Here we are again, ready to start another season in the FIA World Rally Championship. Almost everybody involved in the series is getting ready to make new changes, goals, and commitments. But us journalists, in particular, are ready to make new predictions for 2008.
I find some of the motorsport previews I read to be pretty much the same old thing every year, so I think I’ll be a bit different and make mine as simple and as straight to the point as possible.
Let’s start with the “numero uno,” Sebastien Loeb. Obviously, he is the best one right now. He is always in complete control of his driving and has superb mental strength, which combined with the reliability of the Citroen C4 WRC, makes a perfect formula. However, I don’t think he’s unbeatable; anyone wanting to beat him is going to have to do it with intelligence rather than necessarily speed.
First in line to be in charge of that job will be Mikko Hirvonen who will now replace Marcus Gronholm as the number one driver in the BP-Ford World Rally Team. The young Finn might have not been in the drivers’ title battle in 2007 but he was definitely more consistent that his more experienced colleague. After a couple of years learning how to polish his driving, Hirvonen is ready to take on the full role of team leader and make his first attack at the title.
The man filling in Gronholm’s shoes is the latest sensation off the Finnish production line, Jari-Matti Latvala, who won’t be too far behind his new team-mate. Although he is still on learning mode, Latvala is very fast and has a unique driving style, one that I haven’t since in years. He is definitely a champion of the future who will leave a very significant mark on the sport.
Citroen’s Dani Sordo has improved his driving on gravel and I think we will see even more improvement this season. Despite a few problems towards the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007, the Spaniard has had the cool head to overcome his mistakes and continue to get better. On asphalt, he will be strong, as usual, and we may even see a first WRC victory from him.
This year, we see the return of the spectacular Gigi Galli. His flamboyant driving style will be very welcomed among rally fans and he will be pushing more than ever to put his name high on the leaderboard. I’m not sure exactly how the Ford Focus RS WRC will accommodate him but one thing is definite; he will have one of the most reliable cars in the championship, and if he can control some of his characteristic hot-headedness, we could see him on the podium a few times this season.
Holding positions at Stobart Ford will be Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson. For Solberg, 2007 was his first full campaign in the WRC and he was very content learning a new car and new rallies. But, I think we will see him go for it more often this time and score more consistent results throughout the season.
Wilson is the only full-time British driver in the championship and that could result in a lot of pressure on him. He is a young talented driver and I’m sure he could become more competitive with more commitment and confidence in his own abilities. He has the right car and the right support from his father, who happens to be the M-Sport boss, so the tools are there for him to take with both hands.
No one can help but feel bad about Petter Solberg after the last few disappointing years he has had in the championship. His fighting spirit is admirable though, and that’s what makes him such a great driver, even if he’s not winning rallies nowadays. I really don’t want to make any predictions on him until the new Impreza enters the WRC. I do know, though, that he will be back on top when we least expect it; rallying, more than any other form of motorsport, has a lot of highs and lows, and that’s just the way it is sometimes.
Subaru’s wild child Chris Atkinson has definitely showed he has the speed however reliability is still something that he needs to work on. Problems with the car have not made things easier for him either but if the new Impreza turns out to be good, then we might be able to see a new side from the Aussie.
Everybody is eagerly waiting for the Suzuki SX4 to hit the World Rally Championship roads at full throttle. Finnish driver Toni Gardemeister reappears full-time in the series as the main driver for the new manufacturer. His testing abilities should help the team get to speed but it will be hard to predict anything on either Gardemeister or second driver P-G Andersson. This is the team’s first year in the championship and as we all know there are so many things that can go wrong, and especially when there’s a new car involved.
Andersson should be an interesting driver to watch, as he will be making the jump from the FIA Juniors to the big time. We could see some competitive times from him; he is fast, talented, and very good under pressure.
Another driver I expect to see good results from is Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen. He has great potential and he has clearly shown this already in 2007. Despite his young age, he is a very mature driver, a very important ingredient in this business, especially when you’re just starting up. I expect to see a lot more from him in the coming years; I don’t think we’ll be disappointed.
As far as the manufacturers’ title, I believe Ford will be again on top of the standings. The team has the Focus all figured out like the palm of its hands so we can only expect the car to get even better. The Hirvonen/Latvala combo will be the team to beat with both drivers trying to prove their mettle and make their current employer proud.
Let the best one win!
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