which shows you cant make any assumptions based on a small rally where they are mostly testing
just saying...
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I mean, Loubet has had now full year in the WRC car and he's completely lost. Solberg was posting great stage times already in his first event in Arctic. OK, Loubet has also shown some pace here an there, but especially the two last events have been throwaways.
One more thing about Safari, difficult to predict how the starting order will affect things. Unlike most gravel rallies, there won't be a hard-based road to clean from loose gravel, it will just dig deeper into the soil, and whether it will make for better traction or not, I don't know. Dust could also be a big issue. I'm ready to put my money on Ogier's win.
Loubet drove 3 WRC rallies last year.... 3. (+ 2 testing tarmac events), and 5 this year. In Monte (on tarmac that he has most WRC experience ) he did post a few decent times 2., 4th... (changing conditions though).
In terms of starts, Portugal and Sardinia this year were similar to for example Latvala at start of 2006. Wasn't exactly setting the world on fire. Tanak in 2012 is also somehow similar experience level, that one usually ended with crash after posting top 5 times for first few stages.
Smart to give a car to Solberg. He will learn a lot, and have the experience of his life so far.
If he drives sensible he will do well. This rally also has an endurance side to it.
It's though life as a Loubet-fan :(