The 2016 Rallying thread (WRC, ERC, RX, etc)

[Blayney]

Fair play to Peterhansel in the Dakar. Certainly deserves his moniker Monsieur Dakar...

[Slippydiff]

GravelBen said:

2015 Hyundai actually looks pretty good in the 2016 colours:

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

Can't say I'm feeling the love. And having watched a lot of the Monte test vids on Youtube, it doesn't look that quick either, I hope I'm proved wrong by this time next week !

[GravelBen]

Paddon has the old car (until Sweden) and has never done Monte before so not expecting too much - he has said his only goal is to finish. Neuville and Sordo have the new car so it will be interesting to get a first impression of how it compares to the competition.

I reckon testing videos for Monte never tell you much because you just don't know what compromise they're testing.

[Slippydiff]

GravelBen said:

Neuville and Sordo have the new car so it will be interesting to get a first impression of how it compares to the competition.

I reckon testing videos for Monte never tell you much because you just don't know what compromise they're testing.

True, but the Hyundai just doesn't look as planted as the VW and looks to lack traction (a bit like the Fiesta) whereas the Polo seems to be very stable and have very good traction, the video of Meeke testing [i]indicates[i/] the car is quick, stable and has good traction. But as you've said, we don;t know what tyres, suspension and diff set ups the car are using/testing.

[RyanTank]

good thing/bad thing? Toyota return to the BRC with a R3 GT86. it is the only current homologated R3 car however. http://www.msabrc.com/toyota-returns-to-the-brc/

Monte testing is a mixed bag, they could be trying to test the tarmac set up but be hit with heavy snow meaning they have to tiptoe round.

[DelicaL400]

RyanTank said:

good thing/bad thing? Toyota return to the BRC with a R3 GT86. it is the only current homologated R3 car however.

I'm sure some DS3s will appear eventually.

[Skylinecrazy]

DelicaL400 said:

RyanTank said:

good thing/bad thing? Toyota return to the BRC with a R3 GT86. it is the only current homologated R3 car however.

I'm sure some DS3s will appear eventually.

it's shaping up to be an awesome year with the BRC. Can't see anyone touching Evans though.

[DelicaL400]

Skylinecrazy said:

it's shaping up to be an awesome year with the BRC. Can't see anyone touching Evans though.

Yeah, a shame the idiots and consequent new safety rules have destroyed stage rallying as a spectator sport really.

[Alex Langheck]

The BRC needs a major push from the promoters; that means some decent TV coverage for once - and decent coverage from the car mags.

[Slippydiff]

Looks like Jost Capito has already convinced Red Bull that the F1 teams need to make F1 into a proper sport more along the lines of the WRC ....



https://youtu.be/lOIq4L-L01M

[Alex Langheck]

ArnageWRC said:

Let's hope this gets more interest than the 2015 thread. Don't think we need separate threads for each WRC round.

No, but that's what we've got.......

Anyway, Shakedown news;

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122547

Edited by Alex Langheck on Thursday 21st January 07:56

[Alex Langheck]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122552

Latvala to stay at VW...and not joining the Finnish Toyota team.

[Alex Langheck]

Ogier quickest from Meeke by 4.1 secs, and Kris had a small spin. The Hyundai's didn't look overly quick.

As for the coverage - hmm, needs to be far better. Cutting away 30 secs into the stage for interviews. What were they playing at???

[Slippydiff]

Desperate coverage, but at least we have coverage. ...

[Alex Langheck]

http://beta.autosport.com/live/commentary/id/17840...

http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/live/split-times/page/63...

[Pwig]

Good news on the British Rally Championship front too:

http://www.msabrc.com/channel-4-and-bt-sport-to-sc...

[velocemitch]

Euan Thorburn in a 208 T16 for the BRC too.

http://www.msabrc.com/thorburn-set-to-unleash-the-...

looks to be really shaping up doesn't it.

[Alex Langheck]

Channel 4 & BTSport, that's good news. Now they need to advertise the fact there is coverage; and get some decent viewing figures. Interest in rallying in the UK has fallen dramatically in the last 10+ years.

[Allyc85]

BRC is looking great for 2016, can't wait to be out spectating on the Mid Wales Stages

[Skylinecrazy]

Anyone go to the brands hatch stages yesterday?