Are rally drivers the best in the world?

[mnwildpunk]

Rally driver are the best as rally driver F1 drivers are the best as F1 drivers drag racers are best as drag racers etc. Etc take anyone of them out of there norm and they are just another driver

[ZTony8]

Rally drivers are sort of the decathletes of motorsports in that they must drive under several different possible weather conditions on several different surfaces during the day or night.No other form of motorsport requires that adaptability.Some forms require some,but not all,of them.

BTW-Loeb's Pikes Peak record run was aided by the fact that the course was fully paved for the first time.

[Ace-Garageguy]

How's this? They're probably the best ALL-AROUND drivers, able to go seriously fast on any surface, under any conditions, in any car.

The different skills and strengths involved in other forms of motorsport have been touched on, and a rally driver may or may not have what it takes to be Formula 1 world champion, but I also seriously doubt most F1 drivers could perform as well under horrible conditions as typical rally drivers have to.

Edited November 19, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[mnwildpunk]

But lets see a rally driver pull a. 001 light and do 324mph in a1/4 mile

Edited November 20, 2014 by mnwildpunk

[chunkypeanutbutter]

I definitely think rallying is the toughest racing type.

I can't say from experience other than ten years of playing rally racing games... I remember distinctly at five years old, playing Gran Turismo 2 on the PS1 with my dad, rally racing with the wheel and pedals....

I remember dad drifting his Audi Coupe GT in the snow, nearly sideways through corners, sitting in the back seat....

Thing about rallying is quick reflexes, low light situations, corners in very fast relation to each other, bumpy or unstable (sand, gravel, etc.) surfaces, water.... Things you don't get in NASCAR, where all the cars are more or less the same, driving on a flat, well lit track.

[afx]

How's this? They're probably the best ALL-AROUND drivers, able to go seriously fast on any surface, under any conditions, in any car.

The different skills and strengths involved in other forms of motorsport have been touched on, and a rally driver may or may not have what it takes to be Formula 1 world champion, but I also seriously doubt most F1 drivers could perform as well under horrible conditions as typical rally drivers have to.

And that is my point. Take the top drivers from each motorsport, put them in the car designed for that sport (Top Fuel, F1, Stock car, rally car, touring car, sports car etc.) and on the course/track designed for each discipline and have a true race of champions and I would put my money on rally drivers coming out on top. Is a rally driver going to beat a top fuel driver on the drag strip - no. Will he beat an F1 driver in an F1 car - no. But overall, all-around I think they are the best.

And the reason is car control. Rally drivers can drive a car to it limits and sometimes beyond them.

Edited November 20, 2014 by afx

[mnwildpunk]

I give rally drivers a lot of credit but its sort of an apples to oranges question take a rally driver and a drag racer and both would be lost same if you took a rally driver and a F1 driver id say the rally driver may have an advantage over the F1 between the two different courses but the rally driver would probably be lacking compared to other F1 racers

[mnwildpunk]

And that is my point. Take the top drivers from each motorsport, put them in the car designed for that sport (Top Fuel, F1, Stock car, rally car, touring car, sports car etc.) and on the course/track designed for each discipline and have a true race of champions and I would put my money on rally drivers coming out on top. Is a rally driver going to beat a top fuel driver on the drag strip - no. Will he beat an F1 driver in an F1 car - no. But overall, all-around I think they are the best.

And the reason is car control. Rally drivers can drive a car to it limits and sometimes beyond them.

I understand what your saying but on the same token if you take a F1 driver and give him time he would learn how to drive and keep up on a rally course. Top fuel could be a different story I think a rally driver after the same training period would do well on the strip but a top fuel driver is a reaction time driver and only straight line. Basically this a batman vs. Superman who'd win the fight question

[afx]

Superman of course

[om617]

Elite rallydrivers and those in formula one is a very special type of humans. They are born with the lack of impulses "normal" people

have,a six sense if you want. Where normal people by reflex brake or slow down,these people dont have this warning lamp in they`re

head,but know by skill when to do it. And then there is the stamina,a normal person would never last 5 minutes in a formula one car

at full potential. As for the rally driver it is the same,but here also it`s the mental stamina,you are basically throwing around a car in

120mph on a narrow dirt road by the trust in the co-drivers notes. A slip of concentration,only a tenth of a second and you are off.

Not to be arrogant or anything,but someone with dragracing experience,no matter how many decades would never last 5 minutes

in a formula one car. The reason these people are paid ridiculous amount of money is because they are extremely rare. I would

call them superhumans,both mentally and physically.

All drivers who enter Formula One need to undergo a period of conditioning to the physical demands of the sport: no other race series on earth requires so much of its drivers in terms of stamina and endurance. The vast loadings that Formula One cars are capable of creating, anything up to a sustained 3.5 g of cornering force, for example, means drivers have to be enormously strong to be able to last for full race distances. The extreme heat found in a Formula One cockpit, especially at the hotter rounds of the championship, also puts vast strain on the body: drivers can sweat off anything up to 3kg of their body weight during the course of a race.

Physical endurance is created through intensive cardio-vascular training: usually running or swimming, although some drivers prefer cycling or even roller-blading! But the unusual loadings experienced by neck and chest muscles cannot be easily replicated by conventional gym equipment, so many drivers use specially designed 'rigs' that enable them to specifically develop the muscles they will need to withstand cornering forces. Strength here is especially important, as the neck must support the weight of both the driver's head and helmet under these intense loadings. Powerful arm muscles are also required to enable the car to be controlled during longer races.

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_f1_racing/5298.html

[Metalmad]

You can't forget the guys that drive the Nitro burning Top Fuel & Funny Cars , these cars are now generating 10,000 Hp and I bet that is a lot to handle even though they drive in a straight line its got to be brutal to handle.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Which is better...orange juice, tomato juice, apple juice, or grape juice?

[kruleworld]

it would make for an interesting documentary/reality show to take some top race drivers and put them through all the different disciplines. I think the rally driver would be the most versatile.

[afx]

Its pretty much an unwinable argument. Just wanted to stimulate some discussion and have an excuse to posts some cool rally photos and pictures. Also raise awareness of this sport.

[Matt Bacon]

it would make for an interesting documentary/reality show to take some top race drivers and put them through all the different disciplines. I think the rally driver would be the most versatile.

It would! You could, I dunno, maybe semi-close about 1000 miles of public roads ranging from smooth highways to semi-dirt tracks, with fast straight sections and twisty mountain passes, tell 'em they can take any car they want, and the winner is the one who has the shortest time over the whole circuit. See if any of them can do it in less than 10 hours...

bestest,

M.

[Brudda]

I agree with Mr.Bill Engwer, but ralley drivers have the biggest plums! IMHO

[southpier]

right around the corner: http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html

[afx]

right around the corner: http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html

I love the Dakar! What a great event. I really miss the Safari Rally on the WRC circuit.