2005 WRC Begins
Jan 21, 2005, 06:18 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by f86sabre
I’m pretty sure that Rovanperä will out shine Panizzi over the course of the season. It will be fun to see. The car obviously more resembles an Evo than a standard Lancer, but I believe they get more world wide marketing mileage out of pushing the Lancer name. It should be obvious that most of the cars running the WRC do not come from the factory as performance machines (Evo/Lancer and STi not withstanding). I drove a Citroen Czara last spring while in France and it was a P.O.S. The Ford Focus and Puma are much nicer cars.
Best wishes,
f86sabre
Best wishes,
f86sabre
. Of course, the Evo is still needed for Group N homologation but you never get to see coverage of the Group N cars.I realise Mitsubishi's commitment to Panizzi but they really need to get rid of him. He's a good driver but he's a little out of his league when pitted against Gronholm, Solberg, Martin, and Loeb. Panizzi used to have 'it' but he's never been the same since his shoulder surgery. Amazing how changing a light bulb can change your career
. I would have loved to see McRae back in the WRC this year. Even though he's Scottish he's been one of my idols for many years.
Jan 21, 2005, 10:07 PM
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mcrae isnt running again? thats crazy, i was impressed with all of his efforts outside of the WRC last year. he ran Dakkar, and he ran at 24 hours LE MANS, but i think he is best behind the wheel of the focus. i am a pretty big fan of his. but i am a bigger gronholm fan.
Jan 22, 2005, 10:57 AM
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Gilles Panizzi won a stage (SS8), and is now in 5th overall, 27.6 seconds behind 4th place Petter Solberg. Seems the new Lancer WRC is quite quick 
Last edited by awddrifter; Jan 22, 2005 at 11:53 AM.
Jan 22, 2005, 04:48 PM
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Originally Posted by UFO
Nothing to do with pushing the Lancer name, it's all about homologation. Now the WRC cars can be modified extensively it's picking the car that's right for the job. It's a shame really because the days of street legal rally cars such as the Ford RS Cosworths, Celica GT-4s, et al are gone . Of course, the Evo is still needed for Group N homologation but you never get to see coverage of the Group N cars.
I realise Mitsubishi's commitment to Panizzi but they really need to get rid of him. He's a good driver but he's a little out of his league when pitted against Gronholm, Solberg, Martin, and Loeb. Panizzi used to have 'it' but he's never been the same since his shoulder surgery. Amazing how changing a light bulb can change your career. I would have loved to see McRae back in the WRC this year. Even though he's Scottish he's been one of my idols for many years.
. Of course, the Evo is still needed for Group N homologation but you never get to see coverage of the Group N cars.I realise Mitsubishi's commitment to Panizzi but they really need to get rid of him. He's a good driver but he's a little out of his league when pitted against Gronholm, Solberg, Martin, and Loeb. Panizzi used to have 'it' but he's never been the same since his shoulder surgery. Amazing how changing a light bulb can change your career
. I would have loved to see McRae back in the WRC this year. Even though he's Scottish he's been one of my idols for many years.
Jan 22, 2005, 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by awddrifter
Gilles Panizzi won a stage (SS8), and is now in 5th overall, 27.6 seconds behind 4th place Petter Solberg. Seems the new Lancer WRC is quite quick
Yippie, we're back 
Jan 23, 2005, 04:04 AM
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3rd overall 30secs behind 2nd the Focus
Gilles Panizzi was third quickest on the stage in his Mitsubishi and he has moved up into third place overall too. He still has a chance to improve even on that, as he is only 25.9s behind Gardemeister overall. Gardemeister had a tricky stage. He was delayed at the scene of Solberg's crash and then admitted that he lost his rhythm. Still he made it to the end of the stage after a quick spin, and set the eighth best time.
Last edited by juicyfrys; Jan 23, 2005 at 04:10 AM.
Jan 23, 2005, 05:53 AM
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Awsome! Go Gilles!! This is a good sign. I bet Mitsu is exstatic about this result. Rovanpera who is a gravel specialist got 7th! That means mitsu is 3rd in the manufacturers points.
However Gilles did well last year on the Monty as well, then the car crapped out.... Hope they can keep it up!!
However Gilles did well last year on the Monty as well, then the car crapped out.... Hope they can keep it up!!
Jan 23, 2005, 08:47 AM
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Originally Posted by chapter8
what makes you think Panizzi isnt good anymore? I can agree he is not an all around driver snow/gravel....but he is the man. He was just in a ****ty car last year and I was amazed at his placings in some of the races while his car was so far behind the competition. Panizzi owns all on tarmac just give him the right car
I knew he could do it!
Jan 23, 2005, 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by chapter8
what makes you think Panizzi isnt good anymore? I can agree he is not an all around driver snow/gravel....but he is the man. He was just in a ****ty car last year and I was amazed at his placings in some of the races while his car was so far behind the competition. Panizzi owns all on tarmac just give him the right car
.
Jan 23, 2005, 06:43 PM
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Panizzi's shoulder
Er, Panizzi did outclass all of his Peugeot teammates whenever the surface was tarmac. That includes his champion teammate M.Gronholm... When the Peugeot 206 WRC was the car to beat, on tarmac at least, G.Panizzi was always the favorite. The weird rule change that was to prohibit teams from having more than one driver with some # points in the previous season, was more than likely the reason why Peugeot dropped Panizzi for Freddy Loix...not any decrease in Gilles performance. Naturally, Rovanpera should be quicker on loose surfaces, if history is a guide.