The 2014 WRC Thread

[Allyc85]

New year, new thread!

With Hyundai joining and a couple brits in the championship I have a very good feeling about this year!

2014 Calendar

Rallye Monte Carlo 14 - 19 January
Rally Sweden 05 - 08 February
Rally Guanajuato Mexico 06 - 09 March
Vodafone Rally de Portugal 03 - 06 April
Philips LED Rally Argentina 08 - 11 May
Rally d'Italia Sardegna 06 - 08 June
Lotos Rally Poland 27 - 29 June
Neste Oil Rally Finland 01 - 03 August
ADAC Rallye Deutschland 22 - 24 August
Coates Hire Rally Australia 12 - 14 September
Rallye de France-Alsace 03 - 05 October
RallyRACC-Rally de Espana 24 - 26 October
Wales Rally GB 14 - 16 November

[Allyc85]

I seriously cant wait for Monte! its been a long time since we agreed to the trip and its finally here

In other great news Craig Breen has entered Rally Sweden in a Ford Fiesta WRC

[Allyc85]

Highlights will be on ITV4. Hopefully at a more consitent time though this year! There was talk of live TV and web coverage, but there hasn't been anything confirmed yet.

I see the incompetent idiots at the FIA are back to their old tricks again, awarding the JWRC to Citroen which will double the budget for a season by a minimum of %50! Also the deal has been done too late to include the first 2 rounds of the season. Im guessing there has been a few secret handshakes going on in Paris..

[Allyc85]

ITV4

[Allyc85]

Well under a week to go till the action starts and no sign of the new WRC app or website! Not good!

Whats everyones predictions for Monte? Mine is..

1) Ogier
2) Hirvonen
3) Meeke
4) Neuville
5) Sordo
6) Bouffier
7) Evans
8) Delecour

Then who is ever left of the WRC2/Group N crews!

[Allyc85]

epom said:

Is Meeke really quick enough to make the top 5 ?? I hope so..... but..

He showed his pace in his 2 outings last year, its consistancy he has to work on.

[Allyc85]

Big TV news, BT sport is to show live stages and nightly highlights of the Monte as part of a new deal for the 2014 season. Im guessing highlights are still on ITV4?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112090

[Allyc85]

^that man is insane

Alex Langheck said:

Sounds similar to the ESPN deal. Pay TV, and we know how that ended up. Barely 5 figures for programmes. Also probably means no Live streaming on the WRC website or RedBullTV.

At least there is still highlights......

From what I have read BT sport will have live stages and nightly highlights, Motors TV will have nighly highlights, and ITV4 will have coverage at the end of the event. Motors TV are even talking about upgrading to HD at last, and possibly moving to Freeview TV!

[Allyc85]

I think I am going to have to give into BT and switch our broadband! Darn them!

Col de Turini at the moment, come on snow!

[Allyc85]

The TV coverage seems ideal for the different type of rally fan realy. Such a shame the live streaming of all stages, new website and App hasn't come so far.

Slippydiff said:

Blimey, I wouldn't be praying for snow, the chance to see Corsican style road rally action on un-studded slicks, you lucky, lucky b*stard

More like fussy bd I guess

Mixed conditions would be ideal with differing stratigies and sudden changes of weather just after service!

[Allyc85]

Slippydiff said:

Well yes, but I think it needs cars, intact, on the road, to make it into an event worth watching
Kubica circa 2013 rally GB has proven that changeable surface grip conditions aren't his forte, Meeke crashed trying too hard on the Monte whilst doing the IRC two years ago, J-ML crashed on the Turini last year, Ogier at massive speed the year before.
If your weather wishes are granted, the field will be decimated ! !

When are you heading out there ? I know you're dab hand with a camera, get some decent pics and vids please

You lucky, fussy b*stard
(I shouldn't complain, I'm planning to do Germany again this year)

Oh, and just for the record, I met and chatted to :





for the first time at the Autosport show last Friday

A top bloke and really lovely individual, totally unassuming. A real pleasure to have met him 30 years after getting into rallying as a result of a Car & Car Conversions article written by Russell Bulgin about the 1982 Tour de Corse (Bulgin experienced WR recceing the stages at near full speed as a passenger in a full house Ascona 400 before the event)

That's awesome mate

We are at our chalet now, between Gap and Sisteron! Tomorrow is looking for speccy points, then shakedown Wednesday before as many stages as poss then finishing at the Col de Turini! Shall see what I can do with the camera!

[Allyc85]

Get it booked for next year, with 4 people you can do it pretty cheaply!

[Allyc85]

Slippydiff said:

Sounds brilliant, where about's is your chalet ?
Look forward to some cracking photos

Just near a small village called Sigoyer. We had some snow last night but its all gone now and there was very little on our recce today. This is the spot we found for stage 7/9


Stage 7/9 Monte Carlo Rally 2013 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

We went to the service park, but its layed out badly, and Hyundai's posh new gaffe completely seperates the fans from the cars.

[Allyc85]

Nice morning at shakedown, Meeke and Ostberg were on it from the very first run!Evans was steady, but I kind of expect that at this stage given how few miles he has done in a WRC on tarmac.

Huge difference in skill level through the pack. Maybe some were on studs as they wont be used much this weekend, but some people were terribly slow!

[Allyc85]

What a day today has been! Only heard the standings at the end of it and was chuffed to bits to see Meeke and Evans up there! Some of the standings don't really reflect the pace of some drivers it was that changeable!

We started off on the snowy ss1 and heard Neuville crash with a bang over what should have been an easy flat crest, wiping out a telegraph pole!
Next stage had snow down so the cars were very slow, but I quite enjoyed watching the car control.

Then in the pouring rain we went back to our first stage of the day at a quick section over a bridge, before moving back to the other stage at a downhill, open hairpin.

2 runs at the stage I pictured above tomorrow. Bring it on!

[Allyc85]

Typical Bobby k, kind of expected it really the way he was going!

Great day on ss7/9 the viewing was stunning from our hilltop position. Outer had a very lucky moment at the only small bit we couldn't see! Search Rallycameraman on Twitter to see more.

[Allyc85]

A little video I shot on my compact camera. I shall add thoughts and pictures from the event when im recovered as im still bloody knackered!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pPCu2el_YI

BlackpoolRock said:

I'm just glad there's finally a half decent Brit to root for again, it's been too long. Best of luck Chris !!

Is that Kris's brother?

Brilliant drive by Kris. Apart from shakedown and the Col de Turini 1 he never looked that quick, but it was nice to see some consistancy from him. From what I have heard he coasted down the 2nd run of the Col de Turini as the car was over heating from a blocked rad. I would like to think I played my part in his podium by shining my head torch on the boot pinsfor Paul Nagle, so he could see what he was doing when we saw them on the road section

[Allyc85]

Some of my pics from an amazing week at the Monte

Post shakedown service..


WRC Monte Carlo 2014 - Service Park by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo 2014 - Service Park by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo 2014 - Service Park by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo 2014 - Service Park by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Protosov was brilliant on the road section after the cancelled Col de Turini stage, handbraking around hairpins heading towards Sospel on the road section.


WRC Monte Carlo 2014 - Service Park by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Neuville's damaged i20 WRC.


Thierry Neuvilles Damaged I20 WRC by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Stage 3


WRC Monte Carlo - SS3 Montauban Sur L'Ouveze - Laborel by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo - SS3 Montauban Sur L'Ouveze - Laborel by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo - SS3 Montauban Sur L'Ouveze - Laborel by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Stage 4


WRC Monte Carlo - SS4 Orpierre - St Andre De Rosans by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


WRC Monte Carlo - SS4 Orpierre - St Andre De Rosans by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

And then the rain got to my camera and it died, just as Meeke was approaching! Dried it out over night and all was well for Fridays stages.

TBC..

Edited by Allyc85 on Thursday 23 January 16:50

[Allyc85]

Evans being chased by Jari-crashy..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ofZRWMDNo

[Allyc85]

Cheers mate

Mr.Jimbo said:

Anyone going to Sweden? Going for my 25th Birthday, cannot wait now - just watched the review program on motors TV and was nice to see the order shaken up a bit. Shame about Neuville and Sordo, really want to see how competitive the i20 is (Looks to be, after Neuvilles pace right before his off!)

Couldn't believe the amount of snow on the Col de Turini either, mental that it was dry(ish) at the start and finish and like that up there!

It was far from dryish near the finish it was pissing down pretty much all day, starting late Friday night! Roads were closed and there were many landslides as we made our way towards the stage.