The WRC 2012 Thread

[Trophybloo]

GravelBen said:

Yeah was gutted for Paddon - he doesn't make many mistakes at all and that one may have put him out of SWRC title contention. He was going well for his first tarmac rally in an S2000 car too.

He is indeed out of contention. The best he can achieve is to match Breen's total if he wins and CB DNFs. But as Breen has a 2nd place in addition to 3 wins he wins the championship. Finishing ahead of PGA in any of the first 6 places (bloody hard to blow it!) should give Breen the title even if Al Rahji were to win

[GravelBen]

Paddon's 'off' here - pretty unlucky not to get out of that!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1015126047624...

[TankRS]

GravelBen said:

Paddon's 'off' here - pretty unlucky not to get out of that!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1015126047624...

Very unlucky to have got stuck!! looks like the car beeched itself and the left hand looked like a very muddy/wet verge leaving no traction and the right side with no contact on anything of use to get moving!
the slicks couldnt have helped either.


looking at the comments on that vid too it seems some speccys refused to help try and push the car back on the road! why would you not try and help!?

[Allyc85]

TankRS said:

Latvala was lucky to get away with this off!!

http://youtu.be/AD87gpIaDQk

About time he had a bit of luck! Im surprised the Fiestas chocolate suspension didnt break!

GravelBen said:

Paddon's 'off' here - pretty unlucky not to get out of that!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1015126047624...

Soo unlucky and gutting with a huge lead like that! I hear he has some news to announce soon. Hopefully he will be getting in with one of the new teams as hes a bloody quick driver.

[Allyc85]

Rumours circulating that Sordo has signed an 8 event deal to drive for Citreon next year in the place of Loeb. Also Ford are meant to have matched VWs offer for Latvala!

Very interesting times ahead in the drivers market!

[TankRS]

Allyc85 said:

Rumours circulating that Sordo has signed an 8 event deal to drive for Citreon next year in the place of Loeb. Also Ford are meant to have matched VWs offer for Latvala!

Very interesting times ahead in the drivers market!

yeah, i heard that too.

could be good for Sordo, he may finaly get that first win he has deserved many times before.

[SAGTAFF]

Allyc85 said:

Rumours circulating that Sordo has signed an 8 event deal to drive for Citreon next year in the place of Loeb.

With Loeb doing tarmac events only you would have thought Citroen would have gone for a gravel specialist. I thought Gronholm was looking for a return with limited events so thought that was an outside bet.

Was kind of hoping Mini would put a strong driver line up together so disappointed Sordo not sticking with them

[Allyc85]

People need to forget Gronholm. He was a brilliant driver and his interviews are legendary, but there are many up and coming drivers that deserve a chance ahead of him.

I see Mini have totally pulled their works backing from all the WRC teams so it would make sense for Sordo to go back to Citreon if they do want him, even if he will miss out on his stronger events.

With the noises Prodrive have been making im surprised Mini are totally out, but Prodrive have confirmed they are comitted for 2013 so thats some good news I guess.

[sanf]

Allyc85 said:

With the noises Prodrive have been making im surprised Mini are totally out, but Prodrive have confirmed they are comitted for 2013 so thats some good news I guess.

I really hope they can get two quick drivers rather than just pay drivers. Maybe Prodrive have a suprise in store with a headline sponsor, although I would think BMW removing official status would spook any potential sponsor. Lets hope it works out, ready for a cracking 2013.

[TankRS]

If sordo is indeed moving to Citroen. Prodrive now have an empty seat, i dont think we will see the return of Meeke sadly, but given Atkinsons results so far in his Mini seat could he be the ideal candidate?

[ArnageWRC]

What a shock.....or not. BMW don't understand Rallying, I'm surprised they were talked around to providing backing, no matter how small. I can't believe the Prodrive effort next year will go anywhere.

[SAGTAFF]

ArnageWRC said:

What a shock.....or not. BMW don't understand Rallying, I'm surprised they were talked around to providing backing, no matter how small. I can't believe the Prodrive effort next year will go anywhere.

Its a shame as at the tail end of 2011 with Sordo and Meeke they really looked like they were making progress and really challenge Ford / Citroen

[EDLT]

I think Prodrive will be around the same pace as the Ford/Citroen customer cars - which makes up the bulk of the field. I'm sure there will be at least one pay driver in the car, it might not be the same person for every event though.

I wonder how much a seat in a countryman is compared to a Fiesta/DS3, it would be a good place for someone like Ostberg who's Fiesta has reliability problems every time he's competitive

[Jerry Can]

EDLT said:

I

I wonder how much a seat in a countryman is compared to a Fiesta/DS3, it would be a good place for someone like Ostberg who's Fiesta has reliability problems every time he's competitive

oooooh, hold your tongue you wicked boy.....

[TankRS]

i think Ostberg is part of Malcolm Wilsons 'future drivers' package with Ott Tanak.
i could be very wrong on that mind, as i did hear it somewhere on a rally.

[EDLT]

Jerry Can said:

EDLT said:

I

I wonder how much a seat in a countryman is compared to a Fiesta/DS3, it would be a good place for someone like Ostberg who's Fiesta has reliability problems every time he's competitive

oooooh, hold your tongue you wicked boy.....

Have you read Anthony Warmbold's blog, he was in the same position as Ostberg and many other 'customer' drivers are now:
http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/c...

Obviously it might be biased and a load of st, but I can't see an independent team like Prodrive pulling the same stunt - they can't afford to.

[ArnageWRC]

I can't believe that any decent driver would go near Prodrive-Mini. You would have to be pretty desparate, they are already miles behind the other teams in development. The only drivesr who would are probably rich, and slow.....and are out for fun, and nothing more.

[EDLT]

It is behind the factory cars, but not by miles. Didn't Sordo win a couple of stages this year?

[Jerry Can]

EDLT said:

Jerry Can said:

EDLT said:

I

I wonder how much a seat in a countryman is compared to a Fiesta/DS3, it would be a good place for someone like Ostberg who's Fiesta has reliability problems every time he's competitive

oooooh, hold your tongue you wicked boy.....

Have you read Anthony Warmbold's blog, he was in the same position as Ostberg and many other 'customer' drivers are now:
http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/c...

Obviously it might be biased and a load of st, but I can't see an independent team like Prodrive pulling the same stunt - they can't afford to.

i was agreeing with you.

[Allyc85]

Ostberg and Latvala would be my Ford team for next year if they can keep hold of the later. As much as you cant help but like Solberg he has been a massive dissapointment IMO, and has done little after being given another chance in a works team.

As for Mini their pace seems to have dropped a fair bit since last years rally France where Sordo was right on Ogiers pace, this year was a bit of a struggle. I see Hanninen is linked with them, he has good parking skills...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWibD7OcXbU