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1st December 2016, 19:23 #111
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I wonder whether VW have taken delivery of their Fabia R5s yet so they can copy them again for the Polo R5?
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1st December 2016, 19:35 #112
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1st December 2016, 20:26 #113
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3rd December 2016, 17:28 #114
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Nothing new...that's the rumour that has been around since it was clear that VW would continue the new Polo homologation. If it happens, it won’t be a private team like we’re used to. It’s more a non official in-house team, as VW Motorsport would be running the ’17 WRC Polo’s on behalf of a sponsor named team.
VW doesn’t need to get publicly involved (like it's their wish), but besides keeping to pay VW Motorsport staff it would also give some tech support, as only an auto manufacturer is entitled to homologate a WRC car and appoint its representative WRC running team. Btw, whatever team is appointed by VW it’ll have to run at least 2 cars along the new Polo first season, otherwise the car homologation would be cancelled.
Qatar and Al-Atiyah have been rumoured since day one, because of their links with VW and Red Bull, but the other driver of this hypothetical Qatar/Red Bull team remains in doubt: will he be another paying driver or one of the current VW drivers? Bets on and fingers crossed!Last edited by Rally Power; 3rd December 2016 at 20:11.
Rally addict since 1982
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3rd December 2016, 18:48 #115
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Yes, I can't imagine VW allowing their 2017 car to be run by a private team.. but what about the 2016 cars? Would they sell them off or would they have to be run by VW themselves too?
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3rd December 2016, 20:05 #116
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I believe Smeets already said their aim is to rent the cars and VW M staff seems available to service them.
Rally addict since 1982
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4th December 2016, 08:56 #117
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Yes, they repeatedly said they have six '16 cars on offer to rent in 2017. They want to rent cars, it's their new focus.
Also overall it's now a bit more clear to me what they want to do. Essentially they won't close the department but instead focus it purely to customer service, similar to what they're doing with Audi. So essentially they're turning an investment and r&d department supported by marketing and r&d budget into a service department for customers that will make them money. So I expect we will see some '16 Polo's for the next couple of years and then a bunch of R5's.
The question is if anyone can come up with a deal to run the '17 cars in a similar way. I guess it depends if it's just financial or logistic. Focusing the team on servicing '16 cars and producing R5s may not leave enough people available to run the '17 cars. The scenario in which this works is quite complex with many parts needing to come together:
you need a sponsor: eg. Qatar/Al-Attiyah or Red Bull
you need manpower: VW diverting people from other projects, or an outside team like PH Sport did for Citroen
drivers: if Ogier does go to M-Sport or Citroen and JML to Toyota, just leaves Mikkelsen as a top driver available
it's a bit of a fairytale scenario
- Likes: A FONDO (6th December 2016),pantealex (4th December 2016)
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4th December 2016, 11:36 #118
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Pity M-Sport bothered with the new Fiesta... they could've just taken the Polo's off VWs 's hands... And Ogier.
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4th December 2016, 18:21 #119
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Last edited by Rally Power; 4th December 2016 at 18:27.
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4th December 2016, 18:27 #120
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I strongly believe that next week we will know:
A) Where is Ogier going
B) Who is driving Toyota"quattro best 4wd rallycar ever"
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Fourmaux. Btw msport tested also hankook tyres https://youtu.be/DESKqpAqX5o?si=3uxWc8FrCUGMT0Pi https://youtu.be/sHetcbBQwKk?si=M7kq3bf2ar3Slhco
WRC Testing