I think he has always been pretty respectable in Catalunya (He had way more problems on Corsica), but of course there are a couple of jokers in PSolberg and Ogier ... but I still think he will finish 3rd.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
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I think he has always been pretty respectable in Catalunya (He had way more problems on Corsica), but of course there are a couple of jokers in PSolberg and Ogier ... but I still think he will finish 3rd.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Don't forget Mikko took his first podium finish in Spain, driving an old Focus and beating a spanish driver. He can at least challenge Sordo this year.
I think Hirvonen will have to challenge both Solberg and Ogier in Spain....its not going to be easy and he has to drive flat out to be ahead of them...i think Hirvonen will not finish the rally without mistakes, because its going to be the first time where his quitting tactics that guaranteed him the 2nd place in the previous rallies cannot be deployed here.
Hirvonen must finish 4th or better in Spain. If he doesn't manage to do this he is in deep trouble. We know that Loeb & Sordo will be 1st & 2nd (provided nothing exceptional happens) & I suspect Ogier will run around 3rd but we are yet to see. One question I have is will MW find a "tarmac specialist" to try & put pressure on the Citreon Drivers?
if Citroen were given a just penalty for a non-homologated perfomance enhancing part, then the maths would be very much different. 1 minute penalty keeps them well in the hunt for both titles, 5 minutes or exclusion would have stacked the cards well towards Fard and its drivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by macksrallye
I never thought I would say this, but even if Hirvonen win this year I still am not convinced he's faster than Loeb. I know it isn't about being faster, but there were too many tactics and team orders this year and probably more luck to Hirvonen that keep him in the race.
When Loeb crashes two times (without even a reason, for example ... rain, puncture, bad note etc.) then you can't say "but he is faster !!!" ... it's a rule of every motorsport and it has been always like that. But I agree that only 2 points between first and second place is not the ideal system.
Next year they're talking about changing it, no ? (points to winner of each leg etc.)
Ps. This year Citroen wins hands down regarding tactics... and cheats...
Does all of this "but Loeb is faster" crap take anyone else back to 1992 when the title was almost in Auriol's hands but Sainz managed to take it away in the last few rounds.
I hate these tactics to, its just ugly viewing, not that anyone is actually doing anything against the rules its just ugly.
Assuming Loeb and Sordo will be 1st and 2nd in Catalunya, it doesn't make much difference for Mikko to finish 3rd, 4th or 5th. He still will have to finish in front of Loeb in Wales.
Even if he is 4th or 5th in Cat, he will have the splits advantage for first leg in Wales.
Mikko challenging Sordo in Spain? That is impossible as Sordo drives on home roads and he was as fast as Loeb last year there. I think Mikko will be in third place.Quote:
Originally Posted by White Sauron
To all who think Ogier will be before Hirvonen in Spain: Ogier is not really a tarmac expert, he likes more to drive on gravel. Prokop was faster than Ogier last year in the JWRC tarmac events.
For Petter it will be the first time in a C4 and we all know tarmac isn't his favourite surface.