I do not agree, in my opinion WRC should be more gravel than asphalt (like it always has been). We have already IRC and ERC full of asphalt rounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
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I do not agree, in my opinion WRC should be more gravel than asphalt (like it always has been). We have already IRC and ERC full of asphalt rounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
WRC doesn't need to be anything just because ERC or IRC is different. That is irrelevant. WRC must be what is worth its title.
My take on the main rumours is that we are likely to see 2 Ford Teams- The old M-Sport Team of JML and Ott and a Norwegian Team of Petter and Mads. Henning will still be very much a single car team on his own.
I suspect that Seb O will be behind the wheel of a Polo during 2012 at some point in WRC
Piccolo Madonie, anyone? I for one would love to be there!
This looks like a fair summary of the way things are heading I reckon. Although I still wouldn't rule Petter out of walking away from rallying and going to Global Rallycross.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
If they'll build an all new event like in Sardinia some years ago, everything is possible. But if they'll use more known rally roads, they will go on Targa Florio's special stages (tarmac, near Palermo) with the chance of 1 leg on gravel (Rally Conca d'Oro was part of Italian Gravel Trophy this year).Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
Meanwhile, it's not yet certain that will be in Sicily. :D There's a big battle on December, 2... Election Day at Italian federation :DQuote:
Originally Posted by focus206
I will miss ken block, 6 events is not enough! I think Rally America and Global Rallycross is a bit of a cop out!
DO you guys know of any link to watch the European RallyCross Championship?
Here you'll find highlights from each round of European Rallycross 2011: Rallycross Online - ERX TVQuote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
So the Ford team of Mads and Petter wouldn't be full factory? I would prefer Petter with full factory!!
I thought Mixed surface wasn't allowed anymore by Fia. Mixed surface like in Spain with 1 leg in gravel 2 legs on asphalt. Stagel like Argentina with some asphalt in it were still allowed??
So, if Petter -> Ford, Mikko -> Citreon, Ogier -> VW...
Leob... 9th straight drivers title?
Loeb has signed for 2 years because he knows he'll be a ten time WRC champion :D a nice number to retire ^^
Did Gronholm ever get round to buying Seb Loeb another mountain bike ?Quote:
Originally Posted by grugsticles
2 days Pirelli Shoot is over in UK. Rumours tell that Jukka Korhonen win "reaction part" of the shoot out. They also used Fabia R2 in that competition. Same car is used in next year Pirelly Star Driver season.
Winner of this year competition will be announced in Saturday. And only winner of the whole competition, not the single part's winners.
At least one Norwegian has an contract with M-Sport in 2012 :)
Glory for Røkland as Norwegian wins the 2011 FST International Shootout
What championship is the Pirelli comp done in?
British Rally championship.
It was a motocross accident and not a mountain bike...Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeakiwi
So if I summarize :
Loeb - Hirvonen : Citroen WRT
Solberg P - Odsterg : Ford Norwegian army
Latvala - Tanak : Ford WRT
Ogier - Mikkelsen : VW WRT
will VW make a big surprise and start running in 2012 in some rally, to have a car ready to challenge for world title (driver and manuf) for 2013?
Ogier is starving for victory, i don't really see him playing with S2000 all next year...
Tanak is obviously very talented but could he really score more points that Petter in his first full season in a WRCar? Surely would make more sense to have Petter in the main team and Tanak in the B-Team for year one?
I was just reading the post before and the name of tanak was mentioned few times.
I think it's far too early and too risky for ford to have tanak as a factory driver... he showed good pace in gb for sure, but follow the entire season, with asphalt rally... not sure ford will get manufacture crown ever again!
Peter seems to be a very nice guy, and he still has the pace, but he starts to be old, and I guess big boss of ford want to see the future in their recruitment / investment...
would be nice for odstberg though to have a mentor, as I think he could be a reliable fast factory driver in 2013...
Still the big questions, what ogier will do next year???
Mixed surface on asphalt rally is not allowed in the middle of the day. Tyre manufacturer asked not to put gravel sections in the middle of the pure tarmac sections. Due to safety reasons and asphalt tyre durability on gravel (like it was in France).Quote:
Originally Posted by mousti
Asphalt sections in gravel rallyes are still allowed.
WRC doesn't need more gravel than asphalt just to be different from ERC and IRC, but because that format, according to me, would be perfect for WRC. That's why I don't want too many asphalt events, expecially all in a row.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
I'd like to see IRC and ERC with more gravel also. But I don't know what other rallyfans think about this.
Why not a couple of swedes instead of Tanak. If the money is there for let´s say PG or Flodin(?) or why not Sandell - how should MW react on that?Quote:
Originally Posted by spiderem
Why yes?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
You know that Malcolm wants only those guys to drive his car who speak fluently Finnish or whose language sounds a bit like Finnish language (like Estonian language);-P It has been the case since 2006 already!
Pleasant chaps all of them, but having seen all of them and Ott at first hand I have to say he is already faster than them (PWRC last year v Flodin. S2000 v Sandell and WRC v PG) and capable of better results already. He can only get better, only someone with more cash can hold him back, and not for very long I expect.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Yes, Malcolm does have a bit of a Finn-Fetish even if the "if you want to win you need a Finn" phrase is looking a little out of date these days.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluuford
Having said that I really hope Hanninen gets a chance somewhere, and soon. For me he has more potential than Hirvonen and he did beat Tanak to the sWRC title this year.
So Tanak won’t be a factory driver next year.
Andreas Mikkelsen has all but signed for VW according to his team manager. He will compete the IRC and whole SWRC next year, as well as start the testing of the PoloWRC and potentially then becoming an official VW driver in 2013.
Petter is also set to sign for Ford, but not as an official driver but instead to partner Ostberg and Henning in a 2nd team. This leaves a big gap for Ogier or Tanak to fill at Ford. The same article suggests Petter has signed for VW in 2013 but has no plans for 2012 yet.
www.vg.no/sport/motor/artikkel.php?artid=10031715 - Translator
Article says Mikkelsen's contract is signed. Further it says they expect to run the Polo R WRC in some rallies in 2012, but these plans are not complete and not been signed.
Maybe you´re right about Tanak is faster. But having said that after maybe one time competition compared (you could give me a hint which rallies?) you have to deal with other skills needed. For example experience. I think Tanak should be given time to get used to the WRC car, maybe in a second team at Ford.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
But of course he will be cheap. But even more cheaper for MW will be a driver who pays him a lot of money for 2nd seat in factory team.
So far, as the rumours and facts are gathered together we have in WRC 2012:
TOTAL CITROEN WRT: Loeb / Hirvonen
BP FORD WRT : Latvala / Tanak (?)
? MINI : Sordo / Meeke
VW testing: Ogier / Mikkelsen / ? Hanninen - ? Neuville
Custumers Citroen
BARWA : Al Attiyah (offficial as third works car)
VAN MERKSTEIJN: Peter jr / Peter sn on selected rounds
ALM RUSSIA : Novitsky (or in Ford)
Customers Ford
FERM : Dennis Kuipers / Rene Kuipers on selected rounds
FORD TEAM NORWAY ARMY: P Solberg / H Solberg / Ostberg
JIPOCAR : Prokop
MONSTER : Block (on selected rounds, 6?)
SWRC 2012:
Sebastien Ogier (Skoda)
Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda)
Craig Breen (Ford)
In fact it says that he has signed for Volkswagen Group United Kingdom, as i understand driving an Skoda in IRC and SWRC...Quote:
Originally Posted by bretddog
So the verdict is on Mikkelssen?
18 drivers have been chosen for the 2012 FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.
A couple rallydrivers among them.
Craig Breen, 21, Ireland
Brendan Reeves, 23, Australia
Pontus Tidemand, 20, Sweden
Timo van der Marel, 22, Holland
Sepp Wiegand, 20, Germany
18.11.2011 | Drivers Chosen for 2012 FIA Institute Academy
[quote="alleskids"]
Can someone help me here as I can't understand how an army can sponsor a rally team? I also understand that in US rallying the Air Force sponsors someone.
I think "army" is metaphorical, to say there could be 3 Norwegian drivers in one team :DQuote:
Originally Posted by MJW
I think Ketomaa should have a 6 event program with a private Fiesta...Quote:
Originally Posted by alleskids