2006 World Rally Championship Thread [r]

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/4513372.stm

Time to figure out the teams for next year. Starting with Skoda, there is no Skoda.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/4513372.stm

Two private outfits will race Skodas with some limited support from the manufacturer.

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

Update as you see fit:::

Citroen: GONE, various private teams
Ford: Hirvonen, Gronholm
Mitsubishi: Galli?
Peugeot: GONE
Skoda: GONE, 2 private teams
Subaru: Solberg, Atkinson, Sarazin running asphalt

Duval-> ?
Loeb-> private Kronos team (Citroen)
Martin-> semi-retired???

[hangthadj]

Will Speed be broacasting again this year in the US?

I only watched a bit of two or three rallys last year, but was enteratained. I think i am gonna follow it much closer this year.

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

Speed's website is a disaster, so I am having trouble telling if they will carry the rallies next year. If they do not, I have no idea who would. If WRC wants to build the sport in the USA, then they should pay Speed to carry the races.

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/4527786.stm

Mitsubishi is out of WRC! They might return in 2008.

That leaves just two factory teams, Ford and Subaru.

Next year's championship is starting to look like a mess.

Update as you see fit:::

Citroen: GONE, various private teams
Ford: Hirvonen, Gronholm
Mitsubishi: GONE
Peugeot: GONE
Skoda: GONE, 2 private teams
Subaru: Solberg, Atkinson, Sarazin running asphalt

Duval-> ?
Gardemeister-> ?
Kresta-> ?
Loeb-> private Kronos team (Citroen)
Martin-> semi-retired???
Rovanpera-> ?

[hangthadj]

Speed's website is a disaster, so I am having trouble telling if they will carry the rallies next year. If they do not, I have no idea who would. If WRC wants to build the sport in the USA, then they should pay Speed to carry the races.


honestly, speed's website is the worst major website i have ever seen. it's maddening.

[StillerFan]

WRC is fading before are very eyes :( . A major rethink is in order by the FIA suits.

[soccernutter]

What the hell is happening to Rally?!?!

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

Monte Carlo rally stages

http://it.sports.yahoo.com/23112005/24/74-rally-monte-carlo.html

Venerdì 20 gennaio
PS 1 ST SAUVEUR SUR TINÉE – BEUIL 22.23 km 08h33
PS 2 GUILLAUMPS – VALBERG 13.60 km 09h31
PS 3 PIERLAS – ILONSE 23.22 km 10h19
PS 4 ST SAUVEUR SUR TINÉE – BEUIL 22.23 km 14h25
PS 5 GUILLAUMPS – VALBERG 13.60 km 15h23
PS 6 PIERLAS – ILONSE 23.22 km 16h11
Sabato 21 gennaio
PS 7 SIGALE – BIF.D10/D110 22.54 km 07h53
PS 8 ST ANTONIN – TOUDON 20.22 km 09h06
PS 9 LA TOUR SUR TINÉE – UTUELLE 18.73 km 10h19
PS 10 ST ANTONIN – TOUDON 20.22 km 14h30
PS 11 LA TOUR SUR TINÉE – UTUELLE 18.73 km 15h43
PS 12 LA BOLLÉNE VÉSUBIE – SOSPEL 31.25 km 16h38
Domenica 22 gennaio
PS 13 COL DE BRAUS – LA CABANETTE 12.60 km 07h55
PS 14 COL ST ROCH – LANTOSQUE 14.45 km 08h23
PS 15 LA BOLLÉNE VÉSUBIE – SOSPEL 31.25 km 08h56
PS 16 COL DE BRAUS – LA CABANETTE 12.60 km 11h44
PS 17 COL ST ROCH – LANTOSQUE 14.45 km 12h12
PS 18 LA BOLLÉNE VÉSUBIE – SOSPEL 31.25 km 12h45

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

http://rally.racing-live.com/wrc/en/index.html

Just found the above website from that Italian website, but this is in English.

The team assignments for next year look like this. I think we are going to have to get used to lots of non-factory names and teams this year, as they might figure on podia on nearly every event.

Kronos Total Citroen WRT, racing Citroën Xsara WRC: S. Loeb, X. Pons, D. Sordo

BP-Ford World Ralley Team, racing Ford Focus WRC 2006: M. Gronholm, M. Hirvonen

Subaru World Rally Team, racing Suburu Impreza WRC 2006: P. Solberg, C. Atkinson, S. Sarrazin

Skoda République Tchèque, racing Skoda Fabia WRC: J. Kopecky

Red Bull-Skoda Team, racing Skoda Fabia WRC: A. Aigner, J. Paasonen (?), J. Tuohino (?), A. Bengue (?), D. Carlsson (?), M. Ekström (?)

Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team, racing Ford Focus WRC: M. Wilson, P. Tsjoen, R. Kresta, M. Higgins

OMV Peugeot Norway, racing Peugeot 307 WRC: H. Solberg, M. Stohl

[soccernutter]

Good find. Glad to see the younger Solberg got a ride.

[SueB]

I think we are going to have to get used to lots of non-factory names and teams this year, as they might figure on podia on nearly every event.


Who knows, maybe it'll be a little more interesting this way! Thanks for the list.

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/4587870.stm

Matthew Wilson, son of the director of the Ford factory team, will race a non-factory Ford this year. He is only 18. He tells fans not to expect much from him this year.

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/4590590.stm

Marko Martin retires.

[soccernutter]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/4590590.stm

Marko Martin retires.

That's too bad, but I understand his contemplation. I always liked him...Perhaps he will make an apperance in the Dakar.

[hangthadj]

So, Speed isn't showing this stuff in the states this year.

Terrific. :mad:

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/4625034.stm

A lot of speculation on the state of the sport at the BBC website. The WRC boss says, "You will see private competitors competing when they've never had the chance before. In many respects this is what the general public want, this is what builds demand and interest in motorsport."

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/4636974.stm

Gronholm wins in a Ford. Loeb was leading at one point but got into a wreck, but worked his way back to second.

Solberg forced to retire with an oil leak.

Here are the manufacturer's standings, but I don't understand how they are developed. Last year, just two Citroen factory teams would have been able to score Citroen points. Now, there are two independent Citroen teams. Do they get together and decided which of their four drivers will be the points scorers?

Ford 14
Citroen 11
Peugeot 6
Subaru 5
Skoda 3

[Frieslander]

just remembered last night that the season was starting only to find that Speed isn't showing the races.

******** that stupid nascar channel.

[SueB]

So, Speed isn't showing this stuff in the states this year.

Terrific. :mad:

WTF?#!? Goddamn pricks. :mad: