Tuesday 30th November 2010

It's The End Of A(nother) Rally Era

Video and pic tributes as Ford and Citroen bid farewell to their WRC machines

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Focus WRC bites the dust. (Geddit?)

The Ford PR machine has released a compilation of video highlights to mark the exit of the Focus from WRC competition, while Citroen has contented itself with digging out some library pics to celebrate the end of the C4 WRC's era.

Next season it will be all eyes on the new DS3 WRC for Citroen's rally fans, while Ford's bobble hat brigade will be cheering on the Fiesta.

Here's the link to Ford's tribute flick on the company's YouTube channel, while Citroen's pictorial tribute is shared below. Hankies at the ready chaps...

Unveiling at Paris Motorshow, 2006 The C4 WRC was first seen at the Paris Motor Show in 2006 when Citroën were planning to re-enter the WRC as a Works manufacturer team. The C4 WRC was slated to replace Citroën’s Xsara WRC, which had already won a strong set of victories in the hands of Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz and Sébastien Loeb. A tough act to follow.
First outing at Monte Carlo, 2007 Blasting onto the world stage with a One-two finish straight out of the box, the C4 WRC dominated on the hills of Monte-Carlo with Sébastien Loeb behind the wheel. The victory was the first of eight during the 2007 season, securing Loeb the WRC drivers title and setting the benchmark that all other teams would have to beat over the course of the next four seasons.
Victory at Rally GB 2007 seals drivers title for Loeb Flying through the stages of the Welsh forests, Loeb took an emphatic victory to win the drivers title in 2007 at the final round. The C4 WRC showed its quality on the slippery conditions.
Argentina 2008 Causing a splash on the Argentinean stages, Loeb set about retaining his drivers crown in 2008 and also aimed to deliver a constructors crown to the team with the support of team mate Dani Sordo in the sister C4 WRC. The car’s adaptability to different conditions proved to be one of its key assets during the campaign. The 2008 season gave Citroën its first manufacturer title with the C4 WRC.
Norway 2009 The Norwegian stages are some of the toughest in the world but the C4 WRC provided Loeb with a worthy competitor to take on the Scandinavian drivers who thrive in the wintery conditions. Here’s Loeb attacking the turns in 2009.
Citroën tries out Hybrid Technology During April of the championship-winning 2009 season, Citroën revealed a hybrid version of the C4 WRC. Dani Sordo was in the driving seat, setting some impressive times for a dedicated test program in Portugal.
Triple podium in Portugal 2010 A maiden win for rookie Sébastien Ogier with Loeb, Sordo and Solberg in toe gave the C4 WRC a one-two-three-four finish in Portugal 2010. The feat again demonstrated the car’s dominance on tarmac events. The C4 was undefeated at tarmac-based events during its four year stint in the WRC.
Turkey record-breaking jump Rallying is all about thrills, spills and ‘big air’ and Rally Turkey was no exception. Here, Sébastien Loeb takes his C4 on a gravity-defying leap on the Ballica stage on his way to another victory.
Home victory and a Championship for Citroën and Loeb The French Rally was where Citroën and Loeb secured their driver and manufacturers titles for 2010. It was an added bonus that it was home soil for both team and driver, with the fans flocking to see them cross the finish line and enter racing history books.
A swansong in Wales 2010 With both the drivers and manufacturers titles wrapped up at the previous event in France, the C4 WRC had its final outing in a competitive event, and achieved a final victory to end a four year reign at the top of the championship tables.

[Oddball RS]

Rallying has been pretty pants for a while now, can we have Group B back please and a proper 'Lombard' style UK event instead of the Welsh Rally that we now have. (Pretty please)

I'm an old school fan that likes to stand in snow up to my knees in a North Yorkshire forest.

[Roy C]

WRC on Dave - says it all really.

Oddball RS said:

I'm an old school fan that likes to stand in snow up to my knees in a North Yorkshire forest.

Yes, that's rallying. Nothing to do with WRC.

[Chris-R]

Oddball RS said:

Rallying has been pretty pants for a while now, can we have Group B back please and a proper 'Lombard' style UK event instead of the Welsh Rally that we now have. (Pretty please)

I'm an old school fan that likes to stand in snow up to my knees in a North Yorkshire forest.

Fantastic idea sir, yes you can!

(Hang on, it's not up to us...)

[Streps]

I used to watch it loads until around 2005 due to the woefully poor TV coverage.
And Ford vs Citroen got slightly long in the tooth with Loab dominating

Any change that will attract more manufacturers is a good one.
Just as long as the new machinery is good.

[M666 EVO]

Oddball RS said:

Rallying has been pretty pants for a while now, can we have Group B back please and a proper 'Lombard' style UK event instead of the Welsh Rally that we now have. (Pretty please)

I'm an old school fan that likes to stand in snow up to my knees in a North Yorkshire forest.

Agreed. The Lombard was awesome. And the Group B cars were insane, Delta S4's, 6R4s and Quattros blasting around like a stabbed rat... Golden!

[irodger]

The demise of homologation killed rallying for me.

The competing cars became more removed from the road going versions that I used to aspire to as a kid. I mean the Delta Integrale, Escort Cosworth, Evos, Imprezas etc all had the engines, running gear, looks etc of the rally cars (ok, to an extent they did, but you know what I mean, hopefully).

Having a 4x4 2.0 turbo C4, but not having anything like that on the forecourts made no sense to me and I lost interest.

[oobster]

Roy C said:

WRC on Dave - says it all really.

Well at least they make the effort, the coverage on Dave (apart from a few exceptions) has been pretty good.

Next year Prodrive are back with the Mini too (only 5 events though I think) so that mightliven things up a bit.

[petrolsniffer]

Is it really worth watching anymore with so few works teams?



Infact i'm confused as to why citroen and ford are still in as I doubt it makes that much of a difference to sales anymore?

I can't see a focus or c4 owner saying thier buy was inspired via the WRC vs subaru,mitsubishi in thier haydays?

(Not that i'd like more teams drop out)

[Munter]

petrolsniffer said:

Is it really worth watching anymore with so few works teams?



Infact i'm confused as to why citroen and ford are still in as I doubt it makes that much of a difference to sales anymore?

I can't see a focus or c4 owner saying thier buy was inspired via the WRC vs subaru,mitsubishi in thier haydays?

(Not that i'd like more teams drop out)

The cars were already developed. Might as well run them. All being equal you'd have a 50% chance of winning and putting stickers in cars saying 2010WRC Champions.

Except the Ford was st compared to the Citroen.

[Salom]

M666 EVO said:

Oddball RS said:

Rallying has been pretty pants for a while now, can we have Group B back please and a proper 'Lombard' style UK event instead of the Welsh Rally that we now have. (Pretty please)

I'm an old school fan that likes to stand in snow up to my knees in a North Yorkshire forest.

Agreed. The Lombard was awesome. And the Group B cars were insane, Delta S4's, 6R4s and Quattros blasting around like a stabbed rat... Golden!

Not forgetting the awesome Ford RS200....

[HowardB]

+1

[N88]

petrolsniffer said:

I can't see a focus or c4 owner saying thier buy was inspired via the WRC vs subaru,mitsubishi in thier haydays?

I still don't understand why Citroen don't make an even slightly special road car! Subaru/Mitsubishi raked in massive amounts of sales from the road going rally cars they produce.

[chuntington101]

Can we all take a moment to think of all the guys that have raced these amazing machines (no one can arguee they are not brilliant at what they do), the guys and girls that have designed them, the people that maintained them and most of all the people that have lost their lives for the Rally Motorsport.

Thanks to you all.

Chris.

[anonymous-user]

N88 said:

petrolsniffer said:

I can't see a focus or c4 owner saying thier buy was inspired via the WRC vs subaru,mitsubishi in thier haydays?

I still don't understand why Citroen don't make an even slightly special road car! Subaru/Mitsubishi raked in massive amounts of sales from the road going rally cars they produce.

They do, if you can call it that. They do a c4 coupe, by loeb no less. Its front wheel drive, mine is a 1.6, but it can be had with a diseasel engine too. Citroen cashing in

[worsy]

Used to be a massive rallying fan, but these days more likely to watch F1.

[didelydoo]

Who really cares about seeing a Citroen or a Fiesta rallying? Just not that interesting any more..

[The Curn]

All that aside, watching the Ford video on that link just put a real lump in my throat for some reason

[Welshbeef]

Why is WRC so poor currently/uncompetative?

Firstly only 2 manufact playing.
Secondly the stages (to me) are too short bring back the good old days of long stages where if you make an error you have the chance of making it up instead currently its utterly flat out and your missing by fractions of a second.

I have fond memories of growing up with the Lombard RAC rally. That really was a full weeks event and was always a big feature in the news plus lots of ITV & BBC coverage now... yes its on Dave (well the old stuff) Motors TV.
Every evening there was highlights of the day some utterly cracking stuff both leaders and lower down the filed.

For me Group B I recall as a young kid in primary school note I believe they ended when I was 8 ish. So I missed seeing them compete as Manufact racing cars which is a shame - however I always make an effort to go to the Silverstone Classic where they have demonstrations of these wonderful machines. The Audi Quattro S4 with its bonnet open Kevlar everywhere and flat out running for 5 seconds.... wow.
I was lucky enough to see a T16 last ever Sahara Rally car pushing out 600hp "at least" that was in a different league to any of the other group B cars on demo that day - acceleration visably so savage with its brakes & tyre grip struggling to slow it down... then the doughnut... lovely he came off a jump and drifted it into a full throttle doughnut round and round and round noise stunning heat amazing smoke .... couldnt see the car. There was a crowd watching OAPs young kids etc whole mix and everyone was cheering him on.

Saw McRae (C) demo too & on a rally - for some reason when I saw him he was always notably wider pushing it harder than anyone else. Sure he crashed out a bit but he really gave it everything tha car had and sometimes more than it should have real shame he's gone - no doubt he'd still be mixing it up the fastest. A proper crowd pleaser.

Burns (R) was lucky enough to see him too & remember these two really going for it head to head brillient.

[rutthenut]

Oddball RS said:

Rallying has been pretty pants for a while now, can we have Group B back please and a proper 'Lombard' style UK event instead of the Welsh Rally that we now have. (Pretty please)

I'm an old school fan that likes to stand in snow up to my knees in a North Yorkshire forest.

So were you out watching the 'real rallying' last weekend?

Certainly had snow in the North Yorks forests... I know, we were in it

[Wattsie]

My favourite one, from when I first found out what a "rally car" was... Along with Colin McRae Rally 2.0 on the PC and a birthday cake for my 9th which looked like that car