Billforce
07-29-2003, 01:54 AM
I don't keep up with European Rally cars but what happened to the AWD Audi dominance? They looked unbeatable a couple years back?
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Bigjakkstaffa
07-29-2003, 05:15 AM
Audi's aint ran for quite a while now, the Quattro was the first 4WD car and blew everyone away, nowadays though EVERYONE competing in the big leagues runs 4WD. Also its worth noting that everyone is switching to smaller more nimble cars now, in contrast to the large Quattro. Theres the small 206's, relatively small Xsara's, ickle Fabia and 'bishi retired the Lancer Evo VII this year to work on something smaller/ ATM the only really big cars left are the Impreza WRX and the Ford Focus *spits*, oh and the Hyundai Accent, if you even consider that a contender :eek:
Audi today in europe seem to be focusing on salloon, family cars more than anything rally like and their links with VW show (is it me or do most of the Audis and the VW Passat have an uncanny resemblance :eek:), sadly VW also seem to be less of a force in rallying with the Golf having been phased out of big competition and being replaced by the Polo as the VW of choice :(
Asides form that, anyone catch Rally Deutschland tuther day? Richard Burns did a good job of blowing his own toes off on day 2 and Colin Mcrae had a bit of bad luck to be fair :( Some nice drives from Loeb, Gronholm and Martin though
--Jakk:t
Audi today in europe seem to be focusing on salloon, family cars more than anything rally like and their links with VW show (is it me or do most of the Audis and the VW Passat have an uncanny resemblance :eek:), sadly VW also seem to be less of a force in rallying with the Golf having been phased out of big competition and being replaced by the Polo as the VW of choice :(
Asides form that, anyone catch Rally Deutschland tuther day? Richard Burns did a good job of blowing his own toes off on day 2 and Colin Mcrae had a bit of bad luck to be fair :( Some nice drives from Loeb, Gronholm and Martin though
--Jakk:t
DocEvi1
07-29-2003, 05:33 AM
The Evo VIII is making a return next year, they have not abandoned the development of the Colt Rally car but say it will take to long (to be not rallying).
As for the current crop, well there are plenty to choose from but ultimately the ones to look out for will be the new Fabia, the Pug 307 (next years car - the current 206 is essentially identical to last years) and the next development of the Focus (if they can make it reliable that is).
As for the German rally, great stuff. I'm glad Loeb won and not Gronholm because it means the championship is running a little closer and will be a good battle to the end. The one person I am really glad had trouble was Marko Martin. I don't know why, but I don't like him (jealousy is a bad thing :( ). Anyhoo, I wouldn't be surprised if Colin McRae disappears in a couple of years time, he has the speed still and the ability (plus all the games and what not) but he isn't winning when the car obviously can. Shame really, I've always liked Colin & his brother.
Can't wait for the Rally of Finland!!!
Stefan
As for the current crop, well there are plenty to choose from but ultimately the ones to look out for will be the new Fabia, the Pug 307 (next years car - the current 206 is essentially identical to last years) and the next development of the Focus (if they can make it reliable that is).
As for the German rally, great stuff. I'm glad Loeb won and not Gronholm because it means the championship is running a little closer and will be a good battle to the end. The one person I am really glad had trouble was Marko Martin. I don't know why, but I don't like him (jealousy is a bad thing :( ). Anyhoo, I wouldn't be surprised if Colin McRae disappears in a couple of years time, he has the speed still and the ability (plus all the games and what not) but he isn't winning when the car obviously can. Shame really, I've always liked Colin & his brother.
Can't wait for the Rally of Finland!!!
Stefan
Bigjakkstaffa
07-29-2003, 05:47 AM
The Evo VIII is making a return next year, they have not abandoned the development of the Colt Rally car but say it will take to long (to be not rallying).
Hurrah, i really se eno problem with the EvoVII as a rally car, its supposed to be doing really well in the Production Car WRC.
Apparently Burns was bowled over by the 307 so it looks like it'll be an interesting car, wonder if it'll cope with hot conditions better than the 206 though :eek:
The focus is comng on i suppose, but still theyve taken their time with it, theyve just about gotten to the stage where its good in a straight line:p...i really dont liek that car, although Martin is doing very well given the quality (or rather lack of it) of the car he's drivign it must be said.
I feel the Impreza's been a bit lacklustre this year, i dunno if thats because of Solbergs tendancy to go OTT and break the car and the Makinen recognisably taking less of an interest in his rallying and seeming content with early retirments and mid rank finishesm, just seems to have slipped into mediocrity. Of course i could be wrong, it could be the cars fault, it doesnt seem to have done as well as the 22B Sti did. As for C Mcrae i feel sorry for him, he's definitley the most consistent driver in the WRC bar Burns and Gronholm and nearly every rally you can say he's gonna be hanging around 4th spot by the end of it, i think he's capable of winning rallys in the Xsara but his luck just isnt in sadly and it looks like he might be shown the door at Citroen, however there is talk of Subaru being interested in him, which i reckon would be quite good to see. His brother, seems to be even less forunate, he's driving independently ATM i think because he cant get a drive which is a real shame and on the basis of the one rally ive seen him in this year he looked capable of competing with the fringe big boys such as Makinen.
I dunno, it shall be interesting next year, especially with the FIA chages to the rules on third drivers, but i still think McRae still deserves respect, lookit Bruns, yet to win a rally for Peugeot, no one is really hammering on about that much though.
One thing i can ay for certain though is that Finland will be a goodun, its one of the faster ones and after that its tarmac stages innit? Should be interesting if Panizzi's up to full fitness :eek:
--Jakk:t
Hurrah, i really se eno problem with the EvoVII as a rally car, its supposed to be doing really well in the Production Car WRC.
Apparently Burns was bowled over by the 307 so it looks like it'll be an interesting car, wonder if it'll cope with hot conditions better than the 206 though :eek:
The focus is comng on i suppose, but still theyve taken their time with it, theyve just about gotten to the stage where its good in a straight line:p...i really dont liek that car, although Martin is doing very well given the quality (or rather lack of it) of the car he's drivign it must be said.
I feel the Impreza's been a bit lacklustre this year, i dunno if thats because of Solbergs tendancy to go OTT and break the car and the Makinen recognisably taking less of an interest in his rallying and seeming content with early retirments and mid rank finishesm, just seems to have slipped into mediocrity. Of course i could be wrong, it could be the cars fault, it doesnt seem to have done as well as the 22B Sti did. As for C Mcrae i feel sorry for him, he's definitley the most consistent driver in the WRC bar Burns and Gronholm and nearly every rally you can say he's gonna be hanging around 4th spot by the end of it, i think he's capable of winning rallys in the Xsara but his luck just isnt in sadly and it looks like he might be shown the door at Citroen, however there is talk of Subaru being interested in him, which i reckon would be quite good to see. His brother, seems to be even less forunate, he's driving independently ATM i think because he cant get a drive which is a real shame and on the basis of the one rally ive seen him in this year he looked capable of competing with the fringe big boys such as Makinen.
I dunno, it shall be interesting next year, especially with the FIA chages to the rules on third drivers, but i still think McRae still deserves respect, lookit Bruns, yet to win a rally for Peugeot, no one is really hammering on about that much though.
One thing i can ay for certain though is that Finland will be a goodun, its one of the faster ones and after that its tarmac stages innit? Should be interesting if Panizzi's up to full fitness :eek:
--Jakk:t
DocEvi1
07-29-2003, 07:57 AM
I dunno about McRae anymore, he seems to have lost that gritty edge...
Apparently the 307 is a bigger car and is better suited to Burns - if you remember he had a hard job moving from the large, extended fore-ams Scooby to the tight, small 206... Bet the 307 is used because it can fit more stuff in.
The Evo VIII is the Evo VII but with more electronical gubins essentially.
I really don't like the FIA driver changes, it means we are going to lose all the greats that haven't performed well in the past year, it also means that the turn-over of drivers is going to very large... It's strange tho, it might stop Pug having four drivers and bringing them out as specalists but it will also mean people like Sainz (who is doing really well this season) will have to really fight for a seat against people like Loeb...
I dunno, I think Rallying is trying too hard to shake things up and become main-stream which in truth it never will (lets face it, it takes a special type of person to walk miles to watch cars go wooosh).
The other thing I'm looking forward to is when the GB rally leaves Wales and becomes the Rally of GB not the bloody Rally of Wales!!! I think the rally is up for review next (or the year after)!
Stefan
Apparently the 307 is a bigger car and is better suited to Burns - if you remember he had a hard job moving from the large, extended fore-ams Scooby to the tight, small 206... Bet the 307 is used because it can fit more stuff in.
The Evo VIII is the Evo VII but with more electronical gubins essentially.
I really don't like the FIA driver changes, it means we are going to lose all the greats that haven't performed well in the past year, it also means that the turn-over of drivers is going to very large... It's strange tho, it might stop Pug having four drivers and bringing them out as specalists but it will also mean people like Sainz (who is doing really well this season) will have to really fight for a seat against people like Loeb...
I dunno, I think Rallying is trying too hard to shake things up and become main-stream which in truth it never will (lets face it, it takes a special type of person to walk miles to watch cars go wooosh).
The other thing I'm looking forward to is when the GB rally leaves Wales and becomes the Rally of GB not the bloody Rally of Wales!!! I think the rally is up for review next (or the year after)!
Stefan
Bigjakkstaffa
07-29-2003, 08:21 AM
They should move the thing back up to Kielder, that would make me a happy bunny indeed :D.
I must admit im not a big fan of Pug's 4 driver system, it seems to me Rovenpera never has much to do in it and in all fairness it is cheating after a fashion. However it would be sad to see the likes of Sainz go as a result of rule changes, he is one of the most consistent drivers out there and for me shoudl have a place ahead of Loeb who in all fairness either does very well or drifts off away from the points. Its a shame in that drivers coming toward the end of their carreer but still decent drivers such as Sainz and Makinen may find themselves retiring early and also in that some of the older names from the past may be rushed back in to enable compliance with the rules and really reduce the quality of competition. For example i hear that theres a lot of interest in Juha Kankkunen all of a sudden. Tis a shame and i would preffer to have things kept the way they are but for Pug to be told to get rid of one of their specialists.
As for the 307, looks nice enough, for soem reason it reminds me of a cut and shut 206 front end with the rear of a Golf GTi :x:eek:
http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i60/6070_2mg.jpg
Still roll on York at the end of september i say...if i can get there...gonan be a bit fo a train journey methinks if i do go
--Jakk:t
I must admit im not a big fan of Pug's 4 driver system, it seems to me Rovenpera never has much to do in it and in all fairness it is cheating after a fashion. However it would be sad to see the likes of Sainz go as a result of rule changes, he is one of the most consistent drivers out there and for me shoudl have a place ahead of Loeb who in all fairness either does very well or drifts off away from the points. Its a shame in that drivers coming toward the end of their carreer but still decent drivers such as Sainz and Makinen may find themselves retiring early and also in that some of the older names from the past may be rushed back in to enable compliance with the rules and really reduce the quality of competition. For example i hear that theres a lot of interest in Juha Kankkunen all of a sudden. Tis a shame and i would preffer to have things kept the way they are but for Pug to be told to get rid of one of their specialists.
As for the 307, looks nice enough, for soem reason it reminds me of a cut and shut 206 front end with the rear of a Golf GTi :x:eek:
http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i60/6070_2mg.jpg
Still roll on York at the end of september i say...if i can get there...gonan be a bit fo a train journey methinks if i do go
--Jakk:t
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