[WRC] Rally Saudi Arabia 2025

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Originally Posted by Kras

Kalle and Tanak retiring, Evans losing the title to "part-time" Ogier... Next season Ogier will stat pad some more in a dead series before retiring.

It looks grim and I wonder if I'll even be able to force myself to watch any of it

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Have any opinion on me, but I believe in Hyundai next year.

Of course Ogier deserved the Championship but he was fortunate again on this rally with the massive sweeping done by his opponent (Evans) ruining his chances from the start.

Plus only getting one puncture (and that only a low pressure near the end of a stage) no stops to change a wheel like so many did.

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Originally Posted by focus206

When was the last time a top, full season driver never super-rallied or DNF and scored points in every round?

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Loeb in 2010. Hirvonen also managed it in 2008 (despite the final event roll).

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Originally Posted by mknight

For me this season diminishes Rovanperas status quite a lot.

Before the start everyone was saying how he will dominate. Instead he got beaten by both teammates even when one of them drove part time.

The main reason being his lack of gravel pace with Hankook, especially during the first half. I do not see how this was in any way caused by his lack of motivation, rather the opposite. The struggles were likely one of the reasons why he left.

Obviously this does not mean he couldn't win again next year if he tried, but he is nowhere near "greatest ever" class at this point.

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Just as with tanak, i feel the reason rovanpera was able to become champion was a superior car and no superior teammates.
Oli think ogier would have won all those titles if he has in the toyota doing a full season.

Ogier will do 10 rallies next year. So he gives other one extra round handigap :D
Haters can continue :D

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Originally Posted by TypeR

Ogier will do 10 rallies next year. So he gives other one extra round handigap :D
Haters can continue :D

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At least he said it this in advance this year.

Congrats to Ogier. Although I rooted for Tänak and here in Saudi for Elfyn, then this championship is a deserved one. If you can win with less rounds, being always there, avoiding all the trouble it means you are a worthy champ.

About Saudi rally, then I like it. It gives WRC championship another dimension. We just need to have some extra strong tires for this event. If manus need to build their cars so that they can handle all the conditions, I think this responsibility applies also to the tire manufacturer. Formula 1 has 6 dry weather compounds. Rally, where the conditions are even worse, we have only 2. Okay, we have snow and asphalt also but the majority of the rallies are driven on gravel so I we need to do more. Hankook guys, I know you can do it!

Great rally. Of course the punctures introduced some randomness, but maybe it turned out even more exciting. Just really shame for the Fourmaux timing error. Also for Sesks, punctures today, really was rooting for him this rally. Would love to see him competing full time and kind of would be interesting to see him do that in Ford.

And Ogier.. man, that is some drive this year. It looks like he was on another level. I mean, to do this by without competing in all the rounds, its amazing. It is a nice addition his other trophies, like wining with three different manufacturers.

I think Evans did good this year. He wasn't very fast, but was very consistent and did stick to it. And when others had problems, he was allways there to take the points. I like this because it shows other dimensions of rallying.

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Originally Posted by mknight

Loeb did as well, but not by choice.

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Yeah, completely different scenario. I can’t feeling that this was a more calculated approach from Ogier than is being let on and if it didn’t work out, nobody would have been the wiser.