This.
The explanation I've heard that the shuffle-edited videos get more views, and that all the best shots must be in the beginning of the video.
Printable View
I didn't see it mentioned here or in the highlights, but Ogier had a pretty heavy touch with a haybale when he slid wide. This was in the forest at the end of Mittelmosel 2.
Very nice rally to follow. Neuville and Tanak both impressive and committed in the fast sections. Tanak - or the Toyota - very nimble, clean start-stop driving is what gets him those tens of seconds.
How much of the Panzerplatte stage is in poor condition ( as shown by the Finn reporter)? Would the organisers have been better to run the 'virtual chicanes' through the broken 'concrete' sections?
IMO consider an organisational fail to run the stage like that. Guess summer NATO tank training has caused the damage and the military does not want to fix it and the organisers don't want to pay to repair the track?
The 'virtual chicanes' can be run through the rough or too fast sections with RallySafe and road cones marking the start/ end of the sections.
Teams will be fuming if their rally is ruined by lumpy concrete on what is supposed to be a hard surface event.
Will be interesting to see how it pans out.
Remember in corsica all the drivers were very concerned about the gravel section on one stage, where only half the road had been finished with tarmac. In reality it wasn't an issue at all.
Could be the case here where everyone thinks punctures will effect at least 4/5/6 of the top 10 or so, but in reality everyone is extra alert and has marked the worst spots in their notes to drive around/avoid.
Or..., a lot of the road really is as bad as stated/shown, and it's an absolute demolition out there and a total lottery which nobody wants.
Remains to be seen whether drivers will drive at current full pace or back off and play it sensible, hoping others slip up.
No chance to follow the rally today but from the results and some comments here it seems the C3 is preventing Ogier to match Tanak and Neuville brilliant pace; hope that tomorrow some tech miracle will allow the French to get closer to the lead, keeping the title figth as open as possible. Incredible job from Rovanpera in WRC2 and a big disappointment from the Fiesta Mk2 R5; those having doubts about the car performance were, regrettably, right.
It will be interesting to see what Sordo can do with a better start position, not that he is in contention for anything now sadly. Same with Gus with that start order he has the best chance of showing his ability.