MustangQuote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Printable View
MustangQuote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
F150Quote:
Originally Posted by WRCStan
Sent from my DN2103 using Tapatalk
TransitQuote:
Originally Posted by cali
https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/imag...nsit-14777.jpg
new rules in 2024: the cars need to carry all spares and tools on boardQuote:
Originally Posted by focus206
Ironically the new e-Puma road car will be built using the platform of the e-Transit van !
Re the Rally2, it's been stated by an ex-Ford boss that the Puma ST is likely to be used...
and crew!Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
Adrian Formaux was testing the Msport Dakar car! Tho they are not sure they will race in '23
https://dirtfish.com/off-road/dakar/...anger-running/
No Fourmaux in Japan now. They are talking a 23 WRC programme in the press release but a lot can happen between then and now!
Fourmaux is done for Rally 1 at least. They may return him back to Rally 2 or assign him to Dakar and new Rally 2 car development.
I agree with you. I think that it would be better for the team to put Adrien in Rally2 .Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
He was good last year and he proved that he deserved Rally1 seat.
Also this year, he disappointed everyone.
But on the other side, there is Red Bull money.
Fourmaux is a future top driver. You do not win WRC stages in not the best car if you have not talent and bravery. This year I believe he just was not allowed to crash, but he did anyway. If he had money, he would battle for championship with Rovanpera from 2024. But he has not.
Well money he has, but not for this year anymore. Hopefully a new budget next year and less crashes. Going back to WRC2 wouldn't do bad for him either, to learn to win events first.Quote:
Originally Posted by Negaiss
I never asked you what worked so well for Tanak. He only won one WRC2 round and finished 6th overall, came back to WRC1 and did exactly the same as before. Why do Solberg and Fourmaux have to dominate (my word not yours)?Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Good question. But he also won PWRC in two rallies in 2010 and SWRC in three rallies in 2011 (and was second in the SWRC championship).Quote:
Originally Posted by WRCStan
So, this year almost everybody with Rally1 car except Serderidis (and Solberg) has won stage in WRC. Including Loubet, Greensmith, Katsuta and even Josh McErlean with Rally2 car. And there were more curious stage winners in the last years. So winning stage in WRC is not proof that you are future top driver...Quote:
Originally Posted by Negaiss
I dont have the best memory, ok? But IN MY HEAD, Formaux did ONE 'ok' rally and everybody went "OHH HE IS SUCH A TALENTED DRIVER! GOTTA GET HIM!.... but then he only crashed. Now Loubet did ONE 'ok' rally and everybody is "OHH HE IS SUCH A TALENTED DRIVER! GOTTA GET HIM!! ...but he will not perform like we imagine.
Not saying they are "not talented" haha WHO AM I to say that, but they are just "regular drivers" that will not be a big name in WRC... at least I dont see it. WRC2 would be more interesting. Hope that doesnt sounded disrespectfull!
I disagree with you completely on Loubet part, IMO he is the most talented one from all the m-sport boys, and maybe even solberg. The problem was before he was hit by a car he was stuck in a shit hyundai with old parts. And this year in a new car which probably isnt a top tier car he has shown real pace and even led a rally for a moment, and finished 4th in the end, and not by luck like solberg or formaux or greensmith usualy do when they finish high in the ranks. I really hope he can do full season or few rallies more than this yearQuote:
Originally Posted by lmmjvss
Fourmaux has three WRC stage wins to his careerQuote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
Safari 2021: using a shortcut
Estonia 2022: super special
Safari 2022: fastest drivers didn't complete the stage because the stage was red flagged when Solberg got stuck
I have to give credit to Greensmith for winning a stage in Monte, or a very long and difficult stage in New Zealand, but other than that he's been disappointingly slow this year (and also crashing now twice)
But this is one of the most important questions - the answer should say, how one can come a world champion.Quote:
Originally Posted by WRCStan
My point of view (so to point out, it's just an opinion and if yours is different, I'm ok if you have different):
Baseline - he always had speed, but he didn't win too many rallies and titles because he also crashed and overdrive a lot.
Crashes and combination with hard to handle attitude he got kicked off. But straight forward "no BS" feedback also has positive side (at least from Mr. Wilson point of view).
Thank's to this baseline he got opportunities to come back more than one time.
This exception (many opportunities) is nowadays a base for hope for everyone who was kicked of - "but look, Tänak came back many times". But did they have the same raw speed as Tänak? And the same technical (mechanic) background - knowledge how cars (should) work?
Now the actual key question - what was changed, before finally come back and start winning rallies. For me, it's mindset. How to handle pressure, how to keep concentrated, what is important and what is not important. If I remember/understood correctly, he has/had separate person in the team for that role.
2 years ago i saw fourmaux as a potential future top driver, but not anymore.
I don't see crashing often as a problem for a young driver, just look at meeke. But he hasn't shown the speed that would justify his crashes. He hasn't been at the front, yet still crashed everywhere.
Perhaps more time in wrc2 might save him, but i'm sceptical.
It was briefly mentioned in his movie also, but his mindset change came alot thanks to His wife Janika.Quote:
Originally Posted by meh
Actually Tänak didn't start winning right after he was kicked out and came back. It took years. He didn't become a win contender until 2017 mid-season. We remember things like Finland 2016 where he was blindingly fast but also crashed out. And even still in 2017, he crashed out leading in Portugal and Poland. Even the first win in Sardegna was a hanging by a thread, he had a small incident on the last day. In Germany he also almost went into the vines, but managed to come out. I have viewed that incident as a moment when he became the driver he is now, he hasn't made many mistakes since then. It's almost like as if he had fallen into the vines, he would have never become a world champion.Quote:
Originally Posted by meh
But you are correct that he had the top speed already in 2011 and 2012. That's something we haven't seen from guys like Solberg and Fourmaux.
And we can see from other drivers like Meeke or Mikkelsen that being kicked out and coming back doesn't automatically make you a champion.
The only driver with similar kind of history as Tanak is Evans, since he was "kicked" from WRC but kept in R5 and put back in WRC with MSport again (Tanak had a year without MSport but then went back to them again).
Evans is imo a rather successful story. (2 times almost champion is success in my book)
No other recent example is comparable, Lappi (2020) and Mikkelsen (2017) lost drives when their team left (that applies also to Lappi at MSport since he was there on Citroen money) then went to completely different teams. For both of them it also wasn't during "early development" period since both had 1 or more wins and multiple podiums by then.
Meeke got kicked by Mini after he already got the IRC title and then also went to completely different team.
I agree on Tanak, on such small things careers can change. One thing I have noticed with him since that 2017 season when he made his breakthrough, is that his driving has become much less flamboyant generally (Finland this year might be an exception!) and he really doesn’t make many mistakes while still being very fast.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I’ve said it before, I think Fourmaux has got the ability, if he ever reaches the top will be down to him and perhaps a stroke of luck. Of course the mistakes have to stop, but if MSport stick with him, he has a chance. When I watch his onboards, he has a lovely style of driving and I could see in Spain, he was just cruising and taking no risks. The first day must have been his worst nightmare, benched for two rallies and comes back to wet tarmac with loads of dirty cuts. But on the other two days he was good, without pushing.
It’s easy to look at this season and say slow, crashes etc etc…but I have seen enough over the last 40+ years watching WRC to think he is a lot better than we have seen so far.
I’m sure others will disagree.
I genuinely have a feeling Fourmaux has something. Maybe the evidence and facts suggest otherwise, but I think he can be a success (not sure whether that's champion level, rally winner level or perennial podium challenger). I think he's just had a season from hell, which started promising pace wise. He had a crash in Monte while showing some pace, but even the best crash in Monte. The fear of death was put in him after that crash and the pace and confidence has evaporated, while the accidents have increased.
Surely that reflects at least a bit of poor management from Msport? They picked these drivers knowing they weren't top tier and either inexperienced, or inexperienced at leading a team for a full season (Breen).
Maybe a season in rally2 might help Fourmaux develop and regain his confidence, slightly out of the limelight you get in rally1 (issue is the Fiesta R5 is a bit of a dog now). I certainly wouldn't give up on him though
For me Formaux was talented driver, but made a lot of bad steps in his career which didnt helped in the final. Or better to say - some of his steps he did too early...Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
And that can be only counted as a fastest stage time but not a stage win.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Fourmaux currently testing in Dubai for M-Sport the Ford Ranger T1+ Dakar. Interesting future development both for Fourmaux and M-SportQuote:
Originally Posted by er88
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...ent-continues/
And on Breens 5th crash in 7 rallies we round of the worst season of any driver I remember, even beating Meeke 2019.
(technically 6th crash, but Spain was caused by puncture on corner before).
Greensmiths driveshaft combined with horrid stage time due to bad notes (again after how many years?) rounds it off for rest of the team.
Note that before season we had quite many people tipping Breen for WDC and MSport for manus. They even beat Citroens 2017 season, since Citroen had two wins and podium vs MSport 1+2.
What I found interesting that Millener was so cheered up during lunch time interview
But yeah. Horrible season which started off so well. All the effort what has been put into the car for nothing basically
Can’t see the next being better if they can’t get a decent driver
I am sure any real rally fan hopes it's due to Tanak coming.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
But surely if that happens it won't be good for your nerves ;)
If M-sport keeps up with this line up, its even worse next year.
Get in Tänak as nr1, Mikkelsen as nr2, Loeb/Loubet as nr3, and some 2.team for the rest.
Redbull can pay.
Sent fra min SM-G950F via Tapatalk
Can't be worse than driving with Hyundai to be honest :DQuote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Norwegian glasses sees
Mikkelsen, Østberg, Greensmith
Østberg with coaching of Greensmith as one task.
Loeb/Solberg in car 4
Solberg development of current/new Rally2 cars as one task.
I doubt you will ever see Ostberg back with MSport...Quote:
Originally Posted by M5
The security of having a two-year contract doesnt seem to have helped Breen perform this year. And now he says he doesnt know if he'll be driving for them in 2023. Contracts seem to mean nothing nowadays.
I wonder if he knew all along the 2nd year wasn't guaranteed and that piled on the pressure as this year went on...
The second year might be fixed, but with an exit clause on either side. Judging by his performance M Sport might as well be in a position to trigger that exit clause.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
I reckon his second year was a given until he failed to perform at all during this season. In January he was hailed as the right man to lead M-Sport into the new era, as a reliable points scorer, potential rally winner, and by some crazy people, a WDC contender. He was in the best possible position going into 2022, but I don't think anybody survives a season like he's had unscathed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Regardless he's only the second worst of the M-Sport drivers: Fourmaux did even more poorly with lower expectations.
Well, Greensmith also did a bad season; we could have expected more than him considering his 2021 season and he has been made a lot of big mistakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by steve.mandzij
Only satisfying driver in M-Sport is Loeb with his win in Monte (+ two reliability-issues rally and his rookie mistake in Sardinia)
For me, if Hyundai wants Breen, they should let him go for free.
But they still need a driver with some experience in all rallies in my opinion: best plan would be Loeb and Mikkelsen sharing one car and then, in a second car, the one having the best funding between Solberg and Loubet + whatever they can in 3rd car (assuming Tanak will not come, else it’s a no-brainer for sure).
But it may more finish with something like Loeb-Solberg-Loubet-Greensmith (probably Loeb sharing his car with either Solberg or Loubet or both if they share 2 cars).
With M-Sport you don't need to think about "sharing" cars. They can have two cars in a rally or five cars in a rally. It doesn't really matter who they enter for manufacturer points because they cannot realistically compete for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny0405