Just a speculation, but I can see Dani Sordo ending up at the new team of Guerlain Chicherit in World RX. Maybe there is still a connection to Prodrive after the time when he was driving the Mini... :D
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Just a speculation, but I can see Dani Sordo ending up at the new team of Guerlain Chicherit in World RX. Maybe there is still a connection to Prodrive after the time when he was driving the Mini... :D
Not got time for a long explanation but just think back to before the season started.
Hyundai had a great driver line-up. Citroen had taken a year out to prepare and test the C3. Even Toyota had built their car earlier and had a hugely bigger budget. Everyone thought M-Sport would struggle. Ogier was the man but had no time in the car. Tanak wasnt yet a proven winner. Evans was just back from R5 season.
Nah the pre-season speculation was Citroen>>Hyundai~M-Sport>>Toyota , but almost.
WRC could do with a few Formula one sponsors to run 4 car teams.
https://www.grandprix247.com/2017/01...spend-in-2016/
Very much in support of the 4 car team rule. With three car teams there are still not enough seats for the amount of talent out there, and if a team can't afford four paid drivers they can always put their moneyed guys like Al Qassimi or Ostberg in the fourth car to mop up points.
It’s really hard to understand your objection to a possible 4 cars rule next year. Anyone should be delighted with it, because it means more official cars to watch and more opportunities for young drivers, making the series even more competitive.
Besides, MSport main target isn’t the manu title (Wilson said it many times) and they’re used to have paying drivers running on their team, so this probably won’t be a logistical and financial nightmare for MSport, like you're predicting.
Let's put Mads scoring this year and you have 4 M-Sport WRC cars :)
If we assume three car teams, we have four paths to speculate now. Ford will either return or Ogier goes to Citroen, and Tänak can go to Toyota or stay at Ford/M-Sport.
1. Ford team returns
I don't see any changes happening to the current seats, except that Toyota may want to exchange Hänninen for Suninen. But it would be a risk with having two rather inexperienced drivers in the same team.
2. Ford team returns, but Tänak still goes to Toyota
This way, I would replace Tänak with Suninen, and Hänninen is left without a seat.
3. No Ford return, Tänak stays, Ogier goes to Citroen
Lefebvre is put aside to drive the C3 R5, Suninen sits in the DMack car with Evans and Tänak in the M-Sport cars. Hänninen gets to stay at Toyota.
4. No Ford return, Tänak goes to Toyota and Ogier goes to Citroen
Same as scenario 3, but Hänninen is now dropped for Tänak. M-Sport has one available seat, I'd assume Wilson puts Camilli there (he could also prefer Camilli to Suninen in scenarios 2-3). Or could this be Tidemand's chance? His manager didn't like the idea of having to pay for a drive...
Also in all above scenarios, Al-Qassimi and Loeb could drive Citroen here and there. And also I don't see any changes at the Hyundai camp, Paddon and Sordo would have to share the third car.
And I'd put my money on scenario 4...