[WRC] News & rumours (part II)

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30th December 2008, 05:21
RS

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevieWonder

and please do not forget, that grönholm also had his chances, but missed!

loeb is too perfect, but hopefully they can beat him in 2009, when gravel rulez !!!

Maybe, but Loeb won 11 of 15 rounds this year including Finland!

The other guys will have to improve if they want the title.
30th December 2008, 05:41
RS

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJW

I dont like talking money on a public forum, but believe me Skoda was not short of money, if they spent €35m with DR that would have been a saving of €several m from what I was told they were spending (in house)

Hmmm, if they had that much money then why did they hire such unproven drivers? Internal pressures maybe...

Anyhow, it is funny how things started to happen when Colin arrived. Maybe the driver needs a bit of gravitas in order to get things done.

As we have discussed many times before on this board, I think the Fabia was never a bad car (although not a winner), but a combination of poor management/engineering and slow drivers was the problem.

This was pretty much proven in 2006 and 2007 when the car was in the private hands of CRT and First Motorsport when it scored many points and even stage wins with Duval and Kopecky - and the 'old Skoda Motorsport' at Red Bull were still rubbish.
30th December 2008, 08:53
Barreis

Quote:

Originally Posted by RS

Hmmm, if they had that much money then why did they hire such unproven drivers? Internal pressures maybe...

Anyhow, it is funny how things started to happen when Colin arrived. Maybe the driver needs a bit of gravitas in order to get things done.

As we have discussed many times before on this board, I think the Fabia was never a bad car (although not a winner), but a combination of poor management/engineering and slow drivers was the problem.

This was pretty much proven in 2006 and 2007 when the car was in the private hands of CRT and First Motorsport when it scored many points and even stage wins with Duval and Kopecky - and the 'old Skoda Motorsport' at Red Bull were still rubbish.

Totally agree..
30th December 2008, 10:41
Daniel

Quote:

Originally Posted by RS

Hmmm, if they had that much money then why did they hire such unproven drivers? Internal pressures maybe...

Anyhow, it is funny how things started to happen when Colin arrived. Maybe the driver needs a bit of gravitas in order to get things done.

As we have discussed many times before on this board, I think the Fabia was never a bad car (although not a winner), but a combination of poor management/engineering and slow drivers was the problem.

This was pretty much proven in 2006 and 2007 when the car was in the private hands of CRT and First Motorsport when it scored many points and even stage wins with Duval and Kopecky - and the 'old Skoda Motorsport' at Red Bull were still rubbish.

Some people did suggest after that rally australia performance by Colin that the car may not have been quite legal and that Skoda fluffed the clutch change on purpose. Just rumours of course but always good to consider all possibilities.
30th December 2008, 11:40
MikeD

Quote:

Originally Posted by RS

Maybe, but Loeb won 11 of 15 rounds this year including Finland!

The other guys will have to improve if they want the title.

I agree, but Hirvonen was a lot closer to Loeb on gravel - point wise and including a lot of team orders - than he was on tarmac in 2008.

Gravel points:

Loeb - 82 points
Hirvonen - 76 points

Tarmac points:

Loeb - 40 points
Hirvonen - 27 points

I actually had Hirvonen as favorite to win the 2009 title because he's so consistent and because there's only two tarmac events, but after the launch of Citroën's Junior team I think it will be close. There will be times where Ford cannot use teamorders because there now is more likely to be several Citroëns in between the Fords. And that's a good thing (IMHO).
30th December 2008, 11:42
Daniel

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeD

I agree, but Hirvonen was a lot closer to Loeb on gravel - point wise and including a lot of team orders - than he was on tarmac in 2008.

Gravel points:

Loeb - 82 points
Hirvonen - 76 points

Tarmac points:

Loeb - 40 points
Hirvonen - 27 points

I actually had Hirvonen as favorite to win the 2009 title because he's so consistent and because there's only two tarmac events, but after the launch of Citroën's Junior team I think it will be close. There will be times where Ford cannot use teamorders because there now is more likely to be several Citroëns in between the Fords. And that's a good thing (IMHO).

You forget the farcical gravel starting order rules....
30th December 2008, 11:47
MikeD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

You forget the farcical gravel starting order rules....

Good point. Any news if that will be changed for '09?
30th December 2008, 12:08
Mirek

Not only the starting order but as well minus points by Rautenbach in Jordan ;)
30th December 2008, 13:44
RS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

Some people did suggest after that rally australia performance by Colin that the car may not have been quite legal and that Skoda fluffed the clutch change on purpose. Just rumours of course but always good to consider all possibilities.

Yes, Finnish people who could not understand how anybody could possibly be faster than Paasonen and Tuohino ;)

There is also another story as to why Colin was quicker...
30th December 2008, 13:46
RS

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze

]Not only the starting order but as well minus points by Rautenbach in Jordan ;)

After this i'm sure Wilson tried really hard to get Conrad in a Stobart Focus for next year, but he decided to stay with the C4 afterall :D

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