Of the WRC2 drivers who have never been in WRC1, who do you folks think are the hottest prospects on the tarmac?
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Of the WRC2 drivers who have never been in WRC1, who do you folks think are the hottest prospects on the tarmac?
Probably Rossel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Morte66
Or Gryazin. Pajari also.Quote:
Originally Posted by Morte66
Lindholm also pretty decent on tarmac (think CER last year or Croatia the year before)
Solans although he has driven a previous gen Hyundai WRC
When it's nice clean twisty stages it's definitely Rossel. On fast, dirty, bumpy stuff I'd say Gryazin but he also makes a lot of mistakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal yet again
Does be still? i think he’s calmed down a lot the last year or two, but maybe lost a little of his raw speed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Only Solberg is a real option out of these, for multiple reasons and tarmac is his worst surface (just check Monte again this year).
(Hopefully) he will do a full proper (and paid) WRC2 this year and finally combine speed with reliability to win it. Then he will be hot candidate for any Rally1 team next year.
Else I find it funny how people want to replace Mikkelsen after first Rally1 rally with one day of testing. Specially given last years Lappis tarmac results in same car (one good rally out of 4), not to mention Suninen and Sordo.
Read the original question. He asked for a prospect who hasn't been in WRC1. Solberg was.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Yes, he used to be a racing driver before he switched to rallying:Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
But you started racing on circuits first, why there?
Yes, the circuits were really where I started racing. In 2012, I was racing first on circuits in Finland and then I got into the German Audi TT Cup series, which is a companion series to the DTM. Then I had the opportunity to race in GT Masters with GT3 cars. But as a Finn, it was hard for me to find sponsorship support to continue. In the meantime, I also did a few rallies in Finland and Germany in 2015 and 2016, when my results improved rapidly. But the reason I was mainly driving on circuits was also because it was easier to get a permit, for which I didn't need a driving licence. In addition, from a driver's perspective, it's easier to find a job in circuit racing than in rallying, as there are more paid drivers on circuits.
Did you enjoy the circuits more than the rally?
Not really. Maybe that was another reason why I've chosen rallying. For me, rally is definitely more challenging and more varied and even if you do the same event twice, it's never the same. You have to adapt and react. Rally is definitely more fun.
How did racing on circuits help you in your later rally career?
I think the benefit to the rally was pretty big; not only on tarmac, but also on gravel. On circuits, when you're doing the same section for 200th time, you concentrate on the smallest details. You have to drive to the limit every meter of the track. In a rally, you're more focused on the overall speed throughout the rally and you don't have as much time to focus on the driving. My experience on the circuit helped me just to get the most out of the car. On tarmac, the circuit experience helps with getting the line right, but even then the rally track is a bit different.
source:
https://www.skoda-motorsport.com/en/...emil-lindholm/
Pepe Lopez? Was impressed whit him in Monte!
Is he doing some WRC2 program this year? think Croatia could be good for him also!
Amazing weekend from Oliver in Sweden. Otherwise was again exciting race for the group!
Ok, it was one of his best rallys in calendar, but this is the kind of stuff he needs to show and surely he will be back in top category.
Also wow, Hyundai seemed to struggle hard out there. Hoping for some updates there. VW seems to stopped rally2?
VW stopped with their R5 programme like 3+ years ago..?Quote:
Originally Posted by masa90
They kept producing parts, but zero updates.
Polo R5 have a 6 new homologations from 11/2023
Done by a separate company that took over the spare parts business from VW motorsport right?Quote:
Originally Posted by Racing Ka
I think Solberg owns a Polo R5 :D
Yes, Wevers SportQuote:
Originally Posted by becher
What have they updated? Anyone knows?Quote:
Originally Posted by Racing Ka
That's quite normal. Prodrive homologated modifications of Mini WRC/RRC based on Pech's own late development. Škoda homologated modifications done by Kopecký for his Fabia WRC in 2006-2007 (even though Škoda motorsport didn't officially even exist by that time). There are for sure more similar cases like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by becher
Some drivers have already swapped to other cars (like the improved Fiesta Rally2) saying it was because the Polo wasnt being developed any further !Quote:
Originally Posted by Racing Ka
I think that they completely defunct VW Motorsport department. I guess Kristoffersson's ''VW'' is not run by factory, but localy. Shame, because they were so successful in anything they enter. Still don't know why they even produced 2017 WRC car and later that R5. Think that it was not that popular at all.
After his performance on Monte last year, this year result was not so big surprise. He was planning to do WRC2 also last year, but after issues with his driving licence, he was forced to "postpone" plans. This year he is planning to do full WRC2 (7 races) and spanish championship. In WRC2, as he is more tarmac than gravel driver, his next planned start is in Croatia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvel
All of this is result of "green politics"...Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
The Astra TCR comes to mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
You have a private development and a factory development. Without going into details what exactly Wevers sport developed it makes little sense to argue about but I doubt that what they could do could be on a factory level of development at least in terms of quantity of the upgrades.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/hyund...-rally2-plans/
So Teemu again pick the shortest stick. And I really didn't believe those Rally1/Rally2 switch rumours. Now I do. Hyundai do want to have a clear direction on which car should they focus.
Chris Ingram;
I am absolutely buzzing to announce my entry into the 2024 BRC.
The BRC will provide more return on investment than competing in WRC2 as a privateer. The entire six-round British Rally Championship, which includes an ERC round, national television coverage, top class competition, is valued at the same figure as a single round of WRC2 !
My intention is to return to WRC2 stronger, for a few rounds later in the year, once we have established solid foundations for the future. There are rumours Rally2 could become the top class in the WRC which would cut costs.
I admire him for trying, but this is getting silly really. For about 4 seasons now, he abandons his season 1 or 2 rallies into it in order to prepare for the next, only to do it again next year. To me it seems like he's not prepared to take a step back to take 2 forward, but rather keeps stepping to the side/standing still. Hope this season works out for him, but I fear he has to deliver something this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
I agree it does look like that but we dont know what happens behind the scenes.Quote:
Originally Posted by TWRC
Sponsors and budget have often let him down.
And he's had a lot of bad luck with car reliability and when money is tight it's not worth continuing when nothing significant can be achieved.
Fingers crossed that he can get a good start in the BRC and see it through this year.
Considering how much he cries about other drivers' "seat time" you'd think that not achieving anything significant shouldn't be a reason to give up time behind the wheel...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Continuing just for the "seat time" would be great... but when need every penny and you are an ex-European rally champion, you have to use it to target something substantial.Quote:
Originally Posted by steve.mandzij
And those with the money can not only do as many rallies as they like, their budgets also allow for 1000s of kilometres of testing (practice). The likes of Solberg & Gryazin have a huge advantage and you cant blame Ingram for mentioning this disparity.
Seems a waste of money to pay the entry fee and then drop out after a few stages becauae the result won't be there. Plus, how long is he going to go on with the penny-pinching story now that he has "contacts in Monaco", as he said?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Anyone competing at this level can't pretend to be 'poor'.Quote:
Originally Posted by steve.mandzij
It's gotta cost around 80-100k to do a single WRC2 round.
He ain't poor, neither is his family.
And he ain't quick either.
The money is solely from hard-won sponsors. His family havent been able to fund him since his very earliest days. He's twice had to crowdfund just to continue in the sport at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
And the reason he has swapped to the BRC this year is clearly because it provides much better value for money to get the seat time he needs before attempting another WRC2 event (funds permitting).
Better to discuss about him in a BRC thread then, he is irrelevant to this topic at the moment.
Ingram may have a point re the publicity for sponsors. I believe the WRC highlights show on FTA TV in the UK doesn't show WRC2 at all.
Kajto to drive 7 WRC2 events again with the Fabia RS starting from Kenya.
I mainly posted the original info as it shows the high costs involved in WRC2 as a privateer...Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
"The BRC will provide more return on investment than competing in WRC2 as a privateer. The entire six-round British Rally Championship, which includes an ERC round, national television coverage and top class competition, is valued at the same figure as a single round of WRC2 !"
That looks awesome!Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira