That`s why next year will be interesting, next years car will demand a different driving style. Allthough I don`t think it will be as in the early wrc days, because drivers also have changed.
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That`s why next year will be interesting, next years car will demand a different driving style. Allthough I don`t think it will be as in the early wrc days, because drivers also have changed.
we hear about different driving style all day when changes happen...bottom line is the fast ones are going to be fast and the sick dogs are going be remain sick nommate how big or small the changes are.
I also kept to love the old WRC cars and of course the gr.A era on its end was pretty awesome. Im always still going to miss the WRC cars as an era and hopefully we are going to see them at the memorial events example at factory colours =) . Thanks GigiGalliNo1 for all these great photos!
What comes to the cars, Mäkinen,Latvala and even Kankkunen has said that the car itself is just a completely different package. The chassis just itself and the springs and even the brakes has just has wen´t so much forward. Where the new cars example at the jumps of Finland comes to jumps with high speeds them just lands nicely and keeps going but with the old spec WRC cars like the early Impreza´s,Escort´s,Corolla´s those cars drops like stones from the sky mostly to their nose and the impact for the road looks even nasty. Also of course the technology had made a big impact. Also the cornering speeds are just so high these days and the car just keeps going while on the old days you kinda had to make the cars to turn into these corners and beeing sideways was the quickest way to drive.
I will always still miss the WRC cars,specially the pre WRC cars. My favs has always been in order:
Toyota Corolla WRC(loved 97 model but 98 and 99 were great too)
Ford Escort WRC 97 (Repsol colours were nice.)
Subaru Impreza WRC 01-02 (once again a car many dislikes)
Hyundai Accent WRC´s (liked to all of them and all had great sounds)
Ford Focus WRC 03-05 (just a great looking car,even when some says that its not a rally car.. its more likely by its look a touring car)
Citroen Xsara WRC 01-05 (like the most for 01-02 early models. Wasn´t so succesful yet at its gravel outings but a beast at tarmac. Remember how all were wondering will it be a success or not. 03 then given the answer)
Don't forget the tyres.
For me, the new Focus (2006 onwards) always gave me the best feeling and memories. I've actually created a somesort of relationship to that car. Especially the all-white test car registered EU07 SUX... Mmmh! :love:
I guess it has many reasons, most likely that it has been the tool of Finnish drivers for the last few seasons. The rise of JML to the big boy league etc. I've also always liked soft setup cars and Focus is a really soft car. I've downloaded dozens of high-res detail pictures in addition to those which I have photographed myself during NORF and tests.
My biggest dream was to ride onboard in one of those, but unfortunately it never happened. Okay, it may still happen someday (I've thought about making some money and buying one to my garage when I'm a pensioner... :D ). But I'd like to thank Jarmo Lehtinen who presented the car (interior) and its systems for me in very big detail during their tests this summer. I felt priviledged. :) I've also been an enthusiastic user of Estonian Focus WRC history page and following where all these beauties go. If the site admin is present here, I'd like to say thank you. :up:
Once I get access to my pictures, I could make a somekind of Focus picture collage to the web...
In 2001 i fell in love with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo XI. It was such a great car in the hands of Tommi Mäkinen... to bad it was not a Wrc car so it doesnt fit into this thread. I can't say that the Lancer Wrc from 2002 was as good as the previous one... but it was something with the apperance of it. Also the sound! That is my favourite Wrc car of all. I cant imagine that it was nine years since the XI was replaced with the XII, Tommi Mäkinens crash in Corsica and the total disapionment of the new car...
I have so much memories from the Wrc era. It has been a couple of fantastic years for sure, but now it is time for something new and i think that we have some amazing years ahead also!
Awsome thread!
There was a hell of a lot of changes happening but it was TOYOTA with the COROLLA WRC who were first to have the 3 active hydraulic controlled diffs. The hydraulic pump in this car was in charge of gear shifting (with famous joystick) power steering and all 3 diffs. There were various versions of COROLLAS running around but the top spec car was like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by OldF
The difficulty was to control the hydraulic pressure at the right time, so the diff is doing what you want when you want.
... :)
i'll always have a soft spot for the Hyundai Seat Suzuki and Skoda cars of the WRC sure they may not have been the fastest but they sure do look beautiful and the way they were driven.
And the RedBull Livery looked a thousand times better on the Fabia than it does on the c4/DS3
late 90's and early 2000's were a really great time in the wrc
great cars and great drivers
really wish you posted more Mitsubishi pics! :)
2001 brought out the Lancer Evo VII (7) which Makinen crashed and also last time he had TOMMI on the bonnet during Rally Australia.Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
I will give it a shot. But anything before the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII (7) was a Group A. car. (Will Daniel approve? This is a WRCar only thread but we will see guys)Quote:
Originally Posted by userwave
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Step 1 (VII/7) which Makinen and Loix had
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Step 2 or Evo2 (VII/7) which Alister McRae and Delecour drove
Then it went WRC04 to WRC05 (Thats the one with the spoiler next to the rear window - Galli, Rovanpera, Panizzi)
They were the underdogs and we took them for granted. Who cares that they weren't performing that well, drivers or the cars fault them selves but I remember seeing the Skoda getting some good times, Hyundai in the tough rallies like Cyprus and Seat's just looking weird but so beautiful! Suzuki, they never gave it a real shot and shouldn't have stopped trying!Quote:
Originally Posted by Frozzy
Mitsubishi Lancer WRC Step 1 & Step 2.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...Cars/evo17.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...Cars/evo21.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...Cars/evo20.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...Cars/evo18.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...RCars/evo8.jpg
555
555
555
555
thanks GG1 for the effort and the photos.
More to come guys. Subaru next! :D
Out of interest seeing the spanish flag on the roof vent, I cant remember what Spaniard drove a works Octavia, Jesus Puras, Dani Sola, Xevi Pons at a guess?Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
Luis ClimentQuote:
Originally Posted by richy
Who got the drive instead of Bruno Thiry - thanks to Airtel sponsorship :mad:Quote:
Originally Posted by Leon
I remember the name now, thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by Leon
I always had great sympathy for the Octavia WRC , because of it's great looks and sound . As pointed out , such a large car had to be driven sideways to be competitive . Also the Fabia is a beautiful car ;)
The Xsara WRC , especially the last 06 version had great sound , it's always a show whenever I see it .
Love the looks of the Corolla and the pure agressiveness of the Subaru S5-S7 .
The new Focus looks extremely nice but the sound .. I'm sorry but it's horrible ...
That's my comment on the WRC era , some beautiful cars and driving but when the costs became extreme , some terrible cars and driving aswell :)
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII WRC is beautifull. The step II is crap...
Didn't realize till now, I should have posted this too! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by richy
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...skodaflame.jpg
mmmmm... Subaru.... (Unfortunately I cannot post photos of any 555 Subaru's before 1997 as they were not WRCars...)
1997:
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...aru_1997_5.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...aru_1997_3.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...aru_1997_4.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...aru_1997_1.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...aru_1997_2.jpg
Great photos :)
Impreza WRC 97-99 was the most beautiful rally car ever. Octavia was nice also :)
+1. Pictures are great, thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveria
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by cali
Quote:
Originally Posted by cali
Agree !