M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams

[Simmi]

The third M-sport seat/car is apparently going to be the D-Mack car so it'll more than likely be Elfyn Evans in the third car.

Motorsport News reported Elfyn was supposed to sign this week. He was also supposed to have been ready to announce before VW pulled out. So while everyone seems to think it will be Elfyn - why hasn't he been announced yet? For a fact they are/have been speaking to EVEN/Mikkelsen.

If I had to guess I think Andreas will steal the seat out from under Elfyn. He's just an all round better driver and can likely bring a bit of money if required.

[liposh]

If I am not mistaken people from Toyota never said their 3rd driver will be Lappi. He is just testdriver. Maybe there is unofficial agreement between Lappi and Makinen about at least 5 european rounds but they can change it very easily because he has written contract (only) as test driver. As Eddie Jordan once said: "Don´t trust anybody. Even me." Toyota´s third driver can be anybody. Mikkelsen, Suninen, Lappi, those two kamikadzes from Japan...anybody.

...thinking about it maybe Skoda can sign Mikkelsen. Lappi´s seat is empty. If so, I think driving one year for Skoda factory team is not a luck, when you are Mikkelsen level driver, but it isn´t also disaster.

[sete]

Skoda has Kopecky and Tidemand.They don't need a third driver.
And also dindt expecting that Mikkelsen will go back to WRC2 category

[Eric]

If I am not mistaken people from Toyota never said their 3rd driver will be Lappi. He is just testdriver. Maybe there is unofficial agreement between Lappi and Makinen about at least 5 european rounds but they can change it very easily because he has written contract (only) as test driver. As Eddie Jordan once said: "Don´t trust anybody. Even me." Toyota´s third driver can be anybody. Mikkelsen, Suninen, Lappi, those two kamikadzes from Japan...anybody.

...thinking about it maybe Skoda can sign Mikkelsen. Lappi´s seat is empty. If so, I think driving one year for Skoda factory team is not a luck, when you are Mikkelsen level driver, but it isn´t also disaster.

Yes most likely its Skoda. Ofcourse its better then nothing, but still. He deserves a seat in a top car Guessing he's looking forward to 2018 already.

[pantealex]

If I am not mistaken people from Toyota never said their 3rd driver will be Lappi. He is just testdriver. Maybe there is unofficial agreement between Lappi and Makinen about at least 5 european rounds but they can change it very easily because he has written contract (only) as test driver. As Eddie Jordan once said: "Don´t trust anybody. Even me." Toyota´s third driver can be anybody. Mikkelsen, Suninen, Lappi, those two kamikadzes from Japan...anybody.

Launch day when press people asked about Lappi as 3rd driver, Tommi said yes he is but not in Corsica or before Corsica. But as said: Nothing is sure before Esapekka is on starting line with Yaris...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Elfyn is Dmack's driver in 2017.
Mikkelsen - WRC 2. Such a shame..

Source please ?

[Simmi]

Sorry where is the WRC2 talk for Andreas coming from? Any source/solid info or just personal opinions?

Issue is where does he go in 2018? Citroen/Hyundai all full for next two years. Then he's basically competing for seats he was passed up for this off-season (Toyota/M-Sport).

Do we know the length of Ogier/Tanak deals?

[Simmi]

Launch day when press people asked about Lappi as 3rd driver, Tommi said yes he is but not in Corsica or before Corsica. But as said: Nothing is sure before Esapekka is on starting line with Yaris...

I read he'd do a partial European programme. Which we can assume is 7 rounds - Portugal through to Wales. Can't imagine why he wouldn't drive those after being presented on stage. Albeit it was a bit strange they wouldn't racesuit him up like the others or put him on the side of the car... Must be a tough position for EVEN having their two top drivers battling for the same seats.

[liposh]

...Tommi said yes he is but not in Corsica or before Corsica. But as said: Nothing is sure before Esapekka is on starting line with Yaris...

That´s what I am talking about. Tommi said that but if it is not on paper he can do whatever he wants to.

[Rally Power]

Its Christmas time…Red Bull could play Santa and give Mikkelsen the 3rd MSport seat. That way Evans would still be in DMack and Lappi in Toyota!