Six minutes with Jean Ragnotti

[redalfaracing]

Front wheel drive at its best. Inspiration for all you Sud drivers with Winton coming up.

Enjoy, (have it loud!)

                                 

[dehne]

that was fantastic, is that car a bit like one on the new matchbox colour change ones but it also changes shape  and its real

[scuzzyGTV]

I do love a good scando!

[SimonR]

That is one of the best clips I have seen, I think the driver puts some of the current WRC guys to shame.

[Barry Edmunds]

Definitely one of the best 6 minutes of entertainment seen for a long time. Where was this footage taken?
I would venture to guess that this was not his first outing in a FWD car. Top marks for his car control. More exposure from this guy would sure attract more people to watch rallies here. A whole lot more entertaining that the V8 taxis and their boring processions
Doubtful if all the Sud drivers in Aus could muster up and harness the level of horsepower into one car that this guy had at his disposal. Also doubtful if any Sud driver could handle that much power anyway.
Thse spectators are sure crazy getting that close to the roads.

[Brad M]

Also doubtful if any Sud driver could handle that much power anyway.

I think Frank could cure your doubt, I'm sure he'd love a crack at it

[Frank Musco]

Greg,

Definitely an inspirational, dare I say, educational video, loved it. Awesome car control, and so fast.

Cheers

Sud Driver...

[pep105]

Fantastic

Definitely FWD at its best, sideways a ripper, Loved it!, that little Clio is a monster and what a driver Ragnotti is

Time to set up a Sud rally car Frankie, or we could get Toyota to sponser us in a boxer powered Yaris..

[Davidm1600]

Absolutely awesome driving and definitely shows just how good a FWD car in the right hands, when set up properly can be. Thinking modern rather than old for a second, I wonder if a 147 (or even a 147 GTA) could be the go?

[MD]

Having a close look at the video I see this car is perfect for the tight and frequent corners. Being light at the rear, it gets chucked into the corner and the front end is ready to haul it out in a hurry. A lot harder with long wheel bases and worse still with more weight at the rear, eg tansaxles for this application.

I dont really know , just having a rational stab at it, the 147 would have power to weight issues and handling penalties for the weight as well so that would be the first starting point. Also the shorter the wheelbase the better as far as I can see but I am the first person to admit that I know SFA about rally work.

[redalfaracing]

I looked at that clip with amazement.
I have seen drivers do that on gravel , but never on tarmac.
Looking at the incar, he isn't using a handbrake. I think he must be left foot braking with a lot of rear bias.
A good case for an adjustable pedal box over a rear brake proportioning valve. To keep the bias correct through out a rally it would need constant adjustment as tyres wear, fuel is used etc.
On Jean himself, he drives with such confidence. Never a doubt in his mind about getting round the corners.

Yes Frank, it is inspirational. One day i will get my Swift GTI running again and teach myself how to do that!

[hammer]

I am absolutely humbled. What a driver. If i had 10% of his talent I'd be a happy man.

Thanks for posting this amazing vid.

Brent

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Looking at the incar, he isn't using a handbrake.

Looking at the incar, he is using a handbrake.  Look at 3.53.  Also look at the multiple times he has the rear wheels locked with no brake lights on.

An excellent video though.  I loved that era of rallying, the FWD cars were often almost as quick as the 4WD on the tarmac courses.

[MD]

Lancia showed them how to do it 6 times in a row. Looks to be unbeaten still..sorry about the table, it got a bit skewed..

Season Championship for Drivers  Championship for Manufacturers
Driver Car Manufacturer Car
2009  Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC  Citroën Citroën C4 WRC
2008  Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC  Citroën Citroën C4 WRC
2007  Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC  Ford Ford Focus WRC
2006  Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC  Ford Ford Focus WRC
2005  Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC  Citroën Citroën Xsara WRC
2004  Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC  Citroën Citroën Xsara WRC
2003  Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza WRC  Citroën Citroën Xsara WRC
2002  Marcus Grönholm Peugeot 206 WRC  Peugeot Peugeot 206 WRC
2001  Richard Burns Subaru Impreza WRC  Peugeot Peugeot 206 WRC
2000  Marcus Grönholm Peugeot 206 WRC  Peugeot Peugeot 206 WRC
1999  Tommi Mäkinen Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution  Toyota Toyota Corolla WRC
1998  Tommi Mäkinen Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution  Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
1997  Tommi Mäkinen Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution  Subaru Subaru Impreza WRC
1996  Tommi Mäkinen Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution  Subaru Subaru Impreza 555
1995  Colin McRae Subaru Impreza 555  Subaru Subaru Impreza 555
1994  Didier Auriol Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD  Toyota Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1993  Juha Kankkunen Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD  Toyota Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1992  Carlos Sainz Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD  Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale
1991  Juha Kankkunen Lancia Delta Integrale 16V  Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale 16V
1990  Carlos Sainz Toyota Celica GT-Four  Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale 16V
1989  Miki Biasion Lancia Delta Integrale  Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale
1988  Miki Biasion Lancia Delta Integrale  Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale
1987  Juha Kankkunen Lancia Delta HF 4WD  Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD
1986  Juha Kankkunen Peugeot 205 Turbo 16  Peugeot Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
1985  Timo Salonen Peugeot 205 Turbo 16  Peugeot Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
1984  Stig Blomqvist Audi Quattro  Audi Audi Quattro
1983  Hannu Mikkola Audi Quattro  Lancia Lancia Rally 037
1982  Walter Röhrl Opel Ascona 400  Audi Audi Quattro
1981  Ari Vatanen Ford Escort RS1800  Talbot Talbot Sunbeam Lotus
1980  Walter Röhrl Fiat 131 Abarth  Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth
1979  Björn Waldegård Ford Escort RS1800*  Ford Ford Escort RS1800
1978  Markku Alén*** Fiat 131 Abarth**  Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth
1977  Sandro Munari*** Lancia Stratos HF  Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth
1976 No drivers' championship  Lancia Lancia Stratos HF
1975 No drivers' championship  Lancia Lancia Stratos HF
1974 No drivers' championship  Lancia Lancia Stratos HF
1973 No drivers' championship  Alpine-Renault Alpine A110
* - Björn Waldegård drove a Mercedes 450 SLC in two rallies in 1979
** - Markku Alén drove a Lancia Stratos HF in two rallies in 1978
*** - In 1977 and 1978, the drivers championship was the FIA Cup for Rally Drivers
No drivers title 1973-1976

[stradale]

Citroen 09 08 07 06 05 04  a per the skewed table