03 April 2007

Macneall has partnered Atkinson since Rally Australia 2004
Glenn Macneall, co-driver to Chris Atkinson in the Subaru World Rally Team, is stepping down with immediate effect. The 34-year-old Australian, who has partnered Atkinson since he joined the team in 2004, has decided to return home in order to devote more time to his personal and business commitments.

"Competing in the World Rally Championship is far more than just a job, and while I really have enjoyed my time with the team I’ve simply come to the point now where I want to do other things,” said Macneall. "Having made up my mind to go, it wouldn’t be fair on Chris for me to carry on with anything less than 100 per cent commitment, and for this reason I felt it would be best to step down straight away. I’ll continue to follow the sport very closely and I wish Chris, Petter and the whole Subaru team the best of luck in the future.”

Atkinson has been partnered by Macneall on all of his 36 WRC starts with Subaru. "I’d like to thank Glenn for all his hard work since our first rally together in Australia 2004,” he said. “I’m sorry that he has decided to go, but I can understand his reasons and in the long term I’m sure a clean break now is the best way forward.”

Subaru World Rally Team managing director Richard Taylor said: “Glenn has been part of Subaru’s rallying programmes ever since he joined our team with Toshi Arai in 2001. He is an experienced and respected competitor in both the Australian and World Rally Championships. On behalf of Subaru, Chris and the rest of our team I’d like to thank him for his contribution over the years and wish him the best of luck in the future.”

An announcement concerning Chris’s new co-driver will be made before next month’s Rally Argentina.

http://www.swrt.com/news/viewarticle.html?id=1254

This is kinda surprising... anyone have any insight on what may have brought this on other than the PR speak?

maybe atkinsons's crash in portugal this weekend?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJbT5_g5eYg

A WRC codriver spends approx 250 days a year traveling worldwide. That may sound sexay, but the time commitment makes it basically impossible to have an actual life outside of rally.

sounds like Macneall finally decided to dial it back and have friends and family and a business he can maybe even see personally more than a couple days a month.

maybe atkinsons's crash in portugal this weekend?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJbT5_g5eYg

For a WRC co-driver, that's just another day at the office... I doubt that would be the reason. Crashing is part of the deal. I think RB5 Clone is probably right, but part of me thinks that there's more


Besides, that was more of a really rough ride than a crash. The proper word would "Off", not crash. ;)

Besides, that was more of a really rough ride than a crash. The proper word would "Off", not crash. ;)

Yeah? How often have you crashed in a WRC car? :rolleyes:

I think Dave's right; the 220+ days away from home and the risks involved in the sport are a difficult challenge for anyone. To do it year after year requires a very special person indeed.

Yeah? How often have you crashed in a WRC car? :rolleyes:

I think Dave's right; the 220+ days away from home and the risks involved in the sport are a difficult challenge for anyone. To do it year after year requires a very special person indeed.

:o Awww, come on, there's no need to flame me for that. Obviously it's a huge risk and it does require a special person, but that's a given. I realize that someone involved in that level of the sport can just as easily decide not to be anymore... but I doubt that this specific off had any more influence on the move than any other they've been through. You've been through worse, and you're still showing up for Rallies :)

:o Awww, come on, there's no need to flame me for that. Obviously it's a huge risk and it does require a special person, but that's a given. I realize that someone involved in that level of the sport can just as easily decide not to be anymore... but I doubt that this specific off had any more influence on the move than any other they've been through. You've been through worse, and you're still showing up for Rallies :)

think of the intense pressures on a WRC codriver, esp one in a "challenged" program like SWRT of late. these guys are perfectionists, that's what got them where they are. to work so effin hard for so long (Macneall codrove for Toshi Arai as early as 2001) and still be struggling...gotta give him credit for hanging in as long as he did!

and to dismiss a high-speed 6th-gear excursion into the countryside as just an "off" (even w'smileys attached)...well, let's just say that watching the onboard video and actually riding along on such an adventure are SOOOO far removed from each other you clearly have no idea about the difference.

this ain't a flame, just the truth.

think of the intense pressures on a WRC codriver, esp one in a "challenged" program like SWRT of late. these guys are perfectionists, that's what got them where they are. to work so effin hard for so long (Macneall codrove for Toshi Arai as early as 2001) and still be struggling...gotta give him credit for hanging in as long as he did!

and to dismiss a high-speed 6th-gear excursion into the countryside as just an "off" (even w'smileys attached)...well, let's just say that watching the onboard video and actually riding along on such an adventure are SOOOO far removed from each other you clearly have no idea about the difference.

this ain't a flame, just the truth.


It looked like a pretty solid hit.

Chris certainly seemed to be stunned by it all.

Yeah? How often have you crashed in a WRC car? :rolleyes:

I think Dave's right; the 220+ days away from home and the risks involved in the sport are a difficult challenge for anyone. To do it year after year requires a very special person indeed.

watch that you tube again mate, think you of all people should be able to pick out the pace note error !!!

c u soon

I'll bet this is the reason:

Glenn Macneall, co-driver to Chris Atkinson in the Subaru World Rally Team, is stepping down with immediate effect. The 34-year-old Australian, who has partnered Atkinson since he joined the team in 2004, has decided to return home in order to devote more time to his personal and business commitments.

Unless you're a nutcase like Petter or Gronholm and rally defines your life, maybe Glenn hit the 30 something midlife crisis.

For you under 30 people, this is an age where you've had a good decade to accomplish what you've wanted and you can look back and say either "I've done enough" or "I missed out". Your health is just showing signs that you are leaving your prime and you realize family is what's most important.

EDIT. Then again, maybe not.

watch that you tube again mate, think you of all people should be able to pick out the pace note error !!!
Andy - you have email.

For you under 30 people, this is an age where you've had a good decade to accomplish what you've wanted and you can look back and say either "I've done enough" or "I missed out". Your health is just showing signs that you are leaving your prime and you realize family is what's most important.

Honestly, I think this is pretty unlikely. All of the WRC co-drivers are 30+. In fact, other than Ilka and Michael I can't think of anyone younger than Glenn. I think it's more that the constant pressure of performing plus the travel wears you out, than it's that you have a different outlook on life after 30.

Heck, I just turned 31, and I'm having the best time co-driving of my life. And I'll be at least 34 before anyone lets me sit in a WRC car. :D

- Christian

Yeah? How often have you crashed in a WRC car? :rolleyes:

I think Dave's right; the 220+ days away from home and the risks involved in the sport are a difficult challenge for anyone. To do it year after year requires a very special person indeed.



And like you know how it is! :rolleyes: ;)

good job guys!! keep it up.

And like you know how it is! :rolleyes: ;)

True enough. I've only crashed in a US Open Class car. And I'm only away from home 120 days this year. I'm about 1/2 the man WRC co-drivers are! :)

- Christian

PS: How is the Sprinter? (insert drooling icon here...)

Well, we all know Christian is "special"

True enough. I've only crashed in a US Open Class car. And I'm only away from home 120 days this year. I'm about 1/2 the man WRC co-drivers are! :)

- Christian

PS: How is the Sprinter? (insert drooling icon here...)

Well, we all know Christian is "special"



Thats why he keeps asking about my "special"van

it rocks!!! tell the boys to pick a few of them up. we did a banzi trip to vegas a few weeks ago. 29MPG at 80 all the way!

“I’m sorry that he has decided to go, but I can understand his reasons and in the long term I’m sure a clean break now is the best way forward.”

Something about that sounds kinda fishy to me...kinda like their relationship as driver/co-driver was straining...

watch that you tube again mate, think you of all people should be able to pick out the pace note error !!!

c u soon

Where was the error? (I'd like to learn)

I heard something like "9 right plus 150 ???? crest cut..."

Something about that sounds kinda fishy to me...kinda like their relationship as driver/co-driver was straining...

at that level, you're either 1000% committed ....or you're not. There's not much in between.

A WRC codriver spends approx 250 days a year traveling worldwide. That may sound sexay, but the time commitment makes it basically impossible to have an actual life outside of rally.

sounds like Macneall finally decided to dial it back and have friends and family and a business he can maybe even see personally more than a couple days a month.

same reason I've but back from chasing down big time motorsports and getting my motorsports (ME/AE) masters degree...doing FSAE I realized I was seeing friends and family about 2 hours a week...just wasn't worth it.
It was kind of forshadowing for me...from the masters with Andretti Green you get tossed right into IRL and your gone...race team schedules are insane and kill you quick

Well, we all know Christian is "special"

:chortle:

:lol:

Well, that is too bad for Chris. Im sure Glenn is older and wants to do other things. Like said, 220days away from home is taxing.

Not what Chris needed in this make it or break it season.

Should be interesting to hear who he picks as a codriver for the remainder of the year. Lots of the familiar english are already taken like Orr, Giraudet, Barritt, etc.

Nicky?

Robert Reid? David Senior? Ben Atkinson?

- Christian

I'd love to see Robert Reid back in the right seat again but David Senior would be good as well. How about mykrrrr??? I heard he's looking for a new job since he hates his current one. :D

Robert Reid? David Senior? Ben Atkinson?

- Christian

Nigel Prodrive. Without question, best man for the job.

I'm late to the party, but:
:o Awww, come on, there's no need to flame me for that.

Besides, that was more of a light singe than a flame. The proper word would be "smoked," not flamed. ;)

That corner was brutal, such an unnatural way for the road to go compared to what it looked like. I was more surprised that the Portugese national champion went off there, he probably should have known about that spot (assuming they've run that road before).

They weren't the only ones to note that corner wrong. :)

They should test for the job...I say send Alex and Christian over!!!:cool:

Like you'd say No.:D

I'd say "No."

First, I don't have any illusions about being able to get in a WRC car today with a fast driver and deliver the notes as well as he'd need to be competitive.

Second, I think I'm fortunate enough to have the best seat in rallying. Travis and I have the benefit of a strong development program, thanks to Subaru of America and Vermont SportsCar, the support of some of the best sponsors in the world, and, win or lose, we have an absolutely fantastic time every time we get in the car. I wouldn't trade seats with anyone.

I'm sure there's no lack of candidates though. I hope Chris gets someone that he connects with straight away, and that they have great luck and great results this year.

- Christian

watch that you tube again mate, think you of all people should be able to pick out the pace note error !!!

"No damnit, I said right 9 over crest, THEN left 9 minus?"

Seriously though, what was the pace note error? Not mentioning to "don't cut" the left? To me it looks like Chris started heading to the right, and then as he came over the crest he drove what he saw instead of driving the instructions. To be fair, that was a wickedly deceptive bit of road with a nasty pile of rocks laying in wait in the weeds.

Heck, I just turned 31, and I'm having the best time co-driving of my life. And I'll be at least 34 before anyone lets me sit in a WRC car. :D

- Christian

Aww- I bet they'd let you sit in a WRC car, then when the co-driver got back he tell you to get out of his seat.

:lol:

That didn't take long...

It appears that Glenn will co-drive Emma Gilmour in the New Zealand championship.

I think Glenn got tired of the WRC hustle and bustle and that the relationship between Chris and Glenn was beginning to erode. Having the struggles they are can't not make you begin to question what you are doing. The fact that Glenn was supposed to bring "experience" to Chris and help him create "better" notes and the problems they have had in rallies probably wasn't the most conducive (I use quotes not to diminish the terms, but to point out that they are very subjective to the case and potentially PR spin).

Hopefully Chris can find someone that can deliver what he needs. There are a lot of qualified individuals out there from all over the world that could deliver the notes for Chris; hopefully one of said co-drivers will also have the personality required to form a healthy incar relationship as well.

Seriously though, what was the pace note error?

To me, it sounds like the (9R 150) "> 1/2 keep mid cut at Cr" at the bottom of one page is the same call as the "9R- keep in at Cr". During the recce, they might have changed it to two turns rather than one, but forgot/miscommunicated to remove the ">1/2 keep in at Cr". Or the 9R- at Cr is the top of the second page; eg he flipped two pages at once and missed a full page. (But I don't think so, because the next note 30 9L 60 seems ok.)

In any case, co-driving for Emma means he'll get to see more of her, which I reckon was a big factor in the decision!!!

- Christian

Hopefully Chris can find someone that can deliver what he needs. There are a lot of qualified individuals out there from all over the world that could deliver the notes for Chris; hopefully one of said co-drivers will also have the personality required to form a healthy incar relationship as well.

12345 :)

That didn't take long...

It appears that Glenn will co-drive Emma Gilmour in the New Zealand championship.

I think Glenn got tired of the WRC hustle and bustle and that the relationship between Chris and Glenn was beginning to erode. Having the struggles they are can't not make you begin to question what you are doing. The fact that Glenn was supposed to bring "experience" to Chris and help him create "better" notes and the problems they have had in rallies probably wasn't the most conducive (I use quotes not to diminish the terms, but to point out that they are very subjective to the case and potentially PR spin).

Hopefully Chris can find someone that can deliver what he needs. There are a lot of qualified individuals out there from all over the world that could deliver the notes for Chris; hopefully one of said co-drivers will also have the personality required to form a healthy incar relationship as well.

Wow, that sucks. Same day. That's like your gf dumping you and then you see her out that night with some other guy.

Atkinson is one of my favorite drivers. I hope he gets a good codriver. Who knows. If Macneall wasn't 100%, maybe having someone who is will push them both up the leaderboards a bit more.

i really hope chris has good luck with his next codriver, it would be a huge disapointment to see him have the season go sour due to such difficulties.

i agree with what was said, anybody who says a off isn't a big deal can't comprehend two things: the stress these guys are under (in every way shape and form) and just how fast they are driving...

http://www.wrc.com/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10111~1010857,00.html


Annnnnnnnnnnnnd we have a winner!

Prevot!

Sorta.

http://www.wrc.com/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10111~1010857,00.html


Annnnnnnnnnnnnd we have a winner!

Prevot!

Sorta.

"Please log in." I *&$^ing hate the WRC web $ite...

Cliff notes anyone?

Prevot to test with Atkinson

prevot

Thirty-eight-year-old Belgian Stephane Prevot will co-drive for Chris Atkinson during a five-day test in Sardinia after veteran Frenchman Denis Giraudet turned down the chance to drive the remaining rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship for the Australian.

The co-driver's seat in the Subaru Impreza WRC remains open after Glenn Macneall left the Subaru World Rally Team following Vodafone Rally de Portugal.

Giraudet confirmed Subaru asked him to fill the vacant position as soon as Macneall quit, but commitments throughout the 2007 season meant he was unable to take up the offer. Subaru says the five-day gravel test in Sardinia is critical to Atkinson's confidence for the remainder of the 2007 programme and no decision on Prevot's long-term future in the car will be taken until it has finished.

Prevot is familiar with the Prodrive set-up having driven with Stephane Sarrazin on asphalt rallies in the championship in 2006. The experienced Prevot has 111 world rally starts behind him and has partnered Francois Duval and Bruno Thiry in recent years. His works experience at world championship level has been with GM, Ford, SEAT, Skoda and Citroen, in addition to Subaru. He has achieved 12 podium finishes but has yet to score a world rally victory.

Giraudet, meanwhile, has three remaining rallies on Daniel Carlsson's WRC programme (Sardinia, Greece and Finland) and a commitment to compete with Spyros Pavlides in P-WRC events. He also has plans to compete on future WRC events with 19-year-old Norwegian driver Eyvind Brynildsen, who finished second in the Production car category at Rally Norway.

A WRC codriver spends approx 250 days a year traveling worldwide. That may sound sexay, but the time commitment makes it basically impossible to have an actual life outside of rally.

sounds like Macneall finally decided to dial it back and have friends and family and a business he can maybe even see personally more than a couple days a month.

Something about that sounds kinda fishy to me...kinda like their relationship as driver/co-driver was straining...

:chortle:

:lol:

Well, that is too bad for Chris. Im sure Glenn is older and wants to do other things. Like said, 220days away from home is taxing.

Not what Chris needed in this make it or break it season.

Should be interesting to hear who he picks as a codriver for the remainder of the year. Lots of the familiar english are already taken like Orr, Giraudet, Barritt, etc.

Nicky?

That didn't take long...

It appears that Glenn will co-drive Emma Gilmour in the New Zealand championship.

I think Glenn got tired of the WRC hustle and bustle and that the relationship between Chris and Glenn was beginning to erode. Having the struggles they are can't not make you begin to question what you are doing. The fact that Glenn was supposed to bring "experience" to Chris and help him create "better" notes and the problems they have had in rallies probably wasn't the most conducive (I use quotes not to diminish the terms, but to point out that they are very subjective to the case and potentially PR spin).

Hopefully Chris can find someone that can deliver what he needs. There are a lot of qualified individuals out there from all over the world that could deliver the notes for Chris; hopefully one of said co-drivers will also have the personality required to form a healthy incar relationship as well.

Wow, that sucks. Same day. That's like your gf dumping you and then you see her out that night with some other guy.

Atkinson is one of my favorite drivers. I hope he gets a good codriver. Who knows. If Macneall wasn't 100%, maybe having someone who is will push them both up the leaderboards a bit more.

Considering that he's now decided to co-drive for Emma Gilmour who is also his GIRLFRIEND I'm not suprised. Not only that, Emma doesn't crash as much and gets better placings than Chris.
I'm amazed none of you guys knew that he was teaming up with his gf and I'm guessing he got out of SWRT because he got sick of Chris ****ing it up.


To me, it sounds like the (9R 150) "> 1/2 keep mid cut at Cr" at the bottom of one page is the same call as the "9R- keep in at Cr". During the recce, they might have changed it to two turns rather than one, but forgot/miscommunicated to remove the ">1/2 keep in at Cr". Or the 9R- at Cr is the top of the second page; eg he flipped two pages at once and missed a full page. (But I don't think so, because the next note 30 9L 60 seems ok.)

In any case, co-driving for Emma means he'll get to see more of her, which I reckon was a big factor in the decision!!!

- Christian


You were probably the only person in this thread to actually see that part of his reasoning.

Considering that he's now decided to co-drive for Emma Gilmour who is also his GIRLFRIEND I'm not suprised. Not only that, Emma doesn't crash as much and gets better placings than Chris.
I'm amazed none of you guys knew that he was teaming up with his gf and I'm guessing he got out of SWRT because he got sick of Chris ****ing it up.





You were probably the only person in this thread to actually see that part of his reasoning.


Someone put on their bitter and upset hat on a little to tight today....

IMO it's none of our business to figure out why the Glenn/Chris relationship ended like it did.

GL to both Glenn and Chris in their future rallying.

Considering that he's now decided to co-drive for Emma Gilmour who is also his GIRLFRIEND I'm not suprised. Not only that, Emma doesn't crash as much and gets better placings than Chris.
I'm amazed none of you guys knew that he was teaming up with his gf and I'm guessing he got out of SWRT because he got sick of Chris ****ing it up.





You were probably the only person in this thread to actually see that part of his reasoning.

Simma

the

****

down.

Very few of us knew that that was his GF.


-chet

I was on fire yesterday.

I think Chris got dissapointed with the new 08 WRX impreza.....

The car has had fundamental problems for a few years now, Chris and Glen knew that when they signed up. Sure, I bet Glen would have stayed if the car was as good as a Citroen and they were contenders for top 3 this year, but I highly doubt that the '08's performance played much of a factor in his decision.

I don't know why people care so much anyway! The guy quit his job for something less glamorous but less stressful, it happens all the time in real life!