WRC Modern Classics Season 2001. Acropolis Rally

[BergGunner]

Which stage messed up at the end, was it 8 or 9?

Stage 9, game hasn't given me any time for it.
Decided to drive the last stage anyway and I had no issue there.

 

[RYAN]

Clean run for me thankfully. A few spins and a nice quick roll that did no damage were all that were eventful. I still don't like the handling of the 01' Focus but I can't complain too much considering the attrition rate of this round.

 

[Belgianwaffle]

Anyone else having trouble to sign in to racenet? I can't check in to see the clubs 🙄😒

 

[RYAN]

Anyone else having trouble to sign in to racenet? I can't check in to see the clubs 🙄😒

Yeah, It's messed up for me too.

 

[Spinerkopin]

I was in contention for the win, despite driving like a grandma on a few stages, until a little rock got me a puncture at the middle of Stage 8, at the tarmac/paved route. Got me back to P3 at the end.

Tarmac is definitely not for me 😔

 

[Cabelmania]

Well, as a driver for Seat in this Championship doing the Iberia rally is mandatory in my part time schedule

 

[MagpieRacer]

Going to be interesting. I've never driven the Seat on tarmac.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Rallye de Portugal has proven to be a stern test of concentration and ability to keep a radiator in tact. 37 drivers took the start gate, 19 reached the finish. @RYAN proved to have the taming of both his Focus and the rutted countryside of Portugal, keeping the car intact and dominating the rally to finish nearly 2 minutes ahead of 2nd place driver @Belgianwaffle in the Impreza. @Spinerkopin backed up the win in Sweden with another podium here in his Impreza as well.

@RYAN powers the Focus to victory

Rank	DisplayName	Vehicle	Time	DifferenceToFirst
1	RDA-JETS	Ford Focus RS Rally 2001	1:19:07	0:00:00
2	BelgianWaffle78	SUBARU Impreza 2001	1:21:02	0:01:55
3	Spinerkopin	SUBARU Impreza 2001	1:21:21	0:02:14
4	Hasnain282	SEAT Córdoba WRC	1:21:46	0:02:39
5	c07aea92ce6efb26	SEAT Córdoba WRC	1:24:38	0:05:30
6	GOTMAXPOWER	Ford Focus RS Rally 2001	1:25:14	0:06:06
7	widdler	SUBARU Impreza 2001	1:25:41	0:06:34
8	Space_Wadet	Peugeot 206 Rally	1:25:57	0:06:49
9	lebowski2	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI	1:26:41	0:07:34
10	SolidNinjaSnake	Ford Focus RS Rally 2001	1:27:19	0:08:11
11	ABarber95	SUBARU Impreza 2001	1:28:56	0:09:49
12	nowthenfella	SEAT Córdoba WRC	1:29:55	0:10:47
13	alicudis	SUBARU Impreza 1998	1:29:59	0:10:51
14	mmf1_PS	Ford Focus RS Rally 2001	1:31:22	0:12:15
15	FinalNitrous	Ford Focus RS Rally 2001	1:31:26	0:12:18
16	BergGunner	SUBARU Impreza 2001	1:31:27	0:12:19
17	dahKarvaRanne	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI	1:32:47	0:13:39
18	miljan426	SUBARU Impreza 2001	1:33:29	0:14:22
19	tomo875	Peugeot 206 Rally	1:34:51	0:15:43

@Belgianwaffle leaps through the Fafe jump​

This means that @Spinerkopin takes over the lead of the championship, with @Belgianwaffle and @space_wadet moving into P2 and 3 respectively. @RYAN 's dominant win lifts him 8 places into 5th.

Rank	DisplayName	PointsAccumulated
1	Spinerkopin	101
2	BelgianWaffle78	98
3	Space_Wadet	80
4	Hasnain282	80
5	RDA-JETS	77
6	Dreadmed	74
7	amagurichan	71
8	BergGunner	64
9	widdler	54
10	Speedster502	51
11	Ujhuuu8iolk	50
12	FiveHoleCole	49
13	GOTMAXPOWER	47
14	Devilsoldier96	41
15	ABarber95	38
16	SolidNinjaSnake	38
17	thewrathofwhat	37
18	magpieracer	37
19	alicudis	37
20	c07aea92ce6efb26	36
21	Meadow142	35
22	nowthenfella	33
23	mistrelwood	31
24	JabierFailure	30
25	miljan426	29
26	mmf1_PS	28
27	FinalNitrous	28
28	lebowski2	25
29	tomo875	22
30	dahKarvaRanne	15
31	DaniB58	14
32	bigfatflip	10
33	DummyGames14	10
34	Cabelmania	9
35	9d1c43eb87fa5a79	8
36	vaskildo	8
37	D1sharmoneus	7
38	Try_Canal10	7
39	WRC Player	6
40	vivalabam922	5
41	skolll-T_T	5
42	RuggishThuggish	4
43	Scaff	4
44	BenAFC14	4
45	Syuma2525	3
46	Bretto73	3
47	Disabled_Lefty	1
48	WRC Player	1
49	Ikk_klar	0
50	Gr0upB	0
51	darrenersmit82	0
52	Hultberg420	0
53	AnttiRenfors	0
54	juniorjohan	0
55	yuzabulow	0
56	SteveIsAwake	0
57	Mounta1nShark	0
58	AhoTerunen	0
59	fourpegs	0
60	DarkSmaile977	0

@Tool1312 manhandles the Impreza through the rocky roads

​

Subaru extend their lead in the constructors, Ford leapfrog Mitsubishi into P2 overall while Seat are off the bottom as they outscore Peugeot comfortably to go P4.

Rank	Manufacturer	Points
1	Subaru	104
2	Ford	65
3	Mitsubishi	47
4	Seat	37
5	Peugeot	33

@Speedster502 coaxes the Peugeot to a handful of points.

@MagpieRacer attacks the water in his Seat before retirement.​

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The real 2001 Portuguese event was chaotic, a wet mud-bath to make even the most Welsh of Welshman quiver. After weeks of intense (and sadly, fatal) rain, calling in to question whether the rally should have taken place at all (nowadays it's likely it wouldn't have gone ahead). But it did go ahead, straight into 2 stage cancellations (including Fafe), and simply getting to the end of the rally would likely yield a strong result. The early runners (Makinen, Sainz and Rovanpera) were able to get through with reasonable times, but still only 3 drivers were within a minute of Makinen who had the best conditions. Everyone else was battling getting stuck, crawling through mud and bottoming out on ruts.
After all the delays, stage cancellations and zero cars getting stuck, 70% of starters had retired. Makinen took the win for Mitsubishi ahead of Fords Carlos Sainz and Peugeots Marcus Gronholm.
This would also mark the last Rally Portugal until 2007.

 

[MagpieRacer]

After the mudbath of Portugal, we move to sunnier conditions and the 37th Rally Catalunya Costa Brava. The first all tarmac event of the year and we will begin to see who has the strongest sealed surface package ahead of the late season tarmac events.

Itinerary
Day 1
Shakedown
Morning Service
SS1: Montagut - 9.2km
SS2: Montclar - 7.3km

Lunchtime Service
SS3: Aiguamúrcia - 9.2km
SS4: Alforja - 16.3km

Evening Service
SS5: Botareli - 7.3km

Day 2
Morning Service
SS6: Santes Creus - 19km
SS7: Pontils - 9.7km

Lunchtime Service
SS8: Les Voltes - 8.9km
SS9: Les Irles - 16.3km

Evening Service
SS10: Valldossera - 19km

Total Distance: 122.2km​

 

[Tool1312]

Got the final stage left to do, it's criminal how few tyre sets are available. I've got a badly worn set of mediums to choose from or a risky new set of rain tyres to do 19km. Decisions decisions cos the mediums are feeling awful right now

 

[MagpieRacer]

Got the final stage left to do, it's criminal how few tyre sets are available. I've got a badly worn set of mediums to choose from or a risky new set of rain tyres to do 19km. Decisions decisions cos the mediums are feeling awful right now

The rain tyres actually feel OK on dry I find.

 

[Belgianwaffle]

The rain tyres actually feel OK on dry I find.

Yep. They wear out real quickly but have good grip... Kinda realistic actually.

 

[Nitrous oxide]

Well that's me out. I can't even remember which stage I was on but ran wide on a tight right leading over a bridge and ended on the wrong side of it. Terminal damage.

 

[Speedster502]

Spent a lot of time trying to get myself dialled into the 206, think I've found a set-up that seems to be working...only to get a puncture half way into the first stage 🤦‍♂️

This is going to be a long rally...

 

[Dreadmed]

First two stages done, hopefully not a sign of things to come but I was struggling to get the Evo through some of those corners by the end of stage 2... it felt a lot better to attack with in MC. I'll have to see if I can find the sweet spot again before the weekend;

 

[tomo 427 S/C]

Well, regardless of what the standings are at the end, I feel I really pushed the wee 206 as hard as I could. Too hard sometimes and made a couple silly mistakes, but overall I’m very proud of how that rally panned out!

 

[Speedster502]

Turns out my rally was very short...terminal gearbox damage on SS7. Wondering when I might get some luck this season

 

[tomo 427 S/C]

Turns out my rally was very short...terminal gearbox damage on SS7. Wondering when I might get some luck this season

That is incredibly accurate to the 206 in real life

 

[MagpieRacer]

That is incredibly accurate to the 206 in real life

I was about to say, bang on brand 😅.

 

[Tool1312]

Finished the final stage, I used a new set of rain tyres which felt fine.
Enjoyed that one even though I may just scrape the top ten when it's all done.
Here's a few

 

[Belgianwaffle]

I find Spain a very difficult rally. When exiting corners you often get the feeling that you could have gone faster through there. But if you increase your pace, you are often punished for it. So, my strategy was to ride a good pace with reduced risks. I succeeded at that, I think. But the big boys will be far ahead again. Anyway, every point counts for the championship.

Ps: I also made a stupid mistake at the start of Ss5. My steering wheel was not centered yet, after making a photo in the replay 🤦🤦 So I had to eat a 5 sec penalty there for hitting the poor start-Marshall 😳

 

[RYAN]

I'm not looking forward to Catalunya. It's one of the rallies I haven't ran too much and I definitely feel Tarmac is the weakest surface for the Focus. I will be pleased with a podium finish. I also don't practice anymore due to time constraints/patience so I will have to take it easy on the sections I don't know. Luckily there's plenty of Gravel Rallies left in the Championship where I feel more comfortable so I hope to just survive this 😄

 

[Dreadmed]

I find Spain a very difficult rally. When exiting corners you often get the feeling that you could have gone faster through there. But if you increase your pace, you are often punished for it.

100%, I've clocked up 130 hours now and I'm still none the wiser in regards to how much speed I can carry on "regular" asphalt tyres (i.e not rain/winter). There doesn't seem to be any gradual drop-off, you either make it around the corner so comfortably that you're internally kicking yourself or you've understeered straight into a barrier/cliff drop...

 

[Hasnain282]

Had a bit of a disaster in there thanks to getting a lot of damage on stage 3 and 7 but got it to the end which is a lot better than I usually do at Spain in rally games

 

[Spinerkopin]

I was quite worried about this one, but turns out it went pretty well. Gave everything I've got. Now we have to wait

 

[Belgianwaffle]

I was quite worried about this one, but turns out it went pretty well. Gave everything I've got. Now we have to wait
View attachment 1345957
View attachment 1345958

View attachment 1345960

Damn, I can't follow the pace of the top boys here. Well done, faster on all stages 😟. I will have to invest in a better wheel and pedals, I think.

 

[Tool1312]

I was quite worried about this one, but turns out it went pretty well. Gave everything I've got. Now we have to wait
View attachment 1345957
View attachment 1345958

View attachment 1345960

I see you used Solberg's car. I used it too which means if you win, I win by association haha

 

[RYAN]

Going into the last stage I was confident, I had gone long on mediums earlier in the rally and had my set of softs still in decent condition for the last stage.

And then... I got a puncture straight away . 1:30 penalty and thrown away 1st and even 2nd

 

[Spinerkopin]

Going into the last stage I was confident, I had gone long on mediums earlier in the rally and had my set of softs still in decent condition for the last stage.

View attachment 1346133

And then... I got a puncture straight away . 1:30 penalty and thrown away 1st and even 2nd

View attachment 1346134

View attachment 1346135

Looks like it was close until the very end!

You kept your set of softs for the last 3 stages? I went for mediums from stage 1 to 5 (not sure if keeping them for S5 was a good idea), then softs for stage 6 and 7, and then mediums again for the 3 last.

 

[RYAN]

Looks like it was close until the very end!

You kept your set of softs for the last 3 stages? I went for mediums from stage 1 to 5 (not sure if keeping them for S5 was a good idea), then softs for stage 6 and 7, and then mediums again for the 3 last.

Yeah, I had kept my softs for the end. I had tested rain tires after some people had said they were OK but I didn't like the feel of them at all so I went mediums 1-4 and 5-7.

The corner I went wide at I have driven dozens of times, About 3-4 times earlier in the this rally so it was a stupid mistake. Still I'm happy with my pace. I seem to be getting used to the Focus more now.