WRC 2004, Rally Monte Carlo

[arsenalno1]

This year's world rally championship starts in Monte Carlo this weekend.

23-25 January
Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo ( www.acm.mc )
The first event of the season takes place in the hills above the Pricipality of Monaco. Its unpredictability places a premium on skill and tyre choice in equal measures. Dry tarmac with icy patches makes the going tough! (JWRC Round 1)


A good site to start the info-search is this one:
http://www.wrc.com/en_GB/default.htm


Winner-odds from https://www.playit.com :
Sebastien Loeb (FRA/Citroen) 2.15
Markko Martin (EST/Ford) 3.10
Petter Solberg (NOR/Subaru) 3.60
Marcus Grönholm (FIN/Peugeot) 5.25
Carlos Sainz (ESP/Citroen) 10.00
Gilles Panizzi (FRA/Mitsubishi) 13.00
Freddy Loix (BEL/Peugeot) 22.00
Mikko Hirvonen (FIN/Subaru) 30.00
Francois Duval (BEL/Ford) 30.00
Miguel Campos (POR/Peugeot) 75.00
Gigi Galli (ITA/Mitsubishi) 90.00
Alexandre Bengue (FRA/Peugeot) 90.00
Antony Warmbold (GER/Ford) 250.00

Winning margin - entire rally:
0,00 - 10 sec. 4.60
10,01 - 20 sec. 3.50
20.01 - 30 sec. 3.80
30.01 - 45 sec. 3.50
45.01 - 60 sec. 8.00
60.01 - 120 sec. 15.00
120,01-180 Sec. 18.00
180.01 sec. or more 20.00


H2H's from https://www.nordicbet.com :
23-01-04 07:00 Markko Märtin - Sebastien Loeb 2.15 1.55
23-01-04 07:00 Petter Solberg - Carlos Sainz 1.95 1.65
23-01-04 07:00 Marcus Grönholm - Francois Duval 1.60 2.05
23-01-04 07:00 Gilles Panizzi - Freddy Loix 1.70 1.90

Last year's final standings:

drivers:
1. P SOLBERG 72 Pts
2. S LOEB 71 Pts
3. C SAINZ 63 Pts
4. R BURNS 58 Pts
5. M MÄRTIN 49 Pts

manufacturers:
1. Citroën 160 Pts
2. Peugeot 145 Pts
3. Subaru 109 Pts
4. Ford 93 Pts
5. Skoda 23 Pts

I've never seen a thread on this sport before, but hope there are enough interested people to start a discussion on who'll win it.

[arsenalno1]

Some additional links:

http://www.freddyloix.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=62

http://www.worldrallychampionship.net/2004/monte/index.htm

http://www.sportsquest.co.uk/rally_monte_carlo.htm

http://www.swrt.com

http://www.pettersolberg.no quote: "rally is better than sex"

[Beezeri]

Like the odds says there's no other favourite to win as Sebastien Loeb. He's the best tarmac driver and it's sort of a home rally for him. Last year he lost the championship with only a point and he will be very motivated this year. If the weather gets tricky he will be in some problems and the odds are not good I think...

I find Marcus Grönholn to win @ 7,00 (Paddy Powetr) very valuable. And as a possible surprise another tarmac specialist Gilles Panizzi @ 13,00. Anyway both these guys have new cars...so it's hard to say about their competitivity before the season.

Old horse Carlos Sainz has always done good at Monte but I don't believe him this time.

About the winning margin...I would say 20-30 secs