[WRC] News & Rumours 2019

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Originally Posted by mknight

Well the interview makes him sound as the best rally manager there is...
Now the facts.
-A driver he managed has not won WDC for over 18 years (I think he managed Gronholm).
- None of the current top 3 drivers is managed by him
- he almost destroyed Hirvonens career by putting him to Subaru too early in 2004 when he subsequently crashed out (though this was also affected by Burns illness)
- all this talk about mental tests and JML has been a mental mess for last 4? years, sure a good manager should be able to get him good mental trainer/psychologist (or if he cant be helped, it was a wrong pick in the first place)

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He has definitely gained profit from Latvala's career. But gotta respect the man, he's the reason why there are more Finns than from any other nation.

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Originally Posted by mknight

Yes he came back in 2006 and did well. However, note that in 2005 M-Sport did a "low cost" year with untested cheap/paying drivers (Gardermeister, Kresta and Sola). None of them did well enough to secure a drive next year. But if any of them did it is possible that Hirvonen wouldn't be able to get back at all.

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If if and if. We can easily rewrite the history that way. The truth is that they all failed their big chance (especially Gardemeister - another Jouhki client btw) while Hirvonen was 3rd in Catalunya and 5th in Acropolis with a Jari Viita-owned private Focus.

Hirvonen got very close to losing his rally career because of starting too early as factory driver and consequently failing mentaly (crashed). Both of which are Joukhis main "strengths".

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Originally Posted by mknight

Hirvonen got very close to losing his rally career because of starting too early as factory driver and consequently failing mentaly (crashed).

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No he didn't. He had a terrific 2005 in a private car which got him the Ford deal for 2006 onwards.

In the wider context of rally careers Mikko was probably fast tracked a bit into that Subaru drive. He'd had a full season at WRC level the year before, albeit in year-old machinery - but really no experience of the WRC rounds before 2003. If the rules had still allowed for three manufacturer scorers in 2004 then I think that would have been much better for him. As with Tanak you've got to credit Malcolm Wilson for sticking with him and giving him that leg up. In another era he probably could have a world title on his mantlepiece.

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Originally Posted by Simmi

...In another era he probably could have a world title on his mantlepiece.

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Not just another era, even in the Loeb era he would have won at least one title if Ford had used team orders the same way Citroen did.

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Originally Posted by Allez Andruet

Unhealthy? How come?

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He has reputation to downplay those who are not in his management at least as much as he promote his own drivers. Grönholm, Hänninen and Lappi are rare examples who could push through without team Jouhki. More or less once in every 10 years. It's not like these are the only rally talents Finland had in those years. Some of them just couldn't shine. Although bitter talk about downplay doesn't end in the Finnish border. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by GravelBen

Not just another era, even in the Loeb era he would have won at least one title if Ford had used team orders the same way Citroen did.

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If a driver requires team orders to be champion they are not worthy.

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Originally Posted by sollitt

If a driver requires team orders to be champion they are not worthy.

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so you are not counting Loeb and Ogier as champs. Petter is/was your last champ? or did his team mates help him?

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Originally Posted by lnvs

He has reputation to downplay those who are not in his management at least as much as he promote his own drivers.

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What?! What's that suppose to mean? Isn't that what every manager does (or atleast should be doing)?