Rally Monte Carlo 2003
Profile
The oldest rally participates in the World Rally Championship (WRC) program from 1911. It is considered as the cosmopolitan event of San Remo and attracts many people as spectators. It once rallied a lot of competitors but since 2002 the entries have been limited to 60 with priority in different category racing cars (WRC, JRC, Group N etc). The tracks (special and simple) are asphalt but depending on the weather conditions vary from dry asphalt to wet, frozen and snowy, sometimes all of the above within 2-3 special paths as the rally starts off flat terrain, continues on roads going up the slopes of the French Alps) and then descending again into lowland. So the driver can start with a sunshine, find ice and cloudy weather, climbing into snowstorms and descend to dry asphalt and sunshine.
It has also been observed that spectators are throwing snow in special (especially dry) areas to watch the spectacular slides of cars with dry asphalt tires. Therefore the right choice of tires and gambling on weather and road conditions are the decisive factor in winning the race.
The rally consists of 3 days (legs) and 15 special stages. The smallest special stage has a length of 19.52 km (SS 12) while the largest 47.27 km (SS 5 & 6). It covers a total of 1441 km, 409 on special and 1032 on roads to and from the special and checkpoints. The weather during the rally season is unstable, this year we had snowfall last weekend but sunshine during the week that will probably melt the snow and ice. The forecast for the rally PSK indicates good weather.
Prehistory
2002: The winner was judged at the FIA offices. By the middle of the race Loeb (Citroen) and Makinen (Subaru) had left. The Frenchman finished first but had eaten an 2 minute penalty for improperly changing tires after organizers had banned it. But Citroen persuaded (??? !!!) organizers not to count the penalty and get the win Loeb. Subaru's objection, however, was examined by the FIA and Loeb's sentence counted to eventually make Makinen the winner with Loeb second and Sainz (Ford) third.
Of the current leading drivers, Makinen has 4 consecutive wins (1999-2002) and a third place, Sainz has 3 wins (1998, 1995, 1991) 4 second and 3 third places, Auriol 3 wins (1994, 1991,1990, 1) XNUMX second and a third place, the "grandfather" Kankkunen has several second and third places, C.McRae a third place.
From manufacturers:
Positions on the podium have been monopolized in recent years by Subaru, Ford and Mitsubishi. Peugeot has a very bad tradition.
Tires: Subaru uses Pirelli while all other Michelin. Who will benefit and where will the tire market have evolved in the last few months, based on last year's data clearly favoring Michelin.
Latest News
Mitsubishi does not go down the rally. Mystery covers which race she will land this year as her car progresses. Something was mentioned about how it will first appear in Finland in August. The drivers of A.McRae and Delecour will not participate with private participation either.
Sainz's co-driver, Moya, quit 2002, Marti's new co-driver.
Suggestions
Awaiting odds I've come up with two betting scenarios:
The first is more risky, I exclude the Peugeot due to the short acceleration of their new McRae, Sainz cars, the inexperience of drivers and slow cars on the asphalt Ford. I bet on Loeb, Makinen, Solberg.
The secondly is more "defensive", I exclude McRae, Sainz, Gronholm and Ford again and I bet on Loeb, Burns, Panizzi (safety bet) and one of Makinen, Solberg.
More on which scenario to choose, on Wednesday night 22 / 01 along with weather news and the latest odds.
Profile
The oldest rally participates in the World Rally Championship (WRC) program from 1911. It is considered as the cosmopolitan event of San Remo and attracts many people as spectators. It once rallied a lot of competitors but since 2002 the entries have been limited to 60 with priority in different category racing cars (WRC, JRC, Group N etc). The tracks (special and simple) are asphalt but depending on the weather conditions vary from dry asphalt to wet, frozen and snowy, sometimes all of the above within 2-3 special paths as the rally starts off flat terrain, continues on roads going up the slopes of the French Alps) and then descending again into lowland. So the driver can start with a sunshine, find ice and cloudy weather, climbing into snowstorms and descend to dry asphalt and sunshine.
It has also been observed that spectators are throwing snow in special (especially dry) areas to watch the spectacular slides of cars with dry asphalt tires. Therefore the right choice of tires and gambling on weather and road conditions are the decisive factor in winning the race.
The rally consists of 3 days (legs) and 15 special stages. The smallest special stage has a length of 19.52 km (SS 12) while the largest 47.27 km (SS 5 & 6). It covers a total of 1441 km, 409 on special and 1032 on roads to and from the special and checkpoints. The weather during the rally season is unstable, this year we had snowfall last weekend but sunshine during the week that will probably melt the snow and ice. The forecast for the rally PSK indicates good weather.
Prehistory
2002: The winner was judged at the FIA offices. By the middle of the race Loeb (Citroen) and Makinen (Subaru) had left. The Frenchman finished first but had eaten an 2 minute penalty for improperly changing tires after organizers had banned it. But Citroen persuaded (??? !!!) organizers not to count the penalty and get the win Loeb. Subaru's objection, however, was examined by the FIA and Loeb's sentence counted to eventually make Makinen the winner with Loeb second and Sainz (Ford) third.
Of the current leading drivers, Makinen has 4 consecutive wins (1999-2002) and a third place, Sainz has 3 wins (1998, 1995, 1991) 4 second and 3 third places, Auriol 3 wins (1994, 1991,1990, 1) XNUMX second and a third place, the "grandfather" Kankkunen has several second and third places, C.McRae a third place.
From manufacturers:
Positions on the podium have been monopolized in recent years by Subaru, Ford and Mitsubishi. Peugeot has a very bad tradition.
Tires: Subaru uses Pirelli while all other Michelin. Who will benefit and where will the tire market have evolved in the last few months, based on last year's data clearly favoring Michelin.
Latest News
Mitsubishi does not go down the rally. Mystery covers which race she will land this year as her car progresses. Something was mentioned about how it will first appear in Finland in August. The drivers of A.McRae and Delecour will not participate with private participation either.
Sainz's co-driver, Moya, quit 2002, Marti's new co-driver.
Suggestions
Awaiting odds I've come up with two betting scenarios:
The first is more risky, I exclude the Peugeot due to the short acceleration of their new McRae, Sainz cars, the inexperience of drivers and slow cars on the asphalt Ford. I bet on Loeb, Makinen, Solberg.
The secondly is more "defensive", I exclude McRae, Sainz, Gronholm and Ford again and I bet on Loeb, Burns, Panizzi (safety bet) and one of Makinen, Solberg.
More on which scenario to choose, on Wednesday night 22 / 01 along with weather news and the latest odds.
