M-Sport again rally livery world champion. Although the competition wasn't great this year :D
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M-Sport again rally livery world champion. Although the competition wasn't great this year :D
Toyota and Hyundai used Ctrl C and Ctrl V for livery this year
Has he ever won any rally in his life?Quote:
Originally Posted by AndersX
Nothing worth mention, which is probably why people are underestimating him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarek Z
Are you sure we are UNDERestimating him ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Backa
Yes we are
Of course I am not 100% sure, maybe I am overestimating him. Time will tell.Quote:
Originally Posted by Krigen
Anyway, number of rally wins itself doesn't matter that much to me. Sometimes 2nd place in event with stronger competition is more respectable than win somewhere else.
So, we want to see rally great again (MRGA), but as soon as some new guy appears on the horizon, we all are jumping on him. I already wrote, that I noticed McErlean few years ago in ERC Rallies Poland and Latvia - he was not far from Sesks pace and that was noticeable considering that he had grown on tarmac. Yes, he has not won any big rally yet, but he has the speed. Lets hope he will be able adopt to WRC Aero physics and we will actually see him progressing fast.
Spot on! I was too lazy to write my toughts about McErlean but if I had written, it would have been exactly what AndersX wrote.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndersX
Not true. Did anybody jump on Sesks or Pajari? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by AndersX
True that. There was so many guys more suitable for that seat. Sesks is the first choice obviously because he already beat many top guys at debut, with slower car. No matter how good he know Latvia roads, it's the top class and the grid is competitive with multiple event winners and many title winners. Then there was Solberg, Rossel, Gryazin, Virves... Even two irish stars were better or at least showed something, Armstrong and Creighton. This was pure money. I hope that he will show something, or we could have another crawling "Munster" of course we are happy for new talent, but calling him talent over many better talents isn't justified. Sorry.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarek Z
Calling him good driver with potential doesn't mean drivers deserving that seat more but omitted due to business side of rally don't exist.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Between taking best talent possible (that would be Solberg, not Sesks as Swede showed more on tarmac and slow gravel) and "pure money" is plenty of space in between. Gryazin and Rossel would be also more deserving but McErlean is younger, less experienced and not that far off from them in terms of performance.
30-years old Armstrong and 27-years old Creighton didn't show enough to be considered more investment-worthy than 25-years old McErlean. Creighton in 2023 Junior WRC showed similar results as G.Munster but somehow McErlean is "Munster-like" and Creighton isn't?
M-Sport is a private business and choosing a driver is a business decision. Simple as that. You can not provide a car if you don't have money for that.
We should not blame that McErlean found his way to have a seat, we can only cry that WRC is on the level that many promising talents never get a chance to show and validate their talents.
Don't forget that McErlean isn't there because of his own money. He's there because he has been selected by Motorsports Ireland as a promising young driver and has sufficiently impressed a very rich Irish competitor to back him so far. This rich backer has supported Motorsports Ireland's young driver programme for many years and McErlean is just the latest in a long line of Irish drvers who have made it to ERC & WRC level because of this backing. If McErlean continues to develop I'm sure his support will develop, if not he'll fall by the wayside to make room for the next promising youngster.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Boyd
I think its good that McErlean gets a chanse, he's Irisch, i think there's a pretty large fanbase in Ireland, so thats also good.
Lets see how he can compare to Munster fof instance. good first benchmark.
It's just weird to see someone who was 9th in wrc2 last year, someone without any victory or even a few decent results in the past jump to wrc1.
But i guess M-sport just needs the money. And perhaps we're all wrong and he suddenly turns out to be some massive talent.
And how is that different in many ways to Taka though?
Not. Katsuta is only in an rc1 because he is japanese and toyoda wants some japanese driver in his cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal yet again
It's understandable the some people are upset that a more deserving driver isn't in that M-Sport Rally 1 seat (....or both). Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way, especially in the rallying world. It's not like there are sponsors queuing up to put their company name on a car which quite frankly isn't going to be seen by many people. Just look at the crowds at the ceremonial start in Monte Carlo, the "jewel in the crown", right now.....there aren't any.
So, if someone is willing is willing to pay, at least it keeps another team in the sport to fight another day. Without that money, we are watching two teams. That's the sad reality of the WRC currently. It's a minority sport, mainly for people who can fund themselves, lets stop pretending otherwise and enjoy the show.
To be fair, ceremonial starts are waste of time, especially when stages later that day are relatively far from it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doon
On the other hand it is an opportunity to bring the rally to the center of the cities, to show it "normal" people. It can be good promotion for the sport and also for the hosting city (and you need government to support the rally). And it is also good for competitors as they can have picture from unique place.Quote:
Originally Posted by Backa
Munster doing so well is an encouraging sign for what Sesks can do in the season. And it's proof that the Puma is certainly on par with the other R1s.
Yeah, I meant waste of time from perspective of fans that travelled to Rally Monte Carlo. There is decent amount of people at actual Rally Monte Carlo so using ceremonial start crowd is strange argument.Quote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
Although I agree with core point, if anything, I hope more drivers like McErlean and Munster get funding from their local sponsors. It's not F1 with "fixed" 20 seats, M-Sport risked having 1 full time driver if not McErlean and his sponsors.
Ford are entering WEC and Le Mans in 2027. A bit worrying as Ford isn't flush with cash and WRC support may have to go...
Really? I thought they are aiming at rallying (WRC and W2RC/Dakar). Well, they don't care for some time now. I guess Malcolm could reach out to MG and aim there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
They won't cut the WRC program if the 2027 rules make sense. Rushbrook has said so.If WRC decides to kill itself, it's neither Ford's nor M-Sport's problem. And Malcolm won't drop Ford anyways. He is the only guy that can service/manufacture parts for all their rally cars from the last 30 years. Prodrive went back to supporting the Subarus they made. Historic rallying is a big business now.
The other issue could be the Mk2 Puma road car due in 2027 will be electric only. Will M-Sport run an EV Rally1 car under the '27 Regs ?
Having only the badge on the car and putting literally no money into it, I would not call "their" wrc programme. They are just probably donate cars and give them some technical support, but money wise they don't want to hear anything. They are just enjoying how M-Sporters are faithful to the brand. It's just like Paddon is to Hyundai brand. They like to brag when success come. Remember that WEC is way more expensive to build the car, run season and probably way more expensive in develop. Ford situation isn't very good at the moment and probably they will not run many world class programmes simultaneously. F1, now WEC, Dakar... Probably for WRC they will not have "budget" even if that will be cut to half, there will still be excuses. I bet that now they will say that they want "green" energy and WRC isn't there. That's why I have an opinion that M-Sport should reach to different brand. Why would they stick to the brand, who really don't want to support them properly, and most importantly don't produce cars which are the best for that sport. Even if they still have great selling numbers in lower categories and run JWRC, those Fiestas will eventualy be too old, will not be upgraded anymore and what car will replace them?Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
The situation in WRC had gone from uncertain to really bad. I'm really shocked and having fingers crossed that some new names would come and now hearing this gives me absolute no hope at all. So I will try to enjoy it while it last.
To be fair Ford has been faithful to rallying too, even if providing less support than than it used to give.
The likes of rally legends Lancia, Citroen and Subaru are all long gone so you couldn't blame Ford for going too.
Yes, if you look at the seventies, eighties, nineties and up till now - Ford has always been present in rallying in some way. You can't say the same about Lancia, Citroen, Peugeot, Subaru...
"More Than Machine", the documentary series following M-Sport Ford’s season in WRC, earned a ‘Highly Commended’ accolade in the Best Documentary category at The Race Media Awards:
https://www.wrc.com/a/news/w29193_Mo...e-Media-Awards
I'm aware of that, they are/were the most faithful brand in the series. But choosing to leave right now when the series could reconstruct again is just sad. Very sad. And angry that WEC keep getting them. But here, no matter what those up there do, nobody care. I personaly never like this prototype ugly no road revelance cars racing for hours. It's boring and not exciting for me. I tried it and fall asleep soon. So not for me. Also don't get why brands keep signing there, if the field have huge numbers. How those could even get good results if there is too much competition. Rally is the only sport in the world, which can race on any kind of road, in any kind of weather at any time through season. Practicaly have everything that all other series have, and also many more features added up. When in F1 it's 30 degrees or some light rain drops fall, they immediately cry and it's too hard to race for comparision. I just suggest that Malcolm could change brand, since Ford are really not making them easier for their business. Things change and also prodrive didn't stick to only Subarus through their era of rallying.
WEC is very cheap to enter in LMDh form at least. Chassis are off the shelf, hybrid system is a common part and you can use any engine you want thanks to BoP. BMW uses an old DTM unit that is essentially 30 yo technology. Hyundai will use 2 WRC engines sticked together. Ford may well opt for the old reliable 2.0L Duratec WRC engine that has produced over 600hp in RX and Hill climbing events. That's the advantage WEC has now. Barrier of entry is very low. Spaceframe kinda does the same in WRC, but having to produce a 1.6T engine limits options.
You just have no understanding of Endurance racing.......And it has always been more road relevant than rallying; that's the very heart of what the ACO want for their series....Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
To be frank, you sound like the classic WRC fan with a chip on their shoulder because other series are better run, and are more successful.
Everytime there are news about Toyota, Hyundai and Ford doing something non-WRC related in motorsport, people starts writing black scenarios. It's kinda funny.
If costs of having WRC programme decrease with new regulations while marketing benefits remain on similar level, brands will most probably remain, no matter if they are racing in F1, WEC, are title sponsors of golf tournaments or whatever.
Really? In what way?Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
You can't blame us when Toyota are the only ones fully-funding their WRC programme thanks to Toyoda-San being a big rally fan.Quote:
Originally Posted by Backa
Hyundai are on a budget as seen many times (limited test events, no spare cars etc) and Ford is barely funding M-Sport enough to continue at all (relying on M.Wilson and pay drivers).
Hyundai remains competitive against Toyota while being on budget and Ford gets some decent publicity from time to time on low cost. And then we have 2027 regs focused on making it's more cost-effective. It's understandable to not expect similar prosperity as Formula 1 get in last years but WRC is quite likely to continue being fine/mediocre - pick one that in your opinion describe current WRC better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
I simply don't get that "it's either WEC or WRC" perspective. Manus have resources to be in both as long as marketing benefits outweight costs.