The WRC 2012 Thread

[TankRS]

Emeye said:

Has Atkinson managed to get some decent sponsorship?

And what exactly was wrong with Armindo Araujo approach? Or is it just political spin for you're ste mate?

atkinson is more likely to get the higher places than the lower end of the top 10 Armindo has been.

but yeah, thats pretty much what they are saying to Araujo.

to me at least, its seems almost a case of BMW saying to Mini 'get results or your all privateers next year!' do they have done what is needed

[Emeye]

TankRS said:

atkinson is more likely to get the higher places than the lower end of the top 10 Armindo has been.

but yeah, thats pretty much what they are saying to Araujo.

to me at least, its seems almost a case of BMW saying to Mini 'get results or your all privateers next year!' do they have done what is needed

Maybe it's a sign that BMW are gonna get serious? I would have though Sordo would have been first choice though? Or is this the first sign of the Red Bull influenced move towards a Ken Block style Xsports WRC with Atkinson being a "cooler" choice?

[sanf]

Emeye said:

TankRS said:

atkinson is more likely to get the higher places than the lower end of the top 10 Armindo has been.

but yeah, thats pretty much what they are saying to Araujo.

to me at least, its seems almost a case of BMW saying to Mini 'get results or your all privateers next year!' do they have done what is needed

Maybe it's a sign that BMW are gonna get serious? I would have though Sordo would have been first choice though? Or is this the first sign of the Red Bull influenced move towards a Ken Block style Xsports WRC with Atkinson being a "cooler" choice?

I'm pretty sure Sordo is under contract with Pro-drive, and is doing all the remaining rounds other than GB. Good for Atkinson, so will the works Mini team be Sordo & Atkinson next year? Things could be looking up -

Ford, Citroen & VW confirmed, with Red Bull as promoters, just get Mini to commit, then Toyota to go for it.

I am an old fashioned chap, and would love to see Subaru re-appear with a 1.6t based car. I read recently in What Car Subaru won't be on the JB power survey this year as they don't sell enough cars in the UK...

Such a shame, it would be great to see a Suzuki,Proton, Kia or Subaru have a proper go at the WRC, build road-going 4x4 1.6t hot hatches and build the brand around it. Ending up with 6 manufacturers would be great

[EDLT]

Some of Subaru's downfall is their own doing. One of their biggest selling cars in the UK was the Impreza WRX, which was a saloon with a big rear wing. So the obvious choice for a replacement would be a fat hatchback and also only selling the WRX in 'limited numbers' then when they finally give in and start selling the saloon they took the big rear wing off so it looks weird (the Americans can still have it though).

It is like they don't want to sell cars, can you even spec it in blue with gold wheels?

[Trophybloo]

[quote=sanf]

I'm pretty sure Sordo is under contract with Pro-drive, and is doing all the remaining rounds other than GB. Good for Atkinson, so will the works Mini team be Sordo & Atkinson next year? Things could be looking up -
/quote]
Do believe next year is the last of Kris Meeke's 3 year contract so Works team is unlikelly to be Atkinson.

[sanf]

Trophybloo said:

sanf said:

I'm pretty sure Sordo is under contract with Pro-drive, and is doing all the remaining rounds other than GB. Good for Atkinson, so will the works Mini team be Sordo & Atkinson next year? Things could be looking up -

Do believe next year is the last of Kris Meeke's 3 year contract so Works team is unlikelly to be Atkinson.

Mini Portugal team are now the works team - so if BMW do decide to have a proper go then it is likely to be with them, certainly not Prodrive.

Sadly Chris Meeke is already a free agent, he has split from Prodrive and is now in discussion with Skoda UK about the IRC drive for next year. Shame as he did a great job in the WRC last year, and has been unlucky being caught up in the whole BMW/Prodive fall out.

[anonymous-user]

If anyone is interested it is Rallyday tomorrow at Castle Combe.
And I'm also very happy that Atko has a drive, good likeable chap.

[Emeye]

PSBuckshot said:

If anyone is interested it is Rallyday tomorrow at Castle Combe.
And I'm also very happy that Atko has a drive, good likeable chap.

I have been wanting to go to this for years now - I always miss it! SO thanks for the last minute update, but unfortunately I'm looking after my 20 month old son while my wife works tomorrow and there is no one available to look after him at short notice.

I would take him with me, as I'm already attempting to indoctrinate in the ways of the car and motorsport, but over 3 hours drive each way is too much.

Damn and blast.

[anonymous-user]

Emeye said:

I have been wanting to go to this for years now - I always miss it! SO thanks for the last minute update, but unfortunately I'm looking after my 20 month old son while my wife works tomorrow and there is no one available to look after him at short notice.

I would take him with me, as I'm already attempting to indoctrinate in the ways of the car and motorsport, but over 3 hours drive each way is too much.

Damn and blast.

I'm sure he'll be alright at home on his own...basically a teenager

[TankRS]

PSBuckshot said:

If anyone is interested it is Rallyday tomorrow at Castle Combe.
And I'm also very happy that Atko has a drive, good likeable chap.

i was going. but couldnt get the time off work as a colleague left and it's left us short staffed.

[anonymous-user]

TankRS said:

i was going. but couldnt get the time off work as a colleague left and it's left us short staffed.

Its £20 which is quite steep (comparing to WRC wales) but you do get to see a lot of of great cars.
I've only been once and that was quite a few years ago so I'm looking forward to it. P.Solberg is the headliner this year.

[TankRS]

PSBuckshot said:

Its £20 which is quite steep (comparing to WRC wales) but you do get to see a lot of of great cars.
I've only been once and that was quite a few years ago so I'm looking forward to it. P.Solberg is the headliner this year.

i know! gutted im missing it

i passed on going last year as i had a Holiday booked and couldnt finance RallyDay and the hol.

then made plans with mates to go, even got the mrs a spa weekend with a friend to the tune of what i had budgeted for the weekend.

well at least she's going to have a nice weekend

[Emeye]

PSBuckshot said:

Emeye said:

I have been wanting to go to this for years now - I always miss it! SO thanks for the last minute update, but unfortunately I'm looking after my 20 month old son while my wife works tomorrow and there is no one available to look after him at short notice.

I would take him with me, as I'm already attempting to indoctrinate him in the ways of the car and motorsport, but over 3 hours drive each way is too much.

Damn and blast.

I'm sure he'll be alright at home on his own...basically a teenager

He may be better off at home on his own. Last time I had him, when his mum worked on a Saturday, we ended up at the local NHS walk in centre having his eyebrow glued up after he managed to find the only sticky-out thing in the entire house to face-plant!

Edited by Emeye on Saturday 18th August 20:56

[anonymous-user]

Rally day was good!
Had an awkward conversation with Tanak, didn't know what to say but still attempted to talk!
Oh and Rachael Patterson is gorgeous!

[epom]

I assume that Loeb will walk away with this round ??

[Emeye]

epom said:

I assume that Loeb will walk away with this round ??

Is Sordo driving?

[Allyc85]

Yep!

Shakedown times...

1. Sebastien Loeb Citroen 2.25,2
2. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford 2.26,0
2. Mads Östberg Ford 2.26,0
4. Petter Solberg Ford 2.26,3
5. Thierry Neuville Citroen 2.26,4
6. Mikko Hirvonen Citroen 2.26,6
7. Daniel Sordo Mini 2.26,9
8. Ott Tänak Ford 2.27,8
9. Jevgeni Novikov Ford 2.27,8
10. Chris Atkinson Mini 2.28,6

Though it all got a bit too got for some

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GZg8CHu-QU

[Emeye]

I was surprised to find out that Prodrive are not doing Rally GB, and instead concentrating on the tarmac rounds this year. Now I know Sordo is a tarmac specialist, but won't they lose out on any gravel development? Or does this mean that Prodrive are not competing in WRC next year with MINI and are just after the best results they can get this season?

Edited by Emeye on Thursday 23 August 19:26

[ArnageWRC]

I suspect with their budget, they've sensibly concentrated on the events the car is best suited to. That means the Tarmac rounds. I did read somewere only the other day, that with no British driver, the Paralympics, etc even if they had done RallyGB, the media returns would have been extremely poor.

The whole Mini/BMW/Prodrive/Araujo saga this year has been a shambles.....I can't see them being involved next year.

[dazm]

actually it's quite the opposite. planning on running a full season next year