Rally Finland 2011

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Originally Posted by Juha_Koo

"Araujjjjjjo. Armindo Araujjjjjjjo. Araujjjjjjo."
-Tony Melville (university language teacher) from Finnish rally radio on spelling of Armindo's surname.

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Not bad...

Rally Radio likes to call him Ármundo Araujo.

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Originally Posted by RallyPhotographer

I agree with you. It was more like a local rally and not a WRC event. But I don't like crowded places so why complain... :D

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Yes, I agree. :) It's pretty normal for our group to be in more quiet places, I really don't like those "beer tourists" who cheer for Kimi and tell how they would drive faster than SWRC/PWRC top guys. ;) But this year was exeptionally quiet. I don't complain.

Maybe the fact, that there was only a few stages (basically Saturday) driven twice, had some impact. People were maybe divided to a bigger area and not in couple of concentrations like previous years

After all, french flag won and I'm happy.

Few points after rally...

Loeb: Show the kids that who is the king of this hill...
JM: Close but not enough...
Ogier: Close but not enough...
Mikko: Something is missing now...
Petter: You can't buy a winning car in WRC
Mini's: 2nd rally in WRC and it really looks good. Speed was good level in this point...
Juho: Need a WRC car and fast.
Tänak: Future champion. Just beautiful driving...
Paddon: Exellent driving every place where I saw him...

And Young Finns:

Lindroos: In test's 1,5 sek/km faster than Mikkelsen but in rally... I'm disappointed.
Rantanen: I think that this was he's last chance.(I realy hope that I'm wrong)
Ketomaa: Same as Rantanen
Nikara: First good result in NORF...
Pajunen: I know that he is good but this was more than I expected...

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Originally Posted by Juha_Koo

.....
Thursday continued with SS2, Laukaa. We were in the legendary "ferry corner" but as expected, the corner didn't provide any special action, just some wide lines and nice driving by the top guys. Over the years there has formed a strong positive camber and that has made the corner easier. Pretty much spectators, but not too much. It was okay.
....

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And they have cut down the small "forest" from the inside of that corner.. So drivers can see "through" the corner now and it is more easier to drive through.. Too bad.. It was nice crashcorner a few years ago...

My rallytrip:

First we go to Lankamaa stage (with million others) on THAT famous barn-corner.. Nothing special there this year.

On friday we decide not to go to Hassi stage because it was far away from other fridays stages. Therefore we go to Hyväneula stage and watch almost every car there (not the historic cars). Then we move to the next stage Koukunmaa and get there just before Loeb goes by :D so we manage to see SS6 AND SS7 nicely.. No action on our places.. Then we move to Mynnilä stage (SS11) but made a wrong choice of spectating spot.. My option was to go near first junction, but my friends wanted to go near stage finish.. The first place offered alot of action including Harry Hunts crash (and we were not in there).. Nothing on our place.

Saturday we decided to make it easy and spectate on Urria stage twice. And that was good choice. On Urria2 we see Nobre´s huge crash. And one of historic cars minor off in same place.. Then back to Jyväskylä to see some podium celebration...

Nice trip for me :) Six stages and a lot of good moments to think back and remember :) "Herran rauhaa!" :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by donlorean

Few points after rally...

Loeb: Show the kids that who is the king of this hill...
JM: Close but not enough...
Ogier: Close but not enough...
Mikko: Something is missing now...
Petter: You can't buy a winning car in WRC
Mini's: 2nd rally in WRC and it really looks good. Speed was good level in this point...
Juho: Need a WRC car and fast.
Tänak: Future champion. Just beautiful driving...
Paddon: Exellent driving every place where I saw him...

And Young Finns:

Lindroos: In test's 1,5 sek/km faster than Mikkelsen but in rally... I'm disappointed.
Rantanen: I think that this was he's last chance.(I realy hope that I'm wrong)
Ketomaa: Same as Rantanen
Nikara: First good result in NORF...
Pajunen: I know that he is good but this was more than I expected...

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Very balanced and accurate summary. Anyone who has noticed my posts over the last 18 months know that Tanak and Paddon are my big tips for future WRC success. Both were doing their second NORF and while Juho is a cut above the current competition in IRC on neutral ground he has been second best to Ott, which means he has to get a WRC drive before Ott beats him to it (Both for VW?). I was disappointed Ketomaki wasn't quicker in PWRC but perhaps Paddon has raised the bar in that class. WRC Academy is interesting, watch Breen go on tarmac but Kaur has done better than I expected. Finally, I can't wait to see Sordo and Meeke on ADAC Deutschland, I just love the look and sound of that car

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Originally Posted by Mintexmemory

on neutral ground he has been second best to Ott, which means he has to get a WRC drive before Ott beats him to it (Both for VW?).

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Tänak has a some sort of deal with Ford already.

5 year deal.

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Originally Posted by Barreis

5 year deal.

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After what we've read in Herr Warmbold's blog I hope Marko has read the small print on his behalf. I'm sure a transfer could be arranged like in Football cos he should be there next year and NOT in a 'Stobart' (or whatever the second team is called) car. The boy is worthy of a manufacturer team place.

Juho Hänninen will set the pace sooner or later in a WRC car.
He is on his way to the WRC crown.
Ain't no doubt about it.
Mark my words.