[WRC] Vodafone Rally de Portugal 2019

I reshare what I wrotte some days ago...
"Was a shame how people were treated yesterday on Arganil stage, namely on ZE11. People walking 10 km climbing hill. After have arrived at up hill, marshalls and scurity forces told "it is not possible to cross the road to the other side", to the ZE efectivelly. Was stupid as their statement was "only after priority drivers would be available to cross the road". That was just stupid, as in my opinion all the cars could be dangerous, not only the priorities. People was treated like cattle in a fence. I am portuguese but I am ashamed about how organization treats the rally fans. They did not deserve the rally at their stages. This has to be told and shared."

And most of the people do not celebrate the rally, but the drunkenness. Personally, as always I can, I try to avoide and escape from that ZE's, to places where people live the rally and I do not stumble on drunkards sleeping while cars are passing.

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Originally Posted by Meekefan

I reshare what I wrotte some days ago....

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You can reshare what ever you want but you’re only being foolish and selfish. Foolish for not understanding the passion of the fans and portray us as a bunch of drunks; selfish for just talking about minor issues and not being able to praise the incredible effort of hundreds of persons involved in the organization, providing all, including bitter people like you, the chance to see the most amazing sport on Earth; a chance that you clearly don’t deserve.

Sordo quoted in Marca:
"I don't understand why Ogier talked about something that never happened. I like his compliments, but my team didn't mean to affect anyone, let alone to Toyota."

Hmmm.

Here is an explanation where both are correct:
Adamo suggests on a morning meeting that Sordo could stop in stage so that Neuville gets longer intervall for dust.
Sordo says it would hurt the one starting behind Neuville, cause he will have shorter interval.
Based on that they decide not to do it.

Ogier hears "Sordo refused to stop in stage cause it would hurt Meeke" from his source and makes a drama from it on press conf.

Nice pass of Kopecký :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R57b0Yd_Bo

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Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC

Sordo quoted in Marca:
"I don't understand why Ogier talked about something that never happened. I like his compliments, but my team didn't mean to affect anyone, let alone to Toyota."

Hmmm.

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so now who is the liar?
Sordo or Ogier?

what a clown...

Just an imaginary discussion between a fictive rally driver (let's call him Dani for example) and just as fictive team manager (let's make him Andrea for no obvious reason):

Andrea: So, Dani, you still want to drive those rallies as planned?
Dani: Yes.
Andrea: You want? Ok, good. Now do I have to tell you what to do next?
Dani: No.
Andrea: No? Ok, even better.

Meeke
https://twitter.com/oscar_samp/statu...95618942685184

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Originally Posted by mknight

Here is an explanation where both are correct:
Adamo suggests on a morning meeting that Sordo could stop in stage so that Neuville gets longer intervall for dust.
Sordo says it would hurt the one starting behind Neuville, cause he will have shorter interval.
Based on that they decide not to do it.

Ogier hears "Sordo refused to stop in stage cause it would hurt Meeke" from his source and makes a drama from it on press conf.

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Lol
Let me recreate this dialogue.
A: "Hey Dani, my friend, you know I think you are a great driver, I always wanted to give you a full time contract but hey, why don't you help Thierry a little bit, you set aside and let him pass so that he has no dust?"
S: "Ehm boss, you decided to share the third car... By the way, if I let Thierry pass, then I would give more dust to Kris Meeke"
A: "Ouh, what a scatterbrain I am! I didn't considered it for a second!! No we don't want to hurt Toyota, you are right Dani, go and drive normally. Thank you for your advice".

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Originally Posted by dimviii

Meeke
https://twitter.com/oscar_samp/statu...95618942685184

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and that was Meeke without a hand brake...

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Originally Posted by Indreq

So what is the cause in your opinion then? https://media.giphy.com/media/XBF6oj...a1mp/giphy.gif

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It does look a lot like a broken shock.

That must be great news for the manufacturers. They can stop spending millions of dollars and hundreds of hours of testing to develop and improve shock absorbers. Broken ones work just as well, or even better.

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Originally Posted by denkimi

It does look a lot like a broken shock.

That must be great news for the manufacturers. They can stop spending millions of dollars and hundreds of hours of testing to develop and improve shock absorbers. Broken ones work just as well, or even better.

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I believe in case of JML, shock broke completely and didnt support the wheel any more. In case of OT it just lost damping ability. If the cars had double wishbone and not mcpherson, then JML could have continued as well...

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Originally Posted by mknight

Here is an explanation where both are correct:
Adamo suggests on a morning meeting that Sordo could stop in stage so that Neuville gets longer intervall for dust.
Sordo says it would hurt the one starting behind Neuville, cause he will have shorter interval.
Based on that they decide not to do it.

Ogier hears "Sordo refused to stop in stage cause it would hurt Meeke" from his source and makes a drama from it on press conf.

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Sounds to me like Adamo was getting carried away, desperate to get Neuville as much help and points as possible after the disaster of Sordo's & Loeb's cars failing on Day 1.

Sordo has to explain to him the harm it would do to Meeke.

Whatever happened behind the scenes it surely affected Ogier mentally. Thinking about this, imagine if a source came up to you (as Ogier explains) and said they are planning to stop Sordo so Nueville can get no dust etc. This would mentally fire anyone up... Which can then cause you to push hard and crash. Luckily Ogier is a pro and he survived the power stage.

In the end Hyundai never did such a thing, but maybe they planted the seed in Ogier's head to cause problems. If Sordo did not indeed tell Ogier and Ogier had a different source, he should never trust that source again since all it did was cause stress.

Don't forget, Adamo is an Italian and looks like a mobster! He probably will continue to mind fu@k everyone. He's already booted Andreas without any hesitation. When he hugs people in the end it's scary. One of those "that's what you get for doing good, but do bad and I punch you just as hard as I hug you kind of hugs"

While I don't like Adamo (from what we have seen so far) , over the years there have been plenty of examples that Ogier can be quite nasty when things don't go his way or he is in a close fight.

Juts recently he basically got Loeb kicked from Citroen/PSA after 19? years cause he did not want him to drive part time there (with good road position on gravel) and take his points/overshadow him.

So I am just not buying the Adamo = evil, Ogier = saint, simple narrative that some seem to follow.

I dont believe this was mind-games against Ogier by Adamo. He mainly wanted to get better points for Neuville and forgot the bad effect his plan would have on Meeke.

And Ogier after hearing the story it didnt affect him at all in the rally. But maybe he did want to show Adamo in a bad light afterwards, to make him think twice about doing anything bad against him in future.

The tweet from Official WRC account with Ogier making the accusations seems to have been deleted today.
And I can't find the transcript of the press conference now (but that one was already missing most of it when it was first published).

This seems to be a FIA issue on next event. They, FIA, have to talk through this whole mess and clear it up once for all.

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Originally Posted by mknight

Juts recently he basically got Loeb kicked from Citroen/PSA after 19? years cause he did not want him to drive part time there

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Do you have a source for this claim? It could be that Hyundai just made a better offer. (Citroen lost their main sponsor you know)

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Originally Posted by dnb

Do you have a source for this claim? It could be that Hyundai just made a better offer. (Citroen lost their main sponsor you know)

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Ogier was crying when Citroen wanted to sign Loeb for a partial rally calender. Ogier said it's problematic, but I do not recall the exact quote...
I actually forgot about this and this is pretty bad when you really think about it.

EDIT: here is a good read:
https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...ests-like-loeb

Following this article Budar said he wanted/needed 3rd driver that will do all events.
So it seems rather clear that Loeb wasn't welcome any more.

Ogier was telling that he wanted Loeb to contest a full season, but behind the scenes he surely play different games.. Grow up, he will not change, he is what he is. A crying baby

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Originally Posted by deephouse

Ogier was telling that he wanted Loeb to contest a full season, but behind the scenes he surely play different games.. Grow up, he will not change, he is what he is. A crying baby

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*A 6x world champion crying baby

Rally Portugal 2019: "The longer it takes, the better? Not always ! "

" Hello everyone,



I repeated it all weekend, it was perhaps the longest rally of my career ... And hot, I told myself that there would be little to tell this Portugal 2019 And yet if ...



For starters, even though we did only two stages before our breakdown, it is true that I was a little less comfortable with the car compared to Chile. The decision to make the rally was late and we had to ride with the set-up 'differential' validated by Andreas in tests. Thierry was also the same as us, unlike Dani. It seems that this option still needs to be refined but I think we are in the right direction. We all know the gap between the Yaris WRC and the i20 WRC Cup today, and the team is working hard to fill it and has the merit of trying things.



That said, even if we were not very comfortable with the car, after two special stages, we were tied with Thierry and when we see the good race he did, there was room to do a good result I think. Unfortunately, we encountered this problem right from the start of the ES3 which made us lose more than 15 minutes. From there, the rally becomes totally different and the only thing to do is to join the finish to score some points for Hyundai Motorsport.





In the past, I would have tended to stop. And here, if I did not play a role in the constructors' championship, I would certainly have done the same. Not for lack of motivation because we are totally aware with Danos that we are privileged to ride with these cars on such events. But only because I never managed, of all my career, to roll when we were no longer in the game. It was the same when it was played early in the race at the time and after one or two stages, I was already a lot ahead. I always told myself the third day: "Fortunately, we have so much advance because I will never have managed to make their time today! ". It's just that I can not take the same risks when there is no longer a stake ... And this was the case this weekend. At each stage, I wondered where they were going to do these times, whereas a fortnight ago, we played with them in Chile.



Then, in terms of the strategies that marked this race, I obviously have my opinion on it. I do not like to be honest. I do not like it because I think there is a way to avoid it or at least make it less common. I do not like it either because I find myself "mingling" with the fight for the championship "pilots" when I do not play anything personally and that I absolutely did not come for that. And I can understand that it can annoy Seb Ogier or the others.



However, everyone does it. This is permitted by the regulations and any pilot or team has done so, and will do so as soon as they deem it necessary. So why not me ? Do not forget that Hyundai hired me to help them get the title from the builders and when they ask me to do something that is allowed by the rules to help or help a crew, I have to make. These are my bosses. Now, the FIA ​​certainly has a role to play to change that, and avoid unnecessary controversy for the image of our sport.

Have a little rest after this rally quite difficult, and then we will take with Danos the direction of the Vosges for a weekend that looks very nice on my land. It's been a long time since I put the wheels on it and moreover with the WRC, it will be, I hope, a nice party for all! And as "a happiness never comes alone", I can also announce that I will be at the start of the Rally Terre du Haut-Var with a Hyundai i20 R5 this time. I responded favorably to the invitation of the organization for what promises to be an equally enjoyable weekend!



See you in Gérardmer,

Seb. "

http://www.sebastienloeb.com/rallye-...-pas-toujours/

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Originally Posted by deephouse

Ogier was telling that he wanted Loeb to contest a full season, but behind the scenes he surely play different games.. Grow up, he will not change, he is what he is. A crying baby

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He plays mind games. I don't think he had anything to do with Loeb move to Hyundai. Also pretty sure that Loeb had already signed his deal (on November 26). Running order by championship standings is actually not fair, but they want to keep it interesting.

Tänak special, nice dance through the corners at 2:33 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRDxFPRLtqQ

whats going on between the stages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNQyEY7hJEE


unfortunately cant really hear and understand what the Toyota guys are discussing

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Originally Posted by spiderem

*A 6x world champion crying baby

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True that, but who else have so much talk against rules, FIA, other competitiors, teams like Mr. God. Except in that case when he is winning, then it isn't matter the way even if others suffer as lng as he benefit from it.

QUOTE=Rally Power;1219612]You can reshare what ever you want but you’re only being foolish and selfish. Foolish for not understanding the passion of the fans and portray us as a bunch of drunks; selfish for just talking about minor issues and not being able to praise the incredible effort of hundreds of persons involved in the organization, providing all, including bitter people like you, the chance to see the most amazing sport on Earth; a chance that you clearly don’t deserve.[/QUOTE]

Are not minor issues when the spectators are not respected by organization. People like me, which walked 10 km for each side to watch the rally, was not allowed to cross the road before 10 min to start the first car. Was a lack of respect for the spectators and non priority drivers, as if they were of minor importance than priority drivers. For these reason, I Will keep not going to ZE's. I Will not respect their advices and Will go to non ZE places. Just did not at Arganil stage, because I did not know the terrain. My fault...for the last time, I ensure!

And yes, Rally Portugal for a great quantity of people it is just a excuse to go out, to be away from his wifes during a night, to get drunk, etc...Sadly, that kind of people do not understand or do not know nothing about rally. For this reason, ZE are amazing for them, as that places are so good to make a party...but not to watch rally.

Then, try not to pass a picture of perfection about our rally, as it is not. From spectator point of view, you need hard a lot to go to good spots and constantly scaping from marshalls and Police. It is a shame, when one needs to hide behind a rock to not be expelled from a spot.

Sadly, we live in a politically correct world, where the most of people acts like a cattle, agreeing with all and saying "very well" about everything...

Stop being a fool; it hurts your brain (what’s left of it) and the others mood. Btw, next time try this before posting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmU9PBDS-0k

I do agree with Meekefan. Searching and finding your own place to see the action is an important part of spectating a rally. I like to arrive on a stage, have a walk, find a few corners I like and see what it brings. If I want to be on the fifth row of people, between drunks with radios, I can go to rallycross... In Sweden and Finland it works very well, to somehow keep those less interested fans on public areas, and still allow the "hardcore" spectators elsewhere, while they're behaving safely. Such a shame that isn't possible in Portugal or Poland, it's all or nothing...

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Originally Posted by Rally Power

Stop being a fool; it hurts your brain (what’s left of it) and the others mood. Btw, next time try this before posting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmU9PBDS-0k

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I think you could be humble enough to listen to what people say. Sometimes critics can be useful for coming events. Personally I hate marshalls trying to be police officers with own rules.
However in 2017 I had no problems walking away on my own to remote places in Rally Portugal.

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Originally Posted by Rally Power

Stop being a fool; it hurts your brain (what’s left of it) and the others mood. Btw, next time try this before posting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmU9PBDS-0k

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Are you that need to stop and think. Leave the cheap offence and, as far as I know, I was not rude with you. You are a person poor of argumentation and lack of critical spirit. Stop to buy all the things that someone is trying to sell to you. Think by yourself, do not be a sheep. Stop "to clap your hands", just because someane ordered to you.

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Originally Posted by Rallyper

I think you could be humble enough to listen to what people say. Sometimes critics can be useful for coming events. Personally I hate marshalls trying to be police officers with own rules.
However in 2017 I had no problems walking away on my own to remote places in Rally Portugal.

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Mate I’m more than humble to recognize some faults here and there but I can’t accept the use of those faults to undermine the hard work of hundreds of persons supporting this brilliant event. It’s pretty clear that ZE’s are needed here; it’s the way RdP organizers found to solve spectators problematic behaviour from the past and turn the event into one of the safests of the calendar. Besides, ZE’s conditions, including its access, tend to improve year after year, which makes easy to believe that the issues reported in some of the new stages will be fixed next year.

Btw, you’ve forgot to mention the outrageous insults also made to RdP public, that no one should tolerate. Most of the fans don’t need to be rally experts to enjoy the event and feel the sport passion. In the dozens of RdP videos anyone can see thousands of people celebrating the sport and cheering the crews but some still insist we mostly are ‘drunkards sleeping while cars are passing’, shamefully forgetting that the Portuguese people motorsport passion, started a long time ago with the first street circuits in the ‘30s, is the main reason for our country to have so many international motorsport events.

I also agree partly with Meekefan. Alltough some of the spectator area's have good viewing, they are often too crowded to see decently the action. I must also agree that there is plenty of drunk people that are just sitting there to get drunk and are not very much interested in the rallycars. I also prefer to pick some of my own spots and alltough this has become difficult i still like to do so.
In the first stage on friday we arrived after a long uphill walk on Lousa stage. We were directed to the other side of the road by marshall and policeman. There we were standing in some spectatorpoint.
After the first R5 cars were passed we wanted to leave the stage to go to Arganil stage. We were not allowed to cross the road, alltough there were 4 minutes interval between the cars. We were told to wait untill all the cars were passed by. Strangely we were allowed to cross the road when the R2 cars were coming trough every minute. Strange thinking by organisators i must say.:D
The rally is well organised but sometimes they use some stupid rules. On the other hand sometimes police was very reasonable and allowed people to cross the stage to go back to their cars.
Anyhow, i had a good time in Portugal, i only think you don't have to say that everything is perfect (that is what Rally Power is basically saying)

Yep I agree it's over-excessive in Portugal. Not a question of safety - rather people management. Like herding cattle.

Between helicopters, marshalls and police, like I said before, it's one rally where I really don't bother trying to stray from the zones. It just isn't worth the stress. I think once you've made peace with that it's a good event. But I disagree you can't see some good action in the spectator zones. They are far, far bigger than most rallies.

Crossing the stage can be a strange thing, depending on the place, the rally, or the marshal. It can be completely random sometimes.

Thought the viewing on the ZE's was good. Really got annoyed with the GNR. Not speaking English, clueless when it comes to safety way to strict. But most of the time you could by-pass them pretty easily and the next one could be way more relaxed.

All in all I had a great time and I understand that with the history of WRC and safety in Portugal they do the things they do. Was my first WRC since Sweden 2010 and it is good to be back at the stages. Love that it is next to a city like Porto. Makes the whole experience great.

And with draft beers for a euro I understand they have a few haha!

Some of my pics (all from ZE's and without a mediatabard):

Attachment 1775

Attachment 1776

Attachment 1777

https://www.rally-photo.net/2019-rally-de-portugal/

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Originally Posted by NielsH

Some of my pics (all from ZE's and without a mediatabard)

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Nice shots. Apparently we were pretty close on the ZE9 at Góis and not far on the 14 at Vieira; both wonderful spots. Next time here try the 22 at Cabeceiras; probably the most beautiful ZE of the rally.

Btw, nice footage from Vieira and Arganil jumps on this video by AV Racing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unx9CmsPk8s

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Originally Posted by Rally Power

Nice shots. Apparently we were pretty close on the ZE9 at Góis and not far on the 14 at Vieira; both wonderful spots. Next time here try the 22 at Cabeceiras; probably the most beautiful ZE of the rally.

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Thanks! I will keep it in mind, probably will go back next year. Had a really good time.