[WRC] News & rumours (part II)

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Originally Posted by &quot

Is'nt it more to do with being able to test cars back to back. Ford dont wont to let jml drive the polo for that reason i think. I guess PD dont want the same happening. Stop them driving for a few weeks/month and there old car will develop. so no back to back Comparison.

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I was told by Julian porter in Spain that VW did a back to back test with a mini and the polo was 1/ sec per km slower and they have had a few engine failures, but I suppose it's still early days

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Originally Posted by Mirek

Are You sure the reason is not on Prodrive/Mini side?

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could be. although they were ful of good words and thanks for Sordo and understanding his choise for Citroen. but behind the scene politcs could keep Prodrive away from Citroen untill 1-1-2013

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Originally Posted by alleskids

could be. although they were ful of good words and thanks for Sordo and understanding his choise for Citroen. but behind the scene politcs could keep Prodrive away from Citroen untill 1-1-2013

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I heard Prodrive wasn't happy at all about start of Sordo with Fiesta in Argentina or where it was. Maybe just some rubbish flying around or maybe the relations weren't so nice...

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Originally Posted by Kielder

Sordo, in the Spanish press:
"If I don't win rallies in 2013, I'll go home." I have to add that he has signed a single season.
"It's not decided yet the number of rallies that I will run. It's sure I'm going to run eleven, but the boss, Yves Matton, is working hard so we can do the thirteen of the Championship. And he is putting a lot of effort, so I have high hopes to do a full program".
It's still not sure when he'll start working with the DS3, "because there are some test which me and Del Barrio may not participate in. But in December at the latest we have to start testing for the Monte Carlo Rally".
Being asked if he would like trying to beat Loeb before his retirement, he said: "Yes, I want to fight against him in the rallies we both run and try to win one. Then, as the championship goes, perhaps he who has to slow down to help me and not vice versa, as has happened several times in the past."
"I insist, if I don't win next year, I won't run anymore." Strong commitment.

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As I said earlier. Loeb cannot rule teamorders in a team trying to win WDC and Manu championship if that makes them loose points. No way.

To my mind, those next tests are the gravel ones that Loeb is not very happy to join. I don't think that Prodrive doesn't allow him to start working with Citroen. The circumstances were very different, but he was allowed to the one-off with Ford. Mini should be focused in clarifying a project, Citroen is in another world.
Sordo's first rally on gravel will be on March in Mexico, far away. For developing new parts of the car or whatever, Loeb's work is now more needed than Sordo's. Apart from that, the team needs to adjust the car (seats, pedals, wheel) for the Spanish couple, which takes time.

From Petter Solberg his fanpage on facebook: "Hello everyone.. There seems to be a lot of talk about me retiring via pieces of quotes being compressed in to numerous articles around the web. I wish things moved more quickly, but they do not. Of course my full interest is to be in the WRC and the works seat at M-Sport, but these things take time. We're attempting to figure things out from both sides. IF for some reason nothing happens with this, then I do have other plans, and those plans will have me competing behind the wheel of a race car. Thank you for your concern, and I will keep you updated. I will never stop competing within Motorsports. That's a combination of my passion, and your support!"

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Originally Posted by Nelly

I was told by Julian porter in Spain that VW did a back to back test with a mini and the polo was 1/ sec per km slower and they have had a few engine failures, but I suppose it's still early days

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That’s hard to believe. It would mean in a rally with 350 km of SS a difference of 5 min 50 sec.

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Originally Posted by &quot

That’s hard to believe. It would mean in a rally with 350 km of SS a difference of 5 min 50 sec.

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I was thinking the same my self just saying what we were told, in that case they would be better off sticking with the fabia

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Originally Posted by OldF

That’s hard to believe. It would mean in a rally with 350 km of SS a difference of 5 min 50 sec.

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Probably that would be in very early phase of development when VW didn't care about the speed that much, but to make strong and reliable car in first place :s pinhead:

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Originally Posted by &quot

Probably that would be in very early phase of development when VW didn't care about the speed that much, but to make strong and reliable car in first place :s pinhead:

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Why would they do a back to back test if they didn't care about speed?