LoebEvents-catalogue
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Unfortunately, the latest news (autoklub) is that Toyota had chosen WEC (two cars for the full season, instead of one) over Yaris WRC project, and the latter has been axed. No plans for WRC equals no S2000 car, but TMG might have some leftover money to develop an R5 in the future.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
If there is interest, I can translate an article made by Saartehääl with Ott Tänak which is a followup after the interview done with Markko Märtin on Ott's season a few weeks earlier.
Marcos Ligato from Argentina will do WRC-2 in a Subaru Sedan R4 from TOP RUN RACING. He will do Portugal, Argentina, Acropolis, Sardinia, Finland, Catalunya and Wales.
If You can just sum the main points it would be nice. Save Your time and don't translate the entire article ;) Thanks anyway!Quote:
Originally Posted by all-rally
This time I got in the mood and did it all, except for a few sentences.
An interview with Ott Tänak done by Saartehääl (local newspaper from his home island of Saaremaa) in light of the previous interview that Markko Märtin gave on his 2012 season.
Author Raul Vinni 13/02/2013
Two weeks ago, Markko Märtin gave an interview to Autoleht, where he gave some serious remarks when talking of you. Could that interview be a mirror, where Märtin suggested you look into and draw conclusions from that?
Ott Tänak: Yes, and I agree that I see the reason for the failure of the 2012 season in the mirror.
You have not discussed your failures of last season in the media. What happened?
OT: The main reason was perhaps a lack of experience. Despite everything, I think we made a big improvement when compared to the previous season, and in the end of the season of 2012 we managed to break into the world elite. An example of that is the podium on rally Sardegna and a strong drive in Rally de Espana.
You had a 5-year deal with M-Sport, of which only two years were completed. What were the objectives set by M-Sport for the year 2012?
OT: Each event had it’s own objective, which was reflected in a finishing position. There were rally’s where the objective was firmly set to just finish, and other events, where I had fully free reign. Overall it was bad that on many rally’s that I had to finish, I did not manage to.
Although team boss Malcolm Wilson’s critical statements of your performances increased throughout the season, you did not manage to improve your results. Why?
OT: The start of the year was a failure and because of that it was harder to get back on the scene and repair my image. However, as the results show, there was an improvement as the season progressed.
The highlight of your season was the podium in Rally Sardegna. It is said that on this rally, it seemed that for the first time you followed the principle: “to be successful in rallying, one does not have to win every stage and take excess risks”. Is that true?
OT: For sure, we did not take fewer risks then on other events. Perhaps even more risks, due to a wrong tyre-choice on day one, we had to clean the road on day two while showing good times. I can say, that on this rally, the experience gained throughout the season brought benefits. Somethinghad changed for sure.
With the last question, links the statement from Markko Märtin: “At the WRC level, talent and driving skills are not everything that is needed. One has to be able to use those wisely.” Can it be assumed, that you do not know how to use your talent fully yet?
OT: Yes, for sure you can say that. I think that in the world of rallying, there is only one man who can fully utilise his talent – Sebastien Loeb.
How has your attitude, as a driver of the WRC, changed towards an objective and achieving it? Have you developed an opinion and perhaps less of a pressure, that half of the job is done and the second half would come easier?
OT: I have understood by now, that the further you go in your career, the more stressful and more difficult things get. There is no giving up.
Markko Märtin says in his interview, that the co-operation from his side is not yet 100% finished. How are things from your side?
OT: I respect Markko very much and I am extremely grateful for everything that he has done for me. We are still behind the negotiating table.
Do you feel responsible for those that have supported you and your fans, that things have not gone as expected?
OT: For sure, I feel responsible in every situation. I am ready to work very hard and give up a lot, so my fans and supporters and even myself would be happy or satisfied.
The return to into WRC demands a lot of money. Say, why should someone support you, what do you have to offer?
OT: I agree, that my first full season did not go to plan. I know and feel that I am capable for much more. At the end of last year it really started to feel that there was light in the end of the tunnel. Rallying is like this, that the most that I can offer is emotions. It would be better if those emotions were good ones.
The WRC season is ongoing. You have not made a start yet. From recent statements you would like to take part in at least 5 WRC events. How likely is that?
OT: Nothing is for certain today. To have hope of being a WRC-driver in the future, I should drive some events at the top level. Let’s hope for the best.
In conclusion, the question that many fans have: Will we see you on Estonian rally’s this year? If yes, then which car and who would be your co-driver?
OT: Right now, the goal is to break back into the WRC. Unfortunately, one has to understand that to reach that and to stay there, the local events would have to wait.
A translation from Saartehääl, Interviewer Raul Vinni 13/02/2013
Official confirmation that Abbring has left VW.
Omroep Brabant: Abbring levert contract bij Volkswagen in
And he entered the Circuit Zandvoort rallysprint in a BMW M3.
I dont think this is completely true. You can see many drivers whose one step back from WRC helped them a lot to have new chances in WRC (for example Novikov, Mikkelsen, Hanninen, Atkinson).Quote:
Originally Posted by all-rally
Ott Tanak replaced Matthew Wilson to test the Fiesta R5 at Greystoke Forest. It's good to know that the team still count on him. Maybe it would have been better to have sent Tanak to Sweden instead of Wilson. A question of kinship.
As it's said many times, the only things in life you regret are the risks that you didn't take: Hanninen: No regrets over WRC switch. He deserves another chance :) .