Rally2 (ex-R5) News

[PLuto]

"Lost" was maybe not as fitting to Llarena's opponents as it was to Ingram's, but in 2022 it was more about faster drivers not doing full seasons and WRC stars skipping the series altogether. Also three rallies were won by drivers who didn't do any other events. In addition to Llarena, only two drivers completed a full season.

There were more drivers doing full season (or almost full and stopped/missing after crash or loosing the chance to win). I think it was clear that Efren was able to fight for top places on almost every race and he deserved the win. Yes, there were not big names like Mikkelsen on Lukyanuk in previous years, but from the drivers who were doing the season, he was the best. And there were not so bad drivers, sometimes multichampions in national championships...

[Sulland]

It was also Llarenas first rally in the new Skoda, need more time to get it right I guess.

But level of competition has not been this high in ERC for many years, if ever, so that is also a factor.

[Tom K]

I asked (before the rally) Marczyk about this RS, and he told that RS is really different car and needs package of setups. For sure it is and will be fast car but driver has to adapt. He was in Fafe for test RS and wake up after winter before WRC, but if he was there to score points in ERC, he would choose old car.

Llarena was very consistent, being on the podium or close to it. And to reverse deficit and win Azores with Moura on his land needs some proper skills.

[AnttiL]

There were more drivers doing full season (or almost full and stopped/missing after crash or loosing the chance to win). I think it was clear that Efren was able to fight for top places on almost every race and he deserved the win. Yes, there were not big names like Mikkelsen on Lukyanuk in previous years, but from the drivers who were doing the season, he was the best. And there were not so bad drivers, sometimes multichampions in national championships...

All I can say is that we will see this season how Llarena does with more competition.

[Sal yet again]

His Fafe result was better than last year and he should be strong in the Canary Islands but after that it will be interesting. Not sure if he is doing the main Spanish championship to keep him match fit this year either.

[Sulland]

I was asking (before the rally) Marczyk about this RS, and he told that RS is really different car and needs package of setups. For sure it is and will be fast car but driver has to adapt. He was in Fafe for test RS and wake up after winter before WRC, but if he was there to score points in ERC, he would choose old car.

Llarena was very consistent, being on the podium or close to it. And to reverse deficit and win Azores with Moura on his land needs some proper skills.

Seems like Skoda took a Polo and improved it, and got the RS.
The Polo does not fit all, especially drivers that do not spend a lot of hours getting the setup 100% right.
The Fabia R5 and the evo is much easier to get to 98% quickly, and with much less fuss.
But if you get the Polo right, and is a good driver, it is still one of the best cars in the class.

We need more rallies with many drivers at the levers before we know how good the RS is as a package.

[AnttiL]

His Fafe result was better than last year

Based on final result yeah, but last year he won three stages.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Llarena explains...

"We are losing time in the slow corners, we have no traction, for me it’s a disaster. In some parts I am pushing like hell but I was losing a lot of time in the slow corners.

“Honestly I tried my best, I was absolutely flat out, unfortunately we were not fast. We were not comfortable with the car, we were always out of the line. You can push 200 per cent but you are losing time in every corner, [so it’s] very disappointing.”

[RS]

Llarena explains...

"We are losing time in the slow corners, we have no traction, for me it’s a disaster. In some parts I am pushing like hell but I was losing a lot of time in the slow corners.

“Honestly I tried my best, I was absolutely flat out, unfortunately we were not fast. We were not comfortable with the car, we were always out of the line. You can push 200 per cent but you are losing time in every corner, [so it’s] very disappointing.”

If you look at times of all MRF crews, their tyres seemed to work much better on Saturday than Sunday. On Saturday Llarena was running in a different road position to other guys and his times didn’t compare well to Sesks with same car and same tyres.

[PLuto]

New Fabia RS Rally2 car is different from the old one. You need to find correct setups, you need to adapt to the different driving style. I think now you can understand why Oliver Solberg is so much testing, same like other WRC2 drivers of Skoda...