Cant really argue any of those (of course I know next to nothing about the ETCC and DTM series).

Loeb is a good pick, because he has shown growth on dirt and is obviously a master of tarmac.  That said, I like the new 306,  and see it taking the drivers and maybe even manufacturers championship...no, I think Ford will win the manufacturers championship

Newman is a popular pick for the champion.  I almost picked him, but I feel his DNF's may yet haunt him, and Penske racing is known for their aggressive engine setups.  Johnson seems to have the whole consistancy thing worked out.

I think Williams-BMW will win the manufacturers title, and the boys from Ferrari are gonna want someone's head on a platter!

Matt Neal looks like the guy who knows how to win in the BTCC, and we both agree:  Neal 2004 BTCC champion

I see a fire inside Raikkonen, and you can just see the excitement rising in this young star....wait, my bad.  *checks note cards*  Errrrrr....ok, so hes got as much fire as CO2, but still, hes got the talent

 

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons

I think Citroen will get the manufacturers title in the WRC. They have the best line-up out of all the teams. Subaru never go for the manufacturers title they're always out for the drivers, Mitsubishi is unrealistic, no to Skoda and I think Peugeot will be let down by Freddie Loix. Ford will finish a close second, it depends on how well Duval goes through the season.

I'm betting Newman will get his consistancy problem sorted out this season, so even in races without any fuel mileage he'll be up there. Of course it all depends on how this new points system works out.

If Schumacher finishes ahead of Montoya in the championship then I think Barrichello will out perform both DC and Ralf Schumacher and Ferrari will secure the Constructors title that way.

"Neal 2004 BTCC champion"--Tybaltus

I hope so!

 

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

I think this is Duval's breakout season. He'll win a rally and finish well in many others. Martin is the fastest guy out there. I think this is gonna be a great year for Ford...I hope so.

Yeah, the new point system is really an X factor. Im gonna have some help and calculate who the REAL champion should be, but Ill also look at how NASCAR handles the official champion. So, most likely, they will be 2 different 2004 champions. One that I feel is the rightful one, and the one NASCAR calls.

Barichello will not have a good season, and I think Ralf will easily out perform him. So thats why I believe Williams is the team to watch for 2004

My 2 cents

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons

With any luck the bloke who would have won the championship under the old points systems will win under the new system.

My brother won't like you saying that about Barrichello but I think Ralf will not have a good year at all, Montoya will out perform him consistantly then Mark Webber will anounced as the new Williams driver in 2005 and the Aussie will blow Ralf away that season. Ralf will then be replaced for 2006 by Jenson Button.

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

They did a study, and in the last 10 years, 7 of the champions would have been different under this system.

Right...Webber! Hope he wins a few this year

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons

This year? Do you know something I don't? Because Webber won't be winning a thing unless there's some wierd set of circumstances (like last year at Brazil).

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

Yeah. I hope he makes it to victory lane with his Jag. That would be an upset, and I love upsets most of the time--especially in racing. I think Fisichella's win helped catapult my interest into the series. After watching for a year, I wasnt sure whether there was even a remote possibility for upsets, but Fisichella proved me wrong.

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons

Unfortunately upsets like that happen very irregularly, these are the ones which happened during the time I've been watching F1.

Brazilian GP 2003 Giancarlo Fisichella Jordan-Ford

European GP 1999 Johnny Herbert Stewart-Ford

Italian GP 1999 Heinz-Harald Frentzen Jordan-Mugen Honda

French GP 1999 Heinz-Harald Frentzen Jordan-Mugen Honda

Belgian GP 1998 Damon Hill Jordan-Mugen Honda

Monaco GP 1996 Olivier Panis Ligier-Mugen Honda

German GP 1994 Gerhard Berger Ferrari

Belgian GP 1992 Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford

Canadian GP 1991 Nelson Piquet Benetton-Ford

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

I understand they are remarkably rare, but they still CAN happen, and the more you wait for one, the sweeter it is to taste when it does come

Sometimes its not the destination that is the true fruit of the journey

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons

Especially when it's your driver taking the fruit as it was with Johnny Herbert in 1999. I remember that race very well. Coming into it Four drivers had a shot at the title; Mika Hakkinen, David Coulthard, Heinz-Harald Frentzen (who was doing remarkabley well) and Eddie Irvine (Michael Schumacher had broken his leg at the British GP and was replaced by Mika Salo).

The race was one of the most eventful I've seen. It rains on and off and Irvine decided to come into the pits to go onto wets. The Ferrari only had three tyres on waiting and they spent 30 seconds literally looking for the missing tyre. Hakkinen gets caught out by the wet weather on wrong tyres and finds himself miles down the field. DC spins off while in the lead. Frentzen's engine expires while in the lead and effectively ends his title hopes. Ralf Schumacher suffers a puncture while in the lead. This leaves us with a wierd top 4: Herbert, Trulli (then driving for Prost), Barrichello (Herbert's team mate) and Luca Badoer (in a Minardi). Herbert wins comfortably after judging the conditions perfectly. Badoer's engine explodes a couple of laps from the end ruining his chances of a first points scoring finish (Badoer is seen crying climbing out of his cockpit. Hakkinen manages to get past Irvine with two laps to go then goes for 5th place overtaking Marc Gene (Minardi) who grabs the last point and Minardi's first for 4 seasons. I was whooping with delight when Herbert (who always had the worst luck) crossed the line to win.

 

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

Wow...that looked like an awesome race. Where was it at?

Damn...I was just 3 years off from seeing that race

Frentzen almost won the US GP this past year, almost another big upset there.

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons

That was the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in 1999.

Yeah, Frentzen almost did win but I think Button's performance at Indy was much better, he led for many laps (though admitedly Schuey would have gone past him) before his engine blew up.

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

Ah, thats right.  I remember now.  I remember seeing that Toyota suddenly shut down and thinking "Damn...I knew it wouldnt last"

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons

Toyota? What Toyota? Button was in a BAR-Honda and Frentzen was in a Sauber-Petronas?

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!

I thought it was a Toyota doing well...Panis...wasnt he in the lead?

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons