And get rid of Tommi. He is crap and past it. There is no way he will make it next year. Solsberg is another class compared to him and this season the lad just got better and better. Tommi got worse and worse.

Tommi hasn't been the same since he big wreck last year. He has had a year full of some very bad luck. I don't know if he can get back to his old self or not...but Petter definitely has something to look forward to...

Only time will tell....

This was Tommi's first year at SWRT, after years of driving Mitsubishis. It never looked like he was very comfortable with his new ride. Let's hope next year he gets more consistent finishes.

Surprise, surprise. Tommi and Petter, confirmed for next year.

http://rally.racing-live.com/en/index.html?http://rally.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/021122220723.shtml

Tired of seeing Peugeot going 1-2-3 in so many races :)

Originally posted by Wheels
And get rid of Tommi.

I disagree simply because to get rid of Tommi would be a failure to acknowledge the contributions he made to the development of the car.

Also, while Solberg may have been better able to wring performance out of the car over the entire season, it's not exactly like Tommi was slow the whole year (see Monte Carlo and Argentina).

Originally posted by Ryouga
I disagree simply because to get rid of Tommi would be a failure to acknowledge the contributions he made to the development of the car.

Also, while Solberg may have been better able to wring performance out of the car over the entire season, it's not exactly like Tommi was slow the whole year (see Monte Carlo and Argentina).

Yeah but whats the point of having someone on your team if they can only bring the car home half the season?

Unless Subaru come up with some cool stuff this season on the engine itself there aint no way they will be winning the constructors championship. Even if the car was able to shed 2000k`s it still wont get them anything.

I think there's a few factors why he didn't do that well

1) He just joined a new team. Drivers only have like 65 days befoer the next season starts, so he didnt' exactly have THAT much time to get adjusted to the car and the team, etc. It can be hard after spending several years with another team

2) He got a different co-driver. I think this was a big factor. His original co-driver of many years was injuried in the crash and he's been with the current guy ever since. It's going take some time getting used to each other.

Anyways, he brings in a lot of experience to the team, which is valuable for testing. Just look at Juha for the Hyndunai team.

Also, I think he helps Solberg too, offering his years of experience to help develope the young driver.

I wouldn't count out the 4 time world champ just yet.

Originally posted by IMASA
Also, I think he helps Solberg too, offering his years of experience to help develope the young driver.

I wouldn't count out the 4 time world champ just yet.

Let's not forget that at the season finale, when Petter was battling with Markko, one of those offering support throughout the race was Tommi.

At the beginning of the season, Petter was asked what the differences were working with Tommi and Richard Burns. He replied that Tommy was so helpful, offering his years of experience. How about Burns? "Difficult" ;-)

IIRC, Tommi signed a two year contract when he joined SWRT. It will be interesting to see who they sign next year.

I think Tommi has another good season in him. Then subaru should look for another Britt rookie, someone with no fear, or Marco Martin, he's shown his ability.

Tommi and Petter won a 3rd in manufacturer points, not too shabby.

I would be surprised if they drew in new blood next year. The registered teams are currently a relative kid and a senior. I don't see them bringing in more green drivers. A more interesting driver:manufacturer trepidation is building around Carlos, whom, as far as I know has not been registered as one of the two allowed drivers for any works team yet; unless someone is going to absorb the fine for late reg it seems he is out for the season, or certainly not racing it in its entirety. Citroen is the only negotiations I have heard of on this front. Maybe he will be the new senior on Suby next year? Hmmm....



SLR-

Originally posted by inski21
I think Tommi has another good season in him. Then subaru should look for another Britt rookie, someone with no fear, or Marco Martin, he's shown his ability.

Tommi and Petter won a 3rd in manufacturer points, not too shabby.

Well I am over here if they want me :D

Originally posted by Wheels
Well I am over here if they want me :D :D yep, you are different:)

Wheels,
better head to Prodrive in Banbury, Oxford soon...
season starts January

Originally posted by Weasel 555
Wheels,
better head to Prodrive in Banbury, Oxford soon...
season starts January

I`ve been there. Done it. Used to spend my weekends driving the dirt, slate tarmac roads of north wales. I got pretty dam good with the handbrake and FWD. :) Torque steer nothing quite like it.

Wheels,
so what did you drive in North Wales ?
escort,manta, vw, imp....
i used to work in Butlins in north wales and south wales ;)

Andy...

Originally posted by Weasel 555
Wheels,
so what did you drive in North Wales ?
escort,manta, vw, imp....
i used to work in Butlins in north wales and south wales ;)

Andy...

Used to have the pleasure of driving an EVO 5, Astra GTE, Mini, Golf TDi, Mondeo TDi, Cavalier GSI, Subaru 2.0 Turbo which got me hooked on subarus. Ford Escort Cosworth bahhhh POS.

The drive I will aways remember was driving down a country road in dartmoore when my Ex's parents where heading right for me :eek: 2 cars down a narrow road and I was the one who gave way to the sight of a mud wall spraying all over my windscreen and a busted tire.

nice list of cars mate :)
wish they had some of those over here ...

so what don't you like about the Cossie ?
i was thinking more rwd escort mk1 or mk2 when i posted

it was a mark II and the thing cost me to much money to repair and most def. To much to insure.

yep but in the late 70's they were the king rally cars to beat and then came Audi and 4wd :)

I bought it (it was 10 years old) the thing drove like crap and it only had 42k on it.

New tranny, 2 new C.v joints 4 bearing in each of the two rear wheels. New drive shaft. The thing cost so much I couldnt believe it. The interior was the worst I have ever experianced.

sounds like a total pos !! but hey you gotta start some-where :)

pm'ed you too...

Originally posted by Weasel 555
sounds like a total pos !! but hey you gotta start some-where :) I have had 3 fords in the last 9 years and I will never ever buy another (except a 67 mustang) the rest can sit and rust.

Tommi must go... I agree.

They need to get Colin back...


-Gagan

Originally posted by joltdudeuc
Tommi must go... I agree.

They need to get Colin back...


-Gagan

Colin? :D hahahahaha

One think he has proven being at ford. He was lucky with subaru.

tommi is a great talent, i think the young guys have a lot to learn from him. i'm sure he'll be competitive next season and hopefully they can get another 1 or 2 rookies to run select events (remember Marko Matin, just a year ago?)

If you look at tommi's performance this past season, he was the front running subaru for most races (berfore something would happen causing a DNF). It's hard to complain about your fastest driver. ;) Maybe next year he'll have a bit of luck too!

Tommi is a great driver who had a crappy season. Subaru would be crazy to get rid of him, someone with 4 championships to his name. It would be like Ferrari getting rid of Schumacher in F1. And to take a page from the Ferrari story, the first year that Schumacher joined Ferrari the placed like crap, DNF's, engine failures, and the like. But look at them now. A bulletproof car that wins championships and two drivers who work together (albeit with team orders) to win races. No one can touch Ferrari right now.

I do not think that we Subaru WRC fans will have to wait to much longer for a return to the top. The tools are in place, some revisions have been made to the car, and one of the best in the world at Rally right now, Tommi, is ready to return to dominance.

Now if only they would start to enter a third car like the Peugots (sic) the manufacturers points race would get interesting.

i agree to this one. They can let him go and put me in his place!!!

Billyqua
rally driven...........

Yea, I thik witht the new revisions to the car, it's gonna be a lot closer to the Peugeots performance, and this is going to be a really exciting year for Subie fans (its about time already!!). And now Tommy's had a year to warm up to the team, it can only get better. There would be no reason to get rid of him unless he wasn't performing for several years.....or he was being "difficult" as past Subie drivers were. And poor Colin, I hope he's gettin a few buck from his video games.

When he won the Monte fist first time out in the Soobe I was " OHH YEAH its gunna be a good year" but then he had a car which seemed unreliable and some bad luck and other times just wasnt fast. I think he only signed a 2 year deal anyway so he may retire at the end of this season. A pity Subaru let Marko Martin get away