< one week until Monte Carlo: Lets see some WRC talk

[alachua]

It has been a busy off season in the WRC. This year will have the most teams running in three years, and will most likly hold that title for a few years with the announcement of Citroen and Peugeot leaving.

So, lets hear those wild predictions.

Loeb will continue to be a consistant top performer. Despite running essentiall the same car as last year, I really think he will be a podeum finisher in almost every race. He didn't win last year by being the fastest, he just never crashed or DNF'ed.

Ford will be lack luster. They have middle rate tallent, and are running a car that didn't do a lot of winning last year. They are just waiting for next season, where they get the rule changes that they cried for.

Peugeot is gonna be good, if they have a tranny that is more reliable than a stock WRX. The glass tranny is all that kept Gronholm from being one of the best drivers last year. It will be interesting to see if Markko keeps his flat-out-or-bust driving style with the new car. They are two top rate drivers, and can definatly bring home a Manufacturers title if the car lets them. Oh, and Marcus will continue to be the best personality in Rallye, and possibly all of racing.

Subaru has a real solid chance of both a driver's and manufacturers title. They have a returning driver who knows how to get the most out of the car on a lot of rallyes, they will hopefully have a solid number two guy to get points, unlike last year. As long as they cured the Fatal Water Crossing bug (Ie: puddle of death) that cost them a hand full of DNF's last year, they should be good. With a few more teams sharing the Pirelli's, hopefully tires will not hold them back on the tarmac stages.

Skoda and Mitsu will hopefully give me something to talk about, other than making jokes about DNF'ing before the start of SS1, again.

I say Seb wins in Monte, with Marcus and Peter on the podium.

-Cliff

[leeden]

Subaru should be interesting this year with Atkinson and Sarrazin joining the team. They now have a tarmac specialist.

I'm also wondering if the Mitsubishi will get any uglier this year.

[the mike]

I really wished Richard Burns would be better in time to run this season, but health is more important than anything else, so...

[MuddyREX]

Does the Gronholm blinkless stare while he's racing creep anyone else out???

[leeden]

The Duval tongue creeps me out.

[alachua]

Originally Posted by MuddyREX

Does the Gronholm blinkless stare while he's racing creep anyone else out???

Nah, I can go a while without blinking, especially while concentrating.

Originally Posted by leeden

The Duval tongue creeps me out.

I was just about to post that when I read Muddy's post. That and Mikko's never closing mouth. I swear Duval is trying to lick his nose...

I wish the WRC site did a count down like the F1 site does...

T-minus 6 days until rallye...

-Cliff