Thanks guys, I wasn't expecting it but as usually hoping for it anyway ;)
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Thanks guys, I wasn't expecting it but as usually hoping for it anyway ;)
I´m very much looking forword to this rally. Predicting the winner is difficult but, having said that, my money is on Bruno Magalhães.
He won last year, has always been very quick there and knows the rally very well with a lot of previous participations under his belt. If
luck doesn´t desert him (like it has on just about every international participation he's had be it Portugal, Madeira, Asturias, Sanremo..) I
believe he is odds-on for the win. I expect Meeke, Hanninen, Vouilloz and maybe Alen to be amongst the fight for the top places but it
would be great if the likes of Basso, Loix and Kopecky could be in there as well. As someone said already, I think Fernando Peres will be
someone to keep an eye on eventhough the car (Evo IX) might not be enough to fight for the win. At 44 years old he is a bit past his
prime but he has always been blindingly quick in this particular event, with 7 wins through the years (that could easily have been 10 or
more) sometimes against some stiff international competition. And his knowledge of the azorian stages is second to none.
All in all, a very exciting prospect for some action this weekend. A beautiful island, a beatiful rally, with beatiful demanding stages.
Can´t wait.
Forgot to mention local and current regional azores champion Ricardo Moura who is still young but a very fast and exciting driver who also knows these stages very well. Like Peres, the car (EVo IX) might prevent him from springing a surprise but still let´s wait and see.
Lots of nice pictures by Luis Pacheco of Abarth testing in Açores can be found here:
http://www.ralis.online.pt
Thanks Luis for great contribution. :)
One driver who seems to be absolute motivated for the win is Kris Meeke !!! After test with Kronos in southern France his confidence seems almost 100% :D :D
Photos from Skoda Motorsport test before start of the rally HERE
Thanks for the pictures Jafry. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jafry
Some of my pictures.
The Skodas looks like planes flying throw the stage!
http://www.fotosralis.online.pt/skodalp09/
Thank you Luis for the nice pictures, and see you tomorrow in Ponta Delgada. ;)
No pic of PH Sport 207's livery yet ??? :confused: