Monte Carlo 2011

On Wednesday, Proton and P-G Andersson were testing for the first time to prepare next Monte Carlo Rally.

The snow was not expected the first day but for me it was a gift ! Wonderful day with an incredible driving of P-G Andersson on those slippery road and for it first run with the car, lots of drifts, sometimes on the limits, magic !

You can find some of my pictures here


Only-Rally.com

http://only-rally.com/images/stories...rsson--19-.JPG

http://only-rally.com/images/stories...rsson--16-.JPG

http://only-rally.com/images/stories...rsson--12-.JPG

I talked to P-G about how he felt about the car and he told that the chassis is quite good but the engine, the biggest problem on this car, was to powerful for thos specific conditions: it was on or off. the power is to high and the torque is missing on low rpm which was a problem on snow. A new evolution of the engine will appear for the rally.

Video from test Jan Kopecký: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM5nN0vUVy4

Again very nive video, with lot's of sliding. Looks like they had perfect testing conditions where they could test a lot of different tyres. ;)

I also, from looking at videos and reading comments from drivers Think the real issue is useful powerband. So they need to change the camshafts and check the flow to improve - today it is more of a raceengine instead of a rallyengine in its caracterististics.

Who buildt this engine ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sulland

I also, from looking at videos and reading comments from drivers Think the real issue is useful powerband. So they need to change the camshafts and check the flow to improve - today it is more of a raceengine instead of a rallyengine in its caracterististics.

Who buildt this engine ?

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It is Oreca in France who builds the engines for Fabia's.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wwbroe

It is Oreca in France who builds the engines for Fabia's.

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I think Sulland was referring to the Proton.. and I agree with his assesment. PG is not the first drive to say the top end power is ok but it lacks driveability.

Good video of PG with the Proton here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg6...rsson-mp4_auto

It must be useful for MEM to have PG who has good recent experience with a top S2000 car.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sulland

I also, from looking at videos and reading comments from drivers Think the real issue is useful powerband. So they need to change the camshafts and check the flow to improve - today it is more of a raceengine instead of a rallyengine in its caracterististics.

Who buildt this engine ?

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You’re right. The power/torque band for S2000 is quite narrow so they have to keep the revs high all the time. Below effective torque the engine’s power drops essentially and driving with this kind of engine in slippery conditions is difficult.

Changing the camshaft timings would help but I don’t know if rules allow that.

Great video with PG!

Here Kopecký: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM5nN0vUVy4

i found this on internet. Maybe Robert will start 207?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIpmraY2SbQ

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OldF

You’re right. The power/torque band for S2000 is quite narrow so they have to keep the revs high all the time. Below effective torque the engine’s power drops essentially and driving with this kind of engine in slippery conditions is difficult.

Changing the camshaft timings would help but I don’t know if rules allow that.

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On the Skoda they have clearly done something a bit different and the power delivery is quite violent even from low down the rev range. I believe that is a big part of the reason why the Fabia has been such a successful S2000 car.

It could be the case that the Proton has a narrower torque band than Skoda. By looking at the figures I found the Proton has 271 Nm @ 7000 rpm / 280 hp @ 7800 rpm and Skoda has 250 Nm @ 7250 rpm / 270 hp @ 8250 rpm.

http://www.rallybuzz.com/proton-satr...specification/

http://new.skoda-auto.com/com/motors.../techdata.aspx

Although Proton has best torque and power on lower revs vs. Skoda, the torque of Proton is high which suggests that Proton has a narrower torque band.

For Skoda I think Mirek could have some more up to date information.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OldF

For Skoda I think Mirek could have some more up to date information.

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Yes, I think Skoda are being rather modest...

I have a simple advice, don't believe press numbers ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mirek

I have a simple advice, don't believe press numbers ;)

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That seems to be an advice to follow ;) .

Peugeot test.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._8170922_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2608773_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7185571_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7027344_n.jpg

Photos from test Andreas Mikkelsen: http://iceman74110.free.fr/?alb=297

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ondra WRC

Peugeot test.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._8170922_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2608773_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7185571_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7027344_n.jpg

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Only Bouffier and Sarrazin ??? No Solberg yet ??? :confused:

Any idea when Petter's five day test is?

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Originally Posted by Tom206wrc

Only Bouffier and Sarrazin ??? No Solberg yet ??? :confused:

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Yes, only Bouffier and Sarrazin. I think, Solberg has a plan to test in January.

Test of Andreas Mikkelsen. That's just insane!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88IzI...layer_embedded

Incredible - you can see how amazingly slippery it is in the first 30s when he has a half spin!

Bonjour, quelle est la meilleure étape spéciale le jeudi, pour voir? Quel est celui qui a le plus de chance de neige?

Merci :)

Video from test Andreas Mikkelsen with onboard:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwdEiJYumaI

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ondra WRC

Video from test Andreas Mikkelsen with onboard:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwdEiJYumaI

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Those cameras mounted on the car give a really clear and spectacular view; maybe it's something Eurosport should experiment with.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mirek

Test of Andreas Mikkelsen. That's just insane!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88IzI...layer_embedded

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My wife was also on the video. :D

Video from Bryan Bouffier test:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg8...07-s2000_sport

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ondra WRC

Video from Bryan Bouffier test:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg8...07-s2000_sport

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Looks more like a test for Swedish rally, but with inadequate tyres. :D

Cédric Robert forfait...lack of budget :(

Who will replace him ?

Photogalery from test Julien Maurin:
http://www.gaucheafond.fr/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ondra WRC

Photogalery from test Julien Maurin:
http://www.gaucheafond.fr/

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fiesta on one side is on castrol sponsorship and on the other in yacco :dozey:

Very nice looking car in my opinion. Like the 2009 Stobart ones which were blue on one and green on the other side.

Franz Wittman lost his main sponsor, so no MC for him :(

http://www.rallye-magazin.de/top/top...gen/index.html

...so again it starts... no Robert, no Wittmann,... who will come next - Basso???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FabiaFan

...so again it starts... no Robert, no Wittmann,... who will come next - Basso???

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Well u could expected that especially with the free entry here on this rally some entered without having the budget yet for driving the rally. But good news is Thierry Neuville has been confirmed to drive Monte Carlo and doing a IRC program again!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FabiaFan

...so again it starts... no Robert, no Wittmann,... who will come next - Basso???

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Campedelli...

Video from test Claude Carret (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X):
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg9...uto#from=embed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fly

Campedelli...

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Is there any kind of wait-list?
So, if there is still reasonable amount of time till the start of rally (like now), then it would be reasonable and they can practically fit all the crews who want and who actually have funds to compete in Monte. I assume that there will be many more withdrawals before the start of the rally.

Dont be afraid, there will be +- 100 crews on start...