WRC Season 2005

Rallyfan · 6 August 05, 14:26

Well we have an amazing rally going on at the moment in Jyväskylä

Grönholm pushing so much, that his co-driver get's a nasty injury, Solberg driving absolutely crazy-flat-out, and even Loeb making some mistakes.

The best rally in a while for sure
I cannot wait to see the next show on Finnish channel YLE2

And most importantly :arrow: Märtin is BACK!! :woohoo:
Nearly 20.000 ?! Estonians are at Jyväskylä right now supporting him

Dan · 6 August 05, 15:22

I added a spoilers to the topic title for anyone still waiting to see the rally finland on tv.. (it isn't on tv until tomorrow here in the uk)

Jim · 6 August 05, 17:22

Saw some coverage last night on Sky when I was babysitting.

Just typed out a load then realised what you meant by warning - spoilers, so I won't spoil it for you. :wave:

All I will say is pay attention to the way Solberg tackles a flat jump! Very lucky! :OMG:

MAD-MINI · 6 August 05, 17:28

Im waiting for the rally too tomorow. If only I had sky tv. Oh well.

Rallyfan you said seb loabs making mistakes...... We are talking about the same guy arnt we? :OMG:

RTS013 · 6 August 05, 17:38

I allways follow the results and news at wrc.com as they drop in during the event. Then I have to wait for the TV coverage on sunday afternoon here in Sweden.

Rallyfan · 6 August 05, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan

it isn't on tv until tomorrow here in the uk

Sorry, i didn't know that you cannot see the action yet...

And Dan :arrow:
I named this topic ''WRC-talk about it here'' , so might be useful to make it sticky perhaps?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAD-MINI

Rallyfan you said seb loabs making mistakes...... We are talking about the same guy arnt we? :OMG:

Yes, a rare thing this year but it's true...

MAD-MINI · 6 August 05, 20:58

Can nyone tell me where loab is inrelation to the leaders. The WRC website won't tell me unless I pay £15 a month! :cry:

Pero_Grozni · 6 August 05, 21:28

Go to Eurosport.com
You get all the info in the motorsports section-just click on the red link on the left side :wave:

MAD-MINI · 6 August 05, 21:31

Thanks

:party:

MAD-MINI · 8 August 05, 07:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rallyfan

And most importantly :arrow: [u][color=darkblue]Märtin is BACK!![/color

And he got a podium!
Good drive from Loeb, and an even better drive from Gronholm won a rally wow

~~pepe2~~ · 8 August 05, 20:28

Grönholm Won! :woohoo:
I was a bit affraid when Rautianinen hurted he's back. :OMG:

RTS013 · 8 August 05, 21:08

Yes that didn't look good for Gronholm... Or Rautianen far that sake.

Also very sad from a Swedish point of vew with Team Olsbergs withdrawing before the start leaving both Johansson and Carlsson without cars. They could have done well I think. And Andersson in JWRC crashed out on the first day :cry:

Flodin set some very good times in N4 before retireing on the last stage!

Rallyfan · 9 August 05, 06:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTS013

And Andersson in JWRC crashed out on the first day :cry:

Well, Urmo Aava got 2nd place, and with an old Suzuki model :cool:

vrmx · 9 August 05, 10:28

Well actually it was said by the Suzuki team in the rally radio that the Ignis is just as competitive than the new Swift. The Swift was brought to rallying for marketing reasons mainly.

Tomi · 9 August 05, 11:01

The Ignis is as good as the new swift on gravel, but the Swift is probably quicker on tarmac thanks to it's independent rear suspensions (the Ignis had a rigid axle - I'm not sure it's called like this in english though).

Stu · 10 August 05, 00:11

Thanks fellas, I'll still watch it here in OZ next Sunday. The WRC is getting better every year. Here in OZ, Ford is preparing a Focus for rallying. 2WD will be used first then a switch to 4WD later. 'bout time Ford Australia got serious about Rallying!

The Escort is not a favourable car to use here, the Datsun 1600 or many new cars (expensive) are used in all classes. There are a few Escorts still hitting the tracks, just not enough!

MAD-MINI · 12 August 05, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu

The WRC is getting better every year.

But next year there not alowing all the nice little computers on the car. I like those, all the little glowing buttons what does this one dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

vrmx · 12 August 05, 18:23

It's getting more back to the good old times when there used to be slides too.

Pero_Grozni · 12 August 05, 18:35

Yeah-should be nice to see mechanical solutions to the problems again

RTS013 · 12 August 05, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pero_Grozni

Yeah-should be nice to see mechanical solutions to the problems again

Both yeas and no... For sure old times was more spectacular, but at the same time those diffs and water injection systems etc. are modern technologies that are making thier way into todays road cars. It's not really fair to the development to ban those... I would prefere reduced engine power, maybe by only have 1.6 engines instead of 2.0... But of course the new rules want to reduce costs as much as speed so it's a difficult task to find what to ban or change.

It's "funny" all this with the rules... about 5 years ago I just got a feeling that 2006 would be the year of WRCars being banned from the sport, 20 years after Group B had to leave the scene. The heavy crashes of Solberg in Germany and Märtin in (was it Argentina...?) among others that left basically just a pile of bent metall and plastic junk increased that feeling... WRCars are probably as fast today as Group B cars where in the 80's and things are starting to become really dangerous again. Finland is just one example... Avarege speeds above 130km/h between the trees and ditches and codrivers hurting their backs after the jumps... Something has to be done before somthing really tragically happens.

I hope the new rules is a step in the right direction, but I'm not sure. Speeds and costs must be reduced soon, but what is the best way to do that while still keeping the spectaculararity and interest in the sport?

Pero_Grozni · 12 August 05, 19:34

I dont think that we are aproaching group B times at all.
Sure the pace is right up there due to developements of tires, diffs.... , but at the same time the cars are much much easier to drive at the limmit than back than. Also average speeds in the group B were limmited to 140km/h if I remember right.
Back in group B cars were scary as they offered much less protection due to the low weight and the monstorsity of power delivery.

When it comes to the problem with the jump-well I noticed that as the years go by the gravel setups get stiffer and stifer and the ridehight lower and lower. I think that it was just an unfortunate coincidence that the teams didnt setup the cars for such jumps and the cars bottomed out.
As for the technology-well in the recent times all went into electronics... but not much developements went into the tricky world of mechanical solutions to the problems. With the right approach very interesting diffs could be made mechanicly as well and as we all know mechanical things are more reliable and usually less expencive-hence better for use in road cars.
Of course there are many approaches to this problem and the best solution of course is the combination of them all, but I really really would like to see people being forced developing in the mechanical world again as there is where t
he most important part of the device is. The controll with the electronics afterwards is of a lesser imortance afterwards.

As I am getting technical again I will rather now say that Colin will be again in the WRC at the GB rally this year in a Skoda.
Hopefully he will at least be able to do a good stage time or two.

And a quiestion-how will the next season look like team vise??
I am not exactly sure which teams will leave the scene and what does that than mean on the driver seats. Perhaps some huge upsets with the best drivers??

MAD-MINI · 12 August 05, 20:06

The cars will never get to the stage of group b cars due to the restrictions although power is getting stupid. Citroen claim and have proved to have 350bhp from a 2.0L engine. I want one.

They should really look at top and cornering speed reductions to make the cars safer. If you took down the tire size sligthly, took a bit of downforce and "limited" top speed it would be safer as well as letting the cars develop technologies.

RTS013 · 12 August 05, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAD-MINI

The cars will never get to the stage of group b cars due to the restrictions although power is getting stupid. Citroen claim and have proved to have 350bhp from a 2.0L engine. I want one.

The 350bhp line was broken a long time ago I believe... Ford has claimed to have 550Nm in their car ever since 1999. That has surely increased a lot over the years, Subaru have their figure at 600... If you put that at 3000-4000rpm you get well over 300bhp and top power should be reached at 5500-6500. Probably ends at 370bhp or so... Maybe even closer to 400... Nice! I want one too! Torque = acceleration...

~~pepe2~~ · 12 August 05, 21:10

I really would like if rally cars would been mechanical again, cause mechanical cars have ''it'', electronical cars don't have ''it'' and with ''it'', I mean something like charisma.

I don't really bother if it would make doing more new electronical things to civil cars harder, cause I think that cars are already been ruined with this all stuff + they look ugly todays.

And BTW Mad-Mini, did you mean that +350hp from 2litre engine is something big? It's not really, there is many +400hp Sierra Cosworths in here finland and few +500hp Sierras too. And there is even 1000hp powered 2litre cosworth's engines (not in finland). And not just Cossies, I just use these engines as example, cause I know about them

Rallyfan · 14 August 05, 14:25

Colin McRae set for WRC return

:arrow:

http://www.wrc.com/page/BreakingNews...698363,00.html

Now why can't Tommi Mäkinen come back, Sainz and now McRae have...

Jim · 14 August 05, 15:49

Heard about this last week!

At the Rally Supercar Day over the tannoy he said its a one off but they may be more drives in the future! :party:

He was awesome to see in his Mk 2 Escort at the Rally Supercar Day, very quick and entertaining!

I can't wait to see him in action again!

Rallyfan · 14 August 05, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim

Heard about this last week!

Same here, but i decided that in case someone doesn't know yet, i post the news at here too

Jim · 14 August 05, 20:48

Ah I see, fair enough. Hopefully I'm going camping in the forests, and going to watch all 3 days of Wales Rally GB!

I might even get a new camera to get some good photos/videos, as my current camera is a bit behind the times and limited in capabilities!

Roger · 14 August 05, 20:55

Got any Castle Combe pics for us Jim?

Jim · 14 August 05, 21:04

Afraid not, I'm still on crutches and was unable to take any.

Fortunately 6R4nicky (or is he nicky6R4 on here?) took loads which I'm sure he'll post!

He's just sent me all 176 pics, some great stills!

Midi · 14 August 05, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rallyfan

Colin McRae set for WRC return

:arrow:

I'm expecting some rolls and crashes then.

:dood:

MAD-MINI · 15 August 05, 09:52

Skoda's=crashes
Mcrea=Crashes
Mcrea in a Skoda=BIG CRASHES AND LOTS OF FUN! lol lol lol

Midi · 15 August 05, 11:28

Why Skoda=crashes?

RTS013 · 15 August 05, 12:54

I don't think Skoda crash any more than the other teams, allthough they seem to have some problems to finish in the points... Witch is sad as they have put a lot of time and money in the project. And as two top-teams are withdrawing now it won't be much of a fight left. I want more teams!

MAD-MINI · 15 August 05, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midi

Why Skoda=crashes?

Monaco 99
Every rally GB
Spanish rally last year
ACDC rally germany this year
Test sessions in Germany
And me!

vrmx · 15 August 05, 16:49

By that also Citroën equals to crash if you look at Duval this year

.

Rallyfan · 16 August 05, 06:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by vrmx

By that also Citroën equals to crash if you look at Duval this year

.

Subaru and Chris Atkinson too

MAD-MINI · 29 September 05, 09:25

Found this on wrc.com
http://www.wrc.com/page/BreakingNews...719823,00.html
If I was mcrea here id snatch their hands off!

Pero_Grozni · 30 October 05, 12:19

What a drive by Hirvonen in Spain this weekend

He came in third with a few best times to show as well.
And that in a privateer 2 year old Focus

He has got to be one of the best choices for Ford as a second driver for next year.

I belive that in Subaru he wasnt allowed to push too much, but than at the end of the season they expected results anyhow. It will be the same with Atkinson this year. Again it was supposed to be a learning year.... , but allready they have started to demand results from him. I would imagine that the best way is either going for everything or just not bothering at all. It sure worked with Loeb. First rally for the works Citroen team he came in second.

Next year will deffinitly be interesting-sure less cars, but a much less dominant season could be expected. Loeb in a privateer Xsara, Gronholm at Ford, Solberg at Subaru and we can even expect great Mitsubishi results with so few works cars. Perhaps Galli might win a rally or two?

Rallyfan · 30 October 05, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pero_Grozni

He has got to be one of the best choices for Ford as a second driver for next year.

M.Märtin's manager has told the local newspaper that Märtin just might go back to Ford next year. Märtin has said himself that he would like to join a team where he could win a title in memory of M.Park.

So Ford= Grönholm-Märtin?

Pero_Grozni · 30 October 05, 13:46

Well that would be great.
It would really be superb to see Martin rallying again. And clearly-in a Ford he has to be the on of the favourites for the title. :wave:
The only thing is-Grönholm is deffinitly going to be very, very fast in a Ford

Pero_Grozni · 11 November 05, 17:34

What about rally Australia

After the first day Colin is 3-rd in a Skoda :p
And "only" ~48 sec off the pace Solberg set. Sure many cars are out or had problems, but still that is preety good driving if you ask me. Only 3 sec off Duval's time.
Sure looks like good old Colin will be back next year :cool::

Rallyfan · 11 November 05, 17:35

Colin McRae

:

You must know i'm talking about this weeks rally Australia.

How on earth has he managed to be 3rd (after the first day) :confused::

I think this just shows that Skoda has had only c*appy drivers so far...i mean Colin even said that he isn't pushing 100% yet!

I'm really looking forward to the next 2 days!

EDIT: Pero was writing and praising Colin at the same time as i was

Jim · 11 November 05, 20:08

Its great to see Colin going so well!

PG, I think you'll find hes only 1.4 secs from Duval and hes going to try and get 2nd on day 2.

I think his road position has helped a lot though being down the order means the roads are swept and he has a much harder grippier surface.

Hope it continues over the next 2 days, would be fantastic if he got a podium finish!

Can't believe Loeb made a mistake though, hit a kangaroo on SS8 damaging his steering, and then crashed out on SS9 into a tree!

Don't forget Mark Higgins (another Brit

) is 1st in P-WRC at the moment.

Definately by far the quickest national driver we have have here, won the BRC in a Focus WRC02. His brother David Higgins, won the BRC Group N championship in a works Evo 8. David is also very quick in a WRC, managing to win probably the biggest national rally here in February in a Hyundai Accent WRC Evo3! Very sucessfull rallying family!

Pero_Grozni · 12 November 05, 19:00

Go Colin, Go Colin

Hope he wins tommorow.
If he does that, than there is simply no chance of not seeing him in a works car next year :cool::
Maybe even in a Mitsubishi or perhaps even Ford?

:

Jim · 13 November 05, 12:30

Gutted!!! :cry: :cry: :cry:

Colin retired 3 stages from the finish with clutch trouble. Apparantly Skoda did a routinue clutch change at the mid way service on day 3, but obviously something went wrong.

Colin said he was more upset about not getting the possible podium finish for the team than himself as it would have been their best result yet! :shocking:

However, I think Colin has already proved he still has what it takes to get results. Despite his advantageous road position, and the top 3 drivers all retiring, Colin still beat a host of full time works drivers, and part of rallying is not to crash/damage the car!

This puts him in a good position for 2006 whether Skoda are given the go ahead for next season or not (assuming they will offer Colin a seat) or perhaps he might be approached by another team now? Ford would seem a fantastic prospect if the Focus WRC06 are as good as the Focus WRC03/04 were. Imagine a Gronholm, McRae line up for Ford?!

Mitsubishi are now getting more and more competitive and I believe are already not using active diffs, and therefore have a lead over the other teams for next season?

If Skoda are given the go head from their parent company for next year, they would be mad not to offer Colin a drive. He is still one of the most well known names in the WRC, not only in the UK, but the rest of the World as well I think its fair to say. Think how many people bought Subarus after the success Colin gave them!

I think with the banning of active diffs in 2006, this will suit Colin's sideways style much more and if he gets a seat, we could see him closer to the top!

2006 will be an interesting season (in the words of McRae) "for sure."

Roger · 14 November 05, 12:00

Great to hear McCrash is going well. Quality always shines in the end!

I'm sure that I read somewhere last year that Skoda learned more from Colin's outing in the car than they did in years with their other drivers.

Good to know that in rallies the driver still counts for something

Rallyfan · 14 November 05, 17:10

Someone please hire McRae for 2006!!

The moment i saw that driving stile again

I mean while other drivers landed on 4 wheels, Colin landed on the left front wheel, and didn't lose any time.
Like our TV commentator said ''Colin is taking all the juices out of that Skoda''

Btw, does anyone know about the future of skoda, it would be really sad if they leave from the WRC too...

Pero_Grozni · 14 November 05, 19:16

Oh dear-I was so sad to see that he had clutch problems. I firmly belive that he could get second place.
He was so quick

-even with gearbox problems on saturday
The onboard shots of him driving were superb-I cant remember the last time seeing someone driving so relaxed and moving the hands so brilliantly.

If he get's a drive next year with passive diff's than the big names are in troubles.

This of course underlines one of my theorys-the current drivers are less good than the best drivers of old times. Colin is a direct descendant of the legends-he was together in the Subaru team with Ari Vatanen and was learning directly from him (especially how to crash properly :p )
I think that Colin got a bit drowned in the latter years of his carrer and forgot how to push. I think that the big upset of his was the roll on rally GB when in the lead and heading for the Championship(when was that-2001 or 2002?)

Anyway-teams give Colin a seat next year. He is ten times better than any Duval or simmilar sort of fresh drivers :cool::

BTW: Mitsubishi switched to active diffs somwhere around rally Mexico this year. If you do look back you will see that from than on the Lancer was quite quick-especially for the size of it.

MAD-MINI · 18 November 05, 18:56

The skoda is very quick in the right hands and if you read th wrc website you will see that colin thinks its a good chassis to work of, All they need is Colins old sponser (Prodrive) and there they are

6 August 05, 14:26	#1
Rallyfan Dark Side Of The Moon Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Estonia (a nice place to be when you like cold weather...) Age: 25	WRC Season 2005 Well we have an amazing rally going on at the moment in Jyväskylä Grönholm pushing so much, that his co-driver get's a nasty injury, Solberg driving absolutely crazy-flat-out, and even Loeb making some mistakes. The best rally in a while for sure I cannot wait to see the next show on Finnish channel YLE2 And most importantly :arrow: Märtin is BACK!! :woohoo: Nearly 20.000 ?! Estonians are at Jyväskylä right now supporting him

8 August 05, 20:28	#11
~~pepe2~~ Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Finland Age: 24	Re: WRC-talk about it here [WARNING - SPOILERS] Grönholm Won! :woohoo: I was a bit affraid when Rautianinen hurted he's back. :OMG:

11 November 05, 17:34	#42
Pero_Grozni TT/3 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Jesenice, Slovenia Age: 32	Re: WRC-talk about it here [WARNING - SPOILERS] What about rally Australia After the first day Colin is 3-rd in a Skoda :p And "only" ~48 sec off the pace Solberg set. Sure many cars are out or had problems, but still that is preety good driving if you ask me. Only 3 sec off Duval's time. Sure looks like good old Colin will be back next year :cool::

11 November 05, 17:35	#43
Rallyfan Dark Side Of The Moon Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Estonia (a nice place to be when you like cold weather...) Age: 25	Re: WRC-talk about it here [WARNING - SPOILERS] Colin McRae : You must know i'm talking about this weeks rally Australia. How on earth has he managed to be 3rd (after the first day) :confused:: I think this just shows that Skoda has had only c*appy drivers so far...i mean Colin even said that he isn't pushing 100% yet! I'm really looking forward to the next 2 days! EDIT: Pero was writing and praising Colin at the same time as i was

11 November 05, 20:08	#44
Jim Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: England Age: 26	Re: WRC-talk about it here [WARNING - SPOILERS] Its great to see Colin going so well! PG, I think you'll find hes only 1.4 secs from Duval and hes going to try and get 2nd on day 2. I think his road position has helped a lot though being down the order means the roads are swept and he has a much harder grippier surface. Hope it continues over the next 2 days, would be fantastic if he got a podium finish! Can't believe Loeb made a mistake though, hit a kangaroo on SS8 damaging his steering, and then crashed out on SS9 into a tree! Don't forget Mark Higgins (another Brit ) is 1st in P-WRC at the moment. Definately by far the quickest national driver we have have here, won the BRC in a Focus WRC02. His brother David Higgins, won the BRC Group N championship in a works Evo 8. David is also very quick in a WRC, managing to win probably the biggest national rally here in February in a Hyundai Accent WRC Evo3! Very sucessfull rallying family!

6 August 05, 15:22	#2
Dan Site Founder Join Date: Feb 2003	I added a spoilers to the topic title for anyone still waiting to see the rally finland on tv.. (it isn't on tv until tomorrow here in the uk)

6 August 05, 17:22	#3
Jim Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: England Age: 26	Saw some coverage last night on Sky when I was babysitting. Just typed out a load then realised what you meant by warning - spoilers, so I won't spoil it for you. :wave: All I will say is pay attention to the way Solberg tackles a flat jump! Very lucky! :OMG:

6 August 05, 17:28	#4
MAD-MINI Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Aylsham, Sask, Canada eh Age: 24	Im waiting for the rally too tomorow. If only I had sky tv. Oh well. Rallyfan you said seb loabs making mistakes...... We are talking about the same guy arnt we? :OMG:

6 August 05, 17:38	#5
RTS013 RT Car Making Guru Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gotland, Sweden Age: 29	I allways follow the results and news at wrc.com as they drop in during the event. Then I have to wait for the TV coverage on sunday afternoon here in Sweden.

6 August 05, 20:58	#7
MAD-MINI Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Aylsham, Sask, Canada eh Age: 24	Can nyone tell me where loab is inrelation to the leaders. The WRC website won't tell me unless I pay £15 a month! :cry:

6 August 05, 21:28	#8
Pero_Grozni TT/3 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Jesenice, Slovenia Age: 32	Go to Eurosport.com You get all the info in the motorsports section-just click on the red link on the left side :wave:

6 August 05, 21:31	#9
MAD-MINI Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Aylsham, Sask, Canada eh Age: 24	Thanks :party:

8 August 05, 21:08	#12
RTS013 RT Car Making Guru Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gotland, Sweden Age: 29	Yes that didn't look good for Gronholm... Or Rautianen far that sake. Also very sad from a Swedish point of vew with Team Olsbergs withdrawing before the start leaving both Johansson and Carlsson without cars. They could have done well I think. And Andersson in JWRC crashed out on the first day :cry: Flodin set some very good times in N4 before retireing on the last stage!

9 August 05, 10:28	#14
vrmx Member # 007 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: F-land	Well actually it was said by the Suzuki team in the rally radio that the Ignis is just as competitive than the new Swift. The Swift was brought to rallying for marketing reasons mainly.

9 August 05, 11:01	#15
Tomi Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Switzerland Age: 33	The Ignis is as good as the new swift on gravel, but the Swift is probably quicker on tarmac thanks to it's independent rear suspensions (the Ignis had a rigid axle - I'm not sure it's called like this in english though).

10 August 05, 00:11	#16
Stu Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Australia Age: 49	Thanks fellas, I'll still watch it here in OZ next Sunday. The WRC is getting better every year. Here in OZ, Ford is preparing a Focus for rallying. 2WD will be used first then a switch to 4WD later. 'bout time Ford Australia got serious about Rallying! The Escort is not a favourable car to use here, the Datsun 1600 or many new cars (expensive) are used in all classes. There are a few Escorts still hitting the tracks, just not enough!

12 August 05, 18:23	#18
vrmx Member # 007 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: F-land	It's getting more back to the good old times when there used to be slides too.

12 August 05, 18:35	#19
Pero_Grozni TT/3 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Jesenice, Slovenia Age: 32	Yeah-should be nice to see mechanical solutions to the problems again

12 August 05, 19:34	#21
Pero_Grozni TT/3 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Jesenice, Slovenia Age: 32	I dont think that we are aproaching group B times at all. Sure the pace is right up there due to developements of tires, diffs.... , but at the same time the cars are much much easier to drive at the limmit than back than. Also average speeds in the group B were limmited to 140km/h if I remember right. Back in group B cars were scary as they offered much less protection due to the low weight and the monstorsity of power delivery. When it comes to the problem with the jump-well I noticed that as the years go by the gravel setups get stiffer and stifer and the ridehight lower and lower. I think that it was just an unfortunate coincidence that the teams didnt setup the cars for such jumps and the cars bottomed out. As for the technology-well in the recent times all went into electronics... but not much developements went into the tricky world of mechanical solutions to the problems. With the right approach very interesting diffs could be made mechanicly as well and as we all know mechanical things are more reliable and usually less expencive-hence better for use in road cars. Of course there are many approaches to this problem and the best solution of course is the combination of them all, but I really really would like to see people being forced developing in the mechanical world again as there is where t he most important part of the device is. The controll with the electronics afterwards is of a lesser imortance afterwards. As I am getting technical again I will rather now say that Colin will be again in the WRC at the GB rally this year in a Skoda. Hopefully he will at least be able to do a good stage time or two. And a quiestion-how will the next season look like team vise?? I am not exactly sure which teams will leave the scene and what does that than mean on the driver seats. Perhaps some huge upsets with the best drivers??

12 August 05, 20:06	#22
MAD-MINI Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Aylsham, Sask, Canada eh Age: 24	The cars will never get to the stage of group b cars due to the restrictions although power is getting stupid. Citroen claim and have proved to have 350bhp from a 2.0L engine. I want one. They should really look at top and cornering speed reductions to make the cars safer. If you took down the tire size sligthly, took a bit of downforce and "limited" top speed it would be safer as well as letting the cars develop technologies.

12 August 05, 21:10	#24
~~pepe2~~ Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Finland Age: 24	I really would like if rally cars would been mechanical again, cause mechanical cars have ''it'', electronical cars don't have ''it'' and with ''it'', I mean something like charisma. I don't really bother if it would make doing more new electronical things to civil cars harder, cause I think that cars are already been ruined with this all stuff + they look ugly todays. And BTW Mad-Mini, did you mean that +350hp from 2litre engine is something big? It's not really, there is many +400hp Sierra Cosworths in here finland and few +500hp Sierras too. And there is even 1000hp powered 2litre cosworth's engines (not in finland). And not just Cossies, I just use these engines as example, cause I know about them

14 August 05, 14:25	#25
Rallyfan Dark Side Of The Moon Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Estonia (a nice place to be when you like cold weather...) Age: 25	Colin McRae set for WRC return :arrow: http://www.wrc.com/page/BreakingNews...698363,00.html Now why can't Tommi Mäkinen come back, Sainz and now McRae have...

14 August 05, 15:49	#26
Jim Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: England Age: 26	Heard about this last week! At the Rally Supercar Day over the tannoy he said its a one off but they may be more drives in the future! :party: He was awesome to see in his Mk 2 Escort at the Rally Supercar Day, very quick and entertaining! I can't wait to see him in action again!

14 August 05, 20:48	#28
Jim Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: England Age: 26	Ah I see, fair enough. Hopefully I'm going camping in the forests, and going to watch all 3 days of Wales Rally GB! I might even get a new camera to get some good photos/videos, as my current camera is a bit behind the times and limited in capabilities!

14 August 05, 20:55	#29
Roger TT/3 Join Date: May 2003 Location: England Age: 54	Got any Castle Combe pics for us Jim?

14 August 05, 21:04	#30
Jim Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: England Age: 26	Afraid not, I'm still on crutches and was unable to take any. Fortunately 6R4nicky (or is he nicky6R4 on here?) took loads which I'm sure he'll post! He's just sent me all 176 pics, some great stills!

15 August 05, 09:52	#32
MAD-MINI Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Aylsham, Sask, Canada eh Age: 24	Skoda's=crashes Mcrea=Crashes Mcrea in a Skoda=BIG CRASHES AND LOTS OF FUN! lol lol lol

15 August 05, 11:28	#33
Midi Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Finland Age: 26	Why Skoda=crashes?

15 August 05, 12:54	#34
RTS013 RT Car Making Guru Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gotland, Sweden Age: 29	I don't think Skoda crash any more than the other teams, allthough they seem to have some problems to finish in the points... Witch is sad as they have put a lot of time and money in the project. And as two top-teams are withdrawing now it won't be much of a fight left. I want more teams!

15 August 05, 16:49	#36
vrmx Member # 007 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: F-land	By that also Citroën equals to crash if you look at Duval this year .

29 September 05, 09:25	#38
MAD-MINI Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Aylsham, Sask, Canada eh Age: 24	Found this on wrc.com http://www.wrc.com/page/BreakingNews...719823,00.html If I was mcrea here id snatch their hands off!

30 October 05, 12:19	#39
Pero_Grozni TT/3 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Jesenice, Slovenia Age: 32	What a drive by Hirvonen in Spain this weekend He came in third with a few best times to show as well. And that in a privateer 2 year old Focus He has got to be one of the best choices for Ford as a second driver for next year. I belive that in Subaru he wasnt allowed to push too much, but than at the end of the season they expected results anyhow. It will be the same with Atkinson this year. Again it was supposed to be a learning year.... , but allready they have started to demand results from him. I would imagine that the best way is either going for everything or just not bothering at all. It sure worked with Loeb. First rally for the works Citroen team he came in second. Next year will deffinitly be interesting-sure less cars, but a much less dominant season could be expected. Loeb in a privateer Xsara, Gronholm at Ford, Solberg at Subaru and we can even expect great Mitsubishi results with so few works cars. Perhaps Galli might win a rally or two?

30 October 05, 13:46	#41
Pero_Grozni TT/3 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Jesenice, Slovenia Age: 32	Well that would be great. It would really be superb to see Martin rallying again. And clearly-in a Ford he has to be the on of the favourites for the title. :wave: The only thing is-Grönholm is deffinitly going to be very, very fast in a Ford

12 November 05, 19:00	#45
Pero_Grozni TT/3 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Jesenice, Slovenia Age: 32	Re: WRC-talk about it here [WARNING - SPOILERS] Go Colin, Go Colin Hope he wins tommorow. If he does that, than there is simply no chance of not seeing him in a works car next year :cool:: Maybe even in a Mitsubishi or perhaps even Ford? :

13 November 05, 12:30	#46
Jim Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: England Age: 26	Re: WRC-talk about it here [WARNING - SPOILERS] Gutted!!! :cry: :cry: :cry: Colin retired 3 stages from the finish with clutch trouble. Apparantly Skoda did a routinue clutch change at the mid way service on day 3, but obviously something went wrong. Colin said he was more upset about not getting the possible podium finish for the team than himself as it would have been their best result yet! :shocking: However, I think Colin has already proved he still has what it takes to get results. Despite his advantageous road position, and the top 3 drivers all retiring, Colin still beat a host of full time works drivers, and part of rallying is not to crash/damage the car! This puts him in a good position for 2006 whether Skoda are given the go ahead for next season or not (assuming they will offer Colin a seat) or perhaps he might be approached by another team now? Ford would seem a fantastic prospect if the Focus WRC06 are as good as the Focus WRC03/04 were. Imagine a Gronholm, McRae line up for Ford?! Mitsubishi are now getting more and more competitive and I believe are already not using active diffs, and therefore have a lead over the other teams for next season? If Skoda are given the go head from their parent company for next year, they would be mad not to offer Colin a drive. He is still one of the most well known names in the WRC, not only in the UK, but the rest of the World as well I think its fair to say. Think how many people bought Subarus after the success Colin gave them! I think with the banning of active diffs in 2006, this will suit Colin's sideways style much more and if he gets a seat, we could see him closer to the top! 2006 will be an interesting season (in the words of McRae) "for sure."