Rally Argentina

[Mauri A]

What is the problem? Nobody has opened the official Rally Argentina Thread.

[A.F.F.]

You just did ;)

[Doug Woods]

The PWRC/Group N field is very strong for this event. Has there been a better PWRC field before?

Anyway, I will probably spend most of my time looking at the PWRC results with the odd glance to see who is doing what in WRC cars.

[ZequeArgentina]

It is true, nobody speaking abuot Rally Argentina.
Anyway thsi time I will not follow it from here, I am going to Crdoba mountains, Mauri is also coming (he just openned the tread and flew here)

Regarding PWR: watch out the locals besides usual PWRC.
Pozzo is starting his 2007 PWRC campaing here, and them Ligato and Villagra (nominated as guests for PWRC), but also Cancio, Sanchez and Bernardi.
Arai is usually fast in here.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Apparently someone native of the event being held should open up the thread for the rally so Hola! :D Bring on Argentina! :)

[Simmi]

I hope this is a good rally. The rally flame inside me is starting to flicker...

[Xeroid]

Are there any handy webcams anywhere ?
Scheduled TV feeding to the internet ?
Gotta see some action.
There's a few kiwis over there having a go, OK, I don't expect to see them 'on screen' but be nice to see what they are dealing with.

[Micke_VOC]

Shakedown has begun now i think.... (8am local time Gmt -4)
and no posts )=
Is all people sleeping or ?

[leno]

where can i find results from shakedown

[Micke_VOC]

where can i find results from shakedown

Dont think its any out yet.
Have look on the regular site´s but nothing there.
The Shakedown begun for 1 h 40 minutes ago.

[J.Lindstroem]

What?

Isn't it wednesday?

[Viktory]

yes, but they moved Shakedown to Wednesday so they would have time to transport the cars tomorrow for the super special

[GigiGalliNo1]

Got the Rally Argentina preview on WRC+ and its so worth it, justgoes for 10mins, first 3-4 mins is interviews before the rally and then an old review from 95 or something, and long interviews with Nicky Grist and when he was with Colin in Subaru and doing that round! Very sweet! :D And Rally Portugal review too from this year! And interview with Ford about the windows!

[Rally_Rocks]

There's a video blog on the subaru-global site with some nice footage from Argentina. I think it's put together by George Donaldson, ex Sporting Director at SWRT.

[jonas_mcrae]

so no shakedown news?

[SubaruNorway]

Subaru Rally Team USA blog and pictures
http://rally.subaru.com/event_2007_argentina_info.html

[Roy]

so no shakedown news?

Loeb fastest in shakedown

http://www.rallyargentina.com/castellano/ampliar_noti.php?id_noti=126

[Tom206wrc]

I have the feeling not many of you will follow the rally :mark:


Anyway, here useful links to follow the results :p :

http://nuclear.pri.ee/wrcmasters
http://www.zone.ee/rally

[SubaruNorway]

Just need some time to get into the Rally groove again it's been a while you know. Got our first gravel event in Norway this weekend so il be infront of the computer day and night i will tell you :)

[pejda]

Some pictures from shakedown: http://www.ewrc-media.com/images/fotky.php?co=218&a=pl

[pentti]

Some info. 1980 when the rally was first time WRC event there were a couple of 160 km long stages and 1983 Stig managed to get averagy speed in one of the stages over 189 km/h!

[A.F.F.]

Some info. 1980 when the rally was first time WRC event there were a couple of 160 km long stages and 1983 Stig managed to get averagy speed in one of the stages over 189 km/h!

No offence Pentti but are you sure Stig was there 1980 ?? Or did you mean Björn or Ove ?

[Bluewaves620]

Hi all, i dont usually write too much, but i always read about and mostly is almost hard cause of lot of posts... what s going on now?? is maybe that all people are on the stages??? I wish that. I cant enjoy cause of work... :( I dont live far from Carlos Paz

[Gard]

Hi all, i dont usually write too much, but i always read about and mostly is almost hard cause of lot of posts... what s going on now?? is maybe that all people are on the stages??? I wish that. I cant enjoy cause of work... :( I dont live far from Carlos Paz

We got bored and uninspired. Now Loeb even "win" the shakedown.

What we need now is some good fights.

[pentti]

No offence Pentti but are you sure Stig was there 1980 ?? Or did you mean Björn or Ove ?No offence A.F.F but did I not write 1983!

[AGA]

averagy speed in one of the stages over 189 km/h!
Does it mean that Stig made his course without using brakes?

[Mauri A]

Leaving Buenos Aires in two hours to Villa Carlos Paz with ZequeArgentina and his friends. Hope it is not raining all the time!

[GigiGalliNo1]

Have a safe trip!! Say hello to the rally guys and have lots of fun! :)

[A.F.F.]

No offence A.F.F but did I not write 1983!

Non taken :) Yes you sure did. My bad, must be that lukihäiriö.

[Catiocha7]

what was the full shakedown's result ? :)

[Corny]

How long till first stage?

[Micke_VOC]

How long till first stage?


SS1 starts 23,28 swedish time ( Gmt +1 )

[Tom206wrc]

No pics in this thread yet, so few news... :s :(

[Roy]

No pics in this thread yet, so few news... :s :(

specialy for you Tom:
http://www.rallyargentina.com/english/fotos.php

[gloomyDAY]

Does this rally even exist?

Where the hell did everyone go?

Being a Yankee makes rallies far more difficult to watch & follow.
I'm just waiting on everyone else to pitch in and make with the info.

[jonkka]

Doubting existence of rallies already? Sport is truly dying :eek:
With wrc.com writing more of Raid-McRae and stadium stages than pre-event news or previews... :(

[jonas_mcrae]

come on is thursday, Rally Argentina site is very good and lets be positive, Im getting a little bit anoyed with the idea of WRC dissapearing... i know negation is not going to help but anyway..

[Simmi]

Anyone want to take a guess how many stages Seb will win this year? In last years 22 stages Loeb only won 5, which was only 4 more then Matt Wilson lol.

I'd guess at 10. Would be cool if the C4 decided to not like watersplashes or something though.

[Donney]

It seems we are all a little discouraged, but hopefully the magic or rallying will bring us back.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Ahhhh.... I've set my clock to Argentine time....its 2:35pm and 1:35am here so gonna catch some sleep and wake up hopefully in time for the LIVE SS1 on WRC+ :D if not then bloody miss it again!!

[Finni]

I'd guess at 10. Would be cool if the C4 decided to not like watersplashes or something though.

I wonder is this gonna happen to "the most perfect team". booring..

[GigiGalliNo1]

Well you did get Loeb crashing into a tree not so long ago! I would like Stohl up there.....!!!!!! like 2nd position this weekend!!!!! And even a Subaru win finally!

[leno]

i would also like subaru win

[Bluewaves620]

I would like Marcus to win !

[leno]

ok let say petter wins and marcus is second happy?

[Bluewaves620]

mmmm ok, but second for Petter would be a GREAT RALLY, then... maybe MArcus win and PEtter second.. that would conform all ;)

[WRC2006]

Hey Guys,

Any body there? What happened?

[Bluewaves620]

nothing yet.. still a few minutes to start.. i will watch on tv , i will try to keep u informed

[WRC2006]

Hey Bluewave,

Yeah thanks, I can watch as well on TV, but the usual show here is not around? Normaly we should be in more than 20 pages now?! It is strange man?

Is because no rally radio now?

[ste898]

Hmmm I sense a bit of dislike for 'the perfect team' Citoen?

[Bluewaves620]

ahhhh hehe, dont know :( is exactly what took my attention

[leno]

mmmm ok, but second for Petter would be a GREAT RALLY, then... maybe MArcus win and PEtter second.. that would conform all ;)

Why both can't win lol

[Bluewaves620]

about the perfect team... is great the way they do, but i prefer more emotion, waiting to the end to know who will win... i like tempered drivers.

[leno]

did rally already start?

[Bluewaves620]

yes !! N4 first, then WRC

[Bluewaves620]

Petter and Kris are watching first cars

[WRC2006]

Petter and Kris are watching first cars

Did you see them?

[leno]

i hope i will be awake when wrc starting

[leno]

What do you say how will chris driving this rally with new co-driver

[WRC2006]

I think this time he will be cautious!

He needs to get some connections with the new co-driver

[Bluewaves620]

I didnt see but commentators said

[SubaruNorway]

ohh Donoldson is so anyoing talking in Becs mouth all the time

[leno]

you are watching it on tv? Which program??

[SubaruNorway]

wrc+

[WRC2006]

you are watching it on tv? Which program??

ON Eurosport

[pantealex]

Eurosport shows football now

[WRC2006]

Maybe it depends on the country, for UK it is on Eurosport 2 UK

[WRC2006]

Chris and Henning now!!

[WRC2006]

Chris beat Henning by + 0.5

[WRC2006]

Petter and Soldo now

[PURORALLY.COM]

PICTURES:

http://www.purorally.com/foro/viewtopic.php?p=28452#28452

[White Sauron]

oh how boring...

[Viking]

From Henning blogg:
http://www.vgb.no/6339/
Bad whether in Argentina, the drivers were stuck at the airport and even the cars would be late to Cordoba?!

Petter blogg update this morning:
http://www.vgb.no/20075/perma/199810

The plane took off a few hours late. Not much sleep this night.

I also see from the pictures that cost-cutting now has reach the recce-cars. :laugh:

[pejda]

Our photographer Petr Lusk send me this SMS: "The morning stages are cancelled, lot of the drivers are still not in Cordoba. I saw Loeb, he doesnt look to be able to drive in few hours."

[JAM]

Our photographer Petr Lusk send me this SMS: "The morning stages are cancelled, lot of the drivers are still not in Cordoba. I saw Loeb, he doesnt look to be able to drive in few hours."

Fantastic.... any more developments about that?

[Wim_Impreza]

Thank you for the news, pejda.

[A.F.F.]

Splendid.

[jonas_mcrae]

well that superspecial in Buenos Aires was too ambitious, hope other rallyes learn that lesson of long distance SSS are not good, either for teams, drivers or even expectators, look at the pics, the stadium was only half full... its just a move to get money, hope everything goes as schedule today...

[Finni]

It's nice that nowadays rally news are mediated through private text-messages..

[JAM]

well that superspecial in Buenos Aires was too ambitious, hope other rallyes learn that lesson of long distance SSS are not good, either for teams, drivers or even expectators, look at the pics, the stadium was only half full... its just a move to get money, hope everything goes as schedule today...


For what i read on the Argentinian news the ticket prices were too high and the promotion of tha SS was not visible. Spectatores are like manufacturers, without promotion and high costs the WRC is not interesting.

The 10.000 spectators didn't worth the 1400km made by all WRC structure. Hope this mistakes have results on the future.

[jonas_mcrae]

yeah 10,000 spectators are not worth the time and money spent on it, honestly I think the SSS in cordoba stadium was quite good, a lot of people there and no long distances to travel, hope this mistakes do not happend again

[Mihai]

I must comment on the fact that WRC newcomer Claudiu David of Romania finished 12th overall (second to Kuzaj in Group N) in the superspecial on board and OMWRT-entred Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9. He was faster than Latvala and Raies and they drive World Rally Cars!

[COD]

Our photographer Petr Lusk send me this SMS: "The morning stages are cancelled, lot of the drivers are still not in Cordoba. I saw Loeb, he doesnt look to be able to drive in few hours."

Anything new on this??

[pentti]

The first stage today was only supposed to start in 3 hours time.

[pino]

The first stage today was only supposed to start in 3 hours time.

pentti do you think Loeb will easily win ? Any chances for Mikko ? :D

[pentti]

pentti do you think Loeb will easily win ? Any chances for Mikko ? :D Loeb will win easily.4 reasons.Best engine.Better side ways grip in back.More reliable car than any thing else. Clever guy. I don't know how good their pace notes are. I am too dump to understandt french. I have advised reacently Mikko about small flicks(as the most of them now do, even Loeb!).Marcus have done them always recardless what he says.Who wants to tell driving secrets! It was fun to see answers about left foot braking in yesterday,s preshow. Good to see my friend McShae to win super special with Kumho tyres.

[pentti]

I shoul have added that because high alt , engine power come more important.

[kakus]

ES2/3/4/5/6 cancelled

Start at ES7

http://www.wrc-fr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10110~1020867,00.html

In french

[Luckin]

And then again, surprisingly, not even a mention on that perfect official site of world rally championship. What a service they provide! :arrows:

[Maui J.]

ES2/3/4/5/6 cancelled

Start at ES7

http://www.wrc-fr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10110~1020867,00.html

In french

Oh, big mistake by organisers to take SS1 to Buenos Aires. Disapointing to see this happen, especially when WRC rallies are so short anyway.

[pentti]

And then again, surprisingly, not even a mention on that perfect official site of world rally championship. What a service they provide! :arrows: There is no news in official web site too.

[A.F.F.]

I could be on my way to SS 2 or 3 now. Imagine how pissed off I would have been only to find out those are cancelled. So, no need for information. Surely that photographer guy will send SMS to every frigging spectator :up:

[pentti]

I could be on my way to SS 2 or 3 now. Imagine how pissed off I would have been only to find out those are cancelled. So, no need for information. Surely that photographer guy will send SMS to every frigging spectator :up: Sooner or later they know. But let's wait.

[jonas_mcrae]

ups... big hit for rally argentina, hopefully this will show others what NOT to do. Also who knows, maybe Loeb wont have enough time to catch up marcus as in Portugal LOL

[Finni]

I have no more words to describe how crap wrc.com's official site is..

[Simmi]

Loeb had reservations about whether there was any need to go so far for a single stage, I think we all did. Massive error in judgement by the organisers. I think its worth pointing out however that there was much more then the 10,000 spectators people have quoted on here. According to Carlton on Eurosport (by no means reliable but still) the stadium was about half full and had in the region of 50,000 people in there. The stage itself was utter crap.

[GigiGalliNo1]

at least Solberg don't get a penalty! (put in a sarcastic way)

[Erki]

So only one proper stage today? At least Fords have no problem with tyre wear then. :)

[JAM]

Loeb had reservations about whether there was any need to go so far for a single stage, I think we all did. Massive error in judgement by the organisers. I think its worth pointing out however that there was much more then the 10,000 spectators people have quoted on here. According to Carlton on Eurosport (by no means reliable but still) the stadium was about half full and had in the region of 50,000 people in there. The stage itself was utter crap.

The newspaper from argentina talk in 10.000 spectators.... the OMV press release talks in 70.000 :eek: but i believe on the argentinian sources, because the pictures from the stadium show the second ring empty and the first ring had a lot of available places. maybe not 10.000 but not more than 15.000.

[jonas_mcrae]

http://www.rallyargentina.com/castellano/ampliar_noti.php?id_noti=144

on the official site, only in spanish, looks like everything will start after service "B" (the second one I supose) at 14.56 Argentina time the first car will leave the service park, the cause of this is because the "blue" airplane could not land in Cordoba's Airport. So the rally will star at SS7 as kakus said and that will mean there will only be 2 stages before the cordaba superspecial, today. This is not looking good, stupid "blue" plane, whatever it is...!

[Brother John]

What a mess!

Let them drive in the night, thats real rally!

[jonas_mcrae]

So only one proper stage today? At least Fords have no problem with tyre wear then. :)

two, SS7 AND SS8

[Lousada]

I think its worth pointing out however that there was much more then the 10,000 spectators people have quoted on here. According to Carlton on Eurosport (by no means reliable but still) the stadium was about half full and had in the region of 50,000 people in there. The stage itself was utter crap.

The stadium only has a capacity of 65000 (and a bit). Considering the second ring was nearly empty and the first couple of rows in both corners were empty. Also mentioning that the second ring is larger than the first ring. I think the figure is more closely to 10000 than to 50000.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Maybe the 'blue' thing was BF's hot air baloon? :p

[jonas_mcrae]

maybe...

[MikeWRC]

Hmm, things are going well...

I log onto WRC+ to find no Rally Radio and the live timings still showing SS1. You would think the official site might have made some announcement by now if most of todays stages are going to be cancelled.

I'm a bit bemused about Rally Radio being off for the whole weekend. Surely it can't be that hard to provide at least some sort of coverage? It would have been nice if they'd put something on the WRC+ page (not just the main rally radio page) and actually given some sort of detail.

Oh well, things can only get better over the weekend (I hope.)

[AndyRAC]

What a mess!

Let them drive in the night, thats real rally!

Exactly, what a mess!! I hate being negative, BUT this is a complete shambles, it makes the WRC look a joke. Imagine cutting 25 laps from a GP, SORRY but there is no excuse for this. The WRC limps from one problem to the next.

[malscar]

Well I can see Argentina being dropped from the calender next year. Can not believe that they were even allowed to organise the event when it means flying the whole circus around the country.

[N.O.T]

Lets hope thats the last rally Argentina we see.....the rally is a disgrace for the sport....!!!!! too many incidents over the years, yet no action.

[N.O.T]

Lets hope thats the last rally Argentina we see.....the rally is a disgrace for the sport....!!!!! too many incidents over the years, yet no action.

[Roy]

This is amateur rally. What a bad organisation! Tjongejonge...
I hope the battle makes this good. This is a dissaster for the sport, manufacturers, drivercrews and fans.

It is a little bit funny that this could happen. This is a warning of the FIA. This was the first and last time to have a SSS far away!

[pino]

Is this another attempt to kill our fave Motorsport ? :mad:

[GigiGalliNo1]

Is this another round that will not be in the WRC next year?! :O

[cut the b.s.]

Is this another round that will not be in the WRC next year?! :O


Cant see the WRC bosses wanting to ignore 2 continents, and I think its pretty much accepted that Mexico is history

[Tom206wrc]

No splits for SS2 ??? :confused:

[xavier]

wrc.com says it because of p-wrc plane that they delay.

what the f.? if the WRC cars are there, they could at least run, PWRC could start later with a nominal time!

but again wrc.com is not a reliable source of information...

[GigiGalliNo1]

SS2 wat yu on about? You didn't hear its canned?

[GigiGalliNo1]

Ahhh...it was he drivers and officials that couldn't make it due to the weather! And nearly 4 hours later....worst rally communications (wrc).com site reports the problem! Errrrrrrr...!!!!!! Lame

[DonJippo]

No splits for SS2 ??? :confused:

No Tom no splits for SS2 or SS3,4,5 and SS6 either...did you just wake up?

[GigiGalliNo1]

lol

[Corny]

What's the matter with the stages cancelled? I feel a little chance for Marcus, 'cause Seb usually starts a bit slow.
C'mon Marcus!

[cannyboy]

What a bloody disgrace - talk about trying to kill a sport.

Everytime I think they can't do anything more stupid, they go ahead and suprise me once again....

[White Sauron]

Haha)) Autosport.com can't count!:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/58515

[GigiGalliNo1]

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~4~id~147385.htm

More news! Well finally also.............. photos from Hennings Blog!

:)

http://www.vgb.no/6339/

[A.F.F.]

I just hit me. If they keep on cancelling the stages, Mikko is on the pole position. He'll win his second rally of the year :bounce:

Go ahead, cancel the rest of the stages. :up: :)

[Fischer]

How stupid, this is what you get when you view the WRC as a spectator sport instead of a competition between drivers and teams.

[pejda]

Stepan Vojtech, the czech driver, was at 15-30 CEST still in Buenos Aires. His team said in a press release, that all the SS of the first day were cancelled.....

[pejda]

I had a call from the photographer in Argentina - friday was cancelled.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Watttt?!?!

[Sardalense]

I do not know czech but here is the link :

http://www.tsvteam.cz/?site=novinky/clanek&id=169

[pejda]

Yes, its true - I speak czech very well :)

[Rally_Rocks]

I think there is a real chance that we may not see enough kilometres being completed here for it to count as a point scoring round of the championship.

I'm not entirely sure of the ruling, but i believe that at least 50% of competitive kms have to be completed for World Championship points to be allocated.

I know that as things stand we should reach that mark easily, but who's to say that we may not see more stages cancelled because of spectator numbers? I certainly wouldn't put too much money on stages 7 and 8 running. I've seen the size of crowds in Argentina before, and if eveyone who planned to spectate at the cancelled stages heads to the two running stages, we have a big problem!!!

[GigiGalliNo1]

Arggg!!

[pejda]

Pictures from the airport: http://www.ewrc.cz/2006/show.asp?clanek=5816

[Erki]

http://www.ewrc.cz/images/2007/argentina/denicek11.jpg
What's written there?

[Gard]

I just hit me. If they keep on cancelling the stages, Mikko is on the pole position. He'll win his second rally of the year :bounce:

Go ahead, cancel the rest of the stages. :up: :)

Well, we are close to have a non point rally now. I haven't calculated how many km's that have been cancelled, but we should be close to the limit.

[Sardalense]

Erki , the paper means "To a homeless driver, please"

[Erki]

Can't they just push the whole timetable one day forward? So Friday's stages are run on Saturday, Sat on Sun and Sun on Mon? Sardinia is two weeks away so there should still be some time.

[GunsofNavarone]

I can confirm that all of the special stages today are canceled. The super special stage may or may not be run. The organizers will know in about an hour.

[Sardalense]

First leg km without SS in Buenos Aires - 124,50 km. 35,92% of the total stage distance.

[Sardalense]

I can confirm that all of the special stages today are canceled. The super special stage may or may not be run. The organizers will know in about an hour.

It´s a joke, isn´t it? After this huge problem caused by a super-special, the only stage that will be made by the drivers will be again a super-special, this time in Cordoba...

[Finni]

Can't they just push the whole timetable one day forward? So Friday's stages are run on Saturday, Sat on Sun and Sun on Mon? Sardinia is two weeks away so there should still be some time.

Don't ask this kind of flexibility in that dogmatic world. I wonder why they didn't drive ss 6 and ss 7 with only wrc cars if only group N crews were unready.

[GigiGalliNo1]

so now they have to fly back to cordoba? and transfer the cars back? then back up again to the HQ/Service park and have MORE problems probably soemthing like today!?!!??!
Seriously sitting here.....on the forum........the only news I'm getting is from you guys which is great but bull from wrc.com and others......late bull news.....not happy d.richards!

[GigiGalliNo1]

Crash.net have a RADIO Report:

http://www.crash.net/home.asp?cid=4

[GunsofNavarone]

so now they have to fly back to cordoba? and transfer the cars back? then back up again to the HQ/Service park and have MORE problems probably soemthing like today!?!!??!
Seriously sitting here.....on the forum........the only news I'm getting is from you guys which is great but bull from wrc.com and others......late bull news.....not happy d.richards!

I agree, but the official website of Rally Argentina has no news on the cancellation either. It's not a question of the media not reporting fast enough, it's that the media are not being informed of the situation.

[GigiGalliNo1]

I agree, but the official website of Rally Argentina has no news on the cancellation either. It's not a question of the media not reporting fast enough, it's that the media are not being informed of the situation.

Ok sorry bout that....just some rage!

Radio on Crash also have news old with competing last few stages of day, whilst someone else reports that fri is cancelled. (sms)

[Lousada]

Don't ask this kind of flexibility in that dogmatic world. I wonder why they didn't drive ss 6 and ss 7 with only wrc cars if only group N crews were unready.

I read somewhere else that some important officials are also stranded. This might explain why they can't run.

[jonas_mcrae]

Nothing against argentinians, but hope Argentina is out of next years chalendar and give them a chance latter as with portugal, bring mexico back LOL at least is not as bad organised and there would still be a round in america..

[Simmi]

Matt they dont have to fly back to Cordoba because that is where the rally is actually based. Seems stupid as they have a perfectly good superspecial there anyway.

[jonas_mcrae]

Matt they dont have to fly back to Cordoba because that is where the rally is actually based. Seems stupid as they have a perfectly good superspecial there anyway.

Exactly, Cordoba's SSS was perfectly good, it was the greedy organisers that wanted to get more $$$

[L5->R5/CR]

Exactly, Cordoba's SSS was perfectly good, it was the greedy organisers that wanted to get more $$$



And like David Richards wasn't sitting there drooling prodding them along and encouraging them as much as possible.

More commercial circus for the "promotion" of the sport at the cost of legitimate sporting...

[Rally_Rocks]

Just spoken to the guys in Carlos Paz.

Apparently the rules say that as long as the stewards declare a result, half points will be awarded, no matter how many kms have been completed.

As things stand in Argentina, if all remaining stages in Leg 2 and 3 of the rally are completed, we will be 13kms short of the required distance for full points.

Apparently it might be possible to add the required kms to the remaining scheduled distance.

[jidoka]

So the legimitacy of the rally has been compromised for a 2.2km superspecial....

[bt52b]

Just spoken to the guys in Carlos Paz.

Apparently the rules say that as long as the stewards declare a result, half points will be awarded, no matter how many kms have been completed.



Bit like like the 1984 Monaco GP when it was cut short because the rain was so bad and they awarded half points. Prost won the championship by half a point that year.

[GunsofNavarone]

Bit like like the 1984 Monaco GP when it was cut short because the rain was so bad and they awarded half points. Prost won the championship by half a point that year.

Good stat.

[bt52b]

http://www.rallyargentina.com/castellano/ampliar_noti.php?id_noti=144

on the official site, only in spanish, looks like everything will start after service "B" (the second one I supose) at 14.56 Argentina time the first car will leave the service park, the cause of this is because the "blue" airplane could not land in Cordoba's Airport. So the rally will star at SS7 as kakus said and that will mean there will only be 2 stages before the cordaba superspecial, today. This is not looking good, stupid "blue" plane, whatever it is...!

In english now :bandit: :angryfire

http://www.rallyargentina.com/english/ampliar_noti.php?id_noti=145

http://www.rallyargentina.com/english/

[Simmi]

Half points would just further compound the embarassment in my opinion as we'd have to wince every time we look at the championship standings.

Saying that I've done that for the past couple of years anyway thanks to Super Seb.

[Simmi]

In english now :bandit: :angryfire

http://www.rallyargentina.com/english/ampliar_noti.php?id_noti=145

http://www.rallyargentina.com/english/

The leg has been 'modifided' apparently. Thats one way of putting it. The correct english translation would be something more like 'Cancelled' or 'balls'd up'!

[cannyboy]

from subaru usa:

Immediately following the stadium stage the rally cars were loaded back onto the transporters and driven overnight back to Carlos Paz where they were unloaded and put into Parc Ferme at approximately 8:40AM Friday morning, on schedule. But where are the drivers? As the cars were being unloaded some drivers had still not arrived back to Carlos Paz!

The facts are still trickling in here to the team hotel in Carlos Paz, but it seems late last night the Buenos Aires airport lost their radar and no flights could depart. The drivers waited and waited in the airport all night. Then at about 3am the three planes departed for Cordoba. Two planes landed safely at about 4am, but the 3rd chartered jet, which included Pastrana/Edstrom had to turn around and fly back to Buenos Aires! It is unconfirmed, but weather(fog) was the culprit. As of 11am this morning that 3rd and final plane is still in Beunos Aires waiting for heavy fog at Cordoba airport to lift! Without that final plane load of drivers the rally can not run as planned today.

Most of today's stages will be canceled. Rally officials are still determining if the final two originally scheduled special stages as well as the end of day Cordoba stadium stage could be run as planned.

[SubaruNorway]

Hennings mentioning that fridays stages might be run on sunday http://www.vgb.no/6339/

[Priorat]

Bit like like the 1984 Monaco GP when it was cut short because the rain was so bad and they awarded half points. Prost won the championship by half a point that year.

In fact Prost lost the championship by half a point.
He was declared winner of the Monaco GP with half of the points (4,5)
If the race had been declared complete the next lap and Prost handed 6 points for second he would have been champion by 1 point.

Sorry completely off topic. Just to precise.

[Lousada]

As things stand in Argentina, if all remaining stages in Leg 2 and 3 of the rally are completed, we will be 13kms short of the required distance for full points.

Apparently it might be possible to add the required kms to the remaining scheduled distance.


If it's only 13 km, they could do a couple of extra laps on the remaining Superspecials. They wouldn't undergo the embarrasment of half points. Would they?

[N.O.T]

If i was God, Argentina would not be a happy place to be right now......

[Gard]

Calm down guys. After all it's the weather to blame. Organizers hasn't done much wrong. Except maybe cutting the schedule a bit short.

[JAM]

Calm down guys. After all it's the weather to blame. Organizers hasn't done much wrong. Except maybe cutting the schedule a bit short.

You could do a rally without roll-bar in the car and with no problems at all... except if you crash. But do you even imagine in doing a rally in a car without roll-bar?

[DonJippo]

Calm down guys. After all it's the weather to blame.

Must have been the first time ever they have bad weather in Argentina...? Where is the back up plan? How come cars managed to get in on time but drivers not? No busses in Argentina? It's all to organisers to blame about the mess.

[L5->R5/CR]

Calm down guys. After all it's the weather to blame. Organizers hasn't done much wrong. Except maybe cutting the schedule a bit short.




Silly question.

Why not run at night?

Oh, wait, ISC/FIA killed that idea years ago...

And the organizers are very much to blame. The Cordoba airport has constant fog problems, and the Buenos Aires airport is notorious for problems with radar. The organizers put forth a plan that had two very serious flaws that they had no way to control for. I mean cripes, the whole thing hinging on the condition of being able to land 3 jets at an airport notorious for fog problems, at night, which is the prime time for fog in the first place. The lack of an exectuable contingency plan for this very possible scenario is pathetic.

This was a bad idea from the beginning and now the rally is a complete sham because of it.

[Gard]

You could do a rally without roll-bar in the car and with no problems at all... except if you crash. But do you even imagine in doing a rally in a car without roll-bar?

I agree, their schedule was a bit risky.

[ste898]

All that interests DR is money thats why he ruined WRC to line his pockets!!!

[Erki]

They should have made it a WRC raid, from Buenos Aires to Cordoba. At night! Now that would have been spectacular!

[koko0703]

Good idea, poor excusion.... It's not totally organizers' fault but still disappointing to lose one whole leg. I wonder how this cancellation affects the future of Argentinian events.

[GigiGalliNo1]

lol

well at least we've gotten the news........5-6 hours later.

[Simmi]

Why is DR automatically blamed for this? Did he have anything to do with it? He's got more important fish to fry...

[Tomi]

Why is DR automatically blamed for this? Did he have anything to do with it? He's got more important fish to fry...

its quite difficult to imagine that this whole stupid idea is someone elses but his.

[GigiGalliNo1]

ahh.....

[xavier]

The problem was created because they wanted a SSS in Buenos Aires.

Most of us, don't like them, but i think most of us don't mind them either.. But we have now that ridiculous trend of putting the SSS in stadium. That forces the whole rally to move far away from the actual competitive rally location. Athens, last year, was not too far, Wembley was already further, Monaco, this year, was already ridiculously far and this time in Argentina it's just idioticly far!

Sure, the organisation is not responsable for the weather, but they choose to take that risk and now everyone pays for it. the FIA is the one also pushing these SSS so they also have their part in the fiasco [anyway the FIA is always to blame]

[GigiGalliNo1]

WRC dot com

"The organisers of Rally Argentina have announced the planned ninth stage of the rally, the Cordoba Stadium Super Special, will proceed tonight as initially planned. The stage will run at 1905 local time (2305 GMT) and will be broadcast live on WRC+ as previously announced."

feeeeeyuuuuuf!!!!?????

[N]

It is interesting that they are going to run the Super Special, yet, they can't run the real stages, why not cancel the Super Special and make sure that the proper stages are run? I know, they would screw themselves even more cause a lot of people have tickets to the SSS, but image all the people that traveled to Argentina to see the rally and they don't get crap. Could this be the end of rally Argentina in the WRC calendar?

[savvas]

WRC dot com

"The organisers of Rally Argentina have announced the planned ninth stage of the rally, the Cordoba Stadium Super Special, will proceed tonight as initially planned. The stage will run at 1905 local time (2305 GMT) and will be broadcast live on WRC+ as previously announced."

feeeeeyuuuuuf!!!!?????

ss7 should have started by now??????

[GigiGalliNo1]

Yes stage 7 should have started in 11minutes but has been canceled. But SSS is at 7:05pm, it is now 4pm! So only a few hours! Only thing is any one know if it will be Live on WRC+?

[Erki]

I have an idea! Why not put up SSSs at all stadiums in country and then let them drive from one to another, that way they only have SSSs and all of them are held at stadiums. Perfect! Or...well, maybe not so very... :erm:

[Brother John]

It´s time for a Beer i think! :beer: Now controle by the F.I.A :D

[pino]

The problem was created because they wanted a SSS in Buenos Aires.

Most of us, don't like them, but i think most of us don't mind them either.. But we have now that ridiculous trend of putting the SSS in stadium. That forces the whole rally to move far away from the actual competitive rally location. Athens, last year, was not too far, Wembley was already further, Monaco, this year, was already ridiculously far and this time in Argentina it's just idioticly far!

Sure, the organisation is not responsable for the weather, but they choose to take that risk and now everyone pays for it. the FIA is the one also pushing these SSS so they also have their part in the fiasco [anyway the FIA is always to blame]

Exactly, not a single real rally-fans care about SSS, so why are they still doing them ? Just ridicolous :down: :mad:

[Tomi]

they are propably going to drive fridays stages on sunday, so that they get enough km, to give full points

[ste898]

Its turning into a compete joke now!!!!!!!

[Xeroid]

What a complete and utter f**k up ...
They've been pushing NZ to a single service park and handy SSS which went off like a dream last year and then they (FIA) allow this to go ahead.
If I was a driver I'd be refusing to drive the SSS, that's just a circus show, not a Rally.
If I wasn't an optimist I'd be saying DR is attempting to kill WRC by making it impossible to run.
Glad I didn't stay up all night waiting for something to happen.
No WRC Radio, No Radar, No Information, No organisation, No F****g good. Some one needs their rear end kicking for this.

[Buzz Lightyear]

who should be made liable for 1/3 of the cost of team's costs for doing this event. Millions of pounds wasted.

Blame the organisers, the weather, blame this, blame that... But whoever sanctioned a 600kms for a round trip to a super special needs their head examined. Its a complete waste of resourses. Planes, trains, trucks, ... for what? To see a 1/2 empty football stadium? Talk about saving the planet... its not a very good showcase.

Sitting here is Europe with little or no news, for a World Championship, is little short of pathetic.

Forget about the corporate hospitally, (on at least on 12 of the 16 events in the year). Rallying is not F1. Buy a couple of helicopters, bolt on a couple of cameras, broadcast it live on the net with live splits on screen. Have a couple of roaming reporters doing live interviews at the end of each stage. I would pay €100 for a year for decent coverage, but this is just useless.

[JAM]

Exactly, not a single real rally-fans care about SSS, so why are they still doing them ? Just ridicolous :down: :mad:


The problem are not the SSS, the problem is a SSS 750km away from the HQ of the rally. Please don't mix the things.

SSS are good to the rallying because they create interest in lot of spectators that usualy don't follow rallying.

[jidoka]

SSS are good to the rallying because they create interest in lot of spectators that usually don't follow rallying.

What about the spectators who actually follow the sport. Those who planned to take in Fridays stages and see some proper rallying? Will they still be interested after this incident?

A SSS is a great idea if it can be accommodated properly. In this instance it was not.

[Maui J.]

This is really disapointing for everyone. It must be super frustating for the international spectators who made the effort to go to Rally Argentina. I also feel for the privateer drivers who made the expensive trip there. Nothing worse than sitting outside the cinema when you have paid for your ticket to go in.
I wonder if there will be any financial compensation on entry fees etc.
Bringing the rally to the masses is one thing, but unfortunately this has really backfired.
Not much sleep for the organisers this weekend as they will be scrambling in damage control.
I'd be very surprised if they can run any of Friday's stages on Saturday or Sunday. The logistics of road closure, warning the residents/farmers etc, new timetable, is too big. This organisation takes months to do.
I guess the report after the rally will blame the weather.
Real shame.

[Tomi]

SSS are good to the rallying because they create interest in lot of spectators that usualy don't follow rallying.

I dont belive in this, yesterdays SSS war more than boring, actually a SSS gives no picture about what rally is.

[COD]

It is a shame and doesn't improve the image of WRC at all.

BUT. The idea was great. There probably are not that many people who would have travelled from Buenos Aires to Cordoba to watch the event. But those people got the chance to see the action there. (Although there has been better superspecials than the one we saw last night).

The organisers took a gamble in some sense, but who on earth could have predicted such bad weather months ahead. I know we are rally enthusiast here but sometimes we need to see bigger picture. For WRC to be a big sport, it needs more than us few enthusiasts, it needs bigger audience and the only way to do that is to introduce it to new people. The Argentinian organisers tried to do that (and managed to some degree), but were hampered by bad luck. We should understand

UGH, I have spoken

[GunsofNavarone]

http://www.wrc.com/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10111~1021286,00.html

In light of the cancellation of today's special stages, WRC.com is now offering free access to the WRC+ live video coverage of tonight's and Sunday's Super Special stage which will be run in the Cordoba Stadium.

The broadcast coverage will begin tonight at 1905 local time (2305 GMT) and will continue Sunday night at 1305 local (1705 GMT).

Thank you for following Rally Argentina this weekend with WRC.com

[Tomi]

It is a shame and doesn't improve the image of WRC at all.

BUT. The idea was great. There probably are not that many people who would have travelled from Buenos Aires to Cordoba to watch the event. But those people got the chance to see the action there. (Although there has been better superspecials than the one we saw last night).

The organisers took a gamble in some sense, but who on earth could have predicted such bad weather months ahead. I know we are rally enthusiast here but sometimes we need to see bigger picture. For WRC to be a big sport, it needs more than us few enthusiasts, it needs bigger audience and the only way to do that is to introduce it to new people. The Argentinian organisers tried to do that (and managed to some degree), but were hampered by bad luck. We should understand

UGH, I have spoken

Maybe it would have been more clever to arrange free transport from buenos aires to the stages and back instead.

[Maui J.]

It is a shame and doesn't improve the image of WRC at all.

The organisers took a gamble in some sense, but who on earth could have predicted such bad weather months ahead. I know we are rally enthusiast here but sometimes we need to see bigger picture. For WRC to be a big sport, it needs more than us few enthusiasts, it needs bigger audience and the only way to do that is to introduce it to new people. The Argentinian organisers tried to do that (and managed to some degree), but were hampered by bad luck. We should understand.


Thanks COD. I agree, it was a gamble. If they pulled it off, the FIA would be singing their praises. Unfortunatly in all went belly up.
Can't see this type of thing happening again... no Helsinki stadium, no Stockholm stadium, no Roma stadium...
Keep it simple.

[MJW]

[quote="Maui J."]

THANKFULLY !

[Bluewaves620]

Hi all, i just come from work... no much to say... i still cant believe FIA allowed to organise in this way. Im from Córdoba and from the begining when they announced to start in Bs As, i couldnt believe it was worth and i wondered about enough time.
But, somehow i supposed FIA would say "no" when checking the risks.
I think ALWAYS must be considered any possible emergency to solve.
I think also that people from BsAs who like rally, take the weekend and come to Córdoba to watch and enjoy the gravel stages. then NO NEED to take rally there.
Cordoba STadium was almost full last year.
I believe this situation made organisation disaster, ashaming and more expensive.
Im deeply sorry for lot of people who travel a long to watch and those who were from the night before waiting on stages. Im sorry for drivers who had to be around.
Then, finally, i expect the rest of the Rally goes well.
Hugs you all,

[Josti]

I dont belive in this, yesterdays SSS war more than boring, actually a SSS gives no picture about what rally is.

Exactly. Only thing is, modern day rallying isn't really reflecting it either. But to me, SSS are the shame of today's rallying. It's not a circus...

[White Sauron]

http://www.wrc.com/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10111~1021286,00.html

They wanna buy us???

[GunsofNavarone]

http://www.wrc.com/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10111~1021286,00.html

They wanna buy us???

I think it's more of an attempt to apologize.

[Xeroid]

So we all get to watch the circus but not the rally.

Bring on the clowns, Ooops, they're already here.

[A.F.F.]

I don't bother to register in wrc.com. :dozey:

[jonas_mcrae]

I think it's more of an attempt to apologize.

yeah, and at least is some compensation

[AlfaWRC]

WRASS - World Rally Against Super Stages!!!!! Just an idea - anyone interestet to pursue this idea?

Luckily I didn't book the flights to Argentina... Really considered this... Uuuhhhh

[SubaruNorway]

WRASS - World Rally Against Super Stages!!!!! Just an idea - anyone interestet to pursue this idea?

Luckily I didn't book the flights to Argentina... Really considered this... Uuuhhhh


Already added it as my signature

[Brother John]

I don´t see the link for free coverage!

[jonas_mcrae]

neithor do I, would it be in WRC+?

[Jonte]

Sign me up!

Super Special Stages is crap and has really nothing to do with rallying.

If you want to se rallycars go fast in a stadium - visit your nearest rallycross event. Those cars are much faster, and you get to see 6 cars at the time, bouncing into each other.

I've been to one SSS ever (of more than 100 WRC SS in total) and I will newer do it again. And now when a whole rally is jeopardized because of a SSS - I've definitly had it!

[SubaruNorway]

Rally live on the top left and live stage and whatch now

[Brother John]

Rally live on the top left and live stage and whatch now

I see only a foto from a subaru on the screen! :confused:

[jonas_mcrae]

are you watchin SUBARUNORWA1? mine is all black

[SubaruNorway]

yep still black usualy it says "live coverage will start soon" ore something. You need to click the orange button on the right John

[Simmi]

If it's anything like last night it will be like watching paint dry. At least they aren't going to make us sit through the PWRC cars first...

[SubaruNorway]

There it came

[GunsofNavarone]

If it's anything like last night it will be like watching paint dry. At least they aren't going to make us sit through the PWRC cars first...

Haha, but that's where my boy is.

[jonas_mcrae]

oh yeah there it is, Latvala vs Rais, at last some rally!! (not proper one but at least...)

[Simmi]

They are racing now. The fact both stadiums have the exact same layout makes the journey to BA even more pointless IMO.

[Simmi]

Haha, but that's where my boy is.

He was being nice and cautious last night I was quite impressed. Its a shame for him to not have run today because if there's one thing he already knows its stadium specials lol!

[SubaruNorway]

But no radio :(

[Brother John]

13 cars and I go to bed!

[Fiorio]

Have het start???

[SubaruNorway]

Hooly ****

[Fiorio]

forget...it´s ok :)

[Brother John]

Yes !

http://www.wrc.com/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10111~1021303,00.html

[Simmi]

Well Stohl wins the award for the most times someone can dent their car on a super special.

[jonas_mcrae]

at least the dirvers seem in a good mood..

[White Sauron]

Who'll start first tomorrow: Hirvonen or Loeb???

[Waldrons11]

Who'll start first tomorrow: Hirvonen or Loeb???

They will start in championship order still. A leg has to run at least 10% of its stages for the reverse road order rule to apply.

So Seb will start tomorrow first.

[Waldrons11]

they are propably going to drive fridays stages on sunday, so that they get enough km, to give full points

They will be starting Sunday morning earlier, and running Mina Clavero twice to make up the distance shortfall.

[jonas_mcrae]

Mcshea performing well with the Khumos, looks like they are quite good, pentti said something about that didnt he?

[Doon]

Look on the brightside, its the closest end to the first leg we've had in years!....and there you are all moaning about Super Special Stages. We'll have a great battle on our hands if we just have the rest of the stages as SSS's(how many S's?!?!) ;)

[JAM]

What about the spectators who actually follow the sport. Those who planned to take in Fridays stages and see some proper rallying? Will they still be interested after this incident?

A SSS is a great idea if it can be accommodated properly. In this instance it was not.


Someone is trying to be blind. The problem of Argentina was not the SSS's, the problem was an SSS 750km far from the HQ of the rally. How many times is needed to be wrote?

The SSS bring rally to public from the cities, and IMO this is a very good thing. Spectators on the roads are being less year by year. Not all the people wants to go to the montais and spend there an entire day eating dust. He need to have a flexible mind to look at rallying and motorsport in general, but we must have our brain in real world and no to try to cover all the country to make one single SSS!

[jidoka]

Someone is trying to be blind. The problem of Argentina was not the SSS's, the problem was an SSS 750km far from the HQ of the rally. How many times is needed to be wrote?

The SSS bring rally to public from the cities, and IMO this is a very good thing. Spectators on the roads are being less year by year. Not all the people wants to go to the montais and spend there an entire day eating dust. He need to have a flexible mind to look at rallying and motorsport in general, but we must have our brain in real world and no to try to cover all the country to make one single SSS!

So should a rally be comprised totally of SSS???
I'm totally agree with bringing rallying to the maximum possible audience. I don't like diluting the sport to the extent that it becomes simpliy a lap of stadium.
This is not the history of the sport and I don't believe it is the future.

[JAM]

So should a rally be comprised totally of SSS???
I'm totally agree with bringing rallying to the maximum possible audience. I don't like diluting the sport to the extent that it becomes simpliy a lap of stadium.
This is not the history of the sport and I don't believe it is the future.


Did i said that rally must be only SSS??? Is dificult to show you the point...

[WRXedUSA]

This rally is a disaster guys.

What a trainwreck.

[pino]

The problem are not the SSS, the problem is a SSS 750km away from the HQ of the rally. Please don't mix the things.

SSS are good to the rallying because they create interest in lot of spectators that usualy don't follow rallying.

Sorry mate but it's you who mix things, Rallying and SSS are two different things, two different Motorsport discipline, and for the good of Rallying, SSS shouldn't be there me think :)

[GigiGalliNo1]

http://www.wrc.com/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10111~1021286,00.html

In light of the cancellation of today's special stages, WRC.com is now offering free access to the WRC+ live video coverage of tonight's and Sunday's Super Special stage which will be run in the Cordoba Stadium.

The broadcast coverage will begin tonight at 1905 local time (2305 GMT) and will continue Sunday night at 1305 local (1705 GMT).

Thank you for following Rally Argentina this weekend with WRC.com

Thank you for following the rally? They're lazy with reports and took ages to get us some news! Bull! In return to the SSS, I'm not sure, it brings the crowds in, though I hear that the stadium was half full?! Silly decision.......but i'm not against the fact of SSS's..... or am I? (hav to think)

[amberie]

Sorry mate but it's you who mix things, Rallying and SSS are two different things, two different Motorsport discipline, and for the good of Rallying, SSS shouldn't be there me think :)

Yeah, the SSS can be annoying. But there have been a couple SSS that were good. You gotta admit it's fun watching the WRC cars on the Monaco Grand Prix circuit that F1 drivers can only dream of sliding around.

The Algarve Stadium stage in Portugal had enough straights to let the cars reach greater speeds. And where else could Gigi Galli have gotten on top of the car like he did? That was great. You can't do that at the end of a normal stage, with like 50 people around.

I think the Rikubetsu stage in Japan was a good compromise. It's a real stage, just shorter and more accessible. I also think it's better for rallying to have a real stage close the rally, with the SSS as the penultimate stage like in Norway.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Just watched Day 1 review on wrc.com...... pffftttttt

[M5]

How does the weather look like today, and when is the start of todays stages planned for in GMT ?

[Gard]

WRASS - World Rally Against Super Stages!!!!! Just an idea - anyone interestet to pursue this idea?

Luckily I didn't book the flights to Argentina... Really considered this... Uuuhhhh

Good idea. Or we could use -
World Rally Against Stadium Stages :)

[TMorel]

cancel all the proper stages leaving nothing but stadiums
then increase if from 1 to 60 laps to get enough KM's in
then get rid of the codriver (well, they've already got rid of their name)
then change the cars from saloon to openwheel
ZOMG - they really are trying to turn it into F1 !!!!
Has anyone seen Bernie hanging around?

[Corny]

what was the eurosport coverage like? was it only the superspecial and 10 minutes preview (like normal)?

[Viktory]

I just saw the Eurosport coverage of Day 1 ZZZzzzzZZZZzzzzZZZZzzz.....
´There was an intro of about 5-7 minutes with a very very quick look back at Portugal and the story with the Ford's windows. Then they showed the cars going to Buenos Aires (on trucks) and the drivers flying off. Then the majority of the programme just showed the SSS in Buenos Aires (at least 15 minutes), pretty much exactly like the live coverage.... Then they had a short thing about the failure to get back, and then they showed some runs at the Cordoba SSS. Very boring....

[Larry_Japan]

I think it is hilarious. One of the best, classic gravel events on the WRC calendar, one that get's millions of genuine fans out of their homes all over S America, has been single-handedly screwed by that tinpot napoleon ISC cowboy F***** M******'s idiotic vainglorious attempt to carve himself an Arg media empire. Watch him fall for this. It was never going to work, shipping an entire field of WRC &pWRC cars hundreds of miles between BA & Cordoba. Never. And the River Plate stadium turn-out hardly seemed worth the fuss anyway. Who suffers? the people, the real fans, who bothered to trek out to the real stages all. What a big embarrassing shambles. What an idiot. DR, and even the FIA, cannot ignore this.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Yawn Coverage

[Tom206wrc]

This starts to become a FARCE the organization of this rally !! :mad: :mad:

[Camelopard]

Hey, maybe we could get these guys to organise the next Cricket World Cup. :)

[Luckin]

A couple of photos from behind the scenes of thursday and friday "adventurous" trip can be found here:

http://www.ewrc.cz/2006/show.asp?clanek=5816

[Simmi]

I think the damning of all special stages is wrong. Live televised stages should be Chatsworth house/Clumber Park type tests which actually matter to the result and work much better for TV IMO. This is why something like what they attempted in Cyprus and also Monaco this year was a step in the right direction. Even the New Zealand stage looked half decent. I would subscribe to WRAS (World Rally Against Stadiums).