[WRC] Rally Saudi Arabia 2025

[focus206]

Congrats to Ogier, almost perfect season, like in his prime. After last 3 years, I thought he didn't have it anymore, but he does. Part time season win is great, but let's not forget about road position advantage and how this year Hyundai was nowhere and Kalle was already checking out. Not Ogier's fault of course, he still deserves it and no doubt he'll go for 10 next year with the same strategy.

Too bad for Evans. When was the last time a top, full season driver never super-rallied or DNF and scored points in every round? Worst result was 6th. Amazing consistency, but he missed pace just few too many times.

Nice win for Thierry to avoid getting in the "club". Like Acropolis last year, he stayed out of trouble while others had problems.

What a shame for Fourmaux and Sesks...

Goodbye to Tanak and Kalle, super fast champions, we'll miss them.

Utter dominance from Toyota this season, but they didn't manage to do better than the 12 season wins record by VW.

[Odd]

I think its not astonishing because it was almost an advantage. It wasnt like he took a few spontaneous vacations. They were rallies that wouldve gone sideways for him peobably anyway. He not only avoided the stress of cleaning roads, but always gained better starting positions for gravel events.

I think that this should not be allowed anymore. If you want to do hobby rallying in highest category then it should be outside the points completely.

[CeskyOndra]

So when are we gonna know who is driving for Hyundai

[trykmann]

I think its not astonishing because it was almost an advantage. It wasnt like he took a few spontaneous vacations. They were rallies that wouldve gone sideways for him peobably anyway. He not only avoided the stress of cleaning roads, but always gained better starting positions for gravel events.

I think that this should not be allowed anymore. If you want to do hobby rallying in highest category then it should be outside the points completely.

He started in top4 in most of the events.

[Morte66]

Congratulations to Ogier.

Also congratulations to my man Elfyn. He did what I was after at the start of the season -- beat Neuville and Fourmaux -- and also beat Rovanpera which was not on my horizon. Keep at it next year, mate.

[Morte66]

I think its not astonishing because it was almost an advantage. It wasnt like he took a few spontaneous vacations. They were rallies that wouldve gone sideways for him peobably anyway. He not only avoided the stress of cleaning roads, but always gained better starting positions for gravel events.

I think that this should not be allowed anymore. If you want to do hobby rallying in highest category then it should be outside the points completely.

I'm pretty sure I saw people complaining half way through the season that Ogier was cheating and gaining an unfair advantage by skipping rounds.

I'm more inclined to say: "gravel rallies so punish the leaders that the championship lead is self-defeating".

Unless we're going to do something like switch order every lunchtime, which would presumably have huge negative consequences, I don't see what can be done.

I haven't really watched the gravel rallies this year, but I watched this one because it's the finale and I thought Evans had an outside chance. I liked the scenery, and I liked watching some of the driving without thinking about the times, but the rally as a contest just didn't seem worth following. Next year I think I'll stop watching WRC after Japan, unless maybe there's rain.

Anyhow... See you at the RMC thread guys, and have a good end of year.

[doubled1978]

Congratulations to Ogier, he has been fantastic in the rallies he drove, but I can’t help feeling this is a bad thing for the series in the modern era that a guy won by not doing the full championship.
Evans can feel a bit sore on that one. Nobody would deny that when the chips are down, Ogier is better than Evans, that’s just the truth and he will always be a bit exposed when he comes into a direct fight with the very best.
I hope that this situation can be avoided in the future.

[mknight]

For me this season diminishes Rovanperas status quite a lot.

Before the start everyone was saying how he will dominate. Instead he got beaten by both teammates even when one of them drove part time.

The main reason being his lack of gravel pace with Hankook, especially during the first half. I do not see how this was in any way caused by his lack of motivation, rather the opposite. The struggles were likely one of the reasons why he left.

Obviously this does not mean he couldn't win again next year if he tried, but he is nowhere near "greatest ever" class at this point.

[mknight]

Congratulations to Ogier, he has been fantastic in the rallies he drove, but I can’t help feeling this is a bad thing for the series in the modern era that a guy won by not doing the full championship.

Loeb did as well, but not by choice.

[Kras]

Kalle and Tanak retiring, Evans losing the title to "part-time" Ogier... Next season Ogier will stat pad some more in a dead series before retiring.

It looks grim and I wonder if I'll even be able to force myself to watch any of it