53º Rally RACC Catalunya – Costa Daurada 2017

[AnttiL]

I still feel bitter for Kopecký. He won all 13 asphalt stages but all was ruined by stupid starting order into the first leg. On the other hand I am fully aware that Suninen drove as fast as he needed and I don't say that without the incident with Serderidis Kopecký would surely won. At least it would be decided by speed.

Kopecky lost 1:14 to Suninen on Terra Alta 1 where Serderidis' dust blocked him. On the morning loop he was losing about s/km to Suninen, so maybe he would have lost 39 seconds anyway? At the end of the rally Suninen was 31 seconds ahead, so it would have been tight without that incident.

[pantealex]

Kopecky lost 1:14 to Suninen on Terra Alta 1 where Serderidis' dust blocked him. On the morning loop he was losing about s/km to Suninen, so maybe he would have lost 39 seconds anyway? At the end of the rally Suninen was 31 seconds ahead, so it would have been tight without that incident.

and Suninen also had that power steering failure.

But both did well.

[Rally Power]

Perfect win for Meeke/Nagle and Citroen! Fantastic rally from Ogier and Tanak; it’d be great to see MSport getting the manu title in GB. It’s only missing Ford full support. Hats off for Rally RACC organizers; they’ve managed to run the event without problems, despite Catalunya troubled times. Well done!

[AnttiL]

and Suninen also had that power steering failure.

True, but I consider that to be a part of the sport, it's a combination of car and driver. Camilli would have won without his diff issues. But having to drive at some slower driver's dust because of a stupid running order is a different thing.

Kopecky was in a class of his own on the tarmac stages and he probably would win without first leg dust incidents.

Like I said, it would have been tight. Did Suninen control his pace with Kopecky far behind? Did Kopecky push like hell because he had nothing to lose? We can't know.

Nevertheless, it was nice to see Camilli doing great times on gravel and Suninen improving his pace on tarmac. Btw, Nordgren debut at Skoda wasn’t mind-blowing, still he keep improving all rally long and was able to avoid mistakes; P4 at the end is a good result.

Agreed. I think Nordgren is maybe pulled too early to the WRC events, he hasn't really driven anywhere else than in Finland (and last year's Rally RACC).

[Mirek]

Did Kopecky push like hell because he had nothing to lose? We can't know.

IMHO we can because he never drives like that. That simply isn't his way of doing things.

[Rally Power]

Kopecky lost 1:14 to Suninen on Terra Alta 1 where Serderidis' dust blocked him. On the morning loop he was losing about s/km to Suninen, so maybe he would have lost 39 seconds anyway? At the end of the rally Suninen was 31 seconds ahead, so it would have been tight without that incident.

Kopecky was in a class of his own on the tarmac stages and he probably would win without first leg dust incidents. Nevertheless, it was nice to see Camilli doing great times on gravel and Suninen improving his pace on tarmac. Btw, Nordgren debut at Skoda wasn’t mind-blowing, still he keep improving all rally long and was able to avoid mistakes; P4 at the end is a good result.

[pantealex]

Btw, Nordgren debut at Skoda wasn’t mind-blowing, still he keep improving all rally long and was able to avoid mistakes; P4 at the end is a good result.

Nordgren has driven totally less than 5 events with 4wd car and this was his 1st Tarmac days with 4wd. But yes, not mind-blowing.