The 2014 WRC Thread
Discussion
creationracing said:
Fair. I remember when Mikko was the young rising star that effectively put McRae out of a job!
Hmmm... from what I remember McRae was in discussions with Prodrive, and obviously wanted paying - Mikko's manager went straight to Subaru in Japan and offered to pay for the drive......in the end Mikko's year was a bit of a disaster; the crash on the SSS of Rally Finland a lowlight.
On pure pace, this year Mikko hasn't been there - his performance in Catalunya a real surprise. One good event isn't enough to warrant leading a team for a full season. But I'm sure he'll still have a role somewere - he's even shown interest in doing Mull in a Mk2 Escort.....
Alex Langheck said:
Hmmm... from what I remember McRae was in discussions with Prodrive, and obviously wanted paying - Mikko's manager went straight to Subaru in Japan and offered to pay for the drive...
...in the end Mikko's year was a bit of a disaster; the crash on the SSS of Rally Finland a lowlight.
On pure pace, this year Mikko hasn't been there - his performance in Catalunya a real surprise. One good event isn't enough to warrant leading a team for a full season. But I'm sure he'll still have a role somewere - he's even shown interest in doing Mull in a Mk2 Escort.....
But is Mikko's performance down to the fiesta's lack of pace or his ability? None of the other fiesta drivers have shone. Maybe the current rally sprints that we have these days don't suit Mikko - on longer rallies his consistency would be a major benefit....in the end Mikko's year was a bit of a disaster; the crash on the SSS of Rally Finland a lowlight.
On pure pace, this year Mikko hasn't been there - his performance in Catalunya a real surprise. One good event isn't enough to warrant leading a team for a full season. But I'm sure he'll still have a role somewere - he's even shown interest in doing Mull in a Mk2 Escort.....
Alex Langheck said:
On pure pace, this year Mikko hasn't been there - his performance in Catalunya a real surprise. One good event isn't enough to warrant leading a team for a full season. But I'm sure he'll still have a role somewere - he's even shown interest in doing Mull in a Mk2 Escort.....
Personally I do not think you can argue with 4th in the championship - he is best of the rest as the VW car is clearly the strongest. You say he lacks the pace but of the cars other than VW, only Kris Meeke has been quicker but he does bin it a lot. Whats the old adage - to finish first, first you have to finish. I wish M-Sport could find that extra bit to compete with the VW's - then we would see if Hirvonen has it or not.I'm surprised that Hirvonen is coming in for such flack - compared to Ostberg he has a good season. Ostberg has had his butt kicked by all other drivers yet was Citroens number 1!
I wonder if Mikko's sudden improvement has anything to do with the fact the contract negotiations for a drive has started that he's driving to prove a point?
Ostberg still isn't settled into the DS3, I wonder how much his mind is still in privateer mode. His comment on last nights coverage about breaking too much too soon and needing to loosen the belts to grow a bigger pair hinted to that too.
He apparently is still suffering blurred vision that blighted him last year too, but how much of that is a cover we cant tell.
I'm all for Malcolm's method of investing in the younger drivers, look how JML turned out! Elfyn is showing promise with good stage results for his first full drive in a WRC car. His biggest problem I think is not having the same budget for investment that VW/Hyundai and to a lesser extent Citroen have with the development of the car and parts. I wonder if Ford ever will step back up to the WRC stage as a Manufacturer?
Surely with Toyota showing interest and the Brands already in there they could come back?
then again perhaps they lost out so much last time it was just them and Citroen plying the money in to the series that they just cant take the financial plunge again?
Ostberg still isn't settled into the DS3, I wonder how much his mind is still in privateer mode. His comment on last nights coverage about breaking too much too soon and needing to loosen the belts to grow a bigger pair hinted to that too.
He apparently is still suffering blurred vision that blighted him last year too, but how much of that is a cover we cant tell.
I'm all for Malcolm's method of investing in the younger drivers, look how JML turned out! Elfyn is showing promise with good stage results for his first full drive in a WRC car. His biggest problem I think is not having the same budget for investment that VW/Hyundai and to a lesser extent Citroen have with the development of the car and parts. I wonder if Ford ever will step back up to the WRC stage as a Manufacturer?
Surely with Toyota showing interest and the Brands already in there they could come back?
then again perhaps they lost out so much last time it was just them and Citroen plying the money in to the series that they just cant take the financial plunge again?
Mr Peel said:
Jerry Can said:
we don't want the morons spoiling the purity of informed motorsport chat. let them continue to knock one out over the latest f1 fanboi b
ks and leave the sensible stuff to us officianado's
That's the spirit eh?ks and leave the sensible stuff to us officianado's
Allyc85 said:
Anyone else find it slightly strange/worrying that an amateur has managed to capture the pace of the current WRC cars on Tarmac far better than the alleged professionals footage ? The highlight shows do too much reporting style coverage and interviews with the drivers, which is mostly pointless these days, seeing as most people will know the results before they watch highlights.
More action and coverage that gets under the skin of teams would be better I think.
More action and coverage that gets under the skin of teams would be better I think.
Slippydiff said:
Allyc85 said:
Anyone else find it slightly strange/worrying that an amateur has managed to capture the pace of the current WRC cars on Tarmac far better than the alleged professionals footage ? I wonder if the broadcasters are compromising themselves by taking bigger, really high quality cameras out on the stages, when the key is smaller more mobile equipment and taking advice from people with local knowledge?
the WRC TV guys go to places that they think will be spectacular, or to places for best exposure. whereas the fan cam stuff catches the cars at points you'd not think would look good, but with the drivers trying too hard they often get some of the best stuff.
There's a reason there's dedicated spectator areas on most rallies, not just for safety, but for the best action/view point for the spectators to get for their money. but most tv crews avoid these areas as they dislike the noise of the crowds. and the inevitable goon trying to act the fool for tv!
There's a reason there's dedicated spectator areas on most rallies, not just for safety, but for the best action/view point for the spectators to get for their money. but most tv crews avoid these areas as they dislike the noise of the crowds. and the inevitable goon trying to act the fool for tv!
I'm all for spectators moving into stage away from the cattle pens viewing areas! If I'm lumbered marshalling one it means less people for me to watch out for
As long as the people that head in stage behave and keep to safe areas then that's fine with me too
I'm taking my action camera with me, as long as my mates back from his adventures in time, so see what I get from the weekend. On start line friday so some decent noisy launch action, and then no idea what the Saturday location is so may just strap it to me to film as I go!
As long as the people that head in stage behave and keep to safe areas then that's fine with me too
I'm taking my action camera with me, as long as my mates back from his adventures in time, so see what I get from the weekend. On start line friday so some decent noisy launch action, and then no idea what the Saturday location is so may just strap it to me to film as I go!
Latvala testing for Rally GB, in his boring, modern WRC car...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFwKG-240JE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFwKG-240JE
Allyc85 said:
Latvala testing for Rally GB, in his boring, modern WRC car...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFwKG-240JE
Bloody Fantastic cant wait till next week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFwKG-240JE
This is what WRC cars should be more like:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Two rally related articles in the PH daily news email today!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Two rally related articles in the PH daily news email today!
I would love to see Scirocco and Veloster WRCs etc, it shouldnt be too long till we hear the new tech rules. Shouldn't be..
New running order rules have been confirmed. IMO it punishes the leader too much.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116631
Seb Ogier will be pissed!
New running order rules have been confirmed. IMO it punishes the leader too much.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116631
Seb Ogier will be pissed!
Why punish the leader?? This is the WRC, the supposed premier Rally series on the planet. It's a gimmick to artificially make the Title close. Only in Motorsport do they do this. It's a joke.
If they ran football, then tonight Chelsea would be playing with 8 men and no goalie to give Maribor a chance to win; ridiculous.
I'm trying to think of a series that doesn't have gimmicks; there aren't many. Possibly the WEC.
If they ran football, then tonight Chelsea would be playing with 8 men and no goalie to give Maribor a chance to win; ridiculous.
I'm trying to think of a series that doesn't have gimmicks; there aren't many. Possibly the WEC.
Alex Langheck said:
Why punish the leader?? This is the WRC, the supposed premier Rally series on the planet. It's a gimmick to artificially make the Title close. Only in Motorsport do they do this. It's a joke.
If they ran football, then tonight Chelsea would be playing with 8 men and no goalie to give Maribor a chance to win; ridiculous.
I'm trying to think of a series that doesn't have gimmicks; there aren't many. Possibly the WEC.
Why give the leader an extra advantage just for being the leader? Which seems to be what Ogier wants, seeing as he doesn't complain about running first on the road when it is advantageous (like France, Germany, Poland, Spain this year just off the top of my head). To (ab)use your example, should Chelsea get 12 men on the field and the wind behind them if they're top of the table?If they ran football, then tonight Chelsea would be playing with 8 men and no goalie to give Maribor a chance to win; ridiculous.
I'm trying to think of a series that doesn't have gimmicks; there aren't many. Possibly the WEC.
I think having two full days in championship rather than event order is over the top FWIW, but I also think the impact of that running order on results is often exaggerated and only looked at from one side.
Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 6th November 05:21
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