What will the Solberg Brothers do in 09 ?

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27th January 2009, 09:38
Rally Hokkaido

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viking

Petter will run his own team based in France and François-Xavier Demaison will as I understand be chief engineer.

Thanks for this news. It's as I expected. Petter has planned his 2009 season very carefully. Unlike all the customer drivers mentioned in the above posts, he will not be relying on the condition of the supplied car nor the level of preparation by any contracted team. He is building his own team to avoid these uncertainties. And his choice of FX as chief engineer is an excellent start!
27th January 2009, 09:54
noel157

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viking

Petter will run his own team based in France and François-Xavier Demaison will as I understand be chief engineer.

With that news can we assume that the Xsara will be replaced with a C4 as the season progresses?
27th January 2009, 10:04
Barreis

Citroen should pay him if they want him in c4..
27th January 2009, 11:01
Tom206wrc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viking

Petter will run his own team based in France and François-Xavier Demaison will as I understand be chief engineer.

If his team is based in France, I don't see him running in any Focus(old or recent spec.)during season as there are none in that country :s
27th January 2009, 13:32
Finni

Quote:

Originally Posted by swordsman

Sorry guys, I just don't believe the Xsara will be very much on pace. Of course I hope I'm wrong. Probably I'll be totally right or totally wrong, since Petter doesn't have much to lose and just can go flat out to challenge :) Fun for spectators - as well as him, for sure! :)

Last time when Xsara was in the hands of Loeb it was pretty fast, year 2006. C4 was at best marginal improvement. Realistically, neither Ford nor Citroen has not done any noticeable improvement since the time when Xsara was competitive. We can maybe speak about 0.05-0.1 sec/km improvement since then. I would say that in the hands of Loeb Xsara would be still winner car. Also in 2007 Duval beated Grönholm with it. When Duval stepped up to Ford he was not at all better.
27th January 2009, 13:37
Finni

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom206wrc

I don't believe the Sub(even S14) is superior to the old Citroën when both equally driven... :rolleyes:

What "even S14". S14 was slower than previous model and all previous models from years 2006-2007 were slower than 2004 and 2005 Imprezas. Those old Imprezas could be near to 2006 year Xsara because with them Petter was able parallel Marcus in his last Pug years. And Pug was still very fast 2006 with mediocre drivers.
27th January 2009, 13:40
Tomi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

Got to love the good old "They gave me a crap car" argument don't you Tomi? :D

Sure, it will be fun, migh come some amusing changing setting stuff while the car is at park ferme as well :)
27th January 2009, 14:06
Xsara Fan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finni

Last time when Xsara was in the hands of Loeb it was pretty fast, year 2006. C4 was at best marginal improvement. Realistically, neither Ford nor Citroen has not done any noticeable improvement since the time when Xsara was competitive. We can maybe speak about 0.05-0.1 sec/km improvement since then. I would say that in the hands of Loeb Xsara would be still winner car. Also in 2007 Duval beated Grönholm with it. When Duval stepped up to Ford he was not at all better.

I talk about 'C4 WRC vs Xsara WRC' comparison with PH-Sport guys. They tell me (with smile): "It`s absolutely the same cars with different bodyshells".
27th January 2009, 14:20
swordsman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finni

Last time when Xsara was in the hands of Loeb it was pretty fast, year 2006. C4 was at best marginal improvement. Realistically, neither Ford nor Citroen has not done any noticeable improvement since the time when Xsara was competitive. We can maybe speak about 0.05-0.1 sec/km improvement since then. I would say that in the hands of Loeb Xsara would be still winner car. Also in 2007 Duval beated Grönholm with it. When Duval stepped up to Ford he was not at all better.

Sure it was, true - and of course it CAN be fast. But - even if some people here doesn't believe it - I talked to Kronos/Citroen mechanics several times during the 2007 season and got the info the parts were not even close to the same for Stohl as for Duval or Loeb in 06. That's just what they said, but of course they may have lied :)
27th January 2009, 14:23
A.F.F.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RS

As I recall, Tuohino was whingeing about that Xsara at the time so Tomi's post somewhat puzzled me.

That was also some years ago, so I suspect the top cars are a fair bit quicker than the Xsara now.

That was at NORF. The car and the whole rally was a struggle for Tuohino.

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