I must ask for a favor...

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

The SpeedTV network here in the States carries the WRC and F1, but is 90% NASCAR in terms of programming. Recently, it cut back our WRC coverage to a short recap show a week later than the rally itself (next Thursday) while last year we had an hours same day coverage for each leg. I know some of you dont get any WRC, which is a real shame, but really I cannot avoid websites to not find out the result of the rally for a week.

There is an online petition going on HERE to convince the channel it is making a big mistake. You should hear their excuses, taht they are trying to make the WRC bigger in the country by reducing coverage, which makes no sense. They don't even advertise their coverage of anything on their affiliate channels (the biggest being the nationwide huge channel FOX) which would be the obvious way to spread increase the number of fans by exposing it to a greater number of people.

So can I ask that you guys put your names on the petition, even if it doesnt really benefit you. It would really just be helping out the motorsport fans here in the US so they can get exposed to something else than NASCAR.

http://www.petitiononline.com/zb7q8023/petition.html

[Crash 0]

Glad to help.....

Cheers

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Thanks a lot mate!

[nichosnz 0]

Done.

BTW Jens. Which team and which driver do you hope to win the championships this year. And which team and which driver do you think will win the championships this year.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hard call for the WRC, but I have to say I hope Makinen can do it in the Subaru! Nonetheless, while I feel Makinen has a great chance at doing so, I feel that Gronholm will pull it off again. Cant really tell until the teams get through the first gravel rally...

[GaySchumi 0]

Awww come on, let the golden oldies in their citroens have some fun, go Mcrae, go Sainz !

Oh,jens, may I trouble you to add a date to the weekly wraps, I had to choose the order in which to read past ones by looking at the subject matter

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

That is a valid point, I have the dates as I send them out to Wez, I'll ask him to include them as they come online! They are in order on the index though, the newest one is on top and they get older as you go down!

[batgurl 0]

Thanks for the link. I'm sending it to everyone I know.

NASCAR

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Long time no see batgurl! Youre affected by this, if I remember, you live in the middle of a bunch of NASCAR fans?

[nichosnz 0]

It's not a WRC rally but the Paris to Dakar rally this year didn't start in Paris or end in Dakar. If fact it didn't even visit these places. In the case of Dakar they didn't even visit the country (Senegal).

That seems a little odd to me.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Yea, hahahh we had a good talk about that with a couple of friends, and ended up agreeing its just the result of a whole lot of confusion in the planning of the rally

Actually its just a tradition thing, they keep the name to keep the rally going but the costs of actually doing Paris to Dakar is much more than the event pulls in, as only Mitsubishi concentrates on putting a good effort into the event.

[nichosnz 0]

They usually do end up in Dakar though, that is why recently the Paris bit has been (unofficially) dropped from the title. In fact one year they went from Paris to South Africa to Dakar, that was quite a long one. It is a pity it's following is waning it is a brilliant rally to watch.

[rodders47 2]

Hi all . Nah peugeot will win this year no Probs.. They have installed a new Aussie invention that is a Hydraulicly operated anti roll bar system that is reported to make HEAPS of difference to the handling. Time will tell but all indications is that it is very revolutionary

[nichosnz 0]

I hope so, although it would be nice if Gronholm would give Panizzi a chance since he and Burns have already acheived DWC status.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hahahhahhahha Panizzi could win the world championship, if all events were on tarmac.. He's worthless on gravel, but Peugeot's third driver for gravel Harri Rovanper

[nichosnz 0]

I wouldn't say he is worthless, he used to be, but he is improving. But good point, as even with the improvement he ain't to good on gravel.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well, I remember watching him at the 2002 NZ rally, and he was trating the gravel roads like tarmac. He'll need a lot of improvement to get close to winning!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Just an interesting thing to add here, Panizzi has picked up his game on gravel, doing really well right now after leg one in Turkey..!

[nichosnz 0]

Amazing things can happen!!