Monte Carlo Rally

[IainW]

It seems like only the other week when the Skoda mechanics decided to change Colin McRae's clutch on Rally Australia which cost him any hope of a podium result, but here we're at the first rally of the new season already!

Even though Skoda, Citroen, Peugeot and Mitsubishi have pulled out, there's still a quality field. Just been checking out some photos from the shakedown and the service areas. Some lovely looking cars out there this year, especially the Gauloise Citroen of Loeb and the Red Bull Skoda.

http://pikamitchu.ifrance.com/monte20061.html
http://pikamitchu.ifrance.com/monte20063.html
http://pikamitchu.ifrance.com/monte20062.html

Another Loeb win I reckon, even though he's not in the works Citroen anymore and they're running with passive differentials now.

 

[Cupra Kid]

shame you cant buy skodas that look like that from the dealer!

 

[Ant FR]

You can if you go to the homeland, there are a few threads on briskoda about it.

 

[Vicky M]

sorry guys!!!!!!!

can't help still holding a soft spot for SWRT.
what a phat car

 

[markoos]

Well 2 stages in and Loeb leading already-has anyone checked out this site for rally stuff?they do a kind of fantasy rally every rally weekend.
http://www.rallye-info.com

 

[IainW]

Thanks for the link. Good to find a website about the WRC where you don't have to pay to look at anything other than press releases which you have see elsewhere a million times already.

Bit of a disaster with the first few stages. Traffic jams due to the sheer number of spectators trying to get to the stages caused only 11 cars to finish the first 2 stages! So the rest of the field have been given a nominal time for them and stage 3 has been cancelled.

 

[IainW]

Today's coverage on British Eurosport at 11.30pm.

Loeb (crash) and Solberg(engine) out, Gronholm leads.

 

[RobDon]

The new Impreza looks freakin' ugly - sorry! (and it's broken down already - lol!) The Red Bull Skoda Fabia looks awesome - c'mon Skoda bring out a Fabia WRC limited edition road car with a 2.0T FSi engine in it!!!

 

[stoneyfordNI]

cant believe local fella , austin machale is in the rally (focus wrc) i pulled him outta hedge in donegal a couple of years back , old fckr

 

[WeeJase]

The new Impreza looks freakin' ugly - sorry! (and it's broken down already - lol!) The Red Bull Skoda Fabia looks awesome - c'mon Skoda bring out a Fabia WRC limited edition road car with a 2.0T FSi engine in it!!!

new impreza looks very SEAT influeneced to me,and the fabia does look spunkalicious in tarmac form doesn't it?

 

[IainW]

cant believe local fella , austin machale is in the rally (focus wrc) i pulled him outta hedge in donegal a couple of years back , old fckr

His lad Gareth was in it as well, in a slightly newer Focus than him.

Gronholm won then.

Loeb was frighteningly quick to go from 8th to 2nd, making up so much time. Don't like those SupeRally rules though. Loeb makes a mistake and can rejoin, but Solberg's engine goes bang and he can't. Those points that he lost could be crucial come the end of the year.

Sweden in two weeks' time, looking forward to that one. I reckon Matthias Ekstrom (DTM Champ 2004) could do well in the Red Bull Fabby. Best looking WRC car I have seen in recent years.

 

[Black]

I was there this weekend, on some bussiness tough but I managed to take some shots in the harbour.
Pics. aren't top quality (my fault), because of the fact most of them were taken at 6 am but I did my best.

Enjoy.








Boxes:




Tires and wheels:




Some more...

 

[andyj]

Does anyone else think the 'new' Subaru front end looks a bit like a Mk3 Ibiza Cupra ?!?

SOme good coverage on ITV yesterday. Shame Loeb was on the wrong tyres !!! So much for an 'independant' team.... more of a 2nd works team if you ask me !!

Those Fabia's look awesome !!

 

[IainW]

What have they done to that Integrale?!

 

[Cupra Kid]

I knew the subaru reminded me of something! its the mk3 front end!

Intergrale