[WRC] News & rumours (part IV) 2016

[Red bull]

Another rumour. WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Ford confirms rumuors of rumors Ford may consider factory team return to #WRC in 2018, #rallyDR reports

[GigiGalliNo1]

Kubica said he's not coming back to WRC, he's just having a good weekend in the Clio.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Another rumour. WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Ford confirms rumuors of rumors Ford may consider factory team return to #WRC in 2018, #rallyDR reports

What the......?

[Simmi]

Who even is this person and why should we trust them? I guess just make a mental note of it and see what percentage comes true.

[Simmi]

So I'm trying to make complete sense of the main WRC story in Motorsport News today. The main point is that there will not be any kind of separate championship or cup for 2016 machinery next year.

First quote kind of threw me off. Jarno Mahonen: "We want to encourage privateer drivers to come in the current (2017) cars."

But I thought that no privateers would be allowed to run 2017 machinery next year? It seems that is not the case. It seems that instead privateer entries must be sanctioned by the governing body, the same way the drivers must now be. So I take that to mean that in theory someone like PH Sport could run a team in 2017 with new cars, IF there were enough cars to go around.

It seems that the FIA have still not made any kind of decision on how exactly to run the 2016 cars. But there's no way they can be banned until after 2018. So we will certainly see them in some capacity. "We cant stop privateers from using these current cars."

They just seem very concerned about negatively impacting R5. Mahonen speaks about this. But for me it's just the next step on the ladder, not something that will take interest away from R5.

[Simmi]

Also the control tyre is not happening in 2017 - confirmed by the FIA. But Dmack are still asking for clarity on what is happening for 2018. McCormack is saying they have 'significant investment coming and big plans for the future'. So understandably don't want to do that if they will be forced out in 2018. They have no interest in tendering to be control tyre supplier.

Mahonen admits the reason for looking at a control tyre is financially motivated, and also giving them greater control over the type of tyre/grip available.

All I would say to that is get back in your box Jarmo!

[EstWRC]

ahhh, thanks! At least Tänak wont be without job next year if he cant get to another team. Its a stupid idea anyway....

[Fast Eddie WRC]

What is the big deal with 'what will the privateers drive in 2017' ? None of them can compete against the main WRC teams anyway.

If they can afford a 2017 WRC the likes of Prokop, Bertelli, Solberg etc still wont be competitive.

They should just enjoy their 2016 cars and unofficially compete with each other (as they do now).

[Fast Eddie WRC]

What was the said in the main story in MN regarding VW predicting a fight to stay on top ?

[SubaruNorway]

What is the big deal with 'what will the privateers drive in 2017' ? None of them can compete against the main WRC teams anyway.

If they can afford a 2017 WRC the likes of Prokop, Bertelli, Solberg etc still wont be competitive.

They should just enjoy their 2016 cars and unofficially compete with each other (as they do now).

It's a safety "issue" they say, don't think any of the privateers are more accident prone than any other really, more the other way around when you don't have to care so much about the car. When was the last time Prokop had a big crash...?