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FIA RALLY STAR COMMITTEE SELECTS 2025 LINE-UP
Romet Jürgenson’s WRC2 prize drive for winning Junior WRC crown increased to six events
Taylor Gill and Max Smart handed second Junior WRC seasons after impressing in 2024
Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó leaves the FIA Rally Star process with high expectations of future success
https://www.fia.com/news/fia-rally-s...ects-2025-line
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/where...G3Czr_8eXa3WcQ
funny. wasnt cyril crying around a few months ago, almost threatening to leave if fia ditched the hybrids?? millener also said a few months ago hybrid should stay, he even said something like "budget is not a problem" (??) now he gives a clear NO when askes if hy must stay. really tiring to read news. im always thinking "ahh I should just watch and leave the internet" haha
Well, circumstances did change in the last few months.Quote:
Originally Posted by saco0o
They are no longer allowed to reset them when they fail, so people with a broken hybrid lose it until the next service. There were three drivers without hybrid for about a day in CER. It fails too easily for a thing with those consequences, IMO.
And with new maintenance requirements (have to send it back to the manufacturer a lot more), the cost went through the roof. It could be a couple of million per year. I think M-Sport might truly be forced to quit WRC1 over this; it's not just "crying wolf". And Hyundai and Toyota probably don't want to be in a championship with two teams, so they'll side with M-Sport.
So I think it's reasonable for people to change their minds.
Solberg in a Yaris Rally2 in WRC2 is quite possible but maybe not outings in their Rally1 until 2026 or whenever Ogier fully-retires.Quote:
Originally Posted by Managarium
Rossel to M-Sport is also quite possible given Mr Wilson's liking of French drivers and the funding he may have from the FFSA.
If Toyota gives Solberg rally 1 drive in 2025 or 26, then I could see this move as a good one. If not, it's wrong bmo, because Škoda suits him well and he should sign Ford for Rally1 if possible. We don't know the inside info.Quote:
Originally Posted by Managarium
So we might have 2025 lineup like that:
-> Hyundai
-Neuville
-Tanak
-Fourmaux
-> M-Sport:
-Rossel
-Sesks
-Serderidis/Munster
-> Toyota
-Rovanpera
-Evans
-Katsuta
-Ogier/Pajari/Solberg
Toyota will not have 6 drivers. Someone will be left out. Maybe Ogier calls it a day. He seemed legitimately frustrated at the last few rallies.
Solberg to Toyota would surprise me a lot, what would happen to Pajari in that case?
I suspect that the suppliers are now concerned about spontaneous combustion from the battering the batteries get given their age and life they've had and that's why they won't allow a reset any more.Quote:
Originally Posted by Morte66
Given the current unreliability, the WRC may be able to get out of any contract for continued use of the hybrid units on the grounds that they aren't fit for purpose.
They will probably share 4th car, probably with Katsuta too, maybe sometimes 5th car would be on the grid.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
The ideal scenario would be, that the teams would "create" some sort of second teams, as they did in history, but back then I think they could only field two cars if I remember it right, so they bend the rules with satellite teams. That way they could put more cars on the grid, but M-Sport having only two cars because of their budget, that thing will never happen, at least with this cars. And Hyundai actualy never having 4 cars out there, I think they are really not into having more, it's just their mouths that are speaking.
About Ogier retiring, I think he will do it, especialy after this year, when he is so frustrated over Neuville clinching the title, but sometimg keep telling me, he will continue the way he is doing it for years.
It would not be the end of the world for Toyota if they paid for one of their young contenders to do a season in M-Sport WRC1 to gain experience while Ogier ages out. Just so long as they know they can get him back when they want to.
I imagine there might be "competitiveness" rules against that, though.
It seems Solberg will indeed drive a Toyota.Quote:
Originally Posted by becher
But that's different to driving 'for' Toyota....
Exciting news. And they seems quite natural.
I can imagine Evans moving to MSport, giving space for Pajari stepping up. Ogier is either a longterm case, so a future Toyota team will be Kalle/Pajari/Oliver/Katsuta.
Rossel and Evans will be perfect for Malcolm.
Hyundai, well, no comment. Should be good.
Elfyn to Ford is every year from 2022 the same theme and it never happened and IMO never will happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Especialy because they don't have budget. Elfyn as one of the leading drivers who expect some funds, he will not drive for free and M-Sport really struggling with that, and now another nail in the coffin with all those extra hybrid rebuilding costs... More likely he would move to Hyundai if Neuville or Tanak would go elsewhere (or retire).Quote:
Originally Posted by CeskyOndra
Elfyn for sure has a contract at TGR. He's not going anywhere.
M-Sport may get some money from Hyundai for signing Fourmaux. Their model of developing young drivers is supposed to get something back when they move on. If so, maybe it could pay for Evans for a year.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Also Evans has been at Toyota for 5 years now and will have already earned good money.
Some social media account claims Lappi will be in Hyundai next year, that sound weird if Fourmaux change to Hyundai.
Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk
Silly season getting more and more sillier
Well Fourmaux at Hyundai is not confirmed. It is still but a rumor.Quote:
Originally Posted by skarderud
Speaking as an Evans fan who was a Meeke fan back when Meeke had a contract with Citroen and they fired him anyway, by text, in the back of an ambulance, on his way to hospital... Contracts are more of a "strong indicator" than an inevitability.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
Though Toyota is a classier act than Ciitroen (e.g. Rovanpera getting Japan off).
However, I also think the "Evans to M-Sport" thing we keep hearing is a bit silly.
Evans back to M-Sport is as poosible as any of the other rumours.
He best chance of a WDC (at Toyota) seems to have gone with Kalle is coming back for the next few seasons. Plus Toyota look to have lost the Manufacturers this season with him as the No1 driver.
They also still have Ogier who is often faster, Katsuta who wont be leaving and Pajari in the fold.
If it can be done financially Elfyn could well come home.
it looks like Latvala wants to compete in the historic rallies and travel less with wrc next year. part time team boss?
https://rallyjournal.com/jari-matti-...c7LTThZ9hgnW0Q
Well, all drivers were quite on low this season at Toyota. Rovanpera and Ogier - either they won or crash. Katsuta was fast but always crashed. Pajari wasn't nominated. So Evans was still the most consistent driver this year.
I think that Latvala is still quite young for taking that job. He could take something not so major to miss some events and being more at the wheel, because clearly he is still fast.
This sounds like the beginning of a elegant departure from the job rather than a more brutal sacking......Quote:
Originally Posted by saco0o
+ Who would replaced him?
Unlikely to see Makinen coming back
Fowler has a bit of media visibility but complicated to see him taking this job all the more with facing Hyundai’s new car.
A japanese doesn’t sound a good plan
Maybe Lindstrom who is there for a while.
Hirvonen and Hanninen are also there but more in coaching, reccing and testing roles.
Has anyone heard anything regarding the WRC promoter changing hands? It’s been 2 months now since they said it’s up for sale, was wondering if there’s anything new surrounding the matter.
My maths show the following average points per rally this season:Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Ogier 18.4
Kalle 16.2
Evans 15.4
Plus...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GboNmM3W...jpg&name=small
Latvala confirmed as part-time team boss in 2025...
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/latva...-time-in-2025/
Polite way of saying that Toyota fired him :D
Just like Makinen was shown door and was supposed to continue in some other job in Toyota.. but basically disappeared since then :D
I think that TGR didn't like this year's..:
-Finlands PS finish mega happy interview (just after Evans&Rovanpera DNF)
- moaning about that manu's title is totally gone (although they managed to get the gap basically half from being 35p? down)
- praising Cyril aboutQuote:
“He has shown the way”
“Cyril has been a leader who takes the responsibilities. Of course it is important that the team has a leader they can trust and they know which way to go.”
Yeah, feels like a scheduled termination. Someone else will take over for 2025 with JML in an "advisory role", before leave the team manager position in 2026. They probably didn't want to drop another team manager abruptly after firing Rob Leupen of the WEC team, just before the final race this past weekend.
Damn those Japanese are so polite :D Will do anything not to offend. Wtf is even a part time boss?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
You guys are so cynical ! ;)
The head guy Toyoda-San is a massive Latvala fan so I dont think he would fire him when its not his fault (mistakes by Ogier and Kalle) this season.
Latvala is also right that the up to Year 2000 Cars now eligible for the EHRC is a great change and he has the 4WD Celica perfect for this.
He's definitely being moved on.
Rumours of another old Finnish driver for the 'Team Principal' role, which we of course know is just the front person to the media and not involved in the management of the team....
https://rallyjournal.com/juha-kankku...otas-wrc-team/Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
Kankkunen in talks with Toyota to cover JML next year.
im just happy he's driving again
But there is one imporant note. Cars up to 2000 are eligible for the EHRC, but cannot score points...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Earlier this year he said:
"Obviously, the focus is always to Toyota Gazoo Racing and our WRC team,” said Latvala, “but you remember when Akio [Toyoda, Toyota Motor Corporation chairman] first talked to me about doing this job of team principal – I told him that I wanted to keep driving. We agreed on this. I have done some events, but I’ve always wanted to do more.”