there isn'tQuote:
Originally Posted by BigWorm
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there isn'tQuote:
Originally Posted by BigWorm
The severe weather situation puts me out of visiting Rally Finland this year. Me and my son have had the plans as usual since late March, but took decision yesterday evening to cancel our trip.
More important is to be close home regarding safety for rest of family staying home.
Very sad to miss the WRC event of the year. Last time I missed it was back in 2005. So twelve year in a row now broke.
I wish you all personal friends, rallyfans, average Joes spectators a fantastic rally. Be sure we will follow every minute and second on all stages. That´ll be on WRC+.
On the positive side you are going to be trapped in this forum with me and my intellectually superior comments during the rally.... Isn't life great ???Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Yes, N.O.T. that will be the upside. And I´m serious about it.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Only wait and see the intellectual sides of us when we see the outcome of the rally...
Result thoughts:
There are 4 clear candidates for the win here, 3 Toyotas and Ogier.
For Toyota anything but a win and 2 cars on podium should be considered a failure, given their drivers, their unlimited testing on same stages, performance last year here and so far this year. But things can happen, Citroen was also big favorite in Corsica this year and not a single car on podium, same with Hyundai in Germany last year or Toyota in Sweden this year.
Ford had the speed relative to Toyotas last year and both Evans and Sunninen did their best as well, so should be able to fight in top. Not quite sure about Ogier approach, he might settle for 3rd or so after Friday if Neuville struggles.
I actually rank Citroen above Hyundai here, both Breen and Østberg have done very good here in the past so 5-6th for one of them should be easy. For Østberg it depends if he can stay out of trouble.
Don't think Hyundai suddenly made the car work in Finland, doesn't look they did so much testing for it either. Neuville would try some damage control in some 6th place. Mikkelsen no idea, he has always struggled in Finland and seems to struggle with Hyundai in fast stages. Paddon is anyone's guess as well, given his last have year it's most likely crash when fighting in top or safe drive for 5-7th.
Agreed, but I wouldn’t put so much pressure or expectations on Toyota, Fords and Breen will be quick as well. Neuville will have a big struggle first on the road, seems like dry roads for Friday.
Lappi and Latvala are clear favourites IMO. Especially Latvala with his excellent starting position, and like AnttiL has said and Hirvonen says in Urheilulehti that he has been testing on some of the stages past years. Suninen should also be very fast given his result and speed last year.
Ogier hasnt had the best result the past two years and we know Hyundai doesnt like those roads and Neuville starts first. i dont even know what to expect from those two.
I also agree that Breen should be good, got his first podium here and he really likes this event and has a great starting position.
Tänak has had great speed on this event but his best finish so far is only 5th. Every year (except 2012) he has made some small stupid mistakes that have ruined his rally already on Friday. For example last year when he went little wide in the first corner of Jukojärvi stage and had a puncture.
We are leaving tomorrow morning and i really hope this year we can come back with a good result :)
There is a app released called Neste Rally Finland App 2018 (both Android and Iphone) that contains all information as well as maps. Access roads marked if not allowed to enter.
I think that Lappi will be dangerous. Good confidence from last years win and it will be interesting to see how he tackles to be "favorite"! Latvala and Tänak will also be dangerous!
The Hyundai's I am not sure about? Starting position for Thierry looks difficult. And if Andreas and Haydon can keep out of trouble they might be in the top. But often they do some mistakes.
Ford's I think Sunninen has the best chances. He did well last year and should have good confidence and more experience this year. Also remember that there is less pressure on him. Ogier seems not to do well in Finland?
I think Breen can be on the podium, would be great for him and Citroen since they need some good results after all turbulence! Östberg seems to be candidate for pos 4-6?
It looks interesting and lets hope that it will be an open fight until the last meters of the power stage!!!
We are driving to Stockholm in a few hours to spend the night there and take the ferry tomorrow morning!
I would partly agree with you, however minor corrections arised to me: Toyota (Lappi & JML) are still favourits, but this season's results are not so brilliant (except one victory and two second places, all achived by Tanak, who doesn't count as a distinctive favorite on this event), so other drivers have wider opend doors for a possible victory.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Ogier is defenitely one of them, but in the case that Neuville will not bew able to challenge him due to speed or technical troubles, he can very soon settle ''just'' for a podium place. If Ogier makes same stupidity as last year, championship dreams Nb.6 are over. So, still not an easy event for him.
Suninen can chllenge for some stage wins, but to bring Fiesta with this speed to the finish line-mission impossible. Same goes for Evans.
Breen & Ostberg: C3 is the most fragile car, I simply do not see them as a winner contender.
Neuville: I do not know, what to predict for him...last year performance was disgraceful. I hope (although I'm Ogier's fan) that he is going to finish in top3. But first day (sweeping) is going to cost him precious time....
Paddon-if he finishes under top5, he can be happy.
Also remember that Tänak and Lappi start 3rd and 4th. Latvala, Breen and Suninen are 7th, 8th and 10th
Also, concerning the M-Sport crews, hard to pick a favourite. Ogier may not have good results in the last two years and has a bad starting position, but he is strong everywhere. Suninen might have a good starting position and is fast in Finland, but inexperienced and prone to errors. And Evans...well, you can't argue that he was second last year, but this year he has struggled a lot, and how much DMacks helped him last year? Also, would they set team orders if the other drivers would be infront of Ogier
Pickems? Someone?
So, time to go to Finland !
Arriving tomorrow, hope i meet some of the forum-people.
To recognize me, Me usually have some Tidemand t-shirt and Pirell-cap on me =)
I'll be attending some stages, but wonder do you have to be strictly to the spectator areas?
For example here - https://i.imgur.com/XvEvuzZ.png
Green are where spectator areas are, could I walk along (well in advance, of course) the road (or through forest) to the red arrows?
You are allowed to walk on the stage until 30min before it starts. But be careful for the first safety cars. If you are standing on a safe place and it's ok for marshalls, no problem.
Great, thanks! I plan to be there an hour before so that's good. I've been to many stages before but only stayed to spectator areas. It looks a very fast straight bit of road I want to go to, so we'll be good back from the road in a safe place I reckon. Just wasnt sure if it's allowed, but on on board you often see people in random places and I always wondered how the get thereQuote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
Why would you want to spectate a 900 m straight? Also, that particular section is between two fields. Remember that you are not allowed to walk on a field which hasn't been harvestedQuote:
Originally Posted by eewrqt
But in general, use common sense and be in advance, you can spectate pretty much wherever you want, as long as it's safe, not private property and not destroying tree plants / crops etc.
Not sure if mentioned here but at least Apple App Store has a Neste Rally Finland 2018 app which has all spectator instructions for free
speeeeeedQuote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I'll see enough corners elsewhere
Just go to the following junction, you’ll see the whole straight plus a spectacular hairpinQuote:
Originally Posted by eewrqt
Won't it be absolutely packed?Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
We're trying to avoid really busy places too (hence my question about if you can walk down the road a bit). It's just better in our opinion with less people there. A reason I avoid Harju stage.
On that point, I saw your great post a few days ago about best places to go on stages on Friday.. You seem experienced about the stages and places for spectators.. can I ask where you think are (or could be) good but also quiet? The fewer people there the better. We can walk if we have to!
We found this place in 2016 on Horkka stage and it was really great
I don't want to start recommending unofficial places. They could be private property or otherwise forbidden.
Actually on topic, here's fresh pictures from Oittila
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di4RKjAXoAARr_m.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di4RM-IWwAA9ok7.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di4ROkBW4AACagm.jpg
https://twitter.com/HartusvuoriWRC/s...73178127958017
The two first pictures are from the small road (the first 8 km), before the straight on the third picture. I would go for that small road to see something special.
But that third picture place from the straight and the junction seems great. I don't think it will be "absolutely packed" as it's Friday and the stage is run only once and it's not even the most easy junction to access (it requires a bit of walking).
But I'm quite sure if you start walking down that field on the straight, the marshals are going to get you. They don't want to be responsible for your actions near the cars, with official spectator zones so nearby.
Thanks, I just had a look and think I've spotted a great place just out of shot on this pic. Will definitely check it out and not bother with the straight.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I didn't necessarily mean 'unofficial' places, just places where there aren't usually so many people for whatever reason
Just finished all Day 2 stages, + Oittila, extremely loose, and Oittila, unusually rough (some places) and loose. I must say that with new sections in stages, day 2 caharcetristics are 95% similar to Rally Estonia. Drove also those stages, and here I had very similar feeling.Quote:
Originally Posted by eewrqt
Second sounds like Oittila, first is Moksi?Quote:
Originally Posted by bluuford
I'm listening to this two hour special on Finnish radio. They talk about dust being a big issue this year and also the roads could wear more because it has been so dry. Some roads wear more with wet conditions, some more with dry.
Kakaristo and Oittila, both very loose, some sections of Pihlajankoski and Päjällä also. And yes, some places my car was hitting the bottom already in Oittila, some sections in this stage were already softer than Rally Estonia stages after second pass, steep uphills in Oittila are quite bad for normal car:)Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I do not think dust is so big issue. Compared to South European rallies, I was able to see everything from my mirrors ;)
Yeah, more of an issue for spectators than competitors. More than usually, probably less than South European rallies
Any Forum members in Service or near Hotel Alba?Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di4UNp8W0AEFzpC.jpg
Double junction at Ässämäki. A nice place to spectate as well.
More interesting talk from the radio special. In this heat, maybe hard tyres could be a good option, whereas traditionally everyone uses only softs in Finland.
First fast junction to the left in SS13, 400 m from start is nice, its is well hidden behind the crest, you can see road going straight but it actually turns left... I almost missed it ;)
No problem, the drivers already did it last yearQuote:
Originally Posted by bluuford
Another bit of information is that the small road on the Kakaristo stage after the Kakaristo area (Pitkäjärventie) will be closed already on Friday and you cannot go camping there.
Non starters for VETOMIES:
265 Koljonen
267 Rytkönen
272 Korpiaho
Current forecast shows an all-dry, all warm rally. Even the rains from Sunday have disappeared.
Ruuhimäki flying finish, also for the whole rally.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di8wVRyXoAIic7U.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di8wWB5WwAIIh9f.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di8wX81XgAAL2RP.jpg
https://twitter.com/HartusvuoriWRC/s...88849357524995
Yesterday's radio special also mentioned that its modeled after the yellow house jump, although the organizers haven't mentioned it officially.
It looks quite a bit better with the livery on.
Arrived well and safe in Finland. Already got the rally feeling on the plane cause Mattias Adielsson was on the same flight :). Now looking forward to tomorrow, I think we've found a good spot for the Shakedown.
Any talk of needing to run at three minute intervals instead of two?Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL