[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

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Originally Posted by tommeke_B

http://www.autonews-magazine.com/blo...edium=facebook Some info about Lefebvre/Prévot and Breen.

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Did not understand the Breen part. Can you explain it pls?

Prévot said something like "For Stéphane things will become more difficult with another youngster who is following the same path, as Craig Breen also has a programme with a DS3 WRC thanks to the support of K. Al Qassimi."

Prévot, the most experienced codriver in WRC at the moment, is still available for next year.

Aha, was wondering where Been might end up. It's been circulating a WRC programme but not in a Fiesta so looks like we may have the answer now.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122261

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Originally Posted by Barreis

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122261

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didny understant at last paragraph.Prevot will finally co-drive Breen?

Fredrik Gustavsson ‏@F_Gustavsson

NEWS: Hänninen and Hirvonen will be Toyota's test drivers developing the Yaris WRC, starting in march. @tmgofficial @MikkoWRC @JuhoWRC #WRC

Al Qassimi is favouring Breen, Meeks's contract in 2016 is really to test the 2017 spec DS3 and SOME, emphasis on SOME rounds... it will NOT be the full 10 as written, Meeke will share those drives with Breen in DS3 WRC in 2016.

Split 2 cars between Breen, Meeke and Lefebvre in limited program in 2016 basically.

Where did you get this info?

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Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Al Qassimi is favouring Breen, Meeks's contract in 2016 is really to test the 2017 spec DS3 and SOME, emphasis on SOME rounds... it will NOT be the full 10 as written, Meeke will share those drives with Breen in DS3 WRC in 2016.

Split 2 cars between Breen, Meeke and Lefebvre in limited program in 2016 basically.

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I'm confused - is Meeke doing 10 rounds or not ???? And where does Breen come into this ????

Paul Nagle: Fantastic news today that we will be part of theCitroen family for the next 3 years.Big thank you to @krismeeke &@CitroenRacing #overthemoon

Really glad for Meeke, I think he did the right thing signing for Citroen, 3 years is a good deal.

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Originally Posted by focus206

Really glad for Meeke, I think he did the right thing signing for Citroen, 3 years is a good deal.

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It was a choice between two right, so it would have been difficult to go wrong :)

Toyota whit out Meeke is worse than Meeke whit out Toyota. So it will be interesting to see how Toyota solves this question.
Neuville could be a wild card, depending on his form in Hyundai 2016.
Mäkinen is THE team boss that could coach Neuville back to fighting for championships.

Really pleased that Juho is given a go at Toyota. Hopefully it will lead to more for him.

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Originally Posted by tommeke_B

http://www.autonews-magazine.com/blo...edium=facebook Some info about Lefebvre/Prévot and Breen.

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What is too important is that we learn that Lefebvre lost Red Bull support and Event doesn't help him anymore.

Interested to see how these Citroen seats shake out. Because if that Abu Dhabi money was leaving but now isn't then that's good news. Just remains to be seen who does what rallies.

i understand that Meeke and Lefebvre will do 10 rounds and Qassimi/Breen will share the third car? Nothing isnt confirmed of course.

so we have everything pretty much confirmed a part from how many rounds will they all run(M-Sport & PH Citroen)

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Originally Posted by tommeke_B

Bashing? Without Matton Meeke would probably have been sitting at home and would never have had the opportunity to be in a WRC works seat again. Up until this year he was the only one willing to take him in a works seat. He had 2 events in 2013, crashed it twice, and still got a chance for the 2014 season. Both this year and last year he had very good results (3 podium finishes, so did Ostberg), but also a lot of mistakes. I don't think Matton said many wrong things in the media aside of the facts? I think he's quite patient with Meeke (not that there are many other options at this moment).

Anyway, very happy to see some "semi-works" team from Citroën for next year. That should make at least 11 works/semi-works cars on each European WRC event. VW:Ogier/Latvala/Mikkelsen -- Hyundai:Neuville/Paddon/Sordo -- PH:Meeke/Lefebvre -- M-Sport:Ostberg/Camilli -- D-Mack:Tänak

I hope the participation of PH opens some doors for more privateers to enter in a rented WRC car as well. It could become a new option next to M-Sport, as PH will be present on most events. For anyone who ever wants (and has the ability) to enter a WRC event with a WRC car, this is the right moment, since from 2017 it could become (financially) impossible for privateers...

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The point is Matton has been very public with his criticism of Meeke. Whether they are facts or not Matton could have shown more class by speaking only internally about it, not to the press.

But the other fact is that Meeke ended the season strongly, so it could be argued that his style worked.

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Originally Posted by Jack4688`

The point is Matton has been very public with his criticism of Meeke. Whether they are facts or not Matton could have shown more class by speaking only internally about it, not to the press.

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In all fearness:
Matton brought Meeke in to the team.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.

Matton has put Meeke under pressure - for sure. But he has been very clear about the targets. And he still chooses to keep Meeke onboard, even tough the three years instead of one or two that Matton wanted - is probably a result of the Toyota interest. Matton and Citroën is going to be defining, if not THE defining, parts of Meekes career.

Possibly, but still if you had an offer from Toyota it would be easy to remember when your team boss said to the press that you're not doing good enough.

On the other hand you don't want a team boss like Eddie Jordan who seems to think racing drivers need a cuddle after every event

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Originally Posted by Lundefaret

In all fearness:
Matton brought Meeke in to the team.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.

Patton has put Meeke under pressure - for sure. But he has been very clear about the targets. And he still chooses to keep Meeke onboard, even tough the three years instead of one or two that Matton wanted - is probably a result of the Toyota interest. Patton and Citroën is going to be defining, if not THE defining, parts of Meekes career.

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To be honest if I were in Matton's shoes I'd have got rid of him ages ago, just would have been less vocal to the press

Patton or Paddon?

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Originally Posted by EstWRC

Patton or Paddon?

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Matton

or Maddon?

I wonder wich would be Loeb's role on the new Citroen WRC...

The 3 years contract with Meeke is a surprise for me

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Originally Posted by JAM

I wonder which would be Loeb's role on the new Citroen WRC...

The 3 years contract with Meeke is a surprise for me

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Depends in how much leeway Peugeot-Sport give him; if any - seeing as he's doing the FiA XC World Cup as well as the Dakar.

Peugeot and Citroën sport departments are only two sub-departments of one. They have been preparing common facilities in Satory.

The fact was that Citroen and Meeke both needed one another - neither had a better alternative available.

Meeke's deal was certainly the big news of the close season... even the BBC covered it !! :eek:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/35111993

Drive DMACK shootout currently being held at M-Sport at the moment.
The winner will recieve a Drive in a Fiesta R5 car in 2016.
Image was posted on Brandon Reeves Instagram account.
Anyone recognise the others?

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12...3585fe2212.jpg

Jon Armstrong in the middle?

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Originally Posted by dupanton

Jon Armstrong in the middle?

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yeah

Left side: Eerik Pietarinen, Finland (someone maybe can confirm this?)

Estonian junior champion Miko Niinemäe is with the blue shirt. Yeah, you heard it right, another estonian in rally world. We are conquering the rally world and taking it over from french :p

left to right : Eerik Pietarinen, Miko-Ove Niinemäe, Jon Armstrong, Brandon Reeves, Gus Greensmith

correct me if im wrong :)

John MacCrone and Max Vatanen are there also. Maybe some more too.

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Originally Posted by HarriK

Left side: Eerik Pietarinen, Finland (someone maybe can confirm this?)

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I can confirm it - Eerik it is.

Here is other Drive Dmack Shoot Out 2015 -invited drivers:

Eerik Pietarinen (FIN)
John MacCrone (GBR)
Jon Armstrong (GBR)
Brendan Reeves (AUS)
Tom Cave (GBR)
Max Vatanen (FIN)
Kevin van Deijne (NED)
Gus Greensmith (GBR)
Mats van den Brand (NED)
Miko-Ove Niinemae (EST)

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Originally Posted by AndyRAC

Depends in how much leeway Peugeot-Sport give him; if any - seeing as he's doing the FiA XC World Cup as well as the Dakar.

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I thinh Loeb is the most important thing that Citroen has to the WRC project.

I see Loeb with Peugeot and Dakar as a way to have the french free to work on the new WRC.

M-Sport ‏@MSportLtd

Congratulations to @JonArmstrong84, our 2015 #DDFT Shootout winner!
DMACK Tyres και WRC