faster? way. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
I guess you mean: "where rally is considered a sport" = Finland,
"somewhere where it is considered like somekind of a freak show" = Rest of the world
And, by the way... Time`s up for Latvala
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faster? way. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
I guess you mean: "where rally is considered a sport" = Finland,
"somewhere where it is considered like somekind of a freak show" = Rest of the world
And, by the way... Time`s up for Latvala
If he had produced results, maybe they would have stayed?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
Kopecky could set fastest times in a Skoda.
Really, I tought it had to do with money.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Lightyear
I agree..Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Lightyear
Usual excuse.. if the're not winning.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
If Toyota won the F1 Title instead of Brawn they wouldnt be pulling out. But instead, its the "world financial crisis"
maybe so, but if Toni cant find work in the WRC he did anyway have a quite good rally carreer, worksdriver in a few teams, and also many drives with other WRC cars as well, he is 100% a rally driver so he will continue in the sport somehow, hopefully the F-Group.
What can we expect from JML in 2010?
Crashes, occasional podium and then replaced by Solberg or Atkinson mid-season.
Destroying a time controll, ripping all 4 wheels of the car in one crash and reversing into Mikko's car in the service park.
JML will along with Mikko will be the hardest contester to Loeb.
I think both JML and Mikko will be one step faster this year, which will make Loeb a bit confused as the victorys not will come as easy as before. ;)
Kimi will take point from the beginning being a remarkable consistent on places 5-8 if the field looks as in 2009. :)
I do not agree Rallyper,I think Kimi's main challenge will be to actually finish a rally.
I don't like about him that he needs pure simple rally kilometeres
He has done 3 rallies and now he want to play on the top level??? Even gentleman drivers rally for a few years before getting in a top car or top level
His final season!Quote:
Originally Posted by Langdale Forest
I think it will be Wilson JNR's last session.
Iīve seen similar thing with Mattias Ekstrom. I think on his first rally in Mitsu EvoIV, he drove almost as fast as the best ones in a Super Cup rally in sweden. I think it was back in 2002. Seeing him at that time you couldnīt belive he was a beginner.Quote:
Originally Posted by urabus-denoS2000
So with that in mind I donīt think Kimi will disappoint anyone of his fans, because he has the same talent and driving ability as Ekstrom.
Hope he does,my friends watched him at Rally della Marca last year and they said he was spectacular but on the limit on every corner.He is pushing way too much and selfcontrol comes with expericence ;)
The win of World Rally Championship.Quote:
Originally Posted by Langdale Forest
To be honest, if Malcolm forces JML to be the second driver, then we see consistent podiums and few mistakes in mid-season because he's so frustrated because he can't push for victories.
I really hope that JML has a solid start to the season and he could be fighting for the championship lead during mid-season. Tarmac rallies will most likely cost him some points and therefore he becomes the second driver in the later half of the season. This is, for me, the most realistic option.
Or then Mikko and Seb fight for championship so hard that they both suffer "many" offs and retirements and JML sort of steals the championship win. I can already imagine how everybody would be saying "Yeah but he's not a real champion to me, he just won because of others had bad luck bla bla bla..."
i think the first 3 events are very crucial for Latvala if he manages to survive and be on podiums he may turn out to be a contender because the speed is definately there, but if continues his unstable performances and starts crashing again then Malcon may hire another driver with deep pockets to do the job.
You can be serious too, NOT! :pQuote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
More of that! ;)
I had that dream as well ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Juha_Koo
But realistically I think the biggest challenge - once again - for JML is to get the consistency. If he manages to get to the finish without any mishaps, he's definitely number three in the championship, which after 2008 and 2009 should feel like a title win. But no matter what - just if my mental health stays liveable during the season - JML is definitely my favourite driver.
He will be clear second driver, its desided long time ago already.Quote:
Originally Posted by Juha_Koo
It would be a crime if JML sneaked the title instead of Mikko IMO. The amount of weight Mikko has taken for the Ford team on his shoulders alone. When you consider his 2004 season. You would never have thought he could mature into the driver he is now. He is the exact blueprint JML should follow - starting by being Mikko's number two next year and aiming for a podium on every event.
I think like people say the first rounds are crucial. But for the life of me I can't see Jari-Matti being able to string together a title run. That just does not compute in my brain.
If Loeb or Mikko doesn't get the title I am certain it wont be JML who does get it. With more tarmac events this year my money is on Sordo to join the battle this year - he matured a lot in 2009. If Petter gets a good C4 he'll be up there in the championship too as he has improved consistency, but lost a bit of pace.
All is set for an interesting season again, many different things to follow again.
Mikko has to rise the risk level if he want to fight for the title with Loeb, also Sordo have on paper an upper hand on J-M this year, he can be a threat for Mikko aswell.
Ogier will be faster this year again, but how much, Kimi might surprise on tarmac too, if he stays on the road.
In Sweden it will also be interesting to see how fast the customer Ford is in reality, so many things to wait forward too.
Latvala did what Malcolm Wilson expected of him in Sweden, but I think he will push a little harder in Mexico. :)
May first rally as a BP Ford Abu Dhabi fan and I must say I am not judging Jarri Latvala on just this one performance, and I think though I am with Simmi on JML in terms of how likely it is he will put together a strong enough run to challenge, I would like to think he will still improve as the season gets on. So I am sort of with you on that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Langdale Forest
No way, he will drive the same way all season, he can only go for the win if something happens to Mikko, that Mikko is nr1 in Ford now means that there is only leftovers now for JM, testing and everything goes on Mikkos terms.Quote:
Originally Posted by Langdale Forest
It's not such a bad thing. The lad is in his early 20's and has many years ahead of him to drive as a #1 driver. He does need to settle down and putting some restrictions on him is probably a good thing for a season.
When he was challenging as an equal #1 driver that is when things went wrong, trying to hard. I feel Malcolm has made a good choice here, the bill for repairs last season would have been horrendous!
JML has proved he is fast, everyone knows that, now he just needs to settle down a little and work on consistency while being quick. Sweden was a promising start for him despite telling us he was under pressure to finish and play his role as Mikko's backup.
He is not the first young driver with speed to come out guns blazing and make mistakes, most of the others ended up world champions, just needed someone to tighten the reigns at the right time.
The interesting thing is that Ford under Malcolm's time has never had favoured driver - this is a first time they put pecking order in place.
Latvala role is the same of Hirvonen under Gronholm. Gronholm was first man by Ford.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkka
And McRae was Over Sainz in 2000/2002/2002.
Yes but I have yet to see him be both fast and consistent for a space of three consecutive rallies. He was consistent in Sweden but finished over a minute behind his teammate.Quote:
Originally Posted by WRCfan
It was a good result in Sweden for him but I am still surprised that he didn't go off at some point considering the way he way driving, just the same as I watched him last year. If he could stop going sideways so much, then he would be a heck of a lot faster and probably mless likely to have accidents.
I am still undecided but it will be a good season for him (though I bet he will be frustrated) but tat's how it is and Mikko shows that by improving slowly as long as you mainly keep out of trouble then you can reach the level that nobody else can. Mikko must be champion this year.
Seems like he's still driving by eyes (so-called rally-raid style), not by ears (using pace-notes to their full efficiency)...Quote:
Originally Posted by J4MIE
He's driving from "outside" and that's why he's crashing so much..
How can someone drive from the 'outside'?
A steady but somewhat slow drive for JML in Mexico, prehaps Jordan will bring him some speed.
He can do it quicker but not allowed. In almost all interview he mentione his rule in the team. It's paintfull for him it's very clear, the guy was born to fight for winQuote:
Originally Posted by Langdale Forest
Latvala were fastest Ford and did what he should do, Ford is still leading manu championship
Sordo were the "Latvala" of Mexico
Latvala beat Mikko in 10 of the 21 rallies and was ahead of him overall right untill SS21.
It's a sad situation for Latvala, but Malcolm Wilson can apply team orders if he wishes to.