[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

Why? What's wrong with Abbring for lets say the more experience from the 2. Can't he develop a car?

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Are you serious ?

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Originally Posted by N.O.T

Are you serious ?

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Absolutely

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

Why? What's wrong with Abbring for lets say the more experience from the 2. Can't he develop a car?

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Kevin is very good for developing cars, engineers likes cooperation with him.

Just because these guys are rumoured for WRC2 outings doesn't mean they will be developing the final WRC car.

There's no reason why a proven driver can't do that behind the scenes. After all we're two years out from the car debuting.

I don't see any harm in testing new drivers and team personnel/infrastructure now. The quickest of the drivers could slot into a second or third car come 2017.

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Originally Posted by Simmi

Just because these guys are rumoured for WRC2 outings doesn't mean they will be developing the final WRC car.

There's no reason why a proven driver can't do that behind the scenes. After all we're two years out from the car debuting.

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Of course, I realize that. But taking part in WRC2 for 2 years of these drivers mean that they can transfer the immediate output from the events to develop and test the WRC car. That's what VW did with Ogier in 2012 and it was perfect for the start of their 2013 season, wasn't it?

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

Of course, I realize that. But taking part in WRC2 for 2 years of these drivers mean that they can transfer the immediate output from the events to develop and test the WRC car. That's what VW did with Ogier in 2012 and it was perfect for the start of their 2013 season, wasn't it?

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Yeah I'm not disagreeing with you. The only difference with VW/Ogier was that Seb already knew intimately what the benchmark WRC car felt like. You can't say that for the young guys but Toyota have lots of time to get everything in place.

Maybe after a year out they might be able to coax Hirvonen into a test role in 2016.

I'm sure they will have someone with more experience doing the main development. In theory there are some people available already. Hirvonen, Hanninen, maybe even Atkinson or the S-word.

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Originally Posted by Simmi

Yeah I'm not disagreeing with you. The only difference with VW/Ogier was that Seb already knew intimately what the benchmark WRC car felt like. You can't say that for the young guys but Toyota have lots of time to get everything in place.

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That is true, but probably R5 is closer to WRC in terms of engine behaviour. So making tests immediate after the events, a conscious driver can tell the difference.

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Originally Posted by Simmi

Maybe after a year out they might be able to coax Hirvonen into a test role in 2016.

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I have no names in mind right now, and don't know how confident would be Hirvonen to make a really fast car (how strong it would be, is engineering problem). Sainz was developing the Polo initially, but it was probably VW's 2012 campaign that made the winning car.

It is nice to talk about this rumours, but still nothing was confirmed from Toyota about WRC future (not only officially, but also to the people which are part of TMG/MI). And with this WRC2 project it is very similar...

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Originally Posted by N.O.T

or maybe that italian web page posted innacurate info as always italians do...

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Have you a problem with Italians??