One evening at some or other do, the late Ove Anderson and I had a little talk about F1 racing compared to Rallying and the reasons why F1 was more popular than the latter.
He took the Monaco GP as an example, simply because I think it was the best possible example he could use to explain his point.
“Toyota (when still involved in F1) spent millions to get their VIP customers (VIP’s seem to be a tender matter with them – even the not so very VIP) to the GP.
They lie around in the hotel, spend a fortune on room service, caviar and champagne do not see anything of the race, go back and talk for weeks on end about the Monaco GP which they attended. That is the mystique of F1.
Rallying – you don’t stay in the hotel while the action happens far away and every one will notice the dust and the dirt and the tired eyes”
Do you also understand now? Hope so.
This weekend sees the start of the 2015 WRC season with the traditional opener the Monte Carlo Rally. Can you believe that this, the mother of rallies, was ignored by the WRC for a while? Those in control there must have some family running wild in South Africa – where, what the people want, is also ignored in favour of what one ass prefers.
Anyway – before I don’t publish this article like so many other because I let my mind wander, let me get down to business.
The rally fans believe that Sebastien Loeb, who will do a once off WRC, so he says – while there are many who believe he will do a number of events this year, will win the event.
The only reason why that will happen, except of course for the fact that he is one of the greatest drivers ever, is because he will have a better road position than Ogier to start with. Ogier will open the treacherous road for all and sundry on day one and that will probably be the case for the rest of the rally. It simply is high risk to be first on the road on an event such as the Monte.
I do not believe the Volkswagen team will issue any instructions, but they may just “sacrifice” Andreas Mikkelsen and try to get him ahead of Ogier and Latvala for day two, but the most important thing for Volkswagen is to beat Loeb every time he sticks he head out on any event.
If they do not manage to beat Loeb every time he enters a rally – then, like the VW boss Jost Capito said before the rally, “From the outside, everybody would look at what Loeb has done and say ‘Hey, this guy would have won the title if he had done the whole championship – the other guy only won because Loeb wasn’t there…’
I do not believe that Loeb will walk in and beat the current world champion Ogier or his team mate Latvala. Matter of fact I think Loeb is in for a bit of a surprise, except if none of the Citroen drivers of 2014 could drive at all and the car is far better than what we thought it was.
In short I think that Volkswagen has a superior car and I also believe that Latvala will not easily be beaten by anyone on this planet this year. He had a huge problem until mid-last-year to pace himself and pull back that half percent to be able to stay on the road, but he has that problem under control and although hesitant to say this I believe that the championship is going his way this year.
We have moved into the era of the super human – long story – will explain some other day – but take a careful look at the WRC video coverage – look carefully at YouTube clips, look very careful at the speed, the width of the road, the surfaces, the inclines, the cambers and then work it out for yourself.
These cars are not supposed to remain on the road at the speeds they are going.
Then look inside the car – perfect rhythm, perfect balance, reflexes spot on – it seems if they are floating cars running on rails. In short – what they are doing or manage to do is simply not normal.
It is very much like the 3 year old kids who can these play operas on pianos, under ten’s that can sing like sopranos, mathematicians that land at university at 10 – the champions will get younger and younger, better and better. The super humans have arrived. They will also be able to use their DNA more effectively.
Ogier won 17 from 26 rally events over the past two seasons, Latvala won 5 and Tierry Neuville took his maiden win on the German rally last year.
The 35 year old Chris Meeke finished 7th in last year’s championship but that is definitely not why the Citroen team chose to keep him on for this season. They did that because they can actually spot talent – something that seems to be a problem for many people.
Meeke can and will probably pull off a surprise or two this year, given a full chance at the championship.
Notwithstanding what I said about Mikkelsen above – he has actually proven that he has the ability to stay with the top guys and he placed Latvala under pressure many times last year. He is also a candidate to make serious progress this year.
The 2016 champion will come from the Volkswagen camp, while my money leaning slightly in favour of Latvala, then Ogier and then Mikkelsen.
The surprise will be Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) and then of course Chris Meeke (Citroen).
Despite opening the road definitely on day one, Ogier has the best chance to win the Monte Carlo rally, with Latvala my second choice and Loeb third or out early.
The surprise for Monte could easily come from local hero Bouffier who finished second last year and fourth in 2013.
Loeb won in 2013 so don’t be too much bluffed by an excuse of long absence – he drives cars just as quick or quicker every day of his life.
Another plus point for the best on paper on the world is the fact that he is an absolute master and a bit lucky in choosing the right tyres for the right stage.
This Monte is to a certain extent going to be based on tyre choices and that may in the end be the deciding factor. One wrong choice and you may just lose the one second that will cost you the rally in the end!
Driving a full prepped racing car on tar covered with a bit of snow and so on, will also not be such a change or challenge to Loeb – but still, goodness knows if he wins this rally in a straight fight – he is better than even I rated him and currently I rate him at best minus 1.
Let the games begin.
Then of course there is our very own Henk Lategan in WRC2 class S2000 – and once again I have to concentrate to stay with him and not look past him to write about other aspects instead of this event.
His name looks rather interesting on the entry list as “Hendrik Lategan”.
Henk is a very talented, young, but not too young driver, in comparison with many other world class drivers.
So far in his career he had more opportunities than any other rally driver ever from SA, that I can think off and it is time that he starts showing the exceptional talent I know he has.
Henk has been, without realising it, fighting a few odds that can influence any driver and for that matter sport man’s career, one of which was unintentional group pressure at too young an age, but now he has one more year experience behind him, so let’s see what he picked up.
The question is whether it is fair to gauge anything for that matter against this rally?
Mama Mia – tall order but then again – they stick nineteen year olds into fighter jets to defend countries and win wars.
So Henk take the controls firmly in hand, get the guns calibrated and let’s fly a miracle. This could be so good for your career that not even all those around you will be able to handle it.
When I think of Henk’s earlier career I cannot help to think about that bank advert where the group of people follow the young one wherever she goes to help pick up and sort out.
I suppose it is nice and all mean well – whether it was good – remains to be seen.
We are holding thumbs and whatever more.
Today – Thursday 22nd January 2015 the teams will tackle two stages.
SS1 Entrevaux Rouaine 21.31 first car about 21h21 SA time
SS2 Norante-Digne-Les-Bains 19.68 First car about 22h29 SA Time
Let’s Go!
All for Henk and Henk for all!