Necx0

There are now two Lotus F1 teams, as there are two Lotus groups. Team Lotus, the one from last year, were allowed by the Chapman family to use the name. However, Proton, who owns the Lotus that actually makes the Lotus cars, have now bought a stake (or become a huge sponsor of) the Renault F1 team. Hence we have the schemozzle that is two teams with effectively the same name on the grid. Add to this the fact that if Petrov retains his seat next year, the Renault F1 team will be sponsored by Renault, Lada, Lotus and Proton. What a farce. And to add my two cents, adjustable rear wings are gayer than Christmas. I love F1, but the rule makers really haven't got a clue.

Just read this thread and obviously everyone has their differing opinions. So here's mine. I think the problem with V8s is the problem with almost every motorsport category around the world. Aero basically kills racing. I hadn't watched a V8 race all year until the enduros, but the spectacle at the Gold Coast was just fantastic. Take these specialised race cars out of their comfort zone and you automatically create great racing. Putting 650hp under-tyred race cars on a bumpy street circuit, mistakes are made and passing can happen. Same with wet F1 races, mistakes can be made it's more up to the driver. WRC follows the same formula, huge grip makes them fast but not spectacular. A basic rule for any entertaining race formula is that the cars must have more power than grip, aero usually makes sure that is not the case. That's why the V8s came alive at Surfers, yet are usually quite boring at the faster, smoother circuits. No-one is going to give a shit if the cars are 5 seconds a lap slower if they are sliding around inches from each others bumpers. My 2c

Super-duper driving Benny. Mega committed. With driving like that perhaps a factory drive should be on the table!

For pure nuttiness you can't go past Stefan Roser in 'Yellowbird' More from Herr Rohrl

Remember I am talking about a Tassie state round here though. If every round of the Tassie series attracted 25-30 cars it would be in rude health. Obviously for NSW/Vic you would expect more around the 50-60 mark (but I have no idea how many they attract). Look at the Alpine though attracting 100+ entries. You will get no argument from me about the ARC being rubbish and Group N being boring as batshit, which is unfortunate, but to say that justifies gravel rallying dying is a bit iffy. Hopefully ALL forms of rallying (gravel and tarmac) can find ways to live and prosper for many years! Rally on!

Sorry Benny but can't agree with that at all. I'm sure Timmy well tell you stories from last weekend's first round of the TRS. 25 entries, biggest field in Tassie rallying for a while. ARC is a bit of a joke sure but to say gravel rallying has no future is just absurd. There are still plenty of people out there willing to support gravel rallying, it will only die if people take an attitude like "oh it's got no future, may as well give up". Tarmac rallying is going through a purple patch at the moment, but that's because it is still relatively new and exciting. Personally I think we need both and the person that wins in both disciplines will probably be the best driver in Australia. As for the WRC thing, next year's Citroen challenger. I feared the next-gen cars may be a bit pedestrian, but they don't look much slower to me.

I wouldn't mind seeing a ZR1 either. Would be certainly capable in the power stakes. Not meant to be too good over the bumps though! R35 still the weapon of choice though surely.

Really Benny?? You would give up every other event during the year to do Targa Tas??? Amazing event and I would love to be able to do it, but just driving competitively once a year, even if its a 5 day event......I just couldn't do it. Great to hear you are entered again though, imagine how fast you can go now you are another year older and wiser (?)

That was a great effort Jessica. It was also a freaking awesome rally best one I have done so far. I want to do it again whereas normally I need a break! Mark is a pretty demon steerer and I hate to think what sort of numbers you were pulling on those l-o-n-g straights as the Charade saw over 150 quite often. Trophies are fun! See you at Huon (although I still think navigators have a screw loose)

HAHHAHAHHAHA QFT!!!!!!!!

Now why on earth would anyone want to see multi angles of you and Wooster in the bedroom Timmay? I think you are right Ben the lower the faster it seems. You check out this vid and it seems like the car is going 200mph (about 1:00 in)

Crikey I have watched all your videos Ben (which I suppose makes me some sort of sad groupie!) and Lowana is the fastest I have seen you drive. Damn that is commitment, could have gone horribly wrong on that one. I was scratching my head as to how a 32 can match a 996 but yeh, very impressive

wrong on both counts haha Lee's GTI is front wheel drive, as are they all I believe. Its also certainly not an average bit of gear. It is an absolute animal and Lee is a driver of top top quality. Had a few problems I think on day 1 and dropped a lot of time. Can't wait to hopefully see it in the forests this year as it is a sight for the eyes and especially the ears.

Now of course this is a personal opinion but to me there are very few Aussie journos worth listening to. Dean Evans, Michael Stahl and Peter Robinson spring to mind. Maybe all these GT-R hating journos should drive it in the wet, apparently its quite an animal.

Thats probably because you are as nutty as he is!