Rally Croatia 2022

[Kenneth]

I still don't understand why are people sleeping on Mikkelsen. Yeah he wouldn't probably fight for WDC but neither does Breen.

[Eli]

I still don't understand why are people sleeping on Mikkelsen. Yeah he wouldn't probably fight for WDC but neither does Breen.

I think if anyone is a missed opportunity it's Paddon, I'm guessing if not for that crash back in Monte 5 years ago, his career would look very different, but no if's and buts in this championship, now we should look at new drivers from the lower categories like Yohan Rossel which really impressed here (even if Tarmac is his favored surface).

[AnttiL]

I think Paddon was a great asset for a team to use for gravel events, but he was never that good on tarmac (or was it just the Hyundai?) and never that good on power stages (apart from that one time in Argentina). As for Mikkelsen, it seemed like he has some talent but is prone to errors. As of now I'm considering Mikkelsen and Breen quite equal choices. Neither is a guaranteed rally winner nor a championship contender, but can collect solid points for a team.

[AnttiL]

I have to say that I'm disappointed to see the youngsters Oliver Solberg and Adrien Fourmaux being so lost. And also Takamoto Katsuta so much off the pace (after making slight mistakes in Monte and Sweden). Meanwhile, I'm happy to see Tänak and Neuville showing pace when the car doesn't let them down. Evans was also disappointing in Croatia, but had pace in Monte and Sweden. Is he now trying to go a bit slower not to make any more mistakes?

[Eli]

I have to say that I'm disappointed to see the youngsters Oliver Solberg and Adrien Fourmaux being so lost. And also Takamoto Katsuta so much off the pace (after making slight mistakes in Monte and Sweden). Meanwhile, I'm happy to see Tänak and Neuville showing pace when the car doesn't let them down. Evans was also disappointing in Croatia, but had pace in Monte and Sweden. Is he now trying to go a bit slower not to make any more mistakes?

I didn't have high expectations from Oliver, Fourmaux on the other hand did show some promise last year but perhaps his Monte crash shook him a bit.
Evans is the one who looks lost the most atm, and I honestly don't see him challenging for the title this year, and having a younger teammate beat you like that can't do any good to his confidence.

[AnttiL]

I didn't have high expectations from Oliver, Fourmaux on the other hand did show some promise last year but perhaps his Monte crash shook him a bit.

Or maybe it was already the Ypres crash, after that it hasn't gone well on tarmac.

[Pršljen]

Tricky conditions proved to be too much for unexperienced drivers like Greensmith,Solberg, Formaux... except for Rovanpera, of course, but he is on another level anyway.

Evans had to be better than this, it's like he is stagnating instead of getting better and better. However, he has excellent starting point for the upcoming gravel rallies, if he can't deliver there, then his hopes for a title are gone.

[meh]

Maybe it's good to spice things up, but I don't like too much this road-position advantage for this rally.

https://www.ewrc-results.com/results...2022/?s=354737 - after 1st day Rovanperä had 1min 23sec lead. Yes, he is good, but without dramatic weather and his puncture it could be quite boring solo.

[AnttiL]

Maybe it's good to spice things up, but I don't like too much this road-position advantage for this rally.

https://www.ewrc-results.com/results...2022/?s=354737 - after 1st day Rovanperä had 1min 23sec lead. Yes, he is good, but without dramatic weather and his puncture it could be quite boring solo.

On the next rally in Portugal, he will have a disadvantage. And he didn't actually lead 1:23, Neuville was only 24s slower throughout the day, but penalties set him back. Tänak had a puncture which set him back about 20 seconds. And despite road position, someone still needs to do the driving. Rovanperä still won the last stage of Saturday, and of course the power stage, with inferior road position.

[Eli]

Or maybe it was already the Ypres crash, after that it hasn't gone well on tarmac.

Perhaps, was he in Spain & Monza after that?