WRC Japan preview

[Mustang]

For the second time this year the World Rally Championship heads into uncharted waters, with the addition of Rally Japan to the schedule. The latest event to join the sport’s top level promises an exciting blend of far-eastern culture, unpredictable weather and fast, flowing gravel stages in the forests of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. So far it has been likened to the Neste Rally Finland or a slightly more autumnal Wales Rally GB, so the omens are good for an exciting event.

There’s a big element of the unknown, though, for all the teams and drivers heading into next weekend's event, as almost none of them have any real experience of what could prove to be a decisive round in the battle for the 2004 title. With Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb now some way ahead of his rivals in the drivers’ championship chase, the likes of Ford rising star Markko Martin, Peugeot’s double world champion Marcus Gronholm and Subaru’s reigning title holder, Petter Solberg, will all be keen to finish ahead of the Frenchman.

It won’t be an easy task, though. The Citroen Xsara is fast becoming a match for the Peugeot 307, Ford Focus and Subaru Impreza on gravel, while Loeb is now equally at home on loose surface events as he is on asphalt. The factor of age and experience doesn’t even come into the equation. Experienced hands, such as Citroen’s rally legend Carlos Sainz, have tended to emerge on top on new events in the past (you need look no further than last year’s Rally of Turkey for proof…), but the young guns are proving equally adapt in new, uncharted and uncertain conditions (again, look at Markko Martin on this year's Corona Rally Mexico).

[whiteballz]

well done on this small overview. you make it?? (haha)

anyway i am sooooo very much looking forward to this rally!!! my fav culture (eastern (japanese)) and my fav types of cars!! dream combo!!

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by whiteballz

well done on this small overview. you make it?? (haha)

of course i dont just copy and paste things from e-mails

anyway i am sooooo very much looking forward to this rally!!! my fav culture (eastern (japanese)) and my fav types of cars!! dream combo!!

should be a real good event after Germany, Hopefully Solberg is back and ready to be up there with the best of em again

[biggysmalls]

SUB SUB SUB SUB ......... here we go again (hope it won't be like the last one...)

[cp01ae]

Well, since I leave for Japan on tuesday, I suppose that will be the first bit of motorsports I watch when I get over there.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

For the first time manufacturers like Subaru have a home town advantage, it should be a fantastic Round. Maybe they could have a drift off with some of the local boys?

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by IBrake4Rainbows

For the first time manufacturers like Subaru have a home town advantage, it should be a fantastic Round. Maybe they could have a drift off with some of the local boys?

'home town advantage' ????

eh, the Subaru rally cars are designed, developed and built at Banbury, UK site of Pro-Drive.

I guess if they need an indicator bulb they can get it from Subaru parts Japan

[IBrake4Rainbows]

True, they may be built over in Britain, but the Money comes from Japan.

Plus it'll instill pride in the Manufacturers coming to at least a Spiritual Home, if not a factual home.

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by IBrake4Rainbows

True, they may be built over in Britain, but the Money comes from Japan.

Plus it'll instill pride in the Manufacturers coming to at least a Spiritual Home, if not a factual home.

Personally I think Subaru have all the pride they need from the supply of stonking great street cars

But, I dont' know the make-up of sposnorship funds with the demise of the tobacco-dollar. Anyone seen a breakdown for WRC costs and sponsor inputs for recent teams ???

[Tuscan666]

I heard Solberg is going to take it easy after his crash!

[Mustang]

As the teams and drivers get accustomed to new territory on this weekend’s inaugural Rally Japan, there has been a ding-dong battle between reigning world champion Petter Solberg and current title favourite Sebastien Loeb, who have scrapped nip and tuck for the lead. After the event's opening eight stages, it was an even four stage wins apiece for the pair. Although Citroen’s Carlos Sainz took victory on the final test of the day, it’s Solberg who takes his Subaru into overnight service as the rally leader - the Norwegian carrying a 12.7s advantage over Loeb’s Citroen into tomorrow’s second leg.

Double world champion Marcus Gronholm remains a consistent threat to the lead pair in third place, however, just a few seconds behind, while Ford's Markko Martin has come out best in the scrap for fourth, jumping ahead of new event specialist Sainz in the second works Citroen during the afternoon stages. Ford's Francois Duval is not too far behind this battle and could yet spring a surprise, but it has been a bad day for Subaru young gun Mikko Hirvonen and Peugeot gravel ace Harri Rovanpera, who have dropped down the order thanks to an off-track excursion and gearbox gremlins respectively.

[Matra et Alpine]

Shock news from the event....

Malcolm Wilson has returned to the UK having told Duval and Mrtin that they should maybe look for a drive next season.

Ford have indicated they will NOT be competing in WRC next year.
Whether it's just typical contract negotiation action or is the Big Blue Oval going to give up all international motorsport competition.

They've stepped out before when the Escort became unable to keekp up with the Subarus and Evos.

Would be a shame to lose them again, but they really aren't able to keep up

Another snippet from day 1 coverage, is that both Peugeots are now running the 5-gear box having accepted that the 4-speed and more torque theory didnt' give any benefit in practice. ( oh and one of the boxes wouldn't auto change from 4th to 5th and was repalced and the replacement was giving trouble - wonder if they told the software there were now 5 gears in the 'box )

EDIT: Oh and they were discussing Subaru in Japan with team principals and he said it WAS big for them to be their and for all of WRC. Japan is the second largets car market in the world - kind of put it into context )

From the day 1 coverage the saddest part was the stages looked EXACTLY liek the types of routes the British rally USED to ahve when it wasn't bound to the muddy mountains of Wales Maybe Scotland and North England should apply for a WRC round

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by Matra et Alpine

Shock news from the event....

Malcolm Wilson has returned to the UK having told Duval and Mrtin that they should maybe look for a drive next season.

Ford have indicated they will NOT be competing in WRC next year.
Whether it's just typical contract negotiation action or is the Big Blue Oval going to give up all international motorsport competition.

They've stepped out before when the Escort became unable to keekp up with the Subarus and Evos.

Would be a shame to lose them again, but they really aren't able to keep up

Another snippet from day 1 coverage, is that both Peugeots are now running the 5-gear box having accepted that the 4-speed and more torque theory didnt' give any benefit in practice. ( oh and one of the boxes wouldn't auto change from 4th to 5th and was repalced and the replacement was giving trouble - wonder if they told the software there were now 5 gears in the 'box )

EDIT: Oh and they were discussing Subaru in Japan with team principals and he said it WAS big for them to be their and for all of WRC. Japan is the second largets car market in the world - kind of put it into context )

From the day 1 coverage the saddest part was the stages looked EXACTLY liek the types of routes the British rally USED to ahve when it wasn't bound to the muddy mountains of Wales Maybe Scotland and North England should apply for a WRC round

are they actually going to exit on TV just now it said they were still disgussing it.

FORD cannot go out the WRC

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by Mustang

are they actually going to exit on TV just now it said they were still disgussing it.

see the third para ni my original post.

it's clearly serious enough for Wilson to head back to the Midlands A team owner/manager woudl NOT leave the team during a WRC unless it was important !!

I do still hope it's just a "cotnract negotiation issue".

FORD cannot go out the WRC

They done it before - many times.
Ford are a company who don't like to fail.
So they could well pull out of WRC ( and F1 ) and that woudl leave them out of all international competition.

[Mustang]

i think that they should upgrade the car again like the did last time to try and get it more competative


do you know why our rep shows twice ?