The WRC 2012 Thread
Discussion
As usual with the FIA this seems a big mess and they have gone against the wishes of all the teams and drivers in the WRC! I can only guess tha, as has been suggested, the FIA want rid of any remains of the North One era and want to start again. That or loads of money in their back pocket anyway!
Any who the running order for tomorrows gravel stages has been decided...
Any who the running order for tomorrows gravel stages has been decided...
Edited by Allyc85 on Thursday 8th November 17:41
It said on iRally that the FIA put the contract out to tender and the new company won the bid, it doesn't disclose however if they were the cheaper option or the ones giving the FIA a bigger kickback 
The fact they have a fleet of 7 planes and 8 helicopters may also have swayed it, could see the return of chase choppers to the WRC??
The fact they have a fleet of 7 planes and 8 helicopters may also have swayed it, could see the return of chase choppers to the WRC??
1 Ott TANAK 20:39.8
2 Mads OSTBERG +0.1
3 Mikko HIRVONEN +14.4
4 Sebastien LOEB +21.2
5 Jari-Matti LATVALA +28.8
!!
"Drama on the second stage of the day, the Pessells stage, SS2, Mads Østberg and Ott Tänak both setting the same fastest time 15 minutes 54.5 seconds, Tänak leads, Østberg second.
But Thierry Neuville and Petter Solberg both stopping on the stage after hitting - possibly - the same rock, and they are out for Friday.
Drama too for Martin Prokop as his Ford goes off at the flying finish - he sets a time, but has a broken wheel and his rally is also over for the day.
Ott Tänak 15:54.5: "Some problem with steering, something is bent, but no problems."
Østberg 15:54.6 tells wrc.com: "the only tyres that work in this are the tyres we will use tomorrow...I went wide, I thought I'd punctured, there was so much vibration, apart from that, good job..."
Mikko Hirvonen 16:12.0: "Conditions are very difficult, there is so much standing water, really tricky...we had some warnings in the car too..."
Loeb 16:20.0: "We had absolutely no information for rain...road position is really bad...I cannot drive in the road.."
Dani Sordo 16:21.2: "very slippery, no tracking, very difficult to drive. We don't have setup for these conditions, we can do nothing."
Hans Weijs SS2 17:32.1: "I don't have a good feeling with the car...I don't have any confidence... I have hit something already."
"
2 Mads OSTBERG +0.1
3 Mikko HIRVONEN +14.4
4 Sebastien LOEB +21.2
5 Jari-Matti LATVALA +28.8
!!
"Drama on the second stage of the day, the Pessells stage, SS2, Mads Østberg and Ott Tänak both setting the same fastest time 15 minutes 54.5 seconds, Tänak leads, Østberg second.
But Thierry Neuville and Petter Solberg both stopping on the stage after hitting - possibly - the same rock, and they are out for Friday.
Drama too for Martin Prokop as his Ford goes off at the flying finish - he sets a time, but has a broken wheel and his rally is also over for the day.
Ott Tänak 15:54.5: "Some problem with steering, something is bent, but no problems."
Østberg 15:54.6 tells wrc.com: "the only tyres that work in this are the tyres we will use tomorrow...I went wide, I thought I'd punctured, there was so much vibration, apart from that, good job..."
Mikko Hirvonen 16:12.0: "Conditions are very difficult, there is so much standing water, really tricky...we had some warnings in the car too..."
Loeb 16:20.0: "We had absolutely no information for rain...road position is really bad...I cannot drive in the road.."
Dani Sordo 16:21.2: "very slippery, no tracking, very difficult to drive. We don't have setup for these conditions, we can do nothing."
Hans Weijs SS2 17:32.1: "I don't have a good feeling with the car...I don't have any confidence... I have hit something already."
"
Bloomin eck! What a start to the rally!!
SS3 - Ostberg fastest, takes the lead
A dramatic morning in Spain - Martin Prokop, Petter Solberg, Andreas Mikkelsen, and Thierry Neuville all out on Stage 2, Daniel Oliveira and Dani Sordo on Stage 3.
Mads Ostberg going through the 44.02km stage in 30 minutes 38.9 seconds:
"We had a spin 10km towards the end, we tried to make it up before the end."
The Norwegian has a warning light on in the Fiesta RS WRC, but he leads the rally, 2.7 seconds up on Ott Tänak.
Bloody typical too! I put Neuville in my fantasy rally team and he goes off in the first day!!
Great show from Tanak too
Ostberg has to be Wilsons choice for a JML replacement after the season he's had! He could even finish ahead of JML in the drivers championship, a great drive considering he's in a privateer Fiesta
SS3 - Ostberg fastest, takes the lead
A dramatic morning in Spain - Martin Prokop, Petter Solberg, Andreas Mikkelsen, and Thierry Neuville all out on Stage 2, Daniel Oliveira and Dani Sordo on Stage 3.
Mads Ostberg going through the 44.02km stage in 30 minutes 38.9 seconds:
"We had a spin 10km towards the end, we tried to make it up before the end."
The Norwegian has a warning light on in the Fiesta RS WRC, but he leads the rally, 2.7 seconds up on Ott Tänak.
Bloody typical too! I put Neuville in my fantasy rally team and he goes off in the first day!!
Great show from Tanak too
Ostberg has to be Wilsons choice for a JML replacement after the season he's had! He could even finish ahead of JML in the drivers championship, a great drive considering he's in a privateer Fiesta
t crazy
Novikov stuck in a ditch, but with no damage ArnageWRC said:
The time has come for Mads to lead a team. Another sensible, quick and mature drive. His customer days should be well and truly over!!
Agreed! While for Petter who knows whats left for him, he has made far too many mistakes this year for which there is really no excuse any more!Leading positions after SS6:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Mads Ostberg Adapta Ford 1h41m32.4s
2. Sebastien Loeb Citroen + 27.2s
3. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford + 47.0s
4. Mikko Hirvonen Citroen + 1m02.6s
5. Ott Tanak M-Sport Ford + 1m10.8s
6. Craig Breen Kel-Tech Ford + 6m00.9s
7. Han Weijs Qatar Citroen + 6m08.5s
8. Jarkko Nikara Prodrive Mini + 8m20.0s
9. PG Andersson Proton + 9m42.4s
10. Evgeny Novikov Autotek Ford + 10m59.5s
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104140
Craig Breen leads the SWRC title fight by over 3 minutes
Loeb still leading after the morning loop.
Sordo showing he still has the speed on tarmac, beating even Loeb over the morning 3 stages. It's just a shame Prodrive couldn't get a full package together for him this season.
Jari only 9 seconds adrift from Loeb with one stage to go. But the final stage is only 4.1k long and will take an amazing drive to take 9 seconds from Loeb in there!
Rather baffling decision over night from the stewards against Novikov. He was given a 10 minute penalty for having bald tyres!?
Full details are sketchy on the actual decision, but I find it weird how everyone was leaving the stages in Sardinia with appalling tyres yet none received penalties!?
Sordo showing he still has the speed on tarmac, beating even Loeb over the morning 3 stages. It's just a shame Prodrive couldn't get a full package together for him this season.
Jari only 9 seconds adrift from Loeb with one stage to go. But the final stage is only 4.1k long and will take an amazing drive to take 9 seconds from Loeb in there!
Rather baffling decision over night from the stewards against Novikov. He was given a 10 minute penalty for having bald tyres!?
Full details are sketchy on the actual decision, but I find it weird how everyone was leaving the stages in Sardinia with appalling tyres yet none received penalties!?
ArnageWRC said:
Well done to Craig - it would be a fantastic achievement in a normal year, but after all he has been through - I'm not sure of the words to say. Marvellous!!
I hope all of Ireland is proud of him - he has a big future ahead of him.
agreed!I hope all of Ireland is proud of him - he has a big future ahead of him.
It has been such an emotional 2nd half to the season for the guy that i'm sure he will be somewhat relieved its over and he can have some much needed down time to truly reflect on the year.
through various mediums there have been people knocking him for getting back in the car so quickly after the tradgedy of losing Gareth, but i think its taken great spirit and belief to have kept going as he did. it would have been far too easy for him to call the season off before coming back next year for another crack at it.
I believe he has done the better choice by continuing hte season in Gareth memory, and anyone who says he's been a bit cold/unemotional about the tradgedy only need to look at his reaction at the end of Rally GB this year to see how much he hurts still.
I've been a fan of Craig for a good season or 2 now after being told by a 'seasoned' rally fan he's one for the future and by being impressed with him as a driver.
Keep it up kid, its what Jaff would want.
TankRS said:
agreed!
It has been such an emotional 2nd half to the season for the guy that i'm sure he will be somewhat relieved its over and he can have some much needed down time to truly reflect on the year.
through various mediums there have been people knocking him for getting back in the car so quickly after the tradgedy of losing Gareth, but i think its taken great spirit and belief to have kept going as he did. it would have been far too easy for him to call the season off before coming back next year for another crack at it.
I believe he has done the better choice by continuing hte season in Gareth memory, and anyone who says he's been a bit cold/unemotional about the tradgedy only need to look at his reaction at the end of Rally GB this year to see how much he hurts still.
I've been a fan of Craig for a good season or 2 now after being told by a 'seasoned' rally fan he's one for the future and by being impressed with him as a driver.
Keep it up kid, its what Jaff would want.
Totally agreed with the above! Ive been a fan of Craigs since I saw him driving his Fiesta St extreamly sideways to glory and imso happy to see him clinch the title after all that has gone on It has been such an emotional 2nd half to the season for the guy that i'm sure he will be somewhat relieved its over and he can have some much needed down time to truly reflect on the year.
through various mediums there have been people knocking him for getting back in the car so quickly after the tradgedy of losing Gareth, but i think its taken great spirit and belief to have kept going as he did. it would have been far too easy for him to call the season off before coming back next year for another crack at it.
I believe he has done the better choice by continuing hte season in Gareth memory, and anyone who says he's been a bit cold/unemotional about the tradgedy only need to look at his reaction at the end of Rally GB this year to see how much he hurts still.
I've been a fan of Craig for a good season or 2 now after being told by a 'seasoned' rally fan he's one for the future and by being impressed with him as a driver.
Keep it up kid, its what Jaff would want.
TankRS said:
agreed!
It has been such an emotional 2nd half to the season for the guy that i'm sure he will be somewhat relieved its over and he can have some much needed down time to truly reflect on the year.
through various mediums there have been people knocking him for getting back in the car so quickly after the tradgedy of losing Gareth, but i think its taken great spirit and belief to have kept going as he did. it would have been far too easy for him to call the season off before coming back next year for another crack at it.
I believe he has done the better choice by continuing hte season in Gareth memory, and anyone who says he's been a bit cold/unemotional about the tradgedy only need to look at his reaction at the end of Rally GB this year to see how much he hurts still.
I've been a fan of Craig for a good season or 2 now after being told by a 'seasoned' rally fan he's one for the future and by being impressed with him as a driver.
Keep it up kid, its what Jaff would want.
Different people react differently to these things. Look at Markko Martin's decisions after Michael Park died. Such a shame as he was an amazing driver.It has been such an emotional 2nd half to the season for the guy that i'm sure he will be somewhat relieved its over and he can have some much needed down time to truly reflect on the year.
through various mediums there have been people knocking him for getting back in the car so quickly after the tradgedy of losing Gareth, but i think its taken great spirit and belief to have kept going as he did. it would have been far too easy for him to call the season off before coming back next year for another crack at it.
I believe he has done the better choice by continuing hte season in Gareth memory, and anyone who says he's been a bit cold/unemotional about the tradgedy only need to look at his reaction at the end of Rally GB this year to see how much he hurts still.
I've been a fan of Craig for a good season or 2 now after being told by a 'seasoned' rally fan he's one for the future and by being impressed with him as a driver.
Keep it up kid, its what Jaff would want.
Emeye said:
Different people react differently to these things. Look at Markko Martin's decisions after Michael Park died. Such a shame as he was an amazing driver.
Agree, loved him! he was an outstanding driver. One I believe would have challenged Loeb had things not taken the turn they did. Yves Matton has confirmed its either Dani Sordo or Mads Ostberg he wants to fill Loebs seat next season.
Both drivers deserve the chance imho.
Mads has confirmed he's had offers for next season from Citroen, Mini & Ford.
I also hear via Facebook, so not 100% sure of its truth, that Craig Breen and Petter Solberg will be heading up a Ford attack on the European Rally Championship next season.
Apparently Petter hinted his involvement to Colin Clark in a stage end interview.
I haven't seen or heard anything from the weekends stages yet, but will be watching them all on plus 2mro morning.
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