who do you think will win the championship?

[Ghostrider]

who do you think will win the wrc this year?
I think ford has got the manufactures title
and tommi will be in a race with didier auriol, but I still hope richard will win

[10th Warrior]

the fastest and most consistent person

[Eric SS]

Go McRae!!!

Eric

[rsquire]

Peugot... Gronholm..

but then ya gotta keep ya eyes on Auriol

Richard

[Hashiriya]

TOMMY!!!

Well, heres my spin on the whole bit...

Burns: good driver, has a good car. He has the potential to be a WRC champion, but hes too cocky, and arogant. Somthing you cant have in teh WRC and win with. Plus his two #2 drivers arent going to support him that much. Especialyy if they cant make it to the seconed stage. If he learns to be cool, he'll have it bagged.

Makkinen: has the potential, but i still dont think the FVO-6.5 is gonna carry him. Its been improved alot, but its still a Group-A car, and just cant hang with the WR cars. Once the EVO-VII WRC is ready...WATCH OUT!!

McRae: Good driver, better car. Im putting alot of faith in McRae this year. Hopfully he can keep the car out of the ditch, and from going off the clif this year. If he can do that, then he will be good for a championship.

Gronholm: perhaps, hes a very cool and clam driver. A technician. He put on a WRC driving clinic last year. Hopfully he can adapt this year as well. But i dont think teh flukes that put him up top will happen this year again. So hes gonna have to claw his way to the top this time. My hopes are also riding high on Gronholm

Sainz: One word describes Carlos best..consistancy. He has tons of it. He showed he can get around the Fords technical problems through smooth driving. With a greatly improved focus. I expect to see him getting a fair amount of stage wins. ANd being a top contender for a championship.

Delecour: I dont see him doing much this year. I think he will prove an asset on tarmac. But beyond that, hes not going to be fighting for the top.

Panizzi: he should be fast on tarmac, but i dont think he will do much to best Gronholm.

Auriol: Hes just switched to the biggest WRC car, to the smallest WRC...i think teh learning curve is going to be a bit steap. I think we will see some GREAT improvement over his time with Seat. But im not expecting anything spectacular.

AS for the Skoda and Hyundai boys...we are all pulling for you.

If i had to put money down, i would have to say my favorites are McRae, Sainze, and Grinholm respectivly. With Burns coming in a close 4th.

[Ian Cook]

Buck-O i think you may have McRae and Burns confused, McRae is far more arrogant and cocky than Burns !

[rsquire]

Oh I don't know..

Going on some of the reports in Autosport I think the Ginger Git can give the Scot's scrot a run for his money

Richard

Hehe, i se what you are saying, but i dont think i got it wrong.

When McRae talks *****, he has a couple of world championships to back it up with. Burns just has his trus...er, not so trusty as of late Subaru.

They are preaty much one in the same though.

[Eric SS]

hehe.. McRae is a cocky SOB but that's why I like him

Eric

[Subie Gal]

Colin or Richard...

Burnsy...
if the car can stinkin perform as it's supposed to... he will win...

Colin....
Ford is going to be a major contender this year... if he doesnt wreck out... he'll definately be a contender...

j. www.subiegal.com

[slidewaysmike]

I want Burns to win, lets cross our fingers.

Colin will come close, but will be let down by his car, or his ability to drive off of cliffs at the exact wrong time.

Gronholm won't repeat, he will have problems the first half, and then play catch up the last, but wont have enough time.

Makkinen will do better this year than last, but still will not finish higher than 3rd in the points.

Sainz is going to really be in the hunt all year, and may pull it off, but I think he will end up 2nd.

Didier will win 2 times, but will also battle with a car that lets him down, he will be top 6.

The 2 Subaru recruits will throw it away more than finish, Solberg will be out of a job by year end, and Martin just wont be fast enough.

Delecor and Panizzi will only really shine on the pavement, but look for Delecor to have the better season of the 2, possibly even finish in the top 5. If he can keep his cool.

I am pulling for Armin Schwartz and Bruno Thiry, I predict a good season for both, possibly even seeing one or both leading a rally at some time. Don't know about a victory though.

Pierro Liatti and Alister will do pretty good this year, but break more than not.

And finally Freddy Loix will have a rough first half, and just give up and not try hard the last half.

Go Richard!!!

Slidewaysmike

[johnfelstead]

It's too close to call.

Ford look real strong, especially now they are on Pirelli tires for the first time.

Subaru are too young a driving team to win the manufacturers i feel, but Richard can win the title, IF the car is reliable and IF he has learned that sometimes it takes accepting 2nd and loosing the battle to become champion and win the war.

Auriol is an odd ball, he can be blindingly fast when he is in the mood, but too often now he is dull and slow. If he gets some real motivation though, he could challenge strongly.

I think there is only one certainty, the Championship will be decided on the Network Q Rally GB again. I'll be there with my mates cheering on the brits as usual.

OBTW Colin has won the tittle once, in 95, i was there to see him lift the trophy.

[rsquire]

I'll be there with my mates cheering on the brits as usual

Nah.. I'll be there screaming for the Scandanavians



Richard

[This message has been edited by rsquire (edited February 03, 2001).]