Rally Australia

rdjones · 12 Nov 2004, 07:56 (Ref:1151211)

Well Rally Australia is underway. Even though the WRC title has been won, there is another title up for graps - The Production Title, there are 5 drivers who can win the title:- Jani Paasonen, Niall McShea, Xavier Pons, Alister McRae and Toshihiro Arai.

Anyway 5 stages have been run and the top 10 looks like this:-

1. Marcus Gronholm (Fin) Peugeot 307 WRC 50 mins 26.4 seconds
2. Sebastien Loeb (Fra) Citroen Xsara at 16.8secs
3. Harri Rovanpera (Fin) Peugeot 307 WRC 45.1
4. Francois Duval (Bel) Ford Focus RS WRC 1:07.9
5. Mikko Hirvonen (Fin) Subaru Impreza WRC 1:11.7
6. Anthony Warmbold (Ger) Ford Focus RS WRC 3:48.6
7. Alistair McRae (GB) Subaru Impreza WRX 4:12.4
8. Toshihiro Arai (Jap) Subaru Impreza WRX 4:18.9
9. Gianluigi Galli (Ita) Mitsubishi Lancer EV07 4:38.6
10. Chris Atkinson (Aus) Subaru Impreza WRX 4:38.6

429CJ · 12 Nov 2004, 18:28 (Ref:1151821)

Alister McRae leads the group N, he has a shot for Championship (though, PERSONALLY I want Jani Paasonen to take it)

luke · 12 Nov 2004, 19:53 (Ref:1151882)

What happened to Solberg?

rdjones · 12 Nov 2004, 20:04 (Ref:1151890)

Seems he went off in Stage 4, but somehow seems to have set the fastest times in the Perth Super Special at the end of the day, so they must be running to the super rally rules. Anyway the top 10 at the end of the day looks like this:-

1. Marcus Gronholm (Fin) Peugeot 307 WRC one hour 15 mins 43.6 seconds
2. Sebastien Loeb (Fra) Citroen Xsara at 21.4secs
3. Harri Rovanpera (Fin) Peugeot 307 WRC 1:06.6
4. Francois Duval (Bel) Ford Focus RS WRC 1:37.9
5. Mikko Hirvonen (Fin) Subaru Impreza WRX 3:21.2
6. Anthony Warmbold (Ger) Ford Focus RS WRC 5:43.9
7. Alistair McRae (GB) Subaru Impreza WRX 6:09.7
8. Chris Atkinson (Aus) Subaru Impreza WRX 6:20.9
9. Cody Crocker (Aus) Subaru Impreza WRX 6:37.3
10. Dean Herridge (Aus) Subaru Impreza WRX 6:37.6

If things stay as they are in Group N then it will be another World Title for the McRae family.

Alan Green · 12 Nov 2004, 21:17 (Ref:1151948)

They are running super rally rules, so Solberg (& other retirees if they can) will be on the roads tomorrow, although not in contention for championship points (IIRC from what I read on a motorsport magazines website).
Al.

rdjones · 13 Nov 2004, 07:04 (Ref:1152221)

This is how things look after 14 stages:-

1. Sebastien Loeb (Fra) Citroen Xsara two hours three mins 15.1secs
2. Harri Rovanpera (Fin) Peugeot 307 WRC at one min 7.7secs
3. Francois Duval (Bel) Ford Focus RS WRC 04 at 2:03.2
4. Mikko Hirvonen (Fin) Subaru Impreza WRC 2004 at 4:16.0
5. Antony Warmbold (Ger) Ford Focus RS WRC 02 at 7:57.4
6. Dean Herridge (Aus) Subaru Impreza WRX at 9:21.7
7. Alister Mcrae (Gbr) Subaru Impreza WRX at 9:25.6
8. Cody Crocker (Aus) Subaru Impreza WRX at 9:45.9
9. Chris Atkinson (Aus) Subaru Impreza WRX at 9:49.3
10. Xavier Pons (Est) Mitsubishi Lancer EV08 at 10:08.3.

Marcus Gronholm is out of going of the road in stage 10. Things are still looking good for Alister McRae.

luke · 13 Nov 2004, 11:21 (Ref:1152326)

A lot of unfamiliarly names up there, I just hope Sebastien slips up and allows Harri Rovanpera to win.

Growling Ferret · 13 Nov 2004, 11:55 (Ref:1152349)

The unfamilar names has a lot to do with the fact King Carlos never started after an accident in shakedown, and Marko Martin dropped a cylinder on the first Superspecial Stage to withdraw before proper competition took place...

Solberg hit a rock on Day 1 and broke his steering, but is continuing on to give the many spectators something to cheer about and watch... With so few topliners still in the event, the SuperRally Rules give a bit of value to the spectators.

DavidStHubbins · 13 Nov 2004, 16:18 (Ref:1152499)

Gronholm is an IDIOt sometimes! He should finish when the car doesn't break... The car usually breaks just fine without him butting a tree etc.

It is hard being a Gronholm-fan recently. All good luck when he enters WRC and all bad luck at the end.

RIght now I'm rooting for A McRae, (my close neighbour here in East Perth

)

429CJ · 13 Nov 2004, 18:31 (Ref:1152583)

Unfamiliar, I don't know - Anthony Warmbold could be the second Ford driver with Duval next season.

luke · 13 Nov 2004, 19:32 (Ref:1152625)

Are Eurosport acturly showing coverege of the event?

zonda · 14 Nov 2004, 03:37 (Ref:1152859)

Well even here in Australia Channel 10 who does all the motorsport gave us a few hours and then half way through Sunday afternoon has moved to cover the V8 Supercars instead.
An international motorsport event and the local channels do not give it fair coverage.

dave

rdjones · 14 Nov 2004, 10:18 (Ref:1153073)

Well the top 10 at the end of the event looks like this:-

1. Sebastien Loeb (Fra Citroen 3hrs 39min 46.8sec
2. Harri Rovanpera (Fin) Peugeot at 1min 55.1sec
3. Francois Duval (Bel) Ford 3:40.2
4. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) Subaru 6:00.4
5. Chris Atkinson (Aus) Subaru 16:55.6
6. Xavier Pons (Esp) Mitsubishi 17:36.1
7. Cody Crocker (Aus) Subaru 17:43.3
8. Toshi Arai (Jap) Subaru 19:32.3
9. Niall McShea (GB) Subaru 19:55.7
10. Mirco Baldacci (RSM) Mitsubish Lancer 22:56.3

Leob takes his 6th win of the year and a record-equalling sixth championship victory. In the PWRC Niall McShea takes the title after Alister McRae had rear differential failure on the 3rd stage of the day and had to retire.

alfacors · 14 Nov 2004, 10:35 (Ref:1153080)

Well done to Chris Atkinson. Especially after the setbacks he had during the rally!
Great result to build his 2005 season on!

429CJ · 14 Nov 2004, 18:45 (Ref:1153359)

Only four works WRC cars saw the finish, most of them retired after chrashing out. Oh, and really bad luck for Alister, but congratulations for Niall McShea!

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