World Rallycross R10 - Franciacorta, Italy

[rx-guru]

Okay, need to search for the video, that I watched many times back then. Maybe I'm not correct by saying that Hunsbedt was in the lead, but was so close behind Grönholm that he defo would have taken over while the Finn was doing his Joker... Sven Inge is a friend I know since 1978 when he used to work for PI Walfridsson in the ERC.

[crossfades]

I am sure of that Grönholm won but I know what you mean by that he was lucky and could as well have been second or even third maybe.

[rx-guru]

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

Mmmh, must have been some mix-up here concerning Hunsbedt. Sorry, but 2008 wasn't yesterday... But if you check from 6:05 you can see that Hansen is not going flat out for a moment. I'm sure he was afraid of a contact with Grönholm, although he was on the original track and the Finn had to take care about him, not the other way round. BTW, that is what I hate most about the Joker Laps, that there is often no right of way given (as clearly pointed out in the rulebook), resulting in contacts or crashs, but without later consequences.

[bigdick1977]

Didn't Hansen say at the time that he didn't get involved as he was thinking of the title?

[chunder]

Let's also remmeber that this was a one off for Marcus, and he is what I call a SwedeFinn.

Hanse was verya ware of the situation.

As for rally drivers being better or worse, I think there is something in it. A lot of them come in and do well quickly. Not o sure any rallycross drivers could do the same were the roles.reversed.

Remember Delecour? Roar Vannebo? Ingvar Carlsson. All pretty much on it from the off

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNhBhclEAiI
BTW, that is what I hate most about the Joker Laps, that there is often no right of way given (as clearly pointed out in the rulebook), resulting in contacts or crashs, but without later consequences.

Couldn't agree more. Kevin Eriksson and Kevin Hansen had quite a battle in Höljes because of it ..
When drivers hesitate on taking the joker it could lead to some unusual driving too. Solberg went for the joker like three times in Höljes in the final, though cutting it twice.

[FIRE]

Apparently the good old days are still more interesting than WRX.

[tbtstt]

Great to see Hansen finally take a win, after his performance in the last couple of rounds he really deserves it. Fantastic drive from Johan Kristoffersson as well, especially in the Semi Final: two jokers and he still came out in third.

I didn't hate the track, but I didn't love it either. The artificial jumps looked less severe than Mettet: though were obviously still enough for Solberg to break his car! Oddly the circuit reminded me of Mallory Park.

Amazed how much the manufacturer Championship battle has closed up. Looking to 2015 there is potential for a hell of a title battle (assuming the drivers don't all switch teams again!): OMSE, Marklund, Peugeot-Hansen and EKS all seem to have competitive cars now. PSRX obviously have a competitive car for Petter, but not sure how well that car suits a second driver.

[rx-guru]

I bet the 2013 car (raced by Alex Hvaal earlier this year) would suit at least Petter's brother Henning...

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

I bet the 2013 car (raced by Alex Hvaal earlier this year) would suit at least Petter's brother Henning...

PSHSRX for 2015?

[rx-guru]

That would be the biggest surprise ever in RX for me.
I think together in a team they would fight like cat and dog...

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

That would be the biggest surprise ever in RX for me.
I think together in a team they would fight like cat and dog...

I did suspect as much!

Struggling to think who might be able to get to grips with the second PSRX car in its current configuration.

[crossfades]

Heard that Petter said the cars were equal. He tested both the cars after Hvaal left and took times of the laps. Apparently there was only 0.01 secs difference. Even if it is true, the car is still very special and could as well have some problems. In Norway after Hvaal won a heat he sad that he had to switch things on the panel (or what it's called) while he was driving. Hvaal didn't do much better with his last year car in Höljes though.

KMS could be a contender in the WRX next year too depending on the second driver. Kristoffersson is without a doubt among the fastest drivers. Veiby will probably be doing more rallying so the second car is without a driver for next year I think. My hope is that Mats Lysen will get the second drive. A few months ago he said he was working on getting a seat for next years WRX and hopefully a factory drive

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by crossfades

Heard that Petter said the cars were equal. He tested both the cars after Hvaal left and took times of the laps. Apparently there was only 0.01 secs difference.

I honestly believe that both cars are equal: and that is exactly why I see there being an issue with the second driver.

Unless you drive like Petter then you aren't going to get the best out of that car: the only two drivers who spring to mind with that sort of driving style are Henning and Liam Doran, neither of whom seem likely to move to PSRX.

Perhaps Petter will relent and set the number 2 car up differently.

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

I honestly believe that both cars are equal: and that is exactly why I see there being an issue with the second driver.

Unless you drive like Petter then you aren't going to get the best out of that car: the only two drivers who spring to mind with that sort of driving style are Henning and Liam Doran, neither of whom seem likely to move to PSRX.

Perhaps Petter will relent and set the number 2 car up differently.

The setup that Petter drives with is a setup no one drives with and he knows it. In Höljes he tried to run a harder setup, just to try it, but said he didn't like it, and the car also took some hard landings from the jump. Maybe both cars has to run on a soft setup? But if so is the case, there is no doubt that Petter is the most skilled and consistent driver in the field and that his setup only suits him really

[chunder]

Dont they run with different dampers or something?

And Petter has since moved onto something he prefers more?

[crossfades]

He has always used Reiger when he has gotten the chance. On his Xsara WRC he switched to Reiger. Wouldn't surprise me if he even did it on his C4 WRC too.

At least his car runs on Reiger, so the second car should have the same dampers.

[rx-guru]

If both cars are really equal I would have given Hvaal at least one chance to compete in the new one. Maybe he had stopped complaining...
However, I understood Hvaal mostly complained that the car did not suit his driving style, rather than the car is no good.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

However, I understood Hvaal mostly complained that the car did not suit his driving style, rather than the car is no good.

That's what I heard at Loheac (though I wasn't sure how accurate the information was).

During one of the Livestreams (possibly Germany?), the commentator remarked that Hansen had tried to run their cars like Petter during testing but reverted back.

Hvaal was certainly the most sideways of the Hansen DS3's last year, but the setup of the Hansen cars is obviously very different and what produced results there clearly doesn't work in the PSRX car.

[crossfades]

Stecka was advised by Solberg to run softer setup last year. The results wasn't good though, so Stecka switched back for the last few races of the season and it was much better. The setup is like a rally car fixed for gravel. Sure it is easy to turn in with but it brings a lot of oversteer.

Romagna maybe likes it. He is an Italian gravel rally champion also after all.

[FIRE]

Not a bad track. The starting part a bit narrow and the huge curbstone after the jump not really safe.

The jumps didn't bother me. They looked quite natural, altough they should lower them. It's more spectacular and better for the cars.

[rx-guru]

Understood that the track and the jumps where designed by Gigi Galli. According to what I saw via livestream they were okay. But beside many good jumps there are always some that harm the cars. IMO it's up to the people to estimate the risk they can take.

[1975DCS]

From a marketing point of view, I don't understand why the Solberg team didn't start an SolbergRX team from the beginning, would be great for sponsors in my view... Yes the Petter car has a soft set-up, which reminds me of the Schanche Escorts, This was also mentioned in CCC's review back then, so maybe Schanche wasn't so wayward after all. I guess the Petter car would suit Henning, Liam and Ludvig...

[1975DCS]

Did Hvaal only did one round with his "own" Hansen car?

[1975DCS]

Regarding Ramona, I've understand she was complaining about her 0,8 seconds gap per lap to Henning, but if that is all to blame on the car? Sure small issues can lead to that, but even than Henning's times where about the maximum of the Saab I guess, which make it just about a semifinal car... I really doubt if the Albatec 208 is a much better car, although it is more modern and nimbler and sharper to drive, as the Saab is almost like a "modern" quattro...