72nd Monte Carlo Rally

[429CJ]

The new WRC season starts tomorrow with Monte Carlo Rally.

Full entry list HERE!

[rdjones]

That time already - it seems only 2 minutes snice the RAC, sorry Rally GB, finished.......

[BertMk2]

Surely you mean the Rally of Wales?

Or Cardiff Rally.

Or South Wales Police Benefit Rally.

I'll shut up now.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by BertMk2
Surely you mean the Rally of Wales?

Or Cardiff Rally.

Or South Wales Police Benefit Rally.

I'll shut up now.

Is Wales near Cardiff?

[BertMk2]

As far as the WRC is concerned Cardiff is Great Britain

[Bob Irvine..]

Barretts out already

[garcon]

Bugger. Not a great start for "our Nat" then.

Not a great start to the season either - stage 1 cancelled for safety reasons. i.e. "too many spectators" and "poorly parked cars" - they're in France for God's sake, what do they expect?!

[Bob Irvine..]

Wilks out ss5 Mechanical

[429CJ]

Sad thing, that Galli had to retire, he was doing SO much better than team 'leader' Panizzi.
Roman Kresta is the biggest surprise of the day: Seventh with the old Huyndai. Quite suprising is also to see finnish and estonian Suzuki-drivers ahead of all french drivers on juniors.

After 1st day:
Overall:

1. LOEB-ELENA Citroen Xsara 1h26'38"700 84.1 km/h
2. MÄRTIN-PARK Ford Focus + 00'18"30
3. GRÖNHOLM-RAUTIAINEN Peugeot 307 +00'18"70
4. SAINZ-MARTI Citroen Xsara + 00'46"50
5. DUVAL-PREVOT Ford Focus + 01'00"60
6. SOLBERG-MILLS Subaru Impreza + 01'52"40
7. KRESTA-TOMANEK Hyundai Accent + 02'54"00
8. HIRVONEN-LEHTINEN Subaru Impreza + 02'54"80
9. LOIX-SMEETS Peugeot 307 A8 1h29'38"500 + 02'59"80
10.VOUILLOZ-FIORIN Peugeot 206 A8 1h30'44"400 + 04'05"70

JWRC:

1. KATAJAMÄKI-ALANEN Suzuki Ignis 1h35'38"100 76.2 km/h
2. AAVA-SIKK Suzuki Ignis + 00'10''00
3. BERNARDI-GIRAUDET Renault Clio + 00'49"40
4. BROCCOLI-AGNESE Fiat Punto A6 1h38'29"400
5. PONS-JULIA Fiat Punto + 04'36"60
6. COLS-GODDE Renault Clio + 05'56"30
7. MEEKE-PATTERSON Opel Corsa + 06'58"20
8. BALDACCI-BERNACCHINI Suzuki Ignis + 07'59"80
9. CHICHERIT-PERIN Citroen Saxo + 12'04"10
10.BIASION-COQUARD Fiat Punto + 12'21"60

[FIRE]

Originally posted by Bob Irvine..
Barretts out already

What car did she drive, according to this entry list it is a X car.

[429CJ]

It was a MG ZR.

[x_dt]

Has Solberg got problems, is he taking it easy or is the package just not that competitive on this particular rally?

[Bob Irvine..]

He went off i think.

[Dani Filth]

well .. hope he can keep it till the "RAC" this time

[R]

Originally posted by x_dt
Has Solberg got problems, is he taking it easy or is the package just not that competitive on this particular rally?

He went off and hit a fence, which made him lose some time. Plus he chose the wrong tyres - add to that he was first on the road.

Not too bad all things considering, I think. As he said himself: "A lot of guys are going to retire from this rally." If he keeps it on the road, 6th after the first day could transfer into a top three finish on Sunday.

[Casseopeia]

Indeed. A lot could happen in 2 days. Phil Mills said more or less the same thing.

[Duffacus]

Solberg is up to 5th now, but look at Warmbold - up to 8th!

[santori]

Duval has been superb. I can't believe Carlos is out.

[429CJ]

Sainz an Hirvonen casualties of second day from the works drivers, Sainz crashed out, blamed snow moved on the road by spectators, Hirvonen broke a driveshaft. Hyundai privateer Kresta also retired because of mechanical reasons.

AFTER DAY 2:

1. Loeb FRA Citroen
2. Duval BEL Ford +1:28.7
3. Märtin EST Ford +1:41.7
4. Grönholm FIN Peugeot +1:57.9
5. Solberg NOR Subaru +3:31,8
6. Loix BEL Peugeot +4:34.1
7. Panizzi FRA Mitsubishi +7:49.0
8. Warmbold GER Ford +10:04.5

JWRC:

1. Bernardi FRA Renault
2. Aava EST Suzuki +24.2
3. Broccoli RSM Fiat +5:16.8
4. Meeke GBR Opel +6:16.4
5. Cols BEL Renault +9:38.7
6. Baldacci RSM Suzuki +10:02.0
7. Biasion FRA Fiat +17:13.3
8. Ceccetthini ITA Fiat +20:35.8

[Duffacus]

Loeb wins again!

Results,

1. S LOEB 4:12:03.0
2. M MÄRTIN +1:12.6
3. F DUVAL +1:19.6
4. M GRÖNHOLM +1:26.8
5. F LOIX +8:16.9
6. G PANIZZI +10:11.6
7. P SOLBERG +10:42.2
8. O BURRI +17:49.1
9. J BERES +19:43.1
10. N BERNARDI +23:38.1

[429CJ]

Ha, from yesterday, tellytext said Hirvonen broke a driveshaft, and I bought it. Well, maybe, but it surely broke on the crash...

JWRC final results:

1. Bernardi FRA Renault (and 10th overall, not bad!)
2. Aava EST Suzuki +4:08.0
3. Meeke GBR Opel +7:34.5
4. Broccoli RSM +7:42.1
5. Cols BEL Renault +11:23.0
6. Baldacci RSM Suzuki +12:12.8
7. Cecchettini ITA Renault +23:33.5
8. Andersson SWE Suzuki +25:41.1

[R]

Duval won the Inmarsat Star of the Rally deservedly. What a drive! I wonder if teamorders had something to do with Märtin passing him on the final stage?!

Loeb is the rally king of Monte Carlo. He just controlled the event from the front. Second win here in a row. And we all know he was the real winner in 02 as well.

Petter hit some ice on the penultimate SS, which caused him to crash and doing enough damage to the front left suspension to make him lose more than 7 minutes on the two final stages. So he went down from 5th to 7th, which was a bit disappointing. But then again, the Monte was never one of his favourite rallies.

A pity that Warmbold crashed out. He was heading for a good position.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by R
Duval won the Inmarsat Star of the Rally deservedly. What a drive! I wonder if teamorders had something to do with Märtin passing him on the final stage?!

Surely not

[429CJ]

I just saw the days coverage, and it seemed, that Duval stalled his engine on the hairpin. Was it deliberate or not, no-one but Duval knows.

[touringlegend]

More importantly Ford are leading the manufacturers championship now - how long for I don't know - hopefully till the end of the year.

That'd keep the bosses happy