2018 Teams

[mknight]

I never understand why Hyundai took Mikkelsen and let Ogier go to the competition. If Neuville would have been a problem then let him go, if you want to win the title you need Ogier not an arrogant boy who offend his teammates, believes himself as the best drivers around and win nothing at the end.

When was getting Ogier instead of Mikkelsen an option?
After Germany Mikkelsen was available and wanted to drive next rallies. Citroen let him go and Hyundai took him. While he certainly wanted a salary I guess it was quite a lot below Ogier-money.

- if Hyundai have the money they are likely still in talks with Ogier (rumors seem to suggest this)
- if they don't have this kind of money they could have passed on Mikkelsen (who might have ended somewhere else, or not) and waited if they can get Ogier "cheap" after Citroen and M-Sport didn't get him

Note that Citroen basically went for the second option, time will tell if that was clever. In any case for Citroen it wasn't Ogier or Mikkelsen, it's Mikkelsen for sure or maybe Ogier.

[mknight]

Without any particular team bias I'd have thought Ogier will have just as good a chance of a 6th WDC by staying with M-Sport than going to Hyundai. Mikkelsen, Neuville, Paddon and Whoever sounds like a recipe for a 'who gets the sandpit in a kindergarten' fight. Meeke will be Meeke in the C3 and Toyota have what appears to be the team that has the philosophy from a Brit Comedy show, League of Gentlemen - 'This is a local shop for local people!'
The conditions that have occurred this year will remain, sometimes a driver will shine and others they will be disappointing. The real challenger would seem to be Tanak, so far better for Ogier to stay as his Team Leader and maintain the ultra consistency approach.

lol @ Toyota

If M-Sport does not have money to keep developing the car Ogier's chances would diminish fast imo. Malcolm said it multiple times how they can't afford this next year without extra money.
But Ogier in Hyundai would be terrible for overall competition.

[racerx1979]

As for 2017 we can all agree that Ogier has the best and most reliable car.

How well would have he done in a Citroen, Toyota or Hyundai this year?

As for Toyota don’t let the barnyard Finnish workshop fool you. The design and engineering gone into their chassis is above others. It’s a Toyota backed program with all of of Toyota’s resources and not a privateer team with limited budget.

M-sport could fall behind if they have a limited budget. Toyota and Hyundai will continue to dump money into their program. They’re in it to win it. Citroen will also have a better car next year, but it seems like they’re are issues with a Red Bull / Ogier combo.

Latvala, Nueville, Tanak and even Meeke are capable of winning next year if the car fits their style. I almost think 2018 will be more interesting than 2017.

[AL14]

When was getting Ogier instead of Mikkelsen an option?
After Germany Mikkelsen was available and wanted to drive next rallies. Citroen let him go and Hyundai took him. While he certainly wanted a salary I guess it was quite a lot below Ogier-money.

- if Hyundai have the money they are likely still in talks with Ogier (rumors seem to suggest this)
- if they don't have this kind of money they could have passed on Mikkelsen (who might have ended somewhere else, or not) and waited if they can get Ogier "cheap" after Citroen and M-Sport didn't get him

Note that Citroen basically went for the second option, time will tell if that was clever. In any case for Citroen it wasn't Ogier or Mikkelsen, it's Mikkelsen for sure or maybe Ogier.

You have a point and that could be how things went but my question is still valid. If Hyundai is there to win the WRC, why they didn't pick the driver who would have assured that?
The situation of other drivers, their lineup opinions, even the organization of budget (which I don't think is lower than other teams), all is secondary in my opinion.

Ogier would have accepted soon, they have a strong car, a strong organization, full backing from the company and they are based in Germany, which is good for him and his family.

[electroliquid]

Kalle Rovanperä has 3 options for 2018 and beyond:

M-Sport, Malcolm wants 3-years deal, Jouhki maybe doesn´t want to commit Kalle that long

So this year's drives in WRC2 with still no deal reached? is it only "test" drives?

[AnttiL]

So this year's drives in WRC2 with still no deal reached? is it only "test" drives?

Right, they have no further commitment. For getting just two rallies at the end of a season, M-Sport was the way to go. But for a longer term deal, there's other options.

[Mintexmemory]

Kalle Rovanpera may be the next best thing but when did actually progressing through and WINNING lower international classes before progressing to WRC end as a career path? In the words of the little green guy - 'Much to learn has he still!'

[AnttiL]

Kalle Rovanpera may be the next best thing but when did actually progressing through and WINNING lower international classes before progressing to WRC end as a career path? In the words of the little green guy - 'Much to learn has he still!'

Well he's not driving a WRC car in 2018 for sure.

[mknight]

You have a point and that could be how things went but my question is still valid. If Hyundai is there to win the WRC, why they didn't pick the driver who would have assured that?
The situation of other drivers, their lineup opinions, even the organization of budget (which I don't think is lower than other teams), all is secondary in my opinion.

Ogier would have accepted soon, they have a strong car, a strong organization, full backing from the company and they are based in Germany, which is good for him and his family.

Ogier wasn't exactly dominant this year, especially not in the mid-season with 5th place on Sardinia, 3rd place gifted in Poland after many retirements and 0 points from Finland.. going into Germany with same points as Neuville. Also comparison with Tanak is quite close.

So hiring Ogier doesn't look like 100% guaranteed title and not hiring him like 100% no title. Looks like Toyota is not exactly going all-in for Ogier either.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Maybe it would do everyone a favour if Ogier retired. It would make all of the Teams' situation a whole lot simpler...