For reference/contrast, here's Araujo's MINI. And here's a good view of the livery that came with Campana's sponsorship.
In the above picture Dani is wearing a Red Bull ball cap and looks to be wearing the Red Bull helmet on course. Could it be that they kept Dani because he got his own, personal sponsorship and if he hadn't they would have auctioned off his ride too? Jim
Jim there is nothing unusual about a driver bringing sponsorship with him. Matter fact in places like Grand Am a very large number of the drivers are actually writing a check for the ride, albeit if he is lucky, it will be shared with a real pro driver. Drivers today need to or have to go out and pitch themselves for sponsorship, sponsorship that they can take with them as their on track successes grow. Do you think Dale Jr has a ride at Hendricks Motorsports because of his driving abilities alone or because of his ability to attrack sponsorships due to his name recognition?
I understand that Mark, as it is the way of the world, but last season Dani did not wear that helmet, which is why I was asking. It is also interesting that Red Bull and Monster, both makers of power drinks, seem to have plots of money. Not sure what that says for our society today. :lol: Jim
No kidding, we were down at the A2 Wind Tunnel in Mooresville Thursday and Kyle Bush has a shop next to it. Monster Energy was doing a fan appreciation day so they had everything from the Baja stuff to the motorcycle guys there, which were doing stunts on these huge ramps!!! Money was everywhere..... That said; if Dani, or anyone else on the team for that matter, can bring more sponsorship/money to the table I say embrace it. It is more money for Prodrive to use in making the MINI even more competitive after all!!
Hey Jim, I knew a farmer with plots of money. Too bad he was shut down by the county sheriff before I could ask him to sponsor my return to competitive rallying. :frown2:
Stage 14 not so friendly for the MINIs. Sordo finished 7th, 8th Campana, 11th Araujo, 20th Nobre. SS14: Hirvonen closes on Solberg (wrc.com)
Sordo still keeping up more or less but Solberg is edging closer... Sordo finished 4th, 6th Campana, 9th Araujo, 20th Nobre. That's two daylight stages done. Now a break before they run the same two stages in the dark. Once those are done it's just the power stage tomorrow morning to finish up the rally. SS15: Solberg fights back (wrc.com)
Video from yesterday: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4v75aDNVTs]Leg 3 Loeb Still leads - 2012 Rallye Monte-Carlo - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]
Petter still has what it takes. I want Dani & MINI to beat him, but I'd be happy seeing Petter have a strong finish.
The first of two night stages (#16) is underway. Solberg flew thru 2sec faster than Loeb and should hold 1st place on the stage. He also took another 9sec from Sordo, that gap is now down to 31sec. Here's Carlos' view before the night stages began. Del Barrio: strong Saturday night is vital (wrc.com)
Stage 16 finish: 4th Sordo, 6th Campana, 7th (tied with Novikov) Araujo, 18th Nobre. Standings: 1 - Loeb, 2 - Sordo (+2min 38sec), 3 - Solberg (+3min 9sec), 7 - Campana, 10 - Araujo, 20 - Nobre. SS16: Solberg closes on Sordo (wrc.com)
Only 7 cars thru Stage 17 so far but Solberg, currently listed as the stage leader, stole another 12 sec from Sordo. :eek6:
Stage 17: Interestingly Campana finished 4th, 1.9sec ahead of 5th Sordo. Araujo tied Prokop for 7th which is also interesting because Araujo trails Prokop by only 2.9sec overall. Overall standings with only the 5.16km Power Stage to go tomorrow: 1 - Loeb, 2 - Sordo (+2min 42sec), 3 - P. Solberg (+3min), 7 - Campana, 10 - Araujo. Nobre finished the stage but it's too soon to know where he will be classified as there are still cars finishing with roughly similar times. SS17: Sordo holding on (wrc.com)
Why does it sound like Loeb's just out for a country drive whilst letting the boys battle it out from behind? Sordo best not get overconfident and start celebrating a second place finish to soon, that gap can disappear very quickly....