Rally News

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Wolfie
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Rally News

Post by Wolfie » 09 Apr 2010, 16:18

Any news about the teams or drivers would be appreciated :shhh:
To be changed soon - rko281, where are you??? LOL

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Re: Rally News

Post by Wolfie » 09 Apr 2010, 17:10

http://yle.fi/ecepic/neon3/archive/0027 ... 79428b.jpg

TIME FOR RALLY TO STRIKE

10.02.2010
Jukka Mildh, YLE Urheilu

The WRC-serie has now one of the most remarkable possibilites in it's history. The financial situation and the environmental discussion is shaking motorsport. Due to powerplay and politics the car manufacturers have changed their attitude to what is sensible. A big revolution is inevitable and is going on.

Now is the time for rally to strike. Season 2010 - and the whole decade - might be a new start for rally. Everything points at positive changes. The current WRC-cars will go into history and new cars are already being built. On top of that Jean Todt is steering FIA, a man who's heart genuinely beats for rally. He has sat in a rallycar but hasn't drove in F1. I dare claim that today the private person Jean Todt's heart beats more for rally than Ferrari. This opens up a new possibility for rally, a bigger one than we might even dare to dream about. When people with spine like Todt start to act, things really start happening.

The upcoming season will most of all be a battle between men. Ford and Citroen are developed to the top. In practice the cars are equal. Citroen's slight advantage on tarmac will have to be patched up with gloves, with sharpening the driving technique. The cars won't be - at least remarkably - developed during the season. The mental resources and avoiding trying too much, patience, taking advantage of earlier experiences and controlled risks will determine. The car is what it is and won't get better. The man decides.

The WRC-serie will be tough competitively, mainly a battle of seconds between Sebastian Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen. The championship battle will go down to those two men. Drivers number two, Daniel Sordo and Jari-Matti Latvala, get to shine only occasionally. Like last year they will compete in their own class against the Solberg-brothers and Co. Although Sordo will differ from this gang since he has now all the ingredients for making a final breakthrough. A first WRC-victory would lift this Spanish guy's hunger for success to a new level. By doing that Sordo could better match Loeb and Hirvonen. After two victories Latvala has shown that his pace is enough to get into this group but 2010 will mostly be a mental battle for him with the goal to ensure his place in Ford for the future.

Mikko Hirvonen is now ready. Timo Jouhki who is in charge of the groups in the background has probably waited for this season with patience. He knows that one can already tell Mikko in public that 'he has to get more speed' and that 'Mikko knows what he has to do'. Managers are hard whippers but Hirvonen knows by now how that whipping is turned into a victory. Just like he said in the WRC-event, after two bronze and one silver it's time for two gold.

F1-champion against the new Loeb

Kimi Räikkönen's entrance into WRC is a central matter now that the genre is looking for a new foothold. For Kimi himself this decision was the best possible at this stage of his career. And the timing is perfect. They talk about a trial but I don't see it that way. The arrangements in the background are of such class and he has a competitive vehicle. And he takes the domestic markets at once.

Kimi doesn't take any pressure from what other talk or their actions. Red Bull who pays for the whole thing is under no circumstances demanding any miracles from him. Neither is Citroen. No matter how it goes everything is good enough for those involved in this project. Kimi will put pressure on himself. He has no stress but a champion who is one of the world's toughest racers is not going there to lose. But he can start the season with loose wrists. As he should too. Arctic Rally prepared the man well for Sweden's snow but the next rally after that in Mexico will be a shock and it's better that he gets that experience right in the beginning of the season.

A story of it's own is the inner competition in Citroen's Junior team with Kimi Räikkönen against Sebastien Ogier. The Frenchman is clearly more ready to fight for top positions after learning from his mistakes last season. Despite the differences regulations demand both Ogier and Kimi is driving with an equipment one can win with. One can expect a victory from Ogier in a sporting sense. Not from Kimi.

Kimi, co-driver Kaj Lindström, trainer Mark Arnall and the team will do their everything to make shortcuts but I don't see victories as a realistic goal. One thing I strongly believe in is Kimi's astonishing fast development.

Should fast changes and extraordinary situations, which are typical for motorsport, open up the door to victory for Kimi, then he could in some sense even be ahead of Ogier in the team's pecking order. Citroen is systematically making Ogier into a new Loeb but they have reserved time for that. Kimi's victory would explode the bank for the sport, brand and sponsors. Everybody knows that Kimi isn't at the level of Loeb, Hirvonen, Sordo or Latvala but... 'you are always as good as your last race'.

Ogier needs to be patient. Not when it comes to showing his skills but inside the team in the everyday work. Everybody will be ecstatic over Kimi during the beginning of the season. This way Ogier gets concentration peace. But the competition is tough. I cannot imagine a toptalented, extremely competitive Ogier swallow easily the fact that Kimi for example took his race engineer. The person who is the most important factor for the driver in the team organisation when it comes to performing. If you take away Kimi's F1-championship, his and Ogier's settings are still opposite; Kimi is valuable for marketing but most of all he is a well paying customer. Ogier is a talent who is slowly building up his career with the support of Citroen and the French union.

Let's put together all the ingredients for the new era's recipy one more time: a tougher than tough battle between the world's two best rallydrivers will guarantee a high level in the races, the F1-champion's new era of expertise gets unexpected quarters interested in the sport, old champions - like Grönholm and Solberg - the show will keep the old fans alive, the conquer of Arab countries might succeed thanks to Ford-driver Khalid Al Qassimi, a firm grip of the US thanks to shoe- and clothing-maker Ken Block, young promises will guarantee the continuance and the new cars with new regulations attract new manufacturers to the serie.

Season 2010 is a year of fascinating possibilities. Now bigger wheels are spinning.

If you can't put up a real show in rally with these ingredients then nothing can.
To be changed soon - rko281, where are you??? LOL

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Re: Rally News

Post by Ice-Ludy » 09 Apr 2010, 20:38

I guess you will like that Nicole!! :)
Kubica returns to rallying in Italy
9th April 2010
By Richard Rodgers

Renault’s Formula One star Robert Kubica will make his debut in a Super 1600 rally car on Sunday (April 11), driving a Renault Clio on the Rally Ronde Citta di Forli: an all-asphalt event held close to Bologna, Italy.

While Kubica has contested a handful of events before in a Renault Clio R3 – most recently January’s Monte Carlo Rally, where he retired with engine failure on the prologue stage – this will be his first taste of Super 1600 power.

Kubica’s car will be run by Italian team Twister Corse, which will also run former Italian champion Piero Longhi on the national event in a Peugeot 207 S2000. Longhi is using the Forli-based rally as a warm-up for the opening round of the Italian championship, the Rally 1000 Miglia, the following weekend.

The Rally Ronde Citta di Forli takes in four asphalt stages totalling around 12 kilometres each, before the finish at 1700hrs the same day. Despite previously maintaining that the Formula One season would leave him too busy to contest any more rallies this year, the Polish driver seems set to add some more events to his programme if he has the time.

Such is Kubica’s passion for rallying that he owns a Skoda Fabia WRC, which he drives in Poland for his own enjoyment.
http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/kubi ... _in_italy/
Octeto Racing Team's Blog: http://www.octetort.com
“Even a small star shines in the darkness”

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Re: Rally News

Post by Wolfie » 10 Apr 2010, 11:03

Ice-Ludy wrote:I guess you will like that Nicole!! :)
Kubica returns to rallying in Italy
9th April 2010
By Richard Rodgers

Renault’s Formula One star Robert Kubica will make his debut in a Super 1600 rally car on Sunday (April 11), driving a Renault Clio on the Rally Ronde Citta di Forli: an all-asphalt event held close to Bologna, Italy.

While Kubica has contested a handful of events before in a Renault Clio R3 – most recently January’s Monte Carlo Rally, where he retired with engine failure on the prologue stage – this will be his first taste of Super 1600 power.

Kubica’s car will be run by Italian team Twister Corse, which will also run former Italian champion Piero Longhi on the national event in a Peugeot 207 S2000. Longhi is using the Forli-based rally as a warm-up for the opening round of the Italian championship, the Rally 1000 Miglia, the following weekend.

The Rally Ronde Citta di Forli takes in four asphalt stages totalling around 12 kilometres each, before the finish at 1700hrs the same day. Despite previously maintaining that the Formula One season would leave him too busy to contest any more rallies this year, the Polish driver seems set to add some more events to his programme if he has the time.

Such is Kubica’s passion for rallying that he owns a Skoda Fabia WRC, which he drives in Poland for his own enjoyment.
http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/kubi ... _in_italy/
This is going to be interesting :cool:

So far Kubica has had some misfortune but hopefully this one will go well because he has real passion for rallying.

Anybody know how well the rally is covered on the web?

Go Robert Kubica :shhh:
To be changed soon - rko281, where are you??? LOL

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Re: Rally News

Post by Kinga » 10 Apr 2010, 15:34

Wolfie wrote: Go Robert Kubica :shhh:
Gooo Kubi!!!!!! :thumbsup:
Image

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Re: Rally News

Post by luieluv » 11 Apr 2010, 07:41

WRC EXTENDS CONTROL TYRE CONTRACT

The World Rally Championship has extended its control tyre deal for another year, before the FIA decides whether to open the series up to other tyre manufacturers again in 2012.Pirelli was the only firm to tender for the next three-year contract - running from 2011-2013, but after a period of further negotiation between the FIA and Pirelli, a single season solution has been reached.A source close to the FIA said: "Obviously, it came as quite a surprise when Pirelli's was the only tender for the next three years. What's happened here is that the FIA has another year to decide which way to play the control tyre scenario for the World Rally Championship."Pirelli won the current contract to supply all tyres to the WRC in 2007, with an €11m investment in the series, which includes paying for five drivers from around the world to compete in six rallies in the Pirelli Star Driver programme.
http://www.motorsport.co.uk/world-rally ... 3350.shtml
So its gonna be a mix of Ravishing Black and White for Kimi Raikkonen this season

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Re: Rally News

Post by Wolfie » 11 Apr 2010, 08:12

luieluv wrote:
WRC EXTENDS CONTROL TYRE CONTRACT

The World Rally Championship has extended its control tyre deal for another year, before the FIA decides whether to open the series up to other tyre manufacturers again in 2012.Pirelli was the only firm to tender for the next three-year contract - running from 2011-2013, but after a period of further negotiation between the FIA and Pirelli, a single season solution has been reached.A source close to the FIA said: "Obviously, it came as quite a surprise when Pirelli's was the only tender for the next three years. What's happened here is that the FIA has another year to decide which way to play the control tyre scenario for the World Rally Championship."Pirelli won the current contract to supply all tyres to the WRC in 2007, with an €11m investment in the series, which includes paying for five drivers from around the world to compete in six rallies in the Pirelli Star Driver programme.
http://www.motorsport.co.uk/world-rally ... 3350.shtml
Thanks Luie :cool:

Hey, any chance of you finding out if the rally in Italy has any live timing? With Robert Kubica there it would be great to follow it in a thread of it's own :shhh:
To be changed soon - rko281, where are you??? LOL

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Re: Rally News

Post by luieluv » 11 Apr 2010, 08:33

Wolfie wrote:
luieluv wrote:
WRC EXTENDS CONTROL TYRE CONTRACT

The World Rally Championship has extended its control tyre deal for another year, before the FIA decides whether to open the series up to other tyre manufacturers again in 2012.Pirelli was the only firm to tender for the next three-year contract - running from 2011-2013, but after a period of further negotiation between the FIA and Pirelli, a single season solution has been reached.A source close to the FIA said: "Obviously, it came as quite a surprise when Pirelli's was the only tender for the next three years. What's happened here is that the FIA has another year to decide which way to play the control tyre scenario for the World Rally Championship."Pirelli won the current contract to supply all tyres to the WRC in 2007, with an €11m investment in the series, which includes paying for five drivers from around the world to compete in six rallies in the Pirelli Star Driver programme.
http://www.motorsport.co.uk/world-rally ... 3350.shtml
Thanks Luie :cool:

Hey, any chance of you finding out if the rally in Italy has any live timing? With Robert Kubica there it would be great to follow it in a thread of it's own :shhh:
I shall try and do that.
So its gonna be a mix of Ravishing Black and White for Kimi Raikkonen this season

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Re: Rally News

Post by luieluv » 11 Apr 2010, 08:40

No more Drama and No more unfair Tactics and No more Sacrifices

There will be no pointing ahead in the World Rally Championship. Thursday an amendment to the regulation of WRC championship was introduced to prohibit this practice from the Rally of Turkey, which takes place next weekend. This was stated by Olivier Quesnel, the boss of Citroën Racing. Last week in Jordan, the score in advance had created confusion . Following this event, the bosses of Ford and Citroen had agreed not to resort to this practice, which allowed a pilot, subject to time penalties, to change the order of passage through the stages. Finally, with this measure decided by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, they will not even require their tacit agreement.

Link:
http://www.lequipe.fr/Formule1/20100411 ... erdit.html
So its gonna be a mix of Ravishing Black and White for Kimi Raikkonen this season

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Re: Rally News

Post by Wolfie » 11 Apr 2010, 08:59

Thanks Luie, it will be interesting to see where it all leads, with the tactics I mean.

Citroen can't be solely blamed for this, Ford went in it as well but what is the fair thing to do since team orders have been allowed as far as I know?
To be changed soon - rko281, where are you??? LOL

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Re: Rally News

Post by luieluv » 11 Apr 2010, 09:01

Yeah Agreed wolfie. But really felt bad for Ogier. But thats okie.
So its gonna be a mix of Ravishing Black and White for Kimi Raikkonen this season

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Re: Rally News

Post by Wolfie » 11 Apr 2010, 09:07

luieluv wrote:Yeah Agreed wolfie. But really felt bad for Ogier. But thats okie.
On MTV3 they are insinuating that Citroen will take Ogier to New Zealand in order to make it up for him - which they deny of course.

It's a 80% chance that Kimi will go to New Zealand. Here's hoping he would also go :pray:
To be changed soon - rko281, where are you??? LOL

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Re: Rally News

Post by Kriss » 11 Apr 2010, 09:10

Wolfie wrote:
It's a 80% chance that Kimi will go to New Zealand. Here's hoping he would also go :pray:
Really? That would be great :thumbsup:
I'm happy for Ogier :shhh:

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Re: Rally News

Post by Wolfie » 11 Apr 2010, 09:14

Kriss wrote:
Wolfie wrote:
It's a 80% chance that Kimi will go to New Zealand. Here's hoping he would also go :pray:
Really? That would be great :thumbsup:
I'm happy for Ogier :shhh:
It bugs me if he doesn't go because this is what Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala said in January:

5/13: New Zealand's WRC-rally 5.-9.5.2010

Driving surface: gravel

Hirvonen:
- If Kimi drives the rally I'm sure he will enjoy the experience.
- 4 minutes behind the lead

Latvala:
- If Kimi drives the rally I'm sure he will enjoy the experience.
- 10 minutes behind the lead

*
So if both guys point out how much he would enjoy it then there has to be something extra special about that specific rally :(
To be changed soon - rko281, where are you??? LOL

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Re: Rally News

Post by iceman1 » 11 Apr 2010, 13:12

Ice-Ludy wrote:I guess you will like that Nicole!! :)
Kubica returns to rallying in Italy
9th April 2010
By Richard Rodgers

Renault’s Formula One star Robert Kubica will make his debut in a Super 1600 rally car on Sunday (April 11), driving a Renault Clio on the Rally Ronde Citta di Forli: an all-asphalt event held close to Bologna, Italy.

While Kubica has contested a handful of events before in a Renault Clio R3 – most recently January’s Monte Carlo Rally, where he retired with engine failure on the prologue stage – this will be his first taste of Super 1600 power.

Kubica’s car will be run by Italian team Twister Corse, which will also run former Italian champion Piero Longhi on the national event in a Peugeot 207 S2000. Longhi is using the Forli-based rally as a warm-up for the opening round of the Italian championship, the Rally 1000 Miglia, the following weekend.

The Rally Ronde Citta di Forli takes in four asphalt stages totalling around 12 kilometres each, before the finish at 1700hrs the same day. Despite previously maintaining that the Formula One season would leave him too busy to contest any more rallies this year, the Polish driver seems set to add some more events to his programme if he has the time.

Such is Kubica’s passion for rallying that he owns a Skoda Fabia WRC, which he drives in Poland for his own enjoyment.
http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/kubi ... _in_italy/
Kubica misses this rally out of respect for the 100 of prominent Poles who was killed yesturday.

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