WRC 2010

[BertMk2]

So after years of doom and gloom in the WRC next season is starting to look like it could be a good one

Kimi in a WRC for the year - it's going to be good to watch and very expensive in repairs you'd have thought!

Petter Solberg in a modern car - if the plans come off for a full season in a C4 he'll be in contention for wins again surely?

Hirvonen has been getting better and better - can he keep the improvements going and push Loeb all year again? Beat him?

Latvala has the speed to worry the other top drivers and if he can iron out some of the mistakes he could be a factor.

Sordo has been getting better on gravel and is potent on tarmac - maybe even a threat to Loeb on sealed surfaces?

Loeb's still the man to beat - can he keep on winning? Can others take enough points off him on his weaker events to make a difference?

Add in Ogier, Henning Solberg and Matt Wilson and it should be a good year. Are the Munchis cars in for next year?

So what do people think?

[R-SPORT]

I think the IRC is going to be the place to be next year. Hirvonen is to do the monte in the fiesta. Ogier is looking to defend his win last year in a 207. Mixed event gravel/tar over one weekend. Big gaps between services. cars that move around and sound the business. Think its a return to what rallying should be all about. Plus live coverage for the whole day on eurosport.Really think it's going to eclipse the wrc in the next year or two if wrc dosen't get it's act together.

[cptkablamo]

Yeah 2010 is going to be another year where the IRC is more interesting and competitve then WRC...the event layouts, cars and varied manufacturers will win out. Don't know for 2011 but, 2010 will be an IRC year.

As for WRC - Loeb will win again, Mikko will be a clear second. Ogier will continue to improve and will be great in 2011. Kimi will throw it off a lot but will be quick and might surprise by seasons end. Henning will crash a lot. Wilson will finish down the order of WRC cars. Jari-Matti, Petter and Dani Sordo are hard ones to really know what they will do. If there is to be any real interest in this season, it needs a better showing from this lot - particularly Petter.

[bodgit]

I think Petter will win at least one round next season, maybe even kimi will win one of the sealed surfaces.

But, loeb will win the championship again, no one else is as consistently fast as him

[tbtstt]

Am I the only one who thinks that next year in the WRC is going to involve a lot of teams testing their new S2000-spec machinery?

My interest in the IRC just ramped up a notch as I just read that Subaru will now be competing in the series next year.

[nickyf1]

WRC do have a very big name to the general public that we seem to be forgetting, isn't Mr. Ken Block driving a Ford next year?

[Japanese Samurai]

FHI(Subaru) registered for the 2010 series of the IRC.
http://www.subaru-msm.com/global/news/09023.html

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by bodgit

maybe even kimi will win one of the sealed surfaces.

As much as I'd like to see it I really can't see Kimi even getting a podium, the other drivers are no mugs and Loeb, Sordo, Hirvonen, Latvala and Solberg should have the top places locked out unless they hit trouble.

The WRC vs IRC comparison is worthy of its own thread I think.....

[UKOGwill]

Chris Atkinson and Ken Block are competing in Monster Racing Team... they're running Focus WRC's...

[GolddustMini]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Am I the only one who thinks that next year in the WRC is going to involve a lot of teams testing their new S2000-spec machinery?

My interest in the IRC just ramped up a notch as I just read that Subaru will now be competing in the series next year.

in a group N car that is slower than the s2000 machinery, group N mitzis ran in the IRC last year and werent at the front so i cant see them hastling the top s2000 cars from pug, and the ever quickening skoda and proton (plus obviously the new fiesta on some events)

plus the fact that modern GpN cars are dull as dishwater which sound pants (and as such shoulnt be allowed to win!)


will be interesting to see the S2000 cup in the wrc next year to see how quick the fiesta is.

[NaBUru38]

2010 World Rally Championship season calendar:

February 14 - Sweden (Karlstad), snow
March 7 - Mexico (León), gravel
April 4 - Jordan (Amman), gravel
April 18 - Turkey (Istanbul), gravel
May 9 - New Zealand (Auckland), gravel and tarmac
May 30 - Portugal (Vilamoura), gravel
July 10 - Bulgaria (Borovets), tarmac
August 1 - Finland (Jyväskylä), gravel
August 22 - Germany (Trier), tarmac
September 12 - Japan (Sapporo, Hokkaido), gravel
October 3 - France (Épinal, Alsace), tarmac
October 24 - Spain (Salou, Catalonia), tarmac
November 14 - Great Britain (Cardiff, Wales), gravel

The JWRC will race at Turkey, Portugal, Bulgaria, Germany, France and Spain. The PWRC will only miss Turkey, Portugal, Bulgaria and Spain. The Super 2000s will be racing in all PWRC dates plus Portugal.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by GolddustMini

plus the fact that modern GpN cars are dull as dishwater which sound pants (and as such shoulnt be allowed to win!)

Haha! Noise is always integral to victory! Got to say I'm not a fan of the N14 Impreza; either in looks or noise, but I think its great to see Subaru fielding a factory team in international rallying again.

Just been watching the latest testing video of the Fiesta S2000:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3xHDF3Ly9U

I really like the look of it, but I'm not that inspired by the engine note - hopefully it sounds better in the metal!

[nickyf1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rQXK...eature=related
Now this is a good sounding S2000 car, common Dacia, use the damn thing! Even if they dont win I would buy a Logan... Well...

And while we are on the subject of spectacular rally cars, its not the car, its the driver...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okj8aHcn_Yw

[NaBUru38]

All WRC classes will adopt the new F1 scoring system. Awsome news to me.

[skells22]

this means this weekend is the 1st time we see 25,18,15,10,8,6,5,4,2,1 in action

[NaBUru38]

The 2010 Rally Sweden is over. Standings are as follows:

WRC Drivers:

1. Mikko Hirvonen, 25
2. Sébastien Loeb, 18
3. Jari-Matti Latvala, 15
4. Dani Sordo, 12
5. Sébastien Ogier, 10
6. Henning Solberg, 8
7. Matthew Wilson, 6
8. Mads Østberg, 4
9. Petter Solberg, 2
10. Per-Gunnar Andersson, 1

SWRC Drivers':

1. Per-Gunnar Andersson, 25
2. Janne Tuohino, 18
3. Martin Prokop, 15
4. Patrik Sandell, 12
5. Eyvind Brynildsen, 10
6. Bernardo Sousa, 8
7. Per-Arne Sääv, 6

PWRC Drivers':

1. Patrik Flodin, 25
2. Anders Grøndal, 18
3. Armindo Araújo, 15
4. Fabio Friseiro, 12
5. Martin Semerád, 10
6. Reijo Muhonen, 8
7. Gianluca Linari, 6
8. Paulo Nobre, 4

WRC Manufacturers':

1. Ford WRT, 40
2. Citroën WRT, 30
3. Citroën Junior Team, 14
4. Stobart M-Sport, 14

WRC Cup for Super 2000 teams:

1. Janpro, 25
2. Czech Ford, 18
3. Red Bull, 15
4. Rene Georges, 12
5. Quinta Do Lorde, 10

Next race is Rally de México, March 5-7, with the PWRC and SWRC supporting the main class.

[NaBUru38]

The 2010 Rally México has been held in Guanajuato. Citroën flodded the podium.

Absolute:
1. Sébastien Loeb, Citroën C4 WRC
2. Petter Solberg, Citroën C4 WRC
3. Sébastien Ogier, Citroën C4 WRC
4. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford Focus WRC
5. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford Focus WRC
6. Henning Solberg, Ford Focus WRC
7. Federico Villagra, Ford Focus WRC
8. Xavier Pons, Ford Fiesta S2000
9. Martin Prokop, Ford Fiesta S2000
10. Armindo Araújo, Mitsubishi Lancer

SWRC:
1. Xavier Pons, Ford Fiesta S2000
2. Martin Prokop, Ford Fiesta S2000
3. Michał Kościuszko, Ford Fiesta S2000
4. Eyvind Brynildsen, Škoda Fabia S2000
5. Albert Llovera, Fiat Abarth Punto S2000

PWRC:
1. Armindo Araújo, Mitsubishi Lancer
2. Toshi Arai, Subaru Impreza
3. Miguel Angel Baldoni, Mitsubishi Lancer
4. Benito Guerra, Mitsubishi Lancer
5. Gianluca Linari, Subaru Impreza

Standings:

WRC Drivers:

1. Sébastien Loeb - 43
2. Mikko Hirvonen - 37
3. Jari-Matti Latvala - 25
4. Sébastien Ogier - 25
5. Petter Solberg - 20
6. Henning Solberg - 16
7. Dani Sordo - 12
8. Matthew Wilson - 6
9. Federico Villagra - 6
10. Mads Østberg - 4
11. Xavier Pons - 4
12. Martin Prokop - 2
13. Per-Gunnar Andersson - 1
14. Armindo Araújo - 1

SWRC Drivers:

1. Martin Prokop, 33
2. Per-Gunnar Andersson, 25
3. Xavier Pons, 25
4. Eyvind Brynildsen, 22
5. Janne Tuohino, 18
6. Michał Kościuszko, 15
7. Patrik Sandell, 12
8. Albert Llovera, 10
9. Bernardo Sousa, 8
10. Per-Arne Sääv, 6

PWRC Drivers:

1. Armindo Araújo, 40
2. Patrik Flodin, 25
3. Anders Grøndal, 18
4. Toshi Arai, 18
5. Gianluca Linari, 16
6. Miguel Baldoni, 15
7. Fabio Frisiero, 12
8. Benito Guerra, 12
9. Martin Semerád, 10
10. Reijo Muhonen, 8
11. Paulo Nobre, 4

WRC Manufacturers:

1. Ford WRT, 67
2. Citroën WRT, 61
3. Citroën Junior Team, 32
4. Stobart M-Sport, 28
5. Munchi's, 6

WRC Cup for Super 2000 teams:

1. Czech Ford, 36
2. Janpro, 25
3. Nupel, 25
4. Rene Georges, 24
5. Red Bull, 15
6. Dynamic, 15
7. Quinta Do Lorde, 10

Next race is the Jordan Rally, April 1-3, with the PWRC and SWRC supporting the main class.

[Japanese Samurai]

According to Yomiuri shimbun(Japanese newspaper),
Mitsubishi motors ends the business of Rallyart of the subsidiary company. The brand name of Rallyart is maintained.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/atmoney/new...OYT1T01192.htm

[Japanese Samurai]

Sorry, not "rallyart", correct is a "ralliart".

[NaBUru38]

The 2010 Jordan Rally has been held in Amman.

Absolute:
1. Sébastien Loeb, Citroën C4 WRC
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford Focus WRC
3. Petter Solberg, Citroën C4 WRC
4. Dani Sordo, Citroën C4 WRC
5. Matthew Wilson, Ford Focus WRC
6. Sébastien Ogier, Citroën C4 WRC
7. Federico Villagra, Ford Focus WRC
8. Kimi Räikkönen, Citroën C4 WRC
9. Henning Solberg, Ford Focus WRC
10. Xavier Pons, Ford Fiesta S2000

SWRC:
1. Xavier Pons, Ford Fiesta
2. Eyvind Brynildsen, Å*koda Fabia
3. Per-Gunnar Andersson, Å*koda Fabia
4. Nasser Al-Attiyah, Å*koda Fabia
5. Patrik Sandell, Å*koda Fabia
6. Jari Ketomaa, Ford Fiesta

PWRC:
1. Patrik Flodin, Subaru Impreza
2. Armindo Araújo, Mitsubishi Lancer
3. Nicholai Georgiou, Mitsubishi Lancer
4. Spyros Pavlides, Subaru Impreza
5. Amjad Farrah, Subaru Impreza
6. Wang Rui, Subaru Impreza
7. Paulo Nobre, Mitsubishi Lancer

Standings after 3 / 13 races:

WRC Drivers:
1. Sébastien Loeb, 68
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, 43
3. Mikko Hirvonen, 37
4. Petter Solberg, 35
5. Sébastien Ogier, 33
6. Dani Sordo, 24
7. Henning Solberg, 18
8. Matthew Wilson, 16
9. Federico Villagra, 12
10. Xavier Pons, 5
11. Kimi Räikkönen, 4
12. Mads Østberg, 4
13. Martin Prokop, 2
14. Armindo Araújo, 1
15. Per-Gunnar Andersson, 1

SWRC Drivers:
1. Xavier Pons, 50
2. Per-Gunnar Andersson, 40
3. Eyvind Brynildsen, 40
4. Martin Prokop, 33
5. Patrik Sandell, 22
6. Janne Tuohino, 18
7. Michał Kościuszko, 15
8. Nasser Al-Attiyah, 12
9. Albert Llovera, 10
10. Bernardo Sousa, 8
10. Jari Ketomaa, 8
11. Per-Arne Sääv, 6

PWRC Drivers:
1. Armindo Araújo, 58
2. Patrik Flodin, 50
3. Anders Grøndal, 18
3. Toshi Arai, 18
5. Gianluca Linari, 16
6. Miguel Baldoni, 15
6. Nicholai Georgiou, 15
8. Fabio Frisiero, 12
8. Benito Guerra, 12
8. Spyros Pavlides, 12
11. Martin Semerád, 10
12. Amjad Farrah, 10
13. Paulo Nobre, 10
14. Reijo Muhonen, 8
15. Wang Rui, 8

WRC Manufacturers:
1. Citroën WRT, 101
2. Ford WRT, 87
3. Citroën Junior, 48
4. Stobart M-Sport, 44
5. Munchi's, 16

WRC Cup for S2000 Teams:
1. Nupel, 50
2. Rene Georges, 42
3. Czech Ford, 36
4. Red Bull, 27
5. Janpro, 25
6. Dynamic, 15
6. Barwa, 15
8. Quinta Do Lorde, 10
9. FCACA, 10

Next race is the Rally of Turkey (April 16-18, gravel and tarmac), with the JWRC having their first round of the season and the SWRC and PWRC having their first break.

[duke_toaster]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82678

Er, pardon? Surely if there are issues about sandbagging it would be an idea to give the rally leader at the end of a day to decide whether to go first or last rather than not giving them that choice ...

[NaBUru38]

I think the same, duke. Teams telling drivers to lose time each and every race goes against the spirit of sport. I'd give the first four positions to the first four, then the rest in order. Or in other words, the fourth would open the stage.

[AndyS]

Not big on rally these days, but did catch a bit of WRC Jordan. What's all this tactics nonsense? Understand it's to do with road position for the following day so the first cars clean the stage. Wasn't aware this ever used to be a problem, why is it now? Apologies if I'm missing the obvious here, but why not send one of the other classes through first, like PWRC to clear the stage?

[NaBUru38]

Since WRCs are faster, they would be forced to overtake the slower N4, Super 2000 or Super 1600, which is dangerous in these tight roads.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Since WRCs are faster, they would be forced to overtake the slower N4, Super 2000 or Super 1600, which is dangerous in these tight roads.

Surely they could put enough of a stagger in to avoid the first of the WRC cars encountering the last of the PWRC cars? (Let close enough so the stage is still "swept"?) All this tactical nonsense is taking away from the racing...


...its like WRC wants to become F1.