WRC 2018 Discussion.

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WRC 2018 Discussion.

#1

Post by Everso Biggyballies »

2018 Monte Carlo Rally.

WRC starts off for the year with its iconic Monte Carlo Rally.
WRC may not attract the attention that it once did, but there is something about the Monte that always draws me in.

It starts off on Thursday with 2 night stages.
Rallye Monte-Carlo, the oldest and most famous rally in the world, kick starts the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship and this year runs one week later than normal (25-28 January). While essentially an asphalt rally, the event’s winter slot in January almost certainly guarantees a tricky mix of dry and wet roads, treacherously slippery ice and snow. As such, tyre choice is always a gamble and compromise, as all these conditions could be found in one stage requiring drivers to be able to read the road, manage pace and tyre wear throughout not just one stage but an entire loop.

The teams now have one year behind them with the new generation of World Rally Cars, but competition is sure to remain as fierce and unpredictable as each manufacturer demonstrated rally-winning pace in the debut season with the cars. While most of the driver line-ups stay the same, there are nevertheless some exciting new combinations sure to add another dimension in Monte-Carlo. Reigning FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier remains with M-Sport Ford with Elfyn Evans as his regular team-mate. Bryan Bouffier, however, joins the squad as something of a specialist with eight starts and one victory to his name. Hyundai will be fielding Thierry Neuville, Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo, who returns this season with former co-driver Carlos del Barrio. Ott Tänak will make his debut for Toyota, partnering Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi, both of whom won events for the Japanese marque in its first season back in the WRC last year. Citroën regulars Kris Meeke and Craig Breen round off the manufacturer entries for the all-important season-opener.

The FIA WRC 2 and WRC 3 Championship crews will be back in action and Rallye Monte-Carlo is also the opening round of the FIA RGT Cup.

Before any of the action gets underway, however, the WRC Season Opening celebration will kick off the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship in Monaco on Thursday afternoon.
MANUFACTURER ENTRIES, RALLYE MONTE-CARLO

M-Sport Ford WRT
Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia (#1)
Elfyn Evans / Daniel Barritt (#2)
Bryan Bouffier / Jérôme Degout (#3)


Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger (#4)
Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul (#5)
Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio (#6)


Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT
Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila (#7)
Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja (#8)
Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm (#9)


Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle (#10)
Craig Breen / Scott Martin (#11)


A short preview




As ever, Casino Square in Monte-Carlo will host the start ceremony on Thursday and the crews immediately head into the first two night stages as they make their way back to Gap for the overnight halt. Thoard-Sisteron is effectively new, running in the opposite direction for the first time in the WRC.

Friday the drivers head south of Gap for the longest day of the event covering two loops of three stages and 144.88 competitive kilometres, Roussieux-Eygalayes and Vaumeilh-Claret new to the itinerary this year.

Saturday is another long but largely familiar day and takes the crews back to Monaco for the overnight halt. Sunday’s two stages see the drivers twice over the iconic Col de Turini and La Cabanette-Col de Braus, which is again new this year and will also run as the closing Power Stage. The traditional prize-giving then takes place in front of Monaco’s Place du Palais Princier, one of the highlights of the season.

Total distance: 1,642.40 km
Stage distance: 388.59 km (23.66%)
Number of stages: 17

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#2

Post by DoubleFart »

I really wish that this still had the attraction of the 90's when the likes of McRae, Sainz and Makinen were flying. Watching the Rally GB highlights at 6pm on grandstand, the shock of Makinen crashing out in 98, then Sainz breaking down yards from the finish - it was such an amazing time.

We should be so far beyond that now, with better technology to cover the sport - drones, fan cams, layering ghost car replays for comparisons... but nobody is broadcasting on free to air at a decent time. I wish the BBC would take a punt and put it in on an evening at 10.30pm on Fridays, then 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
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#3

Post by Cheeveer »

I took up a one month for free promo code for https://plus.wrc.com/en/

One month free: WRC18ASI
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#4

Post by Everso Biggyballies »

Cheeveer wrote: 6 years ago I took up a one month for free promo code for https://plus.wrc.com/en/

One month free: WRC18ASI
So you will get your local event in the freebie too Jacob. :thumbsup: (Sweden is 15-18 February.)

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#5

Post by Cheeveer »

The coverage with this new app is great! Fine TV watching Craig Breen struggling with his brakes, and Esapekka Lappi catching him on the stage. Really unlocks rallyings TV potential, being able to follow the stages, and the adventure that rallying is, like this.
***Some say you should live each day like it was your last... but who wants to live each day in wild panic and extreme death anxiety?

The universe, look at the hugeness of it... it is a dizzying thought that little ol' me is the centre of it all!***
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#6

Post by Everso Biggyballies »

Impressed by Tanak having his first outing in the Toyota.... seemingly the only one able to keep Ogier honest and on his toes. Time is running out with only 4 stages I think to go, But it is Monte and the picture can change in a heartbeat with a poor tyre choice, changing conditions, unseen ice, mistakes etc etc.

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#7

Post by DoubleFart »

It's been a tough rally, which is no surprise for Monte, and it's been good to see strong performances on individual stages from each manufacturer. Just consistency to go - could be a good season!
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#8

Post by Cheeveer »

Rally Sweden gonna be epic. Lots of snow, no warmer weather expected until rally start. :flag:
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#9

Post by Everso Biggyballies »

Yeah I recorded the 30 minute preview that was on TV last night here so will watch it later :smiley: Sweden is one of my fave events of the year.

* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left


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#10

Post by Everso Biggyballies »

Rally Sweden is on this weekend and throwing up a few surprises....

Firstly here is a quick vid of the route. Plenty of my favourites here including everyones fave, Colin's Crest.




After the first full day (We had the usual couple of stages on the Thursday night) we have a Hyundai 1-2-3.
Who'd have thunk? Also only one M-Sport Ford in the top 10.... and it isnt Ogier! Ogier, with no offs or incidents other than having to open the early stages only running in 12th.

Obviously early days and with Neuville leading anything can happen. The field is all fairly close at the moment so it could all change with the smallest of errors.

Top 10 after Stage 8

Rally Sweden: After Special Stage 8 (Top 10)

Pos Num Driver Nat Team Car Time/Gap
1 5 Thierry Neuville BEL Hyundai i20 WRC 1:16:13.1
2 4 Andreas Mikkelsen NOR Hyundai i20 WRC +4.9
3 6 Hayden Paddon NZL Hyundai i20 WRC +12.1
4 11 Craig Breen IRL Citroen C3 WRC +12.6
5 12 Mads Ostberg NOR Citroen C3 WRC +13.2
6 3 Teemu Suninen FIN M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC +29.6
7 9 Esapekka Lappi FIN Toyota Gazoo Yaris WRC +38.5
8 7 Jari-Matti Latvala FIN Toyota Gazoo Yaris WRC +1:06.2
9 8 Ott Tanak EST Toyota Gazoo Yaris WRC +1:29.0
10 10 Kris Meeke GBR Citroen C3 WRC +1:43.6


Day 3 features eight stages including two loops of three, a repeat of the Thursday night Karlstad trotting track stage, and a sprint at Torsby, totalling 120.31km.

Toyota highlights Day 2




WRC Highlights stage 1-4


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#11

Post by SBan83 »

They mentioned something interesting on the broadcast. Due to the historic rally cars running, the track had been narrowed so the guys who began the second leg of the first day were at a disadvantage and with more running, there was more speed, sort of like how a fresh snowfall slows down the early runners. What is this referring to exactly? I don't know the list of the historic cars but except for cars like the Mini and Abarth, surely most of the historic cars have atleast as much track as the current cars?
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#12

Post by Everso Biggyballies »

SB83 wrote: 6 years ago They mentioned something interesting on the broadcast. Due to the historic rally cars running, the track had been narrowed so the guys who began the second leg of the first day were at a disadvantage and with more running, there was more speed, sort of like how a fresh snowfall slows down the early runners. What is this referring to exactly? I don't know the list of the historic cars but except for cars like the Mini and Abarth, surely most of the historic cars have atleast as much track as the current cars?
Apparently being primarily RWD cars the historics take a different line to the current cars, and in many cases drag slush and crap onto the current racing line. That is my understanding and it sounds feasible to me. To compound the problem in many cases, gentlemen drivers shall we say take obscure lines. Having said that Petter Solberg in running a 4WD Escort in this years (historic) event. :smiley:

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#13

Post by SBan83 »

Everso Biggyballies wrote: 6 years ago
SB83 wrote: 6 years ago They mentioned something interesting on the broadcast. Due to the historic rally cars running, the track had been narrowed so the guys who began the second leg of the first day were at a disadvantage and with more running, there was more speed, sort of like how a fresh snowfall slows down the early runners. What is this referring to exactly? I don't know the list of the historic cars but except for cars like the Mini and Abarth, surely most of the historic cars have atleast as much track as the current cars?
Apparently being primarily RWD cars the historics take a different line to the current cars, and in many cases drag slush and crap onto the current racing line. That is my understanding and it sounds feasible to me. To compound the problem in many cases, gentlemen drivers shall we say take obscure lines. Having said that Petter Solberg in running a 4WD Escort in this years (historic) event. :smiley:
Ah I see, yes indeed, a RWD would take a considerably different line and not to mention, they had much less grip overall both mechanically and aerodynamically, so they would slide more anyway and drag junk.
Everso Biggyballies wrote: 6 years agoHaving said that Petter Solberg in running a 4WD Escort in this years (historic) event. :smiley:
Yes, I saw a picture of his car on Twitter. I do wish he was back in the WRC though... a real fun personality. :smiley:
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#14

Post by Everso Biggyballies »

SB83 wrote: 6 years ago
Everso Biggyballies wrote: 6 years agoHaving said that Petter Solberg in running a 4WD Escort in this years (historic) event. :smiley:
Yes, I saw a picture of his car on Twitter. I do wish he was back in the WRC though... a real fun personality. :smiley:
Yeah he is such a great personality and so talented. I have been following his antics in the World Rallycross Championships the last few years. We get pretty much live coverage of that here. He still loves to win.

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#15

Post by Everso Biggyballies »

Neuville has opened uup a small gap at the front, almost 19 secs ahead of Breen in the Citroen. Ogier is still down the order now running 10th, some 4mins 22 secs behind Neuville. Mads Ostberg managed to clear 42 metres over the jump to take the Colin's Crest Award! Østberg thanked rally organisers and dedicated his award to fans of 'Østberg Airlines'. :haha:
(Norway's Eyvind Brynildsen still holds the outright jump record with a 45 metre effort in a Ford Fiesta R5 in 2016. )

Positions after stage 14. Just two short Special Sprints to go today.

POS # DRIVER TIME DIFF PREV DIFF 1ST
1. 5 BEL T. NEUVILLE 2:19:15.6
2. 11 IRL C. BREEN 2:19:34.4 +18.8 +18.8
3. 4 NOR A. MIKKELSEN 2:19:46.4 +12.0 +30.8
4. 6 NZL H. PADDON 2:19:54.0 +7.6 +38.4
5. 12 NOR M. OSTBERG 2:20:12.1 +18.1 +56.5
6. 9 FIN E. LAPPI 2:20:20.5 +8.4 +1:04.9
7. 7 FIN J. LATVALA 2:21:15.5 +55.0 +1:59.9
8. 3 FIN T. SUNINEN 2:21:31.7 +16.2 +2:16.1
9. 8 EST O. TÄNAK 2:22:56.7 +1:25.0 +3:41.1
10. 1 FRA S. OGIER 2:23:37.7 +41.0 +4:22.1
11. 2 GBR E. EVANS 2:24:04.6 +26.9 +4:49.0
12. 35 JPN T. KATSUTA 2:26:49.1 +2:44.5 +7:33.5
Last edited by Everso Biggyballies 6 years ago, edited 1 time in total.

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