Pick the 2004 Champions!

[Dr. WOT]

Happy new year, everybody!

This is a thread for your predictions on the 2004 motorsports season. Whatever series you like, pick the winner. Will Scuderia Ferrari's domination come to an end? Can Petter win two in a row? Who won the CHAMP title last year anyway?

At the end of the season we can dig this thread up and see who the real experts are.

I'll go first:

F1
driver - Kimi Raikkonen
manufacturer - Williams

WRC
driver - Seb Leob
manufacturer - Citroen

Remember, you can pick winners in any series you like, even NASCAR (if you must).

[nKoan]

WRC
Driver- Sebastian Loeb
Manufacturer - Subaru

I honestly think Subaru has a good chance at the Manufacturer's championship this year. Citroen and Ford will also be strong. I think Peugeot will have some teething problems with the new 307, but they will also be strong if not prone to mechanical failures. I don't think Mitsubishi will have a strong season, and I believe they are calling this next season a 'learning season' anyways.

[NC2.5RS]

Formula 1

Drivers Champion: Michael Schumacher
Constructors Champion: Scuderia Ferrari

[sha_zapple]

Originally posted by nKoan
...Ford will also be strong...

Unless they have a better car to pull out of their ass, I cant see this happening.

I predict Citroen for manu and Solberg for Drivers.

I am not really looking forward to 2004. No skoda, no mitsu, no hyundai, rookie in a subie instead of a pro, new car that will most likely have teething problems, Same ol fords with their unreliability.

I would like to see the 307 do well though, because then it would be a battle between Citroen, Subaru, and Peugeot (with the leveled points field)

[WRXedUSA]

Originally posted by sha_zapple
Unless they have a better car to pull out of their ass, I cant see this happening.

I predict Citroen for manu and Solberg for Drivers.

I am not really looking forward to 2004. No skoda, no mitsu, no hyundai, rookie in a subie instead of a pro, new car that will most likely have teething problems, Same ol fords with their unreliability.

I would like to see the 307 do well though, because then it would be a battle between Citroen, Subaru, and Peugeot (with the leveled points field)

I'll have to agree with everything you have to say. I just got my rally tickets, and Peugeot Sport is giving away all 206 merchandise to the first people to shakedown on thursday! Anyone want some loot?

I was really heartbroken, I really wanted to see a Skoda race, especially a Octavia. Hopefully some Estaland privateers will bring over some unique cars.

What are you talking about Mitsu? They will be there!

[nKoan]

Originally posted by sha_zapple
Unless they have a better car to pull out of their ass, I cant see this happening.

Well, the Focus WRC03 was arguably the fastest car in the WRC this year (reliability issues aside). And Martin won the most stages this season. Plus, the car has had nearly a full season of rally experience to shake out all the bugs.

But then, this doesn't mean much without reliability. And if the superally format is adopted I think Ford has a damn fine chance at the manufacturers title.

[nKoan]

Originally posted by WRXedUSA
I'll have to agree with everything you have to say. I just got my rally tickets, and Peugeot Sport is giving away all 206 merchandise to the first people to shakedown on thursday! Anyone want some loot?

Heck yeah. If you grab any extra stuff that you want to get rid of, let me know

[STX_REX]

WRC:
Marko Martin
Citroen

F1:
M. Schumaker (virtually garaunteeing status as #1 for all time)
McLaren

NASCAR:
Some Redneck with over-developed left side neck muscles
Does not matter, they are all the same due to excessive regulatory action

[SubEd]

MotoGP: Sete Gibernau (Honda)
AMA Superbike: Eric Bostrom (Ducati)

[grindMARC]

F1: Kimi
Williams

WRC: Solleberg
Subaru (there's a 2-car limit, now right?)

Has anyone tried out that 'betting' link on the WRC site? What's that all about?

[Dussander]

Here is who I WANT to win. Predicting is no fun for me. Too many variables.

F1: Juan
Williams

WRC: Petter
Subaru

Local AutoX FTD Championship: Me

[gtguy]

F1: M. Schumacher (driver's)
Ferrari: (constructors)

My reasoning is that the long life engine requirements are going to catch a lot of people out, and because the Scuderia is not only among the fastest, but the most reliable, they should just pull it out. The new McLaren will be fast as hell, and by all reports, the Michelin advantage over Bridgestone has grown. But unfortunately, the new F1 points setup puts a premium on consistency. Ferrari will find that the situation which they complained about last year, will help them this year.

WRC: Loeb (driver's)
Peugeot (constructors)

The Pug is dated, but is still a fast car. I think that Loeb is fast...very fast, and will have learned from his mistakes of last season.

Kevin

[Arioch]

F1:
Driver - Kimi
Constructor - Ferrari

WRC:
Driver - Petter
Constructor - Pug

-dave

[cadprowrx]

No NHRA fans?!? Well here are my picks for the drag races:

Top Fuel - Brandon Bernstein
Funny Car - Wit Bazemore
Pro Stock - Kurt or Warren Johnson
Pro Stock Bike - Angel Savoir

[whoobaru]

Originally posted by SubEd
MotoGP: Sete Gibernau (Honda)
AMA Superbike: Eric Bostrom (Ducati)

MotoGP: Texas Tornado, baby! Colin Edwards (Honda)
AMA Superbike: Eric Bostrom (Ducati)
AMA Supersport: Jamie Hacking (Yamaha)

WRC
Driver: Solberg
Constructor: Citroen


Also, a question. Why is it that there is more emphasis on winning the Constructor's Championship than the Driver's in WRC? In every other motorsport I can think of, it's the other way around.

[nKoan]

Well, different teams will go for different trophies. In the 90's, Subaru was going for the Manufacturers title (and won it many times) but Mitsubishi was all for the Drivers (also, won it many time). Subaru showed this by building strong teams where each member had top of the line setups, and Mitsubishi showed this by having Makinen a super-duper setup at the expense of his teammates. Recently, the French teams have been saying they want the manufacturers title rather then the drivers (if they had to choose one). Where as Ford and Subaru have been going for the Drivers title.

I think, since these cars are (in theory) based on road cars, it shows you have a strong production car across all drivers/driving styles. Peugeot also walked away with the Manufacturers title for a few years running because they were able to afford a 3 car team (and surface specialists). For them to lose the manufacturers title with such an obvious advantage would be quite a shame.

[subaru16valve]

WRC
Driver- Sebastian Loeb ( Peter will go 5 or 6 points out )
Manufacturer - Subaru ( Ford a close 2nd)

I call the close points between Peter and Loeb simply because, as Peter has stated, he likes the hunt. Loeb is intensely calculated on asphalt and last season Peter lucked out w rain, the Pirellis were an advantage. With Loeb as the leader seting blistering stage times Peter will simply have a pace to follow then beat.

Ford will work out its kinks late in the season, but slightly too late, Subaru will take the Manu.

-A

[sha_zapple]

Originally posted by nKoan
Well, the Focus WRC03 was arguably the fastest car in the WRC this year (reliability issues aside). And Martin won the most stages this season. Plus, the car has had nearly a full season of rally experience to shake out all the bugs.

But then, this doesn't mean much without reliability. And if the superally format is adopted I think Ford has a damn fine chance at the manufacturers title.

Yeah, the Focus is a good car, but the reliability issues negate that. It was amazing how at the beginning of the year is was kinda like a rookie show off bewteen Solberg and Martin, but the Focus kept letting Martin down while the Impeza improved Solberg.

Is Mistu coming back Mid season? or beginning? I havent heard from them in a while, so Im probably wrong. If they are back then woohoo!

[nKoan]

Mitsubishi will be competing in Monte Carlo

But their cars will have passive differentials and manual gearchange boxes, so I don't expect them to be too competitive. By mid season they should have their car up to full spec.

[A_Train]

WRC:

Driver: Martin
Constructor: Subaru

F1:

Schumacher
Ferrari

JGTC:

GT500: Nissan

[Dr. WOT]

Okay, here we have it, in all it's painfull glory. Nobody got them all right, gtguy came the closest, nice work kev.

We had some good guesses, and some very obvious wishful thinking. I think Petter could have had a real shot had it not been for the 3 DNFs in a row mid season, basically he just pushed too hard. F1 was a blowout, I desperately underestimated Ferraris strength. In MotoGP, Sete made it interesting, but it was really all Val. The best prediction of all was STX_REX's pick for NASCAR champion which I must say was spot on!

Keep your eyes pealed for the 2005 thread in a few weeks time.