2016 World Rally Championship

[crossfades]

I read that the person went for his camera which Latvala was headed towards and got hit because of it. Its clear because he reached for something before the car and also no one else was near being hit. Fortunate for both Latvala and the man Latvala did not go fast enough to seriously hurt him. I wonder though if Latvala knew or didn't knew that he hit him, it was not that hard of a hit so if he knew maybe he thought he could keep on driving ...

An accident can happen in any way, therefore I believe it is hard to be completely safe. They can always move the crowd back but don't know what else they can do really to prevent spectators from being hit.

[leonidas]

Originally Posted by crossfades

It can't be that much fun for Ogier. Its like one would play a racing game and set the difficulty at the easiest level, winning all the time.

To be honest I can't really feel all that sorry for him given the money he is on! It is a great problem to have. (From someone doing double shifts at work just to afford our next clubman entry...)

But I suspect Kris will put Seb under more pressure this year. If Seb isn't totally on it, Kris won't be far away. Much depends on whether Kris can be consistent enough to get inside Seb's head.

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by leonidas

To be honest I can't really feel all that sorry for him given the money he is on! It is a great problem to have. (From someone doing double shifts at work just to afford our next clubman entry...)

But I suspect Kris will put Seb under more pressure this year. If Seb isn't totally on it, Kris won't be far away. Much depends on whether Kris can be consistent enough to get inside Seb's head.

I am aware of that VW puts in more money than any other in WRC, Ogier has an advantage for sure. But even if Latvala and Mikkelsen are very fast too they are not as dominant as Ogier. If Meeke is consistent like you say he will probably be in the top 3 and challenge the VWs, especially Ogier for the win.

A driver always wants to be the best but even for Ogier I think it cannot be fun to be so far ahead all the time, dosen't matter how much money he makes (he kinda earns it though since he is so good) because he still is a rally driver that aims to be the best and unfortunately he is not being challenged for it.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by WolfsburgRS

Any thoughts on the Latvala incident?

Originally Posted by crossfades

I read that the person went for his camera which Latvala was headed towards and got hit because of it.

If you watch the clip the man definitely reaches for something - he's busy trying to protect his possessions rather than himself - everyone else manages to get out of the way fine. Having said that - it was a dodgy place to be standing anyway. Should Latvala have stopped? Probably. I would assume he'd be aware he'd hit someone - but he would also have known the speed that he hit them at and that it was unlikely they were injured. With the adrenalin pumping he was probably just focused on getting back onto the stage and carrying on.

[chunder]

He was clearly aware he had hit something or someone as his wheels lock up momentarily.

[NaBUru38]

It doesn't matter if the pedestrian was stupid. If a drivers hits someone, the driver must stop and make sure that the person is fine.

[WolfsburgRS]

I do find it odd that there is in-car from every other car at any other time, and at that exact moment there is no in-car from Latvala. Just after, showing steam and debris being cleaned off the windscreen, but not at the moment of impact.

While there is a huge assumed risk by any spectator at a motorsport event and you have to take responsibilities for your own actions (such as going back for camera lenses which directly results in being hit by a car), anyone being struck by a car or debris for any reason is a big deal at the end of the day. Transparency and honesty will always be best.

[leonidas]

It may be that if there is a possibility of a police investigation then the police will have asked for the footage not to be released as it constitutes potential evidence that may or may not be incriminating. I also suspect that the WRC do not want in-car images of cars hitting pedestrians being sent around the world.

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by WolfsburgRS

...Transparency and honesty will always be best.

I couldn't agree more. I find it a little deceitful actually if that's not an overreaction. It has happened a few times in the last couple of years. Was it Argentina or Mexico last year where there were some serious injuries glossed over?

leonidas, I take your point that it may be subject to investigation but they don't have to show any macabre footage; just acknowledge it and make the point that spectator safety is important and spectators have to be mindful of the dangers too.

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

I watched the Channel 5 program last night. Very similar in format to the ITV4 show which is fine by me...

I just watched it online as I had missed the posts about the move from ITV4 to C5; some very nice footage and overall well presented. The sport can be made to look good. I do like the look of the new Hyundai. I wonder if they have a version in the showroom? They never seem to do these days.

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by fergus_r

Looked like a nicely placed rock for Meeke...right in the middle of the road

Wasn't it just? You have to wonder about the thought process which makes some people think it's alright to do that and why others just stand by and tolerate it.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by cg7aa

Wasn't it just? You have to wonder about the thought process which makes some people think it's alright to do that and why others just stand by and tolerate it.

I thought that the first time I saw it (and given the history of that sort of thing happening on the Monte). Having seen it again though I'm not so sure - it looks like that rock is buried pretty deep so it may be that it was there all the time but was covered with loose gravel or maybe the surrounding soil/gravel was taken out by previous cars. Given that the rock didn't move and tore the sump guard clean off it was in there pretty well.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by cg7aa

I just watched it online as I had missed the posts about the move from ITV4 to C5; some very nice footage and overall well presented. The sport can be made to look good.

Agreed! I have to say I'm quite optimistic for the 2016 WRC season after Monte Carlo. The fact I had low expectations to start with is probably a factor, but fingers crossed this year won't be the low prior to the new regulations that we were expecting.

Originally Posted by cg7aa

I do like the look of the new Hyundai. I wonder if they have a version in the showroom? They never seem to do these days.

Do any of the manufacturers? The day that Ford produce a Fiesta RS I'll be down the showroom in a flash!

[Alex Langheck]

Seeing as RS is supposed to, or used to stand for Rallye Sport, then the current RS Focus should have been a Fiesta RS. The Focus hasn't been used in the WRC since 2010. I think there may have been some confusion from the top men at Ford. I always understood the RS to be the road version of the Rally car; same engine, transmission, etc This current RS has nothing really in common with the old Focus RS WRCar, well apart from 4WD.

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

I thought that the first time I saw it (and given the history of that sort of thing happening on the Monte). Having seen it again though I'm not so sure - it looks like that rock is buried pretty deep so it may be that it was there all the time but was covered with loose gravel or maybe the surrounding soil/gravel was taken out by previous cars. Given that the rock didn't move and tore the sump guard clean off it was in there pretty well.

That's a fair point, maybe I was seeing a conspiracy where there wasn't one. I take it all back.


Regarding Latvala's moment, apparently, he was relieved of several thousands of Euros and given a suspended one rally ban. Completely escaped me as I don't really check the usual sites anymore for news.

[crossfades]

Saw a rumor on Twitter by Polish Powrót Roberta that Kubica could do 8 European WRC rounds with Lotos and Pirelli as backers. I wonder what made the luck turn around sponsorwise if this turns out to be true

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by crossfades

Saw a rumor on Twitter by Polish Powrót Roberta that Kubica could do 8 European WRC rounds with Lotos and Pirelli as backers.

Good news if it turns out to be true - Kubica is good for the championship.

Originally Posted by crossfades

I wonder what made the luck turn around sponsorwise if this turns out to be true

It certainly wasn't his performance on the Monte!

[crossfades]

Haha, got to agree

I've read somewhere that because of his accident in 2011 he has some problems with his right arm and because of that he has problems handling the steering wheel. That's also why he has has the paddle on the left. Don't know if it is true though.

It seems sad at first but on a second thought how much of a hinder can it be when he keeps coming back for more, despite crashing out all the time? He either got to really, really love rallying so much that he dosen't let himself be hindered by his injury or maybe he is not hindered by his arm and just happens to be unable to stay on the road. He must have reflected sometimes on why he keeps crashing out because he seems very motivated about rallying and to keep going in the WRC.

[tbtstt]

More 2017 news than 2016, but Toyota are supposedly chasing Solberg and Loeb:

http://m.autosport.com/news/report.p...lberg-for-2017

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

More 2017 news than 2016, but Toyota are supposedly chasing Solberg and Loeb:

http://m.autosport.com/news/report.p...lberg-for-2017

Reading the article it looks like they've spoken to Solberg but not Loeb (but not ruled him out as an option). I'm not sure Loeb would do it, Solberg would be more likely but I'd expect that depends on what's going on in Rallycross - if Solberg can get a manufacturer supported program in Rallycross (which seems to be what he's pushing for) would he do WRC? Hirvonen is doing some of the Toyota testing so would they use him if they couldn't get Solberg/Loeb?

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Reading the article it looks like they've spoken to Solberg but not Loeb (but not ruled him out as an option). I'm not sure Loeb would do it, Solberg would be more likely but I'd expect that depends on what's going on in Rallycross - if Solberg can get a manufacturer supported program in Rallycross (which seems to be what he's pushing for) would he do WRC? Hirvonen is doing some of the Toyota testing so would they use him if they couldn't get Solberg/Loeb?

Yeah, the comment(s) concerning Loeb do seem pretty vague, don't they?

Have to be honest and say I'm on the fence about Solberg going back to WRC: as great as it would be to see him rallying again, he has been one of the best things to happen to rallycross in the last few years (in my personal opinion) and it would be a huge shame to lose him.

I also worry that his time in WRC has passed: would hate to see him go back and be stuck at the back of the pack (in a car/team that really isn't inspiring much confidence thus far).

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

I also worry that his time in WRC has passed: would hate to see him go back and be stuck at the back of the pack (in a car/team that really isn't inspiring much confidence thus far).

Agreed - I think a WRC return for either Solberg or Loeb would be a bad idea.

[chunder]

I think would drop rallycross like a hat if he were offered a drive in WRC, he is funding most of his rallycross career remember!

Loeb I doubt very much, unless they offer him insane money, and I am rather worried they are looking at past it guys like this, Solberg hadn't won a WRC event for years when he quit and Loeb has been out the loop.

Far more likely is perhaps a year out testing the Toyora WRC, then praps coming in for the odd event and doing a WRX campaign for them with manufacturer support which is what he has always wanted.

I hope not, as that woudl push the sport ever further away from owner drivers

[Alex Langheck]

Well Toyota are really looking at the future, aren't they? It screams of desparation from Tommi....
The same old names bandied about. Have they enquired about Mikkola or Blomqvist yet......

Until I see the car on the start line at Monte next year, I have reservations about this programme.

[BertMk2]

Looks like the warm weather has played havoc with the plans for Sweden - stages scrapped, others limited on number of passes. Shame, the Swedish round is one of my favourites but I guess if the ground isn't frozen then there's not much that can be done other than cancel stages. Hopefully the temperature drops and we get some more snow before the rally.