The 2017 Rallying thread
Discussion
First time in a long time the WRC looks amazing.
The speed and commitment look on a different level.
Another clip taken by someone on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeNEyeEMWlk
Finally something to get very excited about
The speed and commitment look on a different level.
Another clip taken by someone on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeNEyeEMWlk
Finally something to get very excited about
ELUSIVEJIM said:
First time in a long time the WRC looks amazing.
The speed and commitment look on a different level.
Another clip taken by someone on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeNEyeEMWlk
Finally something to get very excited about
Best year since a certain two french drivers keep on winning the championship best for a few years the speed on the cars the look on them and how long it takes a few to get used to driveing them. Roll on findland its going to be mental.The speed and commitment look on a different level.
Another clip taken by someone on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeNEyeEMWlk
Finally something to get very excited about
Oh here we go again.
The fire engine sounds unbelievable.
Events will be cancelled and no doubt the cars will be back to lower bhp figures inn the coming years.
Yes some of the crowd control needs to be improved and the incident with the fire truck sounds unbelievable but the reason the WRC is getting more popular is due to the faster cars.
I really hope the FIA does not go and kill the series as they have done in the past.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130560...
The fire engine sounds unbelievable.
Events will be cancelled and no doubt the cars will be back to lower bhp figures inn the coming years.
Yes some of the crowd control needs to be improved and the incident with the fire truck sounds unbelievable but the reason the WRC is getting more popular is due to the faster cars.
I really hope the FIA does not go and kill the series as they have done in the past.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130560...
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Oh here we go again.
The fire engine sounds unbelievable.
Events will be cancelled and no doubt the cars will be back to lower bhp figures inn the coming years.
Yes some of the crowd control needs to be improved and the incident with the fire truck sounds unbelievable but the reason the WRC is getting more popular is due to the faster cars.
I really hope the FIA does not go and kill the series as they have done in the past.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130560...
If I was flat out last thing I would won't to see is a fire engine coming the other way...there again if it did hit it and caught fire then it could be a good thing.. fans only have they self to blame ive done it my self when the safety car comes and moves us soon as the stage gos live time to go back I can't see them slowing it down what difference would it make.. some country's don't like to kill sport like others but like to kill they fans buy the sounds of it at the end of the day every fan has they own mind on the back of every wales rally ticket I bought it says enter at own risk motor motor sport is dangerous expect the unexpected not that I bought a lot one or two but that stuck in my mind remember elivin needs you to stay safe is the latest I've seen. The fire engine sounds unbelievable.
Events will be cancelled and no doubt the cars will be back to lower bhp figures inn the coming years.
Yes some of the crowd control needs to be improved and the incident with the fire truck sounds unbelievable but the reason the WRC is getting more popular is due to the faster cars.
I really hope the FIA does not go and kill the series as they have done in the past.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130560...
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Oh here we go again.
The fire engine sounds unbelievable.
Events will be cancelled and no doubt the cars will be back to lower bhp figures inn the coming years.
Yes some of the crowd control needs to be improved and the incident with the fire truck sounds unbelievable but the reason the WRC is getting more popular is due to the faster cars.
I really hope the FIA does not go and kill the series as they have done in the past.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130560...
Right choice to me, if the organisers cant control the crowds, then they're not fit to hold an WRC round. I know getting close to the action is part of the sport and the people know the risks, but i'm sure the last thing drivers want to do is kill people because of a small mistake, Mikkelson especially.The fire engine sounds unbelievable.
Events will be cancelled and no doubt the cars will be back to lower bhp figures inn the coming years.
Yes some of the crowd control needs to be improved and the incident with the fire truck sounds unbelievable but the reason the WRC is getting more popular is due to the faster cars.
I really hope the FIA does not go and kill the series as they have done in the past.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130560...
Maybe if the FIA took measures like this back in the 80s group b might of lasted longer (or group s might of seen the light of day)
I think binning the rally would sadly be the right decision given the complaints during the event by drivers and teams.
The rally only has itself to blame, and I think they realise this by trying to play it down and make it all about the fire truck and ignoring the comments of spectators out manning marshals 100-1.
here's a short vid (crap edited) of the fire truck - https://youtu.be/tpWFF6caVEg?t=9
Imagine if this was what would have happened, except worse as the truck would've been higher up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C-tUiwj66I
Personal experience of dealing with Polish spectators on WRGB a few years ago when Kubica was in a Citroen was the worst year of marshalling I've ever had on WRGB. The sheer number of Polish fans on my junction was unbelievable, I'd safely say that 99% of them were intoxicated by 7am, tho likely just on a rolling weekend bender, and 10 of them decided to sit in plastic patio chairs on the outside of a blind left hander. trying to get them to move was horrendous, and only managed as the Police had been made aware of this group and were already in the forests looking for them. I think one or two of them spent the rest of the day in custody while the others disappeared into the forests.
Now in no way am I saying they are all like it, we get just as many idiots like this that are home natives, but if this is how this small gang behave on a stage then isn't it safe to assume its the way the masses act out there? judging by video evidence its quite likely.
In other news, Matton is trying to justify dropping Meeke by saying how well Lefebvre did this weekend after his "rest" from one round. tho he does go on to admit the car has been s
t for the first half of the season, even tho he's blaming the drivers in them saying every test has gone well so their problem with the car is their fault. But as I said earlier in here, test conditions will never replicate competitive conditions.
I also like how Matton ignores the poor form that Mikkelsen has had during his stint so far, even though he's acknowledged him as a better driver than Kris, and made out that the mid season refresh of the C3 is thanks to Andreas' input, but would've already been under construction before he got there to get homolgated in time for fitting in the last rounds
Fingers crossed Kris smashes Finland at the end of the month, but the praise will still go to Matton for getting it right in "resting" Kris.
The rally only has itself to blame, and I think they realise this by trying to play it down and make it all about the fire truck and ignoring the comments of spectators out manning marshals 100-1.
here's a short vid (crap edited) of the fire truck - https://youtu.be/tpWFF6caVEg?t=9
Imagine if this was what would have happened, except worse as the truck would've been higher up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C-tUiwj66I
Personal experience of dealing with Polish spectators on WRGB a few years ago when Kubica was in a Citroen was the worst year of marshalling I've ever had on WRGB. The sheer number of Polish fans on my junction was unbelievable, I'd safely say that 99% of them were intoxicated by 7am, tho likely just on a rolling weekend bender, and 10 of them decided to sit in plastic patio chairs on the outside of a blind left hander. trying to get them to move was horrendous, and only managed as the Police had been made aware of this group and were already in the forests looking for them. I think one or two of them spent the rest of the day in custody while the others disappeared into the forests.
Now in no way am I saying they are all like it, we get just as many idiots like this that are home natives, but if this is how this small gang behave on a stage then isn't it safe to assume its the way the masses act out there? judging by video evidence its quite likely.
In other news, Matton is trying to justify dropping Meeke by saying how well Lefebvre did this weekend after his "rest" from one round. tho he does go on to admit the car has been s
t for the first half of the season, even tho he's blaming the drivers in them saying every test has gone well so their problem with the car is their fault. But as I said earlier in here, test conditions will never replicate competitive conditions.I also like how Matton ignores the poor form that Mikkelsen has had during his stint so far, even though he's acknowledged him as a better driver than Kris, and made out that the mid season refresh of the C3 is thanks to Andreas' input, but would've already been under construction before he got there to get homolgated in time for fitting in the last rounds
Fingers crossed Kris smashes Finland at the end of the month, but the praise will still go to Matton for getting it right in "resting" Kris.
Allyc85 said:
Its such a crazy event in every way. Would love to see it, but not quite as close as those fans!
https://youtu.be/cIBaRYuJTV8
Just how retarded do you have to be to behave in the manner displayed at 1.00 minute ? Scenes more redolent of Portugal 1986 and San Remo '85 than 2017 https://youtu.be/cIBaRYuJTV8
Clearly alcohol plays a massive part in such behaviour, yet my experience of the Finns at Rally Finland indicated they drink just as heavily, but don't turn into morons as a result (possibly that's their generally more sanguine demeanour though).The current WRC cars are awesome, and one has to say the Polish stages were amazing too, but even in that short 5 minute video, it was clear the organisers didn't have proper control of the stages or indeed the spectators. The FIA needs teeth ON THE EVENT, the safety helicopter should have picked up the safety breaches (some individuals in the crowd to the right of the stage at 10 seconds would most likely have been injured if a car had gone off) and the Police be on hand to enforce the marshals decisions irrespective of how unpopular they may be. I've seen German and Finnish Police on the stages previously, rest assured, you wouldn't question them if they told you to move .....
But you're right, the rally needs to be banned for a year to show just how critical safety is. And it is a paramount, obviously to save lives/injuries, but also for the future of a sport whose existence looks perilous even now. When the faster WRC cars were announced, I was always concerned that someone was going to get injured. Fortunately The Sport got off incredibly lightly after Monte Carlo, but rest assured, another incident such as Portugal '86 would herald the end of the sport as we know it.
Strange too how the "Group B cars were the best WRC cars ever" brigade have fallen silent recently ....
Slippydiff said:
Just how retarded do you have to be to behave in the manner displayed at 1.00 minute ? Scenes more redolent of Portugal 1986 and San Remo '85 than 2017 Clearly alcohol plays a massive part in such behaviour, yet my experience of the Finns at Rally Finland indicated they drink just as heavily, but don't turn into morons as a result (possibly that's their generally more sanguine demeanour though).
The current WRC cars are awesome, and one has to say the Polish stages were amazing too, but even in that short 5 minute video, it was clear the organisers didn't have proper control of the stages or indeed the spectators. The FIA needs teeth ON THE EVENT, the safety helicopter should have picked up the safety breaches (some individuals in the crowd to the right of the stage at 10 seconds would most likely have been injured if a car had gone off) and the Police be on hand to enforce the marshals decisions irrespective of how unpopular they may be. I've seen German and Finnish Police on the stages previously, rest assured, you wouldn't question them if they told you to move .....
But you're right, the rally needs to be banned for a year to show just how critical safety is. And it is a paramount, obviously to save lives/injuries, but also for the future of a sport whose existence looks perilous even now. When the faster WRC cars were announced, I was always concerned that someone was going to get injured. Fortunately The Sport got off incredibly lightly after Monte Carlo, but rest assured, another incident such as Portugal '86 would herald the end of the sport as we know it.
Strange too how the "Group B cars were the best WRC cars ever" brigade have fallen silent recently ....
I was one of that Group B fanboys as there really are from a different World. Clearly alcohol plays a massive part in such behaviour, yet my experience of the Finns at Rally Finland indicated they drink just as heavily, but don't turn into morons as a result (possibly that's their generally more sanguine demeanour though).The current WRC cars are awesome, and one has to say the Polish stages were amazing too, but even in that short 5 minute video, it was clear the organisers didn't have proper control of the stages or indeed the spectators. The FIA needs teeth ON THE EVENT, the safety helicopter should have picked up the safety breaches (some individuals in the crowd to the right of the stage at 10 seconds would most likely have been injured if a car had gone off) and the Police be on hand to enforce the marshals decisions irrespective of how unpopular they may be. I've seen German and Finnish Police on the stages previously, rest assured, you wouldn't question them if they told you to move .....
But you're right, the rally needs to be banned for a year to show just how critical safety is. And it is a paramount, obviously to save lives/injuries, but also for the future of a sport whose existence looks perilous even now. When the faster WRC cars were announced, I was always concerned that someone was going to get injured. Fortunately The Sport got off incredibly lightly after Monte Carlo, but rest assured, another incident such as Portugal '86 would herald the end of the sport as we know it.
Strange too how the "Group B cars were the best WRC cars ever" brigade have fallen silent recently ....
But seeing this years WRC cars really is an exciting experience which has been lacking for years.
I just hope the fans behave themselves are numbers are bound to increase after watching the events so far this year.
Slippydiff said:
Just how retarded do you have to be to behave in the manner displayed at 1.00 minute ? Scenes more redolent of Portugal 1986 and San Remo '85 than 2017 Clearly alcohol plays a massive part in such behaviour, yet my experience of the Finns at Rally Finland indicated they drink just as heavily, but don't turn into morons as a result (possibly that's their generally more sanguine demeanour though).
Some of those vids were taken from below the road level and on the outside of a bend! car going off there is almost certainly a fatality Clearly alcohol plays a massive part in such behaviour, yet my experience of the Finns at Rally Finland indicated they drink just as heavily, but don't turn into morons as a result (possibly that's their generally more sanguine demeanour though).
The difference with the Finns i think is that rallying is an institution there so they know much better on how to behave.
Slippydiff said:
I've seen German and Finnish Police on the stages previously, rest assured, you wouldn't question them if they told you to move .....
Same thing when I attended WRC Portugal, I think they even used army to police the stages, I saw an officer draw his gun twice on a stage when people wouldn't move for a marshal the officer asked once, failed to get a reply so un-holstered his gun and they didn't half move then!Good one now to keep the fans back electric fences I've had a go nice shock to. Been a few things the last few years on the stages gates closed cows dogs and now fire trucks I've seen off road bikers on a live stage my self they was none the wiser a rally was running.
Edited by daidark on Saturday 8th July 13:13
ArnageWRC said:
Another round of the BRC; the Nicky Grist Stages on Epynt has been and gone; no-one interested?
I couldn't make Saturday due to work, but popped up for an hour Sunday as I was in the area.Really disappointed tbh, spectator viewing areas were only in 2 places and not easy locations, VIP tent down on Llandeilo triangle and no access to there without passes so god knows where you were to park and walk, start line was at the start of the burmah road section so couldn't get through that way.
a paltry 38 cars entered for the tarmac section of Sunday was not a great showing either.
ArnageWRC said:
Another round of the BRC; the Nicky Grist Stages on Epynt has been and gone; no-one interested?
24 BRC entries I heard? That's pathetic. Perhaps the championship organisers need to reduce the extortionate registration fee?Pretty much all of the people I used to go to rallies with have now found other things to do with their time, our interest has mostly been killed off with the OTT safety rules - part of the fun for us was sussing out the route and going away from the spectator areas whilst still being safe. Obviously there'd be instant death if we did that these days.
I think so many people are put off by the thought of being crammed into spectator pens these days, it certainly makes me think twice about driving hundreds of miles to an event. Also modern rallying has become a bit of a Fiesta fest in all classes, which can be a bit tedious.
My next event is Rally GB, it seems a very long way off at the moment!
My next event is Rally GB, it seems a very long way off at the moment!
Allyc85 said:
I think so many people are put off by the thought of being crammed into spectator pens these days, it certainly makes me think twice about driving hundreds of miles to an event. Also modern rallying has become a bit of a Fiesta fest in all classes, which can be a bit tedious.
My next event is Rally GB, it seems a very long way off at the moment!
Yep, this is exactly the reason that I no longer attend rallies...My next event is Rally GB, it seems a very long way off at the moment!
I've been spectating / marshalling / competing / organising rallies for nearly 20years, I'm quite capable of making my own decision as to where I consider it safe to stand or not stand - I don't need some health and safety numpty herding me behind magical orange tape miles from the action.
If I misjudge it and end up getting injured then that's my own stupid fault, all events have endless signs up saying we attend at our own risk, that should be the end of it.
I actually did spectate on WRC Portugal this year (a rally chosen because historically they have a much more relaxed attitude to spectators) and even there the H+S wombles had taken over to a certain extent with many side access roads closed hours before the event to try and herd us into speccy pens. Thankfully a few days work with Google Earth in the run-up to the event mostly got us around those and we ended up having some good vantage points over the 3 days.
As far as rallying in the UK goes, we're so scared of any form of danger / liability that I don't give it long before grass roots rallying is completely dead here, something that the MSA has been actively trying to make happen for many years now.
I haven't attended a rally as a spectator for god knows how long, but the way the Sunday viewing was set up for Nicky Grist Stages I can now totally get the frustration and not bothering attitude were all seeing lately. Admittedly I hadn't checked out Sundays entries and just assumed it was the same cars running as Saturday, So had I not been in the area and had spent 2 hrs driving to watch 38 cars I'd have been pissed!
I've always tried to encourage people to still come out and spectate and to get away from the pens as long as they stay sensible. but the ranges were pretty much locked down for parking to see anything unless you wanted to abandon the car somewhere and walk for miles, everything looks to be gearing towards the same style of running an event that it seems to be forcing them to be spectator free, which is really sad!
The other thing I encountered was pretty bad attitudes of marshal teams. we used a section of road that lead to stage start to turn the car around in, and sat stationary for a minute or two while I worked out what was best for trying to get some more action in. The marshal that approached us could've chosen his words and tone a little better as it was cleat we weren't parking there. had cars been approaching I'd have understood the urgency to get us moved, but not with 30 mins before first car was due!! If this is what every other marshal seems to be like, or is what speccys are facing on every event then again I understand the ever decreasing interest to attend events
I've always tried to encourage people to still come out and spectate and to get away from the pens as long as they stay sensible. but the ranges were pretty much locked down for parking to see anything unless you wanted to abandon the car somewhere and walk for miles, everything looks to be gearing towards the same style of running an event that it seems to be forcing them to be spectator free, which is really sad!
The other thing I encountered was pretty bad attitudes of marshal teams. we used a section of road that lead to stage start to turn the car around in, and sat stationary for a minute or two while I worked out what was best for trying to get some more action in. The marshal that approached us could've chosen his words and tone a little better as it was cleat we weren't parking there. had cars been approaching I'd have understood the urgency to get us moved, but not with 30 mins before first car was due!! If this is what every other marshal seems to be like, or is what speccys are facing on every event then again I understand the ever decreasing interest to attend events
K50 DEL said:
If I misjudge it and end up getting injured then that's my own stupid fault, all events have endless signs up saying we attend at our own risk, that should be the end of it.
It should be yes but, as can be seen from the ongoing legal cases in Scotland, it doesn't apply any more. "Nobody told me I shouldn't sit in my deck chair in a clearly marked prohibited area so it's not my fault I was hit, who do I sue?" etc. With the huge fall in spectator numbers I think rallying will struggle (even more than now) to attract marshals, organisers and competitors in a few years. I'm sure most folk started off as a spectator. I certainly did.
Allyc85 said:
I think so many people are put off by the thought of being crammed into spectator pens these days, it certainly makes me think twice about driving hundreds of miles to an event. Also modern rallying has become a bit of a Fiesta fest in all classes, which can be a bit tedious.
My next event is Rally GB, it seems a very long way off at the moment!
Well to be honest, that was only my second event spectating this year. About 10 years ago I was going to 20-30 events all over the place. Some of the events have gone, and obviously the spectating issue has put me off driving 200 odd miles to be stuck in a 'spectator area' for the whole day. Fortunately, I went on the Saturday, and was able to go were I wanted. Problem is, you don't know until you get there how strict they're going to be. My next event is Rally GB, it seems a very long way off at the moment!
To all those above that are fed up that the sport they used to know and love is now but a shadow of its former self, indulge yourself here :
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P09TLSVIOMw
Just don't start watching it at 12.30am on a Sunday night "'cause it looks like it might be good"...
I hope you enjoy it, I know I did. Halcyon days
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P09TLSVIOMw
Just don't start watching it at 12.30am on a Sunday night "'cause it looks like it might be good"...
I hope you enjoy it, I know I did. Halcyon days
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