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No luck again for the top Fords of Ostberg and Novikov.
Ford need to keep the faith with these guys as they have the raw speed, and especially Ostberg, the ability and consistency.
I think only Ford can challenge VW as Mikko & Sordo dont seem to believe they can win for Citroen anymore.
JML will never be champion. He makes too many mistakes is far too mentally weak to be one.Quote:
Originally Posted by faateris
Hirvonen will never be champion, he is not fast enough and relies on team orders and other people mistakes too much.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allyc85
Just back home after taking my dear ol Mum out for afternoon tea, and what do I find an epidemic of knee jerk reactions! Maybe some counselling is required! I have always said a) that VW would show a level of planning that would make previous standards look second rate. b) that Citroen were the first team to sign joint No 2s and c) That to dismiss JML, when he has proven to be Ogier's equal for speed in the past, is slightly premature. I expect Portugal to be a big fight for VW supremacy with no team favourite BS (YET)
Its not bad luck for ford, they are not competing in the WRC - it is M-Sports poorly designed cars being run on a budget that causes their repeated parts failures.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
M-Sport dont have any faith in their drivers, they only have faith in the money they bring.
M-Sport will not challenge VW because they do not have the money to develop their car or the drivers to develop it for them
It is nice to hear different opinions, but when the opinions are taken from the cosmic dust hanging around our heads and minimal knowledge on the sport is interpreted as the ultimate knowledge on how to create machine that never stops and never requires any fuel then it is not nice, interesting, funny etc. It is just lame.
So Msport are developing the new engine upgrade for free? Bargain!
20 smackers says he will be before 2020 ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Allyc85
It's amazing that he even won the last stage of the rally (SS23 Super Special 5) when he only needed to drive it as a tourist driver.Quote:
Originally Posted by WRC1
Or was he riding a mountain bike? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by eestlane
So, answering my own pre-rally topics:Quote:
Originally Posted by MAXLD
- Ogier destroyed once again. VW modest comments and expectations went down the drain for good. With this type of commitment and pace by him, they are clearly the top contenders for the tittle in their first year and I don't think they'll have a very hard time to do it.
- Ostberg surely had some good pace, but unfortunately the car let him down. Neuville was very good and he can go faster if he pushes a bit more (I would encourage him more if I was Malcolm). Sordo, quite a disappointment... but to be honest I wasn't expecting much of him anyway, I think it might be his final season, even if he proves to be fast on tarmac.
- Hirvonen finally got a podium but miles away from Ogier... and this when he had the best road position of them all. He did get some consistency this time though, but it's just another nightmare for him, again he has to lead a team against a much faster driver. The difference is, theoretically he has the best car this time... the Citroen should (and might be for "someone" at the wheel) the best car of the pack, and although he was fast in this rally, it wasn't enough to get even a chance for the win.
Of the 23 stages, we can wrap up a few things:
Stage Wins:
* Hirvonen - 2
* Neuville - 1
* Ogier - 16
* Ostberg -4
Stage Podiums:
* Hirvonen - 15
* Neuville - 9
* Ogier - 20
* Ostberg -11
* Novikov - 2
* Sordo - 4
* Latvala - 6
* Al-Attiyah - 1
* Atkinson - 1
Not so bad in podiums for Hirvonen, but... of those 15 podiums:
in 7 of those, he was 9~11s slower than Ogier
in 2 of those, he was 13~15s slower than Ogier
(not counting the one he lost 2min)
was faster than him:
in 2 stages around 3~5s
in 2 stages around 0~1s
in 1 stage around 17s (stage 21)
not much left to say.
Ogier had this event pretty much controlled and if he doesn't catch any problem with the car in Portugal I think he has that one also in the bag, considering his fantastic performance there the last 2 times with Citroen. The possibility of rain might have a word to say though.