2021 Rallying

[Anyopenroad]

Pictures from a wonderful day in the forests of north Wales for the Cambrian Rally: https://bit.ly/3F9uTKw

It rained for a week before the event and the whole of the night before. It started raining again later on the day. But between 7am when I left my B&B in the dark and 5pm when I got back in the gloom, it was bright and glorious in the forests of Gwydir where I spent the day.

My first experience of a forest rally. Unforgiving tramping through undergrowth! But close to the action and endlessly great photo angles.

These pictures are, as usual, cropped and resized to 16:9. In this case I was also busy with photoshop editing out spectator signs, red/yellow tape and orange arrows! No other changes though.

I hope you enjoy! I went to Malton Forest last weekend and am at Rallynuts in Wales this weekend so there's lots more rally pics to come.

[justracing]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

Pictures from a wonderful day in the forests of north Wales for the Cambrian Rally: https://bit.ly/3F9uTKw

Hats off to your dedication, I've done a bit of tramping round rally venues so I know the effort involved, great pics

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

Pictures from a wonderful day in the forests of north Wales for the Cambrian Rally: https://bit.ly/3F9uTKw

Nice! Thanks for sharing, there's some great shots in there Seems like there was a good mix of cars, something for everyone really - have to say that the 131 is probably my favourite, you don't see too many of those.

Looking forward to seeing the photos from your next event...

[Anyopenroad]

Thanks both! One thing I have particularly enjoyed about my first rally experiences has been the variety. Each has combined awesome R5s with Imprezas, a bunch of Escorts of all ages and then something random like a 911, a Micra kit car, a Darrian or a Hillman Avenger. Lots of fun .

[S griffin]

So big weekend this weekend. Final round of the WRC this season. Of course it looks like Ogier will take one more title before going into semi-retirement. OTOH Evans luck could be the opposite of what happened last year. You never know. Gonna be interesting to watch either way

[BertMk2]

It'd be a huge shock for Ogier to lose the title in this round, he so rarely makes rally ending mistakes. His retirement does open up next years title race though doesn't it? With the new cars coming in and the various driver moves next year is very hard to predict. I'm not sure rally Monza is a fitting send off for this generation of cars though - it's a bit of a Mickey Mouse event really (I'm not even convinced it should be a WRC round).

[S griffin]

The sooner the likes of Rally GB are back the better. Monza isn’t a bad event, but it is hardly fitting of a world championship event tbh. Especially as a last round decider

[Alex Langheck]

Originally Posted by SnoodyMcFlude

I think the hybrid thing has brought a bit more investment from Ford, they were talking about it at the FoS about the advantages of Ford supporting them. Hopefully will mean that the car will actually be competitive again.

Can't be that much investment, as M-Sport have just signed Gus Greensmith as their No2 driver.......With the greatest of respect to him, he's done very little to suggest he's a No2 driver just yet. However, he'll likely be paying for his seat alongside Breen.

[Alex Langheck]

Originally Posted by S griffin

The sooner the likes of Rally GB are back the better. Monza isn’t a bad event, but it is hardly fitting of a world championship event tbh. Especially as a last round decider

All depends on were they hold it, and if there's anybody to pay for it. Rally GB should be in mid/late November in the forests on gravel. Not really a fan of having it on tarmac in Ulster in August.......

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Originally Posted by Alex Langheck

Can't be that much investment, as M-Sport have just signed Gus Greensmith as their No2 driver.......With the greatest of respect to him, he's done very little to suggest he's a No2 driver just yet. However, he'll likely be paying for his seat alongside Breen.

Yeah, even if their choice was restricted to either Greensmith or Fourmaux, I know which one I'd choose....but could just be that they've focused the budget on the car and getting one driver capable of winning rallies?

[justracing]

No Tanak at Monza, family reasons. I know Monza is a bit Mickey Mouse with all the circuit stages but I think it's a good bit of fun especially easy for spectators to follow.

[SnoodyMcFlude]

I quite enjoyed watching Monza last year and again today. It's not "proper rallying" but I like that it offers a challenge we don't really see elsewhere in the season.

[BTCC frog]

Huge congratulations to Sebastien Ogier for winning his eighth WRC championship in the final round of his full-time career. It's a shame he's not going to go for Loeb's record of nine, but what a career that man has had. For me the greatest season was 2018, where he didn't have the fastest car but edged the championship from Neuville and Tanak. I would imagine we won't have another period of dominance like Loeb's or Ogier's now, with Elfyn Evans, Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak surely battling for next season's championship, and maybe Kalle Rovanpera in the mix too.

[justracing]

Yep, great achievement. Elfyn Evans gave a good chase over the last few rounds and watching Sunday's stages I thought for a moment there was going to be a major upset with Seb clouting a chicane kerb on the old banking, it could have cost him a huge chunk of time but luck was on his side. All in all a masterful drive this year.

[tbtstt]

End of, what is for me, one of the best eras of the World Rally Championship. Going to miss the World Rally Cars - and of course I wanted to see Elfyn Evans succeed - but I think Ogier is a deserving winner and in some regards a "better" Champion than Loeb (can of worms comparing the two though!).

Going to be interesting to see where Ogier goes from here.

I am actually really looking forward to next year as well, the videos of the hybrids testing sound like 90's rally cars and the drivers involved should (as long as the new technology isn't problematic) give us a good title fight.

[Alex Langheck]

Originally Posted by BTCC frog

Huge congratulations to Sebastien Ogier for winning his eighth WRC championship in the final round of his full-time career. It's a shame he's not going to go for Loeb's record of nine, but what a career that man has had. For me the greatest season was 2018, where he didn't have the fastest car but edged the championship from Neuville and Tanak. I would imagine we won't have another period of dominance like Loeb's or Ogier's now, with Elfyn Evans, Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak surely battling for next season's championship, and maybe Kalle Rovanpera in the mix too.

The sport badly needs some new champions; great drivers that they have been, but 17 out of the last 18 championships suggests a lack of depth. That's not their fault, but the sport needs far more competitive teams/car/drivers.

Sadly, it doesn't look like we'll get that anytime soon. With only 3 manufacturer* entries.

[Anyopenroad]

Pictures from a lovely day in north Yorkshire at the Malton Forest Rally on 7th November. Two stages at Gale Rigg, both surrounded by very friendly fans and with lovely camera angles in every direction.

https://bit.ly/3cRJWvZ

Enjoy!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

Pictures from a lovely day in north Yorkshire at the Malton Forest Rally on 7th November. Two stages at Gale Rigg, both surrounded by very friendly fans and with lovely camera angles in every direction.

https://bit.ly/3cRJWvZ

Enjoy!

Some great pictures there, thanks for sharing

Did anyone catch any of the RAC over the weekend? It looked like a proper old school event this year with the snow (and crews spending the night in the rally car!). A big well done and thank you to all of the marshals standing out in all conditions so the event could take place. Some stages were lost to the weather but it still looked like a great event.

[Alex Langheck]

Final day today, and drama at Walters Arena; leader off, and 2nd placed Osian Pryce lost a front wheel. New leader, and it's not an Escort.

[S griffin]

Pryce, now there’s someone who I haven’t heard for a while. I always felt he is a great talent

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Did anyone catch any of the RAC over the weekend? It looked like a proper old school event this year with the snow (and crews spending the night in the rally car!). A big well done and thank you to all of the marshals standing out in all conditions so the event could take place. Some stages were lost to the weather but it still looked like a great event.

I was in Dyfnant yesterday and know a few people entered, one of whom I've just seen a photo of being towed out of Crychan which I think was SS29 of 30 (albeit, actually fewer than 30). Was a good event, the top few drivers were absolutely on it, although the second run through was a bit more tentative because I think there was a lot of ice as it got dark.

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Some great pictures there, thanks for sharing

Did anyone catch any of the RAC over the weekend? .

Thanks! I’m in Crychan now! Dyfnant yesterday. Coooold but awesome. Pics to follow in some weeks when I clear my huuuge backlog

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

Thanks! I’m in Crychan now! Dyfnant yesterday. Coooold but awesome. Pics to follow in some weeks when I clear my huuuge backlog

Good work! Look forward to seeing the pictures

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Look forward to seeing the pictures

I hope you like Escorts!

[rbs]

Congratulations to Ryan Champion, not just for winning but for being the first non Escort winner in the history of the event.