The 2014 WRC Thread
Discussion
It was a fantastic drive by Kris, driving at the exact pace he needed to. He also did amazingly well to save a huge moment on I think it was stage 18, where he had a big tank slapper! It seemed to me that his pace notes were more detailed than before with calls from Paul Nagle like "dont be brave" and "must stop" 
He really needs to follow this up with a solid result in Germany, a top 5 or so would be ideal!
But those VWs are far too quick, and on pure pace alone just can't be beaten. VW world champs till at least 2016 I think!
He really needs to follow this up with a solid result in Germany, a top 5 or so would be ideal!But those VWs are far too quick, and on pure pace alone just can't be beaten. VW world champs till at least 2016 I think!
Allyc85 said:
But those VWs are far too quick, and on pure pace alone just can't be beaten.
Had to chuckle at an interview with Hirvonen after one of the early stages, something along the lines of:
"I don't know where they're making up so much time, most of the stage was flat in 6th"
"Do you think the VWs might have a bit more horsepower?"
"I'm sorry, I don't understand the question"
Allyc85 said:
He really needs to follow this up with a solid result in Germany, a top 5 or so would be ideal!
I'd say he's pretty much nailed on for 3rd again (hope that's not a jinx). Tarmac suits him (beaten Loix at Ypres and Andreucci at Sanremo) so with the crap cleaned off the line from his starting pos in Germany he may have a distinct advantage for day 1. Ogier won't want a DNF and will be a little wary of the early stages following his incident last year (funny that he was the only one to have grip problems on that bend). JML is improved on tarmac and before visiting the scenery last year (completing the stage with a huge bit of tree under the back axle)was comfortably faster than Sordo and Neuville. The i20 seems to go well on tarmac so if Sordo is in he might be the dark horse. Don't see Ostberg Mikkelsen or Hirvonen troubling the trophy engraver. Kubica might though 
SAGTAFF said:
Trophybloo said:
Kubica might though
Until he bins it
At least he has put in some impressive stage times on occasions before he fell off the road. kimi in WRC was just boring and crashed without being exciting!
Trophybloo said:
SAGTAFF said:
Trophybloo said:
Kubica might though
Until he bins itAfter Ogier, Latvala and the Polo on Tarmac will be tough to beat, the VW is in a different league to anything from Ford, Citroen or Hyundai.
As for Meeke,I have to say I'm increasingly impressed by him (I openly admit was a massively sceptic after his various outings last year) but he's shown himself to be a worthy contender with the pressure reduced with his contract for 2014.
Occam's Razor said:
Kubica will be in the top 5 on Friday, but will bin it on Saturday morning. Ogier will lead by a minute or so going into Sunday morning. Neuville, Latvala, Meeke, and Sordo will fill the top 5.
Can't really argue with that although Kubica might be in the top 3 before he bins it and you never know, maybe Neuville and Sordo can challenge Ogier.SAGTAFF said:
Occam's Razor said:
Kubica will be in the top 5 on Friday, but will bin it on Saturday morning. Ogier will lead by a minute or so going into Sunday morning. Neuville, Latvala, Meeke, and Sordo will fill the top 5.
Can't really argue with that although Kubica might be in the top 3 before he bins it and you never know, maybe Neuville and Sordo can challenge Ogier.
The only one able to challenge Ogier, without punctures or offs intervening, is JML. The i20 shows no sign of being able to match the Polo pair in speedTrophybloo said:
The only one able to challenge Ogier, without punctures or offs intervening, is JML. The i20 shows no sign of being able to match the Polo pair in speedAlex Langheck said:
Agreed with what Richards has said. Sadly the promotors are a bunch of narrow minded idiots, who don't have a clue what fans really want to see 
So its now the top 3 for the win in this stupid shootout idea the promotors have come up with..
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115311
It seems to them that its more important that the stakeholders are happy and not the fans!
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115311
It seems to them that its more important that the stakeholders are happy and not the fans!
Allyc85 said:
So its now the top 3 for the win in this stupid shootout idea the promotors have come up with..
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115311
It seems to them that its more important that the stakeholders are happy and not the fans!
but they've also mentioned: mooooooooooore poooooooooowwwwwwweeeeeeeeeerrrr!http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115311
It seems to them that its more important that the stakeholders are happy and not the fans!
anyone else see the irony in David Richards complaining about the current format of the WRC, when it was him who started the whole mickey mouse stages in the first place!?
Also the lack of info on what he was uninspired about kinda makes this a non story really.
They cant be serious!?!?!?!
if they want to make WRC more exciting, bring back the endurance aspect of it!
Balls to the cries of its too expensive to film endurance events. not one even this year has done without chopper tracking on the top 5-10 cars!
I spoke to a WRCTV guy a few years ago about how they decide where to film from on an event. you know his answer? "we look at a stage map, find what could be a decent section or corner, then drive said corner if we can to see if it is any good"
when the safari use to run we only ever had on board or chopper tracking shots, and the occasional shot from stage side passing an elephant or through a muddy river. but that was it. no different to what we get in a highlights package now.
Also the lack of info on what he was uninspired about kinda makes this a non story really.
WRC Promoter's Oliver Ciesla said:
The damage we try to avoid here is to stay fair to the drivers, don't increase the complexity and keep it simple.
did he listen to himself as he said that? want to be fair to the drivers but probably punish the leader of the whole event up until the last event as he was 0.01s slower over that stage! They cant be serious!?!?!?!
if they want to make WRC more exciting, bring back the endurance aspect of it!
Balls to the cries of its too expensive to film endurance events. not one even this year has done without chopper tracking on the top 5-10 cars!
I spoke to a WRCTV guy a few years ago about how they decide where to film from on an event. you know his answer? "we look at a stage map, find what could be a decent section or corner, then drive said corner if we can to see if it is any good"
when the safari use to run we only ever had on board or chopper tracking shots, and the occasional shot from stage side passing an elephant or through a muddy river. but that was it. no different to what we get in a highlights package now.
Just catching up with the ITV highlights - very interesting.
Ogier complaining about being 1st on the road, yet still being beaten by Latvala when he was second on the road.
Also Latvala comments about the latest generation of cars being easier to drive than the 80s and 90s cars - so we wanna fix WRC? - simples, they buy a load of old WRC cars and race them!
Ogier complaining about being 1st on the road, yet still being beaten by Latvala when he was second on the road.
Also Latvala comments about the latest generation of cars being easier to drive than the 80s and 90s cars - so we wanna fix WRC? - simples, they buy a load of old WRC cars and race them!
"People want an unpredictable outcome that keeps the result open as long as possible and that's what we need to try to solve: how can we arrange that, despite a long-distance run over 300km and three days?"
Who are these "people"?
I want to see the fastest driver on the event over the stage mileage of the event winning the event, thank you very much.
If you want unpredictable outcomes after 300km of hard fought driving, find another sport to screw up.
Who are these "people"?
I want to see the fastest driver on the event over the stage mileage of the event winning the event, thank you very much.
If you want unpredictable outcomes after 300km of hard fought driving, find another sport to screw up.
Below is the new promotional video with FIA's manager of the World Rally Championship, Michèle Mouton* explaining the proposed format changes for the FIA 2015 WRC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU4TUCh-HwE
*= Don't you think Michele looks well different with Blonde hair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU4TUCh-HwE
*= Don't you think Michele looks well different with Blonde hair.
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