LNERandBR

Something I'm looking forward to this weekend is the first round of the European Rally Championship. Only because with the ERC now being promoted by the WRC Promoter every stage of the ERC is now going to be streamed live on WRC+.

When I've tried to get into WRC2 in the past I've often given up. Often when I'm playing catch up I'll swap to the next stage when the WRC2 cars start appearing. Not sure why, could be the cars or it could be the Drivers. I'm hoping that watching the Rally2 cars in ERC gets me more interested in watching their WRC counterparts. 

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/

The graphics on the WRC+ coverage has different colours for the different category Drivers. I don't think that used to until this year.

Not sure at all on the WRC3/JWRC difference. 

WRC time, Rally Sweden this time and for some it really wasn't fun in the snow. I wasn't able to spend as much time watching it live on WRC + but did catch up with all the stages.

I must admit, I do get fed up with all the 'Sunday Drives'. Too many drivers saying 'I backed off to save Tyres for the Power Stage'. 

Have to say, I was gutted for Craig Breen and Elfyn Evens. Really not sure if Craigs first spin off on the second stage on the Friday was due to pushing too hard. However, it's certain that the damage to the windscreen washer caused the second which ended his rally.

Elfyn however I really feel was pushing too hard. Two scrappy mistakes which cost him. He could have come away with some good points but instead has nothing. He needs to recapture that consistency that he had the last two years. Otherwhise his championship hopes will be gone.

It seems we've also had the first 'red light' retirements. Ott Tanak was the best known and made comments about it at the end of the rally. However it seems Evans also couldn't continue due to his Hybrid not working and displaying a green light.

Overall, really enjoyed the rally and wish it wasn't so long till the next one!

Yeah, that sounds like the biggest problem the teams will need to get on top of. 

Apparently, it was an issue back in the 70s before ground effect was banned.

Lots of time spent on the track is what was needed here. Putting fast laptimes in really wasn't the aim, milage and data gathering sounds like it was the order of the days.

14 minutes ago, RedgateModels said:

 

Dust your fireproofs off Hulk!

Got to admit, I hope not as I'd rather not see him pootle around at the back in an uncompetitive car.

That is, unless Hass have played a blinder with their new car.

All depends on if you purchased a Hornby version previously and if you are wanting a direct duplicate of that model.

I just think it makes more business sense to target the widest possible customer base with your intial run.

If anything, Accurascale are spoiling us here with the wide range of livery options they have chosen. Previously, you'd be lucky to get a few green versions and a blue one in a first announcement. You would have to wait a few years for a ru  of later liveries if those required a retool.

To my eyes, it looks like Accurascale have targeted holes left by Hornby for their first run of models.

Surely that makes sense as it increases the likelyhood of people choosing to purchase an Accurascale model even if they already have Hornby's model.

Secure some income on the investment in the tooling in run 1. Then increase the range into more duplicates in run 2  allowing those who purchased models in run 1 to have the finances available for another one.

At least the FIA have made the correct decision. Amazingly swiftly too, perhaps the lessons from Australia 2020 have been learned!

Non modelling media seem to like photos like that.

58 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

In my usual 'hypocritical' way, I admit to finding RTR boring at times as well. Now that shows are coming back, I'll warrant that in the next few months I'll see a load of W1s (in all three forms) running on layouts. Almost all will be Hornby ones. There's nothing 'wrong' with that, but, hitherto, to see any W1 on a layout would mean its source would be scratch-built, kit-built or heavily modified. It thus, at least to me, would have a 'story' to tell, which I'd always find interesting. The fact that the Hornby 60700 is probably more accurate than my quarter-century-old kit-built one is rather annoying, I must admit.  

This happened when Hornby brought out its J50. A freind of mine has a kit built example which has a lot of sentimental value to him. When people see it at shows on his layout they presume its a Hornby one.

Always enjoy a trip to Gainsborough.

Have there been any changes to the layout since the last open day?

Well they have one ex Force India driver

4 minutes ago, Pete the Elaner said:

I agree with his last sentence though: "The one thing that drivers want is a consistent application of the rules rather than penalties changing from race-to-race. I think that’s the challenge the FIA have got to obviously address this season."

They need to review all situations which generated any sort of controversy & look at the rules. Loose rules are what allow inconsistency. These need to be updated, learned & accepted by all concerned before the first qualifying session.

Yeah although his interpretation of that 'consistent application of the rules' would be that Max gets' to shove other Drivers off the track at every turn as per Brazil.

And many were saying the rules would be too restrictive. Seems to me we've got a lot of differences between the teams interpretation.

I'm looking forward to seeing how they all fair on the track

Somehow I doubt it will affect Max that much.

About time they finally replace Masi, sadly I think the whole debacle will rattle on. No doubt there will be some wanting Max's title removing and giving to Lewis for example.

Anyway, onwards and upwards, I am very much liking the look of the cars

Plenty of other motorsport out there if F1 is starting to become uninteresting.

This is why I think there should be a launch event for F1 where they pull the covers off all the cars.

They can play teaser trailer all they want until then, including Pre-season testing.

Maybe he was still excited after his off road experience.

https://dirtfish.com/rally/vettel-open-to-rallying-opportunities/

I don't think the changes at Spa are that bad really. At least they are using Gravel run off areas instead of wide areas of tarmac. It looks like any changes to the actual circuit aren't going to affect cars too so surely more run off is a good thing.

Well I suppose it can't be worse than last years so it pays to be First at something

16 minutes ago, 2mmMark said:

Sorry if I set some hares running on this.  It shows that the information can be a bit confused. 

 

TFL can be expected to have the definitive info but even then I've found anomalies. 

 

Petrol cars from quite a while back can be ULEZ compliant. My mum's '03 Micra is compliant

From TFL's checker

Ally Pally is outside the Congestion Charge zone but its within the Ultra Low Emission Zone. 

What you are looking at there is the Congestion Charge zone. Not the ULEZ.

7 minutes ago, Trainshed Terry said:

I have just checked to see if I have to pay, but I am now confused to hell with the messages that have show.

 

The first one is " 

Congestion Charge

£15.00 to £17.50 a day

Where it operates:

Central London only - check a postcode or location

Charging times:

07:00-22:00, every day, except Christmas Day (25 December) and the period up to and including New Year’s Day Bank Holiday."

 

And the second one is, 

"You do not need to pay for any other charging zones

If you do not see the Congestion Charge, Ultra Low Emission Zone charge or the Low Emission Zone charge displayed above, it means that your vehicle meets the emissions standard, or the charging zone does not apply to this type of vehicle."

 

Help!

 

Confused Terry.

Your car is ULEZ complient so you don't need to pay. If you drive to Ally Pally from the north you will be fine.

It's only if you drive into the very middle of London and into the Congestion Charge zone that you would need to pay something.

Pleased to see a FR Lined Maroon version of Merddin Emrys added in the latest announcements.

Having missed out on my prefered version in the first batch I've gone ahead and pre-ordered.

A link between the WRC and WEC:

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/ogier-to-contest-le-mans-24-hours-seals-wec-deal/