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PSBuckshot
Original Poster
4,641 posts
28 months
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Seeing as there isn't one yet and the Monte Carlo rally is around the corner I thought I better create one.
Nothing to say yet but my pre season tip is Hirvonen to win the title(loeb can't win all the time can he?...). Him in the DS3 will be brilliant, also looking forward to seeing Solberg with Ford.
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EDLT
14,580 posts
75 months
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I think Loeb will beat Hirvonen, he's too inconsistent and at times struggled to beat JML. He'll be a solid second/third depending on what JML/Solberg can do. Also inb4 WRC is s  t bring back group B.
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PSBuckshot
Original Poster
4,641 posts
28 months
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I was tempted to call Latvala but I just fancy Hirvonen to do something special. EDLT said: Also inb4 WRC is s t bring back group B. And yes I expect this 
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caz4213
308 posts
80 months
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Given Latvala's form towards the end of last season I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do. I know Monte Carlo should be a straightforward Loeb win (given his tarmac record) but in Rally Spain last year Jari-Matti was winning tarmac stages on merit, beating Loeb in the process. It's got the potential to be the best season in the WRC since the McRae-Burns-Sainz-Makkinen-Gronholm era I reckon.
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vtgts300kw
397 posts
46 months
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Loeb will be verging on impossible to beat this year, as odds on, it'll be his last year competing.
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PugwasHDJ80
5,184 posts
90 months
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Its getting a bit dull watching him win all the time though- also find him a little humourless to talk to....
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PSBuckshot
Original Poster
4,641 posts
28 months
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I fancy Sordo for a top 3 finish. Been watching his preseason and looks mighty.
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RonJohnson
298 posts
40 months
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Looking forward to seeing what Solberg (Petter) can do in a factory Ford.
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Cyder
4,769 posts
89 months
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I hear Henning Solberg and Matt Wilson still aren't sure if they're going to start the event due to funding issues with their sponsor. The WRC is really quite depressing at present. 
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Allyc85
3,683 posts
55 months
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Looks like all is well now with the previously covered up sponsor now unveiled and both Mat and henning being in the start of season photo. The car.. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150592492...Championship wise it is out of Loeb and JML for me. No doubt Petter will be up there but JML is rediculously fast and just needs to cut out the small mistakes now he has cut out the much bigger ones! As for Hirvonen he needs a massive turn around to have a chance after being so far off the pace in 2011 and relying on team orders. It might just be that the Citreon suits him much better, but of course there is the fact that he has signed up to be number 2 and loeb would need the biggest nightmare to be out of the running. Either way, after all the s t that has gone on, I cant bloody wait for the season to start tomorrow! 
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Mini1275
9,415 posts
51 months
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I'm surprised Matthew Wilson is still in it to be honest, he's not shown any real potential in my opinion. Loeb vs Latvala vs Solberg for the title. Hopefully Petter will snatch it  .
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caz4213
308 posts
80 months
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Mini1275 said: I'm surprised Matthew Wilson is still in it to be honest, he's not shown any real potential in my opinion. I hate to say it but I agree. If he wasn't Malcolm Wilson's son would he still be there? All the same we do need some British interest, but I'd prefer it if it was Kris Meeke or Guy Wilks, proven winners.
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EDLT
14,580 posts
75 months
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caz4213 said: Mini1275 said: I'm surprised Matthew Wilson is still in it to be honest, he's not shown any real potential in my opinion. I hate to say it but I agree. If he wasn't Malcolm Wilson's son would he still be there? All the same we do need some British interest, but I'd prefer it if it was Kris Meeke or Guy Wilks, proven winners. I agree, he would have been gone a long time ago if it wasn't for his dad. There are quite a few British drivers that never got a chance in WRC, I assume it is a similar story for everyone though. Rallying has just been too expensive for too long.
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Allyc85
3,683 posts
55 months
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TankRS
1,408 posts
23 months
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got conflicting reports on who's fastest. as far as i can tell these are the official times, but other webistes give loeb fastest!?
Shakedown times -
Novikov (Fiesta WRC) 2’13’0
Araujo (Mini WRC) 2’13’2
Loeb (DS3 WRC) 2’13’5
P.Solberg (Fiesta WRC) 2’13’9
Neuville (DS3 WRC) 2’14’0
Latvala (Fiesta WRC) 2’14’0
Hirvonen (DS3 WRC) 2’14’7
Sordo (Mini WRC) 2’14’9
Tänak (Fiesta WRC) 2’16’3
Ogier (Fabia S2000) 2’17’0
H.Solberg (Fiesta WRC) 2’17’2
Delecour (Fiesta WRC) 2’17’3
Campana (Mini WRC) 2’17’7
Prokop (Fiesta WRC) 2’17’9
Wilson (Fiesta WRC) 2’18’2
Maurin (Fiesta WRC° 2’18’8
Van Merksteijn (DS3 WRC) 2’18’9
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BBS-LM
3,487 posts
93 months
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vtgts300kw said: Loeb will be verging on impossible to beat this year, as odds on, it'll be his last year competing. He has probably been saying to himself, whats the point in competing, I have no competition. 
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TankRS
1,408 posts
23 months
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BBS-LM said: vtgts300kw said: Loeb will be verging on impossible to beat this year, as odds on, it'll be his last year competing. He has probably been saying to himself, whats the point in competing, I have no competition. especially since his closest rival has now joined the same team to be loeb/citroens bh, just to make the title easier for him! i'm rootin for Ford (as always) and hope petter can get that win he so deserved as a privateer and that both he and latvala make it one hell of a difficult season for Loeb!
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ArnageWRC
591 posts
28 months
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Autosprout have Loeb the as fastest - yet others have Novikov as the quickest.
Hmm, not sure I'd be trusting Autosprout - their main headline is about Senna to Williams, another example of them placing F1 above everything - even the oldest, most famous event in the WRC.....
Unlike last year when anyone of the top10 could have won - it's only about 2-3 who can win: Loeb, Latvala or Hirvonen. Petter doesn't have a great record in the Monte. If it is mainly dry, then Loeb - however, if there's a bit of snow - there could be some fun.
Look out for Ogier in the VW run Fabia S2000 - I can see him setting some very quick times and getting in the top 6. Also Neuville in the Citroen junior team - this boy will be a future WRChampion.
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Motorsport Muse
168 posts
101 months
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I cannot wait for the Monte to start now. There seems to be a bit of a buzz about the rally with a few drivers changing teams and the quick youngsters like Neuville and Tanak helping to mix things up further.
There are a couple of car / driver combinations who will be able to take the fight to Loeb on the odd stage but in terms of the world championship I think it is unlikely he will be beaten again.
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GravelBen
10,024 posts
99 months
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ArnageWRC said: Look out for Ogier in the VW run Fabia S2000 - I can see him setting some very quick times and getting in the top 6.  He will be a good benchmark for Paddon to chase (moving to S2000 after dominating PWRC), I think he will have a much bigger challenge this year!
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