Meeke just went off just beside a brige on SS5 in Monte Carlo. Looking at the live coverage it looks totally unlikely he can get the car out of there, so I guess we can count Meeke out of the rally.
Posts Tagged ‘2010’
Meeke out of Monte
Thursday, January 21st, 2010Video: Ogier off in Monte Carlo – and the stupid spectators behind it?
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
Many people following the rally reports from Rally Monte Carlo today have probably noticed and wondered about the fact that Ogier was so angry after going off the stage – and how the hell spectators can come to the idea to put snow on the road just to sabotage for the drivers (If you don’t know what I’m talking about – watch the video!). I can’t answer that question, but it’s certainly a big problem for the Rally Monte Carlo organisers that they need to solve. This has been going on for quite some years now, and I have a feeling they’ve already tried – but I’m not sure they have tried as hard as they should…
It doesn’t even need to be explained how dangerous it is to throw snow on the road when a car potentially going on slicks are approaching assuming conditions are like they were just a few hours before when the ice note crew went through. In road traffic you should have margins for such things – but not in rallying. That’s what rallying is about… Driving without that extra margins, using the skills and the interaction between driver and co-driver to get the car through the stage as fast as possible… The spectators doing those things have no interest in rallying, they are just losers. But in the end – if the spectators can’t handle it themselves, it’s the responsibility of the organiser to get it solved.
With that said, I love the Rally Monte Carlo and that has been even more clear to me in 2009 and 2010 with the beautiful live TV coverage. But I can actually say I’m happy the event is out of the WRC as long as this problem stays as big as it is (=more of standard than exception during the rally). Get guards out to the important twists, damn organisers. I know it’s quite many but what else can you do? If you can cover everything live on TV, you can probably find one guard per turn too. This makes the rally both dangerous and a farce for crews, spectators and marshals.
I really hope this gets better!
And as a note… Mikko Hirvonen leads the rally with 41.9 seconds over last years champion Kris Meeke and 1.04 before Juho Hänninen. The action continues tomorrow – and everything is broadcasted live. Just hope the morons have been sent home then, the rally is too good to be disturbed by such shit..!
Fiesta allowed to start in Monte Carlo
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010Malcolm Wilson’s problem solving capabilities payed off: the decision is to let the Ford Fiesta S2000 start in Rally Monte Carlo, which means that Mikko Hirvonen and Julien Maurin can start the rally. What the exact problems were is still unknown, but it will be interesting to hear M-Sport’s approach to avoid the same problems later on in Rally Sweden and other rallies. It’s obviously very embarassing that such a thing can happen at all.
Now, let’s look forward to a bright Rally Monte Carlo with hopefully difficult conditions of tarmac, melting snow and ice – and hope that this doesn’t mean discussions and speculations if a Fiesta wins the rally.
The Fiesta S2000 may not be allowed to start in Monte Carlo due to scrutineering problems
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010Last night it was reported that the M-Sport developed Ford Fiesta Super2000 had problems in the scrutineering for Rally Monte Carlo. The problems seemed to be solved last night, but reports now claim that there are still big problems with getting the cars through the scrutineering – something that is totally needed to be able to start the event. Unconfirmed rumours talk about just a 20% chance of the Fiestas starting the event as it looks right now – but measures are being taken to try to get Mikko Hirvonen in his Fiesta driving as a safety car if he will be forbidden to start as a competitor.
Obvoiusly, it would be a big drawback for M-Sport and their reputation if they wont be able to start the event. Besides Mikko Hirvonen even Julien Maurin is supposed to start the event in a Fiesta Super2000. However, Malcolm Wilson have previously seemed to have a magic skill (or wallet big enough to fly parts and people all over the world?) to solve problems, and I hope and also think that he will do that even now.
The story will go on during the afternoon…
Rally Sweden publishes entry list
Monday, January 18th, 2010Rally Sweden publishes their seeded entry list draft on their website. Among the surprises are Frederic Sauvan in a Ford Focus WRC07 and Juho Hänninen in a Skoda Fabia Super2000, the later of the two set to improve the battle in the S2000 class even further.
Ken Block’s WRC calendar 2010
Sunday, January 17th, 2010Ken Block revealed a little bit more than a week ago that he would drive parts of the World Rally Championship 2010 in a campaign spanning over at least 3 years with the ambition to do full seasons in 2011-2012. However, little has been known about Block’s calendar more than that he would skip Sweden and go straight on to start his season in Rally Mexico. Now, it seems like Block’s calendar is more finalised – and it will include the following rounds: Rally Mexico, Rally of Turkey, Rally of Portugal, Rally of France, Rally Germany, Rally Catalunya (Spain) and Wales Rally GB. Besides that, it seems like one European event may be added later on.
At the same time, more info has came about Chris Atkinson – who was rumoured to be included in a 2 car Monster World Rally Team before the announcement came. Paul Turner, manager of Atkinson, confirms that discussions with the Monster team have been held for a long time, but he also says that it’s unlikely for Atko to show up as a driver in the team before 2011. However, he and Atkinson seems to be working hard to get Atko in the ultimate position for next year by placing Atkinson as an advisor and gravel notes crewmember this year. If that is just their hopes or a completed deal is not known though.
Confirmed: Magnus Samuelsson (former World’s Strongest Man) in Subaru in Sweden
Thursday, January 14th, 2010
Magnus Samuelsson, probably the strongest man in a rally car?! Photo: Gustafssons foto
Now it’s confirmed. As I revealed earlier today, Magnus Samuelsson (World’s Strongest Man) will start Rally Sweden 2010. The team aims to start in the World Rally Championship round, but since they still don’t have a full budget a Swedish Championship start may be the case instead. Magnus is backed by Fredrik Eljas and Olof Eljas, and the later of them will be responsible for giving Magnus the training needed (not physical, huh!?!) to do the start.
The team will run a 280bhp Subaru Impreza group N of latest spec. Magnus Samuelsson himself comments the start as follows:
- This is my dream as a young boy coming true. I’ve tried “folkrace” before but the dream has always been to drive a real rally car. It will be a true adventure and just the thought of being at the start line along with Loeb and the other boys is breathtaking.
