This is true.Quote:
Originally Posted by spark13
And just because Tanak contacted Toyota doesn't mean there was a discussion or any consideration, he might've just been told a straight 'No thanks, we're covered' ...
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This is true.Quote:
Originally Posted by spark13
And just because Tanak contacted Toyota doesn't mean there was a discussion or any consideration, he might've just been told a straight 'No thanks, we're covered' ...
75,21 % chance Sesks at M-Sport full 2026 season - Red Bull backing.
I guess he was just asking around, bcs he knew Hyundai wasn´t his next years option. He got an answer and took decision awaiting 2027... nothing bad with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Sounds about right. Another 2-car Team as no-one else has the money or experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
Armstrong can wait til 2027 with Rally2 spec.
He is not even a Red Bull athlete now.
I can’t see them remarkably upping the support of him to such an extent as to pay for a ride…..
Since the old guy died, it appears Red Bull aren't so much in love with motorsport. Although, they are everywhere so I don't know how true it is.
The second seat will be shared between three drivers from UK/Ireland with Munster out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Negaiss
Sesks might have a third car but not full season.
Rossel or gryazin.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
It's no good just picking names from WRC2, they need to have serious financial backing too. And the desire to drive a Rally1 car for just a year when the Regs will go back to Rally2 (spec) in 2027.Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
And so who will be in the first seat, please? McErlean still?Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
If its Motorsport Ireland money then Armstrong and Will Creighton I guess as for a UK driver Greensmith stepping back up as his plan to win WRC2 hasnt born fruit yet.
Greensmith has been going downhill pretty fast. First few years back in WRC2 he was capable of winning the championship, recently not even closeQuote:
Originally Posted by Sal yet again
I'd be surprised if the MI Rally Academy funded a second Rally1 Puma for their drivers in 2026. The costs are huge and what will they really gain when they'll have to learn the car and WRC rallies in it ?
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobJones
Perhaps it could take a strong arm, plenty of will power and er... devine intervention to remove Munster from his seat.
There is no reason to remove Munster. He's paying.Quote:
Originally Posted by WRCStan
If anyone else is prepared to pay, they will also drive beside him.
If M-sport would finds enough drivers who want to pay, they would use 10 cars. Everyone could have a seat.
But unfortunately it's just way too expensive for almost everyone.
That "paying" mode will be removed with budget cap. They just need to build a car or run a Rally2 model and they could go for good drivers which honestly and with no offense Munster is not, at least yet. Throwing him out of team would be waste of resources and their time (no matter if he payed for all), demote to championship, where Fiesta is still competitive and he could get back stronger. Munster is way more likeable and easier to watch than Loubet, who blame everything and everyone except himself for his failures.
Oh right, so alongside Munster maybe the other 3 Irish drivers are Leinster, Ulster and Connaught.Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
Lighten up Dougal, it's just a bit of fun. This thread is too serious for its name.
When one has more money to bring in.. the other with less, departs.Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
Do we watch the same Munster? Munster has no character, no fun at stage interviews, he is not helping the sport at allQuote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
AG rally said that Sesks in also ina potential Hyundai move.
M-sport is there to make money. Anyone who brings them more money than it costs them to run the car will get a drive, no matter how many cars they have to enter.Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
Sesks will jump at a program with Hyundai if he gets paid. Him as their gravel driver and another for tarmac could work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Managarium
Really? Are Hyundai out of money?Quote:
Originally Posted by Managarium
Seems not as they apparently offered Tanak the highest ever salary in WRC for staying.
Sesks is faster on gravel than other MSport drivers with less seat time, he is on Pajari's speed. Tarmac he would learn. He can be hired without big costs and they would get good publicity. Just that not everyone can drive that car - remember Solberg. If year would be 2021, Griazin would be natural choice.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Sesks would be an interesting choice, certainly for the gravel events. If they are serious about wanting to win the championship in 2026, they would want a tarmac guy for those rounds as they won’t have time for Sesks to learn…maybe Rossel could be an option in that case.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndersX
The Solberg example is in my opinion not a good comparison. So much was against him that season, put him in that car now and I’m sure he’d be fine relative to his team mates.
If even two world champions can't firgure out that car, how could Solberg or Sesks could do it? Oh and one of them rather leaving WRC than drive another year with it. I think that rally1 i20 is hopeless case, even more with Hankook tires and without hybrid unit.
Did you consider Munster and his backers aren't covering 100% of the costs?Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
But how many cars do they have?Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
McErlean's car is being rebuilt for Saudi. Sooo.... they don't have any more than what they have.
Possible reveal from Munster's comments:
https://rallyjournal.com/wrc-teams-l...oogle_vignette
hmmmm random thought, but what happens if nasser alAthya is right up to speed in his first rally1 event in saudi? could hyundai get interested?
No
“Their names are certainly on the list, but honestly it’s very risky to bring back guys who haven’t driven WRC in 2025. They don’t know how to drive these hybrid-less Rally1 cars and, above all, they don’t know the Hankook tyres. Not to mention new rallies like Saudi Arabia.”Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Munster isn't wrong about this, but still seems to overvalue this experience over the lack of speed and consintency he has had so far. I believe Sordo or Lappi would have better speed and results even without having driven these new tyres.
Not even if by miracle he wins Rally Saudi Arabia... Nasser is 54. For Dakar is ok, for WRC no.Quote:
Originally Posted by saco0o
He's also never going to be anybody's employee unless it's conveniently what he wants to do, something which he could do now anyway without being anybody's employee. If you know what I mean.
hmmmmm spot on. hes literally one of the few humans out there that could have an entire wrc team if he wanted to do wrcQuote:
Originally Posted by WRCStan
A experienced fast driver, whoever driven last 5 years i wrc, would be fairly fast in the toyota.
In the hyundai its a little more complicated, since the car is not a easy one, to be fair.
And, who will possibly wreck his career in a year in a notorious tricky car?
Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk
Paddon and Hankook Tyres have a new partnership for the 2025/26 seasons, with Hankook serving as the official tyre partner for Paddon Rallysport. The collaboration involves testing new high-performance Hankook rally tyres in real New Zealand conditions, from gravel to tarmac, to showcase their capabilities.
HP ran the Hankook tyres at the Ashley Forest Rallysprint with the 800 horsepower engine in the i20.
Most of the events in this year's Australian Rally Championship that Paddon won, HP had never been to before. He was against the Australian Toyota team that is built on the experience of running in Australian Rallies for over 30 years.
Sesks for the Hyundai team for the gravel. Someone like Crugnola(36) or other Italian tarmac specialist to try and give Italian rallying a bit of a lift. (Marbellini, 26)
Is there a Belgian autosector company or group of companies (chocolate?) that could sponsor Munster for a year? WRC should offer a sponsor a higher profile than some other forms of motrsport?
If Paddon is whom you´re talking about, I think knowing the circumstances, a driver of his caliber can never wreck his career, trying for a year in Hyundai.Quote:
Originally Posted by skarderud