2019 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and all other)!
Discussion
Ardennes92 said:
Nice blue skies, Ott relaxed but on it and Kris up to his usual ways, needs to stick to 9/10ths
That's the problem isn't it. Almost brilliant, but just seems to crack when it becomes important. Real shame, could have been a decent result this weekend (although might have got awkward if he was taking points off Tanak).Brilliant championship win for Ott. It's been a tough and very bumpy road to get to it, but now he is quite clearly the class of the field.
Interesting Twitter rumour saying Malcolm Wilson and Marko Martin have investment in Ott and is part of the reason for his move to Hyundai. Make of that what you will!
Interesting Twitter rumour saying Malcolm Wilson and Marko Martin have investment in Ott and is part of the reason for his move to Hyundai. Make of that what you will!
Allyc85 said:
Brilliant championship win for Ott. It's been a tough and very bumpy road to get to it, but now he is quite clearly the class of the field.
Interesting Twitter rumour saying Malcolm Wilson and Marko Martin have investment in Ott and is part of the reason for his move to Hyundai. Make of that what you will!
Great result for tanak and clearly well deserved.Interesting Twitter rumour saying Malcolm Wilson and Marko Martin have investment in Ott and is part of the reason for his move to Hyundai. Make of that what you will!
Open cheque book stuff from Hyundai you’d imagine. What’s the 2020 line up for Toyota??
M-Sport seemed keen to retain the current lineup not long ago. Hopefully they can find the money for someone like Breen or Paddon in a 3rd car.
Big Robbo said:
Has it been confirmed Tanak is off to Hyundai?? Can't see what he gains, Tommi Makinen as boss will make sure he gets what he needs at TGR
Not yet, but all the big sources believe it's a done deal. I'd imagine he'll get a big pay rise and a more reliable car. Him and Neuville as team mates should be fascinating. Allyc85 said:
M-Sport seemed keen to retain the current lineup not long ago. Hopefully they can find the money for someone like Breen or Paddon in a 3rd car.
Last Paddon news I heard was that he was in discussions with M-Sport trying to put together a part-season of 6 or 7 rallies (obviously including NZ, where he will have a local knowledge/experience advantage for the first time in his WRC career).I haven't kept up with WRC this year which I'm rather annoyed about as it sounds like it's been a good season. I have got a few questions though, for anyone who's up to date.
Why have Citroën struggled so much this year? I know they never quite able to match Ogier in his VW, but now Citroën have Ogier and they're still off pace. I read their aero package isn't as developed and looking at the cars it seems they are lacking the wheel arch aero and sideskirt / running board parts that Hyundai and Toyota are using.
Also, who is generally considered the best driver on the field? I think Loeb's incredible talent is obvious but his fastest days may be behind him. With that said, is Ott Tänak really the best, or has he had a combination of good luck and the best car? Would have won in a lesser car?
Speaking of lesser and greater cars, who has the best car on the field now? It would appear to be Toyota, but are they are really better than the Hyundai? How far behind are Msport?
Why have Citroën struggled so much this year? I know they never quite able to match Ogier in his VW, but now Citroën have Ogier and they're still off pace. I read their aero package isn't as developed and looking at the cars it seems they are lacking the wheel arch aero and sideskirt / running board parts that Hyundai and Toyota are using.
Also, who is generally considered the best driver on the field? I think Loeb's incredible talent is obvious but his fastest days may be behind him. With that said, is Ott Tänak really the best, or has he had a combination of good luck and the best car? Would have won in a lesser car?
Speaking of lesser and greater cars, who has the best car on the field now? It would appear to be Toyota, but are they are really better than the Hyundai? How far behind are Msport?
Mastodon2 said:
I haven't kept up with WRC this year which I'm rather annoyed about as it sounds like it's been a good season. I have got a few questions though, for anyone who's up to date.
Why have Citroën struggled so much this year? I know they never quite able to match Ogier in his VW, but now Citroën have Ogier and they're still off pace. I read their aero package isn't as developed and looking at the cars it seems they are lacking the wheel arch aero and sideskirt / running board parts that Hyundai and Toyota are using.
Also, who is generally considered the best driver on the field? I think Loeb's incredible talent is obvious but his fastest days may be behind him. With that said, is Ott Tänak really the best, or has he had a combination of good luck and the best car? Would have won in a lesser car?
Speaking of lesser and greater cars, who has the best car on the field now? It would appear to be Toyota, but are they are really better than the Hyundai? How far behind are Msport?
Citroen have struggled since the rule changes. Car is very unstable. Meeke was occasionally quick in it but had a few offs trying to drag it into contention, shows how good ogier is that he was in the fight atall this year. Why have Citroën struggled so much this year? I know they never quite able to match Ogier in his VW, but now Citroën have Ogier and they're still off pace. I read their aero package isn't as developed and looking at the cars it seems they are lacking the wheel arch aero and sideskirt / running board parts that Hyundai and Toyota are using.
Also, who is generally considered the best driver on the field? I think Loeb's incredible talent is obvious but his fastest days may be behind him. With that said, is Ott Tänak really the best, or has he had a combination of good luck and the best car? Would have won in a lesser car?
Speaking of lesser and greater cars, who has the best car on the field now? It would appear to be Toyota, but are they are really better than the Hyundai? How far behind are Msport?
Tanak is definetly the best on the grid now compare his results with his experienced team mates, I think he would do well in any car, but probably would also fail to do it with the citroen. He was always quick but prone to mistakes in his Ford days, now he's fixed the mistakes he's starting to become a real force. Shame meeke hasn't done the same (yet?)
Best of the field changes from rally to rally, hyundai better on tarmac, Toyota better on snow/gravel, but hard to pick a "best" car. I would love to see neuville/tanak/ogier in the same car like the focus days. I think Tanak would still come out on top right now.
Fiesta is a good car, as shown by the ogier title last year. But with them basically being funded by suninnen and ford's shyness to commit I can only see them fall back. With ford money it could've been Tanak or ogier winning this year in that ford.
We're so lucky to have 3 top drivers battling with 3 different manufacturers right now, I think we will look back fondly on this era.
I find it a great shame that M-Sport can't attract a sponsor/ budget; especially after recently winning 2 drivers, plus a Manufacturers Title. I'm pretty sure the car is still good enough, they 'just' need one of the No1 drivers to peddle it. However, that needs £$£$£$£$, and they don't have it. A pity Ford won't take more interest like Toyota & Hyundai do.
l354uge said:
Citroen have struggled since the rule changes. Car is very unstable. Meeke was occasionally quick in it but had a few offs trying to drag it into contention, shows how good ogier is that he was in the fight atall this year.
Tanak is definetly the best on the grid now compare his results with his experienced team mates, I think he would do well in any car, but probably would also fail to do it with the citroen. He was always quick but prone to mistakes in his Ford days, now he's fixed the mistakes he's starting to become a real force. Shame meeke hasn't done the same (yet?)
Best of the field changes from rally to rally, hyundai better on tarmac, Toyota better on snow/gravel, but hard to pick a "best" car. I would love to see neuville/tanak/ogier in the same car like the focus days. I think Tanak would still come out on top right now.
Fiesta is a good car, as shown by the ogier title last year. But with them basically being funded by suninnen and ford's shyness to commit I can only see them fall back. With ford money it could've been Tanak or ogier winning this year in that ford.
We're so lucky to have 3 top drivers battling with 3 different manufacturers right now, I think we will look back fondly on this era.
Thanks for the answers!Tanak is definetly the best on the grid now compare his results with his experienced team mates, I think he would do well in any car, but probably would also fail to do it with the citroen. He was always quick but prone to mistakes in his Ford days, now he's fixed the mistakes he's starting to become a real force. Shame meeke hasn't done the same (yet?)
Best of the field changes from rally to rally, hyundai better on tarmac, Toyota better on snow/gravel, but hard to pick a "best" car. I would love to see neuville/tanak/ogier in the same car like the focus days. I think Tanak would still come out on top right now.
Fiesta is a good car, as shown by the ogier title last year. But with them basically being funded by suninnen and ford's shyness to commit I can only see them fall back. With ford money it could've been Tanak or ogier winning this year in that ford.
We're so lucky to have 3 top drivers battling with 3 different manufacturers right now, I think we will look back fondly on this era.
I guess change of regs really hit Citroën hard. I remember Mercedes being nowhere in F1, then taking a year to fill out the numbers on the grid and work on their car for the following year in preparation for the reg change. We all know how that worked out for them.
To hear that Citroën are struggling with stability is interesting, as they clearly know how to build a car that can cope with the stages of the WRC, albeit in a time when aero was much more limited. I guess now they're struggling to get all the elements working properly. I read about Toyota having to work on their aero kit to get it to not cause adverse behavior when the car is at significant yaw angles, perhaps Citroën are struggling with similar.
Certainly, when you look at the Citroën car, it looks like a car from an older era. The wheel arch aero and lack of the big DTM-style slattef side pods is obvious. Their front bumper looks a bit crude compared to the rest of the field too. I really hope they come back fighting hard next year and I agree with what you say about this being a golden age of competitiveness. I had hoped this would arise when Loeb went into semi-retirement, as much I love seeing him drive, but it never came about because of the Ogier / VW dominance.
I have to say that personally I think these are the best and most exciting rally cars ever made. While it's easy to be nostalgic about Group B, I think the current cars are just incredible machines. The power increase and the relaxation of aero restrictions have made them into the most focused and finely engineered cars to ever take to a rally stage.
Citroen have been testing a new more aggressive front with more emphasis on the aero, so I would expect next season they will be back with a better car and Ogier will get the best out of it in his final season. Toyota will probably keep Latvala as a "mentor" to Kalle Rovanpera next season with Meeke there to try and score manufacturers points. Neuville Vs Tanak in the same car should be very exciting and maybe Mickelson will end up at MSport along side Evans, because let's be honest Suninen hasn't exactly set the world alight
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