If it happens in the forest, hear about it here.

He just kept that sucker planted!
I'll give him one thing, he's committed!

So, aye, Ford have pulled out for 2013. Latvala moves to VW.

Citroen - Hirvonen - Loeb (part-time) - ?? (Thierry Neuville?)
VW - Ogier - Latvala
M-Sport - Solberg - ??
Prodrive - ??

I hope some of the talent from the IRC will migrate over. Drivers like Hanninen, Kopecky, Mikkelson and Breen should be in the WRC.

Then there's the question of what drivers like Novikov, Atkinson, Ketomaa, Tanak, Wilson, Sordo and Prokop will do..

pro drive are running private fords next year

SelectiveRogue wrote:pro drive are running private fords next year

Really? I'd love for them to get another works contract for 2014. But it's good to see Prodrive sticking with it.

Where will those two Mini's go?

Depressing stuff for the WRC in 2013. Seeing a Citroen/VW/Ford factory fight would have been fun. I just wish VAG and PSA would develop WRC kits for their respective S2000 Fabia and R5 208..

minis entered 2013 privater as well.

A mini, bloody hell, anybody else getting a 1970's flash back, our am I just too old

Was watching the women's golf last night. They were crap at driving but amazing with an iron

Less than a month now til the beginning of the season!

It all kicks off with the first round of the newly rebooted ERC - The Janner Rallye: A classic winter asphalt event in Austria. An event I'm particularly looking forward to. Especially with the debut of the 208 R5!



Then, after that, it's time for the Monte on the 16th, the first round of the WRC, with VW debuting it's brand new Polo!

Slightly off topic, Solberg has been making big hints that his immediate future will lye with Rallycross, although he hasnt said where yet...

I'd imagine that'd be European Rallycross. I hear M-Sport are building fiestas to Supercar regs.

nickyf1 wrote:I'd imagine that'd be European Rallycross. I hear M-Sport are building fiestas to Supercar regs.

Not sure its built by M-Sport but Ken Block's Global Rallycross Fiesta is based on the WRC car so it definately works. I think commercially it would be more beneficial for Solberg to do GRC since the coverage and sponsorship is there and its a growing series.

But hey thats just me lol

RX Supercars are not based on the WRC cars. It's explicitly forbidden in the regulations (in Europe, at least).

Olsbergs MSE currently build Fiestas, and M-Sport will be competing with their own Fiestas next season.

For me, the ERC is still what it's all about. I really did not enjoy watching the GRC in 2012. Awful tracks. And, whether people like it or not, the ERC is undergoing a revamp. Unfortunately, this has meant some classic staples of the season are missing.

nickyf1 wrote:RX Supercars are not based on the WRC cars. It's explicitly forbidden in the regulations (in Europe, at least).

In Europe yes, in America no.

I've enjoyed the GRC but must concede that the driver safety has been unacceptable on more than on occasion (especially X-Games!) But the series is gaining interest and the sponsorship and coverage are both there as are the big names (in the US atleast) which should see the series continue to grow.

After the success of Loeb and Gronholm its got to be attractive for other EX-WRC drivers. AND if rumours are be believed VW are considering a works backed effort based on their Polo WRC.

I am looking forward to the ERC revamp though and hopefully watching Mr Foust have another shot at the title...

On a side note there are strong rumours of Citroen entering WTCC in 2014, which COULD spell the end for their WRC programme...

[quote="Slider S15"]

nickyf1 wrote:
After the success of Loeb and Gronholm its got to be attractive for other EX-WRC drivers. AND if rumours are be believed VW are considering a works backed effort based on their Polo WRC.

I think you mean this?

Anton Marklund's Polo Supercar for ERC - http://erc24.com/archives/8565

There are rumours of Per Eklund building a VW Beetle for GRC.

And I though Ken Block's cars were Olsbergs MSE?

nickyf1 wrote:

Slider S15 wrote:After the success of Loeb and Gronholm its got to be attractive for other EX-WRC drivers. AND if rumours are be believed VW are considering a works backed effort based on their Polo WRC.

I think you mean this?

Anton Marklund's Polo Supercar for ERC - http://erc24.com/archives/8565

There are rumours of Per Eklund building a VW Beetle for GRC.

And I though Ken Block's cars were Olsbergs MSE?

Beetle sounds cool

No not Marklund's Polo it was actual VW said they were considering it after their executives saw X-Games.
http://erc24.com/archives/7092

Block's first Fiesta was an Olsbergs, his 2012 car is an EX-WRC Fiesta.
http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/07/26/ken-block-ford-fiesta-rs-wrc-hfhv/ (not the first article i've seen it in but it'll do lol)

http://www.fiaerc.com/news/detail/id/45
Kopecky goes fastest in the first shakedown in Austria. Francois Delecour, in the 207, goes second fastest.

Day 1 coverage will be on Eurosport tomorrow at 23:30.

I was expecting live TV, like with the IRC, but, oh well

Global Rallycross 2013 Round 1/X-Games Brazil:

Poor driving in the X Games

Yes there was, very disappointed to loose Foust like that in the Final

That woman comms girl she loved it and really bigged up that driving style. Just shocking and a joke. The three top guys all getting taken out in that final. I was quite suprised to see 6 cars make it to the grid after it.

Only just saw this on TV yesterday, also spotted a Rogue van in the background early on

For anyone who wants to be whisked back to the days of Makkinen, McRae, Burns, Gronholm, Rovenperra, Panizzi, Sainz and co, then listen to the first song in this:

Great Race for GRC today. BIG step back up after last times rain out.

Still some deplorable driving at times but this time backed by some amazing racecraft as well.

Looking forward to the 2nd race tomorow

Man killed at Ravens Rock in Co.Waterford rally today in a Toyota Starlet. Thoughts go out to his friends and family

WRC anyone? The driver line up this year is very different, with two brits in works drives. Monte Carlo should be a cracker!

Citroen have scaled back to two cars this year. Northern Ireland's Kris Meeke is now their full time number one, and it's great to finally see the guy get a proper chance. Mads Ostberg also joins the team from M-Sport.

Volkswagen's title winning duo of Ogier and Latvala return. They are the favourites, definitely.

M-Sport's line up, like that of Citroen, is also totally different this season. Mikko Hirvonen rejoins his old team as number one, with support from Elfyn Evans (Son of Welsh rally legend Gwyndaf Evans - think MG S1600) and... Robert Kubica (who just won the ERCs opening event, the Jannerrallye, in a Fiesta RRC).

Hyundai return to the sport for the first time since 2003 with a very strong, attacking line up. Neuville, Sordo, Hanninen and Atkinson form the four pronged effort. Should be a great act to watch, and it's great that another manufacturer has joined and allowed these drivers a proper shot at the season.