Rally Sweden 2014

Its the same snow weather that hit us while driving home. When we stopped for a couple of hot dogs at
the gas station in Hällefors it was sort of a semi rain/snow thing that fell from the skies but when the
started driving again and left Hällefors heading south towards Nora and Örebro and onwards, the snowing
was really really intense between Hällefors and maybe 30km north of Örebro.

Anyway I was at Skärskön (spectator area 1 at Fredriksberg stage) for both loops.
It was a very good place with many good curve combinations I also did some filming at it
I'll see if I can get it upped tomorrow.

Also if you want to go to this spectator area be aware that it can be tricky fining the entrance road (unmarked)
and the road is maybe 5-6-7km long narrow forest road. It was poorly ploughed and it had some quite
steep slopes so you'll need a AWD /4WD car to get to this stage via this road.

Also the so called "organized parking space" was just a small lot with just enough room for 7.8 carsö

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

VW drivers reflecting on this morning loop:

"Sébastien Ogier is a man who speaks frankly, even about his own mistakes. “It was on a relatively slow section, perhaps that’s what caused me to lose concentration for a split second,”

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U lose concentration? You nearly gone off plenty off times and just lucky not crashed. And it's your fortune lose concentration for a split second and couldn't save you.

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Originally Posted by Munkvy

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

Given the worsening track conditions, Andreas Mikkelsen is resting his studded tyres. “For each of the remaining tyre changes, I now have four brand new tyres at my disposal. I’m ready to go head-to-head with Jari-Matti.”
However, Mikkelsen is not about to be reckless while doing battle with his Finnish team-mate. “My aim is to get on the podium. If Jari-Matti can increase his speed again, I’m not going to give 110 percent trying to keep up with him.”"

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That sure sounds like team orders... If he wants to win his first ever WRC event, he needs to go harder, not slower...

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I'm not aiming another pointless discussion for VW team orders, but if I understand right he is driving enough to get 2nd place at this Latvala pace. Anything more would be stupid in this Rally.

nice photos from Timo Anis
http://www.ewrc.cz/ewrc/fotogalery.php? ... otograf=79


last day start list
http://www.rallysweden.com/wp-content/u ... y-2014.pdf

Start list into third leg - http://rally-base.com/2014/rally-sweden ... TypeId=417

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Originally Posted by bluuford

Like I told, it should end in the morning (big snow ends in the night), just before the stages. Little snowfall during the morning,later temperature increases and it will be pretty wet.

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Big question is will that snow be on ground, or just melt. Temperature on ground +1 +2 at night?

Starlist for tomorrow : http://www.rallysweden.com/wp-conten...ruary-2014.pdf

so far rally sweden has been great to follow. this rally is just dropping surprise after surprise so it hard to predict what will happen at any one point which makes it exciting. i can't say i'm surprised that hyundia is having "teething" issues in these 2 rallies, i kind of expected it as its a relatively new car. But so far it think the car has potential and can be competitive.

i think the snow virgins are learning and holding their own too- - meeke and evans are keeping it on the road, RK has been off but just minor mistakes so that's ok in the circumstances

i'm a bit surprised that mikko and mads aren't more competitive on this surface

based on RMC and sweden, i'd say VW is a very very strong car, and fast too

this is onboard from kubica's first stop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPohvtGZNoI

here's a movie from his second stop
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=80 ... =2&theater
the car was saved due to about a dozen of polish spectators

and one story about it, not nice behaviour from norwegian spectators...
story from a guy who was pulling out the kubica's car,

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we heard a car stopped about half a kilometer away from us, we started running to this place, we noticed kubica's car and his co-driver desparately trying to do sth and two norwegian spectators standing next to him and doing pictures of him!
once we approached the car, started to dig it out, after some time we managed, but it was hard

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Originally Posted by KKS

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Originally Posted by bluuford

Like I told, it should end in the morning (big snow ends in the night), just before the stages. Little snowfall during the morning,later temperature increases and it will be pretty wet.

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Big question is will that snow be on ground, or just melt. Temperature on ground +1 +2 at night?

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Snow will stay even if the temperature is above 0 if the snowing is intensive enough and
continues long enough.

Mads a bit out of control:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152018698578893

I just noticed the weird thing they introduced this year with starting order. All P1 and P2 drivers start in reverse order according to classification of last stage but the Superrally guys get the advantage of running after the leader... This is just nuts!!!
One of the good things of Superrally was that they can clean the road a bit for the crews that run without retiring

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Originally Posted by makinen_fan

I just noticed the weird thing they introduced this year with starting order. All P1 and P2 drivers start in reverse order according to classification of last stage but the Superrally guys get the advantage of running after the leader... This is just nuts!!!
One of the good things of Superrally was that they can clean the road a bit for the crews that run without retiring

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it doesn't make big difference with the current entry lists.... guys below top ten are just tourists in the majority of the events.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSMJoB25xV8

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Originally Posted by N.O.T

it doesn't make big different with the current entry lists.... guys below top ten are just tourists in the majority of the events.

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Totally agree with you, but in rallies with less P1,P2 entries (eg Australia Mexico) and more retirements it can influence things a little bit

photos from Jafry

http://www.rally-mania.cz/photogallery.php?id=1230

Photos from DAY2: http://www.rally-mania.cz/photogallery.php?id=1230

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Originally Posted by BleAivano

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Originally Posted by KKS

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Originally Posted by bluuford

Like I told, it should end in the morning (big snow ends in the night), just before the stages. Little snowfall during the morning,later temperature increases and it will be pretty wet.

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Big question is will that snow be on ground, or just melt. Temperature on ground +1 +2 at night?

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Snow will stay even if the temperature is above 0 if the snowing is intensive enough and
continues long enough.

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Correct! That snow will not dissapear so soon. A few + degrees make it verysoft, slushy and snowalls will be traps..as they are going to suck you in if you are out of line. So, I am expecting very tricky conditions tomorrow and a lot sweeping for first cars.. difficult for Ogier to take 3 points on powerstage and show good times.

I don't know if it was already mentioned on this thread before, but Hirvonen again using rims that looks like the Focus WRC rims. I think it was on Wales that the same happened. Does anybody know if there's any particular reason for that?

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Originally Posted by Co-driven

I don't know if it was already mentioned on this thread before, but Hirvonen again using rims that looks like the Focus WRC rims. I think it was on Wales that the same happened. Does anybody know if there's any particular reason for that?

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I have the feeling Wilson puts on the cars whatever is left in the garage unused ;)

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Originally Posted by bluuford

.. difficult for Ogier to take 3 points on powerstage and show good times.

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why difficult for Ogier bluuford? Power stage Varmullsasen will be run 2 times,power stage is second time,will not be cleared from slush?
Also tomorrow starts 6th on the road,will not be clean enough you predict?

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Originally Posted by Co-driven

I don't know if it was already mentioned on this thread before, but Hirvonen again using rims that looks like the Focus WRC rims. I think it was on Wales that the same happened. Does anybody know if there's any particular reason for that?

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Kubica uses same rims at Sweden.Probably have stock of them new/or at good condition.

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Originally Posted by makinen_fan

Mads a bit out of control:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152018698578893

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So nice!! Pedal to the metal!!! :cool: :cool:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf5XZziIMAAjzym.jpg
"Saw these guys out in the stages today, can't help thinking that they've come to the wrong rally!" ©Julian Porter

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Originally Posted by dimviii

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Originally Posted by bluuford

.. difficult for Ogier to take 3 points on powerstage and show good times.

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why difficult for Ogier bluuford? Power stage Varmullsasen will be run 2 times,power stage is second time,will not be cleared from slush?
Also tomorrow starts 6th on the road,will not be clean enough you predict?

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Yes, there is not much snowfall expected during tomorrow day (compared to tonight), but I expect cars from the lower classes to drag some slush back on the ideal line.. and the cars in front of Ogier... seems that they are not using ideal line..at least their times are not reflecting this.

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Originally Posted by Sso

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Originally Posted by ruesluporp

You wrote :
But do they mention what kind of parking? Road side parking or a special area made for parking?


It's sometimes a kind of courtyard, or an existing parking lot, or a flat meadow. And you have to pay 50 SEK. I think they would never dare to ask for 50 SEK for parking on a road side...

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They dare, trust me..

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I say one thing: Rally Finland ;)

Okay, two things. Alwas pay with 1 SEK coins. I always keep a bag of 10 cent/5 cent/1 cent coins in Finland. Then you tell the parking gods in vests that:
- It's 5 euro you can count it yourself
(PG): I believe you...

Then you at least know that they will do some work...

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Originally Posted by bluuford

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Originally Posted by dimviii

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Originally Posted by bluuford

.. difficult for Ogier to take 3 points on powerstage and show good times.

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why difficult for Ogier bluuford? Power stage Varmullsasen will be run 2 times,power stage is second time,will not be cleared from slush?
Also tomorrow starts 6th on the road,will not be clean enough you predict?

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Yes, there is not much snowfall expected during tomorrow day (compared to tonight), but I expect cars from the lower classes to drag some slush back on the ideal line.. and the cars in front of Ogier... seems that they are not using ideal line..at least their times are not reflecting this.

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tnx bluuford.

:skull: :skull:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8UOkjH ... ata_player
:skull: :skull:

moment when Mads passed Kubica at snowbank.......

Hyundai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8NSnAU5PmQ

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Originally Posted by dimviii

:skull: :skull:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8UOkjH ... ata_player
:skull: :skull:

moment when Mads passed Kubica at snowbank.......

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ouch... no wonder Mads was a bit shaky at the end

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Originally Posted by dimviii

:skull: :skull:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8UOkjH ... ata_player
:skull: :skull:

moment when Mads passed Kubica at snowbank.......

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That's some good bobing and weaving skills from the spectator there.

Anyway dimviii it is nice that you stopped asking for beers for your fine contributions to the thread because I suspect if one day
everyone decides to give you your rightfully given beers you may well end up with a the biggest hangover ever :D.

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Originally Posted by Gard

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Originally Posted by dimviii

:skull: :skull:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8UOkjH ... ata_player
:skull: :skull:

moment when Mads passed Kubica at snowbank.......

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ouch... no wonder Mads was a bit shaky at the end

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probably Kubicas engine was working,thats why they heard Mads when he was so close.God of rally was awake today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYkL3d-C70E

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

Hyundai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8NSnAU5PmQ

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Thanks stefan. I asked for the info regarding Juhos retirement in the i20 thread. This gave me the answers.

These are just child problems for Hyundai.

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

These are just child problems for Hyundai.

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I like to think so too. As someone mentioned: go for the VW way with tank suspension.

Yes, this will happen with try-and-error. Nobody's perfect when they start competing in Rally

BTW: I just watched Neuville's off on MotorsTV. It was much more soft than Hannine's. Hyunday really need to do something about it

It can't go nowhere but up from here

from video you cant judge how strong is the impact.Steering wheel can collapse if something like this broke.Diameter about 15mm...
http://www.nikolaidistractors.gr/prd.../14QURKM0I.jpg

about Hyundai retirements i dont see teething problems,i see driving errors.

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Originally Posted by Francis44

Anyway dimviii it is nice that you stopped asking for beers for your fine contributions to the thread because I suspect if one day
everyone decides to give you your rightfully given beers you may well end up with a the biggest hangover ever :D.

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:D