Quote Originally Posted by cali View Post
No, Tänak definetely has a long way to go with his raw speed. It's versatility that matters and he is nowhere near the pace in slow and twisty gravel events and on tarmac. A lot to learn, specially mental training would be big help. At some point I thought that Tänak has the upper hand on Paddon, but atm seems that Paddon is making it slow and steady, but improving all the time. Tänak shone only in Poland, the event which had more like estonian roads, benefiting the lack of knowledge by experienced drivers and taking huuuuuuuuge risks - basically overdriving the car. He was lucky that time around, but you could clearly see what damage the overdriving has done to his reputation. I'm not wearing estonian glasses, so this statement is honest and not filled with patriotism. I'm not a patriotic person
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Watching the footage of Tanak in Poland he was very fast but every corner there was a potential crash coming.
What I like about Paddon is he has a plan and is actually executing his plan. Listening to Colin the voice of rally previously he has said the two hardest workers in the field are Neuville and Paddon.

I also think Paddon is one of the neatest/tidiest and most accurate drivers in the field, I remember watching a WRC round a few years ago when Paddon was in the Skoda, standing at a corner there were two drivers who took the widest line into a corner, hit the apex perfectly and drove away the cleanest, that was Paddon and Loeb. I'm not comparing the two as the cars are different etc (and one is Loeb and the other has a long way to go) but looking at the tyre marks on the road you can tell if smooth is fast these two were head and shoulders above. The worst was Ken Block (we laughed that he needed an aircraft hanger to aim for as his lines were so bad) closely followed by Henning Solberg and Latvala. But then that was a few years ago.