Rally Italia Sardegna 2022

I am really wondering how much of the forum member currently commenting in this very topis are really in Sardegna at the moment? Seems to me a lot a armchair comments. Do they really now how big Autosport is here on this island? Just remember that the WRC Rally is here already from 2004, taking over from San Remo because the number of crowds got out of hand there. So playing the crowd card is just one of the big advantages having a rally on an Island. Politics you said? That is the very reason why this rally is so spread out from west to east and to the north of this Island. Tommi Makkinen was once critising the choice of WRC Sardegna but guess what, rumor was that he was not getting enough 5 stars rooms for his people. Money? Rumor is persistent that the best choice for the money about WRC Rally Italia would be Rome, max visibility, max crowded, plenty 5 stars hotels, everybody happy

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Originally Posted by WRCStan

None set a time on the last stage due to red flags. Give the stewards a few hours to think about it and they will add times.

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Good point, communications with Stewards was a weak point of friday. The viewpoint on SS9 where I was attending was manned by a marshall group from Genua because there are not enough marshalls from Sardegna itself to man all the points

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Originally Posted by Eli

Like someone once said, cash is king, and it's no exception here. I really hope they get the boot for next year but this being the FIA & the Promoter I seriously doubt anything will happen to the event, perhaps a slap on the wrist, I hope they prove me (us) wrong, but I wouldn't hold my breath for it.

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Maybe Adamo is right with his comment about the Service Parks. You should really see now the Service Park of Alghero on this very saturday night: it is brimming with people, there is sea breeze cooling things. Truly a festival mood and that is what WRC should be about in the 21st century, a friendly place where you can invite you guests and even impress that tourist who usually doesn't even know what WRC is. A fitting bridge here can be made with F1 which has made its transition to a guaranteed future: when Haas decided to enter the F1 it was in first place from commercial reasons, to invite partners alike and do business on each Grand Prix all over the world in the F1 paddock

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Originally Posted by Sergiow

I am really wondering how much of the forum member currently commenting in this very topis are really in Sardegna at the moment? Seems to me a lot a armchair comments. Do they really now how big Autosport is here on this island? Just remember that the WRC Rally is here already from 2004, taking over from San Remo because the number of crowds got out of hand there. So playing the crowd card is just one of the big advantages having a rally on an Island. Politics you said? That is the very reason why this rally is so spread out from west to east and to the north of this Island. Tommi Makkinen was once critising the choice of WRC Sardegna but guess what, rumor was that he was not getting enough 5 stars rooms for his people. Money? Rumor is persistent that the best choice for the money about WRC Rally Italia would be Rome, max visibility, max crowded, plenty 5 stars hotels, everybody happy

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Please - try to base your statements on facts. Legally you may get some "invitation" for this kind of stuff.

Based on your logic - rally has been there forever - no new rallies could get a place? Rallies need to be developed and be up to date with quality and requirements, not standing on "the first run date". To have a nice history is just a nice thing, but should not be golden ticket to keep you running forever without improvements.

edit: and to be clear - my statement is against your "logic", not against the rally itself.

Well, I remain on my idea that Fourmaux should take a rally off.
Clearly, before this rally, it was very similar to Camilli’s 2016 season: 3 rallyes out of top 10, one low-paced rallye to get some confidence and then, one interesting rally but with this mistake, it’s even worse (the only point is that one of Fourmaux retirement was mechanical issue).
And Fourmaux has less excuse than Camilli as he was more prepared to WRC main class (not saying «*enough*» but at least more prepared, yeah for sure).
Actually, Loubet is clearly winning the fight and he should take a rally off to think on it. Not saying it’s a miracle solution but they must try something and except changing co-driver (or firing him but seems too early considering the investment), I don’t see.

All the more than they have at least 3 other drivers available in each rallies until Greece included. And they could even try another driver (Mikkelsen if a Red Bull compatible driver is needed because of the money, or giving an additional opportunity to Huttunen who is not awful so far considering the level of the car).

E. Sordo, Breen and Tanak have been given the time of Rovanpera.

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Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC

Breen and Tanak have been given the time of Sordo.

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Well bad choice again IMO as they gave them the time of Kalle apparently.
They should give the Loubet-Greensmith time to Sordo-Tanak-Breen to «*neutralize*» this messy stage.
Here Loubet sounds to leave 10s to Sordo in this mess.

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Originally Posted by Sergiow

Maybe Adamo is right with his comment about the Service Parks. You should really see now the Service Park of Alghero on this very saturday night: it is brimming with people, there is sea breeze cooling things. Truly a festival mood and that is what WRC should be about in the 21st century, a friendly place where you can invite you guests and even impress that tourist who usually doesn't even know what WRC is. A fitting bridge here can be made with F1 which has made its transition to a guaranteed future: when Haas decided to enter the F1 it was in first place from commercial reasons, to invite partners alike and do business on each Grand Prix all over the world in the F1 paddock

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WRC rallies are not driven in SP. They are decided on stages. No further comment.

they have corrected the times, TOP3 is the same as it was after SS16, no changes...Sordo, Breen and Tänak got the same time as Rovanperä

https://www.ewrc-results.com/results...sardegna-2022/

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Originally Posted by EstWRC

they have corrected the times, TOP3 is the same as it was after SS16, no changes...Sordo, Breen and Tänak got the same time as Rovanperä

https://www.ewrc-results.com/results...sardegna-2022/

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I can't stress this enough, I hope each and everyone of the crews finish tomorrow as they are now.

39kms, it'd still take a brave man to put money on a Tanak and Gryazin double.

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Originally Posted by WRCStan

39kms, it'd still take a brave man to put money on a Tanak and Gryazin double.

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I'm sure you're not the only one yet I still hope Hyundai manage to get that first win with the car, they need it desperately.

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Originally Posted by Eli

I'm sure you're not the only one yet I still hope Hyundai manage to get that first win with the car, they need it desperately.

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Agreed, as does the wider championship.

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Originally Posted by WRCStan

Agreed, as does the wider championship.

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Definitely, they could make up at least 20 points on Toyota, since Fourmaux's accident handed Rovanperä fifth place.

After all that's gone before during this rally, would you guys replace Sardegna to bring back (just for example) Wales Rally GB? and in Sardegna's place bring back Greece to it's 'traditional' slot? while Australia/New-Zealand take Greece's slot in September?

Some pictures from Saturday: https://www.ir7.at/content/fotos_bes...egna_2022.html

https://www.ir7.at/content/fotos/2022/sardegna3/1.jpghttps://www.ir7.at/content/fotos/2022/sardegna3/28.jpghttps://www.ir7.at/content/fotos/2022/sardegna3/2.jpghttps://www.ir7.at/content/fotos/2022/sardegna3/4.jpghttps://www.ir7.at/content/fotos/2022/sardegna3/5.jpghttps://www.ir7.at/content/fotos/2022/sardegna3/7.jpg

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Originally Posted by Eli

After all that's gone before during this rally, would you guys replace Sardegna to bring back (just for example) Wales Rally GB? and in Sardegna's place bring back Greece to it's 'traditional' slot? while Australia/New-Zealand take Greece's slot in September?

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Australia and New Zealand rallies should both be included

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Originally Posted by Eli

I'm sure you're not the only one yet I still hope Hyundai manage to get that first win with the car, they need it desperately.

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Absolutely true - Good for the manufacturer's championship, and more important than not good for Tanak. However bear in mind that Hyundai has been VERY lucky on this one as would the last 2 stage not be canceled Friday, Tanak would have certainly lost a minute or so (which he could have gained back given his pace, but at the expense of potentially more technical failures). Anyways, after being amongst the unluckiest of drivers over the past year or so, it is well deserved !

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Originally Posted by Eli

After all that's gone before during this rally, would you guys replace Sardegna to bring back (just for example) Wales Rally GB? and in Sardegna's place bring back Greece to it's 'traditional' slot? while Australia/New-Zealand take Greece's slot in September?

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With a 13-round calendar and changing anything else than exiting Sardegna, I would take Mexico without a doubt (and back in its traditional calendar to avoid a 2-month break): no impact on the gravel/tarmac balance, some experience and a real will to make WRC return (see Rally of Nations in April)
And for sure, the comeback to America so that the championship will be in all continents. And as island rally is quite expensive already, the cost increase would not be awful for teams.
A bit more skeptical about Argentina’s ability even if greater history so I would take Mexico.

I think a 13-round with 4 abroad-rallies in each of the 4 other continents is a good balance so far in terms of cost/level/visibility. Maybe an opening for an additional one if in Europe so not too costly (San Remo or Barum would be the best candidates).
In UK, Wales doesn’t seem to want funding again WRC so I don’t really see a comeback there.

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/m-spo...ther-mistakes/

Partially true but sounds like a way to avoid the post-Croatia controversy again. Still think it will be complicated for him, he will have to be very careful in Kenya (even if it’s not necessarily a bad approach there to deliver a result) and he will come for the Estonia-Finland serie with no confidence.

In WRC-2, yeah, interesting to see what ŠKODA/Toksport will do: will they step back a little bit to wait the new car, will they get the new car faster or, on the contrary, will they delay the arrival of the new car to make additional tests with the biofuel?
As their competitors are not really consistent, SKODA have 3 of the 5 remaining championship contenders I think (Kajto, Mikkelsen, Gryazin against Rossel & Suninen) + 1 or 2 jokers (Lindholm, Ingram). So the situation is not out of control for them at the moment.

no EV rule in service park anymore?

so far everybody has been on real engine..

Toksport are not going to Kenya and the new car is expected in Finland, so it's only Estonia they would miss.

How long has the biofuel been available to teams for? The new Fabia has a totally new engine and I assume the majority of the testing this year at least has been done with the new fuel.

Breen's car in service coughed some smoke out for couple of times..
Millener said they changed his car's turbo.

Tänak had problems in parc ferme? Julian Porter heard something in service that ,,did Tänak made it here''?
https://www.upload.ee/image/14201467/breen.jpg

oh great, morning with good news already, jesus christ

E: i see Tänak moving in the service park from the maps

Right now all drivers in front deserves to win
-Ott has had long dry season
-Sordo has been loyal soldier for years
-Puma boys have never won

and next is Kalle...

I have a feeling that not all 4 in front will finish this rally

yes, he came to service w no problem and left around 2min left on the clock..

Porter just said what he heard

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Originally Posted by Danny0405

With a 13-round calendar and changing anything else than exiting Sardegna, I would take Mexico without a doubt (and back in its traditional calendar to avoid a 2-month break): no impact on the gravel/tarmac balance, some experience and a real will to make WRC return (see Rally of Nations in April)
And for sure, the comeback to America so that the championship will be in all continents. And as island rally is quite expensive already, the cost increase would not be awful for teams.
A bit more skeptical about Argentina’s ability even if greater history so I would take Mexico.

I think a 13-round with 4 abroad-rallies in each of the 4 other continents is a good balance so far in terms of cost/level/visibility. Maybe an opening for an additional one if in Europe so not too costly (San Remo or Barum would be the best candidates).
In UK, Wales doesn’t seem to want funding again WRC so I don’t really see a comeback there.

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And if it would’ve been a 14 round calendar? San Remo or Barum as the 14th round?

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Originally Posted by pantealex

Right now all drivers in front deserves to win
-Ott has had long dry season
-Sordo has been loyal soldier for years
-Puma boys have never won

and next is Kalle...

I have a feeling that not all 4 in front will finish this rally

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I really hope they do (finish in front) and that a mechanical/technical issue doesn’t deprive them from a good result.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2b11fe8387.jpg

sunday cruising again..

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Originally Posted by Danny0405

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/m-spo...ther-mistakes/

Partially true but sounds like a way to avoid the post-Croatia controversy again. Still think it will be complicated for him, he will have to be very careful in Kenya (even if it’s not necessarily a bad approach there to deliver a result) and he will come for the Estonia-Finland serie with no confidence.

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For the second rally in a row Loubet seems clearly faster than Fourmaux and more stable. Here he was fighting with Breen for quite some time. (and had a good chance for 3rd here until they gave Sordo extra 10s with that notional time).

Yet MSports PR seems to generally ignore Loubet and praise Fourmaux no matter what (what was so great with Portugal again?).

Fourmaux "fantastic result" here was basically last WRC without major problems.

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Originally Posted by Rallyper

WRC rallies are not driven in SP. They are decided on stages. No further comment.

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Awaiting the cars at Argentiera, still some time to comment. Ha. So can you tell me then why the service park has been put some much in the picture by Adamo in his latest interview with rallysimo.it?

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Originally Posted by mknight

Yet MSports PR seems to generally ignore Loubet and praise Fourmaux no matter what (what was so great with Portugal again?).

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Team PR is pretty useless in every way, it's just biased propaganda with little information value. Fun to read if kids took the funny pages again this morning.

Good ol' sunday cruising

Give points for whole sunday or do something to end this comedy.

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Originally Posted by Tauri_J

Give points for whole sunday or do something to end this comedy.

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Or make Sunday a proper day with 100~kms and not these 30-50kms Sundays.

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Originally Posted by Eli

Or make Sunday a proper day with 100~kms and not these 30-50kms Sundays.

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To do that they would have to drop stipulation that Sunday is over by noon.

Tänak got his 300th stage win!

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Originally Posted by jonkka

Team PR is pretty useless in every way, it's just biased propaganda with little information value. Fun to read if kids took the funny pages again this morning.

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For sure team PR will always highlight the positive and not talk about the negative, but MSports one is on a whole new level for last 1 year or so.

For Greensmith in Portugal they said he was "in a fight for podium after Friday. Without others dropping, unlike before". Loeb, Ogier, Tanak, Neuville and Breen dropped with issues at that point...

Given this level, I am quite surprised how Loubet is barely mentioned.

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Originally Posted by mknight

For sure team PR will always highlight the positive and not talk about the negative, but MSports one is on a whole new level for last 1 year or so.

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They have had to, positives have been so thin on the ground lately...