Third Fiesta - If you were Malcolm who would you use on which rally ?

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Originally Posted by AnttiL

Not for third car

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Probably not.

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Originally Posted by KiwiWRCfan

With the 8 rounds for Suninen news this is how things appear to be shaping up
Monte - Bouffier t.b.c.
Sweden - Suninen
Corsica - Camilli t.b.c.
Mexico - Suninen
Portugal - Suninen
Argentina - Suninen
Sardegna - Suninen
Finland - Suninen
Deutschland - Camilli t.b.c.
Turkey - Suninen
Wales GB - Suninen
Catalunya - ??
Australia - ??

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That could be plan for Suninen
If everything goes well, he is fast and reliable, maybe podium place?
He will get to drive last 2 events also. (without paying to Malcolm, I mean)

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Originally Posted by Tarmop

He has been on the RMC podium in ERC/IRC, WRC2, WRC so i`d say there`s a strong possibility for points there.

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ERC/IRC mean nothing. WRC is another sport. He arrived second in 2014 only because he's been lucky with tires.

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Originally Posted by AL14

ERC/IRC mean nothing. WRC is another sport. He arrived second in 2014 only because he's been lucky with tires.

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You have to see it from both sides - he didn't have thousands of kilometers in WRC behind him like the others. It's always kind of amiracle when somebody suceed in such one-off starts.

And by the way speaking about luck on Monte Carlo is ehm... some drivers have always luck, some never. You know what I mean (by the way his IRC victory was also about this "luck" when he and Loix were the only top drivers with somewhat good tyre choice in the critical moment but Loix had a puncture).

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Originally Posted by Mirek

You have to see it from both sides - he didn't have thousands of kilometers in WRC behind him like the others. It's always kind of amiracle when somebody suceed in such one-off starts.

And by the way speaking about luck on Monte Carlo is ehm... some drivers have always luck, some never. You know what I mean (by the way his IRC victory was also about this "luck" when he and Loix were the only top drivers with somewhat good tyre choice in the critical moment but Loix had a puncture).

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Don't get me wrong Mirek. Or maybe I shuold have explained it better. I think Bouffier is a strong driver and especially in Monte he is very good and has achieved a lot of results. He knows that rally very well and I respect him of course.
Said that if I have to give a third car, he would not be in the top of my list. I tell you why:
He is good at Monte but he is not the fastest. 2014 shows that. He had a huge advantage after the right tire choice in the first days but he was continuously losing time to other WRC drivers (that's why I said IRC is another thing, he wins there, but he has not the pace in WRC).

M-Sport already have Evans and Ogier, two experienced and reliable drivers that most likely will take points. I would rather invest that seat to a young gun and give him experience for the future. Experience is very important, ecpecially in a unique rally like this.
Even better if he pays well.

It`s still a tricky rally where everything can happen. Learning in a R5 car makes total sense, learning in a WRC could be just an expensive crash...or when one of the two "works" cars goes off/breaks down. In terms of championship a solid finisher, especially a good place finisher, is more safe.

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Originally Posted by AL14

Don't get me wrong Mirek. Or maybe I shuold have explained it better. I think Bouffier is a strong driver and especially in Monte he is very good and has achieved a lot of results. He knows that rally very well and I respect him of course.
Said that if I have to give a third car, he would not be in the top of my list. I tell you why:
He is good at Monte but he is not the fastest. 2014 shows that. He had a huge advantage after the right tire choice in the first days but he was continuously losing time to other WRC drivers (that's why I said IRC is another thing, he wins there, but he has not the pace in WRC).

M-Sport already have Evans and Ogier, two experienced and reliable drivers that most likely will take points. I would rather invest that seat to a young gun and give him experience for the future. Experience is very important, ecpecially in a unique rally like this.
Even better if he pays well.

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Or if you were Malcolm Wilson and you wanted to defend your championship with the strongest start to the year possible, it would make sense to find the best "local" driver who knows the event well. Use him to get you points if it works out, and he will no doubt be able to bring local knowledge and resources that can help your whole team on the event too. I think it's a smart choice. Especially when you compare Bouffier having done the event 8 times compared to the 4 times of Evans.

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Originally Posted by AnttiL

Not for third car

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If no one else is lined up, why not. If any of the main drivers retire and he finishes there are some points at least. Better than no driver.

And it's.... Bouffier for Monte and Corsica

http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/janua...5--12-12-.html

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Originally Posted by swanny

And it's.... Bouffier for Monte and Corsica

http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/janua...5--12-12-.html

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Press release makes it very much sound like MSport did 'hire' Bouffier, although of course we can see his sponsors on the car I doubt they are footing the whole bill.

Does this mean Malcolm has given up on Camilli? Or could Bouffier just make a greater financial contribution?

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Originally Posted by RS

Press release makes it very much sound like MSport did 'hire' Bouffier, although of course we can see his sponsors on the car I doubt they are footing the whole bill.

Does this mean Malcolm has given up on Camilli? Or could Bouffier just make a greater financial contribution?

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Well at least Bouffier has a whole sponsor livery. Suninen and Camilli drove last year on M-Sport liveries with Suninen just having some extra sponsor decals, Camilli none. Also, would a whole livery cost to Bouffier's sponsors the same amount as it cost to DMack?

DMack/Bertelli/Kremer didn`t have any Ford-related logos (maybe small M-Sport somewhere, couldn`t be big for sure) on it, whereas Bouffier`s has several, one being Ford Performance. I`d say the amount is smaller.

I think Bouffier will be WDC looking at the way everyone from southern part of Europe talks about him on nearly every topic on WRC forums. ;)

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Originally Posted by RS

Press release makes it very much sound like MSport did 'hire' Bouffier, although of course we can see his sponsors on the car I doubt they are footing the whole bill.
Does this mean Malcolm has given up on Camilli? Or could Bouffier just make a greater financial contribution?

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Suninen is reportedly paying for his seat, there’s no doubt Bouffier sponsors are supporting his entries and Camilli was never a paying driver at MSport. No money, no fun; that’s MSport 3rd car motto.