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Post by Hurricane on Jan 7, 2010 14:33:57 GMT
Indeed, Ken Block will bring a massive amount of interest from the US to the WRC. However, I'm afraid this enthousiasm won't last long. Block won't be able to keep up with the WRC front runners, and I think that his fans will lose interest. He might lose his heroic image for his American fans. Like tfliprex said: he still has too much X-Games mentality, just like his fans. I'm afraid the only things that make his public go wild are massive crashes.. *** I added Nasser Al-Attiyah to the Ford Fiësta S2000 in S-WRC as per this articleI wonder if other makes like Peugeot, Abarth, Proton, VW, Opel, MG or Toyota will join the fight in S-WRC.
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 7, 2010 17:15:42 GMT
eWRC.cz reports that Henning Solberg and Cato Mekerud have put an end to their long-term cooperation. Henning Solberg has yet to enter in the WRC for this year..
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Post by Will on Jan 7, 2010 20:53:27 GMT
eWRC.cz reports that Henning Solberg and Cato Mekerud have put an end to their long-term cooperation. Henning Solberg has yet to enter in the WRC for this year.. No.
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 8, 2010 13:50:09 GMT
The article on wrc.com now confirms this news but states that Henning will still drive the WRC, most likely with a female co-driver. There's also news on Per-Gunnar Andersson. He's finding sponsor funds to start in the P-WRC or S-WRC. However, time is running out. A WRC start is out of the question.
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Post by Vivski on Jan 8, 2010 15:23:57 GMT
Henning is one of the great characters of the WRC. I really hope he continues.
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 9, 2010 15:28:58 GMT
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Post by Mixa on Jan 10, 2010 16:47:12 GMT
yup,Henning has been confirmed and co-driver will be Ilka Minor and she will read the notes in English. At first many were thinking of Maria Andersson but it wasnt the case. and the rest of the WRC teams,them deadline by FIA page is at 16th of March. What comes to entry lists.. too bad to see where Juniors have gone. Ok it was predicted but with that number of drivers I would call the serie off. S-WRC entry list to me doesnt look so cool too,compared to IRC its awful . N.group driver list also a bit disappointed with that but we will see. Atleast on the races there will be some locals to challenge them for sure so we will still see some fights.
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Post by tfliprex on Jan 12, 2010 4:20:02 GMT
The 2010 tipping will be interestingly difficult, with a bunch of S-WRC and less J-WRC in the mix. It is obvious that we will see the top drivers (Loeb, Hirvonen, Sordo, P & H Solberg, Ogier and Latvala) reaching the highest positions, but then things will be complicated. Is there a chance for S-WRC to beat some P-WRC or J-WRC?
Also, I'd like to clarify something regarding my post about Ken Block. I do not dislike the fellow at all, I think he is great, very talented and an excellent driver... but... X-game mentality is all about stunt driving. It isn't about endurance, tactical driving, team driving support, and more. X-games is another form of entretainment, which is different from WRC.
The American public is not familiar with the form of "entretainment" provided by the WRC, but slowly (very painfully slow) rallying is growing only in specific areas of the USA. Block, Pastrana and Subaru USA are the main reason for this movement. When it comes to car racing, the American audience think first of NASCAR, then Daytona 500, Monster Trucks, and X-games, they have never been exposed to the WRC so I can't blame them.
The American audience will not find WRC entretaining enough to tune-in and watch it from start to finish: because it is too long, no fireworks going off when the cars land from a jump, and not enough spectacular crashes. OK, the WRC provides some crashes as Latvala rolling down the hill, but those kinds of accidents do not occur with a high enough frequency, thus seeing a WRC crash into a ditch or see a windshield break isn't enough.
But one can hope that one day the WRC will come to the US, because there are many places that can provide all the necessary excitment that the WRC can deliver.
Flip
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Post by tfliprex on Jan 12, 2010 4:24:36 GMT
I wonder if other makes like Peugeot, Abarth, Proton, VW, Opel, MG or Toyota will join the fight in S-WRC. I was under the impression that VW, Proton and Abarth were aiming for 2011. Proton and Abarth have an upper hand over VW, because they have some experience and a car that is currently been tested and almost fully developed. As far as I could find, VW has nothing in the works; there might be some privateers, but no manufacturer nor major team in the works.
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 12, 2010 14:03:50 GMT
I doubt VW too. They only continue with Belgium's Rene Georges Rally Team and some privateers.
Abarth is in trouble too. In 2010 they will only concentrate on the Italian Championship with their Punto S2000's, in stead of the IRC.
My highest hopes are on Peugeot and Proton to join, as I recon they have the most potential and resources to do it. However I don't think they will officially enter the S-WRC in 2010. 2011 might be a better idea. It's still possible for privateer entries though, but I think the IRC still has the upper hand when it comes to S2000.
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Post by Mixa on Jan 12, 2010 15:05:58 GMT
I dont know about VW. Them has still been working with the Scirocco for other race series and has gained a lot information for sure about the car and how it should be done. Then again VW has also had interest for F1 and Rally-Raid project,them might even continue by the last informations. In the end we have to remember that VW know about S2000´s even and for sure can ask about the Polo how it was done. Last full works project if Im right was the A7 Golf Kit car. Also Skoda belongs to VW.... the car if its meant to come can come really quickly and even Proton has showed that its may not be impossible to do an S2000 that quickly what can be competitive.
What comes to S-WRC Im quite sure that its still a bit quicker than P-WRC or J-WRC. P-WRC wont never die off even when it seems that so many drivers are now interested for S2000´s so we may not see the top drivers there but I simply think this will be the last year of J-WRC IF the system wont change. J-WRC needs more cut off rounds and the new R class cars should become more handy to get it back.
What comes to Abarth,yeah no IRC and team changes has became. I doubt them will be jumping into the WRC. On last years there has been even news about Lancia´s return but only IF FIAT would have done well,the new Delta could have run then at Punto as a base. It simply havent gone well and I think neither of these will happen.. I mean FIAT or Lancia at WRC. Also privateers who kept to run Fiat´s have simply been pissed off for Abarth and has changed to other S2000´s so them even dont have too many customers no more!
hmmm, I doubt that what comes to American´s on WRC. If them would have a round on WRC the service park for sure would be a show but what Ive been checking out Rally America for some years(starting of times when Higgins was there) , there are still spectators on the stages and them looks quite happy for what them are seeing. Im sure the American´s will find the WRC,atleast those guys who are interested for rallying but I dont find it can grow much except if them will get their events back. Pikes peak example gained a huge audience at the end of 80´s as people wanted to see the B.gr cars and liked their noises. Many of the old American rally fans still remember the times when them had been at the spectator at the Olympus Rally and saw the B.gr cars or not so exciting A.gr cars in action. Them are still missing those times. Block has still started it now but if Pastrana would join too,it would start out something! Im sure of that.
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Post by tfliprex on Jan 12, 2010 22:28:37 GMT
P. Solberg to remain with Citroen C4 for 2010. Flip
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 13, 2010 16:34:47 GMT
Belgian's up and coming talent Thierry Neuville will contest the 2010 JWRC.
At the start of the season he will drive a Citroën C2 S1600 and later on he will switch to the new Citroën DS3 R3T. The team behind the cars is Automeca of Philippe Bugalski.
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 14, 2010 15:21:48 GMT
Michal Kosciuszko will drive the S-WRC in a Ford Fiësta S2000 prepared by Belgian firm Symtech Racing.
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 15, 2010 14:25:57 GMT
Ken Block's programme has been revealed:
Mexico, Turkey, Portugal, France, Germany, Spain and GB
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