The 2015 Rallying Thread

[confucuis]

http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc-2/news/2015/june/new-sub...
WRC 2 version of the WRX STI coming out! Privateer programme though much like the gt3 Porsche.

[GravelBen]

Looks good, something to challenge the Impreza hatches which are still dominating most Group-N / production based championships. Wonder if I'll see one in NZRC soon.

WRC classes within classes might confuse people though, I can see casual fans wondering why the 'WRC2' NR4 class Subaru is so much slower than a 'WRC2' R5 or RRC class car!

[GravelBen]

Sardinia SS20 on-board with Paddon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnZTbdx7vlU

[Alex Langheck]

confucuis said:

http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc-2/news/2015/june/new-sub...
WRC 2 version of the WRX STI coming out! Privateer programme though much like the gt3 Porsche.

Will be a decent car for clubman in a national series, but taking on R5 cars in WRC2? Forget it. They're flogging a dead horse. The GpN cars are past it at WRC level. They'd be better trying to turn the Nissan 370Z into a R-GT car to take on the 911 R-GT.

[GravelBen]

Alex Langheck said:

Will be a decent car for clubman in a national series, but taking on R5 cars in WRC2? Forget it. They're flogging a dead horse. The GpN cars are past it at WRC level.

Its a bit odd the way FIA lump everything from basic Grp N through to R5 into the same WRC2 category despite being a very different class of car, they really don't compare for technology, price(~50,000euro cheaper) or running costs. There is the 'production cup' within WRC2 I guess, but when do you ever hear that mentioned.

I don't think the European manufacturers want FIA to encourage production classes though, maybe because they don't have anything competitive? I always thought PWRC was good for drivers to gain experience at a lower cost.

Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 21st June 12:07

[Allyc85]

I can only imagine it will be driven by gentleman drivers, and not up and coming youngsters who will need to be in an R5 or RRC. Looks nice though, and hopefully we will see more of these and not even more R3 Ds3 cars!

A few pics from shakedown in Sardinia..

Shakedown by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

_DSC0315 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Shakedown by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

_DSC0115 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Shakedown by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

[Allyc85]

Day 1 of the rally, we started on Grighini Sud, which was a tight technical section, before being able to see them over the finish in the distance.

Then we went to Montiferru, which was a brilliant, fast downhill section over bumps, into an open right hander. We met Seb Marshall who was working for Hyundai, doing the split times and weather info. He was great to chat to giving loads of info where possible.

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Then it was off to Sinis - Mont' E Prama which was a beautiful stage by the beach.

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Before heading back to the Montiferru stage, but watching slightly further back on the straight it's self. Seb was blown away by the 100mph passes of the top WRC crews, asking it it always looks that fast!

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Just an epic days rallying, one of the best I have ever had

[GravelBen]

[Allyc85]

Saturday we started at the motocross track stage which wasn't great, but a decent enough warm up for the day.

The first proper stage we went to was the first running of Coiluna, where we were at a medium left right. Had to laugh at a spectator, who after the marshalls had moved everyone back the minimum 10 meters from the stage, decided to set up his deckchair and sit down arms folded, right in the firing line of where the cars would have gone off! After a discussion/argument with the marshal, he moved and we had a good stage to watch.

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Then we moved onto the Ozieri - Ardara stage, which started off on dry dusty tarmac. Always good to see the cars off the line at some point and Ogier was pretty wide into the first left, while Karl Kruuda half spun and stalled It was silly hot on this stage, the car thermometer read 38c at one point!

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Then we returned to the Coiluna stage which is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Long straights, massively steep sections, and of course the massive jump at Crastazza! Brilliant atmosphere too, with many locals who had been there since early morning on the beer. Latvala got slated for his tiny jump!

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

[Allyc85]

Sunday was a much more relaxed affair, watching both runs of the Olmedo to Monte Baranta stage, before heading off to the regroup before the rally finish in Alghero. Great place to get close to the drivers, and of course finish the event with a beer on the harbour side!

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna Finish by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna Finish by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna Finish by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

So a brilliant rally, on a beautiful island all done for £300 between for of us! Do it if you can!

[GravelBen]

So, WRC Poland time...

Meeke's rally not getting off to a very good start at shakedown:

https://www.facebook.com/WRC.News.1/videos/9976843...

[Allyc85]

Meeke to win the rally, like Neuville did after smashing his car up in Germany? Maybe

[confucuis]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/119769
Talk of Ireland as a WRC round again. Would love to see it, though I wish it was in Killarney, now that would be a great spectacle.

[Alex Langheck]

Ireland deserve a WRC round, but please hold it in a better part of the year. 2007 it was in November, and 2009 it was the season opener in January - and both times in cold, wet weather.

And yes we do need another Tarmac round in Europe; do we really need another dry, dusty gravel event? Not really.

[nigelpugh7]

Anyone else going to Manx Rally in September this year?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

We will be there, if any one wants to join us!

[RyanTank]

Toyota seem to be taking their Yaris project quite seriously!


Tommi Makinen confirmed as team prinicipal of new Toyota WRC effort
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/119880

Have to be honest, the Yaris looks pretty good too
Doubt we'll ever get a Yaris GT4 tho

[GravelBen]

RyanTank said:

Doubt we'll ever get a Yaris GT4 tho

There is a homebrew Starlet GT4 kicking around the local rally scene down here, goes quite well really!

Otago Rally 2015 - Day 1 by Ben, on Flickr

[RyanTank]

Lot of love for the Starlet Glanza
Some examples here are hitting close to celica gt4 money. Think the Celica just pips it in my books for the full WRC 4x4 connection

[Allyc85]

The new Yaris testing in Finland.

https://youtu.be/8ByCnLBbaGw

It looks alright, but I'm still hoping for bigger cars when the 2017 regs are finally announced!

[RyanTank]

it seems to look and go all right. Would be great to see them run a S2000/R5 effort on a few rounds in the championship next year!