Rally Portugal 2016

[seb_sh]

The whole collecting manufacturer points "pressure" is just a smokescreen and an excuse. We've all said before that being fast and collecting points for your team is all part of being a professional driver.

This season it should not be a factor in the slightest. It's completely irrelevant who is scoring points on what rallies as the championship is effectively set this year. Hyundai can't beat VW and they aren't under pressure from M-Sport behind.

I can't criticise Thierry for when his car has mechanical issues. But when he has a healthy car we just aren't seeing the stage times. It feels from a quick scan this year that he's averaging out at about sixth fastest.

Indeed, the pressure argument is imo only valid for young drivers when they are put in the spotlight and could be distracted by things like media attention. So there it makes sense to have them in the third car where they are not so followed as the two "main" drivers. Otherwise it's bs, in reality what they mean is: "We care about the manufacturers standiungs so we're putting the two drivers who actually finish rallies in the points scoring cars."

I'm disappointed that Thierry hasn't developed into a challenger. He was showing promise that he could, at least partially bother Ogier. The sport desperately needs at least more potential rally winners if not title contenders.

[Kielder]

This morning I drove almost the entire Viana stage to reach and leave Mikkelsen's test ahead of the rally. I found some parts really damaged, as you can see on the picture below. They were arranging some parts, for example the stone pavement at the top of the stage. Luckily, the sun is coming next week.

[AL14]

Bertelli to skip the rally because he got an injury playing football with friends.
Not that this is an interesting and useful news...

[dimviii]

[BleAivano]

Henning Solberg's son Osacar will have Patrik Barth as a co-driver for Rally Portugal. I would assume that Patrik is Gunnar Barth's son?

http://www.vf.se/sport/bilsport/patr...d-solberg-i-vm

[janvanvurpa]

Henning Solberg's son Osacar will have Patrik Barth as a co-driver for Rally Portugal. I would assume that Patrik is Gunnar Barth's son?

http://www.vf.se/sport/bilsport/patr...d-solberg-i-vm

Any relation to Roland Barthe?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Barthes

[Rallyper]

Presumably not.

[dimviii]

wrc 2&3 Fafe
https://youtu.be/3S-7CUpRR_A

[Rallyper]

So many Skodas, and Emil just once.

[RS]

So many Skodas, and Emil just once.

Probably not a good idea to do too many pre-event kms with a PSA R5.