Genesis during yesterday's WEC race at Barcelona - yearning for its natural habitat.

Credit: DirtFish

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/meeke-testing-hyundais-rally2-car/

In the article, it starts by praising Katsuta's performance at Safari Rally Kenya, that culminated in the Toyota Gazoo Racing driver's first WRC win. The article highlights that Katsuta is the first Japanese driver to win a WRC round since Kenjiro Shinozuka’s win at the 1992 Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Rally. Katsuta was also the first Japanese driver to lead the championship, in all of WRC's history.

Commenting on his rapid start to the season, he states:

“It’s been quite a nice start at the beginning of the season until the mid-season. Unfortunately, we were not able to fight for the championship until the end, so that was my biggest disappointment. But otherwise there were some good things and bad things. I just need to fix the bad things to be better. It is quite simple”

Taka also thanked the team for their backing and commitment in him over the 5 seasons of Rally1 and last season:

“Every single effort from every single person from the team made this car. I must say a big thanks to all the team members and I was really proud to drive this car.”

More information about Katsuta's up and down season can be found in the article.

Credits: FIA WRC via https://www.wrc.com/en

mitsubishi's disastrous 2002 season takes the cake for the most disappointing season.

next, what event (specific year) was the best ?

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The article above includes in-depth commentary by Armstrong, regarding his performances and also what he wanted to take into Sardegna.

He states:

“We have been getting a lot more pressure to have clean rallies and that was the main goal for this rally – to drive and not take any risks – and we managed to do a full event with this strategy, so I think that is positive."

And also on the consistency of the Puma and himself, as a driver:

“We had some really surprising moments throughout. We had a stage win and the Super Sunday in Croatia and some really good pace that we could have capitalised on with a bit more consistency to have maybe a top five or a podium.

“We need to continue with the consistency and now everything changes for next year and hopefully we can be there and be even stronger.”

More about Armstrong's season can be found in the article and let me know what you thought to his first season in the top class.

Credits: FIA WRC via https://www.wrc.com/en/news

Driver: Bútor Róbert

A short video I put together from what I managed to grab whilst in Wales. Was such a great event and fantastic to see and hear from both Elfyn and the Yaris up close. All hail the king!

halfway already! alain oreille takes the surprising win category for his win in the 1989 rallye côte d'ivoire in a group n renault 5 gt turbo.

next, what is the most disappointing season, whether from a driver or a manufacturer/team?

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I figured I'd share this interesting article after Elfyn's recent test with the 2027 car in which he shared his thoughts about the new car.

Basically to sum it up he mentions:

- the obvious difference in power

- he says it's very different from a Rally2 car (which he also says he doesn't have a lot of experience with)

- he says new cars are 70% cheaper than previous cars (as expected)

- he says new car has made large improvements since his last test in April

Most interestingly to me, he talks about the new cars being quite tricky to handle at high speeds due to lack of aero compared to the previous cars which were more stable. He says he thinks drivers might experience "some surprises" during jumps and in very high speed sections next year - Let's hope the safety cell continues to provide the safety necessary for any offs so noone will get hurt.

Went to my first WRC event this year! My father was a volunteer at Rally Norway many years ago and I did go there with him, but I don't remember much. I decided to bring my grandmother's old Nikon FM and a pack of Kodak Gold 200. The lens was very soft due to some damage to the coating, but I think it turned out pretty well :)

The linked article above goes into detail about M-Sport and Ford Racing's venture after Ford announced they are returning to the championship from 2027 after 15 years away, prior to Rally Italia Sardegna. We also hear from M-Sport's Team Principal, Rich Millener, about budgets and what they look for in drivers that the Cumbrian based team want to bring in and give valuable experience to.

Millener explains that there has been no current discussions on drivers for the new era of the WRC:

“There has been no discussion, no decision [on drivers]. Up until now, our driver selection is based on people we think have good enough talent to have the opportunity to develop. They needed to bring some support. Now we are able to be in a slightly different position, but it doesn’t mean we’re going to rush out and change everything overnight."

And also, the team's goals for the future:

“The goal is to win in 2029 with the new car. We have two years to get ourselves into a good position. We want people who fit into the structure we have and fit into the team environment and help build the team around them. But also help deliver what Ford wants as well. They need to be ambassadors. They need to be understanding. They need to be bought in on the vision and role of Ford. And we need people who want to work incredibly hard. That’s what’s going to happen.”

The full article (attached above) has more from Millener regarding young talent, long-term developments of the all new road car for 2029 and more.

2023 - 2026 Life of a Gazoo engineer

Hello! Late 90s to early 00s WRC was some of the best times I’ve had watching rally. Does anybody know of any online stores/sellers who focus on merchandise from this era please? Preferably T-shirts, jumpers/sweaters and jackets.

I see sporadic sales from individuals but was hoping for more of a wholesaler if one exists - thanks!

gigi galli takes the category for cult hero.

next, what win surprised you the most? most upvoted reply wins

Photo source: Ott Tänak’s Facebook

To sum this article up, it denotes Fourmaux's performances last season, with the 4 podiums he achieved with long time co-driver Alex Coria. After the bad luck at Sardegna and Paraguay, the Frenchman explains the highs and lows of what could be his last season at Hyundai, due to the uncertainty of their future in the championship.

Adrien sums his own season up by saying that:

“To be fair, I’m quite proud of the season”

And also on his future:

“You will see me, but in which car or which team, which championship, I don’t know. But I will drive”

Aside from the dropoff in content the website has become unusable. Non stop popups and complete redirects to some sketchy ad. Probably common knowledge but holy fuck their falloff needs studying.