2018 World Rally ChampionshipRally

[Pete05]

What an epic rally. 3 different road conditions, lead changes, intense power stage...Loeb is an absolute legend!!

Loeb just proved the Citroen is worthy....in the right hands.

Absolute legendary status retained

 

[GroupB]

Nice to see Loeb get another win after the uncharacteristic way his career ended (crashing out in a commemorative car on his final rally)

 

[twitcher]

Loeb just proved the Citroen is worthy....in the right hands.

Absolute legendary status retained

That’s the crazy part. He took all that time off, then comes back to a completely new era of car....but on top of all that, he was in a car that was supposedly uncompetitive. It’s almost like if, I dunno, Hakinnen were to come back to F1, driving a McLaren, and win! Legend doesn’t even begin to describe it!!

 

[mustafur]

Drivers like Loeb and Ogier could probably win the title in any car running at WRC spec, so long as the other isn't competing against them.

Loeb is a freak, it's a shame he retired from full time driving as we have likely missed the greatest rally rivaly of all time play out.

Even despite retiring from full time driving he has scored half of Citroens wins since then as a part timer.

 

[Simmpa]

So it appears Ogier will be champion again and Neuville threw away another shot at the title the 2nd time. sigh

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

So it appears Ogier will be champion again and Neuville threw away another shot at the title the 2nd time. sigh

There is still a third day to go and the power stage, with Neuville only two positions beyond Ogier and both of which far off the lead. If anything happens to Ogier and everything holds as is, that means Ott is the new champion. So...why you insist on still keep jumping to conclusions after all this time when told not to before a race or even season is over, isn't surprising. Not someone I'd expect to analyze racing all that well, you that is.

Even if nothing befalls Ogier too badly, he's running sixth as of this post, and if a mistake or issue comes up he could easily be out of the points.

 

[JC_Dude]

There is still a third day to go and the power stage, with Neuville only two positions beyond Ogier and both of which far off the lead. If anything happens to Ogier and everything holds as is, that means Ott is the new champion. So...why you insist on still keep jumping to conclusions after all this time when told not to before a race or even season is over, isn't surprising. Not someone I'd expect to analyze racing all that well, you that is.

Even if nothing befalls Ogier too badly, he's running sixth as of this post, and if a mistake or issue comes up he could easily be out of the points.

If Ogier gets 6th and Neuville stays 8th, Seb is the champion, no matter what happens in the Power Stage. Can't say I'd be disappointed, though.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

If Ogier gets 6th and Neuville stays 8th, Seb is the champion, no matter what happens in the Power Stage. Can't say I'd be disappointed, though.

That's if it stays that way which is my point in general. I would be pretty upbeat by Ogier winning too, but there is still an entire day of racing to go before that, and unlike various other series this year, it's far too close to call even at this point.

 

[Simmpa]

There is still a third day to go and the power stage, with Neuville only two positions beyond Ogier and both of which far off the lead. If anything happens to Ogier and everything holds as is, that means Ott is the new champion. So...why you insist on still keep jumping to conclusions after all this time when told not to before a race or even season is over, isn't surprising. Not someone I'd expect to analyze racing all that well, you that is.

Even if nothing befalls Ogier too badly, he's running sixth as of this post, and if a mistake or issue comes up he could easily be out of the points.

I know it maybe dumb to comment before It´s over but as I see it, not very likely as Ogier makes few mistakes and is very consistent. Remember Ogier can get equal points to Neuville and still take the championship because he won more rallies.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I know it maybe dumb to comment before It´s over but as I see it, not very likely as Ogier makes few mistakes and is very consistent. Remember Ogier can get equal points to Neuville and still take the championship because he won more rallies.

Yes I'm aware of that, but problems happen on their own many times. No one expected Mikkelsen to have his day ruined by a tractor. Ott nearly cost himself as he took a corner on two wheels. And there has been plenty of downs this season for Ogier (which is why the championship is this close) even with consistency, from problem not of Ogier's making. So until it is all over I think it's safe to just not call it until then, whether you turn out to be right or not.

 

[GroupB]

Happy for Toyota, but the WRC has now gone 15 years with only 2 different champion drivers. That’s not good for business.

 

[Simmpa]

Happy for Toyota, but the WRC has now gone 15 years with only 2 different champion drivers. That’s not good for business.

I agree very bad but I rather have it like this than do like they did in F1 when someone was too dominant: change the rules specificly to dent a drivers performance like they did to Schumacher in 2005. Well they kinda did in 2015 and 2016 with the 2 day road sweeping for the leading driver.

 

[GroupB]

I agree very bad but I rather have it like this than do like they did in F1 when someone was too dominant: change the rules specificly to dent a drivers performance like they did to Schumacher in 2005. Well they kinda did in 2015 and 2016 with the 2 day road sweeping for the leading driver.

Some of the “spectator-friendly” rules changes have indirectly helped the domination. The year Gronholm barely lost the title in a Focus, Loeb was aided by the then-new Rally 2 regulations giving him points after he retired early in Monaco. And this year, one could argue that Ogier was kept alive through careful manipulation of the Power Stage points.

 

[JC_Dude]

And this year, one could argue that Ogier was kept alive through careful manipulation of the Power Stage points.

Huh? Ogier only got 4 more PS points than Neuville throughout the season. Before Australia it was 33-32 in Neuville's favour.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Happy for Toyota, but the WRC has now gone 15 years with only 2 different champion drivers. That’s not good for business.

So the guy is good, I mean not the only sport that has a single winner over a stretch of years. It gets old when people make try to make an argument out of a constant champion. Some arguments I've seen to this are what you've done, or no adversity, gets old seeing the same guy so people get annoyed.

One of the closest and decisive seasons in a long time, the top 3 drivers coming to the last rally to decide the winner, and no one knew who would have it until the last 3 stages on the third day as everyone tried to fight hard in very horrid conditions. Made for a good year in the series, and clearly is overall good for business beyond the same guy topping the championship.

 

[Pete05]

When was the last time the WRC came down to a 3-way fight for the title at the last round?

 

[Carbon_6]

When was the last time the WRC came down to a 3-way fight for the title at the last round?

2003 springs to mind, but that would have been a 4-way fight had Burns not withdrawn due to medical reasons.

Sainz crashed out, and Solberg won ahead of Loeb, beating him the crown by one point.

 

[JC_Dude]

2011, I think.

 

[GroupB]

Huh? Ogier only got 4 more PS points than Neuville throughout the season. Before Australia it was 33-32 in Neuville's favour.

Those 4 points were controversial:

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/134444/ogier-controversy-prompts-format-change-calls

 

[JC_Dude]

Those 4 points were controversial:

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/134444/ogier-controversy-prompts-format-change-calls

So? He won the championship by 18.

 

[GroupB]

So? He won the championship by 18.

It made a difference in a close title fight. Going into Australia he was only up 3. Neuville, who ended up crashing out under pressure, would have been the leader going in.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

It made a difference in a close title fight. Going into Australia he was only up 3. Neuville, who ended up crashing out under pressure, would have been the leader going in.

Would have potentially been leader, the point is his team played the rules that were there did nothing illegal, and people want to complain because they were more clever than them??? Too bad that's how racing works has worked, and probably will continue to work for some time. Thus teams will continue to seek advantages through loop holes to come out on top, it's more than just being the fastest best driver (Ogier arguably is that) it's also about being clever and giving your driver the tools to constantly be that.

He showed more consistency then that accident prone Neuville who still had the better overall car this season in comparison to Ford. And Ott who had more mechanical bad luck than either at times, but was probably the fastest without any reservations which probably didn't help matters, surely didn't in the final rally.

 

[Scuderia Paul]

Congratulations Toyota Gazoo Racing on winning the World Manufacturers' Championship and Ogier on a sixth deserved World Drivers' Championship.

Next year Toyota take both!

 

[Simmpa]

Congratulations Toyota Gazoo Racing on winning the World Manufacturers' Championship and Ogier on a sixth deserved World Drivers' Championship.

Next year Toyota take both!

Jari-Matti and Ott Tänak have to make some good results consider Kris Meeke wont bring many points to their team, rather he would drain their economy with crashes but hey the stupid fans love Kris Meeke and give them alot of publicity.

 

[doblocruiser]

Latest rumors go that Loeb is signing with Hyundai or Ford for the 2019 WRC season. Most likely Hyundai though.

Source

It would be a total disaster if PSA let this man go. Baffling really Understable that Citroën can't take the risk to give a seat at Loeb when signing Ogier. It has nothing to do with a sponsor that pulled back but more that it won't go down nicely if both champs run for the team. Now they have a 9 times world champion who has been linked to PSA all those year probably running for another team. I am without words...bloody annoying..

Other option I came to think of since he will run Dakar 2019 with PH-Motorsport, an entry in WRC with this private team could be a possibillity but that is speculation on my part.

 

[Simmpa]

Latest rumors go that Loeb is signing with Hyundai or Ford for the 2019 WRC season. Most likely Hyundai though.

Source

It would be a total disaster if PSA let this man go. Baffling really Understable that Citroën can't take the risk to give a seat at Loeb when signing Ogier. It has nothing to do with a sponsor that pulled back but more that it won't go down nicely if both champs run for the team. Now they have a 9 times world champion who has been linked to PSA all those year probably running for another team. I am without words...bloody annoying..

Other option I came to think of since he will run Dakar 2019 with PH-Motorsport, an entry in WRC with this private team could be a possibillity but that is speculation on my part.

Well seems Hyundai now have a chance to win the WDC

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Well seems Hyundai now have a chance to win the WDC

Gee you must of missed the last two seasons, not surprising really. Strange you made comments on said season and yet still say this. They've had a chance easily to win the championship, and even if Loeb didn't sign, probably still would.

 

[Furinkazen]

Well seems Hyundai now have a chance to win the WDC

Thierry Neuville.

 

[Simmpa]

Thierry Neuville.

He is very inconsistent, he can win a rally or two in a row and when make non-points finishes. Not really what is needed to win the WDC. Last year is a good example, he was in the lead in Monaco and Sweden but made small mistakes, same thing in Germany and Spain later that season. This this year it was the same story, after Sardegna he was up and down in the standings allowing Ogier to slice his big lead.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

He is very inconsistent, he can win a rally or two in a row and when make non-points finishes. Not really what is needed to win the WDC. Last year is a good example, he was in the lead in Monaco and Sweden but made small mistakes, same thing in Germany and Spain later that season. This this year it was the same story, after Sardegna he was up and down in the standings allowing Ogier to slice his big lead.

No Ogier was able to slice a lead because he was super consistent, same reason why the faster Tanak couldn't close in until the final rallies with a stronger car and still needed a lot of things to go his way. Neuville has been good but yes he's prone to issues as are many of these drivers and the car tends to be quite fragile at times.