Yes, wonder what happened to the Sweden WRT? Didn't they have a 3 yr plan to deliver Sweden's first WRC champion since Stig Blomqvist ?
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Yes, wonder what happened to the Sweden WRT? Didn't they have a 3 yr plan to deliver Sweden's first WRC champion since Stig Blomqvist ?
Loeb is a fantastic driver and a worthy champion but let's not forget he is at the pinnacle of a major investment project over 10 years which has left other drivers attempting to compete with one hand tied behind their backs, especially in the ability to fund continuous incremental improvementQuote:
Originally Posted by Prisoner Monkeys
I don't think German companies take big risks, they look to be meticulously planning how to beat Citroen. I don't buy the stories of how the Polo isn't performing to the required standard yet. I would not be surprised if they have not allowed anyone to see how they run in optimum set up. They have been comparing settings, driving styles etc and have so much more analysis available to them than either M-Sport or Prodrive could afford. This is the first truly works competition that Citroen will have faced. I think with Ogier (best motivated driver they could have) they are hoping to beat Citroen / Loeb fair and squareQuote:
Sure, there are other teams competing, but they're established. I'm talking about start-up projects. Volkswagen are taking a huge risk, but I think they know Loeb won't be around forever, and if they spend time developing their cars, they'll be ideally-positioned to take advantage of the inevitable power vaccuum.
I'd have said quarter-assed -very difficult for a private developer to run a team when expected funding doesn't materialise - Possibly Dodgy Dave was overly-optimistic regarding BMW support for what is clearly his project but I hope the Bavarians look at Wolfsburg with envious eyes next year and provide the necessary funds / facilities for the Mini to be competitiveQuote:
And while Mini are in their second year of competition, they've been pretty half-assed about it. Their attitude reminds me of the manufacturers who used to do half-season campaigns and talk about a full entry the next year, but then they would lose interest.
Or they may take the view that VW have such a head start that it isn't worth trying to compete - Seb Ogier 1 more championship than Loeb being the quest, I fully expect that will be the long term plan!Quote:
If Loeb retires, then the championship will be blown wide open, and that will make things very appealing to new manufacturers. They will have the opportunity to carve out a niche for themselves.
Done a Go Fast on us maybe. I can only think that they are waiting for BMW to make up their minds about doing WRC or DTM (why not do both?)Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
DTM or WRC is not really a choice that BMW need to make, because they've made their decision already. BMW are doing DTM, and they certainly will be doing it in the nearest future. The question is: are they willing to spend some leftover money on WRC?Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
If that's the case, I don't know what is stopping them from becoming a customer team to one of the other manufacturers. If they want Sweden's first champion since Blomqvist, then nominating to run a Mini was probably the worst decisions they could have made. The car is certainly being developed, but the problem is that everyone else is developing faster than they are. If they were dead serious about it, they'd side with Volkswagen and run a customer team for Sandell and Andersson.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
They spent the money that they had planned. The problem was Prodrive that didn't found the promised budget to fund part of 2012 season.Quote:
Originally Posted by kober
As BMW entered with Mini on the WRC with a lack of confidence on the project (it was a favour from BMW no Mini guys...), when the things went bad they simply abandoned it and stoped working on a solution.
Chris Atkinson will use the Mini 01A in Wales? MI will return to the old car?
Because they had no time to change the tarmac car to gravel specs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
My guess is that we will only see the MI 01B again this year in France. I suspect they will use the old version again in Spain.
where did you read that?Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
:D Funny. Wasn't last year the first leg on gravel? And when teams have two cars per driver - one gravel, one tarmac, which one they use in Catalunya?Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
No two cars per driver, just one car like always, friday night they put the asphalt setting on the car for the rest of the weekend..
Now you understand how this team works
Portuguese AutosportQuote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
Are we to interpret this as a good or bad sign? (ie does not using the 01B in GB mean they are short of cash or just smart operators on a budget?)
In other news Meeke is still trying to get a foothold in the WRC again:
World Rally Championship - News - Politician Meeke wants WRC return
I only think that all MINI Rally project is a joke. MSI is a funny thing too ;)
Armindo will be back in 2013, he have contract with MINI until 2012 (He said: I have contract with MINI until 31st December 2012. Inside and outside the car i defend MINI) MINI Portugal is alongside him.
Armindo Araújo de regresso em 2013 | Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=484480774904878
Long time since they've been any good signs coming out of Prodrive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
I've noticed that Sordo and Yvan Muller have been confirmed for Prodrive for Rallye d'Alsace. How many Mini WRC do Prodrive have available currently? Also Porsche's factory driver Romain Dumas will start in the rally in a Automeca prepared Mini WRC - what's the history of the car?
Sandell did the recce of Wales with Motorsport Italia. Do I take it that they will be his partners now??
Wasn't it because of the Sweden WRT plan?Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
By the way, Paulo Nobre felt ill before recce started and he said that he nominated Sandell as the one to drive in his place if he hadn't conditions to do it.
Colin with Atko
what did he answered at 1,53 about lc?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNbm22MfPUQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
There is launch control on the car but it's quite easy to start without it so he a did a 'normal' start, if I understood correct :p
"there is launch control, but it's easy to start without it so I'll do that"
thanks mates!
Each time Colin has done a ride along, he has his belts incorrect for the HANS device. This one was better than her proton video but still scary
Unlike the previous generation cars this is not a proper LC. Since the car has no hydraulics and no active diffs there is nothing to lock or to drive automatically in my opinion. I think that it's just an adjustable rpm limitation for better traction on startline like it is used in some S1600 or S2000 cars (works Škodas use it only on loose surface, otherwise they start from redline; some privateers use it also on asphalt to save driveshafts).Quote:
Originally Posted by mousti
isn´t that button on the handbrake? i have something like this in mind...
looks like it here also:
http://72.img.v4.skyrock.net/8130/49...31_small_2.jpg
In the last issue of “Vauhdin Maailma” was an article where few reporters got a change to drive the Fiesta WRC on M-Sport’s test track.
At least the Finnish reporter was not used to clutch and he wrote:
“Latvala sitting in the co-driver seat kept conscientiously pressing the startbutton at least 10 times to get the engine running again”. :D
a proper LC in a turbocharged car has to build also pressure from turbo,not just the revs.At evos we use to have 0,5-0,7 bar stationary at 4500rpm.If you dont have pressure but only revs mostly you will stall at start in an asphalt dry road.
Of course LC in a normal transmission is not the better thing you can do in a 1500kg 4wdrive with sticky tyres.
we heard from Citroen, peugeot, hyundai........
anything from the MINI camp? or............who cares now
Peugeot an Hyundai were unveiling new cars.
As for Citroen, they're a French manufacturer, and the Paris Motor Show is in France, so it's natural for them to want to use it as a platform.
I wouldn't go reading too much into Mini not really doing or saying anything there.
Actually it would be better with more manufacturers, so it is not meaningless. Unfortunately though I don't see anything happening in that direction, probably it is dead project.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leon
How long is Sordo contract?
It is a two year contract, which ends this season. Too long after what happened...Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
Tomi Tuominen is claiming in his blog that "Mini will come back in a notably stronger way about in a year".
"I have certain inside information if that's how you want it to be called. Mini is constantly working behind the scenes and this current situation is quite understandable, it involves certain contract issues, etc. Things can always change, but at the moment this is how things are."
Perhaps BMW motorsport would give the project more support if they went for R5 and got more volume into the project?
BMW are not losers. They don't give money for nothing. DTM has much more publicity and that's why they invest there. End of story.