[WRC] News & Rumours (part V) 2017

[mknight]

In the podcast interview, JML said "The moment team stops developing the car, is the moment you start loosing". That was his response of the question how competitive Polo could have been. In such case, why Hyundai, Citroen, and partially M-Sport didn't agree to make exception for VW to join WRC 2017?

Thing is... it probably would have been very competitive for at least first half of 2017. Probably only the Hyundai would have been there with it.

Toyota was slow/unreliable until Poland/Finland. Fiesta had turn-in issues until Portugal/Sardinia. C3 was messy on gravel until the diff changes that started in Poland.

Also note that VW stopped developing the 2016 Polo at the start of that year and did no testing with it, and during last half of 2016 it was not really dominating any more. Which is maybe also the source of Latvala's comment.

[dimviii]

Gary Boyd‏*@KiwiWRCfan
How many stage wins are needed to win a #WRC drivers title
10 titles with most stage wins
10 titles with least stage wins

[tommeke_B]

Such statistics would only make sense if you divide the number of stage wins by the total number of stages those seasons. I think in the 90s events had much more stages.

[MrJan]

Such statistics would only make sense if you divide the number of stage wins by the total number of stages those seasons. I think in the 90s events had much more stages.

That is true, but it's interesting to see how few stages Ogier has won this year and still won the championship with an event to spare. Not a huge surprise though, it's been clear that one of his best attributes is consistency and the ability to get good results while others crash etc. Also a big help that the Fiesta has been fairly reliable...at least, as far as I can remember.

[AnttiL]

Gary made them already, by my request

[Mirek]

That is true, but it's interesting to see how few stages Ogier has won this year and still won the championship with an event to spare. Not a huge surprise though, it's been clear that one of his best attributes is consistency and the ability to get good results while others crash etc. Also a big help that the Fiesta has been fairly reliable...at least, as far as I can remember.

True but Tommeke has valid point. Add to that that nowadays You even have events which are all about one 50 km long stage accompanied by number of shorter ones and a bunch of superspecials. In the end it can be enough to win one stage and to control the rest.

Another point is that we've had a situation this year which is rather uncommon in the history of the sport when the domminant driver (by speed) is making so many mistakes that he can't take the title.

[car]

Autosport reporting that Evans will be an M-Sport driver in 2018 and that Ogier is likely to be too.
Job well done Malcolm.
Wonder if this means Ford are going to up their stakes in the project.

[MrJan]

Another point is that we've had a situation this year which is rather uncommon in the history of the sport when the domminant driver (by speed) is making so many mistakes that he can't take the title.

Yep, compare the DNF's for Ogier (I think just Finland) and then what everyone else has had. The same goes for Tanak, I'd say that the guys at M-Sport fully deserve whatever bonus they get for delivering such a reliable car.

[spiderem]

Gary made them already, by my request

I like statistics Funny to see Ogier "leading" both!

[MrJan]

Of course it helps the more recent drivers that they can win stages even after 'retiring' from the rally.