WRC - Loeb on 2 wheels
Discussion
I watched the WRC Greece highlights a couple of hours ago. Seeing Loeb driving the 2 wheel Xsara (70kms with the rear falling apart?) was, er, interesting. Even more interesting that they managed to rebuild it in 45 minutes.
How do they do that?
I seem to recall that Gronholm had a wheel hanging off his Peugeot in Australia last year and was carefully monitored by police after an attempted repair and stopped when the 'repair' gave way before he could get to service. Must have been galling for him to see the two wheeled Xsara with bodged brakes driving along with its rear suspension dropping off and nobody seeming to take any notice.
Can't take it away from Loeb and Citroen though. Whatever they do when they build the Xsara it is clearly one tough and adaptable chassis. How on earth they build it to hold together yet fall apart as it did without ripping out all the mounting points (I assume it would have taken more than 45 minutes to rebuild if it had caused major structural damage) would be something worth understanding.
How do they do that?
I seem to recall that Gronholm had a wheel hanging off his Peugeot in Australia last year and was carefully monitored by police after an attempted repair and stopped when the 'repair' gave way before he could get to service. Must have been galling for him to see the two wheeled Xsara with bodged brakes driving along with its rear suspension dropping off and nobody seeming to take any notice.
Can't take it away from Loeb and Citroen though. Whatever they do when they build the Xsara it is clearly one tough and adaptable chassis. How on earth they build it to hold together yet fall apart as it did without ripping out all the mounting points (I assume it would have taken more than 45 minutes to rebuild if it had caused major structural damage) would be something worth understanding.
kevin ritson said:I remember that. Quite a sight to see one of the rear wheels placidly rolling along the road, further and further away from its car, and one of the crew (Elena or Loeb, I can't recall) leaning out of the car like he was wind-surfing.
He did something similar a couple of years ago - with a wheel missing hung out of the window to balance the car whilst co-driver took the wheel (being a gymnast clearly has it's benefits!)
Edited by Jungles on Monday 5th June 11:41
Jungles said:
He did something similar a couple of years ago - with a wheel missing hung out of the window to balance the car whilst co-driver took the wheel (being a gymnast clearly has it's benefits!)
Edited by Jungles on Monday 5th June 11:41
Yep , I remember it too. I think a few people have done something similar when 3 wheels were available. Mostly on stages though.
With 2 rear wheels missing (by the time he got near to service) and covering 70kms on public roads to reach service within a time limit is another matter completely.
He would never be allowed to do it in Wales ...
Presumably the Xsara has some form of rear skid plate that allowed him to try the journey.
All that and he still finished second. Amazing.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff