Good point it is a fantastic summer in NZ at present. Best I head to the beach for another swim :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by swanny
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Good point it is a fantastic summer in NZ at present. Best I head to the beach for another swim :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by swanny
I'm just going to do a recap of 2017 and Open the Balls season in the week after Christmas - be thinking!Quote:
Originally Posted by KiwiWRCfan
Wasn't this actually true ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by A FONDO
It was, Lappi was driving his car (same chassis)Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Forget Chassis - did anyone take a toyota that hadn't been in it before? No! So he wasn't replaced, he was dropped!
Wasn`t it Lappi at first, who was supposed to only compete in Europe from Portugal and Hänninen was supposed to do all the rounds with Latvala. So replaced...
E: "Latvala and Hanninen will contest all 13 rounds of the 2017 WRC, while recently crowned WRC2 winner Lappi will contest a selected third-car programme starting in the spring."
"Makinen told Motorsport.com at the last WRC round in Corsica that the intention was to field a third car on all European events from Portugal onwards, before reverting to two cars for the Australia season finale for logistical reasons."
So definitely replaced.
How soon is now? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
Mintex got sucked into the Crystal Ball. You might see him in your 2018 Crystal Ball ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
That’s all I need - Smiths song titles being quoted at me 😎 . I plan to launch 2018 on Weds 17th, so lots of time to gaze into the goat entrails before then (or even put on Lipstick like the Seer from ‘Vikings’)
As my game, my rules - Hanninen was dropped 😈 Maybe the identity of the missing 3rd M-Sport car drivers will still be open to speculation!
So Mintex has cleverly snuck in an early prediction. MSport will not reveal 3rd driver plans for entire season at ASI 18.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
My early prediction. Promoter will use ASI 18 to announce name of a new younger TV presenter as they seek to create a new dynamic and energy which will appeal to a younger demographic.
Mintex you were correct MSport did not reveal 3rd driver plans for entire season at ASI 18, at least not on the first day of ASI18.
Time to start polishing your crystal balls everyone.
I see a Crystall Ball 2018 thread opening at 20:18 GMT. It will be 1 week and 25 minutes before the start of SS1 of Monte Carlo. An opening stage that will be won by ⏹️⏹️⏹️⏹️⏹️⏹️⏹️⏹️⏹️⏹️ I bet you didn't expect that name.
Nice try KiwiWRCfan - Here I am tying up some 2017 loose threads.
I got 3/5 right - would have been 4 had Mikkelsen been recalled to WRC a rally earlier. The Seb O choices was popular and so all the JML, Thierry and Ott predictions for WRC Champ went west.
The Polo never did appear (and now never will!). Toyota's successes caught many by surprise (not least a certain Hellenic personage of our acquaintance) but even the biggest fans hadn't expected the win so quickly! Meeke was nowhere near challenging but did win in fascinating style!
Interesting that even Ogier supporters thought Hyundai would be top manufacturer but Brains (see Thunderbirds for reference) seemed to be their only winning driver until they pulled a Nog out of temporary obscurity.
Surprisingly Ogier was replaced by Neuville as chief moaner and general sourpuss. Big shout out to Duvel who accurately predicted that not one of his predictions would be right (especially the TN/Hyundai WRC winners double!)
I liked all the mechanical failure predictions for M-Sport. In the event the Ford was the most reliable package of all! There were a few 'Paddon doing well' predictions, no one actually said he would stink the room out!
eib 1 predicted they would stop doing drugs - given the rest of their wrong predictions I expect to find them on Cloud 9! Doon is the winner with 4/5 right
Best prediction of 2017 from way out of left field goes to tomhlord for being the only one to predict DMACK /Elfyn to win WRGB, honourable mention to KiwiWRCfan 4 different makes win the first four rallies.