2023 rallying thread (WRC, ERC, national and historics)

2023 rallying thread (WRC, ERC, national and historics)

Author
Discussion

greeny12

Original Poster:

300 posts

218 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Ogier is a class apart, isn't he?

He says he's doing the next rally in Croatia... another win there and I just wonder if we might suddenly find him on a full season WRC effort? I haven't googled what his official plans are for this season but I notice he was rallying rather than doing WEC Sebring, and it's probably fair to say that he hasn't (yet) set the sportscar world alight.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in the M-Sport rally HQ last night...

Dynion Araf Uchaf

4,424 posts

222 months

Monday 20th March 2023
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I like Elfyn Evans, best British driver at the moment, but bloody hell, he really can't beat Neuville in straight fight!

Beethree

809 posts

88 months

Monday 20th March 2023
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Pretty damning for the others that Ogier is leading the championship! Absolutely a different level.

ArnageWRC

2,050 posts

158 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
greeny12 said:
Ogier is a class apart, isn't he?

He says he's doing the next rally in Croatia... another win there and I just wonder if we might suddenly find him on a full season WRC effort? I haven't googled what his official plans are for this season but I notice he was rallying rather than doing WEC Sebring, and it's probably fair to say that he hasn't (yet) set the sportscar world alight.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in the M-Sport rally HQ last night...
He did a short Sportscar programme last season, including Sebring & Le Mans, and let's be honest, he was pretty average. Not particularly quick, and plenty of mistakes....He then cut it short when it became obvious he had no chance of a Toyota Hypercar drive.

Being good in one discipline doesn't mean you're good in another; we've seen F1 drivers struggle in rallying....only a few can be good in more than one.

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
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Otago coming up this weekend, looking forward to it! First rally of the season here.

Should be a bit of online coverage if you are interested, between NZRC livestreams and Dirtfish etc.

fttm

3,667 posts

134 months

Friday 31st March 2023
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Bucket list event . Be surprised if Paddon and Hirvonen (is he in the black escort?) don’t win their respective categories.

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Friday 31st March 2023
quotequote all
fttm said:
Bucket list event . Be surprised if Paddon and Hirvonen (is he in the black escort?) don’t win their respective categories.
I'd be inclined to agree (barring random mechanicals/incidents), though Hirvonen has some quick local competition in the classics - especially Deane Buist, who has won it a few times before and has just built a new Escort.

Hirvonen will be in the black Escort, its the one the Rossendale wines team usually run for European drivers as its LHD. The list of famous drivers who have driven that car over the years is quite something! I suspect it would be hard to find another individual car which has been driven by as many different WRC drivers.

Some entertainment value should be provided by a couple of Aussie entries in old V8 Commodores hehe they might struggle a bit on the tighter stuff.

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 31st March 03:30

epom

11,398 posts

160 months

Friday 31st March 2023
quotequote all
GravelBen said:
fttm said:
Bucket list event . Be surprised if Paddon and Hirvonen (is he in the black escort?) don’t win their respective categories.
I'd be inclined to agree (barring random mechanicals/incidents), though Hirvonen has some quick local competition in the classics - especially Deane Buist, who has won it a few times before and has just built a new Escort.

Hirvonen will be in the black Escort, its the one the Rossendale wines team usually run for European drivers as its LHD. The list of famous drivers who have driven that car over the years is quite something! I suspect it would be hard to find another individual car which has been driven by as many different WRC drivers.

Some entertainment value should be provided by a couple of Aussie entries in old V8 Commodores hehe they might struggle a bit on the tighter stuff.

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 31st March 03:30
Sounds like a super event.

ArnageWRC

2,050 posts

158 months

Friday 31st March 2023
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NZ events always look fantastic, and with super entries with a decent mix of cars......and a healthy national championship with proper events.

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
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Was a great weekend of rallying, plenty of action out on the stages.

Even did some recovery duty towing a competitor out after they plonked it into a ditch right in front of me - halfway through the most remote stage of the rally, minimal spectators on that stage other than start and finish, no phone reception, and they managed to have their crash not only in front of a photographer, but one with a 4wd to pull them out once the stage was clear. hehe Fortunately the car was still driveable so I didn't have to tow them all the way through.

This is what I mean by a remote stage - https://www.google.com/maps/@-44.9576337,170.45185... - start there and then zoom out for context...

Now to come down off the old 'rally high' and spend my evenings processing/editing bucketloads of photos for the next week or two...

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 3rd April 01:47

thepawbroon

1,146 posts

183 months

Thursday 13th April 2023
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Very sad news, Craig Breen has died in a testing accident.

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/craig-breen-passes-...


epom

11,398 posts

160 months

Thursday 13th April 2023
quotequote all
thepawbroon said:
Very sad news, Craig Breen has died in a testing accident.

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/craig-breen-passes-...
Desperate news.

Cyder

7,045 posts

219 months

Thursday 13th April 2023
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Terrible news indeed. A true enthusiast who seemed to be genuinely living the dream.
We all know rallying is a risky sport but we push it far to the back of our minds when we get into a car and forget that, but this kind of thing does rather bring it close to home.

P. ONeill

1,455 posts

51 months

Thursday 13th April 2023
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Terrible news, in total shock. Seemed like a really nice guy who was living the dream. RIP.

Beethree

809 posts

88 months

Thursday 13th April 2023
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Yeah that’s f**king awful.
Never expect to hear that in modern motorsport. Devastating after how upbeat he was earlier in the year.frown

fttm

3,667 posts

134 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
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Great sportsmanship from Toyota who will only nominate two cars for points this weekend in Croatia in light of recent events . Closer to home we have the Tendering and Clacton rally , some old mates running car 1 so will be following closely . Looking ahead I've a brief trip to Ireland in August and have managed to tie it in with the Cork 20 , awesome can't wait .

Ranger 6

7,042 posts

248 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
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I’m doing finish radio on one of the Clacton stages.

Anyone else out this weekend?

Dynion Araf Uchaf

4,424 posts

222 months

Friday 21st April 2023
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Ranger 6 said:
I’m doing finish radio on one of the Clacton stages.

Anyone else out this weekend?
miten päädyit Suomen radioon

thepawbroon

1,146 posts

183 months

Friday 21st April 2023
quotequote all
Ranger 6 said:
I’m doing finish radio on one of the Clacton stages.

Anyone else out this weekend?
I've been promoted to Car 0 co-driver, for my sins!

We will hear each other, but maybe not see much of each other smile

Have fun, wrap up warm

confucuis

1,303 posts

123 months

Saturday 22nd April 2023
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Can't bring myself to watch this weekend. Had been really looking forward to Croatia as tarmac rallies are my favourite plus Breen was competing frown....

But did see some Dirtfish highlights, Neuville was leading and binned it while 20 seconds out in front, not good. He really needed a good result to take advantage of Rovanpera having a bad time back in 5th.

He really needs to stop making these types of mistakes, did similar in Sweden but got away with no damage.