Printable View
Deutschland is probably the only rally where Duval can really excel (in WRC), but the current Ford Focus (particulary) on asphalt just reminds of the longlasting struggle of Subaru in recent years. Being "best of the rest" and nothing more.
On this occasion, I'd like to see Duval back, but he certaintly won't change any tide.
Remember that Stohl couldn't do better then 8th place whole season in Xsara and Duval was leading after 1st day in Germany..
Not every Xsara is same like other Xsara...
Also driver..
Well they both had a steering wheel and four tyres.Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze
The same driver achieved several podiums with 307 a year before.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
Also with xsara 2nd place in Cypres I guess..
I'd say they offered the rental to him for $1 so as not to interfere with the other drivers contracts.
They are in a very bad spot right now by the looks of things, and maybe he haggled them down to 50p.
Manufacturers' championship standingsQuote:
Originally Posted by Red bull
After 7 rounds
1.
Citroen Total World Rally Team
232
2.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
185
3.
Citroen Junior Team
125
If someone really thinks that Duval will have a chance against the Citroens (before crashing out) with currenct Focus you'll be badly disappointed.
Amazing that someone hasn't figured out yet that it should be infact Sarrazin who will save Ford. Or Panizzi. Or Maybe Matias Ekström, he was really fast with Skoda, and it's not even 10 years ago.
As far as I know no homologations this year so nothing has changed.. So how can be that Citroen is quicker then Ford.. Maybe it's about drivers..
Not every part or change require homologation.
My personal view is that Citroen has developed further. Who can check that out. No one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
The differnce is clearly much bigger this year so they must have done something and after that the minds of Ford-boys do the rest. Unfortenately. :(
Most of the tweaks might have been with engine management, etc....
But they are faster this year.
No, they both homologated a lot of things in 2010, they only didn't homologate any changes on engine. Both teams changed some things on suspension, transmission, Citroen also on the bodyshell and Ford on brakes as mentioned in documents on FIA website.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
Last year Mikko and Sebastien was quite same level in gravel rallies but this year Seb is far far away... If car's are in same level, you are meaning that Mikko is lost his speed? I doubt it... And same time Petter is found that speed witch was lost in last five year's? And you think that there is nothing to do whit car? At the moment Ford is so lost whit the car that even Loeb can't win whit it in tarmac... Mikko can drive well in tarmac as you saw in Monte Carlo...Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
Remember that Hirvonen won Sweden.. How can be that car lost all that quality in 5 monts?!
Coming back to the homologation mystery. As far as I know, the teams agreed to freeze the technology of the WRC cars in the beginning of 2009.
Did that cover only the parts which have to be homologated under WRC rules, i. e. body parts such as the wheel arches, transmission tunnel, wings, bonnet, bumpers, spoilers, as well as engine components such as inlet and exhaust manifolds, electronic engine management system, turbo, waste-gate and intercooler?
Looks like they can still homologate group A Variant Option modifications for example to rear suspension, transmission, drive line, suspension components, roll cage, seat, harness mountings etc.
Did I get that one right?
Monte-Carlo 2010 was a real ice / snow rally, not really a tarmac rally.Quote:
Originally Posted by donlorean
Wasn't the issue with Rally Australia last year that Citroen had rushed through a batch of changes before the freeze and stuffed up the paperwork on one of them?
An ideal line-up for ford: P.Solberg and F.Duval for whole season..
lol Duval? Hes unemployed and retired from rallying for a reason ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
With full program this two could bring the championship..
Ahh seriously man Ford can "bring" the championship this year also. I think you should stop being so sure about your things... Its not over yet and its not so big gap between them. Wait and see! And i dont think Duval and Solberg could do it better than theese two. Hirvonen is even beating Solberg many times, and he is in a slower car!Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
There is almost no doubt in my mind that this huge difference in performance between Citroen - Ford is down to the car. At this years Rally Portugal I spectated in places, such as tight uphill hairpins, where the difference was more than clear to the naked eye. I spoke with people who were near me on site and the consensus (and my personal opinion) was that the Citroen is way ahead on engine power. Of course things such as chassis setup, damper settings et all are relevant but the difference in sheer power (bhp and torque) appears to be quite clear to me at least. How do they do it bearing in mind the strict regulations (of the supposedly max 300bhp rule)?? Don´t know the answer to that. Maybe Citroen made a better and cleverer job when convieving the engine at the beggining than Ford/Pipo. Still, this was on gravel. On tarmac the difference is still there but the Citroen drivers, mainly Loeb and Sordo, push it even further.
solberg and ogier will make a dream team for ford :s mokin:Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
Sure. They would run out of cars after 3 rallies. Duval has never won anything so he would the worst possible choice. Petter is good but I think that he'll stay in Citroen. Ford's car is in the shape that none is able to win anything with it. For Ogier's sake I also hope he will stick with Citroen as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
Current Ford drivers' lineup is Ok and so is the Focus, a car can't step backwards all of a sudden.
Even Loriaux, rally after rally, says the cars only need a good washing and refueling before rejoining the next rally as the pedal angle and all the telemetry say so.
Both Latvala and Hirvonen must be thightly leashed to team orders and the main issue is related to budget or to what MSport is doing with Ford's money.
Except for some oddities of the sport which might bring them some unexpected good results, MSport will concentrate on winning a couple of events like Fin, GB (to make Ford happy) and wait for next year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
It is because they don't have Gronholm anymore, and the theoretical engineers who sit all day in front of laptop are dictating the development....
This is a classic case of not having drivers with balls to open the mouth and give "directions and ideas, and sometimes say NO to engineers".
They are too young and are just happy to drive and never criticize.
these guys can drive fast, but someone first needs to give them a car that's fast, they are unable to make it fast.
So it's about drivers after all..
François Duval has just confirmed he will be joining the Stobart M-Sport Ford as a guest driver in Rally Germany.
Superb news, in 2007 he was fantastic in the older Xsara, i doubt he can match that performance this year (against Citroen), but i do think, if there's a good test session and the car is what i believe the same spec as Hirvonen & Latvala, he will beat the last one for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by wrc_flipper
What i still don't get is why Ford didn't get Duval behind the wheel in Bulgarien, it could be a perfect preparation for Germay (and Spain & France). It was no secret that the chance of Duval on the start-list for Germany was nearly 100%.
But there's more what i don't get from Malcolm Wilson. His intention to get Ogier in the Ford team is finally a smart one, in the end a result of the poor performance of the drivers now in the Ford team.
I do think both drivers are on the max. and there's no progression anymore. So MW must handle before we have another Citroen year..
But i'm still happy with this news, i will be there for sure as a spectator, looking already forward after missing it last year :)
:)
Remember that Duval already drove the Deutschland Rally in a Stobart Focus two years ago, becoming third in front of Hirvonen.
Well guys , you have good time to think about good explanations why Duval is so slow.
ford shouldnt waste their time on the current drivers,i feel duval and ogier(they should buy out his contract at citroen)can do the job and change the tide by the end of the season,the current ones should be hired only for the snow rallies.
Don't think anybody thinks Dudu is slow, just his ability to stay on the road.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
Hope he has a good rally and as said plenty of testing first, he will no doubt be first Focus to finish if all goes well.
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
Just to finish infront of the Finns and I'll be happy..
i never liked duval....and never will. very bad character and too fat...
If he had more than 2 functional brain cells he could easily be a contender since the speed was there but he always thought of himself. i think he has no chance against Hirvonen or latvala if the latter decide to drive.