What does it take to be in the WRC?

[Scaff]

quote:
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Originally posted by freerider
Richard Burns reminds me of Jacques Villeneuve. He did nothing before his title and he'll do absolutly nothing after.The right place at the right time?
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Whould that be why he's currently leading the drivers championship?

Burns may not be the most 'exciting' driver in the championship, but he is consistantly good on all surfaces (and particularly in the rally GB).

He took a while to get used to the 206 because of his height (tall in a small car), but has done very well.

He may not win this year but he will come very close.

Remember McRae only has 1 WRC Championship win under his belt and at present has trouble finishing a rally or not argueing with his co-drivers!

 

[Scaff]

Just done a quick bit of digging about Richard Burns, and the man who did nothing before 2001 managed the following:

Nation 205GTi Champion (in his first full season)
Group N Mintex National Champion
British Champion '93 (youngest ever)
2nd in the Asia Pacific Championship

1999 WRC 2nd place
2000 WRC 2nd place
2001 WRC Champion

The lowest he has ever finished in the WRC was in 2002, when he was 5th, in a car that many have comented was not set-up well for his build.

It has now been confirmed that Burns will drive for Subaru next year, so we will see what difference that makes.

As for Burns not being as good a driver as the rest, remember as he has lead the championship for most of the year he has been first on road for the vast majority of the year. That means he has had an uphill battle to gain back time from the very start.

Now you can have an opinion about him as a person, you can dislike his driving style; but don't say that he has not worked damn hard to get where he is today and don't ignore the fact that he has consistently performed. I mean his worst in the WRC was fifth best rally driver in the world for that year, no exactly shoddy.

 

[vrmx]

Originally posted by Scaff
He took a while to get used to the 206 because of his height (tall in a small car), but has done very well.

If Burns is tall what is Grönholm then?

In the pic they're about side by side so see for yourself.

And I think Burns haven't pushed the car to its limits as it never breaks down on him. Grönholm has suffered from pushing the car to its limits because it can't handle it (but when he does it's faster then Burns' style).

 

[Scaff]

Burns and Grönholm have very different driving styles (BTW I love Grönholm's open mouth look of concentration) and seating positions. The 206 suits Grönholm, not Burns. The car itself and if a driver feels happy with it are a big factor; look at McRae and the Focus, anyone want to say he was a happy bunny in it!

As for Grönholm pushing the car to the point of it failing, not much in the way of vehicle sympathy there, if you can't finish, you can't win!

I don't personally think that Burns has ever been 100% happy with the 206 and the news that he is heading back to Subaru next season is no big suprise. Lets see what happend then!

 

[spike10h]

i like to pretend im a wrc driver when its raining

 

[Sleek Stratos]

I'll know when to pull over then. (hopefully that'll be enough to keep you from smashing into me when you're aquaplaning through the street )

 

[Scaff]

Originally posted by spike10h
i like to pretend im a wrc driver when its raining

Please tell me you don't live in the UK.

 

[emad]

I think you need to be Finnish and insane

Being a Pakistani Muslim raised in the heart of Hicksville USA (Houston Tx.), am I crazy enough to drive WRC?

 

[Scaff]

Originally posted by emad
Being a Pakistani Muslim raised in the heart of Hicksville USA (Houston Tx.), am I crazy enough to drive WRC?

You're crazy enough, but I don't think Texas get the required amount of snow and ice for you to fool anyone about being from Finland.

 

[emad]

Hmm...How about spending the past 5 years living in canada? That adds the snow...now...if only I had more than 2 years driving experience