Rally New Zealand

Peddler · 9 Nov 2006, 04:41 (Ref:1761305)

wondering if anyone has any gossip on Valentino Rossi running in this coming event. There was a lot of hype when it was annouced but nothing since?

**BertMk2** · 9 Nov 2006, 08:41 (Ref:1761407)

The initial report is here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/6042042.stm

This weeks MN also mentions it, Rossi wil be running with his usual #46 as one of the regular competitors has agreed to change their number so Rossi can have #46. Rossi tested the Impreza in Wales last week.

GolddustMini · 9 Nov 2006, 22:37 (Ref:1762094)

he'll also be running on pirreli tyres dispite rumours he would run BFgoodrich on his impreza to allow subaru to get some comparison of pirreli v's bfgoodrich

Armco Bender · 17 Nov 2006, 08:37 (Ref:1768319)

Quote:

wondering if anyone has any gossip on Valentino Rossi running in this coming event. There was a lot of hype when it was annouced but nothing since?

He's here,hes nearly last,but he's hogging all the media time,and hes been asked 100 times if hes going to F1.
If he wasn't here you'd hardly know there was a rally on.

**BertMk2** · 17 Nov 2006, 09:25 (Ref:1768370)

Top ten after day one:

1. Marcus Gronholm (Fin) Ford 1 hour 31 minutes, 58 seconds.
2. Mikka Hirvonen (Fin) Ford 1:32.29
3. Daniel Sordo (Sp) Citroen 1:33.14
4. Manfred Stohl (Aut) Peugeot 1:33.16
5. Xavier Pons (Sp) Citroen 1:33.40
6. Petter Solberg (Nor) Subaru 1:33.46
7. Henning Solberg (Nor) Peugeot 1:34.41
8. Luis Perez Companc (Arg) Ford 1:35.21
9. Chris Atkinson (Aus) Subaru 1:35.46
10. Juho Hanninen (Fin) Mitsubishi 1:37.33

Rossi is 24th.

No real surprises so far, Ford looking strong and on course for the manufacturers title (need to get 3 more points than Kronos).

Peddler · 17 Nov 2006, 13:04 (Ref:1768570)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

He's here,hes nearly last,but he's hogging all the media time,and hes been asked 100 times if hes going to F1.
If he wasn't here you'd hardly know there was a rally on.

Well he did pay for his own ride so that he wouldnt have media commitements... Vale is like a magnet no matter where he goes

924nut · 17 Nov 2006, 23:38 (Ref:1768894)

looking at the stage times so far - Valentino looks to of taken it easy at first but has caertainly picked up the pace now - good luck to him I say

**BertMk2** · 18 Nov 2006, 12:40 (Ref:1769103)

Top ten at the end of day 2:

1. Marcus Gronholm, Finland, Ford, 2 hours, 56 minutes, 17.2 seconds.
2. Mikka Hirvonen, Finland, Ford, 2:57.07.
3. Manfred Stohl, Austria, Peugeot 2.58.23.
4. Dani Sordo, Spain, Citroen, 2:58.40.
5. Xavier Pons, Spain, Citroen, 2.58.55.
6. Petter Solberg, Norway, Subaru, 2:59.42.
7. Luis Perez Companc, Argentina, Ford, 3:04.58.
8. Jari-Matti Latvala, Finland, Subaru, 3:07.25.
9. Mirco Baldacci, San Marino, Mitsubishi, 3:07.29.
10. Richard Mason, New Zealand, Subaru, 3:08.45.

Rossi is up to 11th. Gronholm has extended his lead and seems to be in control.

Knowlesy · 18 Nov 2006, 20:29 (Ref:1769237)

That's a good run for Rossi that!

Ford are absolutely kicking backside this weekend, here comes the manufacturers title!

Knowlesy · 19 Nov 2006, 17:14 (Ref:1769705)

And so it remained...

Super job Ford, nice to see the Blue Oval back on top of the WRC!

**BertMk2** · 20 Nov 2006, 09:49 (Ref:1770420)

Final top ten:

1 M Gronholm (Fin) Ford 4hrs 02mins 30.700secs
2 M Hirvonen (Fin) Ford 4:03:26.700
3 M Stohl (Aut) Peugeot 4:05:10.000
4 X Pons (Sp) Citroen 4:05:26.800
5 D Sordo (Sp) Citroen 4:05:51.400
6 P Solberg (Nor) Subaru 4:06:27.800
7 L-P Companc (Arg) Ford 4:13:02.300
8 J-M Latvala (Fin) Ford 4:17:53.100
9 J Hanninen (Fin) Mitsubishi 4:20:00.900
10 R Mason (NZ) Subaru 4:22:50.700

Rossi finished 11th.

Ford wrapped up the manufacturers title and Hirvonen has bagged third in the drivers championship.

Good result for Ford but it was another event that highlighted the lack of dpeth in the WRC this year, without Loeb there was nobody who could touch the Fords. There was a good battle between Stohl, Sordo and Pons for 3rd with the Austrian taking the honours in the Peugeot. One more event to go

Mike_Wooshy · 20 Nov 2006, 15:45 (Ref:1770711)

well done to ford !
its been a long time coming !
I might go off into wales In a few weeks to watch them if i have the time !

leonidas · 20 Nov 2006, 16:04 (Ref:1770730)

Without any 'full works' PSA opposition and with Mr. Loeb stuck in front of his playstation you can't help thinking its a little bit of a hollow victory for Ford. Perhaps the best thing to come out of this season was the progress of Hirvonen although its difficult to see him consistently matching Gronholm anytime soon let alone Loeb.

Jimmy Magnusson · 22 Nov 2006, 15:03 (Ref:1772314)

Well, Subaru is a full works team, but they've been a bit off the pace (and luck) this year.

GolddustMini · 22 Nov 2006, 18:49 (Ref:1772475)

and lets not forget that kronos was a "works" team for citroen, development still continued on the xsara and financial assistance was provided as well to a large degree.

chunder · 23 Nov 2006, 12:44 (Ref:1773175)

Gotta say I think Manny Stohl is doing a superb job this year in the Peugeot, his times are only about a couple of minutes down on the leaders at eh end of events and that is still top 6 even if there were more teams there.

Makes you realise how much of a good job Peugeot were really doing despite being on those lug nut Pirellis tyres!!

I think Stohl would be in my top 5 drivers for the year, his tarmac form is the only thing really that lets him down!

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