Catalunya WRC Report

[SJS]

Just back from Catalunya WRC. Totally class week of which there were many highlights. On the way into Lloret de mar on Tue we saw the subaru team parked up beside a Marquee well hidden off the road. We managed to get in after a bit of sweet talking and there were both the cars up on stands, ready to rock n' roll. We were left to our own devices, doors open, interior photos taken, plenty of pics from all angles.

On Wed we were out doing a bit of looking round the shakedown stage, when we rounded a corner and ther was richard burns and robert reid stepping out of an evo7 doing a bit of reccing themselves.....managed to get a photo with him and a bit of crack. Seems a decent fella...quite embarrased to be getting his photo taken when not in overalls.

Thursday shakedown was pure class, probably the best day in my opinion. All the top cars testing repeatedly over a short stage, plenty of very close up action (ie.cars about a foot away from you ) Down to the service area before and met them all, Panizzi, Martin, Solberg, Gronholm, Sainz, Makkinen, Burns, McRae ...totally class.

The rally days were very good as well, albeit with very early starts... 5am / 6am. We saw 2 stages a day, anymore than that and you would probably have difficulty moving about.

Saturday was timed to perfection after leaving the rally. The WRC cars had to go to service then back to Lloret, we met and were passed by them all on the road back to Lloret. I was in the back seat looking back expectantly..... "holy sh*t..there is soming coming low and fast..." Makkinen went past us like we were standing still ( video will be available..it was caught on camera). Then solberg appeared, we managed to get in behind him and follow him through a tunnel...even flashing the lights at him to get outta the road [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Burns appeared as well, left indicator on permanently!. The noise of those cars in the tunnels is incredible.

The sunday was pishing rain...morn to night. Ive never been as wet through rain in my life, its hard to be prepared that far away from home. Seeing the cars go sideways at the viaduct (panizzi doughnut last year) was cool, gronholm was the sharpest through there both times..incredible pace.

All pics and videos will be available over the next few days at www.jon44w.com check it out, report will be up from tomorrow morning.
There are some awesome pics and vids. All in all it was a fantastic and cheap week. With the ability to meet and shake the hands of the "best" drivers in the world....where else can you do that?

Get it booked for next year!

Ps. for those who dont know, Panizzi won, Loeb 2nd, Markko Martin 3rd.

[Cobstar]

Hi

Thanks for the fantastic write up. We were glued to the C4 coverage but sounds as though we missed a real treat by not getting off our buts and going to see the real thing.

Definitely going to be an exciting end to the season this year. Are you heading over to Wales for the finale?

[SJS]

Nah - Wont be making it over to wales. It was cold enough standing about in Catalunya at 5am let alone standing in the middle of wales at that time. [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

For photos of the trip go to the following site

http://www.jon44w.com/site/viewthread.php?tid=1060

you may need to register...but hey that takes 10 secs. Look in the movies section as well, it will get filled up within the next few days.