The 2015 Rallying Thread
Discussion
Top pics, would love to see the modern Acropolis back on the WRC calendar!
Great win for Craig Breen in the ERC today, with Ingram winning the juniors
RyanTank said:
We'll its back to normality after returning from Portugal yesterday.
I'd like to say it was amazing and completely different from Rally GB that I'm more use to, but in short the organisation needs vast improvement.
There was little to no stage information other than the maps on-line. that didn't help in actually getting us to that location to begin with! At least for WRGB they provide GPS co ordinates for speccy parking and that, or at least have signs leading up to the areas. not just a road block or tiny white arrows with ZE Locations printed on.
I'll admit it wasn't all the Organisers fault, the group of us should have tried harder to get specific location info before we went, but we expected more I guess from Portugal Organisers.
Stages wise they were good, when you eventually got there! we went to SS4 Viana Do Castelo on the friday, and after about an hour and a quarter walk up the mountain we got to the hairpin spectator area, which was already lined 10 deep 2hrs before the first car was due! We decided against staying there as visibility was poor, so moved further up the stage and found the spot in the vid to follow, between the "Zona Espectaculo" Hairpin and the Jump just after it. The jump was just as rammed and treeline just after it meant you could only see the cars lift off.
Saturday stages were pretty much the same story, we tried moving away from the crowded sections but they are way more strict out there for letting you out of the pens, most are manned by armed police! so if they say don't go, then you don't.
We sat out our stage for about 1.5hrs trying to get different viewpoints but we were either too far away to see anything decent, or when we got close to a gravel to tarmac switch hairpin, we were above the roadline and couldn't see anything as the fencing was keeping us from the edge. The best viewing angles were of the cars drifting down towards the hairpin but you were so far away from the stage you couldn't get any decent pics, so we moved again and stuffed ourselves between the police wagon and some trees, typically parked in the best viewing location of the hairpin.
We planned to go to Fafe on Sunday, but when we were getting everything sorted the night before my brother got a txt from a Portuguese colleague who was heading to the stage too but camping overnight. He said he'd parked his car at least a 2hr walk from the stage, and as he hadn't reached the spectator point after his hour Cycle scout out he wouldn't recommend we joined him, especially as this was how it was for people overnighting it! So we heeded his advice after much debate. A shame really as I was really looking forward to Fafe.
So Sunday was spent again down the Service Park, which was held in a Exhibition Centre like the NEC. This had restrictions like the stages and if you hadn't bought the "all access pass" you were penned in. a shame really as some of the best action was with the smaller teams and the DMACK Drivers.
Overall I enjoyed the trip, even if it doesn't sound like it from above, and got to meet Ari Vatanen!
Would I go back, probably, but armed with what I know now at least I wont make the same mistake again.
We've mentioned Spain or Germany next year, so see how that pans out.
Sadly I didn't bring any luck to Elfyn, but he was great in meeting my young niece and nephew, even coming out to sign the Welsh flag we took. Had a brief chat with Meeke while he was doing autographs and he says the cars evolution isn't fully ready yet. but wouldn't give away where its best suited too.
Anyway here's the footage I managed to get - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rLAuR3TAsM
Always heard Portugal was a bit strong with the spectator control, but wouldn't mind going one day. I think it's the way rallying is going to go at all events, with the WRC starting a new investigation on spectator safety.I'd like to say it was amazing and completely different from Rally GB that I'm more use to, but in short the organisation needs vast improvement.
There was little to no stage information other than the maps on-line. that didn't help in actually getting us to that location to begin with! At least for WRGB they provide GPS co ordinates for speccy parking and that, or at least have signs leading up to the areas. not just a road block or tiny white arrows with ZE Locations printed on.
I'll admit it wasn't all the Organisers fault, the group of us should have tried harder to get specific location info before we went, but we expected more I guess from Portugal Organisers.
Stages wise they were good, when you eventually got there! we went to SS4 Viana Do Castelo on the friday, and after about an hour and a quarter walk up the mountain we got to the hairpin spectator area, which was already lined 10 deep 2hrs before the first car was due! We decided against staying there as visibility was poor, so moved further up the stage and found the spot in the vid to follow, between the "Zona Espectaculo" Hairpin and the Jump just after it. The jump was just as rammed and treeline just after it meant you could only see the cars lift off.
Saturday stages were pretty much the same story, we tried moving away from the crowded sections but they are way more strict out there for letting you out of the pens, most are manned by armed police! so if they say don't go, then you don't.
We sat out our stage for about 1.5hrs trying to get different viewpoints but we were either too far away to see anything decent, or when we got close to a gravel to tarmac switch hairpin, we were above the roadline and couldn't see anything as the fencing was keeping us from the edge. The best viewing angles were of the cars drifting down towards the hairpin but you were so far away from the stage you couldn't get any decent pics, so we moved again and stuffed ourselves between the police wagon and some trees, typically parked in the best viewing location of the hairpin.
We planned to go to Fafe on Sunday, but when we were getting everything sorted the night before my brother got a txt from a Portuguese colleague who was heading to the stage too but camping overnight. He said he'd parked his car at least a 2hr walk from the stage, and as he hadn't reached the spectator point after his hour Cycle scout out he wouldn't recommend we joined him, especially as this was how it was for people overnighting it! So we heeded his advice after much debate. A shame really as I was really looking forward to Fafe.
So Sunday was spent again down the Service Park, which was held in a Exhibition Centre like the NEC. This had restrictions like the stages and if you hadn't bought the "all access pass" you were penned in. a shame really as some of the best action was with the smaller teams and the DMACK Drivers.
Overall I enjoyed the trip, even if it doesn't sound like it from above, and got to meet Ari Vatanen!
Would I go back, probably, but armed with what I know now at least I wont make the same mistake again.
We've mentioned Spain or Germany next year, so see how that pans out.
Sadly I didn't bring any luck to Elfyn, but he was great in meeting my young niece and nephew, even coming out to sign the Welsh flag we took. Had a brief chat with Meeke while he was doing autographs and he says the cars evolution isn't fully ready yet. but wouldn't give away where its best suited too.
Anyway here's the footage I managed to get - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rLAuR3TAsM
Great win for Craig Breen in the ERC today, with Ingram winning the juniors
From what I remember when the 'spectator pens' were introduced in 2002-ish, if you didn't get there early, you simply didn't get a good view - which is poor if you've paid for a ticket to watch. I've no doubt that the RallyGB organisers will be strict with the 'viewing areas' policy. You'd like to think there might be more car parks or 'viewing areas' as it won't be much fun if things get over crowded.
Video is up!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbBntBVne4o&fe...
The first spot in the vid was silly fast. Even Seb Marshall (Bottom left of frame) that we talked to on on ss4 and 10 was blown away by the speed, asking if it always looks that fast! He was great, happily chatting away, and giving us loads of insight into the sport. He is co-driving for Abbring who drives for Hyundai later in the year, so that crew has gained afew fans!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbBntBVne4o&fe...
The first spot in the vid was silly fast. Even Seb Marshall (Bottom left of frame) that we talked to on on ss4 and 10 was blown away by the speed, asking if it always looks that fast! He was great, happily chatting away, and giving us loads of insight into the sport. He is co-driving for Abbring who drives for Hyundai later in the year, so that crew has gained afew fans!
Yea it apart from a few idiot marshals who needed their whistles shoved up their arses it was really relaxed and well run, with some stunning views!
I see VW have been talking s
te again..
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/119538
I see VW have been talking s
te again..http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/119538
Nice heli footage from this years Race To The Sky - hillclimbing Kiwi style, bit different to how you do it in the UK!
https://vimeo.com/130784534?fb_action_ids=11685983...
https://vimeo.com/130784534?fb_action_ids=11685983...
Beautiful footage!
Slowly sorting my pics out from the weekend. After handbrake turns in front of us around hairpins on the Monte road sections last year, and this huge jump on Saturday, I am definitely a huge Protasov fan!
ArnageWRC said:
Don't you just love Jost Capito? Talks so much sense.........Er... NOT!!
The sport he wants already exists; it;s called WorldRX.........
It's ridiculous! People have stopped watching the sport because it has gotten too soft, and now he wants to turn it into more of a sprint! Theres no point having the cars and equipment sitting around doing nothing, while they could be out on the stages competing and spreading the word of all the sponsors on the machines. Muppet!The sport he wants already exists; it;s called WorldRX.........
Slowly sorting my pics out from the weekend. After handbrake turns in front of us around hairpins on the Monte road sections last year, and this huge jump on Saturday, I am definitely a huge Protasov fan!
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