ss1 started last night. ss2 (1st proper stage) has already started this morning. This year should be better to watch. Few more big names to watch. Though none of them will have that extra speed to match the top 2-3lads. Still good to see new faces in it www.wrc.com
the only coverage of this is on dave on sunday night ? And there was me thinking Tott would make a difference to our viewing this year,useless. Does anybody know where i can watch day to day coverage?
overall after stage 4 1.loeb 2.hirvonen +4.1 3.sordo +6.0 4.latvala +18.0 5.ogier +34.4 6.gronholm +42.5 7.ostberg +54.6 8.H solberg +58.1 9.P solberg +58.6 10.wilsom +1:39.7
the gap is pretty much the same after ss6 between the top two.Sordo right behind them. Eamon Boland 40th +12.53.00 after stage 5
Eurosport isn't showing it this year I don't think? Motors TV are the only crowd showing it, asides from Dave I think.. So at the end of Day One: Hirvonen Loeb +6.2 Sordo +10.6 Latvala +31.7 Ogier +1.10.9 H Solberg +2.16.2 Ostberg +3.20.2 Wilson +3.21.1 Andersson +4.16.1 Tuohino +5.15.3 Mikkelsen +5.18.7 29th - Gronholm +13.38.3 45th - Eamon Boland +29.24.9 Apparently the snow is fairly sparse out there, good lot of gravel coming through!
Loeb taking the points for 2nd and not going to push any harder. Go on Mikko, get that oul Ford over that finish line SS18: I've stopped fighting, he's too strong here, says Loeb Defending World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb has conceded defeat in the battle for victory in Rally Sweden, saying his Ford rival Mikko Hirvonen is too strong in the conditions. Citroen C4 driver Loeb threw in the towel at the end of Sunday's second stage, the 23km Varmullsasen, after rally leader Hirvonen won the test in a time 7.3 seconds quicker. Trailing Hirvonen by 23.7sec overall with three more stages to run, Loeb said he would settle instead for 18 points and the runner-up place. "I decided to stop fighting," said Loeb. "There's no change. Even on the limit, when I do no mistakes, he's as fast as me. I prefer to try and finish second now. On this stage I make a few mistakes and had a few moments. He's too strong here." Hirvonen completed the stage before Loeb, but knew from the splits that he was up on the Frenchman's time. "We were ahead at halfway, but on the downhill section towards the end I didn't drive very well. We'll see how close he can get, but I was flat-out." Manufacturer works team drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Dani Sordo had trouble-free runs to the third and fourth quickest times, while Marcus Gronholm rounded off the top five on the stage. Stobart Ford team driver Matthew Wilson completed Sunday morning's loop of stages well cushioned in seventh after problems affected the driver chasing him for the position, Mads Ostberg. "From the first stage today the brakes packed up," said Mads. "It seems my bad luck will never stop." But a minute behind Ostberg, in ninth overall, a frustrated Petter Solberg wasn't too confident of catching up. "I have a problem too," he explained. "I'm not sure what it is but I can't get the power down, or lean on the chassis at all. I just don't know why." After a 30-minute service in Hagfors, crews will tackle the 10.49km Lesjofors stage before repeating Rammen and the last stage of the rally, Varmullsasen. World Rally Championship - News - SS18: I've stopped fighting, he's too strong here, says Loeb
Great result Mikko!!!! BREAKING NEWS: Hirvonen wins in Sweden! Ford Focus RS WRC driver Mikko Hirvonen got his quest for the 2010 World Rally Championship drivers' title off to the best possible start today by winning the opening round of the series, Rally Sweden. Hirvonen, team-leader of the BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team, took the lead on Friday and successfully fought off a two-day attack from defending champion Sebastien Loeb, who finished second, 42.3sec behind in a Citroen C4 WRC. Today's win was the 12th at World Championship level for the Finn, who lost the 2009 title fight by a single point to Loeb. Under the new WRC points system, Hirvonen opened his 2010 account with a maximum score of 25. After a careful approach through the final snow-covered stage, Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen leapt onto the roof of their car at he finish control to celebrate their win. "It's absolutely fantastic!" said Hirvonen. "And I'm really happy it's over after those last few stages; you can't imagine how nervous I was in there. It’s a perfect start to my year, I've never won the first round before, but after last season I've got one more year of experience. Now I plan to carry on like this. It’s a new game in Mexico and I can't wait to get started again." Having lost out to Hirvonen in a tyre gamble on Saturday afternoon, Loeb began Sunday's competition trailing by 16.1sec. But after failing to make a big impression on today's opening two stages, the Frenchman took the uncharacteristic decision to give up on the victory challenge after SS18, settling for second, and 18 championship points instead. "It’s been a tough weekend, and Mikko has done a perfect rally," said Loeb. "We made a little mistake yesterday, but even without it I don't know if I would have been able to beat him in the stages. He was strong and he deserves his victory. I did my best. There's nothing more to say." Third in Sweden, 33.1sec behind Loeb, was Hirvonen's team-mate, Jari-Matti Latvala, who started his season with a 15 points haul - helping to put Ford in the lead of the manufacturers' contest. "It's not been an easy weekend," said the Finn. "We were struggling on Friday, but the speed started to come right on Saturday afternoon. I'm really pleased to finish in this position on the first round of the season." Fourth went to Loeb's team-mate Dani Sordo. The Spaniard finished 1min 26.2sec behind Latvala, largely because of a silly mistake on Saturday when a blanking plate wasn't removed from the front of his car, causing its engine to overheat. But after an otherwise strong performance, Sordo put a brave face on the result. "Fourth place is not bad, but of course third would have been better," he said. "The first day was okay, then we made a mistake, but that's rally sometimes. It’s okay though, we need to look to the future now. And fourth place will give me a good start position in Mexico, where the others will be cleaning the road." More news and quotes to follow... World Rally Championship - News - BREAKING NEWS: Hirvonen wins in Sweden!
Watched this on Dave last night, a bit of a freak show with rich kids like Kimi and Markus playing about. Even Magnus the strongman was out in the snow... Actually surprised Markus did not do better, is he in for the whole season? Not even a mention of "proper" drivers like Henning and Ogier, who did really well. Roll on S2000 next year and some proper rallying with proper drivers...
Really lost intrest in the WRC last year and looks like it will continue this year. I watched it on Dave last night too and and nearly fell asleep. The only thing that kept me awake was the sound of my own teeth grinding at that c0ck of a presenter ruining what could have possibly been a good show. Let the rich kids play, helps boost the sport, Block in Mexico and onwards will help the image of the WRC. It needs all the help it can get based on last nights showing. By "proper" drivers I take it you mean folk who have enough money to consistantly come 5th to 9th out of 10 or so regulars lol. Cant see them sticking the pace when a few of the drivers from the S2000 championships around the world get in on the act next year
It's those new ones I meant, lol, people who can actually drive and not just get the best car money can buy from daddy Oh, and bring back the Safari rally, none of this ponsy tarmac sprint nonsense they do these days
Or 5 day 'circuit' of Irelands, lol. I watched the Indy 500 last night, not great racing but at least NASCAR listen to the fans
I watched the coverage on Motors TV. one hour long coverage every night, lots of onboard footage. even showed a full stage with Henning. think Marcus is being paid to drive, part of Team Thermanator. then think he was selected for points for Stobart. i expect Kimi to steadily improve with every event!
Wasnt the most exciting rally but I'm glad it's back.. Is that dick Block doing the s2000 just? or is that fiesta a wrc car? Kimi will improve and he did well for his first event ..I think he finished a stage 7th ..he lost lots of time with offs.. did anyone see him digging his own car out of the snow? bit of a change from F1 but I think he loves it..I reckon he will be very very quick on the tarmac events
Ken Block will be in an 08 spec Focus WRC for world championship events. The Fiesta he is using in the states runs in the "unlimited" class and is pretty much the same (or is the same) as the Olsbergs car used by Gronholm for Pikes Peak. It's also a 5 door.
Done some laughing when I seen that. No chance of seeing him get his hands dirty in F1. I think Kimi done well on such a specialized event. He will do well on gravel rallies and should go very hard on Tarmac.