Rally Sweden 2013

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More photos from DAY3 and podium HERE

Loeb decided to drive in Sweden, because "this Rally challenges him". I have to say he had all other challenge here ;)

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Also my congrats to Ogier and VW. As much I'm big fan of Loeb I always sent my congratulations to the driver, who was faster. And this time Ogier surprised us all. On the other hand both Sebs did a huge humiliation to Scandinavian drivers; on the top of that an Arab driver, who probably even don't know how to clean the snow of the windscreen - wins the WRC2 class.
So, beside Ogier I must praise also H.Solberg and Neuville, who surprised us and did not make any mistake. Good for him. The result of Mads is nothing special for me, he already proved that he is capable of winning snow events. And I'm afraid that is all he knows.....Don't expect something similar on upcoming events.
Just an average performance by Juha Hanninen, also one stupid mistake.....The same goes for Sordo.
Novikov-old story, again and again: he is bloody fast, but still not reliable. When will he learn??
And now the big losers : Citroen Team and Loeb. Yes, Loeb can not be happy to be beaten by Ogier. If he wolud lose against Mikko or even JML, that would be expected and tolerable. But now, leaving for a ''holidays'' and been defeated by young Seb, with new car, that one is not an easy one....Hirvonen needs one serious discussion with the team headquarter, he is their Nb.1 driver. But with this performance, Ogier will be a champion alreday in the summer.....

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Originally Posted by MikeD

The problem is that PSA is negotiating staff lay-offs with the French Government, and in France a company isn't allowed to hire and fire like in most other countries (some might remember when the French socialist Government in the 80'ies dictated everything in Renault as what can only be described as a hostile take-over). When it came out that PSA was to fire more than twice the expected in France itself, I can guarentee you that the French government wouldn't allow PSA to expand motorsport at the same time they lay off that amount of people. That's why Peugeot withdrew from WEC even beore it started in 2012 despite having agreed a full season with FIA. In other words there won't both be Citroën in WTCC and Peugeot in WRC at the same time - they simply wont be allowed even if they liked to.

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What if Abu Dhabi pay for the rally side of things?

#Ucci// I think you should give more credit to Mads Ostberg. Hasn´t he proved more than just being good at snow conditions?? You must have short memory. The arab winner, well, we can praise him, but please don´t overestimate his performance. But it´s very nice having these drivers in sweden, for sure.

But now to more impressions:

You guys has already forgot what Tidemand did in first leg? Remeber it was amongst his first couple of races in WRC car. Remember how he beat more experienced drivers from Finland, Belgium and Russia... So what about his work in Sweden? Wouldn´t it be great seeing him in a works car, let´s say in 2014???

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Originally Posted by Rallyper

You guys has already forgot what Tidemand did in first leg? Remeber it was amongst his first couple of races in WRC car. Remember how he beat more experienced drivers from Finland, Belgium and Russia... So what about his work in Sweden? Wouldn´t it be great seeing him in a works car, let´s say in 2014???

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C'mon, dont dream out load..... Over the years I've had a bunch of drivers succeding in their home rally and they end up amounting to nothing. Im not saying Pontus cant be a future choice but works car in 2014?! Please be real.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCt7W54NAYg

I know the driver/donkey awards are usually only in the F1 section, but I believe there are some notable drivers and donkeys in Sweden!
First of all, drivers.
Ogier-fantastic, faultless performance, surprised us all. And this is one of the reasons why I love rally Sweden, the best man always wins.
Tidemand - another fantastic performance, certainly one that I didn't expect.

Middle, not quite drivers, not quite donkeys - JML, and Mads. I don't know what to think of those two after this event. This is probably Ostbergs best surface, and after seeing him slay all the giants from absolutely nowhere like 2 years ago, I expect better. The same can be said about JML.

Donkeys - Wilson. I am not one to bash Wilson, ever. But he is supposed to be Mr consistent, and I was hoping for another top ten finish for him.
Mikko - what was going on? After his roll, I was expecting a crazy drive and him to blow the doors off everyone on the stages like what happened in NORF a couple of years ago after he crashed into that tree.
Loeb - the whole point of him coming and competing in Sweden is because he has only ever won this event once. Not only did he fail to win, but he was beaten by the one man who he wants to fail, Ogier! This must have been a humiliation for Loeb, I bet he wishes he had stayed at home for this one, or behind the wheel of his MP4-12C.

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Originally Posted by Rallyper

You guys has already forgot what Tidemand did in first leg? Remeber it was amongst his first couple of races in WRC car. Remember how he beat more experienced drivers from Finland, Belgium and Russia... So what about his work in Sweden? Wouldn´t it be great seeing him in a works car, let´s say in 2014???

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I liked his driving, clean, without put himself under pressure, achieved great result imho. It's shame what happened with the car. But I don't really know how he can handle all the variety in surfaces in the championship. This is the first Rally I watched him (thanks to SVT anyway :) , great effort by them).