WRC 2012

freestyla

Couldn't find if WRC 2012 thread exists already?

Anyway yesterday's big news was Hirvonen's first win for Citroen woohoo!

Today's big news is disqualification of Citroen!

Winning the most foggy and muddy Portugal rally then something like non-compliant clutch and turbo comes and takes the points away

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98551

"....Citroen technical director Xavier Mestelan-Pinon explained that the clutch removed from the car was from a different batch number to that shown on the homologation form. He stated that this was clearly a big mistake and was unsure how it happened."

I hope it's all fair play inside Citroen team and unfortunate situation with clutch but something tells me that's conspiracy
No but seriously.. come oon! I guess Citroen plays dirty.. they are like Ferrari in F1.. Loeb to be nr1 and they made sure Hirvonen is not gonna lead championship :mad: :mad:

h3000

There are one or two threads here alright.

I'm a fan of Mikko and was delighted to see him take his win, although I'm a bit sour with him since he moved to Citroen .

In saying that though if his car does not comploy with the homologation parameters they should be penalised. If it is believed to have been a genuine mistake he should be given a time penalty but if it is believed that Citroen were deliberate in their actions they should be disqualified.
In Portugal (a bit of a theme here) in 2007 all 06 Focus WRCs were given five minute time penalty because their rear side windows were 0.5mm too thin.


Crazy rally this weekend though. I'd love to see Petter take the championship.

Malari

And Ostberg gets the win

De Hipster

I'm of similar opinion & attitude to h3000, always liked Hirvonen & was quite put out by his sudden & surprise move to Citroen this year.

From wrc.com

Hirvonen crossed the finishing ramp of the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia event with a margin of almost two minutes over second-placed Mads Ostberg. However, a report prepared by the FIA technical delegate afterwards confirmed the Citroen DS3 WRC Hirvonen took to victory was using a clutch that did not comply with the car’s homologation documentation.”

Xavier Mestelan-Pinon, Citroen Racing technical director and deputy team principal, said: “The scrutineers identified differences between the homologation sheet and two components: the clutch and the turbocharger. The Citroen DS3 WRCs clutch mechanisms are homologated with lightening holes. Our supplier recently provided us with a batch of parts that were not perforated and one of them was fitted to the No.2 DS3 WRC [of Hirvonen]. These parts don’t provide any gain in terms of performance, as they are heavier than those, which are homologated.

He continued: “Regarding the turbocharger, which is a standard part on all World Rally Cars, the wheel turbine dimension exceed the maximum authorised. This difference comes from dilatation, as the wheel is subject to extreme temperature and rpm factors.”

Matton, the Citroen team principal, added: “We had no intention whatsoever to cheat and the decision appears out of proportion. Given the fact that the reported differences didn’t bring us any advantage, we’ve decided to appeal. At the moment, most of all I feel sorry for Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, who produced a superb performance on a particularly difficult rally. They really deserved their first win with us. All I can do, on behalf of the entire team, is offer my sincere apologies for this situation. I hope that Mikko and Jarmo will have the chance to top the podium again very soon. ”

If the Citroen explanation is true, it is a VERY sloppy mistake by the team. However, I find it very difficult to believe that incorrect parts supplied to the team would then be checked, packed & shipped to an event with approved components...very suspect in my opinion.


in other WRC news, big congrats to Alastair Fisher for taking the Academy win in Portugal.

h3000

De Hipster wrote: »

in other WRC news, big congrats to Alastair Fisher for taking the Academy win in Portugal.

Big +1 Bertie would be proud.

Would be great to see another Irish win in the Academy this year.

recyclebin

I was watching the highlights on Motors TV last night and they didn't even show who got the points in the power stage. There were also a few editing errors where they threw in clips at random.

Is there any better coverage on any other stations? I didn't see it listed anywhere on ESPN or Eurosport this weekend.

Malari

recyclebin wrote: »

I was watching the highlights on Motors TV last night and they didn't even show who got the points in the power stage. There were also a few editing errors where they threw in clips at random.

Is there any better coverage on any other stations? I didn't see it listed anywhere on ESPN or Eurosport this weekend.

I noticed that too! I thought it must have been Solberg and they were leaving it till last to show him, but then they didn't show it

freestyla

h3000 wrote: »

in 2007 all 06 Focus WRCs were given five minute time penalty because their rear side windows were 0.5mm too thin.

Ford gained advantage here by saving few grams or kilos :P but this controversial Citroen clutch is even heavier than the one supposed to be since it doesn't have cooling holes

Well maybe heavier clutch is better for mud and dust..

marco2068

more of a flywheel effect maybe?

liam7831

The only way Petter is gonna win anything is if everyone else gets disqualifed for the rest of the season!!

h3000

Citroen decided to drop the appeal.

Eurosport wrote:

http://au.eurosport.com/wrc/citroen-drop-appeal_sto3221884/story.shtml

Citroen drop Hirvonen appeal

Citroen have dropped plans for an appeal that would, if successful, have seen their eight-times world rally champion Sebastien Loeb lose the overall lead to team-mate Mikko Hirvonen.

The decision not to contest a stewards' decision to strip Hirvonen of his first win for the team in Portugal last weekend meant Norwegian Ford driver Mads Ostberg could finally celebrate his maiden victory in the world championship.

De Hipster

Really just admitting fault ...no?

From here:http://www.wrc.com/news/citroen-decides-against-hirvonen-appeal/?fid=16468

In a statement, team principal Yves Matton said: “We had stated our intention to appeal in order to give us time to analyse the matter in more detail. As regards the clutch, our supplier has sent us a letter of apology acknowledging the existence of a batch of parts, which were different from those on the homologation documentation. This letter confirms that it was never our intention to cheat. At the same time, this situation forces us to look again at our procedures, since these parts were not picked up during our own checks.

I'm still not convinced that a WRC team whose only function & reason for existance is professional competition can let something like this slide & fit unapproved parts...I'm not buying the supplier story.

If (in the unlikely event that) it transpires that this story is genuine I'd seriously expect a Citroen head or two to roll for this - they shipped & fitted unhomologated parts to a competing car.

and...

“On the second point identified by the scrutineers, the sole supplier of turbo compressors approved by the FIA for all manufacturers, has confirmed to us the plastic expansion of the wheel turbine. Additional analysis will undoubtedly confirm that this was due to wear on the part. We accept this harsh penalty but are determined to learn the lessons and ensure that we will be even better in future. We still lead both world championships, but the gaps have been reduced. We now go into the upcoming rallies more determined than ever to get back to winning ways.”

Hmmm - and only causes a problem for Citroen?

freestyla

De Hipster wrote: »

Really just admitting fault ...no?

I'm still not convinced that a WRC team whose only function & reason for existance is professional competition can let something like this slide & fit unapproved parts...I'm not buying the supplier story.

Yeah man.. politics i tell you

It's so Loeb year again

h3000

Jari-Matti will not start in Argentina after skiing accident in Finland. If it wasn't before his season is now well and truly over :( . I really taught it was going to be his year.

wrc.com wrote:

http://www.wrc.com/news/injury-forces-latvala-out-of-argentina/?fid=16502
Jari-Matti Latvala has been forced to withdraw from Philips Rally Argentina later this month after breaking his left collarbone during a training fall.

Latvala was cross-country skiing in Lapland in the north of his native Finland on Wednesday when he slipped and landed heavily on his left shoulder.

He underwent surgery yesterday to have seven metal screws inserted into his shoulder to enable the healing process to begin.

A spokesperson for the Ford World Rally Team confirmed that Latvala won’t be able to compete in Argentina and that a replacement is currently being finalised.

“Cross-country skiing is part of his regular training programme and he’s a good and accomplished skier,” said a Ford spokesperson. “Unfortunately he suffered a heavy fall and has been withdrawn from Rally Argentina to give himself the best possible opportunity to be fit for the Acropolis Rally at the end of May.”

Ford is due to announce Latvala’s replacement shortly.

De Hipster

Saw that earlier today - gutted!

De Hipster

Think he considers cross-country skiing part of his training regime.
If Latvala didn't have bad luck...he'd have no luck at all.

savagecabbages

Remember Loeb broke did something similar and broke his arm while mountain biking a few years back?? Still won the championship of course:p I'm sure we wont be saying the same of Jari this time next january...

That makes Solberg number one, and I wonder who will get Jaris seat?
I'd love to see Meeke get it, however unlikely that may be...

h3000

savagecabbages wrote: »

Remember Loeb broke did something similar and broke his arm while mountain biking a few years back?? Still won the championship of course:p I'm sure we wont be saying the same of Jari this time next january...

That makes Solberg number one, and I wonder who will get Jaris seat?
I'd love to see Meeke get it, however unlikely that may be...

It's almost a done deal that Dani Sordo will take the seat for Argentina. There is a lot of talk that Jari-Matti may be off to VW next year and Dani will take the Ford seat full time then.

recyclebin

Make sense, Sordo is good driver and probably more reliable than Latvala.

Latvala must be on the worst run of luck i've seen in a long time.

dcr22B

If Sordo is off to MSport next season then it should give Prodrive the kick up the arse they need to get a title sponsor in for the Mini for 2013 and give Kris the seat and backing that he deserves.

Unfortunately, I feel hell will freeze over before that occurs!

afatbollix

Mini will not find a sponser at the moment to pay for it all.

With sordo off to Msport Prodrive has reduced there program for the rest of the year.

I dont expect to see prodrive around next year in the WRC

h3000

Dani confirmed for Argentina

wrc.com wrote:

http://www.wrc.com/news/sordo-to-replace-latvala-in-argentina/?fid=16518
Dani Sordo has been confirmed as Jari-Matti Latvala's replacement in the factory Ford team on Philips Rally Argentina, round five of the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia.

The Spaniard, 28, will deputise for Latvala who is unable to compete in South America after he broke his left collarbone in a fall while cross-country skiing as part of his regular fitness programme.

Sordo’s switch to Ford from the rival Prodrive WRC Team has been made possible after his employer Prodrive agreed to a temporary release. However, Sordo will be back at Prodrive for Rally New Zealand in June, while Latvala is expected to be fit enough to retake his place at Ford on the Acropolis Rally at the end of May.

“We’re naturally disappointed that Jari-Matti will miss the rally, but ensuring a full recovery as quickly as possible is the most important thing for him and the team,” said Ford World Rally Team director Malcolm Wilson.

“We’re fortunate to have a driver of Dani’s calibre to join us. His experience at Rally Argentina was a key factor in the decision, having started the rally five times,” Wilson continued. “The agreement is for one rally only, and I would like to thank the management of Dani’s current team, who were extremely gracious in helping us in such challenging circumstances.”

Sordo, the 2005 Junior world champion, has never won a round of the WRC before. However, he has scored 32 podiums, including his second-place finish for MINI on Rallye Monte-Carlo back in January.

His fastest time through the Power Stage on Vodafone Rally de Portugal at the start of April means his tally of stage best stands at 115 heading to Argentina, where he finished second for Citroen in 2009. Carlos del Barrio will continue to co-drive. Sordo’s first test in a Fiesta RS WRC is planned at Greystoke Forest in the United Kingdom tomorrow, Thursday.

Philips Rally Argentina takes place from 27-29 April.

recyclebin

Anyone watching the Argentina Rally?

Day 1 was just on Motors TV but it didn't have any commentary during the highlights. Instead it had background music in parts.

Is this all the viewers are going to get? The FIA really needs to sort this out and start promoting the sport or it will not be around much longer.

As for the race Loeb is leading by 0.1 over Hirvonen. Sordo is doing well in 3rd but could have been higher if not for a bad tyre choice on the last stage.