WRC Monte Carlo: Update before the final day.

"Fred (FreddsterExprs)" (freddsterexprs)
01/18/2014 at 06:54 • Filed to: WRC, Monte Carlo

Good morning oppo, today is the last day of the Monte Carlo Rally. It has been a brutal and eventful 2 days so far.

The first day was dominated by two Ford M-Sport drivers: Robert Kubica and Hyundai test driver Bryan Bouffier. Kubica surprised the whole Paddock during his first outing in the full WRC spec Ford Fiesta by winning the first two Stages. He didn't only win them though, he was nearly 15 seconds faster than the second fastest competitor. And that on a mix of ice, snow and dry tarmac. In the end he held a lead of 36 seconds on champion Sebastien Ogier.

Afterwards the field had to decide which tires to use for the next stages: Slicks or winter tires? Only 4 drivers decided to use a mix of both, and they were right. Therefore Meeke, Sordo and Bouffier set blisteringly fast times and established themselves at the front.

You might wonder now where the Hyundai star driver Neuville was in the standing. He wasn't anywhere because he lost control of his i20 on the first stage and damaged it heavily.

The second Hyundai was also struggling: Dani Sordo's car died between stages because of a broken alternator & battery.

Day 2 started with a strike back by Volkswagen: Latvala and Ogier set the pace, followed by Bouffier and Kubica.
And then it happened:

Kubica threw his car into a river bed. Luckily he and his co-driver were okay. Latvala also had trouble and fell back.
Although to be fair, everyone was having trouble. Ogier hit something as well.

And Hirvonen was captured doing the first awesome save of the year 2014.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10…

The field cleared to 9 WRC cars, and here is the order:

Now, the last day will have stages on the Col de Turini, one of the toughest stages in the world. It even snowed, so prepare for some great sideways action. The start is set at 15:48 local time and expect the rally to finish at about 22:30. We will see who emerges victorious, I can't wait for the snowy stages.

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DISCUSSION (20)

BrentOwen > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/18/2014 at 08:29

Kinja'd!!!

I wake up at 2am for the start of F1 races and then pray for an hour that I will see more than three laps of good racing action. Ultimately I am disappointed. There has to be some Tv executive that will drop some cash and give us something covering WRC. Just an hour of highlights the next week shouldn't be that much to ask for.

Autolegend86 > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/18/2014 at 08:52

Best car competing is a Porsche 996 Cup in the RGT class.

First 911 at Monte since 1986. It's had a rough time of the thick snow since its obviously rwd and can't compete with 4wd but in the dryer sections, its been finishing just behind the fastest RC1 (WRC) and RC2 (R5, R4, N1, and R3) cars with some 17, 18, 19 positions.

Its not been all perfect as he was slowed through some mechanical gremlins in one of the stages as well.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Autolegend86
01/18/2014 at 09:11

I really hoped the R-GT class would catch on among privateers. I bet it is great fun.

Although it makes me wonder how fast a Elise R-GT or a 997.2 R-Gt would be in the hands of a experienced WRC driver.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > BrentOwen
01/18/2014 at 09:13

I bet you can get the WRC Tv rights very cheap if you invest something into tv production in return.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > BrentOwen
01/18/2014 at 09:13

I bet you can get the WRC Tv rights very cheap if you invest something into tv production in return.

Hshsjsjshsksjsk > Autolegend86
01/18/2014 at 09:15

I've been watching this Porsche. It seems like it's been having trouble getting it's power down and has this been way slower coming out of turns. And squirrellier.

Autolegend86 > Hshsjsjshsksjsk
01/18/2014 at 09:21

Its to be expected on loose surface. Duez compares its pace to the DS3 R3T.

Autolegend86 > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/18/2014 at 09:25

Marc Duez is about as experienced of a driver there is. He's rallyed in Group 4 rally days, Group B, and Group A and did the Andros Trophy.

On pavement he's won the Spa 24 3x, the Nurburgring 24 4x, and driven everything from Group C1 and C2, GT1 and GTS sports cars, Super Touring Touring cars.

Experienced WRC drivers have never driven a rwd car in competition.

Even the oldest guys came up through Front wheel drive S1600s and front wheel drive Group A7 Kit cars. The progression from there was 4WD S2000 or 4WD WRC.

The last time a rwd car was normal was back in Group B days.

BrentOwen > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/18/2014 at 09:28

I'll watch ERC on Velocity via Eurosport and believe that is fine. Just buy an English language program from whatever network in Europe and your done. I don't need Bob Varsha or Wally Dahlenbach or any name that I recognize.

Hshsjsjshsksjsk > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/18/2014 at 09:40

God, I love rally, but I hate only being able to watch it in 2 minute YouTube clips.

Hshsjsjshsksjsk > Autolegend86
01/18/2014 at 09:42

Maybe in the dry, on the straights, at sea level.

Autolegend86 > Hshsjsjshsksjsk
01/18/2014 at 09:56

Are you at the event?

mikkohervonen > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/18/2014 at 12:42

http://wrc.mirafiori.com/wrc_2014/ You're welcome

mikkohervonen > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/18/2014 at 12:42

http://wrc.mirafiori.com/wrc_2014/ You're welcome

mikkohervonen > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/18/2014 at 12:42

http://wrc.mirafiori.com/wrc_2014/ You're welcome

Kursa > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/18/2014 at 12:54

That car cought fire really fast in the video...

Baber K. Khan > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/18/2014 at 13:57

Those are some seriously hot hatches. I need wallpapers from that.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Baber K. Khan
01/18/2014 at 14:22

This is what I could find in a quick search:

Kinja'd!!!

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Baber K. Khan
01/18/2014 at 14:22

This is what I could find in a quick search:

Kinja'd!!!

aquaticko > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
01/19/2014 at 11:15

Man, if I were Hyundai, I'd be super pissed right now. They finally get back into rallying, and this is how it starts of? Out in the first round? Because of what is basically bad luck? Super pissed.