I am talking about a long period. Check their stats on tarmac...some nice stage-results does not counts...Quote:
Originally Posted by Wim_Impreza
Obviously I compare them with Loeb(Ogier), Makinen, Sainz...Quote:
Originally Posted by Wim_Impreza
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I am talking about a long period. Check their stats on tarmac...some nice stage-results does not counts...Quote:
Originally Posted by Wim_Impreza
Obviously I compare them with Loeb(Ogier), Makinen, Sainz...Quote:
Originally Posted by Wim_Impreza
Is it possible that he was a live transmission :(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3-QTvKSRVI
Sad for PG who had 25 SWRC points in the bag, OTH delighted for Craig B who has a hell of a head's start on what would be one of his least familiar events. Looking forward to Breen v Paddon on gravel.
Hopefully JML will reflect on this event and realise he should have come for 18 points (maybe 21) and would have got them!
Wow. For a three-minute video, I expected more than twenty seconds of actual rally action. Everything else was just filler.Quote:
Originally Posted by tolis
Mini test team 2012?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jafry
It was common practice in the past years. Ford used gravel-specialists. On tarmac too :DQuote:
Originally Posted by tfp
The Good
Petter Solberg
Could well say he was the star of the rally. Petter Solberg is back and hungry. His body language has completely changed and he is very refreshed without the pressures of finding money. Adapted to the car very quickly, as good, if not better than Hirvonen did. The smile on his face said it all, as did the fastest times. The time on SS2 though being the highlight when driving on super soft tarmac tyres in the snow and icey stage and still coming second behind Latvala. Outpacing Sordo on tarmac is another plus!
Yves Matton
Hats off to Yves. First rally as the director of Citroen Racing and first win. Considering he has the 2 drivers who’ve been fighting each other for years, his ability to accommodate Mikko into the team has been great. His ability to manage all the information coming to his drivers has meant that Citroen formulated the best tyre/setup strategies across the event apart from SS1/2.
Evgeniy Novikov
The toughest rally on the calendar and the driver touted as most likely to crash. First Monte, so to finish is a fantastic result. The best thing about his 5th place, is how he went about it. Kept the car on the road the whole time, was faster through day 2 and day 3, and backed off and consolidated on day 4 to keep position. Hopefully more of the same in Sweden, pending on tactics he could end up anywhere from 3rd to 7th if he drives for points. Bravo Evgeniy!
Pierre Campana
Was happy when he got the drive, and had big shoes to fill with Meeke not having the $$s to contribute to his drive. Drove a rally similar to Novikov’s, except drove strongly on day 3 and 4, after having taken the first two days cautiously. 7th is a great effort, and I hope Mini will find the means to develop his skills a bit more.
Francois Delecour
The old master still has it. Amazing drive from someone out of a WRC drive for 10 years. If he had more seat time, he’d still be a force in the championship. A dew 2nd fastest stage times to his name is great when you consider he would have beaten most of the Loeb, Sordo, Solberg and Hirvonen quartet. Hopefully finds the funds to do at least the tarmac rounds, though I’m doubtful it will happen.
Sebastien Ogier
The Skoda is a good car, and well suited the cooler conditions (note S2000 performances in snow), and although the weather unpredictability evens out the power difference, Ogier still did very well in a car he doesn’t too well, nor really needs to get to know all that well. Could well have contributed to his off, but its good to see he’s not just settling for class wins.
Eurosport
Given the circumstances, they did amazingly well to get their equipment and staff to the Monte with 10 days notice. Working with Rally Radio was great, use of simulcam refreshing, however little over used, but not as annoying as Virtual Spectator. Show format (recaps of previous days) may have been due to lack of footage due to minimal cameramen at rally, thus limited shots available.
The Bad
Jari-Matti Latvala
Took a big hit in the psychological battle for the WRC title. Crashing on day 1 certainly should not be on the script of Jari-Matti. It’s a 4.5 day event and he had the lead. Strategically as anyone knows, anything can happen over the other 3.5 days, so he could have eased into second, and then with an inspired tyre choice got Loeb under pressure, or fallen back and consolidated second. Instead was pressured into pushing and now has a big fat 0 point to his name when all his rivals have points. Will take him a few rallies to catch up and needs a podium minimum in Sweden.
Mini WRT
Very poor management leading into the Monte Carlo, having to get a paid driver into their second car due to budget concerns. Luckily Campana was available and had Monte experience. Otherwise Araujo or another fringe driver would have driven. Hopefully they can turn the issue around and get a sponsor onboard.
Proton
What could have been a very promising weekend turned into somewhat of a nightmare for Proton. Basso out on the first stage, I’d start having doubts about his temperament sooner or later when there are a few other fast tarmac drivers around. PG’s engine failure again casts doubt on whether the cars are reliable. Twice in 2011 Atkinson had mechanical failures, along with the IRC failures. Need to really get their act together soon.
The Ugly
[i]Matthew Wilson[i]
The Go Fast Rally Team… …. … hmm… Honestly, he is a disgrace. If I had just sponsored his car, I would be livid with his attitude and performance. He is completely indifferent to those around him and indifferent to competition. Start of day 2 he was asked of his plans. His response was ‘To test some settings on the car”. This is the standard response. His 7th year in the WRC, and 4th Monte Carlo Rally, his performance should have been much better. Novikov, Tanak and Campana all outpaced him by miles despite only having 1 or 2 Monte (IRC) starts between them.
Louise Cook
She isn’t ugly in looks, but performance wise, just horrid. She shouldn’t be at that level, and is just making everyone aware of her gender, and giggling to get her places. No one can be so pig headed to take hard compound tarmac tyres to the Monte. You are hard pressed to find road temperature to suit the mediums, let alone hards. Conditions were for soft, super soft, or winter tyres. If she didn’t have the budget for anything else, she shouldn’t have been there. Someone needs to calculate whether she would have been better off doing Rally 2 the whole time (if it was available).
Giandomenico Basso
The Monte is a very long rally. You essentially can strategise and wait for a day or two before making your move. Crashing on the first stage is ridiculous and is a performance similar to Mikkelson last year. As a team manager I’d be furious. Driving far too fast for what was required to get the job done.
[quote="RobertS"]
I remember for a great Finnish driver, who was really fast on tarmac too, especially in MC...
This is not impossible.
QUOTE]
Mr Toivonen?
No tpf: RobertS is refering to Tommi Mäkinen.
...for the 'King of the Monte' Mr. Mäkinen :s mokin:Quote:
Originally Posted by tfp