Best point in a very long time, if they were the best 4 and made almost the same as the 4 best F1 drivers, there would some justice in the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
But that would probably be as likely as world piece !
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Best point in a very long time, if they were the best 4 and made almost the same as the 4 best F1 drivers, there would some justice in the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
But that would probably be as likely as world piece !
Dont worry guys, soon skoda will join the game, then you might get a bit more variety.
Rumour? News? Is it your opinion or do you have any source?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
only opinionQuote:
Originally Posted by morganmilan
They will join...
...or VW, which I would prefer!Quote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
2012 with hanninen-mikelsen I guess....
& Solberg ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by GINE
I guess we can hope for an announcement after VW finish the Dakar. IF Skoda or VW join I guess that's it then as I can see any Japanese manufacturer coming in. A championship with Citroen, Ford, Mini & Skoda or VW would be good, and a strong support championship in SWRC and WRC academy would be good.
Any new yet on Matthew Wilson and Hennig Solberg?
No news, but I suspect that Mathew will be Monster driver, and Henning pairs up with Adapta, rumours that Stobart are scaling down.Quote:
Originally Posted by EavesFan09
My guess is Hänninen and a Checz guy.Quote:
Originally Posted by GINE
And Khalid Al-Qassimi? Theirs a place at MINI as partner to Kris Meeke if he decides to continue with the WRC. Of course that is IF he decides. Who is to say he will not be in the WRC this year? But he finished 12th last year with 12pts which equals his 2009 position but got 6pts more than 2009. And I hope with that in mind he will give 2011 a go.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
If Khalid drives a selected program in 2011, like he most propably will I think, it'll be absolutely with Ford, see he brings the Abu Dhabi money. Comparing points between 2009 and 2010 is useless, because the points system changed, though Khalid is kind of driver that picks up the left-over points anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by EavesFan09
Mathew Wilson taking the second Monster Ford is a waste of budget. If Block or the board of Monster energy have any sence they would hire a better pofile driver who also gets better results. For example a guy named Petter.
No BP on Ford car, but Catrol Edge is told here are ready. So maybe more money needs for Ford 'A' Team? Maybe Stobart on Ford car?Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Or will Stobart support a better Britsh Driver? Will they support Meeke on Mini?
BP and Castrol are from the same company, their budget comes from the same bookkeeper. Castrol wil gets more space on the car.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy
I know. You don't tell me some news ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by alleskids
They don't test WRC car just for fun ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by morganmilan
Stobart would back a Ford only because of the friendship of Malcolm Wilson and the Stobart brothers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy
Yep. Also Hänninen's program is quite interesting as he has full factory contract including extensive testing with Skoda Motorsport and he is driving in sWRC with BRR. Logical way in my opinion for Skoda to gather data and prepare for the future in WRC.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Seems to be official now, Sordo has signed contract with Mini (Prodrive). :)
Source: http://www.rallye-magazin.de/top/top...ini/index.html
I soooooo wish you are right about this :)Quote:
Originally Posted by vkangas
Oliveira signs for new MINI powered Brazilian WRC team
http://www.wrc.com/news/oliveira-sig...eam/?fid=14013
Quote:
The Brazil World Rally Team, which will be run by British specialist engineering and preparation firm Prodrive, will be represented by 25-year-old Brazilian Daniel Oliveira who is planning to tackle 10 rounds of the series in 2011.
He will begin his campaign in a Super 2000-specification MINI Countryman on Vodafone Rally de Portugal in late March before switching to the World Rally Car version later in the season.
I think it's a good idea but Skoda came into the WRC and left, entered the iRC and very well have been succeeding! I don't think anyone ie manufacture would leave a class they are doing well in by winning and at the top of their game to go back to something where they will be the little kids and underdogs again!!Quote:
Originally Posted by vkangas
Sad news for Kimi
http://t.co/NRaQXkh
Skoda are not allowed a works team in IRC anymore according to the rulemaker Mr Quesnel but they can still continue to sell customer S2000 or SuperProduction cars for IRC or sWRC whilst running a WRC programme too, although maybe they will need to get a bigger base.Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
They have done well in IRC not because it is a "smaller" series but because this time the team management, car and drivers are really good.
Those are two different stories with different leadership, drivers and cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
The fact that their car is so much better than PSA - Quesnel 207 is quite contrary to your logic , please think logically ;)
Sorry?
Skoda come into the WRC - build up some nice machines. Aren't successful in the years they competed.
Skoda leave the WRC
Skoda enter IRC with new car
Skoda does well in IRC
Why should Skoda leave IRC after success in the IRC for WRC where they would go back to how they use to be originally and not able to really challenge the top guns and their cars?!
Does that make sense?
Skoda could do well returning to WRC if FIA stuck with naturally aspirated S2000.
Citroen and Ford sees that as a threat to their dominances, influences the FIA to make do with 1.6litre turbo. While more suitable to their development also rose the cost.
Skoda has second thought and realize maybe they should just stick with IRC and S-WRC.
Rally Finland and Lahti Historic ERC will be at least partly joint event this season. It have a FIA approval now.
Rally Guide 1 for Rally Finland will be released February 25th.
Google translate.
Skoda is all part of the Volkswagen group as most of us know. Maybe it is their intention to be a form of test mule for a proper VW entry in the future based on the same platform. It would make sense, economically. An evolution of an proven winner rather than start the VW campaign from scratch. But VW will compete in the WRC mostly and Skoda will continue in the IRC.
Keep this in mind considering that the SAAB WRC rumours revolve around a car based on the BMW Mini Cooper platform. So SAAB/Spyker are not looking at re-inventing the wheel concerning development costs if they can help it. Prodrive will license their part of the bargain and make money from the deal.
Also look at the Rallye-Raid Mini, basically a Mini body on a BMW X3 raid car.
Yeh i'm not excited about it anymore after hearing that....Quote:
Originally Posted by Livewireshock
Go VW! :D
Why would you deny a potentially good manufacturer for WRC? Skoda's WRC effort between 99-05 is hardly a basis to compare their current state. Many things have changed since then.Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
With their earlier experience in WRC and their current success in IRC, they have every right to look up again. Because regardless of it's current state, WRC is still the sports pinaccle. And I also feel that IRC (just like the former ERC) should be more about privateer teams. WRC actually needs more manufacturers to survive!
And let me remind you that the Fabia S2000 regularly beats Fiesta's (M-Sport) and 207's (PSA) in not only IRC but also WRC. You can't deny it's potential.
But in the end it's all up to VW. At least they could count on Skoda's solid basis, should they enter on their own.
Even as a Fabia-fan I must admit that there are unfortunately not many entries (and therefore almost no noticable results) of Peugeots with top SWRC drivers (and definitely not by PSA!) in the WRC rounds :-/ And with Fiesta, I would say, they are even (comparable drivers, similar number of cathegory wins). And on the other side there are no good regular competitors with Fiestas in IRC...again a pity... But good for Skoda, because they would not outpace the Fiestas as clearly as they do with Peugeots...Quote:
Originally Posted by Josti
The point is, they are competitive.Quote:
Originally Posted by FabiaFan
Yes. of course, you woldn't expect from me i'd say the opposite, would you? But I wouldn't dare to say, they are a little bit better, or a little bit worse, or just even with Fiesta S2000... Because there is not a proper comparison.Quote:
Originally Posted by Josti
We will see in Monte where the regural Skoda drivers will have P. Solberg and H. Solberg with a factory 207 and a factory FiestaQuote:
Originally Posted by FabiaFan
Yes, I'm looking forward to this... my bet is it will be only between J.Hanninen and H.Solberg, maybe also Mikkelsen...anyway only Fiesta and Fabias...Quote:
Originally Posted by GINE