Lazy B'stard
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« Reply #17 on: August 05, 2013, 12:17:12 pm » |
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These lists are always useless. It's easier to dominate a sport nowadays when a technical and financial aspect has more to do with success than raw ability. The WRC and Seb Loeb are prime examples. Yes, he is a fantastic driver, but where has his opposition been over the last decade? Nevertheless he will probably be ranked as the greatest rally driver of all time because of his sheer number of wins. I'd love to have dropped him into the entry of the 1985 and 1986 RAC Rallies, San Remo 1986, 1984 Monte, 85 1000 lakes to see how he would have got on against Toivonen, Alen, Salonen, Kankkunen, Mikkola, Rohl, Waldegard, Eriksson, Saby, Blomqvist, Biasion et al....
It's always interesting when rally drivers and race drivers swap seats. Both Loeb and McRae did quite well at LM, both getting onto the podium. It's not always as easy to make the switch. I remember Derek Bell, a driver who I have a huge amount of respect for, making a right cock of the 87 RAC. An event he said was the hardest thing he had ever done in or out of a car. Martin Brundell also struggled a few years later eventually heavily restyling a Cosworth whilst in the lower end of the top 60. Of course there is one or two notable exceptions, Vic Elford being one (and to my mind at least, one of THE greatest drivers of all time alongside Pedro Rodriguez), and Jim Clark who's attempt of the RAC (when it was still a proper rally) is the stuff of legend.
And whilst on the subject of rallying, if you want to find the greatest women driver, look no further than Pat Moss Carlsson.
I'm afraid the Tarmac set have quite a bit of work to do until they better the boys and girls in the woods.
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