My guess is Duval...Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeakiwi
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My guess is Duval...Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeakiwi
I'll go with Pekka Vilpponen.Quote:
Originally Posted by dupanton
I would say Aki Mökkönen, because he is very fast! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
Lukyanuk :)
Im sure Suninen will drive for Msport next year, just don't know whether he'll be in a Dmack shod car or run with Michelins.
There's really no point in Evans continuing with Dmacks now, he needs to step up to Michelin rubber to get a better idea of his level against the others. As it is now, whenever he has a superb result it can be attributed to the tyres, and when he has an awful result it's the same. Big season for him next year.
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Kopecky would be my guess. Get the thing sorted on tarmac and still very quick on gravel.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
For "first" WRC2 driver it would make sense for Hyundai to let Paddon or Sordo do the job... Both are experienced and very fast. :) One of them will be demoted to 4th driver anyway, maybe a program consisting of WRC2 + additional events with WRC for the unluckiest of the 2? I don't see why Hyundai should attract an extra driver, while they already have 4 drivers who deserve a WRC seat.
My guess is Conrad RautenbachQuote:
Originally Posted by dupanton
I hope there is no mandatory events so both Paddon and Sordo can drive full WRC2 season ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
6 rallies for both and 7th to that driver who needs it more or if both needs Huttunen can drive 3rd WRC18...
Tbh i don't really see Camilli have a chance to step up to WRC next year unless he got some funding to run as privateer. Tbh i liked him and he's getting consistent this yearQuote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I still believe:
1. he had no fund/much less money than people thought him as pay driver
2. he went to top class too premature. with only 3-4 gravel rallies & 1 season on 4WD car before jumping into WRC car is not ideal
About Camilli.. I think that he have no chance, maybe, just maybe if there will be two cars at DMACK (they wanted to have 2 this year). But that are just thoughts. What I saw he is doing better when he was not signed for WRC2 points.
About Hyundai and someone mention 2 cars in WRC2 category. Huttunen is obviously 2nd driver if that is true. And I think that Chewon Lim wouldn't be first because he isn't at that level. My thoughts is that Paddon will be there. He is fast and because of his dissaster season it's logic. But what I read and someone said that before, Hyundai New Zealand is prepare to pay for him for whole season at top level. And that Toyota is interest for that market there but Hyundai's there are determined for him.. I think that they would not put Sordo down, that would be embarrassing. And also looking for another driver is pointless.
Paddon stepping back to WRC2 i can see happening, But i think Sordo would rather quit than go to WRC2.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
I agree, why would Sordo go backwards? He has said before that if he doesn't feel he is competitive anymore he would quit. He could easily start a tarmac driving school in addition to the go kart track and make a comfortable living? I can see the logic to doing a partial program for Paddon on gravel and Sordo on tarmac, you get the best of both drivers and both are capable of winning on their preferred surface. But doing that would spell the end to both their WRC careers I feel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvel
Hayden is well liked in NZ and Hyundai really seem to back him here, ie setting up their own AP4 car which he is then allowed to share around who drives it etc. So I don't imagine they would want him to leave as he is a great ambassador for them. Whether a WRC2 program is an option I don't know, but I would imagine he would do everything to avoid it if possible as that's pretty much a death sentence on your career... Very few people have been lucky enough to be kicked out of a WRC and then promoted back into the WRC later on!
That is only M-Sport's school. Quick raise to the top level, next down a little then raise again and that's it.
Talk of Paddon doing WRC2 surely is nonsense. Why would it happen? Some of you need to face reality. Until his season went off the rails last year Paddon easily had the measure of both his team mates and also Mikkelsen. I expect 2018 will see a vastly different Paddon to 2017 together with some added reliability in the car. I would expect to see him leading the charge at Hyundai for some years to come.
Aren't we almost there already?Quote:
Originally Posted by Munkvy
Yes car let both down quite a few times but...
Sordo did decent on most gravel rallies, but that means getting 3-5 place, depending on how many of the top retire (top being Ogier, Tanak, Neuville, Latvala). Good as 3rd car for collecting points yes, but probably can't expect to get better at this point. On tarmac it was 4th in Monte (behind all the mentioned drivers), 3rd place in Corsica (close, but due to Ogier technical problems) and then 2x DNF.
Sadly for Paddon it does not look much better, inconsistent on gravel (with many car issues) is one thing, but the lack of tarmac progress is more worrying.
Yes it totally makes sense to keep both and switch them in 3rd car or occasionally run 4th car until end of their contract, but something needs to change if they are to get a new one. I hope Paddon shows some consistency in the next round, even without top 3 pace.
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Edit:
No point in WRC2, but other tarmac rounds are clearly needed, else he won't be leading any charge.Quote:
Originally Posted by sollitt
Yes last season he did well... but nevertheless ended behind both Neuville and Mikkelsen in the standings.
The problem Hayden has is what has he done since he won in Argentina, over a year and a half ago?Quote:
Originally Posted by sollitt
That should've been the springboard for him to go from strength to strength and start competing with the big boys regularly. Instead, he's been off the pace, had lots of crashes, had non existent pace on tarmac and failed to deliver many good results at all (2 podiums since that win? Or 3?)
His form has played a big part in Hyundai not having a shot at the manufactures title more than Sordo's form has, and the time has come where Hyundai need to win titles in the WRC. So it's obvious something had to be changed, and Paddon was the easy target for Spain.
Thankfully he's still got age on his side and can bounce back, and maybe in Wales and Australia he can regain some front running pace. He's also seen his team mate Neuville go through a longish slump and eventually turn it around, so despite their differences, maybe he should have a word with Thierry about what he did to comeback a stronger driver. Hyundai should also know what it takes. He's a really likeable guy and I'd love it if he keeps a fulltime seat next year but things aren't looking too positive right now
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I think that half of his problems start because of that horrible accident. No one deserves that. He is not guilty of anything. Such a bad luck...And then changing co-driver, few technical issues just pour gasoline into the fire. Then Rally New Zealand (which he really wish that would return to calendar) was not accepted. Really season to forget, except one really good result of Poland. And bench him really doesn't help.
I really wanted to see him again on the trail. We probably (fans) doesn't want to see him be in WRC2 next year but we can't do anything if bosses say so...
What about Breen. He is doing fantastic job at Citroen this year. And if Ogi come to the team he will share a car, probably with Loeb and Qassimi (each 3 rounds) and what left for Breen half a season... That's gift for hard work he's been doing... Well done team Citroen...
That's why I cheer for 4 cars next season. It would be a lot easier... But clearly a lot more expensive...
I think Neuville has played a big part in Hyundais championship failure. He threw away two perfect results completely needlessly at the beginning of the season, in a car that it's been clear over the year has been designed around him and his driving style. Then he has failed to finish in the last two rounds, further screwing Hyundai, on surfaces where he was expected to lead the charge for Hyundai. And Hayden then finished the best of the Hyundais on tarmac in Germany, which says a lot about the teams year...Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Hopefully Hyundai give Hayden a second chance next year, and they are rewarded like they were with Neuville after his massive slump.
I think your memory is missing a few things, he has still had good pace on gravel this year, yes made a few mistakes but been let down by car problems more often.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
-Running in podium position in Mexico before car problems
-Argentina a couple of stage wins but out of contention due to early roll and later car problems
-Portugal a few stage wins and was in contention before car problems
-Sardinia a couple of stage wins and leading most of the rally before crashing
-Poland P2 and a couple of stage wins
-Finland unlucky with hitting rocks but fastest Hyundai and top 5 placings on almost every stage he did.
Agreed that he needs more improvement on tarmac, he is faster than he was but not close enough to the top yet.
Maybe Tanak to Toyota, Ogier to Citroen and Neuville to M-Sport Ford. Don't discount the last one if he does not win the WDC this season.
TGR_WRC*@TGR_WRC 5m
Welcome to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT in 2018 Ott Tänak! Read more here: https://goo.gl/pAv81H
Tänak confirmed to Toyota
Thierry to M-sport - total nonsense. He have contract and Hyundai will not let him get away. Like at that time in 2016 he nearly go away but that didn't happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mk2 RS2000
We would see possible moves only for free drivers, not that ones who have contracts. That's Ogier, Tanak, maybe Tidemand, Ostberg...
Updated Tänak to opening post listing
Maybe Citroen and M-Sport (depends on which team Ogier is going to) should start talking with Sordo and Paddon. Sordo is a solid point scorer while Paddon is still a rather promising talent who is able to fight for the title in future. I think it´s a better choice than bringing back Ostberg and Camilli in case of M-Sport or Lefebvre in case of Citroen...
In the case of Citroen, if they don't get Ogier, I think they'll switch between Lefebvre, Loeb and Al-Qassimi in the third car. They don't really have an open seat for a full time driver unless you take away Breen's seat, but ATM it seems Breen's doing just as well as Sordo or Paddon.Quote:
Originally Posted by JUF
If it's true that Ford will get more backing and now that Tänak's gone, maybe M-Sport can afford Ogier after all, and maybe he's convinced to stay there? Third seat to be decided between Suninen, Tidemand and Camilli. But hard to say which one gets picked. I wouldn't doubt hiring Suninen, but most likely it's not that simple.
Sorry for Paddon and Sordo, but you can now clearly see why Hyundai had to get someone who can deliver result right now. Getting beaten by Toyota in 2018, just on their second season since returning, would be a big no-no!
Sordo is a consistent deliverer...
*wasQuote:
Originally Posted by Tarmop
Well Sordo hadn't made any driving mistakes this year until Deutschland and has had numerous technical issues but still quite high in the points ranking. He's not a winner, but...a constant deliverer if something.
Tanak to Toyota was the worst kept secret.
But now it's confirmed it surely cant be long now til we find out the the big one - Ogier's situation.
mh?
Wow, that sucks if it's true.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hughc
Also, the tragicness of the accident in Monte Carlo was not his fault by any means. Also lots of technical failures this year, but also quite many driving mistakes and being off the pace in the tarmac rallies.
It doesn’t make sense to blame Neuville; till Catalunya, he gave Hyundai 141 manu pts (almost 3 times more than Paddon). In a leveled field like the current WRC, it’s hard for a manu to win the series with only one top driver and that was Hyundai main problem, besides some mechanical weakness that become evident in spain.Quote:
Originally Posted by Munkvy
Btw, how can you be so sure the i20 was developed around Neuville? He actually was the last one testing it, only after extending his contract in October 2016.
It's been said that Neuville never felt comfortable in the older Hyundai WRC cars, but the 2017 model was like made for him, meanwhile the new car does not suit Paddon's driving style and at the start of the season Paddon tried to adapt his style to the car but it did not work out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Power
Just like Latvala and polo, he try to copy Ogier and have no success either.. I'm sure when he find that right setup he will be flying for all back and forward...Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
But took over 2 months for You to believe it...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
If you have a capable driver involved in a car development since day 1, you may say the car was designed around him. It was the case with Loeb’s C4/DS3, Ogier and the Polo and even Tanak with the current Fiesta, but Neuville only took his first contact with the ’17 i20 two months after the testing/development started with Abbring, Sordo and Paddon at the wheel. It’s true that Neuville, like Sordo, has managed to easily adapt to the active diff, while Paddon struggled a bit with it, but that doesn’t necessarily means the i20 was designed with driver A, B or C in mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL