2898 replies to this topic

[kosmic33]

Download the app here: http://www.motorsport-news.co.uk/

[MadYarpen]

no app for android:(

[DrProzac]

"New MN out now: Loeb tips Citroen to dominate, Latvala talks VW, Kubica's ERC plans"

Interesting, especially that the rumors say that both Citroen and M-Sport asked FIA for permission to modify their WRC cars.

BTW Seb apparently said (in a different interview) that Robert "is very quick" and that he may do better than Kimi, but it will be difficult in the world championship.

Edited by DrProzac, 12 December 2012 - 17:49.

[vvm]

[kosmic33]

Interesting, especially that the rumors say that both Citroen and M-Sport asked FIA for permission to modify their WRC cars.

To be fair, the british teams (Mini/M-Sport (ford)) tend to use MN to try and drum up headlines for themselves all the time.
Last weeks MN's headline story was about how Mini are ready to win in Monte Carlo (with nomention of drivers or sponsors at all)

[ArnageWRC]

Hmm, I wonder how much M-Sport want? Personally, I’d have gone with a Citroen DS3 RRC....but that’s because I’m not a big Ford/ M-Sport fan.

I’ve never got the love for Ford Rallying in Britain – their WRC record is simply appalling.

[MadYarpen]

if he indeed intends to go for it in rallying, I think ERC is a good decision. Even though it would be nice to see him on WRC stages, it takes some time.

[kosmic33]

The ERC would suit him better - mainly tarmac but if he genuinely wants to go rallying full time surely he'd be better learning gravel & the WRC's events sooner rather than later.
I still cant see him paying through the nose to drive a privateer car with a privateer team. Again, this makes no sense if he has any intention of continuing rallying - getting cosy with a factory is never a bad thing.....

Then again, maybe he wants to drive a non-factory car where he pays the bills so that he is not tied down by a contract if the opportunity arose to race an F1 car or a LMP car?

[MadYarpen]

The ERC would suit him better - mainly tarmac but if he genuinely wants to go rallying full time surely he'd be better learning gravel & the WRC's events sooner rather than later.
I still cant see him paying through the nose to drive a privateer car with a privateer team. Again, this makes no sense if he has any intention of continuing rallying - getting cosy with a factory is never a bad thing.....

Then again, maybe he wants to drive a non-factory car where he pays the bills so that he is not tied down by a contract if the opportunity arose to race an F1 car or a LMP car?

maybe, but on the other hand he made it clear that if he goes rallying, he will be serious about it and won't aim for one year, but for full programme of 2-3 years. Maybe he thinks that ERC will give him less steep learning curve.

Also, is it possible to have any kind of factory seat in ERC? I know citroen has RRC car, but do they run it themselves?

[Muppetmad]

I'm ecstatic that Robert looks set to do the ERC - I think the greater emphasis on tarmac events will suit him in the short term whilst allowing him to develop his skills on gravel and snow for the long term.

Evans also sounds very optimistic about Robert's pace and seems confident that he will be able to "dominate" on the tarmac rallies.

It's all coming together

[H2H]

I hope he does well, he was and still is a big loss for F1.


Looking at the averaged top ten according to the team principals over the last 5 years it is certainly no surprise that he is the one highest among the non-WDC winners. If we take into account his age when he was stopped he arguably had a big chance to do better...

..
..
..
..
..
Kubica 95
Webber 72
Massa 63
Rosberg 38
Hulk'berg 34

Edited by H2H, 13 December 2012 - 17:19.

[kosmic33]

maybe, but on the other hand he made it clear that if he goes rallying, he will be serious about it and won't aim for one year, but for full programme of 2-3 years. Maybe he thinks that ERC will give him less steep learning curve.

Also, is it possible to have any kind of factory seat in ERC? I know citroen has RRC car, but do they run it themselves?

Citroen only recently homologated an RRC car so that Nasser Al-Attiyah can use one of their cars in the Middle East Championship (although there will also be 2 in the Belgian championship). There's no "proper" factory seat available with them.
There arent really any genuine factory seats available for the ERC this year, certainly not with M-Sport (Ford)

I just dont see the point in Robert entering what is essentially a tarmac championship if his future target is the WRC which only has 3 tarmac events and 10 gravel (& 1 snow)

[DrProzac]

maybe, but on the other hand he made it clear that if he goes rallying, he will be serious about it and won't aim for one year, but for full programme of 2-3 years.

I don't know, he said he wouldn't want to be searching for another deal after a year. That doesn't imply he wouldn't ever consider switching to racing if a good enough opportunity arises.

BTW Robert starting in Rally Poland would be huge!

Edited by DrProzac, 13 December 2012 - 18:30.

[Group B]

Good stuff, be interestering to see how he goes

[MadYarpen]

BTW Robert starting in Rally Poland would be huge!

Once he confirms it, I'm booking a hotel, that's for sure.

[MaGiK]

I wouldnt be suprised if he drives ERC plus couple of asphalt rounds in WRC.

[goldenboy]

a successful 3 years in rally still gives him plenty of time to get back to F1, exciting news, although I wouldn't mind if he ended up doing WRC rather than F1, it was fun getting into rally when kimi was competing.

[BRG]

a successful 3 years in rally still gives him plenty of time to get back to F1, exciting news, although I wouldn't mind if he ended up doing WRC rather than F1, it was fun getting into rally when kimi was competing.

Three years in rallying, on top of two years in recuperation makes five years out of single seaters. No-one is going to come back after that long away.

[Anja]

I'd guess that at this stage of rehabilitation he should have some idea to what extent his current problems with elbow mobility can be fixed over time. If he commits to the rallying (and that would be, as he stated himself, definitely a minimum 2-3 year plan), that would probably mean that possibility of ever getting back to F1 is rather low anyway because of the elbow.

[goldenboy]

Three years in rallying, on top of two years in recuperation makes five years out of single seaters. No-one is going to come back after that long away.

Really? He will be younger than or the same age as (?) kimi when he returned from rally, and could still drive for 5 years in F1. Although, as I said above, I would not mind if he stayed in rally, would be awesome to see if he could compete at the top after some years. I mean no offence to rally fans but it seems I only get interested in rally when an F1 driver goes there!

It must be a bloody tough job for them to try and get people interested and hooked with the way people must view it (which is no fault of their own I know, just the way it has to be).

[MadYarpen]

http://translate.goo...ubica-e-m-sport

I got the feeling that it is indeed coming. See you in Mazury then!

[Myrvold]

It must be a bloody tough job for them to try and get people interested and hooked with the way people must view it (which is no fault of their own I know, just the way it has to be).

With the "sprint" rally format that got used gradually at the end of the 1990's early 2000's, yes. However, with the more unique rallies earlier - it was easier to get people hooked. Almost every rally had something hugely different from the others, the season started in Monte Carlo, with the different weather conditions, going to (often) freezing Sweden, before suddenly driving in the Rally Safari, which was the only endurance-rally, where the drivers was allowed to use helicopters to warn them about missing roadbits, cows, people and so on!
With the rallies that differed quite a lot, both in stages, lengths and conditions. You could also see local heroes duelling it out with the WRC-regulars with good amount of talent, and an OK car. You don't see that anymore. The rallies are to similar, if you master one, it's easier to do OK -> good in others.

RANT OVER!!!

[MadYarpen]

auto hebdo claims deal with m sport for fiesta erc is done. robert is said to be partnering tanak in most of rounds, they say that he will not take part in janer rally starting on 5th january.

Source:
http://www.autohebdo..._medium=twitter

Edited by MadYarpen, 17 December 2012 - 17:42.

[Lord_Shaitan]

Maybe Monte Carlo in WRC instead?

[MadYarpen]

Maybe Monte Carlo in WRC instead?

Testing I think, but we will see. These are not the same weekends anyway.

[MaGiK]

Other possibility could be another surgery which would mean few weeks of brake.

[EightGear]

Janner is very early in the season. He can afford to miss it since from the first 7 events the best 4 results count and the last 6 also the best 4. So only 8 results count for the championship out of the 13 events.

[MadYarpen]

Now sokół wrote that news is to early, I think it is right though. I hope it will be confirmed anyway.

[noikeee]

Other possibility could be another surgery which would mean few weeks of brake.

Wow, that's a whole new level of pessimism.

He's rumoured to be entering the series with M-Sport partnering Tanak. Well, neither Tanak or M-Sport are entered there. The obvious conclusion is that they're entering the series later and skipping this very early round, not disrupting the whole program including the other driver for a supposed surgery of Kubica.

[MadYarpen]

I don't think robert wants another surgery. He had so many of them, and results were not good enough. I suppose he'll try to give time to the nature.

[MadYarpen]

Greg Fountain ‏@GregFountain1

'If the op succeeds I'm 80% likely to return to #F1'. Exclusive Robert #Kubica interview in the new issue of #CARmagazine, on sale today

Didn't see that coming. An have no idea what operation is it about.

[thuGG]

Wait, what?

Who is Greg Fountain?

Edited by thuGG, 19 December 2012 - 15:47.

[MaGiK]

So maybe i wasnt wrong in my previous post xD

[Zava]

Wait, what?

Who is Greg Fountain?

doesn't matter, as he's citing an interview one can check up on, not being a source of rumor.
great news, 80% is a lot, even if we 'multiply' it with the possibility of the surgery going well

[MadYarpen]

i'm guessing it is Rob's last try to regain enough mobility, fingers crossed for him.

Edited by MadYarpen, 19 December 2012 - 16:07.

[Muppetmad]

Greg Fountain ‏@GregFountain1

'If the op succeeds I'm 80% likely to return to #F1'. Exclusive Robert #Kubica interview in the new issue of #CARmagazine, on sale today

Didn't see that coming. An have no idea what operation is it about.

Gosh, that's quite a high percentage! Of course this isn't much to go on - hopefully somebody can find the whole interview - but that's still very hopeful

[wolviex]

I won't be happy until some post surgery (if this is true) news will come up. I remember how Kubica said that every op is now a big risk and can back progress already made. Fingers crossed!

[DrProzac]

Greg Fountain ‏@GregFountain1

'If the op succeeds I'm 80% likely to return to #F1'. Exclusive Robert #Kubica interview in the new issue of #CARmagazine, on sale today

Didn't see that coming. An have no idea what operation is it about.

Wow, so if this is real than that rumor one of the forumers passed (not here) was true!
The rumor has it that something was to be "removed" from his elbow.

Edited by DrProzac, 19 December 2012 - 19:06.

[Shiroo]

and if it won't work then there are 0% chanes for his come back? well in the end it would be better for Kubica in that way, at least if he would have 0%chance on come back due to elbows problem, then he could focus 100% on rallies, and if it would go just fine, that operation then he could still fight for F1.

Edited by Shiroo, 19 December 2012 - 19:13.

[jaksa]

I hate to disappoint you guys but there is nothing new in that interview. Catchy title that's it

[Lord_Shaitan]

I hate to disappoint you guys but there is nothing new in that interview. Catchy title that's it

Yep. Confirm .

[Muppetmad]

Hmmm. I knew not to get my hopes up too much; I never trust anything that comes solely from Twitter.

[MaGiK]

I thought that was direct quote from interview since they used "I'm" in the tweet.

[MadYarpen]

I hate such things.

[DrProzac]

Found on the internet:
http://www.jibjab.co...3LUJdD-ztQ?mt=1

I hope Robert hasn't seen it

BTW http://en.wikipedia....Men_of_the_Year

Edited by DrProzac, 25 December 2012 - 23:42.

[MadYarpen]

yesterday in my hometown: http://f1zone.pl/new...a_w_polsce.html

Sadly, I wasn't there...

[mst]

Happy New Year!

[MaGiK]

So Chachorski said decision isnt made yet.

"About plans for next year's , we will let you know as soon as next season decisions will be taken. We still have time and we still intend to use it. Theres no " deadline " and the decision is entirely up to Robert. I can only reveal that Robert has proposals starts in very good crews in both rallying, as well as racing "

Edited by MaGiK, 01 January 2013 - 09:37.

[Buttoneer]

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