[WRC] News & rumours (part II)

Printable View

Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

15th August 2013, 18:48
tommeke_B

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldF

Maybe Nasser Al-Attiyah is paying some salary to Thierry. During NORF Markku Alen had a chat with his co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul and said that Nicolas is still working in his daily job.

As far as I know/heard, they don't have any salary indeed. Or at least this year, if the rest of the year goes well, they will hit the jackpot next year (being probably the only one who can threaten Ogier in the near future). :D
Nicolas Gilsoul is working independently for mobile phone operators, he's doing maintenance and repairs on mobile phone masts. He also did some coordination-work for M-Sport (I think things like preparing recce with recce service etc for the whole team).
Thierry has several personal sponsors (such as SuperDry, Ice Watch etc), maybe he gets his salary from there, I don't know (and it's not my business). :)
15th August 2013, 23:31
BleAivano

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barreis

FIA wants to tweak running order rules in the WRC - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com

They f******** stupid. They want ruin it again now that we actaully don't see any ridiculous tactics.
Why can't they just for once stop changing the rules to create artificial excitement.
16th August 2013, 01:24
GigiGalliNo1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barreis

FIA wants to tweak running order rules in the WRC - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com

I read this during Finland. Sometimes Internet is so slow with Rally news...
16th August 2013, 01:28
GigiGalliNo1

Two things. Neuville in my opinion is too young to be number 1 driver but saying that. The M-Sport team are doing well in supporting and not playing favorites. I was very surprised that Wilson let the boys fight it out on the podium where there could have been a HUGE f-up if either or both could have crashed in the final stages. He had some balls to let then fight as normally if one crashed, Wilson would be in tears!
I think that was two things already but the third is that sponsors pay Neuville to wear watches, sunglasses and other personal sponsors. He keeps the money and probably gets something from Qatar. But unlike P Solberg, he got sponsors and took a small sum to live off of BUT the rest was invested in working on the team, the car and travel. So Neuville doesn't have to!
16th August 2013, 04:47
Prisoner Monkeys

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleAivano

They f******** stupid. They want ruin it again now that we actaully don't see any ridiculous tactics.
Why can't they just for once stop changing the rules to create artificial excitement.

I don't think they're intentionally trying to ruin things or create "artificial excitement". Rather, I think Mahonen isn't happy with the way the current system addresses the problem of road position tactics. It's eradicated the issue, but at the same time it has handed a big advantage to the fastest qualifiers. It's kind of gone from one extreme to the other.

Whatever changes are made, it's not going to affect the overall order too much. But it will at least give some drivers a fighting chance, rather than saddling them with road-sweeping duties just because they were slow on the qualifying stage.

Honestly, the easiest thing to do will be to fix the stage timing issue. If the FIA can track the cars in real time, then they will see what the drivers are doing, and if someone is inexlpicably stopping on a stage, then they should be given a time penalty or disqualified for it unless they can prove they had a legitimate reason for it, like a mechanical issue. After all, everything is monitored by sensors, and if those sensors can send the FIA live telemetry, then the FIA can see what they are doing.
16th August 2013, 07:10
andyone

guys lets look it in the good ways. Loeb won many championships starting first on the road. and ogier is actually easily winning. by being able to just win the qualifying stage. and choose the best starting order. and for me the tacticks were more intresting. and more intense. than just starting and shooting to the lead and that is it.. come one its boring. but tactics. you have to use more of your brains than just pure speed.

the way the system runs now. even if ogier wins 15 titles. he will still not be as good as The Great Sebastian Loeb.. i wanna see tactics. and more challenge. whats the problem with Tactics???? in Formula 1. its not all about just speed. have some other strategies. that makes it more a racing.
16th August 2013, 08:09
tommeke_B

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prisoner Monkeys

Honestly, the easiest thing to do will be to fix the stage timing issue. If the FIA can track the cars in real time, then they will see what the drivers are doing, and if someone is inexlpicably stopping on a stage, then they should be given a time penalty or disqualified for it unless they can prove they had a legitimate reason for it, like a mechanical issue. After all, everything is monitored by sensors, and if those sensors can send the FIA live telemetry, then the FIA can see what they are doing.

What if I told you you can lose over half a minute on a stage without stopping too? What if someone misses a junction or makes a spin? You can't say it is (not) on purpose... For me the system is good like it is now, maybe in stead of letting the drivers choose their starting position after QS, they should just just take the times from fast to slow and let the slowest start first (how it is mostly chosen anyway). Doing this with all WRC cars is a good thing imo, better than the first 15 in early 2000's (where it wasn't always fair for the starting cars around 15th position in classification).
16th August 2013, 09:28
AndyRAC

As ever, they’re looking at the wrong things. How about the timing issues, attracting new Manufacturers, etc
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the system as it is. It works – the best/fastest qualifier chooses his position. Simple!! No, handicapping the leader – hoping to create false drama.

The worlds most successful sport doesn’t keep changing it’s rules hoping to create more excitement – and to even the playing field. If someone is too good and keeps winning – tough!!
16th August 2013, 10:06
RS

Quote:

Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Two things. Neuville in my opinion is too young to be number 1 driver

I can't see how age is relevant. He is joint second in the championship, and ahead of both regular Citroen drivers and his Ford team mates. Ok the championship is not over but he keeps on getting better and better despite a big experience deficit to almost everyone else in a manufacturer drive.

If Citroen (or whoever) are looking for a driver who has the potential to be a champion in the quite near future there is simply nobody else available.

I would even go as far as to say if Citroen can't get him they may as well give up on next year now.
16th August 2013, 16:20
bluuford

Quote:

Originally Posted by RS

I can't see how age is relevant. He is joint second in the championship, and ahead of both regular Citroen drivers and his Ford team mates. Ok the championship is not over but he keeps on getting better and better despite a big experience deficit to almost everyone else in a manufacturer drive.

If Citroen (or whoever) are looking for a driver who has the potential to be a champion in the quite near future there is simply nobody else available.

I would even go as far as to say if Citroen can't get him they may as well give up on next year now.

I think they should try something radical with drivers (starting already now). Maybe it is good try with Meeke? However, I am not 100% sure on Meeke. We will see with next few rallies.

Maybe give more chanches for Kubica and see how good he actually is against real competition?

Maybe Hänninen.. Not sure as well.. he tends to make too many mistakes with his WRC appearances (mistakes on his every appearence).

Maybe Tänak? Give him 100% support and testing.. he won several stages against Loeb and was often on pair with Neuville without testing in 2012.

Maybe Ostberg? Well.. this year he has all testing. he is one of the most experienced young drivers.. but still misses the final bit... Many mistakes while driving fast.

Andersson? He has more than 10 years experience but currently misses that final bit.

Atkinson? He has a lot WRC experience but also misses something.

Novikov? Too much will. Too much trying. Seems like he has lost his confidence..

Neuville? I am sure he is overbooked already.

Nikkara? fast in Nordic rallies. Maybe worth trying?

Solberg? Sorry for his fans. His time is passed.

Others. Too young and inexperienced.
So, my final shortlist is: Kubica Meeke, Nikkara, Tänak (in alphabetical order).

Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page