Andreas Mikkelsen

[Simmi]

Before VW quit, the plan was Ford back officially in 2018. Now with the best rally driver in world i don't think that will not happen.

You have some source for this info Andre?

[Andre Oliveira]

You have some source for this info Andre?

Not officially. I will be not surprised if Andreas ended as Seb and Ott team mate

[Watson]

Not officially. I will be not surprised if Andreas ended as Seb and Ott team mate

You mean because of the money boost they'd get from official Ford support? I'm not even sure if I'd prefer Mikkelsen to Evans. Evans showed good pace, setting fastest stage times at all events but Corsica. He's been slowed down by time penalties and technical issues, as well as the DMack tyres. I reckon he'd be Tanak/Sordo/Latvala-fast were he on Michelin rubber; that's also where I assume Mikkelsen is at. So the biggest boost would be that they wouldn't have to finance the third car with DMack money.

[mknight]

You mean because of the money boost they'd get from official Ford support? I'm not even sure if I'd prefer Mikkelsen to Evans. Evans showed good pace, setting fastest stage times at all events but Corsica. He's been slowed down by time penalties and technical issues, as well as the DMack tyres. I reckon he'd be Tanak/Sordo/Latvala-fast were he on Michelin rubber; that's also where I assume Mikkelsen is at. So the biggest boost would be that they wouldn't have to finance the third car with DMack money.

Facts:
- Evans has won 3 stages in Monte that were dry tarmac while cold. (unclear how much tire related it is, but certainly there could be big differences in compound performance for this un-normal conditions).
- No stages won in Sweden, 2x 6th place best result
- 3 x 2km street stages won in Leon in Mexico (with gravel tires on tarmac?)
- best 1 7th place on Corsica (only worse WRC on that stage was Lefevbre 0.3 sec behind)

I wouldn't say that it shows "good pace". Where he would be on same tires is just a guess, maybe he wouldn't even get the stage wins on Monte.
Note that Evans has historically been best on tarmac and not so good on other surfaces. Reportedly this was why DMACK picked him after Mikkelsen refused to pay to drive. While it might make sense for DMACK, it's probably not a preferred choice for 2nd or 3rd manu car.

Anyway I think Mikkelsen at Ford is the least likely option atm. If Ford is going in they are unlikely to announce or sign any paper this early. Mikkelsen is impatient and wants to drive this year . So M-sport would have to use some own funds at least for the car (if not salary).
This is imo unlikely as funds are needed for testing/developing the car so that Ogier and M-sport stay on top of the standings which in turn will convince both Ogier and Ford to join for 2018.

[Watson]

Facts:
- Evans has won 3 stages in Monte that were dry tarmac while cold. (unclear how much tire related it is, but certainly there could be big differences in compound performance for this un-normal conditions).
- No stages won in Sweden, 2x 6th place best result
- 3 x 2km street stages won in Leon in Mexico (with gravel tires on tarmac?)
- best 1 7th place on Corsica (only worse WRC on that stage was Lefevbre 0.3 sec behind)

I wouldn't say that it shows "good pace". Where he would be on same tires is just a guess, maybe he wouldn't even get the stage wins on Monte.
Note that Evans has historically been best on tarmac and not so good on other surfaces. Reportedly this was why DMACK picked him after Mikkelsen refused to pay to drive. While it might make sense for DMACK, it's probably not a preferred choice for 2nd or 3rd manu car.

Touché. My memory has really failed me here.