2021 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and national rally)
Discussion
Slippydiff said:
df76 said:
Stage delayed. Are we thinking that "Car Zero" has crashed??
On the basis of the stage conditions the top 10 crews experienced, I’d say there’s a very good chance ...Active75 said:
Great pictures of the cars on stages. A tad frustrating when the camera is switched away from what looks like a great section of corners to a car on the start line though.
Yeah, the tv production today has been average at best. Don't understand why so much time is given to interviews, and if needed just have them in a small box in the corner of the screen. df76 said:
Yeah, the tv production today has been average at best. Don't understand why so much time is given to interviews, and if needed just have them in a small box in the corner of the screen.
I came to this conclusion some years ago, it’s better to have plenty of average WRC coverage than none at all.It was probably less than five years ago that a deal for the WRC TV coverage hadn’t been signed two weeks prior to the Monte.
Hope this doesn’t come across as harsh, because it’s not supposed to, but be grateful for what we have. The WRC is a very niche sport and only appreciated by the few, so we’re lucky to have the large amount of coverage (let alone live coverage) we have on events such as the Monte.
If you want decent footage of the cars on stage, patience is key and YouTube is your friend
Slippydiff said:
df76 said:
Yeah, the tv production today has been average at best. Don't understand why so much time is given to interviews, and if needed just have them in a small box in the corner of the screen.
I came to this conclusion some years ago, it’s better to have plenty of average WRC coverage than none at all.It was probably less than five years ago that a deal for the WRC TV coverage hadn’t been signed two weeks prior to the Monte.
Hope this doesn’t come across as harsh, because it’s not supposed to, but be grateful for what we have. The WRC is a very niche sport and only appreciated by the few, so we’re lucky to have the large amount of coverage (let alone live coverage) we have on events such as the Monte.
If you want decent footage of the cars on stage, patience is key and YouTube is your friend
The media are obsessed with interviews, and they are utterly and completely pointless unless something has happened, the drivers hate it and give pointless PR speak replies, UNLESS something has happened.
Otherwise, they are a total waste of time, but apparently the media can't exist without them these people live in a world away from fans so they don't know what you want and don't care. They run the show, so don't watch the show if it is so awful, that is what I do.
Otherwise, they are a total waste of time, but apparently the media can't exist without them these people live in a world away from fans so they don't know what you want and don't care. They run the show, so don't watch the show if it is so awful, that is what I do.
People have been complaining for a number of years - and they don't seem to listen. In the NorthOne/ISC days, we had the highlights with the 'as live' commentary? Never worked, people didn't like it but they persisted with it. Now we have them cutting away from the action for pointless interviews - and again they still persist with it.
Red Bull are behind the WRC Promoter; you'd think the coverage would be world beating. Their coverage of the MTB World Cup, Red Bull Hardline, Rampage, etc is brilliant - yet the WRC coverage is hit & miss.
More of the insightful analysis from Mads please - who has been the highlight of a slightly disappointing event.
Red Bull are behind the WRC Promoter; you'd think the coverage would be world beating. Their coverage of the MTB World Cup, Red Bull Hardline, Rampage, etc is brilliant - yet the WRC coverage is hit & miss.
More of the insightful analysis from Mads please - who has been the highlight of a slightly disappointing event.
Quite a masterful show from Ogier. Enjoyable to watch his confidence and skill. Nice finish from Evans, he looks comfortable with the car. Neuville still in the hunt. Rovanpera and Mikkelsen 2 future WRC champs?
Enjoyed Mads Ostberg observations, a good addition to the WRC team.
I'd like an option to watch a live car onboard on the WRC package.
Enjoyed Mads Ostberg observations, a good addition to the WRC team.
I'd like an option to watch a live car onboard on the WRC package.
Edited by Active75 on Sunday 24th January 12:36
ArnageWRC said:
Red Bull are behind the WRC Promoter; you'd think the coverage would be world beating. Their coverage of the MTB World Cup, Red Bull Hardline, Rampage, etc is brilliant - yet the WRC coverage is hit & miss.
Think the last two nights highlights have been pretty dire, especially when they have the potential to be so much better and no live coverage; will be interesting to see if ITV4 is any better (all be it is probably syndicated stuff) and it is a week after the start of the event, why the lag?What is with all the tyre issues, poor design or lack of testing, although they do have previous with F1
Pure class from Ogier, absolutely unbeatable, even after a puncture and a spin. Top job by Elfyn to grab and whole load of points, along with Neuville who had his new co-driver. Hyundai made a couple bad tyre calls, while Toyota were spot on. Those points lost only giving Tanak one spare could be costly at the end of the season.
ArnageWRC said:
People have been complaining for a number of years - and they don't seem to listen. In the NorthOne/ISC days, we had the highlights with the 'as live' commentary? Never worked, people didn't like it but they persisted with it. Now we have them cutting away from the action for pointless interviews - and again they still persist with it.
Red Bull are behind the WRC Promoter; you'd think the coverage would be world beating. Their coverage of the MTB World Cup, Red Bull Hardline, Rampage, etc is brilliant - yet the WRC coverage is hit & miss.
More of the insightful analysis from Mads please - who has been the highlight of a slightly disappointing event.
I couldn’t agree more on Mads commentary (and said as much earlier in this thread) very insightful and thus incredibly interesting. Just a shame it was all too often competing/overlaid with the audio feeds from the co-driver of the in-car footage on screen at the time.Red Bull are behind the WRC Promoter; you'd think the coverage would be world beating. Their coverage of the MTB World Cup, Red Bull Hardline, Rampage, etc is brilliant - yet the WRC coverage is hit & miss.
More of the insightful analysis from Mads please - who has been the highlight of a slightly disappointing event.
Overall though, an excellent event bearing in mind the dire circumstances we find ourselves in currently. So fair play to the organisers and the FIA.
Highlights of the event ?
Neuville getting third place with his new co-driver. I suspect the vast majority (so not contributors to this thread) won’t realise what a Hurculean task that was for BOTH Thierry AND Martin.
Hats off to Martin for having the balls to step into an unknown car on what is probably the toughest event in the WRC for a co-driver, and not losing his head. Hugely impressive that in my book.
But also to Thierry. I’ve no doubt his massive skill and maturity enabled them to stay on the road on numerous occasions when the notes were either read wrong, too late or too early.
With the first stage this morning, it would have been all to easy to go of the road and blamed Martin for what would have been a change in conditions from the ice note crew’s notes, to the actual road conditions 3 hours later. But the two of them kept it together, and more importantly on the road. Hugely impressive to come 3rd under those circumstances and in such tricky conditions.
There are lots of other impressive drives :
Loubet, despite his off on Friday, was massively impressive.
Kalle Rovenpera, the WRC’s answer to Max Verstappen ? Fast, fearless and massively talented.
Elfyn. Another brilliant drive from the Welshman, and hopefully the demons of Monza last year have been well and truly exorcised.
We was clearly very concerned at binning it on the Monte after Monza, but he was big enough to admit on several occasions he could have pushed more in places. As others found out, that all too often ends in tears on the Monte. Never has the old adage discretion is the better part of valour been truer.
Would be good to to hear other’s man/crew/team of the rally
I think you'd have to give it to Martijn Wydaeghe, not only for the way he stepped in at the last minute, but how he bounced back from losing his place in the notes on Saturdays first stage. It would have been easy to fall apart after that, but they went and won the next test and ended up on the podium, where he got quite a drenching! 
The drives from Ogier, Evans and even Rovanpera are now to be expected really.
The drives from Ogier, Evans and even Rovanpera are now to be expected really.
I agree Martijn Wydaeghe pips the Man of the Rally award from Thierry Neuville.
For me Seb Ogier was the Driver of the event. Neuville a very close 2nd after the bonus point for a new co driver Evans kept it all under control to do exactly what was needed. Nice work.
WC2 Mikkelsen looks very impressive, as does Fourmaux the Doctor in waiting!
Team of the Event. Toyota.
When all the videos are online we might get a closer look at the other categories.
For me Seb Ogier was the Driver of the event. Neuville a very close 2nd after the bonus point for a new co driver
Evans kept it all under control to do exactly what was needed. Nice work.WC2 Mikkelsen looks very impressive, as does Fourmaux the Doctor in waiting!
Team of the Event. Toyota.
When all the videos are online we might get a closer look at the other categories.
Allyc85 said:
I think you'd have to give it to Martijn Wydaeghe, not only for the way he stepped in at the last minute, but how he bounced back from losing his place in the notes on Saturdays first stage. It would have been easy to fall apart after that, but they went and won the next test and ended up on the podium, where he got quite a drenching!
The drives from Ogier, Evans and even Rovanpera are now to be expected really.
Ogier yes, he's possibly THE best rally driver the WRC has seen. The drives from Ogier, Evans and even Rovanpera are now to be expected really.
Evans ? I have to admit I was concerned the events of Monza could have crushed him and his WRC aspirations (so near yet so far and all that) so to return in identical if not worse conditions 6 weeks later and come second without any real incidents/mistakes showed he'd learnt from that mistake, the lesson being you have to leave some margin of error on an event/surface such as the Monte. And that having done so he was what 30 seconds ? behind Ogier at the end of the event. Ergo when he pushes and leaves nothing on the table, he' can probably challenge and beat Ogier this year.
Rovenpera ? There's no doubting his skill and talent and bravery, but we all know the Monte is an event like no other, and a degree of luck is required too (and lots would say you make your own luck) but Rovenpera's drive was incredible, bearing in mind his lack of experience. In a year or two, when he has more experience I'd say almost perfect drives are to be expected, but what he did this weekend was very, very special.
Taka had a good run imo. He made little to no mistakes, and showed good pace when he had a bit of confidence. Easily won ‘Division 2’ of WRC and will be a dark horse for a top 5 on the next round as he’s driven the Toyota lots on snow.
Seb is so much better than anyone else, he even had time for a puncture and a spin, before making up all that time. I honestly cannot see anyone beating him over a full season. (whatever that may be this year..)
Elfyn has to be happy with second and is probably the only other drive who can challenge Ogier this year. Kalle was also impressive and is definitely a future champion.
Hyundai really struggled this event and Ott still doesn’t seem to have gelled with the I20. Cant see him ever challenging for another title whilst he’s driving for Hyundai. Thierry needs to win the inter team battle this year otherwise I can see him being dropped to facilitate a young Oliver Solberg.
Loubet made too many mistakes yet again, and I don’t understand Hyundai’s plans with him. Surely they’re not lining him up for a drive in the parent team in 22?
Another who had a dismal rally was Greensmith. He seriously needs to up his game next round, as a ‘lead’ driver for M-Sport, it’s an embarrassment to finish behind a WRC2 car in the overall standings and he is better than the performance he showed.
Suninen? Well, according to rumours he won’t be driving for M-Sport again...
WRC2 - Mikkelson was superb, and in my opinion was driver of the rally. He came to Monte to dominate, and he did just that. Formaux’s drive was good yes, but he still needs to put a complete performance together for me as he would have finished comfortably behind Camilli if his French compatriot had a little more seat time. Expected a little more of Sean Johnston as he was absolutely miles off the pace and should have spent a year in WRC3, as WRC2 finally makes sense with some quality entries.
I alluded to Solberg earlier, and a future WRC drive with Hyundai. I still think he needs to prove himself, as he makes a LOT of mistakes. Yes he has the speed, but there’s a lot more to rallying than outright pace. Another retirement at the top level, and luckily didn’t choose Monte as a points scoring event.
Seb is so much better than anyone else, he even had time for a puncture and a spin, before making up all that time. I honestly cannot see anyone beating him over a full season. (whatever that may be this year..)
Elfyn has to be happy with second and is probably the only other drive who can challenge Ogier this year. Kalle was also impressive and is definitely a future champion.
Hyundai really struggled this event and Ott still doesn’t seem to have gelled with the I20. Cant see him ever challenging for another title whilst he’s driving for Hyundai. Thierry needs to win the inter team battle this year otherwise I can see him being dropped to facilitate a young Oliver Solberg.
Loubet made too many mistakes yet again, and I don’t understand Hyundai’s plans with him. Surely they’re not lining him up for a drive in the parent team in 22?
Another who had a dismal rally was Greensmith. He seriously needs to up his game next round, as a ‘lead’ driver for M-Sport, it’s an embarrassment to finish behind a WRC2 car in the overall standings and he is better than the performance he showed.
Suninen? Well, according to rumours he won’t be driving for M-Sport again...
WRC2 - Mikkelson was superb, and in my opinion was driver of the rally. He came to Monte to dominate, and he did just that. Formaux’s drive was good yes, but he still needs to put a complete performance together for me as he would have finished comfortably behind Camilli if his French compatriot had a little more seat time. Expected a little more of Sean Johnston as he was absolutely miles off the pace and should have spent a year in WRC3, as WRC2 finally makes sense with some quality entries.
I alluded to Solberg earlier, and a future WRC drive with Hyundai. I still think he needs to prove himself, as he makes a LOT of mistakes. Yes he has the speed, but there’s a lot more to rallying than outright pace. Another retirement at the top level, and luckily didn’t choose Monte as a points scoring event.
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