WRC Season ArchiveRally

[GOTMAXPOWER]

Its Mikko vs the M2s now, just looking at the stage times you can see how crazy it is Stage 5 and 6 Sordo has won by almost a minute from Prokop! Stage 7 will be the same if the rain moves in after him.

Stage 7 he leads at the moment by 51.9s from Araujo

 

[tribolik]

And the past 8 years haven't been boring at all with Loeb out front... I guess you misunderstood my explanation...

Its hardly his fault... either the other manufacturers make more competitive cars (Mini Im looking at you) or the other drivers need to go faster and be more consistent. Loeb is one of the fastest, consistent and competitive drivers the WRC as ever seen and he is almost 40 (my age) so fair play to him and its up to the others to raise their game... its better then to win because someone gave the dog a bone...

 

[vompatti]

JML

Loeb goes off, which usually happens only once in a season and Ford has a huge chance to cash in. Catch Citroen in manufacturers championship and Loeb in personal. What happens, both JML and Petter drive off. Unbelievable. Especially when you watch Latvala's splits before his off. Seems that he noticed that Petter is driving a lot quicker and he tried to catch him up. If that guy could use his head a bit more, he has the speed but...

Most amusing thing is that even though Loeb is out of the race the whole situation is playing into his pockets. Both challengers from Ford are out of the race so they wont catch him in points and Citroen wont allow Mikko challenge Loeb in championship (though I doubt he could challenge even if they would allow it) so it doesn't matter if he wins.

 

[tribolik]

JML

Loeb goes off, which usually happens only once in a season and Ford has a huge chance to cash in. Catch Citroen in manufacturers championship and Loeb in personal. What happens, both JML and Petter drive off. Unbelievable. Especially when you watch Latvala's splits before his off. Seems that he noticed that Petter is driving a lot quicker and he tried to catch him up. If that guy could use his head a bit more, he has the speed but...

Most amusing thing is that even though Loeb is out of the race the whole situation is playing into his pockets. Both challengers from Ford are out of the race so they wont catch him in points and Citroen wont allow Mikko challenge Loeb in championship (though I doubt he could challenge even if they would allow it) so it doesn't matter if he wins.

Cool... sorry couldnt help it...

Its not cool at all but so wasnt the Loeb crash.

 

[richiem2282]

Cool... sorry couldnt help it...

Its not cool at all but so wasnt the Loeb crash.

You made your point, let it go...

 

[OK8]

Yeah it's quite premature to think of JMV as a team leader. The situation was much better when Mikko was around.

Rallying is all about fighting yourself and JMV can't do it quite well enough yet. Can't really blame him today with people going off left and right but still, will he ever find the tranquility in his head to be a real contender in WRC...

I must be the only finnish person who actually likes Loeb. I mean he's the best most successful rally driver there ever was but he never really boasts about it and always stays cool. His driving style isn't very flamboyant and he isn't particularily exciting to watch but that's exactly why he's so quick.

I do think it's rotten of Citroën to hire Mikko if you consider the sport (of course from a team point of view it's the perfect situation), since earlier there was atleast some battling going on for the championship but I'd say JMV has lost his chance already and Mikko won't be allowed to seriously challenge Loeb for the title.

Maybe next year when VW joins it'll be more exciting to follow but right now, the season isn't looking very good in my opinion.

 

[vompatti]

I've actually grown to like Loeb as well, but in my opinion it would be good for WRC if we would

a) have a tight battle for both championships
b) get a new champion after all these years

A lot of people are getting bored of Loeb's success and don't watch rallying anymore because of that. Of course we can't blame him for being good, but I'm just saying that it would be a nice energy boost for the series, if someone could challenge and preferably beat Loeb.

 

[richiem2282]

WRC 2012 Portugal Day 1 - Part 1/2




WRC 2012 Portugal Day 1 - Part 2/2

 

[OK8]

JML

Having now seen JML's accident I don't think it's at all hot headedness as such, just another bad luck and/or lack of experience micro mistake. Maybe pressure had something to do with it but not much I think. He's not ready to challenge Loeb though. As a second driver for Mikko he was doing alright but he could've used a couple more years of playing second fiddle.

Hoping to see Esapekka Lappi in a couple years aswell.

 

[Sohvakettu]

I must be the only finnish person who actually likes Loeb. I mean he's the best most successful rally driver there ever was but he never really boasts about it and always stays cool. His driving style isn't very flamboyant and he isn't particularily exciting to watch but that's exactly why he's so quick.

Not the only one. He is one of the best rally drivers ever. Not a big fan of the current generation finnish drivers... They just feel bland after Marcus Grönholm.

 

[spyrrari]

2 Dutch drivers in the top 10 now....i don't mind all the favorites crashing out





Spy.

 

[richiem2282]

Leg 2 Highlights (Fords crash) - 2012 WRC Rally Portugal




Leg 3 Highlights - 2012 WRC Rally Portugal

 

[Sohvakettu]

Sorry, wrong thread....

 

[prisonermonkeys]

So, what happened to Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg and the Go Fast Energy World Rally Team? They both ran in Monte Carlo, and then Solberg ran in Sweden while Wilson was injured, and they haven't been seen since.

 

[FahrerGott]

Live video from Portugal WRC
http://planetemarcus.free.fr/rtp1.htm

Mix with Worldrallyradio.com or WRC.com radio

 

[richiem2282]

WRC 2012 Portugal Day 2 - Part 1/2




WRC 2012 Portugal Day 2 - Part 2/2

 

[richiem2282]

So, what happened to Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg and the Go Fast Energy World Rally Team? They both ran in Monte Carlo, and then Solberg ran in Sweden while Wilson was injured, and they haven't been seen since.

not sure about Henning, but I saw a report somewhere last week that Wilson's injury is worse than first expected and will be out longer than planned...

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

From the stage times it looks like its raining again, Hirvonen and others drop big time to the Ford's. Power stage will be won by one of the first cars on the road which I think will be Latvala.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Mikko Hirvonen has been excluded from Rally Portugal for a technical infringement regarding his clutch, with further penalties (for a second issue with his turbine) possibly on the horizone. Mads Ostberg inherits the win, with Novikov second and Petter Solberg third.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Ouch. That's luck for Loeb in a way.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Not really. It means Petter Solberg is just four points behind him, and the next round is in Argentina - which is being run as an "endurance" rally (it's over 500km, the longest in the sport's modern history) as a trial for similar formats in the future, and Loeb has already voiced concerns over the length of the event.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Loeb is generally the most consistent. It would be nice if Solberg could win, but at the moment neither him or Latvala are consistent enough.

This exclusion thing seems too happen too often. I remember Loeb got excluded because his windows were too thin or something.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Loeb is generally the most consistent. It would be nice if Solberg could win, but at the moment neither him or Latvala are consistent enough.

Have you seen the 2012 results to date? Petter Solberg is by far the most-consistent driver, with three third-places and a fourth in Sweden. Loeb, on the other hand, has two wins, a sixth and a retirement.

This exclusion thing seems too happen too often. I remember Loeb got excluded because his windows were too thin or something.

Loeb has never been excluded from a rally. In the past five years, there have only been five disqualifications (including Hirvonen): Solberg was disqualified from the 2011 Rally France, Dani Sordo was disqualified from the 2006 and 2008 Rally Japan, Toni Gardemeister was disqualified from the 2007 Rally of Portugal (which is also the event where all the Ford drivers got a five minute penalty for thin windows, which would have saved them a few kilograms).

So I wouldn't say it happens "far too often" at all.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Have you seen the 2012 results to date? Petter Solberg is by far the most-consistent driver, with three third-places and a fourth in Sweden. Loeb, on the other hand, has two wins, a sixth and a retirement.

Sweden hasn't been that good for Loeb historically. And judging by all his past years' championships, 3rd place in each rally isn't good enough for Solberg to win.

So I wouldn't say it happens "far too often" at all.

I guess not. Though if it wasn't intentional they should probably inspect their parts better or talk with their suppliers. Exclusion seems harsh.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Sweden hasn't been that good for Loeb historically. And judging by all his past years' championships, 3rd place in each rally isn't good enough for Solberg to win.

Probably not. Nevertheless, it has been enough to place Solberg within five points of Loeb, which is a very realistic position from which to mount a championship challenge. Especially since Solberg is now no doubt familiar with the Fiesta, and can start getting the most out of it.

 

[richiem2282]

WRC 2012 Portugal Day 3 - Part 1/2




WRC 2012 Portugal Day 3 - Part 2/2

 

[Vegard]

Very unlucky for Hirvonen.
Great to see Østberg get a win.
He is starting to establish himself as a future championship contender.
And to have two Norwegians on the podium as well.

Solberg can mount a challenge for the championship now.
He is finally back in a competitive car and has found great speed in the Ford quite quickly. He is also one of the most experienced drivers and is the only current driver with a title, except from Loeb.

Go Petter.

 

[richiem2282]

Very cool shot of Petter's Fiesta in Portugal, Serious water on stage...

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

This is my favourite photo I've seen of last week: http://www.ewrc.cz/images/2012/wrc/portugalsko/DSC_7423.jpg

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

I was looking at the teams standings and wondered when the last time the main Citroen team didn't score points in a rally was, it turns out they had scored points every rally since they returned to the teams championship in 2003 (even Kronos scored points every rally in 2006).