[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

[N.O.T]

you do not need 10... we never had 10.. even in the old days where this was a sport for women (a bit hairy i must say... but women..sort of).

but you need 3-4 guys that can challenge each other.. of course someone would be on top but the rest should provide a challenge... what we have now is a bunch of headless chickens that Ogier makes fun of...

[Franky]

.. what we have now is a bunch of headless chickens that Ogier makes fun of...

What you mean is 'that I (N.O.T) make fun of'

[stefanvv]

Monte, Sweden with some conditions, Germany (a bit), France, Spain cause of the dust and Wales are generally an advantage for the first.

Sweden with some other conditions, Mexico, Portugal, Poland, a bit Finland, Sardinia, Australia are a disadvantage.


It's almost a draw,,,and presuming it will never rain, that is almost impossible. I think this first-on-the-road issue is starting to be overrated, it counts less on second passes, and nothing on second days 'cause of rally2.

Every rally except dry tarmac ones can be disadvantage for the first driver, and the opposite can be true for most of them, except dry gravel and loose snow events. But this is not really the problem, the problem is Ogier have problem only with this (or at least the media just blows it, just because there is nothing else to), but not to care about some serious competition, which is sad. So FIA is trying to make some competition artificially, I'm afraid the effect is the opposite, now Ogier drives better and the competition is left even further behind.

[Co-driven]

Argentinean website Rallynoticias.com is saying that Citroen reserved space for 3 cars in the service park.
They're are saying that either Loeb or 2014 WTCC champion Pechito Lopez could be entered.

They also say that it could be for Chardonnet or Lefevbre with the R5.

http://rallynoticias.com/nivel2.php?id_noticia=9303

[dimviii]

the problem is Ogier have problem only with this (or at least the media just blows it, just because there is nothing else to), .

what do you mean? interviews are fake?

[lewalcindor]

Argentinean website Rallynoticias.com is saying that Citroen reserved space for 3 cars in the service park.
They're are saying that either Loeb or 2014 WTCC champion Pechito Lopez could be entered.

They also say that it could be for Chardonnet or Lefevbre with the R5.

http://rallynoticias.com/nivel2.php?id_noticia=9303

Oooh, I want to see how Pechito does in a rally.

[stefanvv]

what do you mean? interviews are fake?

No, I don't mean that.

[AL14]

the problem is Ogier have problem only with this (or at least the media just blows it, just because there is nothing else to), but not to care about some serious competition, which is sad.

You're right but in this case I'm on Ogier's side. We can't ask him to want a serious competition, he wants to win and with a fair competition and that's completely fine for me. Now, we all know he's whining all the time and we have discussed a lot about it. But apart from the fact he seems a broken record I think he's right on the subject itself and it's not up to him to deliver serious competition but to other drivers. Unfortunately this year they seem to not have chances to challenge him seriously. Hope it will change but it's very unlikely.

[stefanvv]

You're right but in this case I'm on Ogier's side. We can't ask him to want a serious competition, he wants to win and with a fair competition and that's completely fine for me. Now, we all know he's whining all the time and we have discussed a lot about it. But apart from the fact he seems a broken record I think he's right on the subject itself and it's not up to him to deliver serious competition but to other drivers. Unfortunately this year they seem to not have chances to challenge him seriously. Hope it will change but it's very unlikely.

It is sad isn't it? With all the changes in the running order there seem to be less and less competition. For sure it is not Ogier's fault, and for sure he has nothing else to speak about, but the road conditions, just because this is the only challenge he has, sad but true. Latvala is slowly fading in mediocracy, Neuville hasn't that good car yet, and is still prone to some errors, like in Mexico, probably only Mikelsen will be able for some challenge soon, but I think it'll take no less than 1 year. Citroen is completely out of the picture, Ford, well we didn't expected much from them this season, Evans is doing his progress slowly, Tanak perhaps needs some more time to adapt. All in all we can grant 3rd crown for Ogier, and for sure he deserves that.

[BDunnell]

You're right but in this case I'm on Ogier's side. We can't ask him to want a serious competition, he wants to win and with a fair competition and that's completely fine for me. Now, we all know he's whining all the time and we have discussed a lot about it. But apart from the fact he seems a broken record I think he's right on the subject itself and it's not up to him to deliver serious competition but to other drivers. Unfortunately this year they seem to not have chances to challenge him seriously. Hope it will change but it's very unlikely.

Yes, he is absolutely right. All the major world championships — F1, WRC, WTCC — with the exception of the WEC are in an appalling state at present in terms of competitiveness. Why bother watching?