unlikely there is a small chance but Citroen seem to be a step or 2 ahead with, it seems, more performance in reserve.

[jonas_mcrae]

just watched the coverage for day 3 in Eurosport, I must say that when they told marcus that seb had stoped he was more surpirsed than reliefed or even happy, he seemed like not beliving it. Then at the end at last I saw a smile in his face when at the podium and the champagne celebration, even celebrating with dani, something hes not used to, he usually kindda walks away. Then when watching how Loeb damaged his C4 i think it was a mistake that anyone can do, nothing special about it, What i do think is that in that same situation the Xsara MAY have "survived" I remeber last year that marcus hit a big stone and broke the suspention or something like that, and then loeb hit the same stone and nothing happened, maybe the c4 is a little bit more fragile. Indeed the hit was hard and everything but just maybe there is a weakpoint in the c4...

[WRXedUSA]

Wow, just watched Day1

Latvala and Atkinson caught some bad luck. A slightly better pacenote would have saved JM. No way Chris could avoid that boulder in the middle of the road.

[grugsticles]

Wow, just watched Day1

Latvala and Atkinson caught some bad luck. A slightly better pacenote would have saved JM. No way Chris could avoid that boulder in the middle of the road.

In total agrement with that.
I too have just watched it and bugger me if luck is not going Subaru's way in any way, shape or form.
Chris' retirement is not his fault one bit, pure bad luck.

JML: yeah bad luck too. I dont know if better pace notes would have saved him but I think the whole idea of being higher up the leader board has caused him to take a bigger cut than he would otherwise take and, as such, he suffered the concquences.

[grugsticles]

ps: anyone know of a torrent for day 3?

[SubaruNorway]

ps: anyone know of a torrent for day 3?

You might have to wait untli it is broadcasted

[klm-607]

ps: anyone know of a torrent for day 3?

All 3 days full coverage will up here: http://wrc2007.ath.cx:8080/ in a day or two. At least that's how it usually works.

[grugsticles]

Ah thanks peeps.
I dont have Eurosport so I wasnt aware when the coverage is shown.

[GigiGalliNo1]

how much more excited or suprized would we have all felt if WRR were on this weekend and hearing that Loeb crashed (!!) and Marcus stopped?! But then again it was still an "exciting" rally just watching the splits. I enjoyed it :|

[A.F.F.]

most of them are bitter because of Nationalistic reasons which i must say are very close to rasism in some cases.



Funny it's you who should say so :rolleyes:

[MikeD]

The term forum expert wasn't directed to you...it referes to all the guys wich draw conclusions out of vague sources.....most of them are bitter because of Nationalistic reasons which i must say are very close to rasism in some cases.

I agree. Some members tend to be so anti certain other countries or pro their own country that it's borderline rasism. And in those cases it's clear they can't judge this sport like it should be because to them it's only about hate or nationalism. It's sad...

[cosmicpanda]

I must say that I enjoyed following this rally, even without WRR. Sardinia looked beautiful as ever on TV, and the stages looked very nice.

I wasn't so sure that the idea of six very short stages for the final day was a good one, but on TV they certainly seemed to be tricky. I wouldn't complain if pretty much the exact same route was run again.

[GigiGalliNo1]

I'm certainly happy about the rally this weekend! I'm not anti any country as I think each round and people of that nation have their own originality and presence to an event from the millions in Argentina to the survivors in Norway and Sweden with the freezing conditions! i love each rally how they are, its people and the places I soon hope to travel to and see myself! (except the FIA guys who are messing around with the WRC!!!) :p

[ZequeArgentina]

Unfortunately not, have to drink that Argentinean gin I brought home. Named Hiram Walker. 45 % vol, cost 2 euros á litre, you can guess the taste!

Now you can understand my monday hangover.

Cheers ZequeArgentina!


hehhe, that is what happens when you buy a Gin which is cheaper than water!!!!

You must be glad to see Gronhlm on top, specially when on saturday you were even guessing that Marcus could be thinking in an early retirement!!!!

This Loeb unusual mistake gives the championship a great shape considering.

[J4MIE]

Well, back from Sardinia and I thought the stages were fantastic, a good choice of spots that I managed to get to. The big jump wasn't as good as last year though.

Did SS1, 4, 7, 11, 13 and 16. Saw Marcus "spin", but I don't know what was going through his head cos it looked a really stupid mistake, just locked his wheels and plenty space to get round the corner but he just stopped and thought about reversing after a few seconds :s Then heard on the radio a few minutes after Seb passed that he had gone off but nobody knew what happened exactly. Whilst I feel sorry for him, he looked to be trying a lot harder than he usually does, probably because he knew Marcus was faster last year, and sometimes when you do that you do go off... I did let DonJippo know when I heard and thought he may have posted it here but I guess not... :p : However it is a great result for the championship and hopefully it will go all the way :up:

Most impressive for me was Henning Solberg who looked very fast and commited, and in JWRC Beres! Really going for it and fantastic to watch :up:

Weather was fantastic all the time, not so hot until Sunday but very sunny all the time too.

Photos to follow shortly ;)

[DonJippo]

I did let DonJippo know when I heard and thought he may have posted it here but I guess not... :p :

I have a house to build, don't have time for posting old news on the forum :p :

[jonas_mcrae]

I was reading some interviews after yesterday and how Loeb describes his "accident" amazes me, he knows exactly what happened how it happened and and why it hapened, and I think right know he knows how to avoid doing it again this is why he is so good I think.

"I had difficulty finding the ideal pace from the very start," he relates. "I felt that I wasn't driving well and I had to push myself. It was starting to get a little better, but about halfway into the stage, on a fast portion which I had noted a little too optimistically, I hit the crest a little too fast and the car went light. I was no longer on the ideal line for the following right-hander and I had a wheel slightly on the verge. I tried to bring the car back in line but then I hit a big rock with my front left wheel."

but well, as Gronholm says the guy cant always drive like a machine...

[White Sauron]

Well, Loeb did the same mistake in Norway, but it didn't help him there... So, he can't know on 100%

[fastboy]

we will it know in 2/3 years, but so far his second year is not that impressive when you look at the progression. Hopefully all the bashers will satisfied about his results, i don't care so much, it's good we got some WRC field. If you look 10 years back there weren't so many top-cars as today.

But more i'm upset is the way i saw Wilson Jr. was a bit agressive to M. Ostberg in the Subaru after stage 7, he came to him as he was saying Ostberg has moved his car beside the road and let pass Wilson Jr because he was setting so good times.. come on Wilson Jr. now you're making a real fool of yourselfs.. no respect for your (privat-) collegues and for sure on this level is really disgraceful.

Matt followed Ostberg's dust for 15km, as far as i am concerned Ostberg was the one showing no respect to his fellow competitors by not letting him passed.Wilson in my opinion was very pissed off with him and wanted to know why he had'nt pulled over.

As for his performances this year he made a big step on the rally this weekend.He has been working really hard on his pace notes with Robert Reid.He has now got simpler pace notes that he can now commit too.Some of his stage times were very respectable this weekend and i think his future is good.I know 99% of you will think i am talking sh$t,but i believe he will come good.

[Roy]

Some of his stage times were very respectable this weekend and i think his future is good.I know 99% of you will think i am talking sh$t,but i believe he will come good.

You are right. He was better this weekend. He is growing, but what is 'good'. We see about 3 years where he is.
For so far, this wekend was a step forward.

About Ford win Ford Team RS director Jost Capito said: "John Fleming (Ford of Europe president and CEO) is rapidly becoming our lucky omen. He came to Monte Carlo, Greece, Finland and Britain last year when we won. He attended in Norway in February when we won and now here. We are thinking of booking him up for the rest of the season! ;)

[COD]

My thoughts worth two pennies or less:

Grönholm: Amazingly fast on day one considering his startposition before he got into troubles not his fault this time. Then setteled for second but was rewarded at the end

Loeb: Suffered first because of startplace, was his great self st the end of day 1 and whole of day 2, but made a mistake (lack of cocentration) on day 3. Goes to show that he is only human. Second drivererror of the year.

Hirvonen: Really lame at start, and him having to firght half of the rally against medium driver like Henning who is "private" machine shows that Mikko too is a medium driver at best

Sordo: got better as rally progressed, nut nothing special

Henning: Like I said before, a medium driver. Good start and fair result. But It has taken him too long to get used to the Ford considering his experience and loosing two places at the end shows he has not what it takes to be on top. Also so mch slower than Latvala on similar machine

Petter: What can you say. tries hard, maybe too hard, but that results to mistakes and Subaru still not able to provide him with a proper machine.

Garde: Did what can be done in that car!

Stohl: His usual steady but unexciting himself

Hänninen: Bad start, but got by time, which is what can be expected from a driver in only his third rally in WRC. Actually really good time at the end of the rally.

Latvala: Great start helped by startposition, but again a mistake and fell into his usua lameness by the end.

Atkinson: Again a costly and stupid mistake. A talent wasted starts to come to my mind.

Others: As expected.... :D

[René]

ps: anyone know of a torrent for day 3?

Best of Sardinia 2007, include the fight of Wilson/Otsberg !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3attRpy3iU8

[Halvis]

My thoughts worth two pennies or less:

Grönholm: Amazingly fast on day one considering his startposition before he got into troubles not his fault this time. Then setteled for second but was rewarded at the end

Loeb: Suffered first because of startplace, was his great self st the end of day 1 and whole of day 2, but made a mistake (lack of cocentration) on day 3. Goes to show that he is only human. Second drivererror of the year.

Hirvonen: Really lame at start, and him having to firght half of the rally against medium driver like Henning who is "private" machine shows that Mikko too is a medium driver at best

Sordo: got better as rally progressed, nut nothing special

Henning: Like I said before, a medium driver. Good start and fair result. But It has taken him too long to get used to the Ford considering his experience and loosing two places at the end shows he has not what it takes to be on top. Also so mch slower than Latvala on similar machine

Petter: What can you say. tries hard, maybe too hard, but that results to mistakes and Subaru still not able to provide him with a proper machine.

Garde: Did what can be done in that car!

Stohl: His usual steady but unexciting himself

Hänninen: Bad start, but got by time, which is what can be expected from a driver in only his third rally in WRC. Actually really good time at the end of the rally.

Latvala: Great start helped by startposition, but again a mistake and fell into his usua lameness by the end.

Atkinson: Again a costly and stupid mistake. A talent wasted starts to come to my mind.

Others: As expected.... :D

According to your analyse, there are only 2 real good drivers in WRC, Seb and Marcus? You really, really have high demands, IMO this is the best drivers in the world - with 2 or 3 better than the other, but to say the others are no good is far away from the truth.

I see you at least have upgraded Henning from a crap driver to a medium driver, and that's at least something. :)

BTW, without the loss of brakes on SS12, Henning would have been third this weekend. And 3 fastest stages, not bad from a medium driver I would say. Also, excluding the 2 stages where Latvala were out, Henning beat him 10-6...

[COD]

According to your analyse, there are only 2 real good drivers in WRC, Seb and Marcus? ...

At the moment, that is unfortunately the case. Petter would probably be up there should Subaru get their act together.

[pino]

COD, I would add Garde into your list ;)

[jonkka]

In a totally unrelated note, did anyone note that Hanninen did not have a single advertisement on his car? Where did he get funding for the rally?

[jacko]

I was reading some interviews after yesterday and how Loeb describes his "accident" amazes me, he knows exactly what happened how it happened and and why it hapened, and I think right know he knows how to avoid doing it again this is why he is so good I think.

"I had difficulty finding the ideal pace from the very start," he relates. "I felt that I wasn't driving well and I had to push myself. It was starting to get a little better, but about halfway into the stage, on a fast portion which I had noted a little too optimistically, I hit the crest a little too fast and the car went light. I was no longer on the ideal line for the following right-hander and I had a wheel slightly on the verge. I tried to bring the car back in line but then I hit a big rock with my front left wheel."

but well, as Gronholm says the guy cant always drive like a machine...

this is very intersting stuff loeb said about the accident. it wasn't just a driver error, the error was already made by the recce. So if i'm reading between the lines, Loeb still makes notes with the feeling he will be there fighting with marcus on day3 and he's definitly not a defender, no he's sometimes a bit too optimistical. I do think when there was still an amzing fight on day three loeb was taking the corner right as he had the feeling about the corner on the recce.

Main point however is that he made the error on the recce because Marcus is indeed pushing Loeb to the maximum, there's not much between them and so it could happen why the notes are maximum too.

Both drivers were showing particullarly in Portugal some amazing speed compare tothe others. I really think both are bringing the best out of them and we have a fight wich is very very interseting.

[jacko]

My thoughts worth two pennies or less:

Grönholm: Amazingly fast on day one considering his startposition before he got into troubles not his fault this time. Then setteled for second but was rewarded at the end

Loeb: Suffered first because of startplace, was his great self st the end of day 1 and whole of day 2, but made a mistake (lack of cocentration´) on day 3. Goes to show that he is only human. Second drivererror of the year.

Hirvonen: Really lame at start, and him having to firght half of the rally against medium driver like Henning who is "private" machine shows that Mikko too is a medium driver at best

Sordo: got better as rally progressed, nut nothing special

Henning: Like I said before, a medium driver. Good start and fair result. But It has taken him too long to get used to the Ford considering his experience and loosing two places at the end shows he has not what it takes to be on top. Also so mch slower than Latvala on similar machine

Petter: What can you say. tries hard, maybe too hard, but that results to mistakes and Subaru still not able to provide him with a proper machine.

Garde: Did what can be done in that car!

Stohl: His usual steady but unexciting himself

Hänninen: Bad start, but got by time, which is what can be expected from a driver in only his third rally in WRC. Actually really good time at the end of the rally.

Latvala: Great start helped by startposition, but again a mistake and fell into his usua lameness by the end.

Atkinson: Again a costly and stupid mistake. A talent wasted starts to come to my mind.

Others: As expected.... :D

very negative indeed... be proud of yourselfs

[jacko]

Matt followed Ostberg's dust for 15km, as far as i am concerned Ostberg was the one showing no respect to his fellow competitors by not letting him passed.Wilson in my opinion was very pissed off with him and wanted to know why he had'nt pulled over.

As for his performances this year he made a big step on the rally this weekend.He has been working really hard on his pace notes with Robert Reid.He has now got simpler pace notes that he can now commit too.Some of his stage times were very respectable this weekend and i think his future is good.I know 99% of you will think i am talking sh$t,but i believe he will come good.


i agree, see some progress and i'm a one who judge a guy after 2/3 years before the usual crap and frustrating posts.

Also agree on that mister Ostberg could have waited before Wilson was past, let's say that this would always a point of discussion.. but i was also a bit upset because on the press-release it looked as he was fighting for points..

[Niels H]

And again it was an nice rally!

Have pictures on my website!

[J4MIE]

Hi Niels, good photos, as usual! :up:

Looks like a lot of good places you got to - I was near you on SS13 at the 90 right Marcus stopped at. Did you get a fright when the guy in the Lancer did a 90 left?? :D Was certainly a few of us jumped up rather quickly.... :s tareup:

[Niels H]

Hi Niels, good photos, as usual! :up:

Looks like a lot of good places you got to - I was near you on SS13 at the 90 right Marcus stopped at. Did you get a fright when the guy in the Lancer did a 90 left?? :D Was certainly a few of us jumped up rather quickly.... :s tareup:

Thanks!

Yeah, missed a few shots of Campedelli there :-D Were you standing on the same side of the road? In the field or on the road?

[J4MIE]

I was sitting on my bag in the middle of the 90 left.

[J4MIE]

Couple of my pics:

Henning on Shakedown
http://www.rally-photo.com/jamie/photos/sardinia/2007/01.jpg

Some Czech fans who made everyone smile at the start :up:
http://www.rally-photo.com/jamie/photos/sardinia/2007/02.jpg

Mikko on SS1:
http://www.rally-photo.com/jamie/photos/sardinia/2007/03.jpg

Villagra on SS4:
http://www.rally-photo.com/jamie/photos/sardinia/2007/04.jpg

[sal]

Love Bettiol's images of the event especially this one:

http://www.rallylinkserver.com/bettiol/2007/13_Sardegna/imageFull47.htm

[Petr_CZ]

Hi, our Hi-Res Photos from Sardegna.

http://www.rally2.com/myegallery.php?&do=showgall&gid=157

[J4MIE]

I heard over the weekend that next year's Rally d'Italia won't be held in Sardinia but in central Italy near Naples. Has anyone heard anything about this??

[Alex Nakhapetov]

Evgeniy Vertunov (Fiesta Sporting Trophy) tells about Italy and Portugal rallies:

http://vertunov.rallyrus.spb.ru/eng/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1180193363&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

By the way, he's now in Greece and will start next round in Production cars on Subaru instead Alexander Dorossinski.

Thank you!

[vittorio]

300 pics RALLY D'ITALY ici

http://www.vittoriosanguineti.it/

good vision

[ern]

Other very beautiful pics.. http://www.sportautomoto.it/FotoGallery.asp?Cat=4&StCat=113

[pino]

I heard over the weekend that next year's Rally d'Italia won't be held in Sardinia but in central Italy near Naples. Has anyone heard anything about this??

The only thing we know for sure is that the 3 years contract with Sardinia has expired so ACI ( ital motorsport government ) might decide to move it elsewhere, it could be Sicily, Tuscany, or even Sanremo :D I personally think they will stick with Sardinia...

ps: great pics mate, as usually ;)