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Post by charleselan on Sept 7, 2021 14:59:02 GMT
Over the past few evenings I have been entertained by some truly amazing rally footage on YouTube of French National Rally events. Firstly I had no idea these championships were running and the entry was quite as good as it appears. When the events have drivers like Sébastien Leob; François Delecour and Gilles Panizzi stars of WRC from some years back driving like lunatics in some fabulous little cars like the fantastic sounding and looking Peugeot 306 Maxi Kit Car it is a recipe for success. To be honest they look even better than the WRC cars of today and on tarmac just amazing.
The latest event was the Rallye Du Mont Blanc and the footage is brilliant.
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Post by Carl on Sept 7, 2021 17:30:50 GMT
Over the past few evenings I have been entertained by some truly amazing rally footage on YouTube of French National Rally events. Firstly I had no idea these championships were running and the entry was quite as good as it appears. When the events have drivers like Sébastien Leob; François Delecour and Gilles Panizzi stars of WRC from some years back driving like lunatics in some fabulous little cars like the fantastic sounding and looking Peugeot 306 Maxi Kit Car it is a recipe for success. To be honest they look even better than the WRC cars of today and on tarmac just amazing. The latest event was the Rallye Du Mont Blanc and the footage is brilliant. John, Great stuff! I miss the world rally coverage once available on the Speed Channel, where Dave Despain reigned as major domo.
With tail out and throttle down judiciously, engines snarling and snorting like untamed beasts, brakes like nannies demanding restraint, the in-car camera footage was almost frightening. Sebastien Loeb, Colin McRae, Tommi Mäkinen, Marcus Grönholm, Petter Solberg, Markko Märtin... 
Cheers, Carl
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Post by charleselan on Sept 8, 2021 16:39:48 GMT
Carl, That is indeed unfortunate but sadly World Rally Championship events are not attracting large interest from the main TV channels these days. I watch some of the highlight packages on YouTube but even though the driving is excellent it fails to have the impact that it did in the days you mention and the times before that. Not enough manufacturers involved and the stages are now so restricted and controlled. That is one of the reasons that got me buzzing about the films I posted above as they were more like I had seen in the past and the cars sounded and looked so good. I have to say that the Peugeot 306 was probably one of the most attractive looking cars from that stable and it is hard to believe that they were around over 20 years ago. I believe that the body styling was designed by one of the famous Italian design studios and this is very apparent. The 306 Maxi Kit Car was something else again and one could by it apparently, it looks brilliant with beautifully integrated flared arches and that neat little roof wing and all powered by a 2 litre four cylinder naturally aspirated motor that chucked out over 300bhp. I want one  . John |
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Post by Carl on Sept 8, 2021 18:05:16 GMT
John, I want one too, plain white with roll cage installed, and won't regret losing my driving license
Happy trails! - Carl |
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Post by chrisb on Sept 9, 2021 9:36:21 GMT
I do think we were really blessed with some amazing rally years, from the great Mini's, Cortina's, Mk1 and 11 Escorts, the arrival of the brutes with that amazing Group B machines, then the great days of Subaru and Mitsubishi, with Colin, Tommi, Carlos and of course Richard we had the most fantastic times, and after that there is bound to be a lull in interests, young Evans is doing very well, but who knows it, the UK press has never gotten over the competition of Richard and Colin and we yearn for those years,
now, that is a small car I would dream of, me neither Carl, I want one three!!
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Post by charleselan on Sept 9, 2021 11:01:14 GMT
Looks like Peugeot are missing a trick here as they have three orders in already and for a car over 20 years old . I saw one for sale in the Uk yesterday at 16,000GBP but fitted with a "cooking" engine that had only 180bhp, but looked gorgeous in bright red. Sébastien Leob apparently has a rally preparation business in France and actually prepares these little missiles for himself and François Delecour to run in some events, they just love them. I feel the big problem with WRC today is the fact that there are only two manufacturers in the top class (Hyundai and Toyota) and that although quite spectacular the current WRC cars are not cutting it. They brought these latest cars onboard to try and make a safer version of the old Group B but they are just too over engineered, no visceral feel what so ever. When they are shown on some obscure TV channel all you see is the top six, and it took me a while to realise that there were far more entries than just these few at the front. |
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Post by mikael on Sept 10, 2021 15:24:29 GMT
The "top shelf" pilots in any category of motorsport are just incredible - very spectacular to watch indeed.
Does it make sense to compare the present WRC regulations, employing these small, household "compact cars" as the bases, to the 1.5L Formula One regulations of the 60's? Sometimes I had such a thought ...
While those cars, piloted by "the best in the business", indeed does make a spectacular show, it's not hard to argue that the cars themselves miss a "awe factor".
Some times ago I enjoyed watching some scenes from the German Rally Championship, which allows real "power cars". I re-found some footage from 2014 and 2012, respectively.
Just imagine putting the best rally drivers in the World into cars like this! (And just look at the reactions of the spectators - most of them are like kids in a candy store  )
... well, it might be too dangerous, after all. It might be Group B of the 80's all over again ...
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Post by Carl on Sept 10, 2021 17:58:15 GMT
Amazing footage, Mikael! It's beyond impressive how someone can stay centered (roughly) on so narrow a pathway.
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Post by René on Sept 11, 2021 10:17:32 GMT
Fantastic stuff! I used to watch rally a lot more in the days of Sainz, McRea, Burns. Amazing car control.
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