Heavy handed marshalls fighting with spectators overs Nasser's car. Any rally I've been to marshall's help not fight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1-9...exl6uI1GClS6ca
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Heavy handed marshalls fighting with spectators overs Nasser's car. Any rally I've been to marshall's help not fight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1-9...exl6uI1GClS6ca
Some resume from my side... :)
Decided to do a short Germany-trip only last week, left after work on friday to arrive on the last stage of the first day. Since I could do only a bit more than half of the rally I decided to not take any photos this time (first time in 8 years, and back then I was only 14 years old). It was a very nice experience, in some way a much more pure way of experiencing the rally and the action/atmosphere, when you don't have to bother about right point of view/settings etc for photos. :)
On friday we did the last stage. Arrived on a technical place in the wineyards. A right corner into braking for long left with small cut (3rd gear) into long right (also 3rd gear) around wall. There was a visible difference between the drivers and cars there. For example Ostberg's car was way too soft, it was really diving in the braking and in that 2nd right corner you could see the chassis diving again, putting all pressure to the outer wheels. Same applied for practically all privateers. All other factory cars appeared to have a very hard setup, especially VW's were impressive. They are taking the corners a little quicker than most others and the chassis isn't moving a thing! From drivers I remember mostly Latvala looking quickest (very clean style) and Sordo really attacking, arriving sideways in braking for the corner, and being very early on the throttle which makes him going quite sideways in the exit. Not sure if Sordo's approach was the best one...
On saturday we started off in a fast right corner with cut in the wineyards on Stein&Wein. It was a good place, most drivers were a little sideways in the exit. It was interesting how some drivers (for example Meeke, Bouffier and Neuville) were taking a huge cut and driving over some metal parts (that keep the vines on place and straight). I was a bit surprised nobody punctured on this... After the first WRC2 cars we went to Panzerplatte, somewhere halfway the stage. We were in a fast downhill combination of turns: right(cut)-left(cut) before big twisty braking into hairpin left, it was on normal asphalt, no "panzer-concrete". The road was damp/wet (later on). It was interesting to see the crazy stability of the VW again. In the first right corner, the cut was a bit lower than the asphalt. When the cars exited the cut, most got some bump from it. For example Meeke went completely sideways and had to correct. The Ford's and Hyndai's could cope with it better than the Citroëns. But when you see the VW's, you see nothing, no movement at all as if this edge isn't there for them... On another level the same can be applied on the Opel Adam R2's, it's incredible how stable these cars are compared to the Fiesta R2's. On this place the braking for the hairpin was nice to see as well, interesting comparison between the big men and the "boys". For example Protasov was throwing his car sideways from one side to the other, to get the corner, which was really spectacular to see, but for sure not the fastest way.
In the second loop we started with Stein&Wein again, a place between trees. Some 90° right turn (with a dirty cut), with 50m after that a quick right turn (with dirty cut again) that was just slow enough to require the cars to brake a little before it. It was nice to see how sideways the cars went in the accelerating from both corners. Some funny moment there when some spectator wanted to put his phone IN the cut of the fast corner, to make a video exactly between where the wheels of the previous cars went. The first time no harm, the second attempt Meeke ran over the phone. He had a laugh about it until he picked up the phone and saw it became quite useless. The look on his face made it even more funny for anyone else who was watching it happen. :D A bit later some other guy wanted to put a gopro in the outside/exit of the corner, some 20cm away from the widest line so far. Sordo missed the entry of the corner a bit, went wide and gave the little thing a full strike and went wide into the grass, not that far away from some trees that could have taken him out. After that we went to Panzerplatte, to a long right (tightens a bit) downhill, with some bump in the braking. The cars were quite stable when going over the bump. Only Kremer-FabiaS2000 almost had some moment. Many drivers were blocking their wheels when braking before the bump already, especially DS3 R3's and Fiesta R2's. Latvala and Neuville were really impressive to see there. Neuville's car had quite a lot of understeer in the corner.
On sunday morning we did SS Grafshaft-Veldenz. Not too much special on this place, some quick corners in the wineyards. There was some cut in wet grass, but noone of the drivers seemed to be interested to take it. It was probably quicker to stay on the road in this occasion... After that we went to SS Dhrontal, just to watch the WRC cars. We were in a combination of: fast right (little bump), fast left (cut), fast right (don't cut). Mikkelsen had a little moment there, very spectacular place, probably the only occasion where we could see all WRC cars going sideways at high speed. After that we left to the stop of the powerstage. We were behind the stop-line, but the stage made almost some square around the place, which made it possible to follow the cars for the last little part of the stage. It was great to be between hundreds of Neuville-fans and being surrounded by plenty of Belgian flags. The tension was somehow building up when he had to arrive. The tension started building up when Neuville had to come, and it was a great moment when everyone saw Neuville emerge in the wineyard and become somewhat crazy. It's hard to describe but as someone who is following him since one of his first events and always believed in his talent, it's amazing to see him win in WRC (even with some luck). :)
Some remarks about a few drivers. Big thumbs up for Elfyn Evans, he did a really good event. Fortunately he proves to be a better driver on asphalt than on gravel. Pontus Tidemand did a great event, especially regarding how little he drove so far this year. If Wilson wants to take a gamble and put another youngster in one of the Fiesta WRC cars, he has found the right driver! Hirvonen was a bit invisible again, he's there, but it's nothing more than that. I think this could be his last WRC season... With the DS3's Camilli was incredibly quick before he retired. Also his lines were very clean and tidy, better than any other DS3-driver. Seen him a couple of times before in French rallies, and believe he is a driver to keep an eye on, could be "the next big thing"... In DMack Trophy Lemes was clearly the better driver of all, the thing that's keeping him down (for so long already) is his brutal way of driving.
Concerning safety I would also like to say some word... Normally nobody who's involved is reading this, but still... On many places (even the safest ones) you were not allowed to stand. For example on a 2m high wall before a corner it was a no-go, while there was a public area behind the corner, forcing all spectators to be packed like sheep, having to lean over to see the cars... On other places there was no safety at all, people were in the exit of corners, we've seen people standing on places where it could end up really ugly in case of crashes. In some occasions German marshalls are really rude (luckily we didn't encounter many of these people). By not allowing anything to spectators on public areas the organizers are forcing spectators to search for places without marshalls. On the long run this could make Rallye Deutschland even more dangerous than it was last year...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nornbugger
Latvala had a lead of a minute; he had no need to be pushing - just bring it home. He still needs to sort out his 'event management'. Meeke was slightly unlucky I feel; he didn't seem to be over driving and seemingly was driving at a fast, but safe speed. A sad time to have a pace note error.... He'll back back, stronger I'm sure.
i´ve just watched stage 15 onboard from meeke. i recommend anyone who has wrc+ to watch that. i think it´s the most crazy onboard i´ve ever seen. flatout all the time. one proper off without damage pretty much at the start and 3 more crazy high speed closecalls plus one in a slower corner during the stage. i can not believe he really thought he can go on with that kind of driving on the next stage. the crash had to come! but wow, balls of steel, absolutely crazy guy!
in comparison latvala was driving like a grandpa...
That's his "comfort zone", has always been like that and no doubt with a slower note on the corner he retired he would've won. But it's a nervous job following him at times on a rally.Quote:
Originally Posted by darkstar
Griebel was faster indeed. A lot. With Kreim he was he the only driver who beat the Fiesta's. Maybe with local knowledge of the route, but they where on Michelin tyres. The fiesta's where on the DMACK. And these are not good enough on tarmac.Quote:
Originally Posted by wwbroe
What the hell was going on there?Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
Authority + no idea how things operate = 90% guaranteed idiocyQuote:
Originally Posted by bassist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLptg6BYNooQuote:
Originally Posted by noel157
He's always been the same, just look at this ^ His asphalt skills are astonishing.
Notice at 02:50 he says 'sensor problem'. Meeke is not just a fast driver but probably the most knowledgeable WRC on the engineering side. I know a lady who has massive experience in preparing/running Peugeots and Citroens; she said the Citroen guys thought Meeke was the most mechanically minded and naturally talented driver they had ever worked with, always listening for mechanical issues and hugely sympathetic towards the car.
He will win. Hopefully in Wales. He knows the stages from the 106 Challenge / BRC days, and has tackled the event a couple of times in WRC cars.
As rally fans we should support him no end, as he is the best hope of breaking the VW dominance that is making our sport pretty dull.
Neuville is also awesome, but despite this win, the car is not up to speed compared to VW. Let's not pretend!
None can win with both VWs in the rally and going for it... they do not have the speed and they do not have the equipment...