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Post by Will on Jan 15, 2010 22:18:32 GMT
Glad to hear Tom Cave has got a drive. I've been watching him since Rally GB '07.... young talent with bright future
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Post by loebfan on Jan 19, 2010 10:56:26 GMT
I heard the Ford Fiestas went to the scrutineering and left immediately with the engineers looking into Mikko's car engine
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Post by Mixa on Jan 19, 2010 18:49:07 GMT
Yeah there were some issues. When you read the topic of IRC from motorsport.com I think everything was right and some said them might not even start except as a zero car.
Hirvonen was still at the test stage and got a 5th fastest time. Dont know about Maurin. As Gardemeister was quickest he will be 10th on the stages tomorrow.
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Post by Will on Jan 19, 2010 21:59:21 GMT
Shenanigans? What's up with the Fiestas?
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 20, 2010 13:22:54 GMT
Both Fiëstas took the start of the rally and Mikko Hirvonen is leading after SS2. Maurin was 10th after SS1 and is yet to finish on SS2.
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Post by loebfan on Jan 20, 2010 18:08:23 GMT
We went to stage 2 this morning and to a time control this afternoon. Mikko is pushing very very hard! Meeke has shown a good pace too. Ogier is furious because of spectators throwing a lot of snow on the stage. For this reason, he went out and lost 1minute and 50 seconds. The Fabias are still very nice to see: Hanninen is 3rd and Vouilloz is 4th. On the second Fiesta, Maurin retired because of engine troubles. Sarrazin had a puncture in the last stage and lost 3 minutes. Renaud Poutot retired after a wheel broke on the Punto.
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Post by Mixa on Jan 20, 2010 20:32:11 GMT
Yeah I was watching the whole day from Eurosport2 and Eurosport and all I can say is, IRC is always so nice to follow and I love those sounds of the S2000´s . The conditions were really tricky and personally I hope some ice for tomorrow and maybe a bit of snow. It wont happen I know but it would rock Fiesta S2000 of Hirvonen is leading and yeah he has been doing superb times. Also the Pirelli´s of him are working well. On Eurosport was said that Fiesta has a 15hp advantage over them and Peugeot. Also for those who are surprised to see Mikko there,small cars aint so new to him. He was beating WRC cars on gravel roads of Finland with the Golf Kit Car at young age and drives a lot of different cars. Yeah a horrible end for a day to Peugeot France drivers Ogier and Sarrazin. Ogier was so pissed for the guys who are throwing snow but it has always been like that on Monte. When I was there one year, its amazing what them do there. Carry rocks to the corners,put snow to the roads and we remember those images from 2003 when them were throwing snow balls to the cars at 2003 example. From 07 also we saw how few marshalls got almost hit by the car. Its been always part of Monte and will be! On Sarrazins case it was a puncture what he didnt knew about. Too bad but the rally is still long. Im still happy that Meeke is on good position overall. What comes to Poutot and Maurin, you were able to spot both I guess at the TV from the coverage of SS4. Punto was next to the road on left side and Fiesta was on right at the next incar while later. I know Maurin was the one as it was a Fiesta what I saw and on coverage was told he had engine probs on SS2. the another car was a Punto so could been Poutot. Anyway cant wait for tomorrow!
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 21, 2010 0:24:32 GMT
I've already seen a good rally on Eurosport Bring on day 2. It's a shame though, that the onboard footage frequently interrupts due to bad weather.
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 21, 2010 19:00:02 GMT
Again very nice coverage today. I also liked the SS10 in the dark. The onboards were amazing. Top job of the drivers! Looking forward to tomorrow for the Col de Turini Also, it's a shame Meeke crashed into a bridge and went off. He was doing great.
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Post by loebfan on Jan 21, 2010 20:23:26 GMT
Back from Day 2! Today was even better than yesterday! I managed to negociate a good spot with a policeman and could make some good videos (at least I hope they're good). Today we went on stage 5,one or two kilometers before the finish line in a fast but twisty section. Many crews suffered from this stage, for example Jan Kopecky had a puncture and finished on the rim. You could hear the sound of what was left of the tyre way before you could see the car ;D. Then we went on the second pass through the mythic stage of Saint-Bonnet Le Froid. Before we arrived on the stage,my father let me experience how driving was on the snow, as we were cruising on a small road inside the forest,cold enough so the snow hasn't melt yet. Actually it was not as hard as i expected and i was able to maintain a good rythm and the fact that the rear part of the car was sliding more than the rest(wich i find extraordinary with a front-wheel drive car) is not really a problem: as long as you manage to show to the driving helps who's the boss, you can go quite fast without any problem. The stage of Saint-Bonnet was quite nice, but very populated. We could see the drivers arrive from a frozen corner and then head onto a tight bridge,some of them had some troubles to do so, and hit the bridge, without damaging the car. On the bad news side,we have Meeke's retirement. He was doing quite well,however. I was amazed yesterday when i saw how fast he and Mikko where going! Kopecky,as i said was slowed down by a puncture. I'm starting to think he's cursed with monte carlo Sarrazin went off this morning and lost a bit of time. Still on the french side, we have to notice two more retirements: Bryan Bouffier had a puncture but decided to continue and broke the electric system of the subaru. Mathieu Arzeno went off,apparently because of damaged tyres. Good news however,with Ogier in 3rd position and Vouilloz in 4th. Tommorrow will be the last day of the rally. I'll go to see the morning stage from Montauban-sur-Ouvèze to Egalayes. It's another mythic Monte Carlo stage, going through the Col du Perty. This is where Hanninen and Meeke went off last year. The stage is 30 kilometers long and Ogier said he will push until the end of the last stage, so we should see some action tommorrow
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Post by Mixa on Jan 21, 2010 22:15:01 GMT
Thanks to both again for comments . Ive been following it by the eurosport too and yeah the coverage is pretty awesome! I wonder will them do it again in some other event. Them has been saying maybe this year. Last year them promised but didnt kept it What comes to rally itself Peugeot´s have had a horrible week so far. So many good Peugeot´s has finded out to fight with snowbanks and of course Meeke´s retirement. I was still wondering what was in his mind. A good tyre for first loop and the best IRC backed points at the pocket. Oh well its rallying and I was sad to see him slipping off. Also ok,Ogier has been fighting hard and is now a minute away. Sarrazin... Im surprised to see him so up on the standings after so many mistakes. Those just shouldnt happen. What comes to others.. Kopecky and Gardemeister are lucky to be still on the rally but also so unlucky! Toni should have actually retire after that. Im still amazed how he finded that small piece of road instead of the close trees. Kopecky,just unlucky there and there. Maybe he really has a Monte curse. Still go on the Peugeot´s . I wish a close end for a great rally. It would be awesome! ps. Aww,snow driving loebfan! Thats awesome and yeah its not that different. Just more gentle use of gas and remembering the braking distance. The driving itself is a bit like on heavy rain. Ok we can use he studs here or non stud winter tyre. Hmmm,let me guess your car. front wheel drive but still the back sliding.. Probably a Citroen . I have a Xsara VTS 04 and its a bit like a 4wd car on gravel and snow.
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 22, 2010 0:43:17 GMT
Ive been following it by the eurosport too and yeah the coverage is pretty awesome! I wonder will them do it again in some other event. Them has been saying maybe this year. Last year them promised but didnt kept it Actually they had quite some coverage of the Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally too! If I'm not mistaken it was 4 live stages. Of course that can't match the coverage of Monte Carlo, but it's far better than nothing ;D
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Post by loebfan on Jan 22, 2010 4:07:17 GMT
You're half right,Mixa. The car is a Citroen but instead of a Xsara vts it's a big Xsara Picasso ;D
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 22, 2010 16:29:06 GMT
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Post by loebfan on Jan 22, 2010 17:21:47 GMT
This morning too was quite icy. We arrived at the stage with a temperature of minus 12°C. There were big snow banks,but the stage was dry overall. Ogier showed he was at home on this stage. He set the fastest time and made the show. Very nice stage despite the cold temperature!
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