Wales Rally GB 2011

[Maili85]

No Kimi and Petter
Congratulations to Mr Loeb

[Mar]

My internet connection has just gone on strike. Don't know how much I will be able to post

Latvala 8.6 faster than Loeb in SS15, he takes the lead by 1.3 seconds.

Oh man! I had to reboot my rooter and log in here 3 times to post just this

[Mar]

Kimi rolled in that off, he won't re-start either.

[sleenster]

Raikkonen and Solberg retire in Wales

Kimi Raikkonen and Petter Solberg won't take any further part on Wales Rally GB following their exits from the world championship finale this morning.

Raikkonen suffered a light roll in his Citroen DS3 WRC on the opening Hafren test, while Solberg stopped prior to the run when a broken fuel pipe ignited a small fire in his similar Citroen.

Ex-Formula One world champion Raikkonen and co-driver Kaj Lindstrom, who were sixth overall prior to their exit, managed to regain the road after the roll following the intervention of a number of spectators. However, the damage sustained meant they failed to complete the 32.14.kilometre test.

Solberg had started day three in a fight with Mads Ostberg for the final podium spot. His team manager Ken Rees said: “The fuel pipe was broken in the engine bay, which started a small fire. Petter and Chris managed to put it out but they won’t be going any further. It’s very disappointing.”

http://www.wrc.com/news/raikkonen-and-s ... ?fid=15760

[Mar]

in SS16, Latvala 0.2 seconds faster than Loeb. Now he leads by 1.5 seconds.

[Mar]

delay in SS17, it has not started yet

[Maili85]

delay in SS17, it has not started yet

Because of the weather?

[Mar]

delay in SS17, it has not started yet

Because of the weather?

It's going now . They have not told why they delayed it. Maybe it was just a problem with spectators or something like that.

Latvala increased his lead to 6.1 seconds (that will cheer Sleenie a bit )
Ostberg has problems with the engine, but he made it to the end of the day.
And Tänak also has some problems with the car and got into the stage too late because he could not re-start it.

[Maili85]

Ok thanks Mar

I hope that Jari wins this rally

[sleenster]

Everytime I get a little bit excited about Jari-Mari doing well, something bad happens next

WRC RALLY OF GREAT BRITAIN | KIMI RAIKKONEN: ICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

by Anthony Peacock, Nov 12, 2011

Kimi Raikkonen, who made the move to world rallying with Red Bull last year, has finally admitted that he’s been in discussions with Williams about a return to Formula One. In the meantime, he’s got a rally to finish. In fact, the Rally GB could be the most important one of the year – because it might be the last one he ever does.

Currently the ‘Iceman’, who should be particularly well-suited to the freezing conditions of deepest Wales, is battling for a top-eight position with Ford driver Matthew Wilson: a man with plenty of experience of rallying in Britain.

However, Kimi is not really loving the Welsh experience. Last year he finished eighth, but with this year’s Rally GB using plenty of brand-new stages (or to be completely accurate, stages that haven’t been used since the 1990s) Kimi hasn’t been able to capitalise on the experience he gained from the past.

Welsh mud and gravel – which tends to be more slippery than a Vaseline-coated mackerel – isn’t the easiest surface to drive on either when you’re accustomed to the smooth asphalt of the world’s grand prix circuits.

“I wasn't happy with my driving this morning,” said Kimi. The car has been okay but it’s really slippery out there. It’s difficult to know where the grip is and where it is slippery. I think to be in this position is not too bad though. We’ve not been on gravel for some months now and it’s not easy to come here when the conditions are like they are.”

How difficult would it be though to come back to Formula One? Michael Schumacher, whose own comeback was the subject of plenty of speculation a year ago, reckons that the 2007 grand prix champion wouldn’t struggle too much. And even Kimi himself reckons that it would probably be easier than the decision to go rallying.

“It’s what I’ve been doing all of my life,” said the Iceman when questioned about a return to circuit racing. “What would be more difficult would be to do something completely different…”

Naturally enough, he’s keeping pretty schtum when it comes to revealing his plans for next year, for the main reason that nothing is yet finalised. His co-driver Kaj Lindstrom says he always told Kimi that rallying was a four-year project if he was serious about it. Kimi’s not too sure however. “If I don’t want to carry on, then I can just stop tomorrow,” he said with a shrug. Which is pretty much his view of most things.

http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_ ... 3120079882

[Mar]

Tänak just did a Kimi and didn't want to talk to the radio guys

[bourbon]

Ah well, it is awesome that he was 6th until his exit. Overall, better season than last year, for the rallies he did. Frankly I am hoping for F1 next year, but whatever he does, he'll do in style. Shame about Petter too. And because I haven't written it in this forum yet:

Congrats Sebastian Loeb on a fine 8th Championship!!! WHooooHooooo!

[Mar]

SS18 started 5 minutes ahead of schedule.

Latvala 1.4 seconds faster than Loeb in the stage, 7.5 seconds ahead in the overall.

Ostberg still has engine issues and can't push hard if he wants to finish the rally and keep his podium position.

[Mar]

Loeb has been involved in a road incident.

It seems they are all ok, but he can't continue.

[sleenster]

Loeb has been involved in a road incident.

It seems they are all ok, but he can't continue.

Wut???????? What kind of incident?