2021 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and national rally)

[confucuis]

They sell a lot of R5 Fiesta's, surely they make a decent bit from selling, support and maintenance of these machines?

[LukeBrown66]

From what I heard the new car is not that great, hence it is not selling nearly as well as the Citroen, VW, Hyundai and still Fabia.

[ArnageWRC]

Allyc85 said:

Rally GB replaced by Ypres on the Wrc calendar. Gutted to see it confirmed!!

And now official!!

https://twitter.com/ypresrally?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoo...

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/154497/uk-loses...

[LukeBrown66]

Have no issue with it GB has been a fairly poor and very localised event to use that name for a long time, this is highly likely to be about money though rather than anything else, I would imagine Ypres can pay and Wales due to pandemic have said no thanks, imagine trying to police social distancing there in forests etc.

And if you think this will all be done by then, lol! I doubt it

[rallycross]

Its a shame but Rally WALES was dull, hard to get to, and blighted by nazi tactics of Welsh police.

To chear you all up take a look at this instead, 1985 Group B day two and Pond in the Metro was up to 2nd place, everyone was sideways all the time...

https://youtu.be/U5pLbvqPdLE

[ArnageWRC]

rallycross said:

Its a shame but Rally WALES was dull, hard to get to, and blighted by nazi tactics of Welsh police.

Actually, it wasn't dull, and it's not hard to get to; it has signs up for the various car parks. And the 'nazi' tactics were from 2002/03 - nearly 20 years ago. Apart from that, you're correct.....

And I say that as someone who is critical of how the event has been run over the years; it could/should have been far better. Look at Ypres - massively popular wIth drivers, fans, etc yet has never been in the WRC. It is possible to run a great event without being in the WRC; sadly, RallyGB was run solely for the benefit of the WRC. It should have been possible for it to run whether in the WRC, or not...

[BFleming]

I see Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia had an off today in their Yaris. Both OK, Ingrassia gone to hospital as a precaution for a sore back.

[rallycross]

thats a big off, a McRae style crash!

[Allyc85]

That's a proper job, he took down a pretty hefty tree too.

rallycross said:

Its a shame but Rally WALES was dull, hard to get to, and blighted by nazi tactics of Welsh police.

So dull it's popularity meant you had to get there 3 hours before stage start, to save a long walk in? Yes the route was fairly predictable, but there are far more rules than the "good old days" where you could spread it around a country! Also the sign posting was very good, especially compared to other countries like Sardinia, or the Acropolis, which I did in 2012.

I'm quite tempted to visit Ypres again, of possible. Though moving the event 200 miles for sunday at Spa is ridiculous.

[Drumroll]

Jim Clark Rally now cancelled.

https://mailchi.mp/f66022d1c218/beatsons-building-...

[ArnageWRC]

Cancelled, and not postponed - that is a shame. I doubt it will be the only event that has to do this.

[Allyc85]

Indeed. It's much harder to organise tarmac rallies going through public areas, though I see it's just been announced that the Monte will go ahead. Morally I think it's kind of wrong, but I can't help but look forward to some lazy days watching Wrc+!

[Slippydiff]

Allyc85 said:

Indeed. It's much harder to organise tarmac rallies going through public areas, though I see it's just been announced that the Monte will go ahead. Morally I think it's kind of wrong, but I can't help but look forward to some lazy days watching Wrc+!

Morally wrong ? Possibly, but wonderful that it is running nontheless. My other half is French, they do seem to be doing a better job of managing the virus than the UK, though at what cost to the economy and their hospitality sector, I shudder to think.

In other news, I see Thierry Neuville announced on Instagram yesterday that he and Nicolas Gilsoul have gone their separate ways after 10 years :

https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/neuville-split...

Seems a shame, they always seemed a good pairing.

[LukeBrown66]

Personally I am seeing all sorts of knockback from sports and elite sport being allowed to continue, issues in Australia, New Zealand and obviously the cretinous football players here, it is a bit ridiculous that they are seemingly allowed to carry on while everyone else has to remain in lockdown, and especially when sports people are allowed freer movement than residents, that is only going to hurt one way regardless of your interest.

[Drumroll]

LukeBrown66 said:

Personally I am seeing all sorts of knockback from sports and elite sport being allowed to continue, issues in Australia, New Zealand and obviously the cretinous football players here, it is a bit ridiculous that they are seemingly allowed to carry on while everyone else has to remain in lockdown, and especially when sports people are allowed freer movement than residents, that is only going to hurt one way regardless of your interest.

I see the BHA have stopped amateur jockeys from riding, due to covid guidelines. could make it interesting if they apply it to all sports.

[Allyc85]

Slippydiff said:

Morally wrong ? Possibly, but wonderful that it is running nontheless. My other half is French, they do seem to be doing a better job of managing the virus than the UK, though at what cost to the economy and their hospitality sector, I shudder to think.

In other news, I see Thierry Neuville announced on Instagram yesterday that he and Nicolas Gilsoul have gone their separate ways after 10 years :

https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/neuville-split...

Seems a shame, they always seemed a good pairing.

I'm not completely against it, but it seems a little wrong to be closing roads/taking away emergency services at a time like this. I'm sure it'll be fine though.

[ArnageWRC]

Drumroll said:

LukeBrown66 said:

Personally I am seeing all sorts of knockback from sports and elite sport being allowed to continue, issues in Australia, New Zealand and obviously the cretinous football players here, it is a bit ridiculous that they are seemingly allowed to carry on while everyone else has to remain in lockdown, and especially when sports people are allowed freer movement than residents, that is only going to hurt one way regardless of your interest.

I see the BHA have stopped amateur jockeys from riding, due to covid guidelines. could make it interesting if they apply it to all sports.

Yes, I'd never realised that until today watching ITV4; I think that's probably a bit harsh on them, as whilst Point to Point is amateur, some race against the pros from time to time.

[rastapasta]

I see Greensmith put it in the Hedge the other day while testing.

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/m-sport-focusing-on...

Dad's cash will ensure he doesnt have to break out the hammer to sort the dents out.

[Allyc85]

They nearly put more dents in it, pulling out of the scenery!

https://youtu.be/EtSJ9foX-ug

Looks like Gus was driving quite "exumbrantly" at the test. Just like the van driver at the end

https://youtu.be/JqEY7iEJVxQ

[LukeBrown66]

Is it me or is Dirtfish now basically Msport news. Very one sided, does Evans live there!!