2009 Rally of Financial Crisis Ireland

[Marcus]

Hello, good evening and welcome to the first installment of Alliance Motorsport's Rally Predictions for 2009. Unfortunately due to budget cuts, we have had to scale back our operations this year and been restricted to a black guy asking for change and offering hope in return for this one. Unfortunatly this guy seems to have a few problems on his mind and was rather puzzled by our questions. However, he looked forward to working with us in seeking a bailout of the rallying community.

What we cant avoid in this time of trouble is the fact WRC 2009 will be the most boring on record. No Monte, no Sweden, just 12 events with the sole highlight the return of Australia. And of course it's harder on us trying to poke fun at the sport when the big name in rallying, SWRT will not be returning, due to a mercy killing. Or Subaru not paying for enough Nazi hookers for Mosley to make a sane set of rules for 2011. Take your pick.

Also culled is Suzuki, who decided that a 1.95 was too much to spend on their rally campain. Which of course leaves us with No Petter Solberg and his large array of big boobied groupies to have parties and have lots of drunken sex - but on the other hand he no longer has to wonder what highly unlikely event - like a dog suicide bombing his car - will force his DNF. And of course leaves Chris Atkinson's future up in the air.

This leaves two works teams, a handful of M2 Citroens and Fords, plus a bunch of privateers we have never heard of before who will make up the numbers. This of course is following in the tried and true footsteps of the ARC - dumb rules forcing competitors out, manufacturers deciding they don't want to play and a handful of privateers who will never be paid any attention to by TV no matter how well they do. Once again, a world leader in rallying!

And much like the ARC of 2007 and Simon Evans, I would fully expect Sebastian Loeb to be unchallenged at any event, with either Mikko Hirvonen or Jari Matti Latvala with the odd Citroen blow in making up the minor placings. Except for one event where I feel the WRC cars will be so thin on the ground, it allows a Group N car to get on the podium. Until Toyota pulled out of the ARC, I would have said S2000 and Simon Evans in Australia for third outright......

So, Ireland. What to expect?

Sebastian to win. Duh.

Atkinson to do well before crashing, which MAY earn him a Citroen M2 seat for the rest of the year. I'm not hopeful.

A bunch of names you have never heard of to fill most of the finishing positions.

Danny Sordo to get a groupie, due to lack of other viable choices.

The irish to get very drunk and to sing dirty limericks as cars go by

But really, it'll be a thin year and I'll be stretching it to find much to write about. And our rally spy? He's muttering "Why on earth did I run for this job...?'

Oh well. We can only dream of better to come and for the promise of our forefathers of flame spitting machinery to come past.

[Necx0]

I too shared your pessimism at one point but I feel it could be quite a good year. Only 2 tarmac rounds means Loeb is no longer guaranteed 50 or so points per year which should spice up the championship a bit.

Of course Loeb will be the strongest, the guy is just a freak. Mikko and Jari got very close on pace last year, especially Jari so it could be pretty close on the gravel and expect Jari or Mikko to win in Norway. Dani Sordo just keeps getting stronger, although his car does have a strange habit of blowing up, maybe thats why they called it a C4?? (Boom-tish)

Behind them a fair few cars will be fighting it out. Atko will be quick when he appears and Urmo Aava will probably be best of the rest. Ogier and Ostberg proved at GB they can be mega fast but may not have the experience to challenge the front. Henning will grab a few points at most rallies as will Petter if he can get his hands on a half decent car for the rest of the year, he might struggle in a Xsara. Rauntenbach will continue attacking the scenery and Wilson will continue having "steady runs" at the bottom of the top 10. As for our local connection with Mr Novikov, I nominate him for biggest repair bill of the year, although hopefully Dale can curb that somewhat

As for Ireland?? Loeb runaway winner followed by Sordo and Mikko with plenty of cars off into the scenery.

[mattj]

shakedown

1. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 08 1min 38.0secs M
2. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC 1min 38.4secs M
3. Chris Atkinson Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC 1min 38.6secs MT
4. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC 1min 39.0secs M
5. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 08 1min 39.7secs M
6. Matthew Wilson Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC 08 1min 39.9secs A8
7. Urmo Aava Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC 08 1min 40.9secs MT
8. Khalid Al Qassimi BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 08 1min 41.1secs A8
9. Henning Solberg Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC 08 1min 41.4secs MT
10. Conrad Rautenbach Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC 1min 41.7secs MT
11. Sebastien Ogier Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC 1min 42.4secs A8

Hirvonen fastest in Irish shakedown | World Rally News | Crash.Net

[chacheen]

a few of my mates are up at the rally the weather is poor,expecting heavy rain for friday and showers saturday and sunday.strong chance of icy roads on friday morning so lets hope the tyres are better suited to condittions than in rally gb.there is a good buzz around the rally to see how fords will do and the expected battle between sordo and atkinson,

[Mike Cherry]

Could be a tad embarrassing for Sordo if Atko's pace in shakedown follows through to the rally finish.

[Jimmy]

I just read in Chris' blog that he is still getting used to not just arriving at the rally and having everything you need. Apparently he rocked up to the Shakedown and realised he hadn't brought a balaclava...luckily Seb had a spare and he borrowed that!!

[Rossco]

Originally Posted by Necx0

As for Ireland?? Loeb runaway winner followed by Sordo and Mikko with plenty of cars off into the scenery.

Well done with the prediction, and indeed Atko went off. But I would have to say the incident into the power pole rates a 9/10 for artistic impression and Citroen may keep him employed just for the extra TV time it generated being replayed 27 times in the coverage.

[Mike Cherry]

Could be good, Citroen have openly stated they wish to do some more work with him.
Pity Sordo went as well as he did............

[rowdytoot]

and he managed yet again to throw a decent result away in the last real stage...

[Necx0]

I completely forgot about my little pre-event prediction. Now for those Lotto numbers.....

Anyway pretty crazy event. Amazingly tricky conditions! After that first stage I thought we could be up for a bit of an upset, Latvala 40 seconds faster than Loeb and Mikko! Then Aava taking the lead.

After that it was just a Loeb masterclass though. People were crashing left right and centre and he was still a second or more faster per kilometre. The guy is ridiculous and watching him in the last town stage throwing it around was just epic. Whaddya know, Rautenbach threw it off the road and Wilson was steady......and slow.

Atko was a bit up and down but quite quick, very impressive crash!!! I think he would have lost the place anyway since he went on winter tyres and Henning went on "slicks".

The fact that Al Qassimi was in the points demonstrates the lack of depth this year but bring on Norway!!!!!!