WRC Most liked posts in thread: WRC 2014

Dave.0 · Aug 28, 2014

Maybe they do not have lawyers in Latvala so they do not have to deal with silly lawsuits.

Steve · Sep 11, 2014

So, this started today.

Coates Hire Rally Australia (WRC.com)

01 Jan 2014

Info
Coates Hire Rally Australia
Start Date: 11.09.2014
End Date: 14.09.2014
Timezone: UTC 10
Category: WRC3
WRC2
WRC
Stages: 20 (319.58 km)
Distance: 946.54 km
Servicepark: Coffs Harbour
Website: Home - Coates Hire Rally Australia 2014

Route

Based in Coffs Harbour, almost halfway between Sydney and Brisbane on the New South Wales coast.
Stages held over a mix of shire roads, in public use throughout the year, and private tracks.
Compact route which rarely strays more than 35km from Coffs Harbour service park.
After a Thursday evening town centre start ceremony, Friday and Saturday’s route heads south.
Friday’s itinerary includes the new Hydes Creek test while Saturday’s highlights is two passes over the 49.37km Nambucca, one of the longest stages of the season.
The final day journeys north of Coffs Harbour.

Challenge

A mix of hard base roads, some tight and twisty and others fast and flowing.
Shire roads are lined by trees close to the edge in many places.
Many stages travel through dense rainforest and the low angle of the sun in mornings and evenings can create a ‘strobe’ effect as it flashes through the branches.

Car spec

Gravel suspension.
Hard compound tyres with soft options also available in case of rain.

History

Australia hosted WRC from 1989 to 2006 in the west coast city of Perth.
Langley Park super special stage next to Swan River provided the template for such tests.
Won the accolade for the best rally three times in the late 1990s.
The rally moved to the east coast in New South Wales in 2009 and two years later was relocated to Coffs Harbour in 2011.

What’s new for 2014

New mixed surface super special stage which will be run in darkness at the end of Friday and Saturday’s action.
Service park switches to the Cex Coffs International Stadium, which adjoins the super special stage.

Don’t miss

Oscar winning actor Russell Crowe. He owns a cattle farm just outside Coffs Harbour which contains a chapel where he was married in 2011.
Coffs Harbour is the centre of Australia’s banana industry and the Big Banana is its biggest tourist attraction. It hosts a three-storey high inflatable waterslide, which is the biggest in the world, and a walk though banana. Honestly….
Click to expand...

MiniCamaro · Sep 14, 2014

Steve said: ↑

Ouch, that's 1 to the hinkelsteins...

Crash SS14 Bryan Bouffier/ ADAC Rallye Deutschland 2014 - YouTube
Click to expand...

Wow, those were some pretty randomly placed spikes! I like that stage.

Steve · Sep 14, 2014

Ogier heads VW 1-2-3 in Australia (WRC.com)

14 Sep 2014

SÃ©bastien Ogier led Volkswagen’s first podium clean sweep at Coates Hire Rally Australia as the German squad secured its second consecutive FIA World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title.

The Frenchman held off Jari-Matti Latvala in a tense final leg to win the three-day gravel event in New South Wales by 6.8sec in a Polo R. Andreas Mikkelsen completed the podium lockout in third, a further 1min 11.2sec behind.

Ogier’s 22nd career win, and his sixth of the season, moved him closer to a second consecutive drivers’ title. He leads Latvala by 50 points with three rounds remaining and could secure the crown at his home rally next month.

Volkswagen’s dominance was emphasised by the fact that the manufacturers’ title has not been decided so early in the season since 1989.

Ogier acknowledged his victory was not achieved with the same dominance as his 2013 win.

“This year it wasn’t possible to have that. Jari-Matti was strong but today I knew that without mistakes I would be OK. I tried to stay concentrated, pushing when it was clean and being more cautious in the tricky parts. It wasn’t a big winning margin but enough to win the rally and another crucial step towards winning the title,” he said.

Latvala held a slender lead until the pendulum swung Ogier’s way on Saturday afternoon. Although rain was forecast, he opted for harder compound Michelin tyres than Latvala.

The gamble worked as the rain stayed away and Latvala’s tyres overheated in the warm weather. Ogier turned a four second deficit into a nine second advantage in just one stage, a blow from which Latvala could not recover.

Mikkelsen fought tooth and nail with Kris Meeke for the final podium place. But after Meeke was penalised more than a minute on Saturday night for cutting a corner illegally, the Norwegian cruised to his fourth podium of the year.

The penalty dropped Meeke’s Citroen DS3 behind Mikko Hirvonen, but the Northern Ireland driver moved back into fourth to head the Finn’s Ford Fiesta RS by 9.6sec.

Hayden Paddon matched a career-best sixth in a Hyundai i20. He dueled with Mads Ã˜stberg until the Norwegian’s DS3 suffered broken rear right suspension in the penultimate stage and dropped off the leaderboard.

Thierry Neuville was seventh, having dropped time in the first day with broken suspension on his i20, ahead of Elfyn Evans.

Robert Kubica was ninth, despite losing more than a minute after crashing when distracted by a cockpit warning light, and Chris Atkinson completed the leaderboard in 10th.
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papa-j · Sep 27, 2014

Nice. Inspiring teamwork.

Steve · Sep 27, 2014

I thought it looked quick so I checked and that was one of the 3 stages Meeke won.

minirab · Sep 28, 2014

More concentration from both of them than I could ever muster.

Crashton · Sep 28, 2014

True teamwork at its finest.

Steve · Oct 3, 2014

Rough start for Mr. Ogier.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAgt9PQUorY"]Leg 1 - 2014 WRC Rallye de France - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

MAXRALLY Turbo Tweeet (France, Friday)

by Giles Wade / 3rd October 2014

Rallye de France is underway and day oneâ€™s done. Hereâ€™s our take in 140 words.

Sebastien Ogierâ€™s hopes of sealing a second successive world title in Strasbourg were dealt what looks to be fatal blow when he suffered a second-stage gearbox sensor failure. His Polo R WRCâ€™s engine cut out intermittently, costing him four minutes. Another four went south when his co-driver Julien Ingrassia checked him into a stage four minutes early by mistake. Ogierâ€™s team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala finished the day first and second, 8.2 seconds apart and 14.9 up on Citroenâ€™s Kris Meeke, who ended Friday on the provisional podium. Thierry Neuvilleâ€™s hopes of taking a third successive asphalt rally win were hit hard by an engine fault which dropped him down the order on the opening loop. Fellow i20 WRC driver Dani Sordo upheld Hyundai honour in fourth. Mads Ostberg and Mikko Hirvonen are fifth and sixth, split by just a second.
Click to expand...

Steve · Oct 6, 2014

MAXRALLY Turbo Tweeeet (France Sunday) (MaxRally.com)

by Giles Wade / 5th October 2014

As the WRC circus prepares to leave Strasbourg for another year, hereâ€™s what happened on the final day in Alsace in 140 words.

Jari-Matti Latvala bagged his first WRC win on asphalt as three points on the powerstage for Sebastien Ogier means the world champâ€™s advantage over his Volkswagen team-mate is 27 points with two rounds remaining. Andreas Mikkelsen (VW) and Kris Meeke (Citroen) completed the podium in second and third respectively but there was late woe for Robert Kubica when the Pole crashed out of a WRC-best fourth place on the final test. The M-Sport man had relegated Dani Sordo to fifth by winning Sundayâ€™s opener but his roll on stage 18 allowed Sordo to pick up the pieces in his works Hyundai. Quentin Gilbert beat Bernardo Sousa by eight seconds in WRC2 with Alastair Fisher taking the Junior WRC win and Stephane Lefebvre the title. Romain Dumas won RGT from Francois Delecour who restarted on day three after retiring on Saturday.
Click to expand...

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePf5Fsk08_I"]The race - 2014 WRC Rallye de France - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Oct 6, 2014

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdAIVwBGvQY"]WRC Rallye de France-Alsace Neuville on the limit - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eytDhBFtJ0"]Rallye de France WRC 2014 - Mikkelsen On The Limit !! - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Oct 6, 2014

Robert Kubica: â€˜I misjudged the gripâ€™ (WRC.com)

06 Oct 2014

Robert Kubica has blamed himself for the shock final stage crash at Rallye de France - Alsace that cost him fourth place and the best WRC result of his career.

The Pole began the decisive 19km Power Stage with an 11 second lead over Hyundaiâ€™s Dani Sordo, but crashed his Fiesta RS close to the start.

Kubica looked set to achieve his pre-rally goal of fourth when he moved ahead of Sordo on Sundayâ€™s opening stage, with fastest time through the ForÃªt de La Petite Pierre test.

But on the rallyâ€™s penultimate stage, the repeat of ForÃªt de La Petite Pierre, he was lucky to escape a high-speed moment when his car slipped off the road in sixth gear.

He began the Power Stage looking to improve on his morning time, but rolled into a ditch on a right-hand corner 1.8km in.

Kubica said: â€œI misjudged the grip on a wet part of the stage. On the previous pass I thought I was a bit too cautious there. Unfortunately on the second pass there was a lot of dirt on the Tarmac and I didn't make it.

â€œI am very sorry because of the chance I have lost this weekend. Gaining experience in a new sport sometimes gets frustrating."

Kubica and his co-driver Maciek Szczepaniak were uninjured in the accident. â€œWe are both fine, the speed was not all that high,â€ Szczepaniak told wrc.com. "After three days of tough fighting to lose on the last stage is really disappointing. But to win, first you have to be at the finish â€“ and we didnâ€™t make it.

"We put all our efforts into performing well here and after 17 stages we had managed to do that. Unfortunately luck was not with us on the last one.â€

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Steve · Oct 23, 2014

Spain this weekend.

RallyRACC-Rally de Espana (WRC.com)

Info

RallyRACC-Rally de Espana
Start Date: 23.10.2014
End Date: 26.10.2014
Timezone: UTC 2
Category: WRC3
WRC2
WRC
Stages: 15 (372,00km)
Servicepark: Costa Daurada, Salou
Website: www.rallyracc.com

Route

Costa Daurada holiday resort of Salou, south of Barcelona, is the host town.
Both gravel and asphalt tests held in the hills of Tarragona.
It opens on Thursday night with a street stage in the MontjuÃ¯c area of Barcelona, on roads that hosted the Spanish Grand Prix F1 race on four occasions.
Fridayâ€™s opening leg is predominantly gravel, but with some asphalt in the long Terra Alta test.
The second and third legs are entirely asphalt.
Saturdayâ€™s 50km Escaladei stage celebrates the rallyâ€™s 50th edition. It is the longest test in the eventâ€™s history and features some roads not used since 2002.
Short spectator-friendly test runs along Salou seafront through the town centre.

Challenge

Only mixed surface round of the season.
Two days of asphalt are blended with a day of primarily gravel stages, but which also contains asphalt sections.
Teams must convert their cars from gravel to asphalt specification after the opening leg in a longer than usual evening service.
Drivers must quickly adapt their driving style to an overnight change in road surface.
Fast, smooth sweeping asphalt is comparable to a race circuit in its characteristics.

Car spec

Both asphalt and gravel set-up required for the mixed surface roads.
Different tyres are required for asphalt and gravel.
Asphalt roads are abrasive and if temperatures are hot, drivers must manage tyre wear carefully.

History

First run in 1957 and included in the European Championship from 1975.
Entered the WRC in 1991 when it was based on the Costa Brava in Lloret de Mar.
Relocated to Salou in 2002 and after being a pure asphalt event, it developed into a mixed surface event in 2010.
SÃ©bastien Loeb dominated the rally, winning every year between 2005 and 2012.

Whatâ€™s new for 2014

The gravel roads are in the opening leg rather than the final day as in 2013.
Curtain-raising street stage in Barcelona on Thursday evening.
Historic rally cars will be displayed in the centre of Salou on Friday before being driven through all Saturday and Sundayâ€™s stages between the two passes of the competitors.
Click to expand...

Steve · Oct 24, 2014

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5eEL_eOcYw"]Leg 1 - 2014 WRC Rally de Espana - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

Crashton · Nov 4, 2014

Nice commercial, lots of good action. I'm happy with my Sandisk cards. :wink:

Steve · Nov 13, 2014

Here we go, last rally of the year.

Wales Rally GB (WRC.com)

Info

Wales Rally GB
Start Date: 13.11.2014
End Date: 16.11.2014
Category: WRC3
WRC2
WRC
JWRC
Stages: 23 (309.86 km)
Distance: 1354.99 km
Website: Wales Rally GB | Official Site : Homepage

Route

Revised format with a greater emphasis on north Wales.
Fridayâ€™s opening leg mixes the second and third days from 2013, taking in classic central Wales roads in Dyfi, Gartheiniog and Hafren Forests.
It contains almost half the rallyâ€™s competitive distance with only a 15-minute remote service.
Saturdayâ€™s action is closer to the Deeside service park. Most roads are familiar from last year but many will be used in the opposite direction. A short Sunday leg concludes the season.
Short fan-friendly parkland stages are included on Saturday and Sunday, with Saturdayâ€™s Chirk Castle stage on asphalt.

Challenge

Fast, tree-lined forest tracks are not technically difficult, but made difficult by muddy and slippery conditions.
Unpredictable weather can bring, rain, snow, ice and fog.
Uncertain grip as isolated patches of mud or ice can trap the unwary.
Logs piled high close to the edge of roads must be avoided at all costs.

Car spec

Gravel suspension.
Soft compound tyres essential in cold, wet conditions.
Studded tyres are banned â€“ even in extreme winter conditions.

History

Founded in 1932, 367 crews entered the inaugural Royal Automobile Club Rally.
Introduction of forest roads in 1960 transformed the rally into what we know today.
Route formerly included loops around England, Scotland and Wales but the rally has been based solely in Wales since 2000.
Cardiffâ€™s Millennium Stadium hosted the WRCâ€™s first indoor stage in 2005.

Whatâ€™s new for 2014

Three days of competition after opening Thursday evening leg is axed.
Thursday night ceremonial start moved from Conwy to Colwyn Bay.
More driving in the dark as late Saturday afternoon tests increases night-time distance from 24km to 36km.

Donâ€™t miss

The final stage finish of the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship. The 10.59km Brenig test, which has never been used in the rally, ends with a glorious backdrop overlooking Lake Brenig. Itâ€™s the live TV Power Stage and the footage will be a match for anywhere else in the championship.
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[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERZ47tNZ_j8"]Shakedown - 2014 WRC Wales Rally GB - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Nov 14, 2014

Ogier heads Latvala in Rally GB duel (WRC.com)

14 NOV 2014

SÃ©bastien Ogier held a slender lead over Jari-Matti Latvala after the Volkswagen duo dominated Fridayâ€™s slippery opening leg at Wales Rally GB.

Both claimed four stage wins and although Ogier was never headed, he was unable to shake off his Polo R colleague and led by 6.6sec after eight muddy forest speed tests covering 145km in mid-Wales.

The newly-crowned world champion won three of the four morning tests to lead by 9.5sec at the mid-leg service in Newtown, but Latvala took the afternoon honours as the polished surface made conditions even more slippery.

â€œIt was difficult to drive this morning but I really enjoyed the stages,â€ said Ogier. â€œThis afternoon was just a question of surviving. Conditions were slippery and I was fighting the car all the way,â€ he said.

Ogier misjudged a hairpin on the afternoonâ€™s opening stage while Latvala admitted he was lucky not to roll after hitting a hole in the first test.

Mads Ã˜stberg and Mikko Hirvonen, tackling his last rally before retirement, fought over third for most of the day. The Norwegian held the advantage this morning but Hirvonen moved ahead to finish 1min 07.2sec off the lead in his Ford Fiesta RS.

Ã˜stberg became increasingly frustrated with the handling of his Citroen DS3, and dropped to fifth in the final stage. Kris Meeke benefited from his team-mateâ€™s struggles to climb to fourth, despite a 10sec penalty for a jump start in the opening stage.

He was 7.7sec behind Hirvonen and 0.7sec ahead of Ã˜stberg, despite twice making a mistake at the same hairpin.

Thierry Neuville was sixth in a Hyundai i20, the Belgian one of many drivers to lose time at a tight hairpin in the final stage. Elfyn Evans, Ott TÃ¤nak, Henning Solberg and Martin Prokop completed the leaderboard, all in Fiesta RS cars.

Solberg lost time with a morning misfire while Prokop spun into a ditch in the final stage.

Andreas Mikkelsen retired his Polo R with broken suspension after hitting a bank while in second and Juho HÃ¤nninen went out after going off.

Robert Kubica survived a brush with a bank, a spin and an overshoot to lie 11th, while power steering problems and front differential issues delayed Hayden Paddonâ€™s i20 in 12th.

Tomorrowâ€™s second leg comprises nine more stages covering 113.74km. There are two identical loops of four tests in north Wales, split by a short fan-friendly stage at Chirk Castle.
Click to expand...

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfW6E6po2Pw"]Leg 1 - 2014 WRC Wales Rally GB - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Nov 14, 2014

Kris Meeke trying hard.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FTCnGIhVp8"]Wales Rally GB 2014 Kris Meeke - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Nov 14, 2014

Some of the stages were a bit muddy.

Steve · Nov 14, 2014

Latvala also pushing hard.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZErcYblygA"]Jari-Matti Latvala almost crashing on SS2 Wales Rally GB ! On the limit with VW Polo WRC - YouTube[/ame]

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