It may be a little early to move on to the next rally since it doesn't start for a couple weeks (20 - 23 Oct), but I think this article makes an excellent beginning. MINI WRC Team Going for First in Spain. (minimotorsport.com)
Good read. They want Dani to climb another step on the podium and all they want poor Kris to do is finish. Talk about pressure. :lol: Jim
I think anyone who can run down a rally stage going full tilt boogie can take the pressure. Hopefully all the stars will align & they will take the top 2 spots.
I felt pretty bad at seeing Kris getting smashed up in France, but he did own up to his mistake and seemed to take it as a learning experience. I wish both of them the best of luck!
Watching the last couple rallies I got the impression Meeke is so competitive that he always pushes as hard as he thinks he needs to get to the very front. A bit too competitive though, pushing unrealistically past his limits every time, trying to win every rally. That's good, as long as it doesn't cause you to retire from every event. How does it go? "To finish first, you must first finish." He needs more experience in a WRC car (this is his first year). The folks at Prodrive knew this and expected it to be a learning year for him. My guess is they figured they could happily live with that since 1) they saw he had the competitive spirit and raw talent to do well once acclimatized, and 2) it's only a development year for the team/car anyway so didn't need him to finish on or near the podium this year. Looks like he's decided to stop trying to win and push more realistically for the rest of the year. That's not easy for someone as ultra competitive as he is...can't wait to see how this goes. Meeke plans new approach (wrc.com)
I agree with you on this Steve. I am new to the WRC, but I get the impression that Loeb is a real risk taker and manages to pull it off most of the time. The "full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes" kind of driving. Kris is bit the same way, but lacks the experience to pull it off. If he settles down and gets the feel of the WRC, which is new to him, he could be a real up and rising star, down the road. The desire is clearly there. Jim Jim
Wrc.com preview: Rally de Espana (wrc.com) That's page 1, further analysis and a few other details here.
With one stage "under the cover of darkness", we might get to see those four driving lights attached to the car for the first time. Did I mention I think driving lights are cool? Jim
Form what I've read it may actually be 2 stages. Part of their testing today is supposed to be after dark, with the lights. I hope to find some cockpit video later.
I hope Dani does not let the pressure of "home town driver" get to him. I seems to have the experience to deal with it, I hope. :fingerscrossed: Jim
Hope they are not over focusing on a win, sometimes that will guarantee the wheels to come off.... Race the circuit not the podium, keep doing what you have been doing and the victory might be there in the end!! Then think about it.... Good luck!!!
You are so right, Mark. Every time I practice hard and plan to impress my instructor at the next lesson, I end up looking like a complete idiot. :lol: Jim