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Definitely difficult, but they have to find someone. Kris is always driving beyond his limits and these results are inevitable, it's tiresome to say the least.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
It is tiresome and i'm embarassed and frustrated for him.
But.. he remains the only driver to have won in that car, and I can't see anyone more capable who would want to go there. They could sign Mads permanently, he'd be reliable no doubt but he doesn't have that last bit of speed.
Bergkvist has rolled in JWRC category and others were stuck behind him
There is always guys behind for a seat. Loeb, Solberg, Raikkonen, Hanninen, Pontus, Lefebvre, Kopecky, Al-Atiyah even Dakar ones 4 of them are free (sainz, peterhansel...).
But don't worry. Citroen will probably retire from sport after penultimate round and that's it. Kris already give up. Hope that Breen find new seat, but it will be hard.
We will see.
Feel so sorry for him. Fastest guy, but like the other ones, he has to stay on the road.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Loeb doesn't want to, Pontus is tied to Skoda and the rest are either too old or nowhere near fast enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by ESTR
there's also a guy from Barbados following this rally ..lol
i'm truly disappointed in Kris...i really like the guy but he's just not keeping the car on the road and i do think his future with Citroen is very unsure now....they simply can't go on backing a guy who is fast but will crash out so often...i have no real potential driver solutions in that could be as fast and replace him at this time from the current crop of active WRC drivers
i feel the same way about Lavala, but for different reasons----he just can't seem to handle the pressure,,,,but again a very likable guy, however, WRC is not about personality
hopefully Neuville will keep it on the road and make the championship interesting
Only one of those who could be a serious option would be Hanninen, others are busy or old or inexperienced with these cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by ESTR
Suninen
Personally find it weird to go overboard about Meeke.
First off, this season he's been relatively clean for his standards. Robbed of a double podium in Corsica and Argentina, and without yet another puncture here he would've been up with Neuville. Clearly frustrated he makes a mistake, so predictable.
Nobody else has won in that car yet, and Citroen with their budget are looking for maximum exposure for the smallest input. Meeke gives them that atm. What's the point in having Ostberg or Sordo instead when they have Breen as the reasonably steady driver? What good is that going to do for the team? They'd have no real chance of wins then
Meeke has always crashed and been able to win. Nothing will change. If Citroen want to improve they need to sign Ogier, Loeb, Neuville or Tanak and keep Meeke and Breen. Punting Meeke won't do much. As has been said there isn't many better options with their current budget, and if they find extra budget they can still run a 3 car team of #1 driver, Meeke and Breen.
These heavy crashes must be taking their toll and not just on Meeke, but Nagle too. It cant be easy sitting there waiting for the next big crash...
And Kankkunen, he still aliveQuote:
Originally Posted by ESTR
I think any driver would prefer sitting in a Fiesta over a C3.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Exactly, which is why he will not win the championship.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
... and exactly why Citroen needs a real title contender. This year M-Sport, Hyundai and Toyota all have one. Seemingly both Toyota and Hyundai also have one possible extra contender.
Citroen does not only have the single "possible" one - Meeke.
Unless they suddenly find another driver (which they were trying with Breen and Lefevbre) they need to get one of those others (Ogier, Neuville, Tanak, Mikkelsen or Latvala). They were saying as much after Germany last year, let Mikkelsen go to focus on Ogier... and ended up with nothing.
I was kind of wondering why I don't see NOT posts?!?Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
What will you say about Tarquini... Sure is different thing but look how he drive against all these tough competion out there, so don't blame on old guys. If someone want to get back sure will find a hole and fit in.
I think that Meeke, Paddon and Latvala are out. Everyone talks at the begiining of the year about Sordo but look where he is now. He have many years in WRC and probably many years at Hyundai. They will not let go of him that quickly.
Latvala in a C3 screams mental breakdown to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
If Latvala was able to come back from 2016 he's surely going to come back from this year's misfortune. He's been quick today already.Quote:
Originally Posted by ESTR
I see now that Callum Devine is after loosing 2:37 sec because of this and all the others behind him four , five and six minutes - i wonder will the times be amended ?Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
It's not that simple. Some other manufacturer could give a better deal. Sordo may be frustrated with Hyundai for benching him half of the season when he's constantly driving better than his teammates. Like I've said before, this year's silly season will be interesting with all the contracts ending, but it's still too early for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by ESTR
Imagine they will, or notional times.Quote:
Originally Posted by irish_tiger
Maybe. But the discussion was about who can replace Meeke, from the perspective of competence. And to me Suninen is the one, if nothing else changes. So many factors to play roles.Quote:
Originally Posted by Watson
I think Del Barrio has been a big factor in Sordo resurgence this season despite his enforced weekends off.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I still think he was quick and realiable in 2017 as well, with some technical problems ruining early gravel rallies and a couple of rare mistakes on tarmac events later in the season.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
Quite many offs were his own fault, specially on the rallies where he should have scored (Germany, partly Spain) but also some of the gravel ones. Then there were the rallies where he has never been fast (Finland, GB).Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
He was reasonably fast a times yes, but nowhere near this year. This is (so far) his best season in like 7 years.
I think it's his best season since 2009....ok 2011 wasn't to bad in the MINI but 2009 was pretty good for the then young spaniard.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Today not Portuguese championship so roads will be a not much destroyed I hope
Meeke airlifted to hospital for checks.
without Paul?Quote:
Originally Posted by T16
Mads drive like crazy goat! AND I LIKE IT!!!
Sat 14:54 - Afternoon tyresA mixed bag of selections for tyres this afternoon: Hyundai and Breen: 4 soft, 2 hard. Toyota and Østberg: 5 hard. M-Sport Ford: 3 hard, 2 soft.
The road side cameras are well placed on this stage. Maybe they've taken some advice from You Tube guys!
The drone shots at the finish are fantastic, would love to see more of those
Nice run Elfyn. :)
Lucky to walk away from that one...Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
like a pancake
I think so.Quote:
Originally Posted by KKS
Meeke apparently has a back injury.