I believe Skoda Motorsport is profitable. If i remember correctly that is (was?) a criteria from VAG for any customer motorsport program in their group.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
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I believe Skoda Motorsport is profitable. If i remember correctly that is (was?) a criteria from VAG for any customer motorsport program in their group.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
And as I wrote there, problem with Fiesta Rally2 came before Puma Rally1. Problem is lack of interest in Rally2 project, from beginning there were lot of mistakes and understimation the situation...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
before puma yes, not before fiesta '17. we can round it as "top tier" from 2017 on, but it is undoubtful that from that time, m-sport focused on top tier (and maybe rally3) and left a bit behind the rally2 rebuild (fiesta mark II). may be a bad decision, may be not as bad as fiesta was already surpassed by skoda and they bet on rally3 (goodish results) and top tier (not so good result). talking business-wise, not sports-wise. selling some top tier car was always the best plan, not working that well till now.Quote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
i guess strategy now is to update the rally2 game for the next wave (toyota in the market will move skoda reign somehow) and keep rally3 going. ability to sell some top-tier car will be again the best scenario.
let's see what '25 reg brings to m-sport
WRC changes are key to M-Sport continuing...
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/...ward/10526493/
A much needed win and morale boost for the team. Hope it's a sign of things smoothing out from now on. Onwards and upwards. Let's hope Pierre Louis manages to scrap a good event now. He definitely needs it.
Hopefully the technical gremlins are in the past and the cars will be in the fight in the last two rallies. Congratulations!
Theres a good chance this thread will be archived before the start of the next season
Please Mr. Wilson hire Evans.
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/...exit/10528418/
It doesn’t look likely. Will probably be Loubet, Fourmaux, plus the usual irregular third car every now and then, probably with Munster on a few of those occasions.
Tanak:
"This year has gone by so fast together with M-Sport Ford WRT.
I'm proud we have managed to win two rallies against such big manufacturers and we were able to be in the championship fight for the first part of the season.
"But this sport is tough and unfortunately we went down a few times too many, nevertheless all the people really tried hard to give us the best chances and I'm very grateful for them."
I feel sorry for MSport..
Toyota won't let him go, rightly so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/toyod...est-wrc-title/
I can’t see any reason why a top driver would want to go to Msport voluntarily
“I think he made his decision based on a number of things and obviously it would have taken a lot of time to make sure it is the right decision. But unfortunately, we were not able to make an alternative offer that was able to keep him with us.”
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/...exit/10528418/
Chile roadbook
https://youtu.be/JD19D83Qd7g?si=e8lzPzqYwhHtmFV3
This video is nice proof that WRC is just one big family. Everyone congratulate everyone for their achievement (like team-boss Millener when Tänak finished).Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
... but yes, de javu from 2019 when Tänak got title with announcement leaving the team, gives a bit bittersweet taste for all. Pragmatically it's all understandable, still feel a bit sorry for M-Sport.
Last 2 minutes of the video are quite sad, where Ott is saying thanks to the team :(Quote:
Originally Posted by meh
I will be very disappointed if they start 24 with the two french drivers. In my book they have had their chance to grow into the tempo and endurance needed to be a winner.
alternatives?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Well, I would make a difference between Loubet and Fourmaux:
- Fourmaux deserves another shot IMO, he has proven this year that he can match with the best youngsters while not having the best car in RC2… I think another shot could show if he has improved under pressure
- Loubet, on the other hand, the fact that he failed is not really a surprise (let’s say the surprise is how big he failed)… he had already a lot of WRC experience as he began his career in WRC and had a lot of years in Rally1 machinery (even if not the best cars)… well, his potential was clearly limited anyway.
So I would say that M-Sport will probably take Fourmaux + whoever pays.
Well, in the end, when you take a close look at WRC2 season, nobody has really proven to be fuoriclassi between Greensmith, Rossel, Solberg, Lindholm, Gryazin, … so in the end, it’s understandable to say you take who pays as there is no outstanding potential beyond them (maybe Pajari but a bit too early).
And maybe they will try some outings for Loeb.
Well, there is the Mikkelsen’s case but we know where is the issue.
I'm quite surpised by Munster in the last two events. Despite his lack of experience he showed some pace and did not make any stupid mistakses.
Serderidis evoked in an interview a few days ago that he is looking some help for a part-time Rally1 program for Munster … with M-Sport or Hyundai.Quote:
Originally Posted by trykmann
Well, don’t believe in Hyundai all the more Abiteboul recently said they will focus on 3 cars apparently.
But he could be in the mix in M-Sport (even if I don’t really believe in his potential)… maybe sharing a 2nd car with someone else like Suninen/Fourmaux in 2021.
M-Sport will definitely be Fourmax/Loubet mainly. Change my mind
I think we will see Fourmaux under pressure in Japan, he really need to avoid stupid mistakes to send the message "I'm worth a Rally1 seat for the next season". He need to deliver there (reaching to finish without his own mistakes).
CER road book
https://youtu.be/UvO6slyUfc0?si=MSJcJBsqw-V9Tx7Q
Nice one Ford ! :D :D :D
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F-RGKllX...pg&name=medium
If Lappi is getting relegated to a part time season with Hyundai (I hope not for his sake), could Msport tempt him? Ofcourse he had a horrible time at msport a few years ago, but I dont see a better option for msport if they want to challenge for podiums + show pace.
Otherwise I think we will just get the two french drivers, and whoever pays (Munster on a few rallies). Hope to see Loeb do an event or two.
Mikkelsen has reiterated on the recent WRC podcast that he wont pay to drive and has no budget anyway. Any possible Rally1 drive for him at M-Sport is purely up to Malcolm Wilson.
Then enjoy driving Skoda rally2 :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
I would think that during 2022-23 seasons, he should have driven the big car at least once.. to show what he is capable of.
if Huttunen could get a budget for one rally(car had problems tho).. then Mikkelsen would also be able to get it.
It is just the attitude(I think).
Maybe he just waits for Toyota or Hyundai to offer him 5mil/year contract :D
Mikkelsen dont wan't to pay. He is at a really good place at Škoda motorsport, a relationship lasting from 2011.
He is of course interested to drive Rally1, but not paying for it. But he needs to have a car that actually turn in in the corners, not to use the handbrake in 6th corners...
Quite interesting that in an intervju in a Norwegian rally-podcast the swedish rallyexpert and wrc-commentator Jonas Kruse don't understand why Mikkelsen don't get a chance to drive one of them, if a team needs a fast and realible second driver like Sordo, he should be first choice.
Hyundai was close last year, but what on earth happend there?
Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk
Just tasteless.Quote:
Originally Posted by TypeR
Less salt is healthier.Quote:
Originally Posted by WRCStan
I think he knows well his opportunities and possibilities. Did Huttunen achieved anything extra with this (attempt) to drive? It's all about money/resources you have or are available for you. If Mikkelsen (or whoever else) should have hills of money available for them, for sure they could drive Rally1 car.Quote:
Originally Posted by TypeR
I don't know the reason, why teams are not (publicly) interested to hire Mikkelsen. First, he did not show clear pure-speed talent. Additionally, maybe it's from Hyundai times "I'm still learning the car", maybe he puts the blame on others (rightfully or not), whatever it is - as a rally-fan and spectators, I could welcome any extra driver with Rally1 car, but this is a way bigger and philosophical topic, why there are only few seats available.
To conclude that - he really can enjoy driving Skoda Rally2 and take challenges there. Nothing bad with that.
im with TypeR in the sense that he should pay and make 1-2 outings in rally1 car to show himself, has hasnt driven this generation car at all.
i would really like to see him in rally1 class, especially after Munsters outings in rally1 car who was average or even below average in rally2 class.
But his tactics just to sit and wait if someone offers a seat is a puzzle to me. sometimes you have to take two steps back to go forward.
On the podcast he basically said he thought he'd proven his speed and consistency enough in Rally2 machinery, winning numerous rallies and WRC2 & ERC titles, and that should be enough. He also implied that there was no sponsorship funding for a Rally1 drive available to him, maybe not even for a single rally.
Didn't mikkelsen tried suing Hyundai at one point?
I think Mikkelsen is the biggest loser from VW retiring before 2017. He was on an ascending path and while I doubt the end of that ascension is at a championship challenger level he maybe could have be a regular podium contender, maybe occasional winner, something like Evans maybe. He had 3 podiums in 2019 with Hyundai but after that he was probably the loser because of WRC having few top level seats. And last year unfortunately for him he had to compete for those few seats with a lot of more appealing drivers and it's hard to make a case of who should be dropped. Hyundai won't take him over Neuville, and they preferred Lappi I think because of his Toyota knowledge, maybe for the 3rd car but they probably considered that a shared car would take more advantage of road position, plus the Sordo/Breen combination worked well in the past. Then at Toyota surely you don't take him over Rovanpera, Evans or Ogier and Katsuta is there for other reasons so his place is not really on the market. Finally MSport I'm not sure how many cars they can field of their own budget, feels like 1 or 1 and half, and they got Tanak. Now if MSport had budget for 3 cars you would think Mikkelsen would find a place somehow, either at MSport or to replace someone that MSport managed to get from the other teams. So I think either he gets money to buy a seat or WRC gets healthyer, I don't think it's a lack of him being seen but rather a lack of place for him because of slightly better options on the market for the very few "real" seats available.
How many of you pay multi-national brands in billion-dollar industries to work for them? I just don't understand why anyone thinks he has an attitude problem.
0Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
They are not a charity.