real life 2020 FIA World Rally Championship

[carpa 303]

I hope Ford is going to come back in WRC officially now, also because now that they've withdrawn from WRX they'll just race in the World Endurance Championship which seems a bit limited to me (considering the withdrawal of Porsche and Audi from LMP1 which is causing the serie to lose interest). WRC could be a good showcase of their cars if they keep competitive

[Fedemaisonnave 48]

Teemu Suninen said that really soon next season plans Will be revealed...
Ford closer and closer to WRC.
Wilson meeted Pericak in later September
Hoonigan RX team withdraws WRX in the start of october
Suninen says that news Will be revealed soon...

[Jepsertti 26]

DiRTKiNG808 said:

Well, he already has won WRC stages before.

*ahem*

[Madhun1967 51]

Hope to see Block at STPR next year :)  He is great to meet in person 

[tbtstt 2,387]

Jepsertti said:

DiRTKiNG808 said:

Well, he already has won WRC stages before.

*ahem*

I thought that was the case (though I think he might have posted a few top stage times in class when he ran WRC events in the Group N Impreza?)

On the subject of Block, I see he has just revealed his latest toy...



...like him or not, you can't deny he buys the best toys!

[gfRally 449]

Not to derail this thread (like Gossip thread) but there is what I am hearing around US Rally lately for 2018 season

Team O'Neal is doing an Fiesta R5 
Team O'Neal likely to run a full season with its Focus Rally car
Dave "Savage" Wallingford is bringing a MSport R5 Fiesta over
JRD Rallysport (Burke/Brady) 1977 Mk2 Escort 
Ken Blocks 1993 Cosworth Escort

Unknowns:
SRTUSA: Higgins/Pastrana contracts?  I think I heard Travis say he was signed for 2016 (limited) thru 2017, when is Higgins contract up?
 - don't want either to go, btw
Saw another R5 team last year, unknown to me from Ireland, not sure if they are coming back


American Rally Association (ARA) 2018 schedule
 - now includes Idaho
Inaugural year was a great success and much more professionally run than RA has done in the past.

Speaking of Rally America, RA has yet to announce 2018 schedule.  Last year was all over the country and a lot of old locations where picked up, and what ARA couldn't get were left with RA, we'll see what events locations pop up next year.

Outside of main-stream media overall, Rally in the US is moving forward for the positive.

[ShouldBeThere 0]

Thierry looking like he needs another late Saturday/Sunday charge if the early pace is anything to go by. Mikkelsen doing an as expected good job, just hoping for Thierry so the championship goes to the last round, come on.  :D

[bogani 756]

Østberg really doing well so far!

        

[Madhun1967 51]

gfRally said:

Not to derail this thread (like Gossip thread) but there is what I am hearing around US Rally lately for 2018 season

Team O'Neal is doing an Fiesta R5 
Team O'Neal likely to run a full season with its Focus Rally car
Dave "Savage" Wallingford is bringing a MSport R5 Fiesta over
JRD Rallysport (Burke/Brady) 1977 Mk2 Escort 
Ken Blocks 1993 Cosworth Escort

Unknowns:
SRTUSA: Higgins/Pastrana contracts?  I think I heard Travis say he was signed for 2016 (limited) thru 2017, when is Higgins contract up?
 - don't want either to go, btw
Saw another R5 team last year, unknown to me from Ireland, not sure if they are coming back


American Rally Association (ARA) 2018 schedule
 - now includes Idaho
Inaugural year was a great success and much more professionally run than RA has done in the past.

Speaking of Rally America, RA has yet to announce 2018 schedule.  Last year was all over the country and a lot of old locations where picked up, and what ARA couldn't get were left with RA, we'll see what events locations pop up next year.

Outside of main-stream media overall, Rally in the US is moving forward for the positive.

hope to see a good season for rally America.STPR 2018 here i come.

[Madhun1967 51]

on that note ,we also need a WRC round here in the US:)

[sqdstr 107]

ShouldBeThere said:

Thierry looking like he needs another late Saturday/Sunday charge if the early pace is anything to go by. Mikkelsen doing an as expected good job, just hoping for Thierry so the championship goes to the last round, come on.  :D

He made a wrong tyre choice ufortunately for the first loop

[Dytut 89]

and his car broke down + he spun out of frustration. guess that's it for his title hopes unless ogier does something really stupid.

[RallyDriven 398]

Rally isn't over yet, and anything can still happen in gb and aus. But it is looking like a bit of a stretch for Neuville to win now. I'm mega excited to be on the side of the rally gb stages in 20 days time!

[YoMrWhite 11]

Speaking of doing something really stupid, look who's leading. For now...

And what is Hänninen doing? Two stage wins? On tarmac? This second half of the season is a real redemption run for him.

[sqdstr 107]

his 2 big mistakes that cost him 2 rallies (MC & Sweden) at the beginning are starting to prove even more and more costly now...
He lost like 40 points there?

[DiRTKiNG808 15]

Jepsertti said:

DiRTKiNG808 said:

Well, he already has won WRC stages before.

*ahem*

My bad. I don't know why so many people have a problem with Block. He's a nice guy and a really good a driver. I like him because he just doesn't care what other people think. Its cool that he can participate in almost any motorsport he wants to and, the most important thing, having fun while doing what he likes. Its been fun watching him in Rally and Rallycross.

[pigloaf 236]

Thierry, Thierry... What a disastrous rally for Hyundai. Paddon to the rescue in GB :P

[sqdstr 107]

I guess we can start congratulating Ogier with his 5th WRC title now... ?

[RallyDriven 398]

All three hyundais with the same problem. Need to strengthen their tarmac suspension! Luck is not with Thierry on these last few events

[sqdstr 107]

So Tanak overtakes Neuville in championship standings by 1 point

[RallyDriven 398]

Sad to see that it looks like Ogier has tied up the championship this weekend, was hoping for a closer fight all the way till the end! Good rally for Kris though!

In other news, sounds like a helicopter crashed on stage 11 of the ERC causing the stage to be cancelled

[bogani 756]

Damn, these cars really act like 4WD GT3's on the smooth tarmac!

It's awesomely fast, but it still makes me miss the man handling of Grp A and earlier WRC's..

[ShouldBeThere 0]

Anyone got some tips and advice for Wales this year? Only went to the special stage at the castle last year, but really keen to get a better look on some of the stages like Sweet Lamb. I can't get there for a Friday, so Saturday seems my best bet. 

[DiRTKiNG808 15]

Yes, Bring it home with that Ford M-Sport, bring it home.

First
On
Race
Day

[RallyDriven 398]

ShouldBeThere said:

Anyone got some tips and advice for Wales this year? Only went to the special stage at the castle last year, but really keen to get a better look on some of the stages like Sweet Lamb. I can't get there for a Friday, so Saturday seems my best bet. 

I'm going to gartheniog on saturday, two wrc runs in quick succession. My advice would be to get there in plenty of time, minimum of an hour before the first run. The main spectator points I find tend to be a bit dull, often slow corners and also they're very busy so it can be hard to find a decent spot without being behind people. I recommend trekking a little way into the forest and finding yourself a good, safe spot. Bring some food with you, and enjoy! The best thing about having two wrc runs is that you can move spots between the two so you can get a different view point