2013 World Rally Championship

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by chunder

"ostberg finally found some pace"

HAve you been watching the same WRC as anyone else for a year!!

I meant at this event, not his general performance!

Originally Posted by chunder

For me Loeb could win this series even if he doesnt do all the rounds, he is so utterly dominant in WRC, I would laugh if he did, makes the whole series look a mockery!

I dont like it, but he could do it

He is only doing four rounds isn't he? So even with four wins I'm sure one of the other drivers could rack up enough points to beat him. I know what you mean though, add a couple more events to this years plan and I reckon he'd be in with a shout!

I think it'll be interesting to see how Loeb/Ogier compare later in the year when Ogier has more seat time in the Polo R, for a so called cautious start, he is still looking pretty quick!

[BtccLee]

Hearing last two stages cancelled, not sure why. Loeb wins from Ogier if true.

[BtccLee]

Hearing last two stages cancelled, not sure why. Loeb wins from Ogier if true.



Heavy Rain on stages lead fans to leave, causing to much congestion.

Results: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105198

[morningview66]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

Hearing last two stages cancelled, not sure why. Loeb wins from Ogier if true.



Heavy Rain on stages lead fans to leave, causing to much congestion.

Results: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105198

The official site just says cancelled due to safety concerns over huge numbers of spectators.

I suppose in general if they were in the stage or on the roads around it could compromise safety, but its always a shame to see the rally end like that.

[bella]

aside from the peak of the col de turini, there's not really many roads around the stages up there apart from the stage routes themselves, so they have to rely on people staying put all day otherwise there's going to be a problem. from la bollene vesubie downwards it's much better but for much of the route there's nothing else around.

[tbtstt]

For anyone struggling with coverage, this channel on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/WRCforeva?feature=watch

Has all the Speed highlight programmes on it.

[chunder]

Plusses for me here, the speed of Hanninen and obviously the Polo, Novikov being up there too. And the speed of Boullier, but its France!

Bad points, Ostberg being so poor, no Mini's and Hirvonen, just cant get on terms! And no Tanak, shame.

[tbtstt]

It was certainly a clear win for Loeb, but I'm encouraged on the signs for the rest of the championship this year. Shame to see Novikov throw his third place away, as it was a great effort up until that point. Good to see Ostberg managed to finish in the top 6 but, like you say Chunder, it really wasn't his best showing.

Fantastic start to the year for VW, perhaps a little early to say for sure, but they are looking that little bit stronger for the 2013 title now. Must be a real kick in the teeth for MINI though.

[chunder]

They must have sold a lot of Minis! Quite a few appear regionally, but to only have one in the Monte or so it seemed, no Nobre, no Atkinson, no Sandell, no Araujo, weird.

Would have thought a few of the GpN cars might have moved up, maybe economy is hitting hard.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by chunder

They must have sold a lot of Minis! Quite a few appear regionally, but to only have one in the Monte or so it seemed, no Nobre, no Atkinson, no Sandell, no Araujo, weird.

As you say, the cars are out there, just not in the WRC. I understood that Prodrive would be running their own team (as well as developing the cars) in 2013, but that doesn't seem to have happened: perhaps that idea was abandoned with the departure of Sordo?

Originally Posted by chunder

Would have thought a few of the GpN cars might have moved up, maybe economy is hitting hard.

Possibly, or perhaps some drivers are waiting to see where the R5 class goes? (I think the economy is a more likely cause though)

[I Rosputnik]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

For anyone struggling with coverage, this channel on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/WRCforeva?feature=watch

Has all the Speed highlight programmes on it.

I'd say the TV show has improved dramatically since I last saw it. More outside shots of cars as well as having a strangely more documentary feel to it. (Especially with the slow motion footage.)

[JorritVD]

Will be interesting to see who will win Rally Sweden.

Since the introduction of the 1.6L WRC cars only three the same guys have been on the podium in Sweden: Hirvonen, Latvala and Ostberg. Also Ford won both 2011 and 2012 editions.

In 2011 all three guys still drove for Ford, now they all drive for a different manufacturer. But I guess they still are the three main drivers who can fight for the win at Sweden.

Ostberg has been 2nd and 3rd in the last two years. But that was with a customer spec Ford Fiesta. Now he has a factory spec and supported Fiesta.

Hirvonen won with Ford (2011) and came 2nd last year in the Citroën. The main difference with last year is that he now has got experience with the Citroën DS3 and team.

Last year Latvala won with Ford. Now he is with VW. In Monte the Polo was quite good in snow (on asphalt). I guess we have to wait and see how strong the Polo is in Sweden and how the combination Latvala-Polo is.

Besides these three drivers we have also Ogier, Loeb, Novikov who can fight for the podium or the win.

[NaBUru38]

Ogier isn't Nordic, so I'll scratch him for this year

[leonidas]

I'm not sure the comparisons between VW performance on snow in the Monte and Sweden are going to tell you much. They'll be running a very different set up and, of course, proper studded tyres this time. At the Monte setup is always a compromise.

We won't really know how much of a challenger VW are going to be until they get onto the gravel rounds but the signs are obviously good so far.

Any idea what price bookmakers woud give you for Latvala to win the championship? Might not be the worst bet ever made...

[AndyS]

Yes, all the media coverage around VW always focus on Ogier. I wonder if having less pressure on Latvala and almost being the underdog in the team may help. He's hitting the age where experience should be starting to kick in and add to his speed and talent.

On another note I always try to be optimistic wherever I can, but flicking through a copy of the latest Autosport the suggestion is that there will be no UK TV coverage of Rally Sweden. Deal not yet done, all it says is that they are talking to a broadcaster but Sweden is looming and it looks like it won't be done before then.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by leonidas

Any idea what price bookmakers woud give you for Latvala to win the championship? Might not be the worst bet ever made...

I'm not sure I'd back Latvala until he proves he can finish consistently rather than throw it into the scenery

[ArnageWRC]

I think VW should have nominated Ogier as their No1 driver, and let Latvala settle into the team, getting consistent results.
VW aren't relying on him for finance like M-Sport were, and are not likely to be as forgiving as Malcolm was.

[ArnageWRC]

Rally Sweden been and gone - not a single post.....

Well done to Ogier & VW....the combination to beat I think this year.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

Well done to Ogier & VW....the combination to beat I think this year.

Based on the pre-season hype it looked like this was going to be the combination to beat and, thus far, the results seem to support this.

Hoping that Ostberg and Novikov can raise their game so we don't have another Sebastian dominating the Championship!

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

Rally Sweden been and gone - not a single post.....

Well done to Ogier & VW....the combination to beat I think this year.

I did post a link to the Speed youtube 'cos I couldn't see one anywhere else....then found this thread today

But I agree, well done Ogier

[AndyS]

I suppose the lack of posts is down to the lack of coverage. I haven't watched the You Tube footage yet, but will hopefully manage it this week.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by AndyS

I suppose the lack of posts is down to the lack of coverage. I haven't watched the You Tube footage yet, but will hopefully manage it this week.

It's not great is it? Hopefully I'll get a chance this week to catch up.

[tbtstt]

The Speed programmes are up on the same You Tube channel as last time:

http://www.youtube.com/user/WRCforeva?feature=watch

[cg7aa]

I had to be reminded by someone the rally was taking place. It's one of my favourites but somehow it completely escaped me. I can't find full daily highlights clips either on youtube.

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

The Speed programmes are up on the same You Tube channel as last time:

http://www.youtube.com/user/WRCforeva?feature=watch

That was a pretty good rally I thought, it's been a while since we've seen Loeb being forced to claw back time and this time the outcome wasn't so certain. It would have been interesting to see how the battle between him and Ogier would have ebbed and flowed had he not lost as much time as he did on the first day.

The battle between Ostberg (keeping his head after his engine issues and clawing back time) and Latvala (not feeling quite comfortable in the car as Ogier) was interesting but the driver who stood out for me was Yazeed in the S2000/WRC2 focus.

Is it me or has the TV production gone up a notch this year? This may well be down to the local production TV people of course, the lovely scenery also helps!