Otago Rally preview and WRC Commission reaction

A dramatic Rally Portugal brought plenty of talking points to the World Rally Championship last weekend. While Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier secured his second consecutive WRC victory with a masterclass performance, Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville significantly extended his lead atop the drivers’ championship standings. Titles are won by maximizing your points on events where winning isn’t possible, and Neuville appears to have mastered that approach. Was it a champions’ drive that we witnessed last weekend? Our experts have their say on this week’s edition of SPIN, The Rally Pod, as Colin Clark and Jon Scoltock are joined by ex-driver Simon Hughes to discuss the action. A deflated Elfyn Evans and his unflappable co-driver Scott Martin, the rise of Adrien Fourmaux into a leading contender, and Portuguese ice cream are just a few more of the topics the intrepid trio chew over. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier will go head-to-head for the first time in 2024 at Rally Portugal – so are they favorites to win? Or can the current WRC title contenders, Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans, do something to stop them? Alasdair Lindsay, David Evans and George Donaldson go in-depth on what's to come from Rally Portugal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unique cars, arch-rivals helping one another, Olympus Rally had it all. Nate Tennis, Jack Harrison and Brenten Kelly talk through the action – plus historic rally cars and how DirtFish helped one competitor iron out a haunting mistake.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Croatia Rally’s ‘Super Sunday’ proved to be particularly dramatic as mistakes by Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans on the same stage proved costly on the latest round of the World Rally Championship. But just how did those errors occur? Were Neuville and Evans unlucky or could they consider themselves fortunate to be able to continue and limit their time loss? Ott Tänak too had his fair show of moments on the treacherous SS18, while Adrien Fourmaux lost more time than anyone – but bounced back to win the powerstage. George Donaldson and David Evans join host Alasdair Lindsay for the latest edition of SPIN, The Rally Pod, where George provides expert analysis on the moments in question. Rally winner Sébastien Ogier’s scathing indictment of the 2024 points system provides another talking point, while there is also discussion of Croatia’s chances of appearing on the 2025 calendar and the latest driver set to compete aboard Rally1 machinery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week is the biggest event of the American Rally Association season: the Olympus Rally. But what’s the big deal? Why should you be following? A trio of DirtFish pros have the answers: Brenten Kelly, Nate Tennis and Jack Harrison. Sam Albert’s Ferrari-swapped Subaru, the fearsome challenge of Nahwatzel, the exciting rally debut of DirtFish alumnus Casen Pedersen and more are the hot topics in a special Olympus edition 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.

Thierry Neuville heads to this week’s Croatia Rally with a six-point lead in the World Rally Championship standings. He’s been at the top of the pile ever since the season kicked off in January - but he’s had to rely on some stunning ‘Super Sunday’ performances on the past two rounds. Is the Hyundai driver building a sustained title bid? Or can Elfyn Evans find that elusive sweet spot with his Toyota GR Yaris and strike a momentum-swinging blow on a rally he won last year? With pressure building on Ott Tänak to produce a strong result, Adrien Fourmaux seeking a third consecutive podium, and returns for eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier and Andreas Mikkelsen, there's plenty of WRC talking points for Colin Clark and David Evans on this week’s SPIN, The Rally Pod. The pair also look back on a fantastic Otago Rally in New Zealand and ponder the state of play with the WRC calendar.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Competing in New Zealand is something that’s on every rally driver’s bucket list – certainly that’s the case for five-time world rally winner Kris Meeke and double American champion Brandon Semenuk. These two adrenaline junkies have traveled to the South Island this week to take part in the Central Machine Hire Otago Rally based in Dunedin. Before the action commenced, we took the opportunity to sit the pair down to talk cars, bikes, Guinness… and what makes Kris Meeke’s hair stand on end. On this bonus edition of SPIN, The Rally Pod (which you can also watch) the duo let David Evans into their world for a fascinating insight into competing on some of the most fearsome roads – and trails – on earth.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With Otago Rally taking place in New Zealand this weekend and an important WRC Commission just concluded, there’s lots to digest on this week’s edition of SPIN, The Rally Pod. New Zealand’s South Island is sometimes in the shadow of its World Rally Championship-hosting northern neighbor but its roads have their own character and are just as spectacular. Colin Clark and David Evans discuss what draws folk from all over the world to the wonderful city of Dunedin for the event. The pair also ponder the future of the WRC, where many key suggestions from the FIA’s working group have been overshadowed by the debate over technical regulations, while the European and British Rally Championship’s season-openers are further topics covered on the pod.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Colin Clark and George Donaldson discuss Safari Rally Kenya, including a look at the controversial WRC points system that allowed Thierry Neuville to extend his championship lead.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michelle Miller is used to calling pace notes in the ARA or guiding students through the world’s best rally school. This week, she’s added to her repertoire by hosting the final Women’s Month SPIN, The Rally Pod.And what a fantastic job she did. Sit back and enjoy the next hour as Michelle is joined by Kelley Clausen-Walters, Zander Lozano, Kendra Miller and Tasha Krug to talk through the last month and, specifically, the Women in Motorsport Summit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.