The special thing with the two brothers is that all generatons know who they are and what they do.Quote:
Originally Posted by skarderud
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The special thing with the two brothers is that all generatons know who they are and what they do.Quote:
Originally Posted by skarderud
It's not that they're "clueless" at all. It's that they're just not interested in the sport, and they're perfectly entitled to not be interested.Quote:
Originally Posted by grugsticles
As a fan of rallying (NB: Not 'rally') I wan't to see a close competition in each rally (NB: event name only , English grammar nazi lesson over ;) ). If I were a driver looking to depose the 8 times king (competition enough for anyone) I'd wan't one less guy who is likely to take points from me on the events when he gets in the zone (unless he is always required contractually to give up position).Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
I can't see Petter signing such a contract. BTW given how little competition Loeb has had in his own team, is he a 'true' champ? - I think he is.
These companies change their recipes, due to local laws :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpha
Coca Cola does it too.
I know also that Henning is a big star in the talk shows...Quote:
Originally Posted by Micke_VOC
How we put up? God only knows... I'm fed up with it and many others are too. Many polls had a more liberal government alternative in chance of taking control for the past year, but the terrorist attacks of July 22nd sent many voters back to the socialist party that was the center of the attack. The next national election is in 2013 though and I believe we'll get a more liberal government then. Norway may be at the top of the UNs HDI ranking, basically making it the best country in the world. Sounds good? Well it is, but it's not without problems. High taxes makes many things extremely expensive in Norway:Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
Remember that 2002 model Mercedes CL 600 that Clarkson bought in an episode of Top Gear? That exact same car would cost 7(!!) -SEVEN- times more in Norway than in the UK. My 1998 Porsche 911 cost me the equivalent of 74000 dollars (Australian or American, they're about the same). If I import a brand new Commodore SS from Australia for it's dealer price of 42000 aud (I don't have to pay Australias 10% GST so I only pay 38000 aud for the car itself), it will cost me about 190300 aud with Norwegian plates. 9500 aud is value added tax, the rest (180800 aud) is taxes. They are calculated by how much it weighs (heavier = more expensive), how much CO2 it produces (more = more expensive) and how much horsepower it's got (more = more expensive).
All those taxes would make life pretty sweet in Norway? Both yes and no. We currently have almost the lowest road-standard in Europe, even Albania beats us. I have to replace the lower lip on my car about once a year. Potholes and other road defects beat it to pieces. Various government agencies have been re-organized the last couple of years and most ended in disaster, especially with regards to healtcare, care for the elderly and labour & welfare administration. Schools are literally falling apart and even our enormous vault of oil-related income is threatened by our long-term benefits obligations and coming elderly-boom. Oslo (our capitol) has been struggling with a recent rampage in assault rapes and drug-related crimes. Every assault rape the past couple of years have been committed by immigrants, mostly from Africa or the middle east. Some say thanks to a very liberal immigration policy. In addition, gangs of thieves from eastern Europe has also seen Norway as a popular target. With mild punishment when caught and prisons with comfort levels like cheap hotels I can understand why.
We've been a bit too naive I guess, and I hope that while things are bound to change, we still try to be open, welcoming and know for our hospitality and kindness.
As regards to the oil reserves, the current socialist government has around three times more money to spend than the previous liberal one, due to increases in oil-related income. But even with those insane amounts they still aren't able to reduce the drag in maintenance or long cues in the healthcare system. Unemployment is low though, and most can be attributed to hiring an enormous amount of people into the public sector. Norways bureaucracy is bigger than Sweden even though we have half the population and less land mass. Running that is expensive and we have a lot of fat to trim when we finally get liberals at the helm.
The Solberg brothers is a popular pair in Norway as they are in the rest of the world. They were spearheaded into the nations hearts with Petters WRC win in 2003 and has stayed there since. They are good at selling themselves and generally well-liked. National newspapers doesn't write much about their results though. Whole WRC rounds can go by unmentioned unless they crash and burn or finish days on the podium. As someone else mentioned, Petter is good at selling "his" brand and Citroens magnificent 40% sales bump is impressive. They weren't very popular in Norway before Petter got his C4 though so they had a lot of potential: The most-selling car in Norway in 2009 was the VW Golf, followed by the Toyota Avensis and the Ford Mondeo. Citroen wasn't in the top 20.
In september this year the Golf was still on top, followed by the Mitusbishi ASX and the VW Passat. Citroen still wasn't in the top 15 on that list. For manufacturers, by september this year, sorted by sales: Volkswagen, Toyota, Ford, Volvo, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Audi, Skoda, BMW, Nissan. Citroen isn't in the top 10.
Wow, I am so sorry to hear that. Cars are actually not subject to as much taxation in NZ funnily enough. In NZ our previous socialist government had a phobia about maintaining roads as well. I think it is something about them that sends trembles of fear down their spines. Its public owned transport or virtually nothing down here as far as Labour are concerned.
I thought that Sweden was attempting do deregulate? NZ did this in the 1980s-1990s but since 1996 we have be on the very gradual decline that doesn't seem to be stopping.
I am sorry to hear that the justice system is so ****ed over there. Again we have similar complaints here too.
On Petter and Henning, I have always admired their entrepreneurial spirit and I think that they were a good example of success in very difficult times. Their positive, up-beat manner is also very refreshing!
Options are narrowing down: It is Ford or nothing !
http://www.norsk-rally.com/component...er-i-2012.jpeg
Worse choice.
Do we have the text of the article ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
He must have got fed up with Quesnel :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Or it's just too expensive option.
If Mr. Wilson rejects solberg and his son gets a drive for 2012 the question should be...
" as a team manager wouldn't be more beneficial for the whole team to have Solberg as No1-2 in the official team using his sons budget?? "
A latvala Solberg team i think can be on par with Loeb/Hirvonen one, at least it will not be far worse than last years latvala/hirvonen lineup.
Opening paragraph says - "Petter Solberg says he will quit WRC if he can't secure a works drive with Ford for next season. the 2003 champion has been forced to run in a private Citroen for the last 3 years but has struggled to compete with the factory outfits. Solberg says he wont run his own team next year. He told Motorsport News Ford is my only chance to continue in the sport. I don't want to do a privateer team any more" The article goes on to say Petter said there is no chance to do a team with my brother, its only a factory team - or nothing. However, later on in the story Ken Rees seemed to think a Petter and Henning Norwegian team could happen. That's a brief summary of the front page and page 2 and 3 of Motorsport News.
I thought he already confirmed that Citroën is out for next year for him. And seems VW negotiatons if they ever existed went nowhere than.
Do you mean his frustrating campaign behind the wheel of the privateer (little illegal) Citroen car?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
personally i think they only existed as a privateer once more....Quote:
Originally Posted by mousti
Or maybe the other way roundQuote:
Originally Posted by tfp
I'd say Things don't look good for Solberg at Ford/M-Sport factory. In an interview today Jari-matti said that he will be the number 1 driver and most likely his team mate doesn't have much experience. Its like 2 min into the interview.
Here: Jari-Matti Latvala on Ford, his Future & Holiday Shopping
So Tanak No 2?
I mean exactly what I wrote.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobcat
So what was illegal about the car?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobcat
Interesting interview. I think WRC without Petter would be less exciting.Quote:
Originally Posted by TyPat107
Of course it is the Citröen. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by noel157
http://www.motorsportforums.com/wrc/...tml#post988947Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
As I said before, JML has a contract and having Petter as No2 will not figure in the agreement, it never could.
Petter has told Motorsport News that it is a Ford drive or nothing for him next year and that he will not be a privateer.
I so hope we dont lose him from the championship :(
Here you can download the latest issue of Motorsport News in order to read Solberg's interview: MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service
I think it is illegal to post such links if the magazine is not free to read on the web...if it is then thank you. But otherwise the forum might have legal problems with copyright stuff.
Is Petter Solberg's Pikes Peak C4 eligible for European Rallycross or will Petter have to borrow a rallycross Ford Fiesta ?
IF,( and its by far not certain that Petter isnt in wrc) and he goes to to rallyx, I bet it will be a top spec car.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeakiwi
Maybe it's nothing, but Ken Rees just posted a pic on FB of Petter's press manager Tone with a Mini engineer saying "Employed today"
Petter in a mini??Quote:
Originally Posted by SubaruNorway
Does DR want to keep Petter in the WRC ?
Does DR think BMW will kick in some money if Petter increases Mini sales in Norway?Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeakiwi
I'd be surprised if this was the case. Petter has burned his bridges with Dave, maybe worse than with Malcolm. Hopefully Petter's work ethic will save his arse like it did in 2009.
DR only wants money. In 2004 he could have C.McRae and he chose Hirvonen instead.
I'm sure that wasn't entirely the case - wasn't it Joukhi went direct to Subaru, rather than Prodrive...???Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
Yes it was that way, and some have said it was the beginning of the lack of trust between Prodrive and Subaru that spiralled into the downturn in relationship between the two parties. DR had to put on his best lying face when welcoming Mikko as it was Colin he really wanted.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
What hapenned exactly? I wonder if DR and Ken rees are friends or enemys?Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9