SPIN, The Rally Pod

It's Ypres Rally week! The Belgian classic will make its World Rally Championship bow this weekend - so does the 2021 route stay true to the event's heritage? And can anyone stop Thierry Neuville from claiming his first win of the season? The DirtFish team are on hand with all the major talking points ahead of one of the most eagerly anticipated rallies in years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kalle Rovanperä's record-breaking win, Ott Tänak's overdriving, the contrasting performances of M-Sport's two drivers and a lenient stewards' decision all feature in our review of last weekend's Rally Estonia, which kicked off the second half of the World Rally Championship season.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special edition of SPIN, The Rally Pod, DirtFish speaks to one of the stars of the 2021 WRC season so far - Takamoto Katsuta. Following his breakthrough first podium on the Safari Rally, Katsuta talks about his motorsport past, what he's changed about his approach this year, and explains why he's comfortable waiting a bit longer for his chance to step up to the main Toyota factory team.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With the dust quite literally settled on the first Safari Rally in almost 20 years, DirtFish reviews the Kenya weekend, with insight from those on the ground running the event plus competitors past and present on just how demanding the first edition in the rally's new era was.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rally Italy was another where the case could be made for saying the event was lost rather than won. As well as trying to get to the bottom of what's going on with Hyundai's i20, the team look at how Sébastien Ogier won from first on the road, Mads Østberg’s internal explosion and subsequent fine and suspended points penalty, and also look ahead to the WRC's long-awaited return to Africa.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Following a hugely entertaining Rally Portugal, the DirtFish team rates the top performers - examining Ott Tänak's "light at the end of tunnel" pace - and assesses whether Hyundai's missed opportunity will be costly, or if the rallies to come give it a chance to fight backSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Colin Clark and David Evans debate Portugal form, the driver market and much moreSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hyundai blinked first by locking Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak in with extended contracts - so what implications does that have on the rest of the WRC driver market? The DirtFish team consider who might go where, the significance of Hyundai's swoop for M-Sport's tech guru Christian Louriaux, and discuss the introduction of a new 100% sustainable fuel for the 2022 seasonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The SPIN, The Rally Pod team looks back at the extraordinary first edition of Rally Croatia where Sébastien Ogier stole the show.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's been a long time coming, but the third round of the 2021 WRC season is finally here. DirtFish's pundits on the ground and back at base are on hand to discuss the key talking points ahead of Croatia's first WRC round - including who's most likely to contend for victory, where's best to start on the road, and what kind of conditions to expect.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The dust has - just about - settled on the Extreme E's inaugural round in Saudi Arabia. Having followed things closely on-site and back at base, the DirtFish team review the action, and ask whether XE hit its marks on two of its cornerstone points - environmental awareness and gender equality.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lisa O'Sullivan, George Donaldson and David Evans are joined by SPIN, The Rally Pod debutantes Anna Duxbury and Dominik Wilde as the team looks ahead to the all-new Extreme E series and this weekend's Desert X-Prix.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The team dissect the second round of the World Rally Championship season - taking a look at why Toyota struggled to match expectations - examine the contrasting management styles employed by the top two teams, and pay tribute to the late Hannu Mikkola.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In part two of DirtFish's Arctic Rally Finland podcast preview offering, Colin Clark speaks to Tony Jardine, George Donaldson and Kristian Sohlberg - who all know a thing or two about competing on snow.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From having the correct footwear to traverse deep snow to having the right suspension to go through it at over 100mph, the DirtFish team compare notes on how competitors, organizers and journalists are gearing up for Arctic Rally Finland in the latest episode of SPIN, The Rally Pod.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How did the 2021 Monte Carlo Rally compared to previous editions? Where does Sébastien Ogier rank among rallying's best of all time? And what does Britain need for a successful return to the WRC calendar in the future? All this and more in the latest episode of SPIN, The Rally Pod.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this 'Green Edition' follow-up to last month's podcast about rallying's future, DirtFish's podcast regulars offer up their opinions on how rallying can - and should - stay relevant by adopting a green roadmapSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Colin Clark quizzes rally figures from across the planet on how and where alternative energy sources are making it onto the stagesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2020 WRC drama went on right up to Christmas, as Toyota signed Jari-Matti Latvala as its new team boss and Hyundai signed Oliver Solberg as a new protegeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DirtFish ranks the WRC stars of the season - after a heated debateSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our verdict on the 2020 WRC's unusual season finale, whether it did the championship justice and whether we should see more rallies like MonzaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ahead of the final round of the 2020 WRC season, the Monza Rally, the DirtFish team look back at some of the best title deciders from years gone by. There's also an assessment of this year's four remaining contenders - points leader Elfyn Evans, Sébastien Ogier, Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak - and their chances, plus a look at the conditions that will greet them in Italy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In his last media interview before the WRC's title-deciding weekend, Elfyn Evans talks about preparing for the Monza Rally and his season so far, before the DirtFish team discuss what to expect from the points leader on the rally - if it goes ahead...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DirtFish's voice of rally Colin Clark, Senior Staff Writer David Evans and former Toyota team manager George Donaldson share personal, and professional, insight on what made the 1995 RAC Rally so specialSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SPIN's trio of Colin Clark, David Evans and George Donaldson pick apart Rally Turkey, while the Voice of Rally questions whether stage-end interviews aren't what they used to be. This episode was recorded before the cancellation of Ypres Rally, so the trio also ponder how the highly-regarded Belgian rally was gearing up for its WRC debut.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week's big news is the impending departure of Tommi Mäkinen from the Toyota WRC team he helped build since 2015, after the parent brand bought its WRC operations from Mäkinen's TMR preparation firm. What does that mean for Toyota and for Mäkinen? DirtFish's voice of rally Colin Clark and Senior Staff Writer David Evans discuss the ramifications.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Top Toyota personnel give Colin Clark their in-depth take on the WRC's first rally back and what comes nextSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BRC manager Iain Campbell talks to Colin Clark about M-Sport's Return to Rally Stages, Rally GB's future and how to bring rally action back across the UK.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the latest edition of SPIN, The Rally Pod, our panel of DirtFish Senior Staff Writer David Evans, our voice of rally Colin Clark and George Donaldson turn back the clock to discuss their favorite Lancia liveries, the genius (and flaws) of the great Walter Röhrl and look ahead to the long-awaited Rally Estonia.Can rallying return safely amid fresh coronavirus cases in Europe? The team chat through the calendar permutations as the WRC gears up for its return. And all the while, George has been outsmarting midges next to a Scottish loch...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DirtFish's Colin Clark and David Evans spent a week in Italy for the biggest step towards the full resumption of international rallying so far, as the 2020 European Rally Championship began and Hyundai entered both Rally di Roma and subsequent Italian event Rally di Alba in force.As their trip came to an end, they reflected on the experience of being back in the service parks, how the ERC is shaping up, performances on those rallies, the coronavirus situation and much more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Monte Carlo Rally itinerary has been modified for 2021, while M-Sport is giving DirtFish exclusive access to its updated headquarters and new test track. Plus Colin Clark, George Donaldson and David Evans preview Rally di Roma, the first major international rally since the COVID-19 outbreak began.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the week the World Rally Championship should've been back in Kenya, the DirtFish team celebrates everything that made the Safari great - and will do againSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Finally, the World Rally Championship's C-word no longer needs to be used in hushed tones, following the reveal of a provisional calendar for the remainder of the 2020 season. Unsurprisingly, the new schedule is at the top of the agenda discussed by Colin Clark, George Donaldson and David Evans this weekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With teams back in testing action and a calendar coming together, WRC 2020 feels within reach again - but what does the longer-term future now hold?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Finnish drivers used to dominate the WRC, but none has won a title since Marcus Gronholm in 2002. Though Kalle Rovanpera might rectify that anomaly soon, why has the drought gone on so long? That's what Colin Clark, George Donaldson and David Evans are debating this week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There have been big setbacks for the WRC in the past week, with Finland, New Zealand and GB all off for 2020. Recorded just before news of GB being canned was confirmed, this episode of Spin, the Rally Pod explains why the events in question had little choiceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rallying's return is getting closer, so enough lockdown talk - time to focus on the competition. From Ogier's future to Hyundai's latest driver shuffles and the new Toyota, the DirtFish gang hits the big talking pointsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Toyota and Carlos Sainz were on the brink of the 1998 World Rally Championship title when it fell apart in agonizing fashion with the finish in sight. DirtFish podcast regular George Donaldson was a key part of the Toyota team back then, and reveals how it felt to be part of that incredible rollercoaster - plus some theories never before airedSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Moves towards resuming real-world rallying are starting to accelerate, but there are still a lot of unknowns and concerns. Colin Clark, David Evans and George Donaldson have a typically passionate debate about the options and the latest developments - and also celebrate all that's great about Rally Portugal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When it comes to rallying photography, Colin McMaster is one of the best in the business. In this edition of Spin, the Rally Pod, our voice of rally Colin Clark meets with McMaster (while observing social distancing measures) to lift the lid on McMaster's career behind the lens - from convincing teachers in South Africa to allow him to study photography rather than taking Afrikaans lessons, to his first big break shooting for Subaru, and how he met his hero-turned-business partner, Reinhard Klein. There's also a look back at McMaster's memories of a sodden edition of Rally Portugal in 2001, as part of DirtFish's Rally Portugal week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With the Safari Rally Kenya definitely off the list for 2020, but COVID-19 restrictions beginning to be lifted in some parts of the world, the DirtFish team looks at the state of play for the paused World Rally Championship season. Can enough of the calendar be salvaged to crown a worthy champion?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our chats with Derek Dauncey about Mitsubishi's Safari Rally heroics in recent weeks have given an incredible insight into just how tough the legendary Kenyan event was in the 1990s.Now SPIN's own George Donaldson lifts the lid on an even more demanding era. Starting in the 1980s, his stint in a lead role at Toyota came when the manufacturer took the Safari incredibly seriously - with weeks-long recces, specialized development programs and team personnel including George spending as much as six months of the year in Kenya.Settle in for a fascinating reminisce about those extraordinary days.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mitsubishi scored a second Safari Rally win in three years on the 1998 event. This one was particularly special for British fans with Richard Burns taking his maiden WRC win and backing up Colin McRae’s Kenyan victory of 12 months earlier.Typically for the Safari, it was anything but straightforward, as Mitsubishi Ralliart’s Derek Dauncey tells David Evans in the second of his interviews looking into life among the Lancers in the Nineties. This time, for the first time, Andrew Cowan’s Rugby-based team was running a brace of cars, something that brought plenty of challenges as well as doubling the potential for success.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Remember the story of Rally of Great Britain 1998? Of course you do. It’s a story all about Tommi Mäkinen, Carlos Sainz and Bodmin builder Nigel Barnett. It’s a story all about their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV, Toyota Corolla WRC and Hillman Imp.Ringing a few bells now? Thought so. Derek Dauncey was Mitsubishi Ralliart’s man in the middle of the Millbrook crisis when Mäkinen removed the right rear wheel against a concrete block - thanks to oil from that Imp. For the next three days, the Finn and his team thought that was the end of his world championship.It wasn’t, it was just the beginning of an unforgettable rollercoaster ride for Andrew Cowan’s team – ending on the highest possible high.This one is, however, the first half of a fascinating story. Next week, Colin Clark talks to then Toyota team manager George Donaldson about the disappointment that led Carlos Sainz’s co-driver Luis Moya to find a new way of putting his crash helmet back in the car…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If today’s World Rally Champion could offer Ott Tänak some career advice 10 years ago, what would it be? And what did he really think of his move from Toyota to Hyundai?Talking about Hyundai, what’s Andrea Adamo really like and does he say yes more than he says no.All of these questions and more – including his first thoughts on Sébastien Ogier joining him and Elfyn Evans at M-Sport – are answered in an insightful DirtFish SPIN, The Rally Pod interview with our defending world champ. He also has a word or two for those who think he’s a bit too brief in his interviews... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thirty-four years ago the world of rallying was robbed of a driver destined for global glory and years at the very top of our sport. May 2, 1986 was the day Henri Toivonen and co-driver Sergio Cresto lost their lives in a Tour de Corse crash which changed the face of rallying.Lisa O’Sullivan leads an intriguing and emotive history lesson into one of the life and times of the mercurial Finn. David Evans, George Donaldson and Colin Clark analyse Toivonen’s impact on the sport, the man himself, where he came from and where he was heading. There’s also a look into the ramifications of the accident which spelled the end of Group B, world rallying’s most controversial four-year formula.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a particularly shouty and argumentative Spin, David Evans and George Donaldson wind poor Colin Clark up terribly. The cause of the debate? Is Ypres one of the best rallies in the world? Or is it all straight, nineties, chips and mayonnaise?If you’ve never heard the Voice of Rally on the rev limiter, tune in…Fascinating debate, with thought-provoking insight from DG and Lisa O’Sullivan on the impact of the current global pandemic on our sport and the wider world.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How many Haribo does it take to make a bus ride from Asia to England? Tune in and find out. Except you won’t, the boys lost count of how many bags they ate returning from Istanbul and the 2010 Rally Turkey.Remember Icelandic-the-unpronounceable, that volcano that caused total travel chaos? Colin Clark and David Evans will never forget three nights and four days travelling through Turkey, Romania, Austria, Slovakia (it might have been Serbia, they’re not sure...), possibly Czech Republic, almost certainly Hungary, a bit of Germany, a touch of France and, oddly, even a bit of Belgium. A decade on and George Donaldson is still enjoying the fact he didn’t go to the event and watched the Eyjafjallajokull madness unfold from the comfort of a packet of his favourite crisps (that might be chips, depending which side of the Pond you’re reading this).Lisa O’Sullivan presides brilliantly over painful - and occasionally amusing - memories of the non-party bus home from round four of the 2010 World Rally Championship. (There’s even the odd sneaky story from the party bus). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You might have gathered, the DirtFish team would rather be elsewhere this week. We’d rather be in Villa Carlos Paz reporting on round four of this year’s World Rally Championship, the SpeedAgro Rally Argentina.Just because we’re not, doesn’t mean we can’t talk about it. So we did. In this edition of Spin, The Rally Pod, Lisa O’Sullivan focuses the attention of George Donaldson, David Evans and Colin Clark on Argentina and a whole host of South American stories.George tells the world how and why he made Nicky Grist cry, Colin reveals the moment he revealed his naked chest to the post-rally party and David talks about retractable pencils.Looking for advice ahead of her Argentina debut, Lisa is given some clear, concise and consistent dietary guidance. In preparation for the parrilla... vegetables.But before all of that, there’s news of ducks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.