Speaking of talents... How about Martins Sesks from Latvia, who became 2018 Junior European Rally Champion at the age of 19? Here is a new short movie "Champion at Nineteen" that shows his career:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_pDfS06J8M
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Speaking of talents... How about Martins Sesks from Latvia, who became 2018 Junior European Rally Champion at the age of 19? Here is a new short movie "Champion at Nineteen" that shows his career:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_pDfS06J8M
I was going write his name here right from the moment when the thread started :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarek Z
Yes he is a one definitely. He has excellent base of basic skills for rallying of which the main is driving exclusively by pacenotes. It helps to adapt to new tracks very quickly, look at his results in ERC 2018 - https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile...martins-sesks/ Azores, Islas Canaria, Roma, Barum - all were terra incognita for him. And most important - he managed set a good pace on tarmac surface right from the first start! For illustration about his pacenotes skills, take a look at "Rally Alūksne 2018" results in SS1/2. Those were night stages where he took 6th an 4th place overall - http://lrc.lv/?s=2018&r=160&m=4&l=2 Beside it he has head on his shoulder and use it in very well maner so far.
Very good description, I believe the two frontrunners from J-ERC, Sesks and Kristensson, could be really good contenders in the JWRC-championship 2019. A slight "lead" of course for Sesks who has been very impressive 2018Quote:
Originally Posted by sindroms
A first draft of "the list of talents 2019" is in updated first post in the thread :)
Keep posting!
How about talents outside of the EU? Takamoto Katsuta could perhaps have a break-out year, showed some promise in Sweden last year with the WRC2-win.
It was hard to judge on Sweden, due to the Pirellis clearly being a massive help, but he did hold his nerve with a lot of pressure on him. Would be great to see him progress, with all of TMR's resources behind him this year and Dan Barritt as co-driver.Quote:
Originally Posted by Entertainer
A good addition would be to mention where they will drive this year. For example Eerik Pietarinen and Gryazin will do WRC2.Quote:
Originally Posted by Entertainer
Good idea - will update to my best knowledgeQuote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Two that I saw last year who impressed in the few passes of theirs I saw roadside:
Jan Solans (younger brother of Nils, who himself was hanging with the works R5 Skodas in Spain) - dominated Spanish RC4 last year.
Jean-Baptiste Franceschi looked superb in GB and Spain in RC4 too, but hasn't been particularly dominant. No idea on his plans for this year; JWRC or French Champs in an R5, but hope to see him out and about somewhere.
Henrik Pietarinen 2019: First R5 season in Finnish ChampionshipQuote:
Originally Posted by Entertainer
Emil Lindholm 2019: R5 in Finnish Championship + Rally Sweden&Finland WRC2
Maybe it would be a good idea to sort the drivers by the proximity of main league (Greensmith with WRC drive first, then WRC2, ERC, JWRC, national championships)
Another good idea. Will do.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
In a few weeks Katsuta is 26 years old. For me when I speak about young talents I means someone much younger and less experienced.Quote:
Originally Posted by Entertainer
When I´m reading this list of talents I would personaly add Julian Wagner (soon to be 23 YO). Last year in CZ frontrunner of 2WD and not so long ago he won Jaenner. This year he will do whole Austrian championship with Fabia R5 from BRR
What wil the program of Nils Solans be? He looked very promosing aswel.Quote:
Originally Posted by dodge33cymru
Should we add Ralfs Sirmacis from Latvia to this list? He was very impressive in ERC a few years ago, including some overall wins...
He could be on this list regarding his skills and previous results. Tough I don't see at the moment any indications about his returning on international arena unfortunately.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarek Z
Sounds reasonable, guess we should draw the line somewhere when it comes to age. 23-25 could be considered a maximum of some sort, to earn a place on the list.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Talent list in threadpost #1 will continue to be updated through the season, as much as I am capable. Keep up with the additions and updates on "your" drivers.
He is trying to do WRC2Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvel
He was strong in Spain, but less so on other rounds (although improved over the year). He's not exactly particularly young either though; 26 going on 27. Would probably have more impact in ERC in my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvel
I wouldn't say so, he's not been active for the last couple of years so I suspect he's got no backing (and what there was may be with Gryazin or Sesks now).Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarek Z
I agree, he was going to WRC too quickly. And now they are making same mistake with younger brother. I think that one season in ERC before going to JWRC should help him a lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by dodge33cymru
Last year he was trying to secure budget for JWRC, but he was not successful. I hope he will be more successful for this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by dodge33cymru
I will keep Ralfs in the list for now, on old merits. ;) Hopefully he gets some funding/opportunitiesQuote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
Emil Bergkvist may be too old for this thread (24>25), but always rated him since his Opel days in ERC. Won JWRC last year and is doing WRC2 this year.
Been planning on adding him when his season plans emerged and... voila.Quote:
Originally Posted by dodge33cymru
Driver list in post #1 updated
- sorted
- age added
- looks nicer :)
I think its only fair to add both Kalle and Oliver into that list ;)
Hehe why not. But it almost seems unfair to the others ;) :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Essaj
Done
Any ideas about talents in South America? Aside from Zaldívar who's doing JWRC this year the only other name I know is Marquito Bulacia who hasn't been impressive in WRC2 to say the least...Quote:
Originally Posted by Entertainer
Looks really good! Well done!Quote:
Originally Posted by Entertainer
There is only one small mistake. Julian Wagner comes from Austria, not Czech Republic.
I think there is much more tallents which we can be mentioned here. Efren Llarena, Pierre-Louis Loubet, Laurent Pellier, Miko Marczyk, Sindre Furuseth, Callum Devine, Jon Armstrong, Nicolas Ciamin, James Williams, Hugo Margaillan, Yohan Rossel...
Ah, of course, thanks for correctionQuote:
Originally Posted by Jarek Z
Indeed there is, let's look into adding some more young guns, and maybe clear out some based on added criteria, to keep the list readable.. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
Since 27-29 is sort of universal age of "leaving youth behind" for rally drivers (27 is max for ERC juniors, 28 or 29 is JWRC max age if I'm correct?) lets put the maximum age around 28 for this list. That might seem old for some but there are drivers still developing at an older age, Tom Kristensson @ 27 is an example of one, Pietarinen @ 25 another.
Any more suggestions to criteria?
And will we count every young driver or he must prove at least some talent (I mean talent in terms of driving skills, not talent in terms of finding budget)?
Of course he must prove talent and driving skills, therefore some drivers on your list do not qualify ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
There should be some results proving the talent.
Like who?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarek Z
For example - Loubet. 4 years in WRC and not a single good result. How can you compare him with Rovanperä, Greensmith or Gryazin?Quote:
Originally Posted by dupanton
Aren´t they talents until they won a major event. So Kalle, no. He´s already proven done and dusted. Next step for him is WRC.
You might have a point for him. The rest of them are unproven in WRC but have big potential.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarek Z
Yes, of course it's possible. I don't know much about some of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by dupanton
Good luck to all young talents! It's not easy to secure funding for a season in WRC or ERC in any class, even R2.
Martin Sesks nationality is Latvian, not Estonian. A small mistake on the front page :)