WRC - Marcus Grönholm announces retirement after this season

karthik247 · 8th December 2007, 08:35

Finnish rally ace and double world champion Marcus Grönholm, 39, has finally put an end to the prolonged speculations regarding his driving career by announcing his retirement from WRC after this season.

Right now, hes just a few points behind Sébastien Loeb and could be set to win the championship this year as well.

jerish666 · 8th December 2007, 08:46

That is a sad news.He is such a lovely driver.

nitrous · 8th December 2007, 10:57

He lost this year's championship to Loeb by 4 points at the rally of wales.

khaadu75 · 8th December 2007, 10:59

HUGE LOSS to WRC .... with his retirement happening I don't see Loeb getting challenged by anyone in the near future and maybe WRC turns into a similar story that happened in F1 -- makes things very boring .

Gronholm has a great sense of humour is known never to react too much to anything ... but seeing him do the jig when he won the NZ Rally by the closest ever margin was something that shall not be forgotten by anyone . That was the first time ppl saw him react so wildly but it was fun :-) !!

racingmachine · 8th December 2007, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaadu75

HUGE LOSS to WRC .... with his retirement happening I don't see Loeb getting challenged by anyone in the near future and maybe WRC turns into a similar story that happened in F1 -- makes things very boring .

Don't forget that there are a few contenders like Jari-Matti Latvala, who was mighty fast and showed blistering pace throughout this season, and he might get a Ford works drive, replacing the great man Marcus. Apart from him there is Hirvonen and Dani Sordo, who will not rest on their laurels and try to get the better of Loeb next season. Can't wait for it to start.

shailu · 8th December 2007, 14:25

Another star leaving the arena with high notes.

Next season might be intresting but not like how it was this season loeb Vs Marcus. What a fight till the end of the season.

Marcus:we will all miss you

Hatchlover · 9th December 2007, 15:49

Marcus you are a geat fighter

On a sidenote ,Is there any way one can watch the latest WRC events on TV .
I have only seen the 2005WRC being telecast on DD sports+ there is one 1/2 hour program on start sports.Anyway we can watch the full events ,

v1kram · 9th December 2007, 22:46

One more legend out from racing seat, i think it will be more or less one man show in WRC 2008

sammyboy · 9th December 2007, 23:16

Marcus was a really talented driver and I am sure Ford will surely miss his presence. Sebastian vs gronholm was always so much fun .
WRC wont be the same again, for a while atleast

chetan · 9th December 2007, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatchlover

Marcus you are a geat fighter

On a sidenote ,Is there any way one can watch the latest WRC events on TV .
I have only seen the 2005WRC being telecast on DD sports+ there is one 1/2 hour program on start sports.Anyway we can watch the full events ,

you can see starsports

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyboy

Marcus was a really talented driver and I am sure Ford will surely miss his presence. Sebastian vs gronholm was always so much fun .
WRC wont be the same again, for a while atleast

u forgot loeb vs sloberg it will as exciting as ever, cant wait for the next season, but Marcus will be missed for sure

F50 · 10th December 2007, 21:22

Wooah! This is sad news. Marcus is a great driver. On his day no one ever came close to him. We'll miss him.

turbo_v12 · 10th December 2007, 22:21

Yeah, it's indeed bad news...

I don't see anyone challenging Seb at least next year for the title...not until Hirvonen suddenly goes berserk.

Would've been great to see Gronholm to win the title this year. Would have made things more interesting and would be a change (though I would never say that Loeb does not deserve it), but it would make Loeb push harder next year.

On a positive note, it's good Gronholm retired after driving for Ford...a car he enjoyed driving.

oversteer · 12th December 2007, 14:09

WRC is not going to be the same without an emotionless Marcus giving Loeb a run for his money... I really admire Marcus, and the way he just shrugs away his bad luck at the end of a rally and moves on. Always the gentleman. He and Timo made an excellent team.

Nikhilb2008 · 12th December 2007, 18:51

You cant watch it live, but you can go to Welcome to Racing Underground and download the torrents of the races as they happen.

It is just a matter of a few hours delay. I watch most of the WRC events this way.

chetan · 12th December 2007, 20:27

racing underground has got almost all types motorsport torrents there is its worth checking out especially downloading the hi-res pictures

8th December 2007, 08:35	#1
karthik247 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR, HYD Posts: 2,710 Thanked: 30 Times	WRC - Marcus Grönholm announces retirement after this season Finnish rally ace and double world champion Marcus Grönholm, 39, has finally put an end to the prolonged speculations regarding his driving career by announcing his retirement from WRC after this season. Right now, hes just a few points behind Sébastien Loeb and could be set to win the championship this year as well. Last edited by karthik247 : 8th December 2007 at 08:37.
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 08:46	#2
jerish666 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Trivandrum,Kochi,Trissur Posts: 756 Thanked: 2 Times	That is a sad news.He is such a lovely driver.
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 10:57	#3
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,964 Thanked: 333 Times View My Garage	He lost this year's championship to Loeb by 4 points at the rally of wales.
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 10:59	#4
khaadu75 BANNED Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: same as the proposed venue for F1 ;-) Posts: 1,146 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	HUGE LOSS to WRC .... with his retirement happening I don't see Loeb getting challenged by anyone in the near future and maybe WRC turns into a similar story that happened in F1 -- makes things very boring . Gronholm has a great sense of humour is known never to react too much to anything ... but seeing him do the jig when he won the NZ Rally by the closest ever margin was something that shall not be forgotten by anyone . That was the first time ppl saw him react so wildly but it was fun :-) !!
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 14:25	#6
shailu BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: coimbatore Posts: 122 Thanked: 21 Times	Another star leaving the arena with high notes. Next season might be intresting but not like how it was this season loeb Vs Marcus. What a fight till the end of the season. Marcus:we will all miss you
	() Thanks

9th December 2007, 15:49	#7
Hatchlover Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jaipur Posts: 17 Thanked: Once	Marcus you are a geat fighter On a sidenote ,Is there any way one can watch the latest WRC events on TV . I have only seen the 2005WRC being telecast on DD sports+ there is one 1/2 hour program on start sports.Anyway we can watch the full events ,
	() Thanks

9th December 2007, 22:46	#8
v1kram BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Coimbatore /YEG Posts: 466 Thanked: 242 Times	One more legend out from racing seat, i think it will be more or less one man show in WRC 2008
	() Thanks

9th December 2007, 23:16	#9
sammyboy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ggn/Dehradun Posts: 1,842 Thanked: 526 Times View My Garage	Marcus was a really talented driver and I am sure Ford will surely miss his presence. Sebastian vs gronholm was always so much fun . WRC wont be the same again, for a while atleast
	() Thanks

10th December 2007, 21:22	#11
F50 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai/USA Posts: 1,704 Thanked: 103 Times	Wooah! This is sad news. Marcus is a great driver. On his day no one ever came close to him. We'll miss him.
	() Thanks

10th December 2007, 22:21	#12
turbo_v12 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Thane Posts: 457 Thanked: Once View My Garage	Yeah, it's indeed bad news... I don't see anyone challenging Seb at least next year for the title...not until Hirvonen suddenly goes berserk. Would've been great to see Gronholm to win the title this year. Would have made things more interesting and would be a change (though I would never say that Loeb does not deserve it), but it would make Loeb push harder next year. On a positive note, it's good Gronholm retired after driving for Ford...a car he enjoyed driving. Last edited by turbo_v12 : 10th December 2007 at 22:25.
	() Thanks

12th December 2007, 14:09	#13
oversteer BHPian Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: KA-03 Posts: 69 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	WRC is not going to be the same without an emotionless Marcus giving Loeb a run for his money... I really admire Marcus, and the way he just shrugs away his bad luck at the end of a rally and moves on. Always the gentleman. He and Timo made an excellent team.
	() Thanks

12th December 2007, 18:51	#14
Nikhilb2008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,194 Thanked: 10,178 Times	You cant watch it live, but you can go to Welcome to Racing Underground and download the torrents of the races as they happen. It is just a matter of a few hours delay. I watch most of the WRC events this way.
	() Thanks

12th December 2007, 20:27	#15
chetan BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 491 Thanked: 15 Times	racing underground has got almost all types motorsport torrents there is its worth checking out especially downloading the hi-res pictures
	() Thanks