I dont know anything about the wages and salary of drivers and co drivers, I do know that M sport is a private firm in NW england, and Citroen is a pretty big car manufacturer. And Donjippo seems to know what he's talking about.
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I dont know anything about the wages and salary of drivers and co drivers, I do know that M sport is a private firm in NW england, and Citroen is a pretty big car manufacturer. And Donjippo seems to know what he's talking about.
Don't M-Sport have smaller budget than Citroen Racing? I believe they have (at least that what the "rumours" are saying).
As people seems to know a lot of things, anybody know what happened with "go fast"? Where they not supposed to have 2 cars the full season???
Official statement from Armindo Araújo (from the offical Facebook page) regarding the Motorsport Italia situation. Unbelievable is all I can say.
For those interested check out the facebook/original version which contains the attachment(couldn´t copy it) mentioned in point 2 of the text which is also unbelievable. Text in both Portuguese and English.
"PT/
Após a comunicação por parte da Motorsport Itália (MSI) sobre a dispensa da dupla portuguesa do WRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL, Armindo Araújo entendeu só agora estarem reunidas todas ascondições para fazer o seguinte esclarecimento:
I- Com os objetivos bem definidos para o projeto 2012, iniciamos a temporada com um interessante resultado no Rali de Monte Carlo, sendo que, apenas no Rali da Suécia arrancamos com a equipa WRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL. A partir do Rali do México, a terceira prova do calendário começou a surgir, por parte da MSI, uma tentativa de camuflagem dos problemas mecânicos e a clara ideia que apenas os pilotos Armindo Araújo e Paulo Nobre eram responsáveis pelos fatos ocorridos durante as provas. A partir desta altura, a MSI, iniciou também uma tomada de posição sobre os meus comunicados de imprensa, referindo que eu falava mal da equipa e da marca. Todas as minhas comunicações foram aprovadas pela MINI PORTUGAL e em nenhuma delas existe tais referências. Sempre defendi a marca e a equipa que represento.
II- Para preparar a fase de asfalto e a estreia com o MINI JCW WRC versão 01B, fui convidado no dia 17 de Julho para uma sessão de testes em Itália que se realizaria entre os dias 10 e 12 de agosto. No dia 8, fui informado do local por coordenadas de GPS. Durante os três dias que permaneci em Itália, lamentavelmente não fui autorizado a efetuar qualquer teste, mas sim pressionado a declarar-me doente e incapacitado para alinhar no Rali da Alemanha. (em anexo envio email da proposta da MSI para comunicar a suposta doença). Nesta altura fiquei incrédulo com tal proposta.
III- No dia 15 de agosto a MSI pede-me autorização para utilizar a licença desportiva doWRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL, propriedade da empresa Armindo Araújo Lda, com um outro piloto até ao final do ano. Facto que, por razões óbvias não aceitei, até porque, como se compreenderá, já previa o desfecho. No dia seguinte, 16 de agosto, a MSI informa-me que não correria mais pela equipa, ou qualquer outra do seu grupo, quer no Rali da Alemanha como nas restantes provas do calendário até final do ano, sem qualquer explicação ou justificação.
IV- No dia 17 de agosto, informei a MSI; MINI Alemanha; MINI Portugal que reuni toda a documentação e informação existente sobre o caso, e entreguei à equipa de advogados liderada pelo Dr. José Pedro Gomes, que tomará todas as diligências legais necessárias para defender o meu bom nome e a defesa do projeto nacional que muito me honra.
V- Sempre foi minha posição defender a verdade a justiça e a transparência. Todos o smeus patrocinadores, já informados de todos estes acontecimentos, revêem-se na minha tomada de posição. Por tudo isso e pela ligação à minha imagem, entendemos retirar toda a publicidade no carro número 12 da equipa WRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL.
Para finalizar, comunico que, como era meu dever, informei a FIA de todos os fato ssucedidos, aguardando serenamente o desenrolar dos processos em curso, confiante e crente que a verdade desportiva, a imagem dos patrocinadores, o meu bom nome, e aimagem do País sejam repostas, o que é de inteira justiça.
EN/
Following the media release issued by Motorsport Italia, informing that Armindo Araújo and Miguel Ramalho will no longer be part of WRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL, Armindo Araújo considers that now is the right time to issue this statement after compiling all the facts and seek the truth. Therefore he would like to clarify all points linked to this matter:
I- There were clear objectives set for the project in 2012. We started the season with a very interesting result in Rally Montecarlo but only in Rally Sweden we launched theWRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL. From Rally Mexico onwards, Motorsport Italia attempted to camouflage all technical problems and blame the faults of the same, to the drivers Armindo Araújo and Paulo Nobre. From this moment also, Motorsport Italia, tried to object against my Media Releases, arguing that there were negative mentions to the team and Mini itself. I would like to reiterate that all Media releases were previously approved by Mini Portugal and in no circumstance there were negative references to them. I always defended the team and brand with whom I was linked to.
II - To prepare the asphalt phase of WRC and the new MINI JCW WRC version 01B, I was invited by Motorsport Italia, on the 17th of July, 2012, for a test program to be held in Italy between 10th and 12th of August. Only on the 8th of August, 2012, I received the GPS coordinates of the location. During the three days I’ve stayed in Italy and I was not allowed to test the car, instead I was put under pressure to declare myself sick and to take no part in Rally Germany - in attachment proposal from Motorsport Italia, of my incapability, writing their own text to communicate the "disease". At that time I could not believe I was receiving such proposal or suggestion.
III- On the 15th of August 2012, Motorsport Italia, requests me permission to use the license of WRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL - which exclusively belongs to Armindo Araújo,Lda - to be used with another driver up till the end of the season. For obvious reasons I declined the permission to use the license. On the following day the 16th of August, Motorsport Italia informed me that I am no longer the driver of the team or any associated team of the group starting from Rally Germany and till the end of the season with no justification or valid explanation.
IV- On the 17th of August, I informed Motorsport Italia, MINI Germany and MINI Portugal that I have collected all necessary documentation about this matter and deliverit to my team of lawyers, lead by Dr. José Pedro Gomes, who will take all necessary legal actions to protect my name and as well the project which I respect enormously and now sees national values in stake.
V- It has been always my position to seek for the truth and respect the justice. All my Sponsors have been already informed of all the facts and support me entirely on my decision to take this matter to legal action. For all said above, and due to the straight link to my image, myself and my sponsors agree to remove all the advertising of car number12 of WRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL.
To finish, I would like to inform that according to my duty, I have reported all the facts to FIA, and I am currently waiting for their feedback, believing that the truth is above all, and the good name of myself, my Sponsors and my Country is reestablished and honored respectfully.
There were one or two misspellings I corrected from the original text in English. Might be more so bare with it plz.
I managed to find a direct link to the attachment mentioned in the 2nd paragraph. For those less "facebook-friendly". -----> http://www.motoresmagazine.net/wp-co..._Statement.pdf
After reading everything more carefully I'm certain Motorsport Italia's future in World Rallying won´t be long and/or bright.
In my eyes, and putting aside the fact that I've been a fan of Armindo for 10+ years, I firmly believe that if these allegations prove correct, there might be cause for MI's exclusion from the championship. Plain and simple.
Reading the statement, I think it's clear that a legal battle will arise from all of this. Bad for rallying, bad for Mini, bad for Armindo , very bad (I hope) for MI.
One must not forget that this Rallyart Italy branch only exists due to Armindo and his sponsors. He was running on his own dime last year and for most of this one with Mini Germany/BMW providing backing for the remaining events just to ensure the homologation process for future years wasn´t jeopardised. (after Prodrive lacking funding)
Also excuses on a sporting level are idiotic from MI's part. Even if the car made available to Armindo wasn´t s*** (which seems clear to me and many others), the only promise he made from the
start of the season was trying to do top 10 finishes.
And that was a promise made to his sponsors and fãs. Not MI, not anybody else. It´s not like being a driver at Citroen or Ford and getting fired for underperforming.
I hope that Armindo can turn this around and come back stronger at his true level (in spite of time not being on his side) . Not Loeb-Latvala-Ogier-Hirvonen-Solberg-like. But better than
these 2 years have shown, I'm sure.
Also I will be sorry if Atkinson gets caught up in the middle. We will have to wait and see how this new chapter of the Mini saga turns out.
This is not good, not good at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by FAlonso
Morning Bruno, morning Armindo, I hope you're both OK. I understand that Bruno's going to speak to the FIA to see what he can do, but in the meantime, please see below some options for the press release. The sections in black are fairly standardand non-controversial, but the sections in italics / different colours are to be discussed. Please let me know what you'd like to do.
Best wishes, Katie
Ola a todos,
It's Armindo here. I'm sure most of you are surprised to hear from me right now, but I'm afraid I have some news that I wanted to tell you all personally. Unfortunately, Miguel and I won't be able to compete in ADAC Rallye Deutschland.
During the season break between New Zealand and Finland, I picked up a back injury from coming off my motorbike. Everything felt OK as we headed into Finland, but after the big jumps on the Finnish gravel, I realised that it was more serious than I thought. Provided I get it fixed as soon as possible, there shouldn't be any long-term damage, but driving again before I'm fully recovered could create a much bigger problem.
During Rally Finland I started to get back pains, landing over some of the bigger jumps. I can't pin- point how or where this started, but ever since the rally finished it's been causing me more and more discomfort. Having spoken to my physio, he says that if I don't want to make the injury worse, I need to rest and certainly can't compete in Rally Germany.
This season has been highly pressurised from start to finish. I only found out following Monte-Carlo that I would get the opportunity to compete in the full 13 event WRC Calendar with a works- supported team instead of doing only seven events as a privateer. This was one of the best pieces of news that any driver can have. However, the pressure has been significant and it's been a big change for me. This transition has finally caught up with me and after speaking to my team in our Rally Finland debrief and more since returning home, we've mutually decided that it's better for me to take some time out, relax and regain my focus on the sport and how I approach it. I hope it's fair to say that I've always been motivated and determined in my career and I've been working with the same team now for many years – we even won two Group N world titles together! However, there's always a point where you have to admit that something isn't quite right and I hope that we've accepted that point at just the right time and that in future I'll be able to come back stronger than ever!
This doesn't mean we're out of your lives though! :-)
All of the fans have been fantastic all year and I hope they'll be equally supportive of whoever replaces me in WRC Team MINI Portugal in Germany. For my part, I'll be passing on all the advice I can and hope to see some top times from the MINIs out in the Mosel vineyards. Don't forget it's WRC Team MINI Portugal so I have a very personal interest in seeing the team get good results.
Germany is one of my favourite rallies and I had my best result last year out in Trier so I'm disappointed not to be able to get back out on the stages. This isn't the last you've seen (or heard) of me! Don't worry,
we'll keep you up-to-date about how I'm getting on and I'll be back as soon as possible.
For now, 'boa sorte' to whoever takes over – they better take good care of my MINI or they'll have me to answer to!
Bye – but only for now, Armindo
Armindo Araújo responde
Quote:
Originally Posted by FAlonso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb_DAMdxB98