Rally Sweden Top 6

Mark F1 · 23 Jan 2002, 23:46 (Ref:203442)

Only 9 days till the start of Rally Sweden. What a first round in Monte Carlo, hopefully we will have just as good a rally in Sweden, but without the controversy. So what will be the Top 6 at the end of the rally. Apart from the usual suspects, there are quite a few snow specialists from Sweden and Finland competing and some of them could very well grab a point or two.

My predictions:

WRC

1: Tommi Makinen
2: Harri Rovanpera
3: Richard Burns
4: Carlos Sainz
5: Petter Solberg
6: Jani Paasonen

Group N

1: Gustavo Trelles
2: Kenneth Backlund
3: Daniel Carlsson
4: Marko Ippati
5: Janusz Kulig
6: Oscar Svedlund

AndyF · 24 Jan 2002, 10:42 (Ref:203567)

Here goes!!

1. Makinen
2. Rovanpera
3. Solberg
4. Sainz
5. Gronholm
6. Radstrom (if he is entered, Gardemeister if not. If Gardemeister isn't entered then I go for C McRae)!!!

+ Burns will finish about 15th!!

RB5 · 25 Jan 2002, 18:29 (Ref:204336)

What makes you think Burns will finish 15th?,if i remember correctly he won more fastest stage times than anyone else last year.

AndyF · 25 Jan 2002, 18:53 (Ref:204341)

Well after his limited success in Monte - I would be suprised to see him in the points. 15th may be a little pessimistic!

R · 25 Jan 2002, 22:41 (Ref:204484)

Yeah! He'll be 7th.

Speedworx · 26 Jan 2002, 11:56 (Ref:204664)

1. Makinen
2. Rovanpera
3. Solberg
4. Radstrom (always good in Sweden)
5. Gronholm
6. Burns

RB5 · 26 Jan 2002, 16:44 (Ref:204790)

1.Colin McRae
2.Peter Solberg
3.Marcus Gronholm
4.Tommi Makinen
5.Harri Rovanpera
6.Richard Burns
I think this could be the 1st year for a non Scandanavian winner provided the focus is reliable.

Speedworx · 26 Jan 2002, 21:23 (Ref:204921)

Colin will not win! It will be a Finnish driver who wins.

R · 27 Jan 2002, 09:26 (Ref:205087)

My predictions:

1. Makinen
2. Solberg
3. Rovanpera
4. Gronholm
5. McRae (Colin)
6. Sainz

**Asp** · 27 Jan 2002, 15:55 (Ref:205328)

I never, ever put things exactly in order, but instead give opinions.

Tommi.

Let's face it, he's on a roll. Rovenpera could be up there, if Solberg keeps the car facing the right way then he might just win it (but with Peter it's a big if

). The only non-Scandavian hope really is Colin - but:

Anything can happen...
(someone finish it

)

Nisse · 27 Jan 2002, 20:50 (Ref:205474)

1. Rådström.
2. Tommi.
3. Loeb.
4. Eriksson.
5. Sainz.
6. Rovanperä.

SJ Spode · 28 Jan 2002, 13:40 (Ref:205745)

Also been reluctant to give a definitive Top 6, I think much will depend on the weather and road surfaces.

If it is snowy/icy then you're going to be looking first at the Scandanavians & here I'd pick Peugeot's two Finns over Makinen & Solberg, although the Monte performance seems to indicate that Tommi is rapidly coming to terms with the Impreza. Outside the northern Europeans I think Colin McRae will do well, so long as he selects carefully which snow banks to bounce the car off. I know others have mentioned Richard Burns & whilst he undoubtably has the skills on this surface, I'm not sure his experience / confidence in the 206 will allow him to push it 10-10ths on this surface this year.

If there is little / no snow then it becomes much more open, as the rally becomes more of a gravel event, and the usual loose surface specialists will rise up the leaderboard.

The problems will come if the stage surfaces are mixed as then tyres will play an even larger part, both in terms of which handle any snow /ice well but also which don't lose their studs on the dry / gravel stuff

(Excuse me whilst I adjust my position; this fence can be sore)

Liz · 28 Jan 2002, 17:08 (Ref:205829)

I'm not putting Tommi "I Do Have Another Facial Expression -- Honest!" Makkinen first because he's boring.

1: Hari Rovanpera
2: Sebastian Loeb (he's got something to prove)
3: Richard Burns
4: Carlos Sainz
5: Petter Solberg
6: Tommi (if he doesn't hit a rock)

HARI FOR WRC CHAMPION! (Hari: pull up your sox please. You are making me look bad.)

rustyfan · 29 Jan 2002, 10:00 (Ref:206168)

What about the old work-horse Stig Blomqvist, who will do his first (of six) rallies for Skoda?

To be a bit more realistic though, I think Mäkinen stands a really good chance of winning it. On the other hand, Citroën are entered (as far as I know), so I wouldn't rule out Rådström or Loeb either. If their cars don't quit on them before the start, that is.

Kalevi · 29 Jan 2002, 12:22 (Ref:206211)

Looks like it is going to be a snowy rally. There are around 30 cm of snow in the area of Hagfors where the rally takes place. Finns will be tough to beat (again):

1. Tommi
2. Marcus
3. Harri
4. Carlos
5. Juha
6. Sebastian

Report from Hagfors is saying that Carlos has had a high speed crash (150 km/h) with an elk during training. Both Carlos and Luis are ok.

SJ Spode · 29 Jan 2002, 13:11 (Ref:206223)

Sorry but unless there's a high rate of attrition amongst the other top cars/crews then I can't see Sebastien Loeb getting on the podium or maybe even in the points.

He might be the 'people's favourite' after his team screwed up his Monte win but the Swedish rally really needs snow specialists or much experience.

It may be interesting to know that when Loeb competed in Sweden last year he managed to complete eight stages before his Saxo gave up (not his fault I know), but by the end of SS8 we was already over 7min behind the leading S1600 crew.

So a driver inexperienced in the conditions, in a car that's still been developed to run off-tarmac, and up against experienced works crews & excellent local privateers; can't see it really.

Raven · 29 Jan 2002, 23:32 (Ref:206386)

1. Gronholm
2. Makinen
3. Rovanpera
4. Solberg
5. Radstrom
6. Loix

Marcel ten Caat · 30 Jan 2002, 19:55 (Ref:206798)

1. Tommi Mäkinen
2. Harri Rovanperä
3. Colin McRae
4. Marcus Grönholm
5. Carlos Sainz
6. Richard Burns

IF the Citroen goes well...Radstrom will be an outsider i think

SJ Spode · 31 Jan 2002, 12:30 (Ref:207308)

It's been reported that a surprise snowstorm last night meant that by morning over 20cm of snow was on the ground in Karlstad as well as the area north of the city where the rally is held. The stages now have about 10cms of hard ice on them and on top of that are covered with snow after last night, and with more snow expected today this will definitely be a winter rally.

So one for the specialists then. Expect to see Tommi, Marcus, Harri & Colin on or around the podium

rustyfan · 31 Jan 2002, 13:17 (Ref:207349)

Oh trust me, it'll be a winter rally alright - it's been snowing constantly here in Sweden for several days now

bulldogspirit · 31 Jan 2002, 13:33 (Ref:207368)

I'd like to see a non-Scandinavian on the podium, but I doubt one will win, so:
1. Marcus Gronholm
2. Harri Rovanpera
3. Colin McRae
4. Tommi Makinen
5. Richard Burns
6. Petter Solberg

I can see there being Peugeot team orders going on at the top of the leaderboard, otherwise I'd reckon Harri to win.

rdjones · 31 Jan 2002, 14:07 (Ref:207394)

Here are mind
1.A.McRae
2.C.McRae
3.R.Bruns
4.S.Loeb
5.T.Makinen
6.H.Rovanpera

Liz · 31 Jan 2002, 17:20 (Ref:207512)

People Who Get Speedvision, remember that Rally XS Preview is on at 11:00 p.m. EST tonight.

And check out the Newsletter this week for an extra-special Rally feature!

You will be delighted!

**touringlegend** · 31 Jan 2002, 18:41 (Ref:207550)

1. Marcus Gronholm
2. Harri Rovanpera
3. Tommi Makinen
4. Colin McRae
5. Petter Solberg
6. Richard Burns

R · 31 Jan 2002, 20:53 (Ref:207706)

Quote:

Originally posted by SJ Spode
a surprise snowstorm last night

Tell me about it!

I think I will stick with my original predictions...

The rally preview is on at 11:15 p.m. CET on Eurosport tonight. I think I will set my VCR and have an early night, as I will have to get up earlier than normal tomorrow...

Looking forward to the next newsletter, Liz!

Would also like to compliment on the increased traffic we've had in the rally forum lately... keep the posts coming!

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