[WRC] News & rumours (part II)

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Originally Posted by tommeke_B

Proton should make a fast and reliable car first, before thinking about the WRC ;) . They finish in only few IRC events, and WRC events are even more demanding for the technique of the car...

@Plan9, I'm wondering what Ken Block is doing in your list (in signature)? :D

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That a good point about Proton. But as you may know that Proton is not know for making sound financial decisions when it comes to motorsport. They own Lotus and are entering more formula's of motorsport than I have ever know a company do before!

I though I should include him as I wanted to have at least one amateur on my list. I also think that his videos are neat; but heaven forbid I become like one of the clowns of Youtube who post comment under each video asking him when he will go back to "Sibirooo"!!!!!!!!!!!!! =p

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Originally Posted by Plan9

Will the IRC drivers be allowed to use the cars they use in the IRC or will they be obliged to make some other arrangements?

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Hi P9
First we need to see who is in WRC cars next year and who is actually doing the SWRC. SWRC is for S2000 cars so cars used in IRC are legal without modification (except maybe control tyres). What will stop some IRC guys entering the Monte is car preservation as they will have a limited budget to do IRC and doing Monte in addition may prove too expensive. However, if Bouffier and Sarrazin aren't in WRC or SWRC cars (or some other French guys) I could easily see them entering as well as the VW team Fabias who despite being S2000 cars may not be contesting the SWRC series.
The order of the IRC 2012 events has not yet been announced. According to rumors, the new season starts in March and the first race will be the Rally of Scotland so there would be enough time to repair damaged cars. Big questions are where will Hanninen, Tanak and Paddon be in 2012. Neuville may also take a step up but that's about it for IRC competitors going SWRC. I get the feeling it could be the best field of WRC cars yet.

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Originally Posted by Mintexmemory

Hi P9
First we need to see who is in WRC cars next year and who is actually doing the SWRC. SWRC is for S2000 cars so cars used in IRC are legal without modification (except maybe control tyres). What will stop some IRC guys entering the Monte is car preservation as they will have a limited budget to do IRC and doing Monte in addition may prove too expensive. However, if Bouffier and Sarrazin aren't in WRC or SWRC cars (or some other French guys) I could easily see them entering as well as the VW team Fabias who despite being S2000 cars may not be contesting the SWRC series.
The order of the IRC 2012 events has not yet been announced. According to rumors, the new season starts in March and the first race will be the Rally of Scotland so there would be enough time to repair damaged cars. Big questions are where will Hanninen, Tanak and Paddon be in 2012. Neuville may also take a step up but that's about it for IRC competitors going SWRC. I get the feeling it could be the best field of WRC cars yet.

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Wow that is really cool. I was unaware that there were major differences between IRC and SWRC specification. I read an interview with Hanninen and he said that the SWRC Fabia was slower than his IRC whip (how is this possible? what are the major differences between IRC and WRC specification? Where did you get this info?)

I didn't know that Bouffier and Sarrazin were in consideration for anything in the WRC!!! I'm sure that we will see a lot more of Hanninen and Tanak in the WRC but I am holding onto the champagne as far as Paddon is concerned. I'm not sure if Wilks and Loix will be under as much scrutiny as the other drivers I have mentioned unfortunately =(

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Originally Posted by Plan9

I didn't know that Bouffier and Sarrazin were in consideration for anything in the WRC!!!

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I don't think that's what he meant, just that these 2 love the Monte so may get a one-off drive for someone. I'd love to see Sarrazin in a WRC car in Monte - I'd say he'd be odds-on for a podium as he has shown incredible pace there in the last few years, especially on the Turini if I remember well.

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Originally Posted by Plan9

I read an interview with Hanninen and he said that the SWRC Fabia was slower than his IRC whip (how is this possible? what are the major differences between IRC and WRC specification? Where did you get this info?)

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Control tyres and control fuel make it slower. The car is otherwise same.

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Originally Posted by pettersolberg29

I don't think that's what he meant, just that these 2 love the Monte so may get a one-off drive for someone. I'd love to see Sarrazin in a WRC car in Monte - I'd say he'd be odds-on for a podium as he has shown incredible pace there in the last few years, especially on the Turini if I remember well.

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I guess that Sarrazin or Bouffier may be send by Peugeot as guest SWRC entry.

Thanks to PS29 and Mirek they clarified what I was trying to say. Bouffier and Sarrazin have shown such good pace over the Monte stages (which as far as I can see will be very similar if not identical to the last few runs) that it's a no-brainer to give them a guest car. Bouffier to see how close he is to WRC pace and Sarrazin for the publicity (they love him as much as Asterix in Gaullish land :) ) I think that the Monte is such a special event that I wouldn't rule out Mini running a guest just for the one rally. We Brits would go apes**t to see a Mini up front on the Monte (German money maybe but built in Oxford and to correct previous misconceptions Kris M IS British (UK passport), from Northern Ireland; which if you describe him with more exact ethnicity makes him an Ulsterman, equivalent to Welsh, Scots and English. Paul Nagle comes from the Republic and is Irish. There are people living in Northern Ireland who don't consider themselves to be British and wouldn't be seen dead driving a car painted with a Union Flag - Kris isn't one of them. Social Geography lesson over ;) )

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Originally Posted by Mintexmemory

Hi P9
First we need to see who is in WRC cars next year and who is actually doing the SWRC. SWRC is for S2000 cars so cars used in IRC are legal without modification (except maybe control tyres). What will stop some IRC guys entering the Monte is car preservation as they will have a limited budget to do IRC and doing Monte in addition may prove too expensive. However, if Bouffier and Sarrazin aren't in WRC or SWRC cars (or some other French guys) I could easily see them entering as well as the VW team Fabias who despite being S2000 cars may not be contesting the SWRC series.
The order of the IRC 2012 events has not yet been announced. According to rumors, the new season starts in March and the first race will be the Rally of Scotland so there would be enough time to repair damaged cars. Big questions are where will Hanninen, Tanak and Paddon be in 2012. Neuville may also take a step up but that's about it for IRC competitors going SWRC. I get the feeling it could be the best field of WRC cars yet.

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Sarrazin for VW ??? C'mon that's impossible he's one of the best pilots for Peugeot in Monte he's always fast without any rhythm but offcourse he's one of the captains for the LMES and Le Mans program! So he in a Fabia for VW no way :D , will probably never go to the rival team if the program stays like it is now for PSA

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Originally Posted by Plan9

I read an interview with Hanninen and he said that the SWRC Fabia was slower than his IRC whip (how is this possible? what are the major differences between IRC and WRC specification? Where did you get this info?)

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Specifications are the same, S2000 is an international formula. The reason why Hanninen has a better car for IRC is that Skoda as a company are more commited to the IRC, and therefore put their resources to that. Second tier in the WRC isn't really an option, which is why Hanninen only really has a semi-works car in the SWRC.

I would think a few of the IRC boys could make the trip to Monte Carlo, either in their S2000 current machinery, or some of the richer,gentlemen drivers might lease WRC cars. I agree that Bryan Bouffier and Stephane Sarrazin would be highly likely starters. Sarrazin loves the Monte so he could turn up in anything, though more than likely something from PSA (207 S2000 or DS3). Bouffier the same. We might also see some others like Gardemeister who has some money, Mikkelson and Neuville.

I reckon quite a few of the IRC crews would be snapped up for the role of ice-noting for the WRC boys if they will allow this again in the WRC just for this rally.

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Originally Posted by mousti

Sarrazin for VW ??? C'mon that's impossible he's one of the best pilots for Peugeot in Monte he's always fast without any rhythm but offcourse he's one of the captains for the LMES and Le Mans program! So he in a Fabia for VW no way :D , will probably never go to the rival team if the program stays like it is now for PSA

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You've mis-read the post I said "I could easily see them (Bouffier and Sarrazin) entering AS WELL AS (in addition to) the VW team Fabias" not - IN a VW team Fabia. C'mon keep up, this seems like a wilful Benelux attempt to be Hellenic!!!!

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Originally Posted by Mitch555

Specifications are the same, S2000 is an international formula. The reason why Hanninen has a better car for IRC is that Skoda as a company are more commited to the IRC, and therefore put their resources to that. Second tier in the WRC isn't really an option, which is why Hanninen only really has a semi-works car in the SWRC.

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You're not right. Hänninen's car in SWRC despite being in RedBull colors is a works one. Even his mechanics are works. Only the car of Gassner is a BRR one. The reason why his SWRC car is slower is what I already posted. There is different control fuel plus different control tyres than in IRC. Both the fuel and tyres are worse in performance compared to those they use in IRC and for which Fabia was optimized in development.