Ok, time to start the Monte thread! It's only 6 weeks or so away and I can't wait, should be a cracking entry (+maybe debut of Fiesta) plus we have live tv from almost all stages.
Post your news and rumours here :)
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Ok, time to start the Monte thread! It's only 6 weeks or so away and I can't wait, should be a cracking entry (+maybe debut of Fiesta) plus we have live tv from almost all stages.
Post your news and rumours here :)
Twice Portuguese Rally Champion (and probably Third Timer this weekend) Bruno Magalhães will must probably be there!
So you can had him into a provisional starting list!
Cheers mate
Provisional entrylist sounds interesting. should we build one in this thread? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by TheFlyingTuga
I would like to add some snow to the provisional entrylist!
Why not :)Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
Copy, paste and update as appropriate...
Jan Kopecky (confirmed)
Juho Hanninen (confirmed)
Kris Meeke (certain)
Sebastien Ogier (intention)
Bruno Magalhaes (intention)
Thierry Neuville (rumoured)
Patrick Snijers-Subaru Impreza N12b (almost confirmed)
Probably it will be my 1st rally trip for next year!
Any advice welcome especially about where to stay!
It looks like we could see the Fiesta s2000 in Monte Carlo.
http://www.rallybuzz.com/m-sport-fie...ision-due-dec/
Jan Kopecky Skoda (confirmed)
Juho Hanninen Skoda (confirmed)
Kris Meeke Peugeot (confirmed)
Sebastien Ogier Peugeot (intention)
Bruno Magalhaes Peugeot (intention)
Thierry Neuville Peugeot (rumoured)
McRae Proton (confirmed by McRae)
Wilks Skoda (rumour)
Mikkelsen (a car starting with "F", rumour)
? ? Fiesta x 2/3 (intention and rumour)
Peugeot Portugal confirmed today the participation of Bruno Magalhães in Monte Carlo!
Mikkelsen will definately be there from what I've heard. Car could be anything.
More Belgian news:Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
Patrick Snijers Subaru Impreza WRX STI N12B (confirmed)
Pieter Tsjoen don't know the car yet (intention)
Timothy Van Parijs Porsche 911 GT3 if GT's will be allowed (rumour)
Freddy Loix no program yet, but he wants to drive in the IRC again
GT's are not allowed after all.
Thanks for the answer, Mirek. Probably no Van Parijs than in this event.
hopefully Gardemaister in anything decent than a troublesome grande punto
Update:
Jan Kopecky Skoda (confirmed)
Juho Hanninen Skoda (confirmed)
Kris Meeke Peugeot (confirmed)
Sebastien Ogier Peugeot (intention)
Bruno Magalhaes Peugeot (intention)
Thierry Neuville Peugeot (rumoured)
McRae Proton (confirmed by McRae)
Wilks Skoda (rumour)
Mikkelsen (a car starting with "F", rumour)
? ? Fiesta x 2/3 (intention and rumour)
Patrick Snijers Subaru Impreza WRX STI N12B (confirmed)
Pieter Tsjoen ????? (intention)
Freddy Loix Fabia? / ????? (intention)
I hope for Stéphane Sarrazin also. Especialy when he entered Rallye du Var...
If Andreas is to drive a Fiesta in IRC, does the rumours say for whom, is it RAMSport that will do IRC with him ?
Magalhães is confirmed...Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
That's a real pity, would have loved to see (and hear) a Porsche through those narrow mountain roads. Why is it overturned?Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze
They don't have international homologation. I guess that's the problem with them. Anyway they are not in the list of allowed classes in the suplementary regulations.
Makes you think why it was announced anyway...Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze
FIA doesn't want organisers to allow GT cars in their rally. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Josti
I am not so sure about McRae in MC. He is doing Dakar which is ending on 17th of January (in Europe it is already early morning of 18th of Januray)+ very long flight. Recce in MC starts in 16th of Januray and ends on 18th, so no-one who decides to do Dakar cannot reach to MC in time.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
I could be Mikko in the other Fiesta.
http://translate.google.com/translat...99&sl=fi&tl=en
I think the Monte Fiesta situation is difficult for M-Sport. Because on the one hand they want to put their best driver (Mikko) in the car to be the most competitive and get the most data. It would be great if they entered Mikko.
BUT. By entering their number one driver they are basically endorsing the IRC series by saying this is too good to miss. And that obviously detracts from the value of the WRC. This is why I think they will try to enter someone who is not linked directly with the full works WRC outfit.
Should be interesting if it happens. A driver of Hirvonen's calibre should negate any excuses about first event, new car etc. Imagine if the car was reliable and he was beaten into 3rd or 4th place?Quote:
Originally Posted by OldF
Certainly would bring plenty of sales publicity if he entered.
Mikko was quoted as saying - " "The project seems to be progressing well", said World Championship 2009 runner up. "The decision could be taken during the tests to be carried out in France. If the tests are conclusive, Malcolm Wilson our team manager, will decide on our participation."
Another one?
http://www.mainstream.fr/
Great, I do remember crazy Renaul Poutot from last year very well :)
I would like to see Mikko in the car for Monte, but he will be expected to win. If he doesn't it won't reflect well on the car, and if he does then people will just say that is what was expected. It might be better to put someone experienced in S2000 machinery and IRC in the car, Vouilloz maybe if he is not contracted elsewhere.
[quote="Simmi"]By entering their number one driver they are basically endorsing the IRC series by saying this is too good to miss. And that obviously detracts from the value of the WRC. quote]
Good point Simmi! I guess ISC people would be horrified with it... :p
On the other hand the Fiesta is a major investment of Msport, so it's of their interest to put their best driver behind the well.
A team with Hirvonen and a S2000 specialist, Vouilloz like RS has suggested, would be a very strong entry.
Sorry, don't follow your logic. Entering the MC doesn't endorse the IRC, it re-enforces the fact that the MC should never have been left out of the WRC as it is with NORF and GB a part of the essential tests of rallying. The Monte is still the event that Guiseppe Publico thinks of when top class rallying is being mentioned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
But it is run as part of the IRC championship. There's no escaping it. You have the IRC series website plastered across the top of your windscreen. You appear in the IRC broadcasts. You adhere to their rules and regulations.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
Your Guiseppe Publico are going to see Ford and it's works driver in the IRC and think this is now the premium rally series. And if not that they will still be intrigued. Either way how can that not fail to be a positive for the IRC? These are rival championships.
To sell cars and as a commericial exercise Ford has to sell the WRC as being the pinnacle. The greatest test. Otherwise what is the point?
We all know the Monte should be in the WRC calendar. It is the crown jewel so I know what you're saying. But I personally feel Ford are in a difficult PR position and I don't think it is difficult to grasp that logic.
I think that good Fiesta sales are more important for M-Sport. It's just bussines. In this time there's hardly some market for new WRC cars as they are at the end of their first league career.
In the same time IRC is both reasonable market and very good promotion for S2000 car. It would be stupid to pretend it doesn't exist and leave it to Peugeot, Skoda and others making profit out of it.
Monte hopefully doesn't come back to WRC anymore. The coverage of the IRC event this year was great and will be even better next year. If it continues like this, IRC will be THE RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP very very soon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pucky54
I wouldn't be so sure about that.....
..even though I can see were you are coming from.
Monte, Argentina, San Remo, etc
Yeah okay, but they also have "their own" events like Ypres, Barum, Acores, Madeira. WRC had too much events with the same character. Mexiko, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
Why would you want that? The World Rally Championship should always be the premier championship, both from a logical and historical point of view.Quote:
Originally Posted by pucky54
While I admire what IRC has done especially since last year, I hope people realize it's not healthy for the sport to have two series competing over eachother. The WRC/ISC should learn from IRC what can be done - regarding coverage (and how to improve it even further), the events structure (like monte 2010) and the variety of rallies (let alone cherish classic events) - in order to come out stronger in the future. I hope WRC ultimately prevails, but I'm not sure what to make of IRC at that point.
Ask Monte organisers, they don't wanna come back to WRC