The 2015 Rallying Thread

The 2015 Rallying Thread

Author
Discussion

Slippydiff

14,742 posts

222 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
Allyc85 said:
VW on the other hand back their drivers, no matter how many crashes they have..

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/119997
He's Ogier's bh. Of course his seat is safe ! ! biggrin

Alex Langheck

Original Poster:

835 posts

128 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
Allyc85 said:
VW on the other hand back their drivers, no matter how many crashes they have..

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/119997
Remarkable, isn't it? JML has consistently crashed, yet manages to keep his drives; all with the possibility that he'll get it all together and consistently challenge Ogier. Ain't going to happen. If he wasn't managed by Joukhi, he'd be doing something else.

Allyc85

7,225 posts

185 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
JML will be Mikkelsen's bh the way things are going! He just doesn't ever seem to learn and seems to survive on brilliant flashes of speed! Wouldn't surprise me to see him ending up begging for a Toyota seat in 2017!

BTW anybody who is going to Rally GB and needs a hotel better start looking soon as going by booking.com tonight, rooms near stages are selling out fast!

Edited by Allyc85 on Wednesday 15th July 22:36

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Thursday 16th July 2015
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Matton does seem very harsh on Meeke, sure he's not the most consistent driver but Poland was more bad luck than bad driving. Putting him under even more pressure probably isn't going to improve his confidence and performance either.

There have been a few comments coming from the Citroen camp lately that I thought implied they might be struggling with budget cuts as well as the potential axing next year, if thats the case it could explain why Matton is worried about the cost of rebuilding cars as well as skipping testing.

Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 16th July 02:00

Slippydiff

14,742 posts

222 months

Thursday 16th July 2015
quotequote all
Allyc85 said:
JML will be Mikkelsen's bh the way things are going!
Can't disagree with that, I thought as much when I typed my original post. AM's been looking much stronger of late.

confucuis

1,303 posts

123 months

Friday 17th July 2015
quotequote all
I don't think it was posted here but I read a recent post on reddit of an Autosport article that basically said that Citroen would be quitting either the WRC or the WTCC in 2016/2017 (can't remember which). Given the success Citroen have had in the WTCC I don't think they'll be leaving that.

Allyc85

7,225 posts

185 months

Friday 17th July 2015
quotequote all
Tough choice for them as they are spending loads of money, beating a poor Honda team, to probably less fans than the WRC!

Meeke testing for Germany.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfjneRUrB1k&sn...

Slippydiff

14,742 posts

222 months

Friday 17th July 2015
quotequote all
confucuis said:
I don't think it was posted here but I read a recent post on reddit of an Autosport article that basically said that Citroen would be quitting either the WRC or the WTCC in 2016/2017 (can't remember which). Given the success Citroen have had in the WTCC I don't think they'll be leaving that.
yes

The same article I read. On the basis of their lack of commitment to upgrading the car this year, I'd be surprised if they're in the WRC next year (unless Loeb decides he wants to come back and have another go at dethroning SebO)

Slippydiff said:
Allyc85 said:
Gotta love a virgin white Tarmac WRC car testing smile

Heading out to Germany in just under 4 weeks time bounce
Edited by Slippydiff on Friday 17th July 22:24

BOBTEE

1,034 posts

163 months

Saturday 18th July 2015
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
Heading out to Germany in just under 4 weeks time bounce
Edited by Slippydiff on Friday 17th July 22:24
Me too, can't wait! We're camping right next to Service! biggrin

RyanTank

2,850 posts

153 months

Saturday 18th July 2015
quotequote all
the more I see the reaction of Kris & Paul after the shakedown roll in Poland the more I am positive it was just a freak thing, hitting the ruts just right to tip the car over.
the total shock in them both too, generally a driver/co-driver knows where/when it is going wrong and neither displayed that.

Interestingly the DS3 Meeke is using in that test vid hasn't been run since 2012. whether or not its been fitted with all the current upgrades we don't really know.
Citroen shot themselves in the foot too by not making DS3WRC's for privateers other than the special few, look how good M-Sport has done out of flogging Fiesta's!


It wouldn't surprise me if Citroen do pull out of WRC. They saw Ford do it and it hasn't affected the sport too much. that and the fact they are making the DS brand upmarket, and rallying doesn't really fit that bill.


Something I forgot to mention a while back when we were on about Ogier's constant whining about being the sweeper car, tho it may have been in another thread, He's not entirely true in that he's the sweeper. there can be up to 10 cars go through the stage before him, and most while not being completely competitive are sticking to similar race lines.

I'm pretty sure Portugal had 2 cars come through competitively before he did.
He needs to do what Loeb did when he had this problem, call it a bks decision and then go out and prove that you can win from the front or the back.

Allyc85

7,225 posts

185 months

Tuesday 21st July 2015
quotequote all
I think while the others keep on making it easier for him by making silly mistakes, Ogier has proven he can win where ever he runs. Just like any top, successful sports man he will do absolutely anything to gain any advantage.

M-sport have started a big pre-Finland test. Car looks and sounds great, wonder how hard Tanak can push the VWs here? And can Evans have an event in the new car without a tech issue!?

https://t.co/ZYFeEPavuQ

RyanTank

2,850 posts

153 months

Tuesday 21st July 2015
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There's just something about a naked WRC car bouncing off the limit over the roller coaster style stages! cloud9

I do hope the M-sport boys have a good run. Elfyn needs a good result, he's seemingly lost a fair bit of confidence since Portugal prior to that event he was setting really good times, mechanical issues aren't helping him either.

Tanak can be very much like JML in some aspects. He and we know he's got it in him to challenge and win events, the Fiesta is looking quite good for it too for a change, but he just needs that little moment in stage or a slight incident and he loses concentration or focus and either bins it or puts in a mid table stage time.

Paddon is one to watch as he's getting a full spec car for Finland, and obviously has the pace and ability too.

I've a feeling Mikkelsen will go really well in Finland and really upset his VW team mates. See if team orders come up then too

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Tuesday 21st July 2015
quotequote all
RyanTank said:
Paddon is one to watch as he's getting a full spec car for Finland, and obviously has the pace and ability too.
I thought he wasn't getting the engine upgrade until Germany? He usually goes well in Finland though, similar roads to parts of NZ.

RyanTank

2,850 posts

153 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
quotequote all
I should have checked my sources before putting it in writing rolleyes
I saw something on twitter about it the other day. but looks like you are right, it'll be for Germany.

Not that it makes much difference seeing as he's out performed his team mates in an inferior car already wink

Slippydiff

14,742 posts

222 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
quotequote all
RyanTank said:
I should have checked my sources before putting it in writing rolleyes
I saw something on twitter about it the other day. but looks like you are right, it'll be for Germany.

Not that it makes much difference seeing as he's out performed his team mates in an inferior car alreadywink
Not on Tarmac though ? ? ?

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
It will be interesting to see how Paddon goes on tarmac in the WRC car - most of his background and WRC experience is on gravel but he has had some good tarmac drives in PWRC and S2000 in the past.

Blayney

2,948 posts

185 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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Haven't posted for awhile. Hoping to do the Harry Flatters tomorrow, despite the weather. Looks like there's only a handful of designated spectator zones? frown

Foxeh

1,114 posts

131 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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Blayney said:
Haven't posted for awhile. Hoping to do the Harry Flatters tomorrow, despite the weather. Looks like there's only a handful of designated spectator zones? frown
Was heading up, but bad weather and spectator 'pens' means i'd rather stay in and watch the F1.

Mini Epynt was open to spectators even after the MSA Safety ruling, so don't know why Flatters isn't.

chevronb37

6,471 posts

185 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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I'm in Helsinki, getting ready to travel over to the 1000 Lakes area. There will be nine of us staying in a woodland cottage. Can't believe we're actually off to Ouninpohja! I'm no WRC expert but will try to update the thread with some first-person impressions.

ArnageWRC

2,050 posts

158 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
quotequote all
Foxeh said:
Blayney said:
Haven't posted for awhile. Hoping to do the Harry Flatters tomorrow, despite the weather. Looks like there's only a handful of designated spectator zones? frown
Was heading up, but bad weather and spectator 'pens' means i'd rather stay in and watch the F1.

Mini Epynt was open to spectators even after the MSA Safety ruling, so don't know why Flatters isn't.
Another reason why I gave it a miss. I understand why, but they've gone OTT. I haven't attended an event since the Severn Valley stages, and had to spend both runnings in the same 'pen'. I'm not driving 150+ miles to stay in the same place all day. When I go to Epynt I walk all over the place...The Steps, Dixies, Llandeilo Triangle, Piccadilly, etc