One has to admire Petter's loyalty to Subaru, bought or not.
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One has to admire Petter's loyalty to Subaru, bought or not.
Not so sure it has to do with loyality, i think he has always been under contract when there has been good places avilable.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkka
He knows he has nowhere else to go. I dont think he would have the balls to go alongside Loeb in Citroen.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkka
I don’t think Petter has a problem with his faith in him self as a driver :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Lightyear
Guess it is more like Tomi said that good (and paid) seats has not been available at the right time.
I think he now will just stay out his contract (09), what team is the best option for 2010? Peugeot?
I think it is very sensible for any former champion and proven winner not to go into Loeb's team, its a bit like being Schumacher's team mate at Ferrari - I guess the only one who will get parity of treatment at Citroen will be Ogier.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Lightyear
Petter's contract extension signed in 06 was for 07, 08, and 09 seasons.
Its as if everything ends at end of 09 season, Loeb / Sordo/ Red Bull at Citroen, Petter and Atkinson at SWRT, etc. Just in time for that stupid 2010 calendar.........
According to Autosport we can expect a lot of M2 teams next year. If not the economic situation in the world take the edge of them.
Citroen M1 + 2x M2
Ford M1 + 4 or 5 x M2
Subaru M1 + 1 or 2 x M2
Suzuki ???
Rumours say that Suzuki will do a Skoda, pull out and concentrate on building and testing a new car based on the new regulations that FIA hopefully can agree and publish soooooon !!!
So minimum 6xM1 and 14xM2, max 7 M1 (1 extra Sub) and 18M2.
Can be fun !
Who are the other teams that Autosport.com is predicting?
Ford: BP + Stobart + Munchi + Van Merksteijn + ?
Citroen: Red Bull + ? + ?
Subaru: SWRT + Adabt + Gronholm/Mikkelsen
Suzuki: Suzuki?
It is now more than likely that Citroen M2 team will look like this:
*Mikkelsen
*Rautenbach
*Ogier(6 rallys)
Urmo Aava will drive a different car next year.
i find this strange that aava moves to a different car. The c4 makes him look good. why move to a ford when you just another pay per driver, and the subaru is a crock of *****.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaanus
Maybe Ford is cheaper or he fears to drive in the shadow of Mikkelsen?Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Lightyear
the best car does not come cheap. the question remains, does he want to further his career or be a pay per driver..Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy
For Ford they were mentioning RAMSport and Dom Buckley MotorsportQuote:
Originally Posted by alleskids
Citroen: RB + PH Sport plus one more, that they did not name
Sub: Adapta, plus they also say that SWRT could run two teams themselves
What makes you think he would be in the shadow of Mikkelsen?Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy
So, making a review of the rumours...
CITROEN (WORKS)
Loeb-Sordo
FORD (WORKS)
Hirvonen-Latvala-Al Qassimi
SUBARU (WORKS)
P Solberg-Atkinson
SUZUKI
Gardemeister-Andersson
STOBART
Wilson-H Solberg?-Galli?-Duval?
CITROEN M2
Rautenbach-Aava?-Burkart?-Mikkelsen?
CITROEN 2nd M2 TEAM
Ogier?-Aava?-Burkart?-Mikkelsen?
VAN MERKSTEIJN
Peter Jr-Stohl?-Duval?
SUBARU M2
Ostberg-Mikkelsen?-Grondal?-Wilks?-Meeke?
MUNCHIS?
Villagra?-H Solberg?
Actually before people get all exited, then we only know that one new M2 team is confirmed, and that's the PH-Sport team.
We also know that we will only have 2 Citroën teams next year since it's confirmed that Citroën will not run more than 5 cars (2 for the works team and on some events 3 for the PH-Sport team)
The Adapta team will only happen if they can find a driver for the second seat alongside Østberg - otherwise Østberg will run in the Subaru team.
The van Merkstein team is likely to happen, but is still not confirmed.
For the rest of the socalled new M2 teams, then I just don't believe it.
I have heard rumours about Citroen M2 team,
Red Bull team with Travis Pastrana.
Yes, and who would will be the drivers?Quote:
Originally Posted by Micke_VOC
Never happen in a million years... well not next year... anyway. Pastrana.. with all the good will in the world.. would not finish on the same hour as Loeb. Its would be a marketing disaster for Red Bull.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micke_VOC
Travis Pastrana and ??Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
Maybe just a few rounds
Just a rumour.
Does anyone get the feeling that nobody wants the Otsberg 2nd car....
lol, it would be good for Rautenbach to get a guy in wrc he can beat by driving.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micke_VOC
Yes but things might change when all the rally cars gets confirmed drivers, if after that there is someone without a car and if he is very desperate he might choose the Subaru.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Lightyear
But do Otsberg have the balls to enter an M2 team, without a second driver in place?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
Their deal with SWRT is that they will run a car under their flag if they dont find second driver in Adapta team, my guess is several drivers in the second car Grøndal?, Wilks?, Tiribassi?
How many rally must M2 teams compete in next year 8? 10?
Whats the difference in enering in a M2 team or privateer, in my opinion nothing, he would have to drive against the same guys anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Lightyear
The difference is that then he can score manufacturers points as well and appear in the ranking list as for example Subaru Adapta rally team or if they find another pay driver then for example Subaru Adata Pepsi Rally team :-) That is another possibility to expose sponsors name and possibility to score points even if you are out from top 8. But there are many restrictions as well.. too manyQuote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
Yes but all of that is secondary, the only thing a privateer should do is to look how much he has money and with that money try to find as good car a possible because all the other privateers are fighting for the same works seats.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluuford
There was an article about Urmo Aava few days ago in Estonian media.
Urmo said he tested the Subaru Impreza WRC08 in England for 40 km and said the car was not as bad as he expected. He said that he had a meeting with Subaru team boss, but nothing was signed. He also said there are many rich drivers pushing the prices up for a full season in a good team. Urmo has a budget of 2 million euros for next year, but he thinks it is not enough for all 12 rallys and he hopes to get the best deal possible.
Urmo is in my opinion maybe the best of all privateers this year, also I dont think its a big problem if he cant afford to drive a full season, better to drive less in a good car than all in a bad one, for him I think it would be good to choose rallys that requires skill rather than Turkey kind "cruising around stones" events.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaanus
Or his fairly strict with Subaru in the USA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Lightyear
Seems as though Pastrana has accepted he would have to give up many of his other endeavours if he were to pursue the WRC and is unwilling to give those up as of now...
Yes, but have they not signed a deal with Prodrive to run an official M2 team?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
Grøndal did not get together a budget for WRC with Adapta in 09, and will do the Norwegian Championship in his S10.
Who will get the Adapta seat then ?
What do we know of the rest of the field per today, both in M1 and M2 ?
After having driven the PH Sport C4 WRC this season, not sure Urmo Aava is taking the right decision if he decides to drive a Subaru S14 in 2009... :mark:
I think it is about money. C4 is sure expensive toy...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Micke_VOC
Hard to believe an american driver in the C4, as Citroën isn't present as manufacturer in USA :mark:
By the way, is the austrian team project using whales as cars cancelled(Stohl and another) ??? :confused:
Mikkelsen was with less experience and in some rallies with a slower car faster of close by Aava.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
Further I think Citroen want to invest in a young(er) driver.
According the website the plan is to do 8 WRC rounds as MT. But is not 100% yet. First 2 rounds are planned: Ireland and Norway.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeD
Drivers are father and son Peter van Merksteijn (Jr.) Duval is not an option because the sponsors, Merksteijn and Structo, do the same. One in steel, the other in concrete.
Last week Evgeny Novikov has tests with PH-Sport (Citroen C4 WRC) and M-Sport (Ford Focus WRC 2008). Also he`ll have tests with Adapta team (Subaru). For the next year Novikov`s team choose between P-WRC (full season) and M2 (6-8 rally`s).
What about Matt Wilson in 09 ?
Will he see the picture ?
Stobart give their yes or no. I think yes for 2009.Quote:
Originally Posted by M5