I think rallycross is the cause of his problems. You can't drive rally like a rallycross event. Maybe I'm wrong though
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I dont know yes his driving style is very agressive but good drivers can adapt to anything for example Grönholm. Root cause is in my opinion that he isnt learning and discovering things himself. There is rumors that his father even made him setup last season. When he starts to learn things him self he can find the style that he is most comfortable in. One of the reason i think he is driving so agressive is the pressure he is under and he is just trying too hard and the Fast driving now doesnt come naturally.
For Hyundai, there are two strategies possible IMO depending on their assessment of their priorities:
- either they consider reliability is the main issue and 3rd driver a minor one and they follow with one young guy with potential who have already made a RC1 development season, expecting that he could skyrocket; and in that case, Solberg is the obvious choice even if his season is difficult (Knowing the car and no other young drivers with already RC1 experience has been convincing so far)
- or they consider that the reliability issue is already so important that they prefer to deal with an experienced driver. However, there is no that much option available and no real driver deserving a full-time spot: best option would probably to convince Sordo to make another year (he said that retirement is not 100% decided) to share a car with Mikkelsen, Lappi (if Toyota decides not to keep him) or Suninen.
Taking a rookie doesn’t sound very possible considering there is no big talent available and you know you would have to spend another development season.
But the driver market will probably not moved before one or two months: all the main drivers have a contract (and 2 seats already locked for Toyota and Hyundai), a lot of uncertainty with youngsters being quite disappointing and also probably some question marks about the future of the trio Sordo/Loeb/Ogier.
Belgium-Greece and New Zealand (and at last Catalunya because Japan is too late) will probably help some directors to take decisions.
to me, best way for hiunday would be to make a satellite "monster energy" team with Solberg family running it, 1 car for oliver development without pressure and maybe another one for paying youngsters.
Main team with 3rd car free for rotating even 10 drivers if they fit.
What makes you think Elliott 'just says okay' to everything? Co-drivers without brains don't end up in world rally cars.
That's pretty rude about a guy with more than enough experience at the top level (don't forget he was Elfyn's test and gravel crew co-driver for a couple of years).
It's not like Gus turned into an instant rally winner after replacing him with Chris Patterson...
Marshall doesnt fit into the car
Anyone hear the Dirtfish podcast where they back Solberg's driving talent with reference to his speed at a young age in a 600hp RX car. And also in the high-spec Subaru WRX STI on his first experience of American rallies ?
He clearly has a big talent and I cant see him taking a step back from Rally 1. Small mistakes are punished hard at this level and look how many mistakes even the mighty Tanak made over the years before he became the finished article...