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What comes to David Evans and his reputation, IMO this is totally different than case Tänak from late 2017. This is now about the sport's hottest name, and I find it really hard to believe that Evans would go and publish a story of this magnitude if he didn't know the source he got was for real.
I know this calculation has a lot of issues with them not taking points from each other, but just to illustrate how dominance might again look like:
- if you sum up manu points for Tanak+Neuville+Sordo+Loeb this year you get 455 points, 2 rallies before the end
- currently Hyundai in the lead has 340
- Highest ever recent score is Citroen in 2012 with 453, but that was with only 2 manu teams
- VW domination in 2014 was with 447 points
Not looking good for competition next year...
Is this with the two best of the bunch counted only?Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Actually no! Im assuming the Hyundai squad knows all of the details so this won't mess with their heads at all. If anything it messes with others and maybe Tanak if it's not true... time will tell, but TN not feeling any pressure about this. Loeb is enjoying his sleep without a worry in the world and Sordo is just hoping he does not have fuel or PS issues.
No was just simple sum, a bit more advanced calculations by quick look on their placement gives:Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
419
That's still without Spain, and average score per rally is 25-30 points. So doesn't look much better.
Early days, but I hope it doesn't end like in 2014 when I stopped following WRC as it was pointless. (btw. I made similar scares about Toyota after last year, so obviously it does not need to happen)
There could be a fear of Toyota not staying in WRC much longer if Tanak goes. They will have already achieved the Manu & Driver titles.
So in this case Citroen should leave already after 2004? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Toyota competition against a Hyundai dream-team will be a bit harder, plus they wont have a young Mr Loeb.Quote:
Originally Posted by KKS
Is Ogier the biggest "winner" if Tanak moves to Hyundai?
Ogier can beat Neuville / Hyundai on any surface, or at least match the pace.
Hyundai is fast but not easy to master, only victory so far beside Neuville is Sordo. So Tanak will take time to master the car (longer than at Toyota I suspect).
Bottom line, next year Ogier and Citroen have a fair chance for a driver title.
They said pretty much the same about Tänak going to Toyota. Wasn't the case. And Hyundai has been more reliable and also faster lately, also Toyota's rear wing change seems to have cut some of their speed. Tänak developed the Fiesta Ogier won two titles in and made Toyota into what it is today, so there's also no doubt in his ability to understand and develop the car. It might seem crazy move, but if the rumors are true, I'm sure midway next season we'll see Neuville complaining about not finding the correct setup or rocks falling from skies and Tänak winning rallies in Hyundai.Quote:
Originally Posted by spiderem
I wondered what was that Tommi jabbering and Tanak/Ogier smiles in Wales post press conference ever since.
I don't see Toyota leaving, particularly while Akio Toyoda is President. Hyundai and particularly Citroen of course look far more sketchy. Malcolm will hang on in there, hopefully anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
It is hard to be an Estonian rally fan these days...had a restless night with nightmares about Tänak's contract.
I think Tänak is leaving for almost Freudian reasons. He needs to have a father figure as he had one in Malcolm Wilson.
Tänak is not the captain/teamleader guy as Ogier is. While clearly the best driver atm, he has not been able to become the leader of the team. Both Meeke and Latvala seemed to think (at least until Finland) that they are nr 1 drivers in Toyota. And Mäkinen is too soft to give full support to Tänak.
In Hyundai, he will have to share the nr 1 spot, but Tänak knows that Adamo is really leading the team and willing to take risks and make severe decisions to support the main driver(s).
Ott Tänak and Markko Märtin are not idiots. They are not changing teams for a whim.
Of course they aren’t idiots. How do I say that, Hyundai offered quite a good “opportunity “ for Ott to be sure if he wants it or not.
Let’s see what he decided
No such fears at all. Strong manufacturer backing and Mr. Toyoda likes the sport himself.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
EstWRC what are they talking at Estonian forums about the subject? do they favour the team change?Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
no, nobody basically likes it, only like handful of people think it MAY be a good move.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
but it was basically the same with the Toyota move, although not SO much dislike back then.
many are also worried about the colours of the car/racing suit and fans merch also..
https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...set-for-toyotaQuote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
David Evans is publishing every scenario, so eventually he will get it right.
Remember that this time (yesterdays news) he is also saying that Ogier is coming to Toyota...
I´m still not believing but Tänak to Hyundai is possible ofcourse.
It was mentioned as ”rumors in the service park”, not as a headlineQuote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
Like I said yesterday, I’m pretty certain Ogier’s wife wouldn’t be making such stupid statements if he was going to be driving for Citroen next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
If Tanak-Hyundai deal is done, then why is it still such a secret?
Cause none of the two championships are decided yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Portimao
Examples, please.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
Absolutely.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Every time David Evans breaks a big story like Meeke, Kalle or now Tanak people on this forum just don't get it. Like their annoyed they didn't find it out first? Weird.
With the whole Autosport business currently in a state of flux, we are lucky there's a paid journalist who can work on big scoops like this full-time. Savour it.
Mega news. Really spices up the driver market!
Now it makes sense why Mikkelsen has had his management changes and was being paid by Pirelli to test tyres. Mainline WRC career over?
Good point. Although I believe they have a new car on the way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvel
And how it's affect on it? If two championship wins by Citoren in 2019 (for example) how it coordinate to possible Ott contract with Hyundai?Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Or you guess that at Tanak-Hyundai contract was something: "It's only valid when Ott didn't win WDC in 2019 with Toyota"? But it's complete bs
Contracts are signed or not. There no room for Schrodinger cats
Obviously it does affect the drivers actually fighting for the championship when people are asking them all the time about it.Quote:
Originally Posted by KKS
Similarly it might affect the mechanics/engineers at the teams even if they knew about it already. But I somehow doubt every single team member would know at this point.
As we talked about yesterday I agree with half of the post.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobJones
It would make sense to change manager if he wants to try to drive at MSport, Toyota or even Citroen. As his former manager seemingly couldn't work well with Tommi, didn't ever want to bring any budget to MSport and already has Lappi at Citroen.
I don't put much into the testing part, even in the same team Sordo and Loeb have both driven full R5 rallies this year (2 for Sordo). Sordo also drove a rally last year.
To me Mikkelsen seems like the most likely of the established guys being willing and able to bring a budget to M-Sport to get a drive. Probably feels he could do better in the Fiesta, still got a few years left in him so feels he might get back to a paid drive. Probably feels he's got something to prove. Given his past, I imagine he has the means to pay.
Btw. it didn't exactly look like Adamo was very angry on D. Evans during the evening service (see attachment, or from 17:25 onwards in the last "studio and service" section for Saturday)
For me, Adamo know the contract is signed and what better way to disrupt Toyota’s rally than let Evans break the news mid rally?Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
EVEN have said they have no interest in paying for a WRC drive. I think Mikkelsens best shot on a continued WRC career is to pay for a drive. I think that is the main reason for the change.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobJones
Yes, Hyundai also announced a development program for the R5 carQuote:
Originally Posted by mknight
They said it was already planned several years ago, if the 4th driver in the championship has to pay for a drive something is wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by Myrvold
"Is it a rumor, I do not know," tried to dodge Neuville with a smile. "He always said there were discussions and as long as he talks with the teams and he has not decided, we will not know."
"I always said it would not bother me," he added. "I've always been the fastest at Hyundai against all my teammates so I would say it would make it all right for me to have the same car as me."
Sébastien Ogier is also the subject of rumors. These speak of an arrival at Toyota. We asked him if he could confirm it.
"The rumors are to keep you busy, it's not my style to comment on them, so we'll let this rumor run," said the Citroën driver. "It's not these days that I have to make decisions, I'm in the excitement with this bad weekend, we'll think about a rested head."
https://www.rtbf.be/sport/moteurs/ra...2GPuYO2IeaStTI
If Tanak goes to Hyunai and Ogier to Toyota we definitely will have a 2 team championship.
Maybe it is true and maybe everyone concerned are trying out their best poker face infront of the cameras. Or maybe it is just a rumor and everyone is annoyed and/or having fun with the subject infront of cameras. It could be either. I will believe it once I see official confirmation, one way or the other.
For me biggest question is if Hyundai could afford to hire Tänak, Neuville and Loeb at the same time.