WRC Rally New Zealand

[flying finn]

WRC Rally New Zealand

Leg 1 : Friday 31.08 > 5 stages (131.66 Km)
Leg 2 : Saturday 01.09 > 6 stages (131.34 Km)
Leg 3 : Sunday 19.08 > 7 stages (98.62 Km)

18 x special stages = 361.62 Km

entry list > http://www.rallynz.org.nz/images/sto..._numerical.pdf
home page > http://www.rallynz.org.nz/
preview: http://www.wrc.com/page/RalliesDetai...111~14,00.html

Championship Standings
1. M. Gronholm (FIN) 6 10 8 8 5 8 10 10 10 5 > 80
2. S. Loeb (F) 10 8 0 10 10 10 0 8 6 10 > 72
3. M. Hirvonen (FIN) 4 6 10 6 4 6 8 5 8 6 > 63
4. P. Solberg (N) 3 0 5 0 8 0 4 6 0 3 > 29
5. H. Solberg (N) 0 5 6 0 0 4 5 4 4 0 > 28
6. D. Sordo (SP) 8 0 0 5 6 3 6 0 0 0 > 28
7. C. Atkinson (AUS) 5 1 0 4 0 2 0 3 5 0 > 20
8. J. Latvala (FIN) 0 0 4 2 1 5 0 0 0 1 > 13
9. T. Gardemeister (FIN) 2 3 0 -- 0 -- 3 0 -- 2 > 10
10. D. Carlsson (S) -- 4 2 -- 3 -- 0 -- -- -- > 9
11. M. Stohl (AUT) 0 2 0 3 0 1 2 1 0 0 > 9
12. J. Kopecky (CZ) 1 0 1 -- 0 -- -- 2 0 4 > 8
13. G. Galli (I) -- 0 3 -- 2 0 -- -- -- -- > 5
14. X. Pons (SP) 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- -- -- 3 0 > 3
15. U. Aava (EST) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0 2 > 2
16. M.Wilson (GB) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 > 1
17. J. Hanninen (FIN) -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 0 0 > 1
18. M. Ostberg (NOR) -- 0 -- -- 0 -- 0 -- 1 -- > 1

[NAC]

My money is on Loeb to win, Hirvonen second

[BertMk2]

End of day 1:

1. Gronholm
2. Loeb
3. Hirvonen
4. Atkinson
5. Latvala
6. Sordo
7. P Solberg
8. H Solberg
9. Aava
10. Wilson

Pons and Stohl both out. Gronholm and Loeb comfortably quicker than the rest, Gronholm has a 13 second advantage.

[cg7aa]

What is going on with Manfred lately? I think this is the third rally in a row where he has gone out. I don't know the circumstances yet with this latest retirement but the previous two were crashes. That is no way to treat a lady Manfred!

Seriously though, he is not known for crashing, he seems to be a consistent safe pair of hands even though he is not fastest out there.

[Knowlesy]

Exciting final day in prospect!

Pos Driver Make Time
1. Loeb Citroen 2h 47:25.1
2. Gronholm Ford + 1.7
3. Hirvonen Ford + 1:12.5
4. Latvala Ford + 2:02.3
5. Atkinson Subaru + 2:12.8
6. Sordo Citroen + 2:49.4
7. P Solberg Subaru + 3:25.9
8. Aava Mitsubishi + 7:17.2
9. Wilson Ford + 8:35.5
10. H Solberg Ford + 8:45.2

[BertMk2]

What happened there? I hope Gronholm can take the win on this one - there's a lot of tarmac coming up so he needs the points from the loose stuff.

[Knowlesy]

Yes, I have my fingers crossed for Marcus tomorrow that's for sure. I really cannot take another Loeb title!

[GolddustMini]

according to wrc.com marcus chose the wrong compound tyres which is why loeb tore strips of him yesterday when the roads were dry. hopefully he can push hard and beat him tomorrow, if so its likely to be one of the closest finishes of the year.


go gronholm dont let froggy win!

[GolddustMini]

gronholm beats loeb by 1.8 seconds in SS12 putting him 0.1secs ahead overall


looks like its gonna be a slugfest to the end!

[thebullet]

Marcus Gronholm yesterday was trailing by 1.7 seconds. But on the final stage he edges to win by 0.3 seconds! The closest win World Rally Championship history.

Well Done Gronholm.

[Knowlesy]

Wow! That is quite incredible!

When was the last closest finish? I'm guessing it was McRae and Sainz in 1998 at god knows where....Portugal?

[GolddustMini]

ended up being a close one with lots of lead changes during the final day


finishing order
1.gronholm
2.loeb +0.3
3.hirvonen +1.42.8
4.atkinson +2.42.3
5.latvala + 2.36.9
6.sordo +3.42.0
7. P.solberg +3.54.7
8.aava +9.16.2
9.H.solberg +9.54.6
10.Wilson +10.19.9

[GolddustMini]

fantastic result

[Knowlesy]

All I need is my Sky+ box to totally forget to record the highlights again and I'm set!

[GolddustMini]

lol, i gotta get myself sky so i can watch eurosport coverage because itv4's 45minute stint seems to spend more time waffling rubbish than actually showing you event coverage!

[shhh]

http://www.motorsportmad.com/view/20...w-zealand-2007

[GolddustMini]

those commentators on that link are so much better than the itv monotone bloke who has less carisma than a mitsibishi car of the same name

[GolddustMini]

just thinking to myself that gronholm now has 10 points lead, now if gronholm was to finish the remaining 5 rallys in second place with loeb winning then the results will be all square and i presume on countback loeb will win as he will have more rally wins, therefore with 3 tarmac events and 2 gravel loeb obviously is favourite for atleast 3 wins if not more.

to be safe gronholm has to ensure that he wins one more rally, and that in the rest he must finish 2nd to ensure championship victory. marcus still has the pressure on him, especially as we know how quick sordo can be on tarmac!

lets hope he can do it!

[gomick]

great win for marcus gronholm - he really wants the title in 2007....

good drive by chris atkinson too....

[cg7aa]

I've always thought there is someone up there who delights in ruining motorsport events in terms of putting an end to very close nail biting battles, most of the time one of the leading protagonists will hit trouble and drop out leading to a massive anti-climax but judging from last Sunday's rally, it either this someone was on a break or decided to give fans something to smile about.

I was so nervous! Marcus just had, had to win this one. It was one of those things where I felt excitement and nerves at the same time. More of that please! I'm keeping this one on the hard disk for good!

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by shhh

http://www.motorsportmad.com/view/20...w-zealand-2007

Thanks for the link.

[cg7aa]

I had the chance to watch the PWRC New Zealand highlights yesterday and was surprised to see Glen MacNeal co-driving his other half (Emma Gilmour?).

I was under the impression, he vacated the seat next to Chris because he wanted to leave the sport and concentrate on something else. I thought he had decided to pack in co-driving entirely but obviously not! Does anyone know what the official reason given was?

Cheers.

[BertMk2]

I think it was the travelling and time away from home that was the main problem. I don't think he ever gave up co-driving.