[WRC] Neste Rally Finland 1st-4th August 2019

RS · 3rd August 2019, 11:07

Originally Posted by Got Mail

Much of this season Veiby has been fastest of all the RC2 entries. I don't think he is as fast a driver as Kalle or Mads. So I'm guessing it may be the car that is substantially quicker.

(Thanks for the tip about Mlada)

My feeling is that the Fabia Evo is a step forward but not yet a big one. On gravel at least the drivers have been complaining about a loose rear end, so maybe there is some work to do. Kalle himself said he felt there is more speed in the car when the set up is right.

Also should consider, as Mirek pointed out, that Kalle is leading the category comfortably so no need to push too hard. Lindholm has nothing to lose.

RS · 3rd August 2019, 11:09

Originally Posted by mknight

Well the new Fiesta is indeed worrying, afaik running R5 is one of the main incomes for MSport (certainly on the rally part). Less income, less likely they will be competitive and afford good drivers on WRC level.

I find it strange.. presumably they did back to back tests with the old car, and had a good idea of how that compared to the competition.

Did they rush the new car out before it was ready?

**mknight** · 3rd August 2019, 11:11

Maybe the tests didn't include fast/smooth gravel. Just slow/medium/wet and tarmac, which are conditions you find in GB.

**Eli** · 3rd August 2019, 11:13

I see it's raining in Jyväskylä, any chance of rain out in the stages?

RS · 3rd August 2019, 11:15

Originally Posted by mknight

Maybe the tests didn't include fast/smooth gravel. Just slow/medium/wet and tarmac, which are conditions you find in GB.

There were very few testing videos of the new car, but they surely did some testing outside of the UK. I think there was a gravel test in Portugal and a tarmac one in (France?)

Campedelli in Rome a couple of weeks ago wasn’t too impressive either.

**T16** · 3rd August 2019, 11:43

What were Tommi’s words about Kris that were so bad and indicating he wasn’t part of the team next year?

**dimviii** · 3rd August 2019, 11:52

Originally Posted by RS

Campedelli in Rome a couple of weeks ago wasn’t too impressive either.

at start of rally was slow,but progressively got faster and did some top times

**mknight** · 3rd August 2019, 12:00

Originally Posted by T16

What were Tommi’s words about Kris that were so bad and indicating he wasn’t part of the team next year?

Nothing specific about him tbh.

Someone uploaded the interview here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AtW...ature=youtu.be

**Franky** · 3rd August 2019, 12:10

Originally Posted by mknight

Nothing specific about him tbh.

Someone uploaded the interview here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AtW...ature=youtu.be

It looked more like Latvala and Meeke had ruined Tommi's party plans for Sunday.

**Mirek** · 3rd August 2019, 12:15

Originally Posted by RS

My feeling is that the Fabia Evo is a step forward but not yet a big one.

You can't expect big steps when the rules are as strict as they are and moreover unchanged for seven years. Everyone tried basically everything they could already and the steps forward can be logically only incremental (unless you fucked up the previous design of course).