Nice lookin' car this polo.
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Nice lookin' car this polo.
Today Ogier was just waiting for the long El Chocolate stage, he twice made the difference there... And Hirvonen disappointing again.
Ivory Coast '92 was the last WRC event without a WRC Champion on the entry list. After almost a leg of Mexico '13, due to the great pace of the Polo on gravel, we know that we will have two WRC Champions in Alsace on October. There, after the Argentinian warm-up, we'll see the fight that we won't see this season. WRC 2013 could have been one of the greatest battles ever.
He is that good.Quote:
Originally Posted by kober
Interesting day so far. So many questions and answers:
1. Ostberg proves to many that they were wrong when saying he is not good enough. He is very good
2. Latvala. Everyone make their own luck. Am I correct when saying that longer suspension travel makes it more fragile and more sensitive to such accidents like Latvala had today?
3. Sordo-s times. Does that mean that Mini is actually even better car than we could imagine?
4. Hirvonen. Hirrrvoonnneennn.. ???!!!????!!! no comments
5. Latvala is officially nr 1 driver in VW, so,even if he continues to crash in every second rally then VW cannot do anything. It is not allowed to change your nr 1 driver during the seaon (only in case of Force Majore). So, fight for manu title should be interesting!
6. we have to keep in mind that Mexico is specific event.Remember Solberg winning 10 stages in Mexico in one year? and nothing special over the reminder of the year?
7. Nasser is good on such events.
8. Weaher forecast: you have probably noticed that I have not written any weather forecast for Mexico.. well.. there is really nothing to say. Each day is nearly copy paste from the previous day. Mostly sunny, with high clouds morning temperatures around +10..+12, noon temperatures at around +25..+26. Some wind all the time (Except first stage today in the morning).
Yes, he is excellent but the Polo is clearly also no slouch.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lundgaard
Both I think. Ogier is really good, no question about that. But also Polo appears to be really good car also, right from the start in Monte Carlo, even in Mexico specific conditions I think it isn't behind any of competitions cars at least. After today looks like Ogier is not pushing himself too much, not like Sweden.Quote:
Originally Posted by kober
At the begining of the day, you are a WRC driver heading to SS3 El Cubilete thinking that you can replace Loeb. Through the day, you wake up and realise that you are a driver like Latvala or like Hirvonen. Another generation of drivers will be under the reign of a Seb.
A good piece of history there, I often wondered about that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kielder
Citroen has developed a fastest way to assemble the grille on the DS3:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BE38ZQcCYAIY3L7.jpg:large
I took this photo in Portugal last year, when they did in the tradional way:
http://oi48.tinypic.com/34yzhab.jpg
Sad image of JML's car waiting for restart tomorrow:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BE4EZh2CMAEitvB.jpg:large
Pretty exciting days rally.
Ogier can't be faulted.
Mads put in fantastic drive
Mikko - come on guys he's only 9 seconds off Mads, not that bad and still a long way to go!
Neuville has really impressed me, though not able to overhaul Mikko when the cards were on the table it was his first day on gravel in the car, so very impressive.
I'll be expecting Mikko to close up on Mads tomorrow, I doubt Neuville will be able to stay with him
Are we heading to another years with another Seb dominating WRC?? I hope not.
Looks like. Lets hope mads can stop him is the only person who fits. Mads is half mikko half latvala. Mikko consistency latvala speed. Otherwise we doomed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frostmourne
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by andyone
Not just the fans will be doomed, the whole WRC will be doomed, it might be like an obstacle in addition to the already obstacles (cost, promotion..etc) that preventing other manufactureres to get in.... I wish I wish, other drivers will step up to the challange and do something!!
Al-kuwari is doing some good times, hopefully another Arab win in WRC2 :) . However I wished if he continued using Mini. Would like to see Abdulaziz vs Yazeed :)
Mads can't stop Ogier. Our only hope is Mikkelsen at some point and maybe Kubica in a few years....Quote:
Originally Posted by andyone
Ogier is a winner and so will continue to win. His present opposition, as with Loeb, are not winners. Sadly, there are other winners involved in rallying presently but for a number of reasons they are not sitting in factory seats. So Ogier, like Loeb, will have things largely his own way for some time to come but this can not be construed as evidence of greatness.
Big dissapointment for me Sordo - maybe he has "mandatory finish" mission from the team but still..
Atko: I think we can close the chapter and accept that time is gone for him.
Hirvonen as usual: " I try to push..."
Ogier dominance can be questioned in the future only by the young Ford guys if they will have the rigth gear.
OK, first time in Mexico with worse road position and already Ogier-VW they are toying with opposition just after 1 day. The only interesting thing will have for this year is if they will win all rallies or not. And if for next season they will change the road position rule to create artificial competition like they did for Loeb from 2008 until and the 2011 season. Not that it will change overall anything. VW will dominate the series until they leave the sport Dakar style, Ogier will go/try to break the records of Loeb, M-Sport will continue running a renting-team because its their life job and Citroen we don't know exactly how and when but sooner or later they will quit.
Perfectly summed up !Quote:
Originally Posted by sollitt
Vidéos, PHotos, Infos
Wrc Rally Guanajuato México 2013
Am I right in thinking that Ogier is first on the road today? If so, how much of a disadvantage might that be?
No, Ogier I think will be 13th on road. Latvala restarting in rally 2 will be first on road. It will run in reverse order of the positions at the end of play yesterday.Quote:
Originally Posted by whereschris
Right, cheers. There goes my hope that the following pack have a chance.
Mikko did not seem to get any advantage running last yesterday, maybe the abrasive surface in mexico under the gravel and muck brought on road by other cars takes away some advantage? Then again you are probably right and we will just see Ogier extend his lead today. I'll be watching to see if Ostberg can reach him, or if Hirvonen hauls in Ostberg.
No JML will be first. As the WRC cars start in reverse order Seb will have a clean road and should increase his lead - just what you'd expect from the unsporting / crash-prone / arrogant / not quick enough (delete options stated on day 2 of the Monte which have been disproved by recent events) :) There is someone who can beat Seb and I think that in Portugal he'll come good ( to likewise disprove the BS being written about him!)Quote:
Originally Posted by whereschris
Apologies for repeating Sprocket's info just not quick enough on. My BB - as I said during Rally Sweden it's a VW 1-2-3 in Portugal
mmm Who is that?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
I guess he means Mikkelsen? Or probably and more likely Latvala?
Yes, he is very good, the best driver and crew in the moment, no matter which car. I remember him and Julien very well from his first WRC 2008 in Mexico, he replace Bonato in FFSA team, first time in C2 S1600, first time with no experience in top ralling and first win! Great guy and one of the most talented driver in the world. Whish him and Julien everything the best in further career.Quote:
Originally Posted by kober
Not aware of any BS written about Andreas - YETQuote:
Originally Posted by awake27
I expect Norway's 4th best driver (they keep forgetting the old lady who drives the Sno-Cat at Tromso) to be 3rd in Portugal ;)
My short comment of the 1.day :
- Ogier: I agree with all here, he is a future winner, if the Polo won't break, he is and will be unbeatable.
- Mads Ostberg : for me still a big positive surprise. If he will stay in front of Mikko, great result.
- Mikko Hirvonen : if I'm honest, I was expecting fight for a victory. As he showed nothing special, he is even behind Mads, clearly big disappointment 4me.
- Neuville : very, very solid performance. He is still on the road, if he retains fourth place, he can be very proud.
- Sordo : second Citroen driver, who let my expectation down....
- Al Attiyah : according to expectation
- Ken ''the Kid'' Block : well, his Fiesta is still in one piece on the road, he has a solid lead in front of local WRC driver and Prokop, who has x-more experince on the gravel. So, thumb up.
- Atkinson : I hope he will show at least one or two top three stage finishes.
You should watch Kummeli with more attention. It's "synkkä ei rallille", which in this case is even more appropriate. Latvala never learns. He always makes it hard for himself. I've hang on there with support for years now, and I'm not giving up the support, it's just that nowadays everytime these news come (and they will come), I feel for it less and less. It's numbness. Perhaps he still thinks it's better to crash and burn than just take the safe 3rd or 4th position. But within walking distance from the stage/rally start... no way to do it. We haven't seen Mikkelsen in Polo yet, but it's true that for Latvala it isn't going to make it any easier.Quote:
Originally Posted by Juha_Koo
I didn't have much time to follow the rally yesterday, but apart from Ogier expected effective performance the driver of the day must be Östberg. It's clearly showing already that his step up to M-Sport main team gives him boost in performance, comes it from the car or more mileage in the testing, no matter, it's there.
Q. Thierry Neuville has had a strong rally so far. This morning he wasn’t receiving splits into the car. He said he didn’t like it but his times were good. This afternoon did you let him have splits to improve the performance or not?
Malcolm Wilson: “I said earlier that it would be best not to give them to him and I think I’ve been proved right because this morning he was really strong. He’s been getting the splits this afternoon and he’s lost more time. So no more splits for Thierry.”
Full pressconference - World Rally Championship - News - Team bosses reflect: Friday in Mexico
I think this retirement was more bad luck than a real mistake from Latvala, because the stone was clearly on the racing line... So maybe this time, we should give him some credits.
As for Mikkelsen: I just don't believe in him, I think he will crash more than Latvala, he isn't learning anything and keeps on crashing (at least in IRC he was). I don't think Latvala should be afraid of him....
I'm looking forward to Mikkelsen in the WRC, pleasant guy with a serious attitude to his rally. All the young guys crash a lot, it is only to be expected. The problem with JML is we would expect him to grow out of it a bit more by now - though I totally agree this weekend was not an error of judgement and more bad luck. Looking forward to what he can do today, but maybe not too much starting at the front...
First day wrap:
- Ogier; as expected, rally not over yet, things can happen.
- Latvala; unluck, but as his fellow countryman lack of Sisu, maybe just like FCB at the moment...
- Mikko; maybe tactics, he´s still up there, let´s wait and see. LAck of Sisu and needs a boss who gives him correct orders what to do.
- Ostberg; very good, does what expects of him, one of possible three winners in this rally.
- Neuville; fast and gaining experience all the time. Will be a future champ.
- Novikov; this time unlucky; what have been his position if no trouble?
- Sordo; too much pressure or not as fast as everyone expected; maybe he has peaked? Or too much pressure bringing the car home?
- Atko; need more mileage; let´s wait and see.
- Prokop; not fast. Could be replaced by many drivers who is faster.