I dont, Richards says they try to find a brittish driver, and propably goes for a younger one, like they did before.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fide
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I dont, Richards says they try to find a brittish driver, and propably goes for a younger one, like they did before.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fide
Have you look at the tyres?
BF Goodrich....
and Citroën will use them too
What about Ford?
nice choice of car....i wonder if they will finish the season next year....
Glad it's finally announced, and judging from the sketch, the design looks pretty good. It's a wise choise to only do selected rounds next year, instead of rushing things too much. I'm pretty convinced Meeke will land in one of those cars.
If it's a SUV, then must be the lowest SUV on the market.Quote:
Originally Posted by Francis44
So, there's no problem on being a SUV.
I predict Petter Solberg with Mini... and why? Well, they need a drive with experience to the development, and thay need a driver with a good image wher start making rallies. Solberg has all of it, and Prodrive knows him very well.
I would be suprised if Ford didn't use BF Goodrich, I mean after all, when it comes to rally tyres, Michelin/BF Goodrich are the best.Quote:
Originally Posted by General Prim
All of what you say is a point of view form Mini/prodrive. And Petter himself?Quote:
Originally Posted by JAM
He knows Prodrive too... I don't think he want in a car made by prodrive.
Prodrive and Petter didn't enjoy the best of friendships during the latter years of the SWRT programme. Anything can happen when contracts are concerned, and it could be a marriage of convenience ( Mini need the publicity and Petter needs a manufacturer) but Petter had a better relationship with Subaru Japan than the management at Banbury.Quote:
Originally Posted by JAM
My guess is that Petter stands a better chance with a Toyota or Subaru return to WRC.
If he still is driving then, I belive this is his last year in WRC, actually they dont have the budget yet for this year either.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
And what better? Stop or go to work with Prodrive?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
And yes, Mini will need a top driver to present to the world. An unnemployed top-driver as Solberg, won't be ridiculous expensive.
That's my point.
Well, Richards said they are looking for a young Brittish driver, He is not young and not Brittish either.Quote:
Originally Posted by JAM
Thing is the only top british driver righ now is Meeke, and Im not sure if he wants to drop PSA group, and if he does I see him in Ford not at Mini.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
wilks is the other choice ...not that young anymore of course but capable to some extend.
and the choices end there.......
Im not so worried, im sure they find the right guys for the work, they have been testing drivers all the time, Im sure that they by now know who can drive and cant.Quote:
Originally Posted by Francis44
Wilks had raised the money for a 3rd Prodrive run S14 for the 2009 season before SWRT pulled out. Fastest guy and best prospect from the British Isles is a young guy from the Republic of Ireland (not GB/UK) and that is Keith Cronin.
Higgy and co missed the boat during the no seats days and Kris Meeke is quite well in with PSA Group. I suspect Marcus + his young Finish protege, plus Ostberg as a pay driver.
how about the current British Rally Champion, Keith Cronin? Or how about Adam Gould?Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
I think and hope...
Ostberg on European Gravel and Tarmac Rallies
Gronholm gravel european
Meeke tarmac european
[quote="JAM"]And what better? Stop or go to work with Prodrive?/QUOTE]
Do you still belive that in motorsport you just go to some team, if that would be the case why do you think he is privateer?
Maybe they try to get Sordo, not too old yet, and he has good notes and experience of the stages.
Any serious team must have 2 dedicated drivers....so they can challenge for the manufacturer title and also the drivers to be motivated, if you keep changing the drivers then there is no motivation for them to perform better or improve.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbmarcus21
aaaaah of course....and what about Breen ?Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyrazz
hire all three of those nobodys and every time they are ahead of a s2000/N4 car in the standings open the champagnes !!!
Cronin? What makes you think that?Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Neither Meeke nor Wilks are young anymore (31 and 29). If they want young British, than they should choose Cronin (24) although he has to pick up some international experience.
Everyone starts as a nobody. Some stays like that, some not but You can't find who is something else without trying.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
true. Loeb was once a nobody, and if citroen hadn't taken a chance on him, then he might of stayed as a nobody. same with colin mcrae and it was prodrive who took a chance on him.Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze
This is true but usually you must have some indication that the guy you are going to use for your OFFICIAL WRC MANUFACTURER ENTRY can actually drive a car and has some results against some respactable opponents.Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze
The trying part is called "private entry" in the WRC...
Anyway its good it comes new makes to WRC, many youngsters has put in own, stolen and borrowed to get a rally carreer, its good that now and then someone succeed, it gives hope for others aswell, will be interesting to see who announces next.
I don't understand the question...Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
You asked, And what better? Stop or go to work with Prodrive?Quote:
Originally Posted by JAM
he means the teams chose drivers not the opposite way.....and in that choice a lot of factors play their role not just speed and skills.
Well, if BMW doesn't help Prodrive(budget, developpment), I see the MINI project to remain a "M-Sport Ford"(meaning no way to be able to succeed in competing against a factory like Citroën) :mark:
But anyway very good news though :bounce:
i cannot see BMW helping that much....their useless oversized karting project sucks right now and needs more money i guess, plus i think they would use a BMW car if they wanted to really help the company. i see mini entering for 1.5 seasons then pull a suzuki.
This smacks of being a marketing-led car decision and the last time someone did that it was a full factory team and the car was the wrong choice...307 'coupe'.
Prodrive/Mini would be very unwise to just look at British drivers as there are many drivers out there of other nationalities who would be quite cheap and have good experience and speed.
I suspect things like verbal communication, lifestyle, and team chemistry are Richards main reasons for looking for someone of his own nationality.
For example, Atkinson, Anderson, Duval are all perfect selections.
Hell, if they really want to get serious they will hire all 3 and in no time their car will come up to speed if they are willing to put the money in.
Cronin is Irish.Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze
ah, sorry ;)
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/m...hip-with-coun/
Now it's official. Mini is entering the WRC with Prodrive and yes they will use the Countryman and not the regular Mini.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE66Q20N20100727
Prodrive and Mini hope to win a WRC title within 3 years.
It is good news with another manufactor to the Wrc. I hope that they decide to pick an older driver with some experience as number one driver. Marcus would be a very very good choice, it feels like the question is if he really want to to a comeback. If they want an english young driver, what about Tom Cave?
I thing it will work the same as X-Raid does with the BMW cars in the Dakar rally. BMW allowes the team to devellop the car, using the BMW brand name, giving some advice and minimum help. The team has to find it's own budget/ drivers with cash. So do not expect many help from BMW. It is a Prodrve project. I guess the same like M-Sport, but with less support form the manufacturer.
How was it with Subaru when Prodrive started working with them? Did they have a lot of factory suport?Quote:
Originally Posted by alleskids
Cronin is Irish - from the Republic of Ireland not not British part in Northern Ireland, UlsterQuote:
Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze
WT