Rally Portugal 2016

[Kielder]

still waiting your comments from yesterday passes.

I have to say that after hearing some comments from friends who went to see Meeke testing before the rally, it was pretty clear that he was a candidate to win the event. Watching him from the side of the road, you can feel that forgotten feeling of a driver driving on "there's no tomorrow" way. It obvious that his lead is based on his starting position, but there are other drivers who now and in the past have started from similar positions without any chances to win. The only one who could have been fighting against him is Ogier, as we all know. We couldn't enjoy that battle here, it's not fair. For the first since I've watched him live in 2010, I had the sensation that he is driving like somebody who has orders, not because it's the best thing you can do in the world (dressed). I can't add much more that you haven't seen on the videos. Mikkelsen is replacing Latvala as VW's second driver, Camilli is still too green, Tidemand is crying out for a WRC car on more events...

On the other hand, yesterday I was twice at a very fast section. It's palpable that next year's changes are needed. For example, I enjoyed more watching Ogier or Mikkelsen testing last week with their Polo 2017 than watching some stages yesterday. Nowadays, you have the sensation that many drivers are just trying to bring the car to the finish line. Last year I went with some friends to recognise all the stages, so I knew that today many of them will be out of the rally due to the hard conditions of the roads. It's sad to say, but sometimes it's bigger the spectacle at home than at the stages. Moreover, there is the GNR issue; it was really a nightmare to avoid the roads blocked and to walk calmly at the stages without having any of them near. All in all, that's why I decided to stay at home today. I'm not going either to get up tomorrow at 5AM to see the first run of Vieira do Minho. I've been to about fifteen Rallies of Portugal, but yesterday it was harder than ever to see four stages. It happened almost the same last year on Saturday, so I am not spending five hours of my life driving today to see only two stages. Missing Algarve forever...

To end, it was a shame what happened to Paddon. I was talking yesterday with people who were where he crashed during the first run. The drivers did that zone of Ponte de Lima 1 without any problem, clean lines. So, I believe that something like gravel crews between loops are needed. In the past, they were forbidden to reduce costs, but it's hard to find higher costs than cars burnt.