http://www.rallit.fi/teemu-suninen-a...varmasti-pian/
Suninen says "I don't have anything to say about next year yet but I'm sure there will be news on that soon"
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http://www.rallit.fi/teemu-suninen-a...varmasti-pian/
Suninen says "I don't have anything to say about next year yet but I'm sure there will be news on that soon"
In such discussion where all possible driver rotations were presented, why not give my own :), even wrong one.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Anyway, sport wins against money? Give me a break.
Ok, got you, but there are tooooo many "hot properties" around. Also, in sport like this you get what you can ASAP, otherwise you may miss the whole thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
That was what some thought with Mikkelsen missing out in 2017... but if your good enough a WRC seat will come, and it has.Quote:
Originally Posted by jparker
https://www.fia.com/news/wrc-rallyracc-press-conference
Quote:
Q:
The rumour mill is in full flow at the moment. ‘Will Ott stay at M-Sport?’, ‘Will he move to Toyota?’ What can you tell us?
OT:
What can I say? You know how these things work. The decision will come quite soon. We need to wait a few more weeks then we will see what happens. I think we are quite close.
Q:
What will be the deciding factor?
OT:
I want the best chance and I want the best team. I want to be in the best position for the future, so we look and see where’s the best chance to fight for the championship.
Q:
Is it just Toyota or M-Sport?
OT:
What can I say?
Q:
You can say yes or no…
OT:
Yeah, they are the main teams…
Ogier to Hyundai? alongside with Mikkelsen and Neuville
If it's true - it's another bad decisions by Matton. And Citroen with weakest line-up
would be a proper super team, and a blow for Paddon and Sordo.Quote:
Originally Posted by KKS
Would be a blow for the sport if that happens, and would start another period of VW-esque domination. If Seb goes to Citroen and Tanak stays at Msport, we'd have a very even spread of quality drivers across all the teams. So that's what I'm hoping for, and hopefully one of Tanak or Seb staying at Msport. Would be cruel if both left and Ford stood back and did nothing about it....
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Nah, not necessarily. Sure it'd be a strong team, strongest one on paper, but things have changed since VW days.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Julian Porter saying Suninen will be one of Msports 3 drivers next year, going by rumours in the service park
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Same, Ogier to Citroen and Tanak at Msport will make for seemingly balanced teams. Any of the other combinations will leave 1 team too weak which is not good.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Would that be in the DMack car? With Tanak & Evans in the 'factory' Michelin shod cars?Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Where's this info from ?Quote:
Originally Posted by KKS
A rumor is flying that Abu Dhabi won't agree for Citroen to have Red Bull branding which a prerequisite to get Ogier. So, the rumor is Hyundai will happily jump at the opportunity to get full Red Bull backing + Ogier.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
That is believable - Neuville, Sordo & Mikkelsen are Red Bull athletes; so getting Ogier and full Red Bull branding is not a bad suggestion.
But for Citroen to let Ogier slip through their fingers again would raise questions?
Couldn't agree more.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
That would seem like a crazy stumbling block, it's Red Bull not Red Boar!Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
MSport with Tanak, Evans and Suninen would look decent for next year with Tanak a real title contender. I expect this to be announced soon.
If Citroen loses Ogier to Hyundai then Matton should just give up and go live in his parent's basement. From outside it looks more and more like a big part of the blame for this season is on him. If this does happen it will be interesting to see what happens with Sordo and Paddon. With Ogier, Neuville and Mikkelsen they would have 3 of the top 6 drivers in the WRC atm so I don't see any reason to keep either Sordo or Paddon, unfortunately. However I think in the end Citroen will work it out and Ogier will be there.
Tanak to Toyota still a strong rumour acc to Julian Porter... :(
I really hope either Tanak or Ogier will stay there, preferably Tanak.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
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Looks to me like Hanninen was crying at the end of the power stage.
Emotional moment for the Finn. He knows he was on the chopping block and he stepped up. Hope he does well in the next few rallies. He’s been reliable lately.
or blinking his eyes because he had to lie, or go around the question of assuring the team bosses with his performance.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomhlord
So Ogier says that there is a possibility of a Ford return and with that him staying, earlier this week they stopped their WRX activities and important uncles from Ford were present in RAC.
Am I the only one who doesn't want Ogier in championship at all. For sure not in Hyundai team. Sorry but I hate him because of his dominance, like Loeb. He could go in another sport and try his luck anywhere else and we will see how good he is...
And still Wilson says if Ford doesn't come back to support M-Sport or get major sponsor he will go.. What about Red Bull?? Why would be Hyundai grabbing him because of Red Bull.
And why works teams give drivers 2 or 3 year contracts if they change drivers every year?? If they are not sure of them why don't they give them one year deal and that's it. Now it will suffer Paddon, Sordo, Breen, Lefebvre, maybe Meeke, Hanninen...
If that happens it turns everything around. Tanak to Toyota after all?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarmop
When do we get a decision on four car teams next year?
Come on Ford, do the right thing and reward M-Sport for all they have done for publicising the new Fiesta !!
Matton will have a lot to answer for if Seb stays at Msport/Ford. Thats on top of the poor year they've had off the back of mistakes/risks they took in development and engineering...
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Hänninen had only one year contract.Quote:
Originally Posted by ESTR
The difference between M-Sport and Hyundai is that one has a factory backing the development financially and one doesn't. It's not just about Ogier's salary. Ogier wants strong car development and Wilson couldn't do another year like this.
Ford: Evans, Sunninen, Tidemand (DMack), Ostberg
Hyundai: Neuville, Mikkelsen, Sordo, Paddon
Toyota: Tanak, Latvala, Lappi, Hanninen
Citroen: Ogier, Meeke, Breen and Loeb/al Qassimi/Lefebvre share 4th car.
... would sound good to me.
Still Hanninen deserve a seat. At least for another year. Like Breen. No Toyota and Citroen will instead throw them away...Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
It will be easier if they can run four cars or maybe like previous years two works' teams for each 2 drivers.
That would still be my bet (for what it's worth...). That David Evans story about "Tänak to stay at M-Sport" was pure BS but unfortunately it was spread wide.Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
The way Hänninen sounded during and after the rally, somehow seem to tell that he won't be continuing with the team. Which is a shame, if true - he's finally been able to find his old "IRC form" in the past few rallies after so many tepid years.
I agree with Allez. Hanninens comment saying it’s been a pleasure competing against the top and being able to keep up with them. Also saying it’s been one of the best finishes of his life. I think he’s implying the end of his stint with Toyota. Let’s hope they keep him. Seems like a ton of unknowns still. Once again things waiting for Ogier to make a move. Maybe Tanak stays if Ogier goes to Citroen which means Hanninen stays.. hope to hear finalized deals after Rally GB.
Car-wise, why not ? The new Fiesta has been fast, strong and reliable AND this after the shortest production and testing in 2016.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Hyundai had more money then and now and still havent beaten the Ford.
Hyundai wants to win no matter what the cost. That’s obvious after signing Mikkelsen and having 4 cars runnning. Budget does not seem a concern for them.
I think next year teams will be up another notch hence why Ford needs a bigger budget.
They could go with 2 teams for each like previous years. And make even more interesting.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hyundai Motorsport:
-Neuville
-Mikkelsen
-Sordo/Paddon
Hyundai Motorsport N:
-Sordo/Paddon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toyota GAZOO Racing:
-Latvala
-Hanninen
-Lappi/Tidemand
TM Racing:
-Lappi/Tidemand
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M-Sport WRT:
-Ogier
-Tanak
-Evans/Suninen
DMACK WRT:
-Evans/Suninen
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT:
-Kris Meeke
-Craig Breen
-Lefebvre/Loeb/Qassimi
PH-Sport:
-Lefebvre/Loeb/Qassimi
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OneBet Adapta WRT:
-Ostberg
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They could easily run 4 cars just for each event nominate in which team would 3rd driver sit. It will be more interesting for manufacturer championship and driver also because 4 seats more in game
1. New WRC cars can be only entered by a manufacturer. Yes, Manu. team no. 2 would be a possibility, but who would pay for it?
2. Point 1. There would probably be more cars, if there were people rich enough to pay for them. Some outings in Fiesta 2017 don`t count.
Hard to believe in the Hyundai rumour: there’s not enough room for Ogier and Neuville egos under the same roof and Mikkelsen chances to fight for the title would vanish if Ogier gets in.
Besides, Citroen will be useless without Ogier, so it makes no sense to keep Abu Dhabi partnership if they’re against the Ogier/RB deal. If a private team like MSport is able to make an effort in order to have Ogier, for sure a big manu like PSA can do the same, or better.