Who to replace Latvala in Argentina?

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17th April 2012, 17:39
JAM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcatanho

Yes it is a bit surprising. That's why I wrote that perhaps he improved

Let's wait for other gravel rallyes to see if he really improved and how much. Like someone said, in Portugal Loeb was out, Latvala had a lot of problems and Hirvonen was cruising.

Or perhaps he did not improve that much but the Mini did. We really don't know how good is the Mini. It is hard to compare because all the others Mini drivers are not in the same league as the 6 top guys (Loeb,Latvala,Ogier,Hirvonen,Solberg and Sordo).

I'm not trying to prove that Sordo is better than Loeb, neither equal. Loeb is Loeb and is closest to perfection. Period!

But Sordo is not as slow as it showed at Citroen. There were a lot of issues at citroen that had negative impact oh his perfomance. That's my point.

But of course i'm curious about how much time he will lose to Solberg in Argentina.

And another interesting thing is to know how Ford will manage the rally without Latvala. Will Solberg be able to finally work as he wishes? Will Sordo have freedom to work on the car? Interesting and important issues.
17th April 2012, 18:27
Barreis

The best Hirvonen's year was 2004, proven winner. :D
17th April 2012, 20:40
dimviii

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAM

I'm talking in everything except the tarmac where usualy people see Sordo as a fast driver. Gravel, snow, mud, stones, water, sand...

so next time write it,because you mention only gravel.Doesnt change the result,but to be precise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAM

Well, if you read my entire post you'll find that i mentioned that Sordo was driving a Mini. And as you know, the first Mini evolution was not like works DS3 and Fiesta's.

But also i must remember you that 25s in 97km, means 1m30s at the end of the rally, that is diferent from 2 minuts. Is the diference between be jut behing a works Fiesta (Solberg), or just in front of a private Fiesta (Novikov).

To lose 1m30s in second level car in a kind of surface where a driver is not a specialist, is very good.

is a lot because with your estimation Sordo would be just 15 seconds, after 3 days, in front of the privateer Novikov.With that speed you are not near Loeb.You are closer to Novikov and far of Loeb.
Except that if you want to proove how fast is Sordo,you haven t got to choose the rally was more near to Loeb.I can choose more than 20 rallies with the difference already from 1 st day to be more than 1 or 2 minutes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAM

Faster only in two stages is bad, but ending the first day just 4.2sec behind Loeb is worst. Ok, i inderstand you, really. And this was the guy that is fast only in tarmac, right? Snow is different from tarmac... even if tarmac is wet :D

Even Loeb is not snow specialist,so....
17th April 2012, 20:42
dimviii

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAM

I'm not trying to prove that Sordo is better than Loeb, neither equal. Loeb is Loeb and is closest to perfection. Period!

But Sordo is not as slow as it showed at Citroen. There were a lot of issues at citroen that had negative impact oh his perfomance. That's my point.

But of course i'm curious about how much time he will lose to Solberg in Argentina.

And another interesting thing is to know how Ford will manage the rally without Latvala. Will Solberg be able to finally work as he wishes? Will Sordo have freedom to work on the car? Interesting and important issues.

no setup sabotage? you forgot it.
17th April 2012, 20:45
dimviii

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAM

Yes, you're right. But the important is that Sordo was able to challenge Loeb while Loeb was still attacking.

But we can look at Ireland in 2007. Again challenged Loeb on the beggining, then lost confidence on the car. Is interesting how Sordo lose confidence every second legs after challenging Loeb :D

At least this don't happen at prodrive.

Latvala and Mikko last year ''lost confidence'' at almost all rallies.When difference was big enough,suddenly their setup was ok......Can you explained it? Who sabotaged their cars?This year again for Solberg at some rallies.
17th April 2012, 21:10
janvanvurpa

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiruwiru

+1 :up:

Thanks boys, kind words make the pain that Ford didn't call a bit less . Oddly no newspaper has come and taken photos of my scar but I can assure you that it would be right where the harness would sit so for once in life I am exactly same situation as Ford works driver.

Surprisingly easy to break collarbone (done it---of course) and surprisingly painful too (but I got up and found the bike somewhere in the grass and mud and kicked it and drove off---THEN noticed I was seeing double)... The 'over the front" crash like Latvala described is always clumsy and often something breaks even at slow speeds like ski or bicycle... really a shame. Had he done this just a little earlier he could have been fit enough, it isn't that serious if treated and he had it treated and he's not some fat old man, he looks reasonably fit and he is a Finn after all.

wooo feeling dingy, time for my cure-all: a cuppa hot tea.
17th April 2012, 22:51
Kielder

Second delay in the announcement of Sordo. I imagine the negotiation during these last days like a poker hand between Richards (still the chief for money stuff) and Wilson.
17th April 2012, 23:48
vkangas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kielder

Second delay in the announcement of Sordo. I imagine the negotiation during these last days like a poker hand between Richards (still the chief for money stuff) and Wilson.

Not a delay by my understanding. I remember Malcom saying that this week's monday was the earliest possible announcement date.
18th April 2012, 00:18
Kielder

It seems that the other teams entered must accept the driver change.
Edit: There'll be also another change in the entry list, because Sordo's co-driver was in it with Salazar. The new co-driver for Salazar is Martí, as we all know ex-Sordo, ex-Sainz and many others.
18th April 2012, 00:42
JAM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimviii

is a lot because with your estimation Sordo would be just 15 seconds, after 3 days, in front of the privateer Novikov.With that speed you are not near Loeb.You are closer to Novikov and far of Loeb.
Except that if you want to proove how fast is Sordo,you haven t got to choose the rally was more near to Loeb.I can choose more than 20 rallies with the difference already from 1 st day to be more than 1 or 2 minutes.

if in 97km he lost 25 secs, than teorically in 340km would lose about 90 seconds. In my country, 90 seconds is the same as 1m30s. In my country and using our unit measures, 1m30s is closest of 1m14s (Solberg) than 2m41s (Novikov). Pure maths. But as i said, this is in my country, and here we are a litle but confused with the presence of the Troika from de FMI/UE :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimviii

Even Loeb is not snow specialist,so....

Yes, that's why he never won a snow rally, right? :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimviii

no setup sabotage? you forgot it.

Without "setup sabotage" he was not as good as Loeb, but was close. With "setup sabotage" he was far from Loeb. It's simple!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimviii

Latvala and Mikko last year ''lost confidence'' at almost all rallies.When difference was big enough,suddenly their setup was ok......Can you explained it?

Yes i can. They were not driving a works Citroen.

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