WRC 2014 : All Chat Here

[Sam.]

Tension has escalated between winemakers in Germany's Mosel region and the organisers of a major rally race after two cars crashed through vineyards on the eve of harvest.

http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/587429/mosel-winemakers-upset-after-rally-cars-flatten-vines

 

[RComms]

I couldn't help but think this was an odd tweet from solberg at the weekend... After winning the latest round of the rx series.

CONGRATULATIONS @Citroen ; the MOST WINNING manufacturer in the @RallycrossRX : @Citroen 3, @Ford 2, @VW 2, @Audi 1.

He is driving a privately funded DS3...... but that seems a very corporate tweet!

 

[Cess]

Citroen sent Loeb to do Global Rally Cross (or X Games) in a DS3 one year. Maybe the connections are tighter than we think.

 

[Sam.]

Citroen sent Loeb to do Global Rally Cross (or X Games) in a DS3 one year. Maybe the connections are tighter than we think.

They had him at Grand Prix Montreux in a DS3 this weekend too.

 

[Cess]

Meeke fastest in shakedown overnight.

 

[Cess]

Rally starts tonight, times aren't too UK friendly.

Thursday, 11 September

23.30: Start (Coffs Harbour)

Friday, 12 September

00.18: SS1, Hydes Creek 1 (10.73km)
01.11: SS2, Bellingen 1 (10.72km)
01.39: SS3, Newry 1 (24.91km)
04.09: Service A (Coffs Harbour), 30 minutes
05.27: SS4, Hydes Creek 2 (10.73km)
06.20: SS5, Bellingen 2 (10.72km)
06.48: SS6, Newry 2 (24.91km)
09.30: SS7S, SSS 1 (1.56km)
09.38: SS8S, SSS 2 (1.56km)
09.50: Flexi service B (Coffs Harbour), 45 minutes
14.00: Parc fermé (Coffs Harbour)
21.45: Service C (Coffs Harbour), 15 minutes
23.18: SS9, Nambucca 1 (48.92km)

Saturday, 13 September

01.06: SS10, Valla 1 (8.96km)
01.06: Service D (Coffs Harbour), 30 minutes
05.24: SS11, Nambucca 2 (48.92km)
06.52: SS12, Valla 2 (8.96km)
09.30: SS13S, SSS 3 (1.56km)
09.38: SS14S, SSS 4 (1.56km)
09.50: Flexi service E (Coffs Harbour), 45 minutes
14.00: Parc fermé (Coffs Harbour)
21.50: Service F (Coffs Harbour), 15 minutes
23.08: SS15, Shipmans 1 (30.20km)

Sunday, 14 September

00.16: SS16, Bucca 1 (10.86km)
01.06: SS17, Wedding Bells 1 (9.23km)
02.19: Service G (Coffs Harbour), 30 minutes
03.52: SS18, Shipmans 2 (30.20km)
05.00: SS19, Bucca 2 (10.86km)
06.06: SS20, Wedding Bells 2 Power Stage (9.23km)
07.02: Service H (Coffs Harbour), 10 minutes
08.00: Podium ceremony (Coffs Harbour)

 

[DC.]

Kris Meeke leading after the Friday morning loop in Australia.

Afternoon stages have just started, being 8th on the road is certainly helping Kris.

 

[DC.]

3.6secs covers the top-5 after SS5:

Meeke
Mikkelsen
Hirvonen
Ogier
Latvala

Expect that to turn on it's head.

 

[Cess]

Happy to say Meeke still fastest after SS6 - Newry II.

 

[Cess]

Terry Neville after SS5

Still going, though

 

[cormac81]

Its funny reading Meeke is fastest after the newry stages.

Anyway cant wait to tonights coverage on tv always spectacular.

 

[RComms]

As a Northern Irish rally fan, the biggest news from day 1 surely has to be....

That on a rally in a country where everything is upside down, Bobby K appears not to have 'rauled her'. yet.

 

[DC.]

Meeke lost over 6secs on two short Super Special Stages to end day 1.

After Day 1
Ogier
Latvala +0.4
Mikkel. +3.5
Meeke +4.1
Hirvonen +7.9
Paddon +46.4
Ostberg +50.3
Kubica +57.6
Evans +1:30.5

 

[RComms]

I'm going to put that down to abit of smart thinking to be honest. I think its his only hope against the VW's, given the pace they showed on day 1 relative to running order.

 

[DC.]

You would certainly hope so.

Should be good tomorrow

 

[Sam.]

It's tight at the top - 7.9s between 1-5.

 

[Cess]

What way does road position work for Day 2? Will VW start 1-2-3? If so, might explain why Meeke lost 3secs to Ogier over a 1.6km stage.

 

[RComms]

@Cess . The finishing order on day one, determines the start order on day 2. Hence my earlier post .

 

[Cess]

Definitely tactics. Meeke and Citroen would have saw the VW & Hyundai splits. A 6 sec time lost over less that 4 kms of superspecial wouldn't be the norm.

 

[Sam.]

Day 2 running order:

Atkinson
Neuville
Evans
Kubica
Østberg
Paddon
Hirvonen
Mikkelsen
Ogier
Latvala
Meeke
Al Rajhi
Al-Attiyah
Ketomaa
Tanak
Protasov
Bertelli etc

 

[Cess]

Right it wasn't tactics then!

 

[RComms]

I dunno. The wrc twitter feed earlier in the day seemed to hint that it might be. Not much difference in the sweeping, but at least he'll get the split times of the ones in front....

I'm looking for a positive here. Can you tell.

 

[Deckz]

When is day 2 highlights on?
Watched day 1 today on motors at 1pm.

 

[Sam.]

Andre Lavadinho producing some great shots again.

 

[Deckz]

Great photos there.