[WRC] News & Rumours (part V) 2017

[EstWRC]

after Argentina Tänak was joking in estonian media that perhaps he did a too good job for them last year

[Simmi]

Pretty funny to read in Motorsport News this morning that, surprise surprise, the WRC teams are against extending the calendar out to 16 events - as WRC Promoter wants to do for 2022.

These changes require manufacturer agreement, so I've no idea how they expected this to get pushed through. The article says Toyota are apparently pushing for a reduction to as few as 10 rallies in coming years!!! That's fairly worrying.

Quotes from Alain Penasse absolutely slating the prospect of going to Croatia. "Then there's this idea about Croatia. I'm not sure where that dream came from. We were told the promoter wanted to go outside of Europe for the next round and this totally contradicts that."

He has a point. But he did support NZ on the calendar next year, despite the small market. I'm sure the story will be up on Autosport soon.

[AnttiL]

About 2018 seats, do any other guys have contracts beyond 2017 other than the Hyundai trio (until the end of 2018) and Kris Meeke (until the end of 2019)?

[Eli]

About 2018 seats, do any other guys have contracts beyond 2017 other than the Hyundai trio (until the end of 2018) and Kris Meeke (until the end of 2019)?

the trio of Citroen have until the end of 2018 (also Meeke, not '19), M-Sport is unknown besides Ogier who has this year only.

[Allez Andruet]

About 2018 seats, do any other guys have contracts beyond 2017 other than the Hyundai trio (until the end of 2018) and Kris Meeke (until the end of 2019)?

Meeke has a contract till end of 2018 I think (3-year deal - 2016, 2017, 2018)?

And I'd guess that atleast two of the Toyota guys also have a contract for 2018. TGR has only mentioned one-year contracts, but that could easily be due to "Japanese" way of communication which is so dominant in all of their external communication.

[Tarmop]

the trio of Citroen have until the end of 2018 (also Meeke, not '19), M-Sport is unknown besides Ogier who has this year only.

Tänak too only 2017. Almost certain that same with DMack/Evans but can`t confirm that.

[EstWRC]

Yes, Tänak is a free man after this year like he said in an Q&A session with fan questions a week ago. Wilson had the "first option" for him for this season and thats why he didnt go to elsewhere because Malcolm used it.

so potentially we have 5 drivers on the market for next season: Ogier, Tänak, Evans, Latvala and Mikkelsen.


how long is Lappi's contract?

[Eli]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report...-with-new-iriz

So Proton back to WRC(2) next year.

[SubaruNorway]

"Evo X engine taken down to 1600cc - a process that will help make it even stronger than it is"

And heavier, didn't know you can use an engine from a different manufacturer. They already have a 1.6l from what i can see.

[liposh]

If I am not mistaken Fabia R5 has 1800cc engine reduced to 1600 cc from some VW car made only for chinese market. I think for Ford it was also some reduced engine. Only Peugeot used serial 1600 cc engine and because it has also serial cooling it was/is total crap.