Sordo's program was supposed to be Mexico, Argentina, Portugal, Sardegna, Turkey, Germany and Japan. I think Loeb will do only Safari and NZ, with Breen in Finland and Wales.
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Sordo is starting his season in mexico and has good speed/ form there. No way Loeb does Germany as he turned it down even in the Citroen because of the dirty roads further down the start order, and Sordo is better in the car on tarmac anyway. Presume Japan will be the same.
He clearly had a problem in Sweden last year as he was consistently the slowest WRC (apart from Tidemand). Which is why it was strange he got nominated to Sweden this year in the first place.
Similarly he was one of the slowest cars in Portugal.
So he isn't exactly consistently fast on gravel with it.
I don't think it's only his fault. But question is how motivated he is to "fight" with the car setup/development.
Well, after the performance of Toyota in RMC, maybe they will use a fifth Hyundai in some cases...if things get interesting in the WDC.
Yeah they could do I suppose. Toyota will have Latvala on a few events and there's been one or two whispers Meeke could get a start here or there, due to still being involved with the team.
I can't see Paddon not doing New Zealand (even if it's not in a Hyundai), then you have Loeb possibly able to do another event or two, and Mikkelsen sitting on the sidelines. So they have options if they feel they need to bring more cars to help.
There could be quite a few Toyota and Hyundai WRCs in Wales (and even in Japan), if everything is still up for grabs at that time. If Ogier's title quest demands it, I wouldn't be surprised if TGR/TMR/whatever-the-rumored-satellite-team-is-called fields a squad of Ogier, Evans, Rovanperä, Latvala, Meeke and Katsuta. And Hyundai can ofcourse counter that with Tänak, Neuville, Sordo, Mikkelsen, Breen and Loubet (and even with Loeb, if he's interested). SDI in WRC, eh?
https://www.sebastienloeb.com/le-top...te-carlo-2020/
I'm not sure if this was posted before, but this is Loeb's summary/explanation of how things unfolded during Monte Carlo
quite an interesting read
if true, then i respect the honesty about the factors affecting his performance in the Monte and his/team decision to skip Sweden