WRC WRC - 2015

minirab · Jan 26, 2015

Good stuff Steve, thanks!

Steve · Jan 26, 2015

Steve · Jan 26, 2015

Tenth and Power Stage win for Meeke (crash.net)

26 January 2015

Britain's Kris Meeke battled back to secure tenth place and win the Power Stage on Rallye Monte Carlo last weekend, the 2015 WRC season opener.

Meeke had been running fourth until around halfway through SS8, the final test on Friday, when he slid wide and went off into a ditch. He was unable to re-join and had to retire from the leg.

That dropped him to 21st, but under Rally 2 he came back, winning three stages – including the final one – to leave with four points on the board, one for tenth place and three bonus points for the Power Stage win.

“The aim was to try and score some points in the Power Stage in order to end the rally on a high,” Meeke said.

“I managed the tyres on SS14 [the penultimate test]. That undoubtedly helped me to keep a 0.2-second gap at the end of the last stage.”

“I won a few stages this weekend and we were quick,” he added. “So that is a very pleasing point, because it means we clearly have the speed to compete.”

Speaking about his off in SS8 - the same test that claimed team-mate Sebastien Loeb - Meeke explained that he was unable continue as the incident left his DS 3 WRC with damaged suspension.

“In the middle of SS8, I slid wide on a fast left-hand corner. The car went sideways. I tried to steer into the skid to correct the trajectory, but we ended up in a ditch where we hit a small tree," he recalled. "We were unable to get away again because the rear suspension was broke."

So what is his verdict on the weekend overall?

“It has been an event of promise but also frustration,” he summarised on his official website. “Of course Friday's incident was disappointing, and it cost us the chance of a really good fight and finish. After that, we showed good times against Sebastien [Loeb], and it is great to get those Power Stage points – but I want to get results this year too.”
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Steve · Jan 26, 2015

Final stage (L) and overall results (R), top 15.

Steve · Jan 26, 2015

If these official summaries bore you, click this one anyway and jump to 3:14 for a bit of fun.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2GgG3u28lI"]The Race - 2015 WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Jan 26, 2015

Looks like this is at the awards ceremony. Ogier and Ingrassia brought gifts for Prince Albert's new twins.

Steve · Jan 27, 2015

Hey, Toyota, please make up your mind(s)!

Toyota rejoining the WRC? (iRallylive.com)

27.01.2015 11:56

It has been one of the most hotly-debated rumours in recent months; the return of Toyota to the FIA World Rally Championship. It now seems that by the end of this week, the rumour will either be confirmed or dispelled for good â€“ or for at least, a few months.

First there was the rally version of the Toyota GT86. Then there was a four-wheel drive version of that car. Then there was a Toyota Yaris â€˜World Rally Carâ€™.

The first two were â€˜officiallyâ€™ recognised, with Toyota President Akio Toyoda personally witnessing and then driving the four-wheel drive version at Rally Finland last year, effectively endorsing the car prepared and run by Tommi Makinen Racing.

Since then, there has been volumes of video on the internet of the Yaris â€˜WRCâ€™, prepared by Toyota Motorsport GmbH, testing on a variety of surfaces. However, Toyota itself, officially, has refused to be drawn on the nature of the car although various sources have reported interest and the involvement of Toyota itself in forward planning for the future of the WRC.

However, it now seems that there may be some clarification after all. Rumours â€“ again â€“ began circulating late last week, as Rally Monte Carlo was taking place, that there would be an announcement made in Japan on Friday.

Toyota has subsequently confirmed that there will be a live press conference in Japan on Friday to announce its motorsport plans. In particular, this notes that it will be â€œconcerning its participation in and support of motorsports activities in 2015.â€

It could be the rally rumour-mill is jumping the gun a bit â€“ it seems there is little chance of Toyota joining the WRC this year. They may, of course, speak about future plans, which appear to revolve around their arrival in 2017, when the technical regulations of the WRC change.

However, something else to bear in mind is yesterdayâ€™s announcement, by Toyota, that the specification of the GT86 CS-R3 car â€“ the two-wheel drive version of the coupes - has been finalized. According to the manufacturer, it has â€œâ€¦ moved closer to its full-blooded rally competition later this yearâ€¦â€.

It could be that Fridayâ€™s announcement will centre on this category, as the GT86 CS-R3 will be homologated to FIA R3 regulations at the start of July and will then be eligible for European and WRC events, according to the announcement.

Hopefully, Fridayâ€™s conference will shed more light on the matter.
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Crashton · Jan 27, 2015

I'd love to see Toyota's back on the stages. :fingerscrossed:

RallyMini370 · Jan 27, 2015

I have WRC+ which is about $6 a month. I was watching the Monte today but I knew before the Monte Robert was going to crash! WRC needs Robert and Ken for the crashes! hahaha

I've seen a lot of stuff on the Yaris WRC testing , some stuff on an Audi A3 WRC and Mitsubishi http://www.carthrottle.com/post/this-evo-xengined-mirage-signals-mitsubishi-return-to-the-wrc/

Crashton · Jan 27, 2015

Yes Robert crashes, but he's hella fast & wins stages. I feel one day Robert will put it all together & be on the podium. Not sure which step. Ken just crashes.

Steve · Jan 28, 2015

Loeb and Ogier praise Kubica's pace (racer.com)

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

World Rally champions Sebastien Ogier and Sebastien Loeb have praised Robert Kubica's speed during last week's Monte Carlo Rally.

The Polish ex-Formula 1 driver posted the second highest number of fastest times in the French Alps and stunned the WRC fraternity with his ability to come to terms with Pirelli tires after just two days of testing.

Kubica's rally was spoiled when he went off the road on the first stage and a subsequent electrical fault forced him out on the road section back to Gap. But after rejoining he took a string of stage wins, including topping the rally's longest stage by 33 seconds.

Ogier said: "He did a good job, he was fast in a lot of the stages and showed he is capable of the fight. But we all know that about Robert, he is really one of the best drivers around."

Loeb noted that Kubica was directly comparable to Ogier as they were running in similar road positions under this year's regulations, when Rally2 returnees start just before the championship leaders.

"Robert was good – I was impressed with him," said Loeb. "He was close to Seb [Ogier] on the road and set some really good times from this position."

Kubica (LEFT) admitted his pace had taken him by surprise.

"If somebody had told me two or three weeks ago that I would be able to go so fast on the Monte Carlo Rally then I wouldn't have believed it," he said.

BRAKE DRAMA ENDED RALLY

Kubica's rally ended when a brake problem caused him to crash into a wall after the finish of the penultimate stage.

"That was very strange," he said. "We had changed pads and discs at the service and, OK, there was some smoke in the first stage, but you expect this from the material. But then after we did the long downhill section of the stage, the pedal went to the floor.

"We had no warning , no [pad] knock-off, long pedal or anything like that. In the end, I could only take the handbrake to try to slow us down."
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Steve · Jan 28, 2015

Holy crap, 600 competitors?!?!

Gotta say, though I'd love to go to a modern WRC rally one of these days I'd actually rather see this one.

And you thought last weekend’s Monte was full-on… (iRallylive.com)

28.01.2015 10:14

Last weekend’s Rallye Monte Carlo was a superb opening to the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship; drama, excitement, happiness and tragedy in equal measures.

However, this weekend will see an even bigger show descend on the principality, with the 18th Rallye Monte Carlo Historique, which starts today and ends next Wednesday, 4 February.

The event was created to allow owners and drivers of classic and historic rally cars the opportunity to take part in perhaps the most famous rally of all and is open to cars which competed on the event between 1955 and 1980.

More than 600 participants from 20 countries are taking part, from 279 French competitors to one from Malta in 43 brands of car, ranging from 53 Porsches to a single Panhard.

The list of drivers also contains some familiar names; Former Monte winner Jean Ragnotti, Michelin-starred restaurant owners Michel Chabran and Michel Rostang, former WRC co-driver and Wales Rally GB Clerk of the Course Fred Gallagher and multiple world co-driver champion, Daniel Elena.

Today, cars begin leaving Glasgow in Scotland while tomorrow, they leave Copenhagen and on Friday, cars depart Turin, Barcelona and Reims to head towards on Monaco for the event itself.

Once all competitors are on mainland France, there is a single, prologue regularity ‘stage’ on the final stretch to Monaco before the first full day of activity on Sunday 1 February. They will ‘contest’ five stages on their way to an overnight in Gap before four more stages and another night in Gap, on Monday night.

Tuesday see more stages as they head back to Monaco while Wednesday sees the final day of competition, culminating in a run over the world-famous Col de Turini stage. However, unlike the version used on the last day of the WRC event just over a week earlier, this one runs to a shade over 53Km.
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Steve · Jan 28, 2015

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08yqtUcFRvI"]LOEB Monte CRASH Ã¢â‚¬â€ 3 ANGLES | Crazy Leo edit - YouTube[/ame]

RallyMini370 · Jan 29, 2015

Yes I hope Robert can do it one day, I suppose if you look back Colin was pretty much the same! Plenty of crashes before he found his pace. Ken ,as you say just has a pace for crashing! I think if Ken could do the stages at high speed about 5 times to practice he would be fast...haha

Crashton · Jan 29, 2015

Yes like his youtube vids. Looking at all the tire marks it looks like he practices for a week.

Colin was that way & so was Henri Toivonen. Both were fast right out of the gate, but it took a while, then they became great ones. RIP guys....

minirab · Jan 29, 2015

For me, especially Toivonen. I can still see it.

Steve · Jan 30, 2015

Steve said: ↑

Hey, Toyota, please make up your mind(s)!
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Thank you, Mr. Toyoda, this will do nicely.

Toyota back to the WRC (MaxRally.com)

by Giles Wade / 30th January 2015

Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda has confirmed the Japanese firmâ€™s return to the World Rally Championship in 2017.

At a Tokyo press conference today, Toyoda said the time had come to answer the fansâ€™ calls â€“ but he added it would not be a return, but a rebirth of Toyota in the WRC.

The Toyota Yaris WRC â€“ the car which will form the basis of the firmâ€™s return in 2017 â€“ was shown in public for the first time in Tokyo.

Toyoda said: â€œWe decided to return to the WRC and we plan to start competition again in 2017.

â€œLast time we competed in 1999, that makes me think we are not announcing a returnâ€¦ but perhaps a start. We must begin again from scratch and carefully prepare both team and cars.â€

The team and cars will be prepared out of Cologne at Toyota Motorsport GmbH.
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Steve · Jan 30, 2015

I would maybe put this in the generic Rally Videos thread but since someone mentioned Ken Block here's an exception. For me the video is a bit too frenetic with the short rapid cuts between all the different cameras but it's still fair (and I'm pretty sure it hasn't been posted yet on M/A).

Valentino Rossi & Ken Block take on the world famous Monza Rally

One is a nine-times MotoGP world champion, the other a rally legend with a passion for all things fast, and together they wowed the crowds at the 2014 Monza Rally Show. Both Valentino Rossi and Ken Block took their considerable skills to the famous Italian circuit back in November and we decided that we wanted to get a closer look at how they do it. We hooked up our camera’s to get as close as you’ll ever get to being in the car, and the result is awesome. Two insanely talented drivers, one testing course and a bunch of cameras on the inside of their cars. Enjoy.
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[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOVwbG-9gFw"]Valentino Rossi & Ken Block take on the world famous Monza Rally - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Jan 30, 2015

Back to the Monte, here's a bit of Bob Kubica pedaling fast.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-dv3ntUG-Y"]Robert Kubica Maximum Attack - Rallye Monte Carlo 2015 [HD] - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Jan 30, 2015

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3ZW1m4z-FA"]Creating the Yaris WRC - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY8A4m0g5aw"]Morizo Test Drives Toyota Yaris WRC - YouTube[/ame]

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