2019 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and all other)!

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Allyc85 said:

Brilliant day from Evans, carrying on his form from Mexico. I don't think he'll be able to maintain his lead over Tanak, but it is an event he has gone well on in the past.

Meeke back to his usual up and down self!

Enjoyed the order day highlights. Can’t belibeb what Meeke did, at least the organisers were sensible about it.

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JonChalk said:

Currently chilling out with a coffee and laptop, watching the live GPS map of the cars making their way to the stage start on BTSport Extra, surprisingly relaxing.

Yep. Pretty much the same. Great coverage on BT sport.

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Should be a good couple of stage in the morning, tight at the front. First one is scheduled for 0845 BST.

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Unbelievable. Bit gutted.

Neuville could work on his live interview skills!

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Allyc85 said:

Absolutely gutted for Scott and Elfyn! A brilliant performance which deserved so much better, and must have changed a few people’s opinions!

Yes, seriously impressive over the weekend. Watched the replay of the puncture incident, nothing he could do really. Surprised that no-one else hit it.

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Allyc85 said:

https://twitter.com/SaariJarno/status/112198924799...

Bloody hell! Barely a meter from disaster yesterday!

That's just ridiculous. I'm catching up on the live stage shown on Red Bull TV. Safety appears optional tbh.

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Portugal Rally starting tomorrow. Good to see Neuville back in the car ang going quickly. Is Gus Greensmith in a proper WRC car for this weekend??

Also looking forward to catching up on the European Rally highlights, should be close through the rest of 2019. Chris Ingram going well.

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thepawbroon said:

Big Robbo said:

Meeke is starting to look and drive desperate. He's been unlucky but this win or bust mentality is doing him no favours.
To finish first, first you have to finish!

I don't think this was bad luck - this was bad judgement and poor mind management.

The first spin occurred at the same point Lappi had previously spun and rolled. So there is something missing about using a little judgement to back off at that point. Then he's filled with rage as you can see from the stage end interview, which I think causes him to try too hard (cutting a corner and hitting the tree stump) which led to the roll. I did initially think it was a pacenote problem, but if it was, he would surely have hit it on the previous run.

I would dearly love to see Meeke win regularly, but now it's obvious that, at best, he *can* be as fast as the top 3 (Tanak, Neuville and Ogier) but is a long way back when it comes to managing a whole event. Unless Tommy MacKinnon can work some mind magic (and he hasn't with Latvala in 2.5 years) then I'm afraid I don't see Kris Meeke getting any better than he is now......which begs the question whether he can keep his set when Rovanpera moves up.

Agree. Would love him to do well / better, but just don't see what he offers Toyota now. He's not quite quick enough for overall wins and not consistent enough for solid points.

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Pericoloso said:

DelicaL400 said:

Depends if Tanak goes back to M-Sport.

Is that a possibility ?

It's like musical chairs.

And Toyota management has made it clear that they’re not happy with latvala or Meeke.. pressure on. Japanese driver coming in for a couple of WRC events.

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Ypres rally starts this afternoon. Very good entry list, including Breen and neuville. Large historic entry also. I’ll make an effort to go next year.

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chunder27 said:

Is the live stage televised anywhere tonight? Other than WRC channel.

Stage 1 is tomorrow (Thursday) and is live on BT Sport at 18:00 BST.

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Excellent live WRC coverage from Finland this morning. Great to see Breen back and being competitive.

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Well, that was fairly predictable! One very upset team boss has made his feelings pretty clear...

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Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

df76 said:

Well, that was fairly predictable! One very upset team boss has made his feelings pretty clear...

have yo got a link to Makkinen's comments?

No, he was being interviewed on live tv. Looked furious (a bit red!) and said that the drivers had forgotten their instructions from the team briefing. Wouldn’t fancy being Meeke right now.

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Good stages today, and tight at the top. Shame that the wheels have fallen off Ford’s season. Evans won’t be back for a while.

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RyanTank said:

Allyc85 said:

Germany is an event I wouldn’t mind attending, hopefully it stays on the calendar.

I was meant to go this year not sure of the truth in it being dropped for next year as rumours of a few regulars being dropped to incorporate the incoming events

Does look a great event doesn't it, and not too far from Calais really. Tanak has got the championship nailed on now surely.

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thepawbroon said:

I must say I’m a little surprised that there aren’t more non-rally closed road events, from memory there is Watergate Bay hillclimb and Coventry MoFest. Any others? And I don’t think anyone has launched a closed/road motorbike event yet have they?

There's a (car) speed event planned for the Isle of Wight early next season, and it'll be closed road.

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Oulton park stage starting at 19:08 this evening. Weather should make it interesting this weekend!

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Munter said:

Well the spectators do it again

From twitter:

"STAGE STOPPED

The cars have driven through at non competitive speeds with no further action through Aberhirnant 1

This is due to spectators on a fast section mid stage standing in dangerous positions - and returning to them despite instructions to spectate elsewhere"

Muppets

Ridiculous isn’t it. Tbh, I watched the stages this morning and there’s plenty of spectators in positions that I wouldn’t dream of being in. Drivers are saying that the cars are out of shape on the straight bits even, could end up anywhere in those conditions..

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Another stage cancelled this morning due to “insufficient safety cover”. Not great.