WRC Rally Mexico

flying finn · 23 Feb 2007, 10:09 (Ref:1849747)

official site here > http://www.rallymexico.com/Home.asp

2007 entry list here > http://www.rallymexico.com/competito...&Title=Entries

**BertMk2** · 23 Feb 2007, 10:51 (Ref:1849783)

Mexico sees the introduction of the new Impreza - will the new car see Petter and Chris challenging for wins? I really hope that the car is a significant step forward and that we see some good Ford vs Citroen vs Subaru battles at the front of the pack.

Guffy · 23 Feb 2007, 11:51 (Ref:1849820)

Lets hope car 34 doesn't get a flyer like he did a couple of weeks ago

kobefly · 23 Feb 2007, 12:40 (Ref:1849857)

Munchi´s team should go for the first points of the season here but only with Pérez Companc as the second driver (Raies) is as bad as nature can make an awful driver!

GolddustMini · 23 Feb 2007, 18:51 (Ref:1850034)

i dont think anyone ever said he was good, they (the 2 munchis teams) just like driving world rally cars, and if i was that loaded, im sure it would be high on my list of things to spend my riches on

Notso Swift · 9 Mar 2007, 03:04 (Ref:1861993)

C4 1, 2
Subraru 3, 4
Ford 5, 6

That's the Thursday shake down, with Sordo up on Loeb by 0.6 s, 1.0 to Solberg and 0.8 to Atkinson, 2.4 to Gronholm then 0.1 to Solberg Senior

**BertMk2** · 9 Mar 2007, 08:42 (Ref:1862121)

Interesting. I know it's not a great deal to go on but it look like the new Impreza is a step forward - should let Petter get amongst the top runners again. The C4 is annoyingly good though

will Sordo pull his finger out in this one? He was way off the pace in the snow, he really needs a good result here.

vorsprung · 9 Mar 2007, 15:50 (Ref:1862416)

After SS1:

1. Petter Solberg Subaru 14.03,5
2. Sebastien Loeb Citroen +2,9
3. Chris Atkinson Subaru +5,9
4. Daniel Sordo Citroen +7,5
5. Mikko Hirvonen Ford +10,7
6. Marcus Grönholm Ford +12,1
7. Manfred Stohl Citroen +14,1
8. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford +17,0

New Subaru seems to be working. SS2 starting now.

Notso Swift · 9 Mar 2007, 22:52 (Ref:1862686)

Petter, Petter, Petter, can't cop a trick
Leading (just) ond out, Oil problem at Stage 6, if they use Super rally he will miss two stages, +10.00 min, I think they will if they can, for testing
Close from 2 to 6

1. 1 S. LOEB 1:21:48.3
2. 8 C. ATKINSON 27.0
3. 4 M. HIRVONEN 27.4
4. 2 D. SORDO 31.7
5. 5 M. STOHL 41.2
6. 3 M. GRÖNHOLM 43.4
7. 9 J. LATVALA 1:28.9
8. 16 M. WILSON 4:07.5

Knowlesy · 9 Mar 2007, 23:19 (Ref:1862706)

Depressing to see the Citroen so fast.

But look at Atkinson go!

Notso Swift · 9 Mar 2007, 23:37 (Ref:1862716)

That is not so much Citroen, it is just the Loeb factor!
Atkinson has been up and down, but considering he is in an (updated) old car I think he would be pretty happy. What a difference a tyre makes...

Notso Swift · 10 Mar 2007, 02:17 (Ref:1862781)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notso Swift

Petter, Petter, Petter, can't cop a trick
Leading (just) ond out, Oil problem at Stage 6, if they use Super rally he will miss two stages, +10.00 min, I think they will if they can, for testing

My bad, there were 2 superspecials, so 3 stages would be +15 mn, I would still do it if they can because they need rally miles in the new car.

**BertMk2** · 10 Mar 2007, 19:27 (Ref:1863249)

More bad luck for Petter

at least the new car appears to be capable of running on the pace. loeb looks as smooth as ever doesn't he?

Knowlesy · 11 Mar 2007, 19:05 (Ref:1863767)

1. Loeb Citroen 3h 48:13.3
2. Gronholm Ford + 55.8
3. Hirvonen Ford + 1:27.7
4. Sordo Citroen + 1:43.7
5. Atkinson Subaru + 2:24.1
6. Stohl Citroen + 3:45.5
7. Latvala Ford + 4:10.8
8. Wilson Ford + 12:22.6

That's your final result. Dominance from Loeb, but Gronholm hung in there to minimise the damage.

chunder · 11 Mar 2007, 19:07 (Ref:1863770)

So so so so so so boring!

PLease WRC do something to liven it up, its just so damn dull!

**BertMk2** · 11 Mar 2007, 22:14 (Ref:1864022)

So basically what this result confirms is:

Loeb is the class of the field.
The C4 is annoyingly quick.
Sordo is a tarmac specialist.
The new Impreza is quicker in Solbergs hands but still fragile.
The competition is a bit thin at the top end.

Knowlesy · 11 Mar 2007, 22:24 (Ref:1864040)

It's certainly thin. Wilson's 8th place, despite being three days behind the leader more or less confirms this.

WJM · 12 Mar 2007, 15:18 (Ref:1864714)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertMk2

So basically what this result confirms is:

Sordo is a tarmac specialist.

How can you say this? Yes the guy is a tarmac specialist, but this result proves he's more than that too. Sordo was almost on the same pace as Hirvonen all rally, and only backed down the final two stages. Remember Sordo only has one year of WRC experience while Hirvonen is already in his fourth year and being a gravel driver first.

**BertMk2** · 12 Mar 2007, 15:30 (Ref:1864723)

I'm basing that on a couple of things:

The C4 is better than the Focus.
Sordo was close(ish) to Loeb on Tarmac and nowhere near him in terms of pace on snow/ice/gravel

I really don't see Sordo being capable of challenging the established top group of drivers on the loose, ok he doesn't have the experience that some of the others have but if you take the six "proper" works entries that were out there he only beat the 2 new Subarus (1 of which retired). Panizzi spent years in the WRC but was never truly on the pace away from the asphalt - Sordo could well be the same.

Of course now that I've said all that he'll probably go and win the next gravel event

my predictions are notoriously bad

WJM · 12 Mar 2007, 19:48 (Ref:1864975)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertMk2

The C4 is better than the Focus.

They probably have the edge on Tarmac, but on gravel it's not really clear. If Gronholm didn't have these problems this rally he would have been much closer. Same with Petter Solberg. It's just that Loeb is such an awesome driver, way better than all the others.

Quote:

Sordo was close(ish) to Loeb on Tarmac and nowhere near him in terms of pace on snow/ice/gravel

I really don't see Sordo being capable of challenging the established top group of drivers on the loose, ok he doesn't have the experience that some of the others have but if you take the six "proper" works entries that were out there he only beat the 2 new Subarus (1 of which retired). Panizzi spent years in the WRC but was never truly on the pace away from the asphalt - Sordo could well be the same.

Sordo was disappointing on snow I agree. But on gravel he is improving a lot. This rally he was only 6 seconds off Hirvonen until stage 18. He doesn't look that good only because you automaticly compare him to the very best: Loeb. You're probably right that he won't be a regular challenger on the loose this season. It's still to early in his career for that. Perhaps he'll get a few surprises here and there.
Just too bad that Australia isn't in this year, seemed to be the place for maiden victrories lately!

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