880 replies to this topic

[AlexLangheck]

Seeing as it's 31st Dec, time for a new year thread for all Rallying.

 

The ERC kicks off this weekend with the International Jannerrallye; running from 4th - 6th Jan.

[noikeee]

Ogier wins,

 

the end.

[Muppetmad]

Ogier wins,

 

the end.

Now don't be so sure...

 

...Loeb might win in Monte Carlo, leaving Ogier to win the rest

[Myrvold]

I hope that Ogier have to wait for the third rally to win! Loeb (or maybe Bouffier - I would love a random winner) at Monte, and Mikkelsen in Nor-Sweden.

I'm also interested in seeing how the FWRT will do

[tormave]

Hänninen seems to be out of rallying on any level, which is really a shame. Latvala is the only Finnish driver in WRC in 2015. Hope EP Lappi gets a competitive car for some series in 2015.

[EightGear]

Lappi has a Skoda contract, probably in ERC again I think.

[ViMaMo]

Has rally got to the point of being boring.

[Vepe1995]

Has rally got to the point of being boring.

 

Depends on how look at it. WRC is currently pretty boring, at least the championship fight. ERC is much better in that regard. And national championships too. But if you're spectating at the stages, it certainly isn't boring.

[AlexLangheck]

http://www.jaennerra...llye-guide.html

 

Plenty of snow has fallen - hopefully we'll get a good event.

[BRG]

Hänninen seems to be out of rallying on any level, which is really a shame.

What has happened to him then?  Has he fallen out with Hyundai?  He is a driver that ought to be in the WRC - not because he is Finnish, but because he is good enough to deserve a seat on merit.

[AlexLangheck]

I don't think Hyundai's policy of constantly rotating their 2nd drivers helped any of them. Hanninen went months between events, and didn't really shine when he did get an outing. When you look at his IRC outings, he was closely matched with Meeke, Mikkelsen, Neuville, etc
He's another driver, like Meeke who probably needs a full programme to show his true worth in the WRC. Sadly, it seems as though he'll never get one.

[chunder27]

There really are not enough rides for the top guys to really keep seats like they used to.

 

Guys like Wilson, Delecour towards the end, Panizzi, Loix, Duval all would not get anywhere near as long these days as they did.

 

And perhaps neither would McRae given his penchant for crashing!

[tormave]

What has happened to him then?  Has he fallen out with Hyundai?  He is a driver that ought to be in the WRC - not because he is Finnish, but because he is good enough to deserve a seat on merit.

 

Huyndai signed Neuville, Sordo and Padden as their three drivers for next year. Hänninen had some bad luck in the few events he did drive this year and had too long between events to really get a feel for the car. In the early days he got a Mitsubishi WRC drive just as the team withdrew, then won IRC, WRC2 and ERC championships with Skoda. Huyndai was probably his last chance of a full works programme, but as said, that seems to be over now. In IRC and ERC Hänninen was blisteringly fast on many tarmac events, which makes it a bit baffling that Huyndai only had him do gravel ones in 2014.

 

Hänninen was routinely faster than Mikkelsen when they both raced Skodas in IRC. Mikkelsen won 2 IRC championships against Hanninen's one mainly due to Skoda limiting Juho's entries in 2011 and 2012. Juho still ended up with more wins on both those years.

[BRG]

 

And perhaps neither would McRae given his penchant for crashing!

Crashing hasn't stopped Latvala getting to the top.  And he has crashed a LOT more than Colin ever did.  In fact, an analysis was made of the percentage of rally ending crashes by leading WRC drivers and surprisingly, Colin McRae crashed out less often than Tommi Makkinen, who is generally regarded as a very safe driver.  Give a dog a bad name, it seems.

[chunder27]

Well the impression was there wasnt it?  And maybe you are one of the only people to think he didnt crash much!

 

Latvala yes I agree. But he is not at the top yet, he hasnt dominated.

 

And to be fair I think 4 drivers titles and being in my eyes the best there ever was is Makinens legacy. Not bad for a crasher!

[JuanPablo]

I'd like to see Kris Meeke get a win this year. I still think it'll be an easy title for Ogier again though.

[OvDrone]

If I'd be Hyundai, I'd go for Hanninen / Lappi for that second seat, instead of Sordo.

 

Meanwhile, Kajetanowicz looks like the favorite for the Janner Rallye.

[AlexLangheck]

Well, here we go. The winter break has ended, and 2015 Motorsport season is back. All those people moaning about a lack of action, complain no more. Or, more likely, is it just F1 they want??

[BRG]

Well the impression was there wasnt it?  And maybe you are one of the only people to think he didnt crash much!

 

Never let the facts get in the way of your opinion......

[BRG]

If I'd be Hyundai, I'd go for Hanninen / Lappi for that second seat, instead of Sordo.

 

If I had been Hyundai, I would have signed Hanninen up full time for 2014 rather than Sordo, who has had his chance and not really proved up to it.  I reckon Lappi needs a bit more experience before a full shot in WRC, but it would nice if someone gave him an outing or two in 2015.

[OvDrone]

Yeah, full WRC campaign for Hanninen, WRC2 for Lappi. Sordo seems like a waste of time. Or even bring someone like Bouffier along.

[chunder27]

But Sordo was hte only guy to give both Mini and Hyundai decent results early on? Experience counts.

 

Oh and BR, talk to anyone with a brain and they will tell yoou McRae would have won the title at least twice more without crashing.

 

Makinen won as many as he could, Sainz should have won in 98 yes, but McRae was a possible multiple champ. Fastest guy out there, but deary me the rose tints are there with him To finish first you must finish

[tormave]

Doesn't really matter where Skoda has Lappi drive in 2015. He's stuck with an S2000 Fabia until the second half of the year, when expect to homologate the R5 version. Last year's championship would've been impossible without the reliability issues on the new R5 Peugeot.

Edited by tormave, 04 January 2015 - 13:13.

[BRG]

But Sordo was hte only guy to give both Mini and Hyundai decent results early on? Experience counts.

 

Oh and BR, talk to anyone with a brain and they will tell yoou McRae would have won the title at least twice more without crashing.

 

Makinen won as many as he could, Sainz should have won in 98 yes, but McRae was a possible multiple champ. Fastest guy out there, but deary me the rose tints are there with him To finish first you must finish

Bluster all you like, chum, facts is facts.  Makkinen crashed out of rallies more often than McRae.  It was something like 14% versus 13% of WRC rounds entered, IIRC, although I am, struggling to find the actual analysis online.  So if Tommi has 4 WRCs to Colin's one, it was about factors other than crashing.  Maybe being Mitsubishi's favoured driver, instead of having to compete against strong team-mates had something to do with it.  

[AlexLangheck]

McRae lost 1997/98 Titles thanks to car unreliability. Remember the numerous cam pulley problems? And while leading both Rally Australia/ GB in 1998, turbo problems struck. I'd even argue that in 2001, the Pirellis that Ford used cost him; especially on Tarmac were he never scored a point.
Both Makinen, Gronholm have both got a bigger crash % than McRae; sadly, his tended to be high profile offs and/ or at the wrong time.

[chunder27]

14 vs 13 percent

 

That isnt a massive difference really is it, and you have 4 titles compared to 1.

 

team mate wise, I wouldnt rate Eriksson, Liatti.  His only massive rival was Sainz in the same team and maybe only at Subaru, he had his measure at Ford

 

Tommi yes had the best seat at Mitsubish but had his pick from Ford and a few others, chose them. Coz of Lampi maybe?  Car was difficult to drive had different type of diffs to others, Burns did OK with it but never usually as quick as Tommi other than UK, and Loix was retired with the thing! Despte a great career up to that car, and since in ERC and Belgium

[sopa]

I can't agree with some of the opinions about Sordo. He is a very good #2 driver. Both he and Hanninen had a partial programme in 2014 and Sordo collected better results. I think I'd trust Sordo more had I to choose between the two of them who to hire as second full-time driver. Evidently Hyundai thinks so too.

Edited by sopa, 04 January 2015 - 23:25.

[Myrvold]

I'd even argue that in 2001, the Pirellis that Ford used cost him; especially on Tarmac were he never scored a point.

 

I'd argue that Mitsubishi cost Mäkinen his 5th title that year, by not sticking to the Gr.A Lancer til the end of the season!

[OvDrone]

I can't agree with some of the opinions about Sordo. He is a very good #2 driver. Both he and Hanninen had a partial programme in 2014 and Sordo collected better results. I think I'd trust Sordo more had I to choose between the two of them who to hire as second full-time driver. Evidently Hyundai thinks so too.

 

I understand what you are saying, but I would rather take the potential risky prospect over the potential conservative pseudo-experienced tarmac-only #2 driver.

 

And again: Bouffier. He seems capable of more than just the single Monte stint.

 

I don't know about Paddon, though.

Edited by OvDrone, 04 January 2015 - 23:58.

[DrProzac]

 

Meanwhile, Kajetanowicz looks like the favorite for the Janner Rallye.

He does. But look what Ogryzek is doing in R2 6th Overall after three stages.

[sopa]

I understand what you are saying, but I would rather take the potential risky prospect over the potential conservative pseudo-experienced tarmac-only #2 driver.

 

And again: Bouffier. He seems capable of more than just the single Monte stint.

 

I don't know about Paddon, though.

 

Sordo is decent on gravel too and over a full season always collects good amount of points. #2 driver doesn't need to be risky. Hyundai already has a "risky prospect" in Paddon, who is their third driver.

 

In my view everything is balanced at Hyundai. By the way, Hanninen is actually older than Sordo, so I don't see any reason to prefer him.

[BRG]

Hanninen is actually older than Sordo, so I don't see any reason to prefer him.

One reason is that Hanninen might actually win rallies, something that Sordo seems to have a problem with.

[DrProzac]

Damn, and I thought Kajto would win all 18 stages I guess he didn't want to crash out on the last stage. Over 7 minutes lead, without any snow testing. Very good rally for Ogryzek, another polish driver. I'm happy, though no big names in the rally.

[tormave]

Craig Breen was there, with the usual sorts of results.

[Sheepmachine]

Ford have revealed the livery they will use for this year.
http://www.crash.net...r-wrc-2015.html

[Myrvold]

Extremely boring livery... :/

[Myrvold]

Abbring... Well, I'm not too excited by him, but at the same time, it is great to see how Hyundai give some up and coming drivers a shot in their 2nd try at WRC!

[EightGear]

Well, I am. I think he's quite under-rated so far. Hopefully he will get a respectable amount of outings.

[AlexLangheck]

Was quick in the 208 R5, before it broke down. Good to see him get a deal, even if it is mainly testing.

[thuGG]

Livery comparison:

 

VW:


Citroen:


Hyundai:


M-Sport:


Kubica:


Prokop:

[tormave]

I'm in tears reading Facebook comments about Kubica's new livery:

Should all those graphics be up the other way?

At least it'll blend in with the overgrowth

Take a good look at the car while it's still unbroken

The polish rally fans are not as amused.

Edited by tormave, 15 January 2015 - 13:42.

[rhukkas]

All the cars look the same, it is horrific.

 

If the entire entry was like this it might be worth watching

 

 

but watching overly sorted 4-wheel drive cars that are underpowered... ZZZZZzzzzzzz......

Edited by rhukkas, 15 January 2015 - 13:53.

[noikeee]

The Polo livery is pretty nice this time. Kubica's is as well but could be flattered by the computer rendering and not look as good in real life. The rest are pretty damn boring...

[Sheepmachine]

The ford and the vw livery are my favourite.

[chunder27]

Regarding VW, now you can maybe understanjd why Red Bull really do not need to do much in terms of promoting the championship.

 

they win just abotu every round, theur cars dominate, and now they have made theri rpesence even more visible.

 

It's a no brainer, they basically get two lots of advertising!

[BRG]

All the cars look the same, it is horrific.

 

If the entire entry was like this it might be worth watching

 

but watching overly sorted 4-wheel drive cars that are underpowered... ZZZZZzzzzzzz......

There were some Porsches entered on certain events last year.  They were painfully slow compared to those 'underpowered' cars that you sneer at.

[chunder27]

The thing is, they might BE slow just like a Manta, Escort, M3 or something.  But they SOUND fabulous, look great, and look hard to drive.

 

I do get the new cars, but they just don't appeal to most fans, hence why historic rallying has been on the up in this country for years and is doing pretty well worldwide.

 

The modern cars are staggeringly fast, amazingly driven, but (especially the 2 litre 4wd cars) they look and sound dreary.

 

Even the early WRC cars had tons of anti lag, ran diffs that still necessitated lots of setup and flicking into bends. THe modern breed of Loeb cars still slide and still are spectacular, but you can't argue with the fans, and in a lot of cases unless you are watching live, they are not as engaged as they used to be.

[eronrules]

Sebastien Loeb onboard test for Monte Carlo 2015 Citroën DS3 WRC on the limit!

 

 

aaaand a  even the master shows how easy it is to get a bit rusty and go off road to have a little accident (without any damage)

 

[rhukkas]

Nice to have an onboard where you can see at least some part of the wheel and driver unlike the utterly DREADFUL pointless ones we (don't) enjoy during the normal coverage.

[amjs]

The polish rally fans are not as amused.

 

 

..or not as realistic.