[WRC] Rally Estonia 15-18 July 2021

[er88]

What about Hyundai with the new car?

Despite what Adamo has said recently, they've been struggling to find the required improvement from their current R5.
Fingers crossed for them they've made some steps in the last month or 2.

[EstWRC]

Despite what Adamo has said recently, they've been struggling to find the required improvement from their current R5.
Fingers crossed for them they've made some steps in the last month or 2.

interesting

ive heard other things. Even Paddon said in one interview that the car looks very neutral and good to drive for him

[mknight]

What about Hyundai with the new car?

Sure, but that's towards "future" at the expense of no development of current car and close to no starts.

Citroen is the one spending most money directly so far this year. Skoda still uses some money too, while MSport seems to be at minimal levels, but at least shows up for starts and does a test before every now and then.

[EstWRC]

its rally week and i guess i can say "its coming home"....it has been a very hot and dry summer, temperatures have been around 25-30 (and even up) degrees every day for the last month, and the same weather continues this week.

I dont expect big things on Friday, the guys mostly know the stages on that day but on Saturday there are new stages and region that even Tänak hasnt driven. Aava is saying in every interview that the first stage on Saturday, SS10 will be decisive one. Its very narrow and technical in places with rhytm changes, also a 1.5km long tarmac section which will eat your tires if you will go and attack there according to him, and at some point it should go very narrow and the forest is so close to the road that youre like driving in the tunnel.

So, he expects big gaps there or some happenings, he also said if you dont get into rhytm on that stage then you wont also get the rhytm on next stage on SS11.

Tänak is definitely the favourite for the win, excellent starting position and the speed on gravel with the Hyundai this year has been on 2019 level. Kalle is definitely the next big favourite, although he cant push like crazy too IMO because he has already 3 super rallys before Estonia.

Difficult to predict the rest, Ogier doesnt have to push because he has a good points lead and im sure he is happy with 4-5th place and PS points. Evans and Estonia hasnt been the most happiest couple in recent year but he needs big points to reduce the deficit. Taka has been brilliant this season and was very impressive also last year until the crash. Breen was second last year and Thierry showed also very good speed before the damage.

Well, all in all, as it is a fast rally it will be very tight with the gaps, maybe Tänak and Kalle will runaway from others at some point but this is just purely my observation and prediction.

I will be also there and i will be on RP3 https://www.rallyestonia.ee/passid

cant wait for Thursday!

[AnttiL]

One more thing to add to EstWRC's analysis: this rally won't be so rough that Hyundai should be worried with their durability. I don't think Tänak can be stopped. If Rovanperä can get a clean run he will be up there as well.

The three first Saturday stages all have a tarmac section so tyres will be worn.

There's a possibility of rain over the weekend, I wonder how soft the small and newly built roads will become in that case?

[AnttiL]

Despite what Adamo has said recently, they've been struggling to find the required improvement from their current R5.
Fingers crossed for them they've made some steps in the last month or 2.

Huttunen also said in an interview "no comments" about the new car performance...

[AnttiL]

https://www.hyundai.news/eu/articles...y-estonia.html

https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/re.../rd07-preview/

[mknight]

Btw. last year two Toyotas had their (Michelin) tires explode for no apparent reason on straights on the tarmac parts. Wonder if anything like that happens this time if someone runs softs very long (Sordo had one soft explode on motorway in Portugal).

[Fast Eddie WRC]

M-Sport preview
https://www.m-sport.co.uk/single-pos...ore-in-estonia

[AnttiL]

Btw. last year two Toyotas had their (Michelin) tires explode for no apparent reason on straights on the tarmac parts. Wonder if anything like that happens this time if someone runs softs very long (Sordo had one soft explode on motorway in Portugal).

Both times that was the first stage of the loop, at the end of a 20 km stage.