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Seems like Nasser Al-Attiyah wants to compete in WRC next year
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If I understood well, he wants to compete with his own team (the car should be a DS3 or a Fiesta) and he also talks about a 5 years plan for a young Qatari driver... still if I understood well.
The new technical director of VW team is Willy Rampf, previously known as F1 team Sauber's technical director.
Volkswagen pestasi Rampfin tekniseksi johtajaksi - Ralli - Turun Sanomat
To be honest, I am quite surprise Meeke does not come up for mention more here. He is probable going to be the driver that does for WRC what Colin did for it not so long ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by tfp
Yeah, like Latvala has been for 7 yearsQuote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
good for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
Not sure off many other drivers who have set top 3 times in their WRC Tarmac debut
Kimi set fastest time in his WRC tarmac debut :)Quote:
Originally Posted by wildsir
:) Yeah, he has progressed in leaps and bounds since.
Has Monsieur Ogier has been summoned to higher the PSA Godfathers?
AUTOhebdo.fr | Ogier convoqué par la Direction de Citroën
Volkswagen is much closer to join WRC in 2013.
Volkswagen tested in WRC Rally Germany the Skoda Fabia S2000 with the German Christian Riedemann and Dutch driver Hans Weijs. How you know the new VW Polo R WRC will be based on Skoda Fabia. The manufacture from Wolfsburg plans is to join WRC in 2013.
The test in Germany last weekend was successful for the team while the both rally pilots finished respectively 13th and 15th. Christian Riedemann is a 24-years old starting his career in 2006 at eighteen years of age in Rally Oberland. Hans Weijsis also 24-years old who started his career at seventeen years of age in 2004 for a selection day of KNAF Talent First, a big talent scouting by the Dutch federation.
“Our test run at the Rally Germany went without the slightest problems and again provided us with many new findings. After three victories at the Dakar Rally we’ve got to re-organize ourselves in some areas and gather as much experience as possible. Our team had done a good job of preparing itself and accomplished the mission without making any mistakes,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. It is expecting new tests of Skoda Fabia S2000 soon the sport car using to build the new Polo R WRC.
Jari Ketomaa today confirmed about taking a part in at least 6 rounds in WRC next year. It's still not clear about car's brand... There is also plans to drive selected IRC rounds.
I bet 1 Euro on the silly season:
Loeb-P.Solberg [Citroen]
Ogier(or Tanak)-Latvala [Ford]
Meeke-Sordo [MINI]
Hirvonen-Hanninen [VW]
No
No
Yes
No
What's your bet? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Tänak has said to estonian press that he will not be in WRC 2012. Initial plan is to run one more season in SWRC.
In fact, as he's signed with M-Sport, would be "only" the 2nd choice. But I really think Ogier will be the boost Ford needs now for tarmac and winter developement. Hirvonen is anything else than his shadow, compared to 2 years ago, so he needs to change team. I think Ford of Europe will give an extra-budget to pick Ogier...Quote:
Originally Posted by cali
It would be nice if Ogier would move to Ford. But at first we need to have confirmation that Ford will run in WRC 2012. Secondly, M-Sport needs to step up the game and be more competitive or they even may have problems with Mini.Quote:
Originally Posted by Motorsportfun
Maybe they solve much problems with some more budget by Ford of Europe; more money to test and try to fix the various issues, more results...Quote:
Originally Posted by cali
Come on, use some sense. Ogier has more than a decade left in the sport, and the driver on top of any list. He will never leave Citroen if not for a team with better capital/prospects like potentially VW. Latvala and Hirvonen should also flee on first opportunity. M-Sport has dig into a hole, and I think they need to PROVE their way out of it before any of the top 4-5 names sign any paper with them again.
I doubt any driver with ambition right now sees ford as an option nowadays...I really hope tanak has a contract that can break easily otherwise i think he is in trouble.
as for the bet for 2012
citroen Ogier/Loeb
Ford Hirvonen/Latvala
Mini Sordo/Meeke
WV Hanninen/various guys depending on the event
I find it hard to believe that someone in a works team would leave competition at the highest level to join a testing season and ladycup competition, its way too risky.
i think there are several drivers who would love to drive for ford...
And they're all mentally disturbed...... ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by darkstar
due to lack of options they arent...i think even p. solberg would take the chance with ford to get back to a payed drive and so would every driver who pay´s for his drive himself.
Ogier to Ford?
Interesting articles :)
Basically Ogier is not satisfied with team orders and that Loeb has been promised to have some "guarantees" when he signed new contract with Citroen.
Also Wilson is more than keen to sign Ogier which means that one of the finns will have to leave.
Ogier saattaa syrjäyttää suomalaisen Fordilta - MTV3.fi - Urheilu - Ralli - Uutiset
Wilson haluaa Ogierin Fordille - Ralli - Turun Sanomat
It is possible:
VW - Hanninen and Sordo
Don't forget Carlos Sainz who also can recommend someone .... like Sordo.
Ogier has contract up to 2013.... and him going to ford would destroy his career.
Free translation from the last article:Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
"Ogierin tilanteen Gales kuittasi:
– Ogierilla on sopimus meidän kanssamme tästä kaudesta, mutta en halua kommentoida vuosia 2012 ja 2013."
Jean-Marc Gales stated:
Ogier has a contract with us for this season, but I do not want to make any comments about forthcoming seasons 2012 and 2013
But ofcourse this news could be BS as well ...
what about this then ??? back in 2010Quote:
Originally Posted by cali
Sébastien Ogier: “I’d like to thank Citroën for renewing its confidence in me, and what’s more, for three seasons! I made my world championship debut with this team, and I’ve always said that my priority was to stay with them. I’m thrilled at the idea of driving the new generation World Rally Cars, and of defending the colours of the make at the topmost level. Like Sébastien, I’m fully concentrated on the end of this season starting with the Finnish Rally, where I’ll be part of the Citroën Total World Rally Team for the first time!”
good for himQuote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
and better for us
IRDA World Drivers ranking at 24/08/2011
IRDA - World Drivers ranking at 24/08/2011
It's very common that these long term contracts are full of options I believe it would be quite easy for Ogier to jump to another team if he so wants for next season.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
"us" who? You and the 2 other rallyfans who expected Kimi to win rallies or just like to bash him down?Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Seriously, one day you should tell me what results did you expected from a former F1 driver...
i expected nothing from a F1 driver....Quote:
Originally Posted by focus206
I also expected the media would treat him like a F1 driver and not a rally driver with a future in the sport
I also expected that some rally fans would treat him like a f1 driver
there is a thread about kimi where you can see my views on him ...search it, some even had almost daily news on his rally career and even diagrams with his progress...but somehow they dissapeared after they realised it was just a fluke and a publicity stunt.
Ok, I understand your point, but frankly, even if few fans does, I never heard the media or a high number of fans saying that Kimi would have won this and that. To me, what he did in the WRC is more than enough. Instead, I heard all this things about Block, who is neither a shadow of a WRC driver.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Anyway, neither Kimi or Ken said something like "I will win so many things" so, they did nothing wrong. If you want someone to give the fault, they are these kind of fans, not Raikkonen himself.
I think one of the Finns will be leaving through the choice - VW is an attractive option for most drivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by cali
Raikkonen had the guts to give it a go, he even took a stage win :) So hats off to him as far as I'm concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by focus206
On the other hand, I wonder what will become of Kaj Lindstrom? Will he have a seat next year?
I've had to delete several posts just in the last 3 pages of this thread. Without naming any names I know there are several of you who are frustrated with one poster. I get that.
I'm sure if I had the time to go back through and read every post I would find out why (actually I already have an idea, having seen the posts that have been reported).
That person (and I'm quite sure he knows who he is, I can tell by the tenor of his posts that he does these things on purpose) has only so much rope left and he will eventually run out and hang himself with it. In the meantime the rest of you who have had your posts deleted don't need to be adding fuel to the fire and getting yourselves in trouble along with him.
Everyone has an opinion, and is entitled to them. Everyone does NOT have the right to attack other posters, even when they are annoying as heck. So stop it.
I'm not taking any further action to the posters whose posts I have deleted- no points, bans, PM's, nothing THIS TIME because I understand and feel their frustration.
But I am watching and will be popping in from time to time. I'd do it more, but I really don't watch rally (dont have much access to it here in the states) and because of that ignorance I wouldn't be able to add to the discussion with anything worthwhile anyway.
Please don't make me have to do something that I really don't want to do........
That is all, rant over. You may now go back to your regularly scheduled posting.
If we stire the suop up a bit more, than what if Ogier goes to Ford than it leaves Hirvonen without a contract but if he goes to Citroen as nr.2 to Loeb instead of VW.
Let`s be honest here he is probably the best nr.2 driver in the world as his speed clearly isn`t good enough to be number one(everywhere else except Finland). Also seems as neither of the Finns at Ford are particularly super good at adjusting and testing the car, which should be the most important thing for VW.
And Citroen could use a good nr.2 driver for their manufactorer championship campaign. Similar as Mikko was nr.2 at Ford with Grönholm as nr.1 and they won the manufactorer championship twice back then.
Seems as the most interesting thing for rest of the season is outside of the Rallies themselves( both championships more or less certain at the moment)
Quote:
Originally Posted by FVS
I actually made a similar point on another forum about Mikko going to Citroen:
"Hmm, actually, Hirvonen going to Citroen isn’t the worst suggestion I’ve heard. He doesn’t seems to have an ego, and would provide the perfect back up to Loeb, and a change of scenery might do him the world of good. Add in the fact he would be a likely winner in Sweden/ Finland – it makes sense.
However, Ogier going to Ford to partner Latvala could be ‘interesting’ – more fireworks methinks. Unless Latvala goes to VW….???"
ok i will change the way i express my self then, but not my views.Quote:
Originally Posted by slorydn1
It would be interesting to see what really bothers people, the way i say things ? or the things i say...
it will be a nice expreriment, because i always thought that the way someone expresses himself doesn't affect the outcome much. People tend to object on the substance and get out of control not on the details.