to answer the question from the title of the thread: no paying driver
to answer the question from the title of the thread: no paying driver
As I said before, I think the Driver's title will be M-Sport's priority and best chance in 2018.
If so the 3rd car/driver points wont be so important and the other teams drivers' can all take points off each other to help Ogier.
I don't share that view. Ford finally reaches deeper into its pockets, provides more tech support and puts their own name back into the team with minor intentions to see it top of the table at the end of next year? Doesn't sound plausible to me. To not enter a third car is to give up the manus.
OK, but even if Ford are back to prioritise the Manu title they are not doing it full-tilt as they are not a full factory team. And even if they did, the other factory teams are even stronger next year with Tanak at Toyota and Mikkelsen at Hyundai...
Ogier for Drivers' is still their best chance of success IMO.
Monte - Delecour
Sweden - Radstrom
Corsica - Auriol
Mexico - Sainz
Portugal - Biasion
Argentina - Kankkunen
Sardegna - Gronholm
Finland - Kankkunen
Deutschland - Delecour
Turkey - Sainz
Wales GB - Himself
Catalunya - Auriol
Australia - Gronholm
With all due respect, those guys are a bit too old and lack 'match-fitness'. Loeb and Bouffier might not be the youngest but they are constantly competing.
Delecour too
Two decent drivers in the two main cars for every event, then whoever can afford the third seat on a per-round basis. If no one pays, no third car.
Still not a fully-fledged manufacturer team and the car won the drivers and teams titles in 2017, so M-Sport has the right to charge top dollar for anyone who wants a seat. That's how you get some return on investment, especially when M-Sport has only managed to (so far) sell one of the current-spec cars, vs. many of the pre-2017 Fiestas.