Sportity: https://webapp.sportity.com/channel/F8RJ2023#
Rally Guide 1: https://wwww.rally-japan.jp/rj2en/wp..._v1.0_0714.pdf
Tickets: https://ticket.pia.jp/piasp/inbound/rallyjapan23eng.jsp
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Hyundai Motorsport Line-Up
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Will be a tough event for Sordo, after all his car was burnt last year.
This is what the SSS will look in the Toyota Stadium.
https://rally-japan.jp/en/news/topic...tadium-part-1/
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I guess Mikkelsen will only go if he needs to for the championship in which case his sponsor (ie Skoda) will pay up.
36 entries in a 120-million country full of car manufacturers...
i will give it another chance cause its only the second year in the calendar but l remember last year it was pretty boring rally overall, stages didnt look interesting too. actually i dont even remember much other than Sordos car burning and the PS stage being very wet.
I also remember Kajto's "haunted tunnel accident":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3w1STMiM7s
The problem is Safety Fuel tanks are not legally allowed in Japanese registered cars (however there are work-arounds ;-).
Trivia Point: There are two father and son families competing as drivers. The Katsutas and the Arais. IIRC, last year they were also, however Katsuta Senior was in the National Event.
Might be slightly early but weather forecast looks horrendous for friday.
I can tell you that I almost could not recognize some stages from last year. Many sections are sooooo different.. the amount of leaves, needles... all kind of dirt on the stages is amazing, hopefully no brushing :)It will be much more difficult event this year. If half of the field can survive first day without any incident, I would be surprised :)
*note: last year Ogier puncture, Evans went wide and hit something got puncture, Rovanpera hit the mountain heavily and broke wheel, Breen crashed, Taka had major incident with bank (run up of very steep bank without any major consequences). Kaijto hit wall after tunnel and retired (tunnel is now asphalt :)), Sordo burned down his car, last day heavy rain during last two stages.. and the amount of fans queueing for autographs was amazing! This is really nice rally :)
Looking forward to this one, seems unpredictable! Also I like the itinerary, I can watch before work and in my lunch break friday, usually I have to split my attention a bit :D
seb, where u from? america, or?
Recce interviews including Toshi Arai! And nice cars for Mikkelsen and Solberg :D
https://youtu.be/bn7TQ9nzd1M?si=JeSt2EBYCxD0_tkf
Just remember: Last Pickems for 2023 is closing at 1100 hrs CET tomorrow Thursday.
leaving my timezone conversion stupidity aside...
This is further evidence that Colin Clark is the best WRC interviewer and if WRC wants to grow they should integrate his recce/morning/midday interviews. The rapport and banter he has with the drivers is great and creates a nice feeling for fans to know the crews. It's also entartaining enough to follow the whole thing. I criticize him for his "driver ratings" and George Donaldson did as well, even himself admitted he does it to create talking points. The man is not a journalist but this kind of interviews are pure gold and the WRC are complete idiots to ignore this.
So now, almost 24 hours before the start of stage 2, there is about 30mm of rain on Friday morning's forecast. Can't wait!
I wonder, which starting position will be the best.. Maybe going first isn't advantage, because of cleaning leaves out of the road? Or Am I wrong? I don't really remember how much cutting was going on last year, but I think that basically there is NOT a lot of cuts on Friday? Can someone tell us more about it?
Rain doesnt help the competition on tarmac.
Watching Shakedown live on F*book now. Kalle slightly faster than Thierry so far.
So Tänak had problems on shakedown as I heard
Good morning all, very good time by Neuville at shakedown.
Good morning, stage 1 will be live soon.
First pair to start are two Japanese veterans; Toshi Arai and Norihiko Katsuta (Taka's father).