Global Rallycross Championship 2013

[crossfades]

I've thought about that to, short time between the races and he also is a permanent driver. Though, he has another car, Skoda Fabia Mk1, used last year by PG and Rådström

[chunder]

And also remember the basis fo that car are Jernbergs, and he ran for a year in GRC

[rx-guru]

Originally Posted by crossfades

I've thought about that to, short time between the races and he also is a permanent driver. Though, he has another car, Skoda Fabia Mk1, used last year by PG and Rådström

Didn't forget this one, but my source (close to him) claims no, nevertheless. Time will tell.

[crossfades]

Yes it will

[tbtstt]

Pastrana/Menzies team launch video...

http://youtu.be/bnYhtv6COI0

[tbtstt]

Seems the talk I heard in the paddock at Round 1 of the British Championship was spot on...



...great to see Prodrive getting involved with rallycross.

[tbtstt]

Forgive the double post, but I can't edit my old post. Official press release from Prodrive here:

http://www.prodrive.com/p_releases.html?id=380

Interesting to read they are sticking with the 1.6 powerplant. The lightweight package worked well for the Mtechnologies Xsara last year though, so could be a competitive car?

[USRallycross]

Should be good for rallycross if they can develop this to a viable option - especially as the MINI shape doesnt change as often as Ford's and Citroen's so less expense.

Very interested to see how it goes.


Mark

[NaBUru38]

Prodrive is joining - amazing!

Who built the DS3?

[Lizardfolk]

Rallycross seems to be seriously gaining momentum. Nice to see a motorsport growing although personally I'd like to see the races be longer

[rx-guru]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Forgive the double post, but I can't edit my old post. Official press release from Prodrive here:

http://www.prodrive.com/p_releases.html?id=380

Interesting to read they are sticking with the 1.6 powerplant. The lightweight package worked well for the Mtechnologies Xsara last year though, so could be a competitive car?

The Xsara of Laboulle had a 1.7+ litre engine (one can have up to 1764cc for to race with 90kgs less than the other SuperCars) and it was raining in Dreux, which gave him some extra advantage. Think that a true 1.6 will never be on par with those up to 2058cc engines. If it was 150+kgs less it would maybe another story...

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

The Xsara of Laboulle had a 1.7+ litre engine (one can have up to 1764cc for to race with 90kgs less than the other SuperCars) and it was raining in Dreux, which gave him some extra advantage. Think that a true 1.6 will never be on par with those up to 2058cc engines. If it was 150+kgs less it would maybe another story...

Yeah, fair points Guru. I have read in a few places that the MINI WRC test mule was clocked lapping Lydden a second or so off the front running Supercars at the British round (anyone know if thats fact or not?) but, like Dreux, that was on a wet circuit...


...to be honest I think the Countryman is a hideous looking rally car, plus I'm not overly enamoured with Liam. I've long been a fan of Prodrive though and its great to see another manufacture taking interest, so for those reasons I hope the car does well.

[FIRE]

If the 1.7L has advantages against the 2L why didn't M Technologies put the 1.7L engine in the Albatec Peugeots?

[rx-guru]

Originally Posted by FIRE

If the 1.7L has advantages against the 2L why didn't M Technologies put the 1.7L engine in the Albatec Peugeots?

Who claimed it has?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by rx-guru

Who claimed it has?

Not claiming but wondering:

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Interesting to read they are sticking with the 1.6 powerplant. The lightweight package worked well for the Mtechnologies Xsara last year though, so could be a competitive car?

If MTechnologies was more than satisfied with the 1.7L I assume they would keep that engine.


Shame they use the Countryman.

[rs 200]

That mini is one ugly looking car , that 1.6 will never have the torque of the 2.0l 200 nm down ,great news prodrive on the game but sure they could have picked a better pr person to drive it ,sorry but he will never get my vote .
would like to see m-sport come into it then maybe a few more manufactures will follow ,but I can only see this happen if global / x games comes to uk .
And a place for that would be great to see brands back again .

[chunder]

Does anyone really know why Doran seems to keep getting these sort of deal?

How on earth can this happen? the kid ether crashes into everyone or bails completely as he has in the first two rounds of stuff this year!

I just don't get it really, I could understand them going with someone like Timur, Holte, Lysen etc, but not Doran, for me he simply isn't a great advert for rallycross, or a great person to be involved with as a sponsor or team.

Other than the fact he is a bit loud and talks the talk a fair bit and somehow is sponsored by a company that promotes "athletes!!!!!". I guess thats enough.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Chunder

Does anyone really know why Doran seems to keep getting these sort of deal?

Have to admit I asked the very same question myself.

I personally think he is a good driver, as he has moments where he seems to be absolutely flying, its just the personality and attitude that puts me off him. As has been said, I don't think he presents a good image for rallycross, nor for any driver (sorry, should I say "athlete"?) who wants to win racing fans over.

Perhaps his biggest qualification is that he is the only young (sorry Procter and Scott! ) UK driver in the Supercars competeting in Europe at present? Perhaps thats why they've gone for him?

[chunder]

Well yes he is British as are Prodrive, and you can see they are maybe trying to get into the market

But its hardly a big market is it! They might sell one or two cars!

And of course they have a lot of tech tog et rid of as MINI are not really competing as a works team in WRC anymore

[USRallycross]

The answer is obvious. Money. Ever dealt with Dave Richards? If you think Prodrive is funding all of this give me a call because I have a bridge to sell you!



Mark

[chunder]

I didnt believe he was funding anything, they make a shed load still out of selling Subaru nWRC parts, as do Msport with Ford

Part of the reaon Peugeot never sold much over here with the 206 despite it obviously being e good WRC car was that there was no spares backup and they would have to have an engineer present!

Fair play to them then, never kew they were that rich, maybe they need to get rid of a few quid!

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by chunder

I didnt believe he was funding anything, they make a shed load still out of selling Subaru nWRC parts, as do Msport with Ford

I await correction from those more in the know (which is quite likely to be most of you!), but I don't think Prodrive are as involved with Subaru these days. As far as I'm aware the vast majority of spare parts they had onsite were sold to Subaru WRC Spares a few years back.

I think Prodrive may still run WRC Imprezas for customers though?

Originally Posted by chunder

And of course they have a lot of tech tog et rid of as MINI are not really competing as a works team in WRC anymore

Prodrive were talking about running their own team in 2013, but that all seems to have gone very quiet. Perhaps Sordo departing was the nail in the coffin for that idea? The MINI doesn't seem to have attracted many privateers either so, as you say, rallycross offers a way to make use of all the tech.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

I await correction from those more in the know (which is quite likely to be most of you!), but I don't think Prodrive are as involved with Subaru these days. As far as I'm aware the vast majority of spare parts they had onsite were sold to Subaru WRC Spares a few years back.

There are still a lot of people running group N imprezas - and Prodrive still provide the backup for those as far as I know?

Originally Posted by tbtstt

The MINI doesn't seem to have attracted many privateers either so,

I guess the MINI is more expensive to buy/run than the Fiesta? Also the lack of works cars means that there aren't the numbers available trickling down to other teams - with the Fiestas and Citroens the works teams run it for a year, the junior team runs it for a year and then it's sold off to whoever (over simplified massively but you get the idea ). If you're not getting that progression of new build works cars every year there simply aren't the 'old' cars out there for people to use?

[Minicross424]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Have to admit I asked the very same question myself.

Perhaps his biggest qualification is that he is the only young (sorry Procter and Scott! ) UK driver in the Supercars competeting in Europe at present? Perhaps thats why they've gone for him?

Well there is Binks of course.
Lets not beat about the bush he was going to win the GP untill the C4 decided to hang a right and push him into the tyres.

[rx-guru]

Originally Posted by USRallycross

The answer is obvious. Money. Ever dealt with Dave Richards? If you think Prodrive is funding all of this give me a call because I have a bridge to sell you!



Mark

I bet you're right. Block has bought a car from M-Sport, Doran a car from Prodrive. What else?