The 2017 Rallying thread
Discussion
Gutted to read Ott is leaving for Toyota. But I cant blame him either, he's yoyo'd back and forth between being a main M-Sport driver to being dumped for the bigger paying drivers (Ostberg & Camilli) and imho would be daft to turn down the chance of a solid contract and to get paid for it one would assume with a better package than Malcolm can offer.
Ogier is rumoured to be vacating his ford seat at the end of the season, but at the moment likely to be just silly season talk as nothing looks certain. Assume now Elfyn will come back to M-Sport main team and possibly Suninnen, maybe even Hanninen could feed over, despite his s
t season he's shown good times and speed in the Yaris.
Hyundai are confirmed with their 4 car team next year so its only really Citroen for Ogier, or step out of the championship with a title.
M-Sport have it tough, as a team with minimal factory support and the WRC being unattractive to big sponsors for some reason, they simply cant afford the top line drivers now the big teams are coming back.
Malcolm admitted he took the business into/close to the red just to afford Ogier, and has said he cant and will not do that again for next season. He doesn't seem to be making as much money in parts now Block/Kubica have left
and have made a pretty solid '17 spec car taking into account the Fiesta held up to the storm drain that crippled the Hyundais.
The best thing that could happen to M-Sport, and it pains me to say it as I'm a ford lover, is for another team to come in and say "run our cars under our name" as they did with Ford from 1996 through to them pulling out in 2012. Question is what manufacturer would come back?
Ogier is rumoured to be vacating his ford seat at the end of the season, but at the moment likely to be just silly season talk as nothing looks certain. Assume now Elfyn will come back to M-Sport main team and possibly Suninnen, maybe even Hanninen could feed over, despite his s
t season he's shown good times and speed in the Yaris.Hyundai are confirmed with their 4 car team next year so its only really Citroen for Ogier, or step out of the championship with a title.
M-Sport have it tough, as a team with minimal factory support and the WRC being unattractive to big sponsors for some reason, they simply cant afford the top line drivers now the big teams are coming back.
Malcolm admitted he took the business into/close to the red just to afford Ogier, and has said he cant and will not do that again for next season. He doesn't seem to be making as much money in parts now Block/Kubica have left
and have made a pretty solid '17 spec car taking into account the Fiesta held up to the storm drain that crippled the Hyundais. The best thing that could happen to M-Sport, and it pains me to say it as I'm a ford lover, is for another team to come in and say "run our cars under our name" as they did with Ford from 1996 through to them pulling out in 2012. Question is what manufacturer would come back?
Alex Langheck said:
Something is wrong, and maybe outside the sport it’s still viewed as ‘unattractive’ which seems ridiculous.
Rallying is a minority sport, even more so now as the general public are more concerned with fuel economy, connectivity and emissions etc. It gets very little media attention so what benefit would Ford get by putting more money in? They're already getting what little publicity there is now with minimal investment. Once M-Sport get their test and development facility up and running I can see them withdrawing from the WRC, especially if the racing side continues to build. The WRC programme costs are horrendous and it's not like they're selling an R5 version of the new car to subsidise it.
Shame to see Tanak leave M-sport, but as said you can't blame a man taking the security and wages from a factory team.
Hard to guess what is happening with Ford. If they won't back M-Sport as a factory team you wonder why they don't just end the speculation. Part of me feels they still might, but only to a certain level where they only want to pay Ogier's high wages and not Ott's as well. Interesting that Toyota took Tanak over Ogier, some saying they didn't want to upset the team balance. We all know that JML is a very mentally sensitive person!
Hard to guess what is happening with Ford. If they won't back M-Sport as a factory team you wonder why they don't just end the speculation. Part of me feels they still might, but only to a certain level where they only want to pay Ogier's high wages and not Ott's as well. Interesting that Toyota took Tanak over Ogier, some saying they didn't want to upset the team balance. We all know that JML is a very mentally sensitive person!
Myherin is a great stage 
Just make sure you get there a couple hours before the stage starts as the event has been getting more and more popular every year. Elfyns corner should be a good atmosphere and if you walk 10 minutes or so further back down the stage you get a view like this..
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCoSX1vP_Qt/?hl=en&...
I just hope there is no snow!
Just make sure you get there a couple hours before the stage starts as the event has been getting more and more popular every year. Elfyns corner should be a good atmosphere and if you walk 10 minutes or so further back down the stage you get a view like this..https://www.instagram.com/p/BCoSX1vP_Qt/?hl=en&...
I just hope there is no snow!
This is great news....
https://www.msauk.org/MSA-grants-permit-for-first-...
Congratulations to Chelmsford Motor Club who have secured the MSA permit for (what I think will be called) the Clacton-On-Sea Stages on public roads on 22 April 2018.
Previously, each event (Birmingham SuperPrix, Jim Clark Rally, Mull Rally) required its own act of parliament. Now that has been devolved to local authority in England.
In Scotland, The Mull Rally and Jim Clark are currently suspended, awaiting the same Deregulation Bill to be enacted in Scotland.
https://www.msauk.org/MSA-grants-permit-for-first-...
Congratulations to Chelmsford Motor Club who have secured the MSA permit for (what I think will be called) the Clacton-On-Sea Stages on public roads on 22 April 2018.
Previously, each event (Birmingham SuperPrix, Jim Clark Rally, Mull Rally) required its own act of parliament. Now that has been devolved to local authority in England.
In Scotland, The Mull Rally and Jim Clark are currently suspended, awaiting the same Deregulation Bill to be enacted in Scotland.
Couldn't agree more but a quick google search already reveals the Nimbys complaining to the press... sadly the MSA can give all the support it likes (which knowing their apathetic attitude to rallying will likely be lip service at best) but I suspect this will be a non-starter....
Hope I'm wrong though, would love to compete on it if it runs!
Hope I'm wrong though, would love to compete on it if it runs!
interesting to see if the closed road event happens. I find it astonishing how people are prepared to have their roads closed for a cycle race, but not a motor race that'll attract more spectators then a bike event.
Rally Australia entry list has been published. 27 entries all in - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2UiDD_08wtvNEFfc...
rather pathetic really. It's about time it went back over the waters to New Zealand. perhaps if one of the teams that had nothing to play for, like Citroen this year, decided to pull their entry and save on all the costs associated with the long haul event the FIA may take notice. then again It'll just as likely be met with a gallic shrug and a hefty fine to the team
Rally Australia entry list has been published. 27 entries all in - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2UiDD_08wtvNEFfc...
rather pathetic really. It's about time it went back over the waters to New Zealand. perhaps if one of the teams that had nothing to play for, like Citroen this year, decided to pull their entry and save on all the costs associated with the long haul event the FIA may take notice. then again It'll just as likely be met with a gallic shrug and a hefty fine to the team
thepawbroon said:
Yes, great news - and well done for your efforts on Mull. A very good result considering the challenges thrown at you this year Rally Legend on at the minute! Really must go to that at some point.
Meeke was there going what he does best!
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=155143...
Meeke was there going what he does best!
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=155143...
K50 DEL said:
Couldn't agree more but a quick google search already reveals the Nimbys complaining to the press... sadly the MSA can give all the support it likes (which knowing their apathetic attitude to rallying will likely be lip service at best) but I suspect this will be a non-starter....
Hope I'm wrong though, would love to compete on it if it runs!
I think Chelmsford are big enough to pull it off, they wouldn't have applied for and received the permit if they were not 95% positive it would go ahead.Hope I'm wrong though, would love to compete on it if it runs!
Good luck to them, I must admit I was a bit sceptical that closed roads would be used for Stage Rallying, but I'm pplease it seems to be the case. Lancashire next perhaps?.
I've seen a car stuck in a ditch on the recce already, seems like it's very slippy out there!
One day of work left for me before heading up on Thursday. I can't decided between Myherin or Hafren on the Friday at the moment. The former has good views, but I fancy a new stage with Hafren and a slightly longer stay in bed!
One day of work left for me before heading up on Thursday. I can't decided between Myherin or Hafren on the Friday at the moment. The former has good views, but I fancy a new stage with Hafren and a slightly longer stay in bed!
Heading for Hafren, Dyfnant and Brenig/ Alwen; first time doing the full 3 days for about 6/7 years. I'm not bothering with stage hopping and chasing the event; on crowded single carriageway roads, its asking for trouble.
I think in the current format, the organisers should encourage spectators to stay put for the day. It's not like jumping from Dalby to Hamsterley or Kielder with the A1(M) and other roads north.
I think in the current format, the organisers should encourage spectators to stay put for the day. It's not like jumping from Dalby to Hamsterley or Kielder with the A1(M) and other roads north.
Reply to Arnagewrc,can't quote it due to problems.
I used to try stage hopping way back in 80s,early 90s but not worth trying now and I think organisers almost discourage it nowadays and back then they didn't get 2 runs of every stage.
I don't know yet if I'm coming along this weekend.
I used to try stage hopping way back in 80s,early 90s but not worth trying now and I think organisers almost discourage it nowadays and back then they didn't get 2 runs of every stage.
I don't know yet if I'm coming along this weekend.
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