Hey everyone,

Rally this weekend in Monaco. Naturally, went to see it.
First took somepictures last night (at 1a.m!) when they first arrived in the Parc Fermé:

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00219.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00190.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00189.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00178.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00223.jpg

A tired Evolution...
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00230.jpg

Notice the derivers' names!
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00225.jpg

-----------

Then on Sunday drove up into the mountains to see the real thing, and for the first time on the world famous Col de Turini stage.
Thousands of people were their, but we managed to get a good spot:

It's a heart !!!!
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/DSC00338.jpg


Loeb first, incredibly fast
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/DSC00300.jpg

His team-mate Sordo who set the fastest time on that particular stage.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/DSC00304.jpg

Duval pushing it, trying to snatch 3rd place from Atkinson.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00317-1.jpg

Atkinson smoothly through the hairpin.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00309-1.jpg

An "amateur" in his 206 WRC.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/DSC00286.jpg

Wilson, very young but very talented
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00328.jpg

Look closely...
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00294.jpg

The general scenery...
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00339-1.jpg

------------------

Back in Monaco, went to see the super-stage through the city itself!
The cars are obliged to use snow tyres even though it's tarmac, just to make things more interesting :D

The brand new Suzuki WRC car doing well
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/DSC00349-1.jpg

Rauntenbach crashes at 100km/h+ and gives everyone a big scare. Out of the rally only 50 meters from the finish!
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00355.jpg

Al Quassimi on his flying laps
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00366.jpg

Wilson really flying
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00350.jpg
-----------

Loeb celebrates his victory with copilot Daniel Elena
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00362.jpg

------------

After a quick ceremony at the Palace, the cars come back and everyone gets to have a good look at them, a chat with the drivers, photos & some autographs.
This is what's so great about rallying, the spectator is really involved not like in all other sports where everything is shut-off and it's all money.

Andersson's Suzuki
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00379.jpg

Ford Focus WRC from Al Quassimi
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00401.jpg

Solberg's Subaru
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00376.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00413.jpg

--------

Drivers:

Sordo:
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00387.jpg

Duval:
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00404.jpg

Willson, wants to know why they're held up
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00397.jpg


All that in one day! But it was well worth it...

I'll post more pics if people want... might even start a "Rally 2008 Thread" if there's enough interest.

Oh, and look who was following us on the way back to Monaco... Our friend Raunthenbach in his Citroen Xsara WRC
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00345.jpg

Amazing photos, I'd like to see more images if thats OK, PM me or just post them in the thread. Damn the Citroen looks good from behind.

damn, lucky you, good cars, good pics =)

You went to Monte Carlo rally stage? Damn, that's VERY cool!! :D:D:D

I'm a big fan of WRC/rallying myself. Shame that we don't get WRC coverage no more in Indonesia, so I'm way behind from the news.


Very great pictures breakFan! Reminds me again why I love rally races.


NOTE: can you post the final position standings at the end of Monte Carlo? Thanks a heap :D.

Final standing of the Monte Carlo Rally 2008, and therefore of the WRC 2008

Clt no Pilote (nat.)
Voiture Temps Ecart
leader
1 1 Sébastien LOEB (F)
CITROEN C4 3:39:17.0 0.0
(+0.0)
2 3 Mikko HIRVONEN (FIN)
FORD Focus RS WRC 07 3:41:51.4 +2:34.4
(+2.:34.4)
3 6 Chris ATKINSON (AUS)
SUBARU Impreza WRC 2006 3:42:15.6 +2:58.6
(+24.2)
4 8 Francois DUVAL (B)
FORD Focus RS WRC 07 3:42:16.7 +2:59.7
(+1.1)
5 5 Petter SOLBERG (N)
SUBARU Impreza WRC 2006 3:43:57.9 +4:40.9
(+1.:41.2)
6 7 Gigi GALLI (I)
FORD Focus RS WRC 07 3:48:03.5 +8:46.5
(+4.:05.6)
7 18 Jean Marie CUOQ (F)
PEUGEOT 307 WRC 3:49:41.8 +10:24.8
(+1.:38.3)
8 12 Per-Gunnar ANDERSSON (S)
SUZUKI SX4 3:50:36.5 +11:19.5
(+54.7)
9 14 Henning SOLBERG (N)
FORD Focus RS WRC 07 3:52:00.6 +12:43.6
(+1.:24.1)
10 16 Matthew WILSON (GB)
FORD Focus RS WRC 07 3:53:17.1 +14:00.1
(+1.:16.5)
11 2 Daniel SORDO (E)
CITROEN C4 3:59:57.5 +20:40.5
(+6.:40.4)
12 4 Jari-Matti LATVALA (FIN)
FORD Focus RS WRC 07 4:03:33.1 +24:16.1
(+3.:35.6)
13 75 Alessandro BROCCOLI (RSM)
RENAULT Clio 4:07:32.7 +28:15.7
(+3.:59.6)
14 86 Patrick ARTRU (F)
MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo IX 4:10:37.2 +31:20.2
(+3.:04.5)
15 70 Eddie MERCIER (F)
RENAULT Clio 4:10:47.7 +31:30.7
(+10.5)
16 19 Khalid AL QASSIMI (UAE)
Ford Focus RS WRC 07 4:11:36.2 +32:19.2
(+48.5)
17 88 Ludovic CLUZEL (F)
MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo IX 4:12:14.8 +32:57.8
(+38.6)
18 79 Olivier BURRI (CH)
SUBARU Impreza 4:12:25.4 +33:08.4
(+10.6)
19 68 Luca BETTI (E)
HONDA Civic Type-R 4:12:49.4 +33:32.4
(+24.0)
20 71 Henri-Marc VENTURINI (F)
RENAULT Clio 4:13:24.9 +34:07.9
(+35.5)
21 84 Richard FRAU (F)
MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo IX 4:21:12.4 +41:55.4
(+7.:47.5)
22 93 Joan FONT (E)
MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo IX 4:21:21.2 +42:04.2
(+8.8)
23 94 Gilbert SAU (F)
MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo IX 4:29:11.9 +49:54.9
(+7.:50.7)
24 72 Silvano PINTARELLI (I)
RENAULT Clio 4:30:40.7 +51:23.7
(+1.:28.8)
25 83 Laurent NICOLAS (F)
SUBARU Impreza 4:33:53.2 +54:36.2
(+3.:12.5)
26 82 Alain MACHARD (F)
SUBARU Impreza STI 4:37:02.6 +57:45.6
(+3.:09.4)
27 87 Jérôme AYMARD (F)
MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo IX 4:41:37.5 +1:02:20.5
(+4.:34.9)
28 91 Giacomo OGLIARI (I)
MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo IX 4:44:14.9 +1:04:57.9
(+2.:37.4)
29 89 Miguel BAUDOUIN (F)
MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo 4:44:38.8 +1:05:21.8
(+23.9)
30 77 Stefano MORETTI (I)
RENAULT Clio 4:48:35.6 +1:09:18.6
(+3.:56.8)
31 92 Milan LISKA (CZ)
MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo IX 4:52:00.2 +1:12:43.2
(+3.:24.6)
32 81 Flavio CASTEGNARO (I)
SUBARU Impreza 4:52:45.9 +1:13:28.9
(+45.7)
33 73 Lilian VIALLE (F)
RENAULT Clio 4:59:28.3 +1:20:11.3
(+6.:42.4)
34 69 Daniel HOLCZER (H)
HONDA Civic 5:13:28.0 +1:34:11.0
(+13.:59.7)

I'd like to see Solberg do better - Imprezas need to dominate again!

The Imprezas are beautiful machines, and Solberg drives it with such ease and beauty. But even with your bare eye, when you're out there, can see that Loeb is quicker...

The Imprezas are beautiful machines, and Solberg drives it with such ease and beauty. But even with your bare eye, when you're out there, can see that Loeb is quicker...

Yeah, I agree with you. Even if I only see Petter from the television, I can tell he's fast on the Impreza. It's just that Loeb is faster ... and the occasional 'bad luck' Petter been having since 2006/7 :(.

Btw, Chris Atkinson at third place? Wow, he's faster than his teammate Solberg. Pretty impressive. And did I miss something or there isn't Marcus Gronholm on the leaderboard?

He retired at the end of last season.

Hirvonen is now n°1 driver for Ford.

Here are some videos I took...

First car, Sebastien Loeb:
http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/?action=view&current=MOV00241.flv

As it was full of Italians, naturally Gigi Galli received plenty of cheers. However for a drunk Italian man named Luca, this was not enough. He gave me his megaphone, and made it my duty to shout out in English & in French "When Gigi comes, everyone applaud! The whole mountain! EVERYONE!!!!"
Anyway, here's what happened:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbgFLJ4GEdA

looks great the Monte Carlo rally, im just trying to sort out for going to the GB Rally as well as my local rally event.

I just noticed something. Is the 2008 WRC season going to have only 1 tire manufacturer? When did Subaru switch back to Pirelli tires? Did BFgoodrich ditch rallying???


BTW, excellent pictures! They're professional looking.....

As far as I can see, they are all running on Pirellis.

^^^ the rules have changed, i know that all groupN cars will be faced with new tyre rules, Pirellis for everyone and the tyres won't contain the anti-puncture mousse filling. its so the less wealthy teams can have a chance.

damn those cars are so cool. looks like you had fun

thats some nice coverage there ! thnx for postin' seems you enjoyed you time there :cool:

Fantastic! Thank you breakfan!
Please post more pics and reviews.

Solberg, Subaru si using the 2007 machine and its quite natural to be slower, moreover, Solberg was never famous for tarmac stages. I am impressed by atkinson, he is really talented. Lets see what they can do in the ugly new impreza.

Suzuki was very good, infact excellent for their first try.

The second video (youtube one), there was one guy shouting like somebody is sqeezing his ba**s:D Was it u by any chance:-k:-\"

Drive onto the podium in style...

http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/?action=view&current=MOV00358.flv
-
http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/?action=view&current=MOV00357.flv

More photos to come soon ;)

breakFan, great you had a good time. There's nothing like the experience of a rally weekend. :) Great also when a proper WRC follows you home aswell, the Subaru flat four doing 100mph on the motorway is beautiful. :)

looks great the Monte Carlo rally, im just trying to sort out for going to the GB Rally as well as my local rally event.

The Wales Rally GB is great, I've been four times. However, when the event is the season ender, it gets COLD here. I dunno if it's as cold as it sometimes gets in Scotland, but standing around in the minuses, you can get pretty numb. I went to a stage in Mid Wales this year, but I'm going to the Millennium Stadium stage next year - much more of an event, fully televised, Russ Swift goes to it aswell, there's shows (had a video of a Ford Fiesta doing a two wheeled lap around the track.) There's dirtbike jumps and everything, and the atmosphere is electric.

The Millennium Stadium stage was the last time I saw Michael Park co-pilot (died on the stage I was going to co-piloting Marco Martin the next morning RIP Beef), and the legend himself, McRae. (RIP Colin.)

So yeah, get yourself down here, it's great. :) I'm not sure if it's next year's event or this year's event but one of them is being dropped because of a stupid rotation system the FIA are putting in, although I don't think it's this year's version though, so you're probably in luck. :)

Nice photos breakfan. Some of them are really professional looking. Nice coverage.


I'd like to see Solberg do better - Imprezas need to dominate again!
Yes, he can do better in his races.

nice selection of pics :)
Jealous as always whenever I see any pics of monaco, then you go and mix rallying and monaco together its like the art of japanese torture :p
nice to see some material, since I always miss it on tv :( !

Few more photos for you guys...

This could have been one my best pics... Unfortunately my camera had run out of batteries so I had to use my phone...
Citroen certainly have rally under control. Big truck drives into Monaco, they open it and on the top floor, two C4s. On the lower floor, tyres, equipment etc... This is how they unloaded Sordo's car
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00343.jpg

Back on the stage...

Security check before they send the cars out. Impressive.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00299.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00244.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00247.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00259.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00301.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00319.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00305.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00277-1.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00298.jpg


In Monaco...

An amateur completing the super-special in his Lancer Evo
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00369.jpg

Rally over...
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00409.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00380.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa88/breakfan1/Monte%20Carlo%20Rally%202008/DSC00222.jpg

Wow, amazing pics breakFan.

Does anyone know when and where abouts they go in the UK? As I'd love to go see them as well.

The WRC go to the Wales and Ireland.

I know Wales is in December. Ireland, I'm not sure, it might be part of the Wales event (therefore December too), or a separate venue.

^ Ok thanks.

Maybe I'll be able to drive there by then! Long way though. :(

I'm booking time of work so i can go to the Wales Rally, hopefully i don't have college at the same time, the only rally event(s) i go to are my local ones well only one really but there is 2 groups.

everyone suddenly seems interested!
it was VERY wet this year (well, 2007), I dont think i've been that wet since in the rainforests in australia in the rainy season!!! only difference being that in wales its bloody cold!!!

ive always been interested, im a keen rally nut, wales? cold? come up north my friend, Scotland = colder than Wales.