The 2014 WRC Thread

[Allyc85]

So pics from stage 7 and 9, which is in my top 3 in the world, with Thiva (Acropolis) and Halfway/Route 60.


WRC Monte Carlo - SS7 Vitrolles - Faye 1 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo - SS9 Vitrolles - Faye by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo - SS7 Vitrolles - Faye 1 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo - SS7 Vitrolles - Faye 1 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo - SS7 Vitrolles - Faye 1 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo - SS7 Vitrolles - Faye 1 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

After that we went to the regroup in Dignes Les Baines, where we were able to meet a few of the drivers... well the ones that were not "on their phones" any way!

Mad scrum to get a selfie with Mr Ogier.


Me and Sebastien Ogier by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Elfyn Evans and Dan Barratt.


Me and Ian with Elfyn Evans and Dan Barrett by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo 2014 - Friday Regroup by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo 2014 - Friday Regroup by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Didnt get any pictures of the Col de Turini as the weather was so bad. But it was nice to just watch and compare how people tackled series of left handers we were at before a much tighter right!

Good times!

Edited by Allyc85 on Friday 24th January 15:11

[Allyc85]

Cheers guys

Camera is A Nikon D90 with a 55-300 and 18-105mm lens. Im amazed it still works after its last soaking, must get myself a proper lens hood!

[Allyc85]

Onboard SS05 Elfyn Evans/ Rallye Monte-Carlo 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkyW_7Erqkc

[Allyc85]

Slippydiff said:

Onboard Mads SS9 complete.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFU3CP73xWE

Aplologies for the cr*p camera position. Someone should be shot. But stick with it, it's 29 minutes of

Absolutely fantastic to watch!

Agreed on the camera angles, how hard can it be to stick a HD bullet camera between the driver seats, which gives a view of cockpit and road? If every car carried one there would be no extra weight for anyone to bh about, and we would get a clear view!

[Allyc85]

Slippydiff said:

Have to say, very impressed with the onboard footage of Elfyn, a really good solid drive, no drama, no risks. Hopefully with the pressure off, they'll be more speed too, but I appreciate the Monte was a baptism of ice, snow and rain for him with a lot of pressure to get to the car to finish line in piece. That he delivered in the manner he did, bodes very well for his future. Robert Kubica take note ........

it just a proper, profesional job by Elfyn really. Took his much more more experienced team mate 2 days to get ahead of him, and Elfyn was far superior to someone like Mikkelsen who has been in very good cars from a young age!

I see Mads Ostberg has been giving Meeke some snow tuition

".@MadsOstberg obliviously took umbrage to my taxi quote… Thanks for scaring the st out of me on the stage tonight! #codriver #SnowVirgin"

[Allyc85]

Its a shame, but you can see why they wont be joining any time soon. They say they want to hear if rally fans want them back, I think with out doubt every fan would have them back! Its just great to see another massive manufacturer being interested in the sport again

[Allyc85]

And so on to Sweden, where there is a worrying lack of snow on the stages! There is some about, but only a thin layer, which will easily be torn up by the first few cars! It will be a case of tyre management if this continues, as they are only allowed 28 studded tyres for the whole event!

Cant see anyone beating Ogier. My main interest is the battle of the former JWRC champions Breen, Tidmand and Evans, who are all in Fiesta WRCs!

Shakedown times:

Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Mads Ostberg Citroen 1m55.8s
2. Jari-Matti Latvala VW +0.4s
3. Kris Meeke Citroen +0.8s
4. Henning Solberg Solberg Ford +1.4s
5. Thierry Neuville Hyundai +2.2s
6. Craig Breen KelTech Ford +2.6s
7. Juho Hanninen Hyundai +4.1s
8. Michal Solowow M-Sport Ford +5.2s
9. Robert Kubica M-Sport Ford +5.6s
10. Yurii Protasov M-Sport Ford +6.9s

Stage one is at 7pm with a superspecial. The battles were voted for by the fans..

The duels for SSS1: @MikkoWRC Vs Latvala; @ElfynEvans Vs Hanninen; Robert Kubica Vs Ogier; @PontusTidemand Vs Mikkelsen; Henning Vs Ott

[Allyc85]

And also the new WRC app is finally out.

http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/february-2014/wrc-a...

Seems alright so far, will be interesting to see how quick it can update stage times etc.

[Allyc85]

Make sure you get the update, as it would only show stage times for Monte earlier.

Mikkelsen leads Tanak after the superspecial, proper stages start tomorrow!

Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Andreas Mikkelsen VW 1m33.4s
2. Sebastien Ogier VW +0.8s
3. Ott Tanak M-Sport Ford +2.2s
4. Jari-Matti Latvala VW +2.4s
5. Mikko Hirvonen Citroen +2.6s
6. Henning Solberg Solberg Ford +3.0s
7. Juho Hanninen Hyundai +3.2s
8. Mads Ostberg Citroen +3.2s
9. Thierry Neuville Hyundai +3.4s
10. Kris Meeke Citroen +3.9s

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112426

[Allyc85]

Ogier leading a V-dub 1-2-3 at the moment, its close though!

Man of the rally so far is Tanak who is up in 4th and doing a brilliant job after a year out! I do wonder if he can keep it out of the scenry though!

Hyundais are showing decent pace, which is encouraging to see!

Leading positions after SS7:

Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Sebastien Ogier VW 39m56.5s
2. Andreas Mikkelsen VW +5.8s
3. Jari-Matti Latvala VW +12.2s
4. Ott Tanak M-Sport Ford +14.8s
5. Mads Ostberg Citroen +22.5s
6. Mikko Hirvonen M-Sport Ford +22.5s
7. Thierry Neuville Hyundai +32.0s
8. Juho Hanninen Hyundai +42.0s
9. Pontus Tidemand M-Sport Ford +44.6s
10. Kris Meeke Citroen +46.6s

Leg 1 - 2014 WRC Rally Sweden - Best-of-RallyLive.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psq8uSXEaVk

[Allyc85]

Ogier loses 4 minutes in a snow bank! Latvala V Mikkelsen for the lead!

[Allyc85]

Which Latvala keeps as Mikkelsen is more concerned about getting his first podium.

Mean while the Brits carry on their snow (Though mostly gravel) experience gaining mission, and Kubica keeps on getting stuck in the snow banks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpace1ohVBU

And I know the adrenaline is pumping, but Prokop is a prick for the following incident. He is st, and never has a chance of winning!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWZ2Xd3thBw

Leading positions after SS15:

Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Jari-Matti Latvala VW 1h47m09.7s
2. Andreas Mikkelsen VW +4.8s
3. Mads Ostberg Citroen +42.3s
4. Mikko Hirvonen M-Sport Ford +1m00.3s
5. Ott Tanak M-Sport Ford +1m06.5s
6. Kris Meeke Citroen +2m28.0s
7. Pontus Tidemand M-Sport Ford +2m43.7s
8. Henning Solberg Solberg Ford +2m46.1s
9. Elfyn Evans M-Sport Ford +3m36.7s
10. Sebastien Ogier VW +3m39.1s

[Allyc85]

Who would have thought that Jari-crashy would be the only one not to get stuck in a snow bank this weekend!

Not that anyone gives a toss

[Allyc85]

I think Becs is better at radio than she is at TV. Is it just my dodgy TV or is the sound quite muffled at times on the Motors coverage? As for Paul King being forgiven, that really is quite something!

Back to rally Sweden and it was a shame for Elfyn's rally to end like it did. As in the Monte he was doing another solid job learning in unfamiliar conditions! Also the same for Meeke, but both drivers can take consilation that pretty much every driver got stuck at some point!

ITV4 highlights in 10 minutes!

[Allyc85]

Anyone headint to Wyedean tomorrow? Great looking entry as normal, and conditions will be challenging to say the least!

[Allyc85]

Hope you had a good day!

I did stages 2 and 7 and while the action was very good, the stoppages and gaps in the field were pretty boring tbh. Still at least the weather forecast was wrong and it wasnt too wet in the end

Shame for Monkey to retire on stage 6 with a stuck handbrake. The car looked great though!

[Allyc85]

Good news from British Rally Forum..

"Tudur Rees the Nav was taken to hospital for checks due to having back and neck pains. He is now home a bit sore but OK.
Justin Fowler-Bishop the driver, is also a bit bruised and sore but is OK.

Many thanks to the emergency and rescue crews, first class job as usual, aslo the crews who stopped to help"

My video of the event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idIPbdbkYgo&fe...

[Allyc85]

3 Hyundais for Portugal. Hopefully one of them can get through without hitting something

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112599

[Allyc85]

With Paddon to do 7 rounds, starting in Italy!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=6406600...

I only expected his news to be more funding for rounds in a Fiesta!

[Allyc85]

Yea they can be!

Ostberg using his superior road position to lead in Mexico. Count down to Ogier retaliation in 5,4...

Pos Driver Car Time/Gap
1. Mads Ostberg Citroen 52m24.6s
2. Sebastien Ogier VW +3.3
3. Mikko Hirvonen M-Sport Ford +11.3
4. Jari-Matti Latvala VW +19.2
5. Kris Meeke Citroen +25.0
6. Robert Kubica M-Sport Ford +1:00.6
7. Elfyn Evans M-Sport Ford +1:14.4
8. Martin Prokop Czech Ford +1:33.7
9. Theirry Neuville Hyundai +1:36.2
10. Benito Guerra M-Sport Ford +2:35.9

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112817