Rallye Deutschland 2014

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Originally Posted by Eli

He has fund his way to the main road leading from the vineyard. Looks like he's heading straight back to the service area. He'll collect a five minute penalty for retiring.
clever, less time loss than 10 minutes, 5 minutes in 2 days, in this rally very possible, he is very lucky that it happend to him on the final stage of the day

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10 minutes for missing the final stage of the day.

Meanwhile Ostberg keeps telling excuses for his slow pace...

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Originally Posted by EightGear

10 minutes for missing the final stage of the day.

Meanwhile Ostberg keeps telling excuses for his slow pace...

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he's like a fish out of water in tarmac, will take him some time to get his skills better on the black stuff

Two notes about Ogier's off:

1. He's most probably going to "whine" about the long standing on the startline (cold tyres, loss of concentration) because of organisation error (it's justified in my opinion, but only to certain extent).

2. BUT according to Meeke's comment, the corner was "a place", aka very tricky place ("Ohh, I know the place, very tricky, almost caught me few years back in a Mini"). So I heavily doubt that the off has been entirely down to waiting and subsequent cold tyres (also it was some 7+ kms into the stage, so time to get them warm). Pressure got to him?

JML should chill now and focus to finish the rally by not taking any risks. Meeke showing good time, but I think he cant reach JML because he (Meeke) want to finish the rally as well, at least a podium finish.

Lot's of ifs. This is only the end of day one and and with the change of conditions everything can be twisted in one or two stages.

Second best time for Sordo, taking 4 sec back from Meeke. Could be a great fight tomorrow for second.

Sordo about to do a great time in SS6 :confused:

Yes, JML has got a nice cushion but one has to remember that most of the rally remains and the conditions will be tricky if (or rather when) it rains. Also, if they run in reverse order as I believe they should if I read regs right, JML will have to cope with muddy corners. If he gets to run first on the road, it's much easier for him.

Why was the stage delayed?

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Originally Posted by Rallyper

Lundefaret!
You are spot on judging Ogiers driving style. I admit that!

WoW! this is going to be mad. unless Ogier not taking in 5 mins on an lunetic drive two days ahead...?

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Well, Rallyper, I did not expect him to go off, I excpected him to destroy a rim or something, but I did expect him to react to the pressure.

I think this is what happened:
Ogier tried VERY hard on the first SS to "kill" the battle at once, but JML clung on.
Then he continoued to try very hard to create a gap, taking VERY big chances like the cut we saw in SS1. But still no big gap.
Then he pushes even more - not contempt on being second, or even in a battle for first, he wants to lead big time - and it bites him.
The trend since Helsinki Battle, Rally Finland and now is qiute obvious, over driving.
The spiral I wrote about earlier.
But I, and I guess most of You, am still in schock!

(But i register that my predictions regarding speed have been quit correct;))