2023 WRC News & Rumours

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Originally Posted by rp

Hopefully this time the history will not repeat. Must be a 2-year contract just like with Citroën, but they stopped after the 1st year.

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Hopefully history won’t repeat itself and we also won't see Hyundai pulling the plug after 2023.

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Originally Posted by mknight

To ressurect some discussion.

A week ago it was rumored Lappi had to leave Toyota (due to either Tanak coming or Katsuta being nominated). Now with rumors about Loubet and Latvalas recent comments on (potential) new driver it seem maybe he left on his own.

If Lappi left on his own was it a good move from him?

a) OMG leaving fastest/best car (manu Champ) for second time (first time 2018) for a "twitchy" car. Almost cost him his career last time.

or

b) in Toyota there was no clear way to full season. When he tried to push for wins in his starts he failed (Sardinia and before that Croatia, in Finland he almost did a Meeke which would definitely shut the door) so he had to dial back to "steady" (Ypres). Maybe he thinks that with limited number of starts it is harder to push for wins (and towards full season) with less time in car.

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If Loubet share the car with Ogier, then it could be

Rovanpera
Evans
Loubet +Ogier
Katsuta

or

Rovanpera
Tanak
Loubet +Ogier
Katsuta

So no matter how Katsuta will still be the second Toyota team driver,Can't score for the Factory Toyota

Dirtfish podcast moots that Katsuta will be given 2023 full season in the official TGR Team (3rd car') and be nominated points scorer in events Ogier doesnt do.

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Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC

Dirtfish podcast moots that Katsuta will be given 2023 full season in the official TGR Team (3rd car') and be nominated points scorer in events Ogier doesnt do.

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Yes, we have spoken of this rumor already here before Japan

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Originally Posted by AnttiL

Yes, we have spoken of this rumor already here before Japan

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But this is AFTER Japan... and Katsuta being the highest Toyota and on the podium will give him more kudos with the team.

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Originally Posted by mknight

He was "no.1" at MSport, which meant running 6-7th on rallies.

Being "Lord of the flies" might be nice, but won't make you win rallies.

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Being team leader at Citroen and being equal no.1 with Suninen at M Sport is not comparable and you know that. He also didn't go to M Sport, because they wanted him as team leader, but because it was his only option. He was just a "refugee" there.

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Originally Posted by becher

Being team leader at Citroen and being equal no.1 with Suninen at M Sport is not comparable and you know that. He also didn't go to M Sport, because they wanted him as team leader, but because it was his only option. He was just a "refugee" there.

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And you know that I used MSport as the extreme example of where the "have to be no.1" thinking can go.

In first place he went to Citroen cause he wanted to be no.1 there over no.3 at Toyota. When he did that Toyota was the fastest car and would win manu title that year. Citroen was the weakest of the 4 teams with a car that was clearly twitchy and worked only on a few events.

This year it is seemingly much simpler, since Hyundai while overall weaker than the Toyota has improved a lot in second part of the season and he will go from part-time to fulltime.

But still he is leaving the team that wins manu that year for a team that struggles.

waiting for the official announcements after we've been through all permutations three times

https://media.tenor.com/sR6tkmxxrhQA...ssed-bored.gif

Official announcement should be today, or Friday, not too long to wait, try to hang on :P

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Originally Posted by bluuford

Official announcement should be today, or Friday, not too long to wait, try to hang on :P

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About Tänak? :p