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So, we are now at the crucial point of the 2023 championship. Ford and Ott definitely need to step up their game. It's time to deploy whatever updates they have developed for the Puma and maybe call a certain Frenchman to support the campaign. If Rovanpera maintains the current points lead going into Acropolis,he has the title in the bag. Ogier is now nearly out of the picture and a sustained title challenge from Neuville looks a long shot. Kenya, Estonia and Finland are the deciders.
Who are test/develpment drivers at M-Sport this season?
Ford needs to step up its game, but even if they do, we would need 2-3 DNFs by Kalle just to have a proper title fight. If he continues his consistency (plus super speed in Estonia and Finland), nobody can touch him.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
2-3 DNFs not yet. Tanak needs to bring the gap below 20 points by Acropolis. Then, it's everyone's game.
Loubet has had enough too
https://sport-postimees-ee.translate..._x_tr_pto=wapp
https://ralli.ee/tanaku-tiimikaaslas...t-juba-korini/Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
This one is free
That’s weird. I haven’t subscribed to Postimees and I could read that article for free
Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Checked it now, and i thought it was behind a paywall, but it was actually because i didnt allow cookies and in that case postimees doesnt let you read their article you have to accept them first.
Sardegna road book
https://youtu.be/mboO5JX52N8
Ford and M-Sport announce a works-based assault on the Dakar Rally:
https://www.crash.net/dakar/news/102...ally-programme
Sounds like getting ready to leave WRC as manu.
M-Sport is long term partner of Ford Performance. The Ford ranger Raptor T1+ is one of the products they are involved. WRC off-course and the engine of Mustang GT3 for Lemans is also from M-sport. I don't see how you can read this that Ford may be leaving WRC. This all leads to fill up the gap where they are not involved yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
"M-Sport will assemble the Ford Performance-developed 5.4-liter Coyote-based V8 engines that power this powerful new pony."
https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...t-Le-Mans.html
"Today, Ford announced the time has come to fill that gap in its sweeping motorsports resume"
https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...raptor-t1.html
Awesome news! Can they also race that car in Baja1000? I dont remember if they actually raced the Bronco Project R already over there. (Not Msport built)
does m sport has so many resources to enter this type of races?
The Bentley programme is gone, Rally 1 and Rally 2 are smaller than they used to be.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
Grégoire Munster is set to drive Chile and Japan with a Rally1 car, sponsored by Serderidis.
I know this was planned from early on this year but it is way too early for this young fella. Still one more Rally1 car is good though ...Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
Yes. I don't want to sound harsh, but with each rally he proves that it is too early. Half of the season is gone and he is currently in the 21st position in WRC2...Quote:
Originally Posted by djip
Good luck in WRC1 though.
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/mille...rt-negativity/
"The alternative is straightforward: we could just walk away from the championship altogether."
The criticism is nothing compared to major sports.....
Once again this is Rich deflecting. Pointing at all the other teams problems is fine, but it comes across like his head is in the sand and he's in denial. The car isn't good enough, Tanak isn't happy whatsoever, reliability hasn't been good since the cars inception and there have been no real signs of improvement on that for a year and half.
Tanak can't get anywhere near 100% as even at 90% he's having to nurse problems, and that's before we get to the setup and performance development which he isn't happy with either. .
You see Serderitis crawling through stages and the car still breaks, which conveniently Rich Millener overlooked in that interview I noticed. It's not a witch hunt but focus on your own team and car Rich, and let the other teams deal with their issues. WRC journos and press are a lot kinder than F1 and other sports in general, due to wrc+ and even dirtfish being pally with the teams and drivers.
Useless blabber. Did anyone make a tally of actual technical issues? Maybe we should do an actual count and then we'll see if Malcolm's spokesperson has a point or not.
It may be better for WRC's future if M-Sport and Ford call it a day for a while. It will probably end Rally 1 on the spot and force everyone to sit down and talk about a realistic plan for the following years, instead of the useless crap we're listening now about even more expensive cars that aren't gonna do anything to widen WRC's appeal.
The tone in F1 shifted to "everyone is great" since Liberty took over and online only magazines started to take over the market. It still a huge problem in rallying, but it's no longer alone with this.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
The only positive thing at MSport the last 4 years has been Loeb starts.
Starts of everyone else turned bad sooner or later:
Lappi, Suninen, Greensmith, Fourmaux, Breen, Loubet, Tanak, (and Huttunen in his one start).
Yep at this point it might be better for MSport to just leave Rally1. It might force FIA to change the rules and/or work harder to get new real manus and not just half-teams.
If you try to remember what happened in Kenya with Serderidis, it was that muddy stage. He hit the tree and that damaged the car. Every following problem was originating from this. I would say that reliability in Kenya for M-Sport for me was surprisingly good. Rich is right on that one. It was far-far better than Hyundai.
Oh come on! Apart from Tanak, most of them are just not good enough drivers. Have they performed better at any other team?Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
I think Lappi as a driver is good, but is it just now or was he also back then, I'm not sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarek Z
I would add, that probably most of them lack technical knowledge how to build or improve the car (compared to Tänak).
In general I think Tänak has set the tone with his critical comments towards team - some of them have really good arguments, some I think should be not be said. Now there is already strong momentum of the "knowledge" that M-Sport is not reliable, is not fast, is behind etc. Even commentators in All-Live kind of follow that message.
It was like that when Tänak was in Toyota, it was like that when Tänak was in Hyundai, it is like that now. For me it seems that Tänak is not that critical anymore with his public statements, maybe there have not been "good" reasons. But there is still this momentum going for some time.
Suggestion for Millener: instead of complaining on Dirtfish, getting some good results in the bag will quickly change the narrative.
Yep, back to back good results for Tanak in Estonia and Finland needed. Think he needs a win in at least one of them.
Kenya's biggest M-Sport / Tanak fan !
https://youtu.be/l99nZbg0CD0
Thats awesome and wholesome! Props to M-Sport. I love their media team and their output. Really down to earth attitude.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Goodwood Festival of Speed 13.07-16.07.2023
In recent interview Ott Tänak told he is going to this event.
Most likely its with M-Sport so they are running WRC rally1 car up the hill on time attack or on rally stage.
The event showcases vehicles from 1902 to 2023 and celebrating motorsport and bike/car culture!
Hillclimb-Length (1.86 km/1.16 miles)
Forest Rally Stage-Length (2.5 km/1.5 miles)
F1 legends, Porsche's 75th anniversary, supercar debuts, 60 years of McLaren, 75 years of Lotus, 30 years of the Festival of Speed, Sebastian Vettel, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, MotoGP including Francesco Bagnaia and the legendary Goodwood Timed Shootout. Just some of the things that you can see this weekend at #FOS
It will be live streamed on youtube all days
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1x2sVTm3EI
More info: https://www.goodwood.com/motorsport/festival-of-speed/
Confirmation
https://www.goodwood.com/grr/event-c...ival-of-speed/
https://i.imgur.com/vXsxDfQ.png
Official entry list added https://www.goodwood.com/globalasset...t-10.07.23.pdf
Has anyone information about the usage of jokers on the Puma?
From one of Tänaks recent interviews he mentioned they have used some jokers already in the beginning of this year for differentials.
He did not mention if they had used all three of them on not. He said they have used more than one joker.
If they have used all of them, then I understand the disapointment.
Sent from my SM-A705FN using Tapatalk
Mr Bean is already there :)Quote:
Originally Posted by svstock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b_FejjZ6dc
Puma at Goodwood https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F0-9aqrW...jpg&name=large
Ott was fastest today in timed practice in very wet conditions
tomorrow is qualifying shootout but as i understand from Otts interview its Malcom driving tomorrow
Looks like tomorrow’s action is canceled