Rally Sweden

[touringlegend]

Like Autosport, I'm predicting it will be a Subaru that will win and most likely Petter Solberg will be behind the wheel. To me they just seem a good package to bet on, tyres, team, driver..

I wouldn't exclude Peugeot from doing well, but let's hope they have more than 4 gears this time round!

Dark horses in the event for me would be Mitsubishi they seem to have that car heading the right way.

[rdjones]

I would agree with you there TL, I think I would have to go for Solberg too, but Martin might be in with a chance too........

[BertMk2]

Not sure that Solberg will win - he's not totally comfortable on snow is he? I know he spent time testing on snow getting tips from Tommi but I don't think it'll be enough. So who will win? One of the Citroens probably, the Pugs and Mitsis won't be right on the pace (although I expect Gronholm to be quick).

(Check back after the rally to see just how wrong I was this time )

[R]

I agree with BertMk2. It's not Petter's favourite surface, though he's getting better, but I don't think he will win. Grönholm is my prediction. It'll also be exciting to see how Petter's brother Henning will fare!

[429CJ]

Jouni Ampuja will take all by surprise and win with the 3rd Ford.

[FIRE]

The Production WRC entrylist of Sweden looks very strong. Where can I find the entrylist with the drivers who do the whole PWRC season? Depending on Sweden's entrylist I think PWRC is more competative then JWRC.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by R
Grönholm is my prediction.

Yes it seems he isthe forgotten man (to a certain extent) at the moment. I can see that happening.

[429CJ]

What was I writing yesterday??!! Janne Tuohino drives the 3rd Focus, not Ampuja.

[garcon]

Top positions after stage 3:

1 M Martin (Est) Ford......44:24.5
2 S Loeb (Fr) Citroen......44:38.7
3 C Sainz (Sp) Citroen......44:42.0
4 P Solberg (Nor) Subaru.....44:47.1
5 J Tuohino (Fin) Ford.......44:57.8
6 M Hirvonen (Fin) Subaru.......45:06.0
7 M Gronholm (Fin) Peugeot......45:18.3
8 D Carlsson (Swe) Peugeot......45:24.1
9 F Duval (Bel) Ford.........45:31.8
10 F Loix (Bel) Peugeot.........45:34.5

Early days of course, but pretty close innit!

Gronholm led after SS2 but lost time on the 3rd with a power steering failure. Solberg has had a spin, but evidently not lost much.

[garcon]

Just noticed - the top 3 are non-Scandinavians!

[garcon]

looking at the itinerary on http://www.swerally.se/eng/startsidan.htm ...

No service stop until the end of day 1 now - without power steering, Gronholm's likely to lose more time in stages 4 and 5...

[BertMk2]

Originally posted by touringlegend
Dark horses in the event for me would be Mitsubishi they seem to have that car heading the right way.

Or not What's going on with them?

[429CJ]

Results after day 1:

1. Märtin EST Ford
2. Loeb FRA Citroen +23.3
3. Solberg NOR Subaru +26.9
4. Sainz SPA Citroen +44.1
5. Tuohino FIN Ford +55.4
6. Grönholm FIN Peugeot +58.7
7. Hirvonen FIN Subaru +1:16.2
8. Duval BEL Ford +1:27.6
-------------------------------
9. Carlsson SWE Peugeot +1:38.1
10.Loix BEL Peugeot +1:41.3

Production cup:

1. Paasonen FIN Mitsubishi
2. A.McRae GBR Subaru +44.2
3. Galli ITA Mitsubishi +48.9
4. Arai JPN Subaru +52.5
5. Singh MAL Proton +1:18.9
6. Higgins GBR Subaru +2:06.5
7. Ligato ARG Subaru +2:06.7
8. Kuchar POL Mitsubishi +2:12.6

[touringlegend]

Originally posted by BertMk2
Or not What's going on with them?

Guess who's got egg on their face now...

Peugeot are seriously losing this championship IMO, at best they'll end up 3rd in the manufacturers championship. Thats a long way away though and I'm not often right anyway.

Tuohino is going well though! C'mon the Fords!

[rdjones]

Good to see Alister having a good run in the PWRC. As for WRC pretty much how I expected things to be at this stage.

[bgeorge104]

Marko Martin has lost the lead of rally, big accident damage to left rear suspension, he's made it back to service, mechanics in process of trying to repair the car, even Malcom Wilson is helping out, so says live audio on Rally radio on www.wrc.com

[bgeorge104]

Markko Martin has made it out of service, very well done to the Ford service mechanics!!

[429CJ]

Day 2 is over now, and the leader is the driver, who have not make any major mistakes - Sebastien Loeb.

WRC day 2:

1. Loeb FRA Citroen
2. Grönholm FIN Peugeot +40.6
3. P.Solberg NOR Subaru +1:28.1
4. Tuohino FIN Ford +1:55.7
5. Sainz SPA Citroen +1:565
6. H.Solberg NOR Peugeot +3:26.8
7. Carlsson SWE Peugeot +5:27.3
8. Märtin EST Ford +5:44.5

Production WRC:

1. Paasonen FIN Mitsubishi
2. A.McRae GBR Subaru +1:03.2
3. Singh MAL Proton +3:05.2
4. Sola SPA Mitsubishi +3:31.8
5. Kuchar POL MItsubishi +4:33.1
6. Galli ITA Mitsubishi +5:42.5
7. Arai JPN Subaru +6:30.4
8. Pons SPA Mitsubishi +9:10.8

[x_dt]

The top 8 overall is the same after Sunday's first 2 stages. Sainz took 4th place off Tuohino on SS14 only to lose the place again on the following stage.

Apparently this is the last rally being covered live by World Rally Radio.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by x_dt
Sainz took 4th place off Tuohino on SS14 only to lose the place again on the following stage.

This battle is still close. The gap from Tuohino to Sainz:

SS15 1.6s
SS16 0.2s
SS17 0.2s

The recorded the same time on SS17!

[Adam43]

and they were joint fastest on that stage. It seems they are going for it...

[Adam43]

Carlos Sainz' is overheating, which is presumably why he has dropped back a few seconds on SS18

[bgeorge104]

I think Tuohino has done enough to keep 4th place, I was hoping Alistair was going to get the lead of P-WRC but I don't think it is going to happen, still a great return to rallying

I can't believe this is the end of rally radio, a total shock, they had something truly unique along the lines of radio le mans & alms radio, music wasn't always the best but to hear drivers comments virtually as they finished stages is going to be a huge loss

Lets hope something can be worked out to bring it back

[bgeorge104]

3 cylinders for Carlos, Tuohino is safe in 4th.

[Knowlesy]

Come on Loeb!