WRC 2014 : All Chat Here

[Cess]

Sun rise in Finland. Off to shakedown. Stormy and very wet overnight but drying rapidly.

 

[DC.]

Go Jari Matti Latvala!!!

 

[Cess]

Shakedown

 

[Cess]

Just out of a dander round service. Not much going on. Crews getting ready for the first loop of stages. Had to go and buy some replacement factor 30. Sun is out and strong.

 

[DEEJAY.B]

Toyota Japan starts new WRC project

Toyota's potential return to the World Rally Championship has taken a further step forward with the news that a GT86 WRC has been built.

The car has been built by Tommi Makinen Racing in Finland with the blessing of Akio Toyoda, the president and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation.

The car is believed to be running at a private test in Finland today - with more news expected on Friday.

Toyoda is present in Jyvaskyla this week to meet with Makinen and WRC officials.

The GT86, which is being described as a test mule, has nothing in common with the Yaris WRC that has been produced by Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne.

It is also independent of the GT86 CS-R3 revealed by TMG this week - and will run at next month's Rally Germany for the first time.

The directive for the four-wheel drive GT86 has come from Japan and AUTOSPORT understands it is indicative of a cooling of relations between TMC and Cologne.

 

[Woodcutter]

Just out of a dander round service. Not much going on. Crews getting ready for the first loop of stages. Had to go and buy some replacement factor 30. Sun is out and strong.

You jammy sod!!

Have fun mate.

 

[DC.]

Day 1 is now over, excellent start by Jari-Matti Latvala, Sebastien Ogier & Kris Meeke. Top 3 separated by 9.2 seconds.

Tomorrow & Saturday will be the best two days of rallying all year, well done @Cess it's not often I'm jealous.

Keep taking pictures!!

 

[Cess]

Patchy 3G signal last night so only getting this now. Have a GoPro out with me but I'm struggling to get to grips with it.

I'll try and get something, few crappy pics or the like, uploaded later on.

The Finns like Meeke.

 

[Cess]

Oh yeah, met Ari Vatanen yesterday too. Just spectating like a normal person! Cool guy. Says watching Max is nerve wrecking!

He also asked does @seanbob still have that MK2? I said "yeah." Ari said "Tell him to get an S2k engine in it now."

 

[DC.]

Day 2 is on.

After SS5:
Latvala
Ogier +5.7
Meeke +12.1
Hanninen +27.5
Hirvonen +30.5
Mikkelsen +36.9
Ostberg +42.5
Neuville +46.6
Evans +1:23.5

Kubica has crashed & in other news water is indeed wet.

 

[Cess]

This morning's viewing spot at Kakaristo (badly spelt!)

 

[DC.]

After SS6
Latvala
Ogier +6.1
Meeke +14.2
Hirvonen +37.6
Mikkelsen +46.5
Ostberg +48.5
Neuville +1:05.9
Paddon +1:13.3
Hanninen +1:36.9

 

[DC.]

Kris Meeke fastest on SS7.

After SS7
Latvala
Ogier +9.3
Meeke +13.0
Hirvonen +37.3
Mikkelsen +48.3
Ostberg +50.7
Neuville +1:26.5
Evans +1:47.4

 

[Graham]

http://www.redbull.com/en/motorsports/offroad/stories/1331668177973/wrc-plus-website-app

 

[DC.]

SS8 was a Mickey Mouse affair. Into service now ahead of the afternoon runs.

After SS8
1.Latvala
2.Ogier +8.4
3.Meeke +13.1
4.Hirvonen +39.1
5.Mikkelsen +50.3
6.Ostberg +51.1
7.Neuville +1:32.9

 

[Cess]

Scorcher day. Hannien rolled has no window and is driving with shades. Neuville tore off the rear wing somehow and had a big dent in the back door.

Latvala looking super quick and fluid. Ogier on the move though. Quite a bit of support for Meeke.

 

[DC.]

Big test for Meeke will be when the running order changes (He's been running further down the field than JML & Ogier)

Perfect weather for it!

 

[Reno_LV]

Rally radio ftw! Go Latvala, Meeke and Seb, three favs on top!

 

[Sam.]

 

[Sam.]

Hannien rolled has no window and is driving with shades

 

[DC.]

Tight at the top.

After SS9
1.Latvala
2.Ogier +7.8
3.Meeke +12.6
4.Hirvonen +40.6
5.Ostberg +53.1
6.Mikkelsen +53.9
7.Evans +1:57.9

 

[DC.]

JML's lead extended to over 10 seconds, Kris close to Ogier.

After SS10
Latvala
Ogier +11.8
Meeke +14.6
Ostberg +55.5
Hirvonen +57.1
Mikkelsen +1:00.6
Paddon +1:48.4
Evans +2:11.8
Hanninen +2:32.7

 

[Graham]

Meeke now 2nd OA

"little bit crazy, didn't expect this, wonder if seb had an issue, starting to understand car and its working really well, more dialed in this year, starting to make it work"

"no advantage on second pass with road position"

 

[DC.]

JML on a charge, Kris now second.

After SS11
Latvala
Meeke +18.3
Ogier +20.1
Mikkelsen +1:01.6
Hirvonen +1:03.9
Ostberg +1:03.9
Paddon +2:02.7
Evans +2:29.4
Hanninen +2:44.7

 

[Graham]

Is that +20.1 from JML thus 1.7 from meeke meaning this is going to be some event !