The 2015 Rallying Thread
Discussion
BOBTEE said:
Just wading through a massive pdf, there does appear to be a national rally 
Panzerplatte 1 is 1032 and Panzerplatte 2 is 1045 so it must be merged. Panzerplatte Lang 1 at 1105 is totally separate although it does seem to run very close to 1 and 2. Panzerplatte 3 isn't till 1706!
Panzerplatte 1 is 1032 and Panzerplatte 2 is 1045 so it must be merged. Panzerplatte Lang 1 at 1105 is totally separate although it does seem to run very close to 1 and 2. Panzerplatte 3 isn't till 1706!
This'll be the third time I've spectated on WRC Germany, it's a cracking event.
In 2013 we spectated at one of the downhill hairpins in Waxweiler 2. If you want to see precision, stand right above the apex on one of them and watch the top guys braking for them from maximum speed. The roads are barely wider than the cars, and on the LH hairpin we chose, the apex had a grassy triangle no more than 12" long and 6" wide. Little by little the three top guys removed the grass with their N/S front wheels as their cars pivoted on the apex. The commitment on the narrow roads is total and awesome to see up close.
Jerry Can said:
I remember watching this when it aired originally, I couldn't help thinking what a miserable and grumpy git Clarke was. It wasn't really my era as I got into rallying in '83. Was Clarke putting it on for the show, or was he a difficult, moody individual ? NETWORK Q NAMED HEADLINE SPONSOR OF THIS YEAR'S WRGB NATIONAL RALLY
Not sure how I feel about this?
I'm sure I read something back last week about Hyundai confirming its support for WRGB to run its vehicles as support/safety cars again this year?
Quite surprised that Toyota are going ahead with a Vauxhall backed service park in their Deeside plant. or am I just thinking more into that one than there is.
Not sure either if I'm just thinking that giving it the old name wont make it remotely like the old event?
Not sure how I feel about this?
I'm sure I read something back last week about Hyundai confirming its support for WRGB to run its vehicles as support/safety cars again this year?
Quite surprised that Toyota are going ahead with a Vauxhall backed service park in their Deeside plant. or am I just thinking more into that one than there is.
Not sure either if I'm just thinking that giving it the old name wont make it remotely like the old event?
the Mewla should be a good event now the Cheviot has been cancelled, making the Mewla the last scoring round for drivers. Expect lots of hard pushing from the top boys.
As it stands Simon Mauger has a 18 point lead over 2nd place, and with one round of points to be dropped by all crews its going to take him finishing out of the top 10 on the Mewla or a DNF to lose the title (I think, my maths sucks).
Here's hoping I don't actually go away and get to attend the Mewla! Fingers crossed and dont tell SWMBO!
As it stands Simon Mauger has a 18 point lead over 2nd place, and with one round of points to be dropped by all crews its going to take him finishing out of the top 10 on the Mewla or a DNF to lose the title (I think, my maths sucks).
Here's hoping I don't actually go away and get to attend the Mewla! Fingers crossed and dont tell SWMBO!
There's been loads of He is / He isn't arguments going about. So I was playing it safe
Taken from his facebook page -
Taken from his facebook page -
facebook said:
To clarify: It has not been officially anounced by the championship organisers that Simon is 2015 National Asphalt Champion, anything can happen in this sport and regulations can change. Hopefully this won't be the case, but just in case we shall hold back on any celebrations for now!
Thank you once again for all the messages of support
And before that was this post - Thank you once again for all the messages of support
facebookpage said:
SIMON MAUGER IS PROVISIONALLY THE 2015 NATIONAL ASPHALT RALLY CHAMPION!!!!!!!
With round 6 of the REIS MSA National Rally Championship cancelled, no other registered driver can catch Simon up on the points table!
Major Motorsport would like to thank Dennis Marshal, Skips and Compactors, 4M4 Motorsport, Ravenol Oils, Michelin, Millington Engines, Simpson Exhausts, JD Motorsport Tyres, Corbeau Seats and Humphris Oxford for helping us to acheive this win!
With round 6 of the REIS MSA National Rally Championship cancelled, no other registered driver can catch Simon up on the points table!
Major Motorsport would like to thank Dennis Marshal, Skips and Compactors, 4M4 Motorsport, Ravenol Oils, Michelin, Millington Engines, Simpson Exhausts, JD Motorsport Tyres, Corbeau Seats and Humphris Oxford for helping us to acheive this win!
Judging by his performance and the amount of gushing praise Yves Matton has been heard throwing about for Stéphane Lefebvre this weekend at WRC Germany, I fully expect him to have a Meeke or Ostberg's factory seat next year, if a team still exists.
Kris proved again that he's the only driver capable of consistently challenging the VW drivers. However he doesn't seem to be getting away with the small incidents that others do. perhaps its because he's pushing at 120% all the time. He just doesn't seem to be able to switch it to safe mode.
Despite being consistently beaten on stage times by Kris, Mads Ostberg is doing what's needed and getting to the end of a rally unharmed. All he needs to do is keep this up and he'll be safe for next season
Kris proved again that he's the only driver capable of consistently challenging the VW drivers. However he doesn't seem to be getting away with the small incidents that others do. perhaps its because he's pushing at 120% all the time. He just doesn't seem to be able to switch it to safe mode.
Despite being consistently beaten on stage times by Kris, Mads Ostberg is doing what's needed and getting to the end of a rally unharmed. All he needs to do is keep this up and he'll be safe for next season
my thoughts on the Meeke situation?
He'll be with Ford next year on a multi year contract. I think he probably needs to be.
Or Citroen. I'm not sure there are many front running drivers who would take on a Citroen seat for what could potentially be it's last season as a works team. So I don't think you'd prize a driver out of another team. Kubica is a possibility but he crashes more than Meeke. I can see Lefebrve getting a ride, but at the expense of Ostberg. Maybe another younger up and coming driver as well to support Lefebrve, but I guess from a Citroen POV, if you want the WRC programme to continue you need to win some rallies. Matton might be able to persuade Loeb, in which case it would be bye bye Kris, but that'll cost and will make the team even less competitive as money is diverted. Fundamentally Kris is really the only viable option if you want to win a rally in 2016.
As for Kris, I get the impression that the car is sometimes ahead of him, which causes issues. Also he does appear to try very hard, which is good, but sometimes he has to let the result come to him. If he'd had the Argentina win, alongside a handful of 3rd, 4th and 5ths, then the last 2 DNF's wouldn't really matter. Maybe the key thing is to accept that Kris will it and bin it in equal measure. Take the pressure off and he may perform better.
He'll be with Ford next year on a multi year contract. I think he probably needs to be.
Or Citroen. I'm not sure there are many front running drivers who would take on a Citroen seat for what could potentially be it's last season as a works team. So I don't think you'd prize a driver out of another team. Kubica is a possibility but he crashes more than Meeke. I can see Lefebrve getting a ride, but at the expense of Ostberg. Maybe another younger up and coming driver as well to support Lefebrve, but I guess from a Citroen POV, if you want the WRC programme to continue you need to win some rallies. Matton might be able to persuade Loeb, in which case it would be bye bye Kris, but that'll cost and will make the team even less competitive as money is diverted. Fundamentally Kris is really the only viable option if you want to win a rally in 2016.
As for Kris, I get the impression that the car is sometimes ahead of him, which causes issues. Also he does appear to try very hard, which is good, but sometimes he has to let the result come to him. If he'd had the Argentina win, alongside a handful of 3rd, 4th and 5ths, then the last 2 DNF's wouldn't really matter. Maybe the key thing is to accept that Kris will it and bin it in equal measure. Take the pressure off and he may perform better.
When Citroen signed him, they should have given him a 2 year contract; no pressure, just 2 years to deliver the potential we know he has. Instead he got a 1 year deal, with pressure to perform, and on many events he hadn't done before. He got the 2nd year, but with a car which is not at the level of the VW. Yes, he's made mistakes, but Matton really has no idea how to manage drivers; constantly putting the pressure on; something which VW boss Capito does not do.
I can't see him at Citroen next year, but hope I'm wrong; he has talent. Can the WRC afford to let talented drivers leave?
I can't see him at Citroen next year, but hope I'm wrong; he has talent. Can the WRC afford to let talented drivers leave?
I think Meeke would work well with Malcolm, just look at his record with driver like JML, Tanak, Evans & McRae.
It's thanks to him that JML got so good at tarmac, sending him off to compete in circuit races to hone his skills etc.
Kris needs a team boss willing to accept the crashing and mistakes as learning and dealing with it to better himself. Something he doesn't seem to be getting at Citroen.
It seems all isn't quite so well in British Tarmac rallying after all after this statement from Simon Mauger (sorry for the Facebook link, on the mobile so can't cut n paste)
https://www.facebook.com/4M4Motorsport/photos/a.92...
I think the comment of corrupt officials relates to John Indri's exclusion from the Manx for "dangerous driving".
It's a shame as I'm hoping to go to the Mewla and to see the Metro 4M4 again.
It's thanks to him that JML got so good at tarmac, sending him off to compete in circuit races to hone his skills etc.
Kris needs a team boss willing to accept the crashing and mistakes as learning and dealing with it to better himself. Something he doesn't seem to be getting at Citroen.
It seems all isn't quite so well in British Tarmac rallying after all after this statement from Simon Mauger (sorry for the Facebook link, on the mobile so can't cut n paste)
https://www.facebook.com/4M4Motorsport/photos/a.92...
I think the comment of corrupt officials relates to John Indri's exclusion from the Manx for "dangerous driving".
It's a shame as I'm hoping to go to the Mewla and to see the Metro 4M4 again.
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