Xsaras slowish ?

[MHjerpe]

Why are the Xsaras so slow this year.. even with drivers like Manfred,Carlsson and Galli we all know they are competent drivers and can drive fast.. but this year they have struggeled to keep the pace of the others... realy strange..

Have the other cars got so much quicker in 2-3 months?? Are the Xsaras down-tweaked?? have the others got much better at driving??. well I find it a bit strange.. Any one else thought about it ?

[duff]

Driving style is the main thing I think. The car is totally designed around Loeb who drives very, very straight. Which is why many more sideways drivers have had alot of trouble with it, starting with Mcrae. I think it, more than any other car, requires the driver to drive in one style only.
I think it suits drivers who are tarmac drivers first (ie. Loeb, Sordo).

[Tom206wrc]

I was really hoping Manfred and Galli would stay in the whale before the 2007 season starts...

[MHjerpe]

did't Manfred drove quit well with the Xsara some years ago.. but can't do it this year...

And not to forget Duval... (is he a straight-lainer ? ) edit: added duval

[rwssport]

Are the cars that Stohl and the others using Active or Passive like Loeb used last year? Could this be the reason?

[MHjerpe]

I think Manfred is on passive and Carlsson on active.. Galli dunno

[Simjatov]

The car is still a competitive car, maybe on par with the focus. But the biggest reason is lack of testing for the drivers. I know Carlsson did his first meters on gravel at the shakedown in Portugal, and I dont think Galli and Stohl had much better preparations. Whithout testing its hard to get confidence with the car, and have to spend the rally to try other settings that might work better.

I dont know for sure, but I think that Citroen is the team with by far most test kilometers. One of the reasons that make Loeb fast.

[DonJippo]

Why are the Xsaras so slow this year..?

Are they? If you compare against others than Loeb from last year is there such a big difference?

[Brother John]

Citroën are down-tweaked, read the signature from DonJippo!

[Viktory]

I read somewhere that Carlsson was a bit disappointed because he learned that they are using older versions of the Xsara than Loeb did last year. I think something like the 04 version (don't quote me on that last part though)