CONGRATS to M-Sport World rally Team!

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Congratulations to Seb Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, and the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team for winning the Rally Mexico Guanajuato in their Fiesta RS WRC.
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This puts them back into the lead of the WRC Driver's Championship after a disastrous Rally Sweden where they had to 'sweep'/plow all of the loose snow off of the icy stage roads for all of the other crews starting behind them.
 
Nothing against Seb but he's just not my favorite. I've always been a Jari Matti Latvala fan but I'm really starting to like Craig Breen.
 
^^^Admittedly, I am more a fan of certain cars and manufacturers doing well, than of any individual drivers/crews.

I LOVE IT when the M-Sport and FORD crews show the rest the quickest way down the stages, especially when they beat up on the MUCH MUCH better funded (with all of those Camry/Corolla TRILLION$$ in profits) Toyota Gazoo crews.
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I had to root for Ott (Tanak) last year, and a few before that, but this year I cannot wish him enough misfortune (with NO resultant physical harm to himself or Marty Jarveoja of course)! LOL

The last time I had a 'favorite character' type actual driver preference in the series was when Henri Toivonen was still alive behind the wheel of the Group B Delta S4.
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I will never forget when TTE (Toyota Team Europe) got caught CHEATING (albeit, yes, ingeniously) by the FIA in the 1995 WRC by using an turbo inlet restrictor opening 'trap door' type 'un-restrictor', which was VERY well hidden/disguised, but the scrutineers nabbed them anyway, eventually.
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Whatever it takes as far as the Nippon Giant is concerned, I guess.
 
^^^Did you ever go to the Maine/New England Forest rally?

For a few years in a row back in the early 2000s (when the SCCA was still the sanctioning body for stage Pro Rallying in this land), I was going to BOTH the summer AND winter versions of that event, working as part of either the stage start/finish crews, or marshaling the cross roads.

That was in addition to working the same functions at the Susquehannock Trail Pro Rally in the area around Wellsboro, Pa., every year back then as well.
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Originally Posted By: dailydriver
^^^Did you ever go to the Maine/New England Forest rally?

For a few years in a row back in the early 2000s (when the SCCA was still the sanctioning body for stage Pro Rallying in this land), I was going to BOTH the summer AND winter versions of that event, working as part of either the stage start/finish crews, or marshaling the cross roads.

That was in addition to working the same functions at the Susquehannock Trail Pro Rally in the area around Wellsboro, Pa., every year back then as well.
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It's pathetic that I have not. For a few years there I was trying to make the schedule work, but there was always something coming up that got in the way. Happens when you do 60+ hours weeks and can't always control the schedule as much as one would like.

But I think it's in the cards, and soon. One of my good friends frequents O'Neil Rally School in NH and I *think* is helping out with the race this year. He had mentioned it not too long ago, but maybe I can get up there to watch anyway.

Sound like you had a lot of fun though! It sure looks it.
 
Yeah, it's a blast working these events, do it if you can!!

Timo's rally school is on my bucket list to do before my time is up.

Another rally enthusiast on the ST site has gone, and says it has helped his driving skills more than anything else he's ever done, including actual pavement driving schools.
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FINALLY, I actually drive a same model car (said Fiesta ST) which is competing on these events which I can root for as well, and which pretty much dominates it's class (and which is also the basis for the WRC car this thread is about-the same crew also just won the all tarmac Corsican rally this past weekend).
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I miss VW's presence, 2015 was a great year (Me being a Finn and also a VW person)

I enjoy the WRC a lot.
 
Originally Posted By: 123Saab
I miss VW's presence, 2015 was a great year (Me being a Finn and also a VW person)

I enjoy the WRC a lot.


Yeah, but VeeDub just DUMPED (R&D, support, tech, etc.) coin into the effort until they just totally dominated (just like Toyota used to do with TTE, and like I was more than a little worried they would do once again with Gazoo Racing), and make the whole series a lot less'interesting'.

They also "bought" the absolute BEST crews money could buy for their FULL, EVERY EVENT, 3 car effort, so unless they ALL suffered catastrophic failure/crashes on the SAME event, they were assured of a win.

YES, MS-RT/Ford World rally Team was VERY VERY fortunate to 'score' Ogier, instead of the infinitely funded Toyota, where I thought/was worried that he would end up (I STILL don't understand HOW that happened, unless Ford Corporate Worldwide kicked in a BUNCH of coin towards his salary
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).

But yes, being a Ford rally fan from WAY BACK to the RWD, NA, Group 4 (and before that) Escort RS days, I certainly hope that Ford/M-Sport continue on their winning ways!!
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Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: 123Saab
I miss VW's presence, 2015 was a great year (Me being a Finn and also a VW person)

I enjoy the WRC a lot.


Yeah, but VeeDub just DUMPED (R&D, support, tech, etc.) coin into the effort until they just totally dominated (just like Toyota used to do with TTE, and like I was more than a little worried they would do once again with Gazoo Racing), and make the whole series a lot less'interesting'.

They also "bought" the absolute BEST crews money could buy for their FULL, EVERY EVENT, 3 car effort, so unless they ALL suffered catastrophic failure/crashes on the SAME event, they were assured of a win.

YES, MS-RT/Ford World rally Team was VERY VERY fortunate to 'score' Ogier, instead of the infinitely funded Toyota, where I thought/was worried that he would end up (I STILL don't understand HOW that happened, unless Ford Corporate Worldwide kicked in a BUNCH of coin towards his salary
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).

But yes, being a Ford rally fan from WAY BACK to the RWD, NA, Group 4 (and before that) Escort RS days, I certainly hope that Ford/M-Sport continue on their winning ways!!
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You can keep Sebastien, Just gimme VW and a Finn or two :p
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: 123Saab
I miss VW's presence, 2015 was a great year (Me being a Finn and also a VW person)

I enjoy the WRC a lot.


Yeah, but VeeDub just DUMPED (R&D, support, tech, etc.) coin into the effort until they just totally dominated (just like Toyota used to do with TTE, and like I was more than a little worried they would do once again with Gazoo Racing), and make the whole series a lot less'interesting'.

They also "bought" the absolute BEST crews money could buy for their FULL, EVERY EVENT, 3 car effort, so unless they ALL suffered catastrophic failure/crashes on the SAME event, they were assured of a win.

YES, MS-RT/Ford World rally Team was VERY VERY fortunate to 'score' Ogier, instead of the infinitely funded Toyota, where I thought/was worried that he would end up (I STILL don't understand HOW that happened, unless Ford Corporate Worldwide kicked in a BUNCH of coin towards his salary
21.gif
).

But yes, being a Ford rally fan from WAY BACK to the RWD, NA, Group 4 (and before that) Escort RS days, I certainly hope that Ford/M-Sport continue on their winning ways!!
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I miss VW too, and Subaru even more. I grew up with Subarus as were my first two cars. Loved watching McRae, Burns, and Petter do amazing things.

So once Subaru left WRC, and they miffed some of the engine design on the new Imprezas that I would have liked for my everyday car, I switched allegiance to Hyundai. Family is half Korean as it is so that made it easy. I really enjoyed the new designs ever since Kia/Hyundai poached Peter Schreyer from Audi. Would be great to see a proper i20 over this way but the Rio/Accent is about as close as one can get - even made on the same platform, so actually a lot of the same car. Has been a blast to drive and has the absolute best power to weight ratio in it's class, so for city driving (and parking!) can't complain.

Love me some Ford too though. If I recall they were instrumental in Korea launching a car industry way back when!

But here is hoping Hyundai continues to ramp it up. They seem to be building toward success at the moment but still have a ways to go. In the meantime, more competitors and models would make WRC in general a lot more exciting...who knows...maybe VW and Subaru will be back! Need to showcase those new global platforms
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Well Hyundai certainly hired the driving/co-driving talent needed to succeed, that's been proven.
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Yes, more manufacturers would make it even more interesting yet, and as much as everyone LOVES TO HATE/RAG ON/TOTALLY DIS GM (Opel/Vauxhall), I'd like to see them FULLY throw their hat into the WRC ring as well with a full-on commitment, but of course that is HIGHLY unlikely to impossible in today's corporate/economic environment at that company.
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Originally Posted By: 123Saab
You can keep Sebastien, Just gimme VW and a Finn or two :p



HA! MANY Finns in the past have driven for the Blue Oval, some quite successfully.
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Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: 123Saab
You can keep Sebastien, Just gimme VW and a Finn or two :p



HA! MANY Finns in the past have driven for the Blue Oval, some quite successfully.
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Indeed, Fords and Finns have always done well together.
 
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