Don't forget to watch VW Team launch today. + Possible VW Livery for 2013 VIDEO: Intervija ar Volkswagen Motorsport bosu | F1LV blogs
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Don't forget to watch VW Team launch today. + Possible VW Livery for 2013 VIDEO: Intervija ar Volkswagen Motorsport bosu | F1LV blogs
Just a clarification - they don't want to make right hand drive versions, they want to move the gear stick to the left side of the steering column on a left hand drive car. Thus, the stick would be between the door and the steering wheel. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ToughMac
M-Sport did something similar for Colin McRae back in 2002 after his Corsica accident. It looked a little awkward then with the joystick gear change. Gear levers are a lot bigger and longer now being mechanical sequential and cockpits are also smaller just thought it might be an issue that would be over engineered where it would be easier to sit the driver at the other side of the car. Also could this gear lever change compromise safety?
No need for that. If You have a look on steering levers of Fabia or 207 S2000 they both used steering column fixed levers instead of the floor and still they can easily operate them by simple mechanical cables. I know from drivers that changing gears in Fabia needs almost no force. Advantage compared to Fiesta S2000 is much less vibrations of the steering stick.Quote:
Originally Posted by SubaruNorway
I think that it's no big deal. Systems like on Punto S2000 of Albert Llovera must be more complicated.
I agree that the easier option would be an RHD version, but if both manufacturers have gone as far as the FIA, then I would presume that they have both ruled it out completely?Quote:
Originally Posted by ToughMac
On the safety issue - are the seats not positioned more inboard in the car than they were 'back then'? That would obviously help with fitting in the lever, although door protection is also thicker now. It should possible, but as you said, could very easily be over engineered.
Putting gear stick level on left side is much easier than to produce complete RHD car. It's really no rocket engineering. You just need two sets of homologated simple parts.
Why not just a mutually agreed exemption to use a hydraulic system?
Would be easier. If performance becomes an issue, then take more drastic steps.
Easier? How did You come to an assumption that adding complete hydraulic system is easier than to fix the lever to the left side of steering rack, use longer wire and few pulleys? Come on...
As usual, you are absolutely spot on with that observation Mirek!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Just out of curiosity, would you run a pulley system above the steering rack, below the legs or in front of the firewall?
I'm not trying to invent anything new. I would just copy what commonly exists on S2000 cars. Now I see they use long rod collinear to the steering column like here with Fabia or bellow with 207 (Punto used that system too)
http://www.ewrc.cz/images/2008/irc/s..._kopecky_1.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2116/1...642d4f75_z.jpg
I see - didn't think of that option, my mistake.
In any case, I wonder a bit why both Ford and Citroën would be so far into this, surely he won't have a program in both of them? Seems a bit weird to me, to be honest.
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by ChristianArp
Ford will test next week before Monte.. Ostberg, Novikov, Häninnen and "someone"
Also making a rhd wrc car will need a lot of redesign to many parts due to weight balance-distribution.Much simpler to remove the shifter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
And since Kubica is used to left-hand-drive cars, building an RHD car for him would put him at a bit of a disadvantage. It would also be harder for both Citroen and Ford to get permission to make special models that are RHD - they may even need to be rehomologated. But given the special circumstances of Kubica's case, moving the shifter over is cheaper and easier for all involved.
Sources within the FIA have confirmed to Autosport that "the agreement between the sport’s governing body and Red Bull Media House and Sportsman Media has still not been signed":
Mateschitz: WRC has huge potential - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com
Ugly liveryQuote:
Originally Posted by Miika
Mirek, where is this photo from? Prototype Fabia S2000? The X-tube on the side is much more "wider" in vertical dimension what I have seen in other Fabias... I mean the upper tube rising upward more steeply than usual.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
VW new WRC website...
Rally the World | Volkswagen and the Polo R WRC
Not sure where to put this, but of special interest to NZ & Australian Rally Forum members...
Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen who had a very established and successful career in the Aussie V8 Supercars, who has just turned his back on it and retired after 5 years siting personal reasons for his departure.
Seems like he could be making a move into rallying. His father Robert 'Cheese' van Gisbergen is a former driver on the NZ rally scene, and still competes in historic events here.
Shane is still only 23.
Read more here...
SVG shock: possible move to rallying - Speedcafe.co.nz
Jan Kopecky, SanRemo 2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by Juha_Koo
I can't see the Giz doing anything more than national rallies and maybe make an appearance at Rally Australia ... but I can't see him joining the WRC in any capacity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maui J.
Al-kuwari spotted with Malcolm Wilson and M-Sport documents
From Colin's twitter: Something going on at Hyundai, but unclear what! Hearing a component supplier was due to deliver WRC spec parts but order changed to R5 spec
Also a dodgy video of the Hyundai launch drive with crappy photos and video..
Back to Al-Kuwari
He will drive R5 Fiesta from M-Sport in MERC and WRC-2 in 2013
Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
That wasn't an official video. Seems like it was a journalist who filmed his ride in it.
Already posted in the WRC-2 season thread. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
You mean R5 or RRC?
Marcus will test Polo
Marcus Grönholm va tester la Polo Wrc
So Novikov then will be in M-sport #1 team?
Apart from Ostberg and Novikov, there will be a third driver testing with Ford this week. Besides, more than a week ago Wilson said that he might run more than one driver over the season in the second factory Fiesta RS WRC.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
OK. Then Tanak as well.
Ott and Juho will test next.
Ostberg, Novikov and Hanninen are testing this week with M-Sport. There is also another driver which Malcolm Wilson didn't want to say who it is. That's at least what I read.
Edit: Mirek is probably right. As usual. :D
Maybe Neuville... Or Delecour in MC, like last year?Quote:
Originally Posted by EightGear
Maybe not, I'm not sure about that ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by EightGear
No one like Kubica behind a wheel with certain pace would overshadow the VW's debut. Malcolm knows it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy
The point is that Kubica said if he chooses rallying, it will need to be a long-term programme that allows him to learn. M-Sport can't offer that.
By the way, this is funny:
World Rally Championship - News - Is Kubica planning a Ford future?
World Rally Championship - News - Could Kubica be in line for a Citroen future?
But Robert must bring the money...
Surely, with his history, he should be able to raise the money he would need to pick where he wants to be?Quote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
I know rallying has taken a serious knock down the sponsorship ladder, but if Robert Kubica is unable to raise the cash to get into a serious programme, then it must be time to push the complete reset-button!