[WRC] News & rumours (part IV) 2016

**Arnold Triyudho Wardono** · 17th February 2016, 19:17

Originally Posted by lewalcindor

The only things I remember about him are (i) he uses English pacenotes with co-driver Ilka Minor, and (ii) his bonnet flew up and blocked his windscreen one year at NORF, and he decided to continue driving instead of stopping to fix it, "oblivious" to the fact that Kris Meeke was literally right behind him for a few kms.

The only problem is he crashes too much..(watching Alsace 2011, Denis wasn't amused)

**EstWRC** · 17th February 2016, 19:46

Originally Posted by dimviii

Internal competition is scheduled to Citroën from Rally of Portugal among the drivers competing with DS3 R5 in WRC2 is taking shape. In addition the winner will contest the Catalunya Rally of Wales and a Citroen DS3 WRC, already they revealed some of the names that will participate in this kind of unofficial one-make trophy that will perform the signing of the two chevrons. Including the return of an old acquaintance.
Along with Quentin Gilbert, Yoann Bonato, Karl Krudda and Sébastien Chardonnet, also is the return of Evgeny Novikov, who has two seasons away from the World Rally Championship after running in 2013 as a pilot of M-Sport. After two years away from the stages of the World Cup, in which he has even made the work of co-pilot in Russia, Novikov seems determined to go back and choose to drive a DS3 WRC against protected Citroen (Chardonnet and Gilbert) seems a good first step.
The Russian, 25 also have been tempted by Tommi Mäkinen (as reported in the paper edition of the French AUTOhebdo) to try one of the Toyota Yaris WRC for next season. If anyone missed Evgeny Novikov, it seems to be back.

http://www.diariomotor.com/competici...s-con-citroen/

i dont understand. theres a shoot out between the drivers who are named or novikov goes straight to DS3 WRC in spain and wales?

**TheFlyingTuga** · 17th February 2016, 19:53

What the news says it's that Novikov will take part in the DS3 R5 extra-official trophy against Citroen protegé Gilbert and Chardonnet (isn't Chardonnet going to drive a 208 T18 from Loeb Racing??)

**EstWRC** · 17th February 2016, 20:00

i understand that Yoann Bonato and Kruuda also take part.

**TheFlyingTuga** · 17th February 2016, 20:23

Yes, it seems that Citroen revelead some names for the trophy. Bonato, Kruuda, Gilbert and Chardonnet along with Novikov (!!!). Don't know what it's their source.

**AL14** · 17th February 2016, 23:08

Originally Posted by tommeke_B

To be honest, I think the drivers comments in Australia last year were much more justified than in Sweden this year. Then there was dust, which made the competition unfair. In Sweden it was just about being on the wrong tyres. Isn't it a great aspect of our sport too, seeing drivers in conditions that aren't ideal? It's a part of our sport, that drivers have to get out of their comfort zone. The speed would be lower than in optimal conditions (which drivers prefer), so normally the consequences of a crash should be smaller as well... In Monte it happened so much that drivers were on wrong tyres, even on much more dangerous stages (for both drivers and spectators), and nobody ever complained...

I agree.
I'm not against what drivers say, I repeat they should be listened but they can't decide themself. It's true what nafpaktos says, drivers know more than anyone else how can be dangerous out there but this doesn't mean they can take decisions ALONE boycotting stages. They should be listened carefully but they should be only a part of the discussion. Otherwise they could take decisions too much comfortable to them.
At the end, as someone wrote some months ago, if any of us can drive with fog, or without studs in snowy roads, those guys who are the best drivers in the world with the most performing cars (in terms of grip) in the world, can as well.

EDIT: Want just to add that in Australia I think with the drivers had a sort of point, especially regarding the spectators safety.

**stefanvv** · 17th February 2016, 23:37

Originally Posted by AL14

if any of us can drive with fog, or without studs in snowy roads.

we drive on snow but with snow tyres, while they have only studded tyres option for Sweden. It is not impossible they drive slower with them when there's no snow, but may be this is not what is expected of them - driving faster is what is the competition is about, promotion and do forth, running at 150 to 200 kph on Rally Sweden is what everybody expect. On one hand I agree this is rally with all the challenges ahead, including improper equipment, on the other hand I tend to agree that this is not good for the sport, including safety. Sweden is suppose to be snow rally, but sometimes the weather doesn't agree.

Anyway this is not precedent in history of this rally, 15-20 years ago there was similar case, I remember McRae one year complained about such road conditions when all studs are gone early, fortunately nothing bad happened then, but I wonder what is supposed to be the solution for this? Are the tyre supply rules not comforting to these challenges? Or it is more about the competition issue?

**Rallyper** · 18th February 2016, 02:43

In the 80´s Blomqvist had no studs what so ever on front wheel at end of stages. He complained about the car but drove furious anyway... And it was icy roads...

**Mirek** · 18th February 2016, 09:16

Originally Posted by stefanvv

we drive on snow but with snow tyres, while they have only studded tyres option for Sweden. It is not impossible they drive slower with them when there's no snow, but may be this is not what is expected of them - driving faster is what is the competition is about, promotion and do forth, running at 150 to 200 kph on Rally Sweden is what everybody expect. On one hand I agree this is rally with all the challenges ahead, including improper equipment, on the other hand I tend to agree that this is not good for the sport, including safety. Sweden is suppose to be snow rally, but sometimes the weather doesn't agree.

Anyway this is not precedent in history of this rally, 15-20 years ago there was similar case, I remember McRae one year complained about such road conditions when all studs are gone early, fortunately nothing bad happened then, but I wonder what is supposed to be the solution for this? Are the tyre supply rules not comforting to these challenges? Or it is more about the competition issue?

Come on, the conditions in Sweden were better than usually in Liepaja, ERC. Also the stud retention function of tyres is way better today than in the past.

Out of curiosity. Here in CZ no studs are allowed but we had a winter rally till 2006, even with WRC cars. It was never too dangerous, just stupidly slow. In fact it was very interesting to see which tyres work in such conditions and what is interesting, sometimes stock winter tyres were better option than racing ones. Also old pattern from 1980' when Barum was making competition non-studded snow tyres was brought back with a stock protector tyre - and it worked better than Monte Carlo style racing Michelin tyres without studs! Last time such conditions appeared was Prague rallysprint 2011. I was on one stage where PG Andersson with Michelin Monte Carlo tyres was 3 s/km slower than Tlusťák with stock Nokians with additional cuts!