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Dakar 2019 is going on right now. Its set in Peru. Rally fans should find some familiar faces in Sebastian Loeb, Carlos Sainz Sr and Nasser Al-Attiyah. Their youtube channel puts out recaps for each day and category. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BohZiogQBJk I might do a WRC overview when the season starts in two weeks time.
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Jan 12, 2019 11:22
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| # ¿ Apr 19, 2024 11:40 |
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With Rally Monte Carlo starting today, I thought I’d make a bit of an effort post. Rally is in a better position than its been for years. Rules have been liberalized giving the cars about 380hp and growing more crazy aero appendages every event. There are currently four major teams, Hyundai, Toyota, Citroen and M-Sport (privateers using Fords), and they have all won several events the past few years making it one of the most even fields ever in Rally. Teams Hyundai  Hyundai has steadily grown over the last 20 years to become one of the most resourceful and best teams, but it has never really come together for them to take a title. They never seem to have quite the fastest or most robust car, or the fastest drivers, but it has been achingly close for years. Toyota  Toyota returned to rally in 2017. Originally the team was planned to be run by the same outfit that runs the LMP programme in Germany. Rally legend Tommi Makinen was given the job instead, and the team has been based out of his barn in Finland since. The confidence put in him paid off quickly with them winning in only their second event in Sweden. They have quickly become one of the most competitive teams, crowned by winning the manufacturers title in 2018. An eclectic stable of drivers and a fast but somewhat frail car makes this an exiting team to follow. It also seems to enjoy strong personal support by Toyota CEO and heir Akio Toyoda. M-Sport  M-Sport is the chronically underfunded privateer running Fords. They used to be the Ford factory team until 2012, and languished in the following years. When VW pulled out of rally following the 2016 season, team boss Malcom Wilson reportedly mortgaged his house to secure their champion Sebastian Ogier. It immediately paid off and M-Sport secured the drivers title twice and the manufactures title once in the past two seasons. With their in-house prodigy Ott Tanak leaving for Toyota last year, and Ogier going to Citroen this year, I fear they will return to mediocracy, but I’d love to be proven wrong Citroen  Citroen went from being one of the most dominant teams ever, to pretty poo poo since Loeb left. They put all their faith in Kris Meeke as their lead driver even when they had the chance to grab any of the VW drivers two years back, only to fire him mid-season last year. They were the only team not to win a rally last year. Now they have lured Ogier back, and will probably be a force to be reconed with from that alone Select Drivers Sebasitian Ogier Co driver: Julien Ingrassia Team: Citroen Has won the past six drivers world championships. First with the dominant VW team, then with the underdog M-Sport team. He will move to the underdog Citroen team this year to try to further his legacy. Unquestionably the best driver of the current generation, but his driving style is quite lairy and fun to watch. Thierry Neuville Co driver: Nicolas Gilsoul Team: Hyundai The perennial runner up. He has finished second 5 times in the championship but never won. Although he is fast and seemingly much tidier than Ogier, he makes a few too many mistakes across a season to truly challenge him. Maybe this year will be it? Ott Tanak Co driver: Martin Järveoja Team: Toyota The M-Sport wonderchild moved to Toyota before the 2018 season, and immediately positioned himself as their #1 driver. His Toyota had one too many reliability issues in the early season last year for him to be in serious contention for the championship, but he was extremely fast after the summer break to drag himself back into contention. With the Toyota getting ever better, and Ogier having to adapt to a new team, this might just be his year. Kris Meeke Co driver Sebastian Marshall Team: Toyota Collin McRae’s spiritual successor. His win or crash altitude didn’t endear him to his previous employers Citroen, but he is hugely fun to watch. Toyota has taken him on for this season Jari Matti Latvalla Co driver: Miikka Anttila Team: Toyota The other perennial runner up. As Ogiers team mate at VW, he was always that little bit behind, and by his own admission it took a toll on him mentally. Now his new teammate Ott Tanak is upstaging him as well. He is the most experienced driver in the field, and still has the speed to win rallies though. Andreas Mikkelsen Co driver: Anders Jaeger Team: Hyundai Was without a job when VW folded two years ago but was taken in by Hyundai as a full-time driver. He had an awful last season with freak accidents and poor reliability. Nonetheless, he will have to improve to keep his drive. Sebastien Loeb Co Driver: Daniel Elena Team: Hyundai The other dominant Sebastian having a record 9 driver titles under his belt. He retired from full time rally in 2012 and has only attended select events since. Now that his rallycross team has folded, he might be a more frequent fixture. Still has the speed to win events. How to watch All stages are now streamed live on the WRC+ paid streaming service. Its pretty good if fairly low bitrate and quality, but the events take place in the middle of nowhere, so nut sure how much one can expect. https://plus.wrc.com/en/?utm_source=wrc-com&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=livestages There are live text updates and timing on the WRC webpage. https://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/livetiming/page/4175----.html The youtube channel has short summaries and highlights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WERua1duBTU
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Jan 24, 2019 14:17
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harperdc posted:I will go drop this into the OP, if that's okay! Sure thing. My PC crashed before I could add driver photos, but now i cant be arsed
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Jan 24, 2019 14:41
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Hell yeah Ott and Meeke flying. How the hell do you get four glowing brake discs on ice?
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Jan 24, 2019 20:23
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Rally Sweden is on. The only propper winter rally on the calendar and IMO one of the top 3 events of the year. Super fast and spectacular. Me and my brother are going to watch it in person on Saturday and Sunday. It's my first live rally and I'm pretty drat stoked. https://plus.wrc.com https://www.redbull.com/int-en/tv/live/AP-1XV2K5W2W1W11/fia-world-rally-championship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9x7TEavZ0E
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Feb 14, 2019 20:16
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I'll follow it allthough i canceled my wrc+ subscription. There is no rally thread. The rally interest on SA seems very limited.
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Sep 13, 2019 09:41
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Rally owns, but it's not the greatest live spectator sport. I found that the free highlights and text updates work well enough for me. Also, holy poo poo those are some rough roads. Gonna be some breakage this weekend. Maybe an opportunity for M-Sport? Their car seems to have been the toughest these past years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bdzp4qXjQQ
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Sep 13, 2019 11:36
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The Wales rally is on this weekend. Mud, rain and trees for this classic rally. First service park super special starts in about 2 hours from this post, before the action gets going properly on Friday. There are only 3 events left with a spicy 3-way battle for the championship heating up. https://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/livecenter/page/4175----.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1pLIbKf0WA
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Oct 3, 2019 17:21
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| # ¿ Apr 19, 2024 11:40 |
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That C3 was a bridge too far even for him. Shame to loose a manufacturer, but they have been propper poo poo the last few years. This has been some silly season, and it ain't over yet.
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Nov 16, 2019 21:06
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