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Xsara Fan is working for Novikov.
Ok, thanks :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Lambros Athanassoulas's Fiesta test:
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6119813_n.jpg
http://www.athanassoulas.gr/3/26/
That is latvala testing in Greece.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobcat
Doing What?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Anybody know if M-Sport has sold any Fiesta WRC cars to private teams/private owners?
Evgeny Novikov has a contract with 'ALM Russia Team'. I work at team website http://www.ALMrally.ru as an Editor-in-Chief.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
I read somewhere that first private owner will be Kuipers at the half of year or something like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeD
Gerard Quinn: "Coming soon the chance to select the roof design for the 3 Ford Abu Dhabi cars that will compete at Rally Finland http://on.fb.me/ikKefZ"
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3876777_n.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by GINE
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7829019_n.jpg
It seems that Ford are losing patience with their drivers now, Gerard Quinn in Autosport: "I am getting concerned at the mistakes being made by our drivers. If we're not careful, they're going to cost us the championship. I can't understand how a run without a win goes on for so long when some of the competition doesn't have much experience (Ogier) yet they are able to pick off the wins."
Perhaps the drivers should be losing patience with their employers?
i do not think they have a safer choice at this time...there might be some drivers faster than hirvonen right now but not as reliable....so the ford guys should focus on providing their drivers with the best possible equipment and also try and spend more money on development rather than burning the cash they have from all the useless tourists that hire their cars on 15 year plans.Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
Ford have tried and perservered with the double Finn routine for so many years it may now be that the lack of results are starting to cause boardroom tensions. MSport needs to run commercially, but I wonder what would have happened if Ford MSport had a driver line up of Petter, Atko and Sordo? For whaterver reason they did not / could not bring themselves to find the money to run these guys. All 3 are hungry and keen to win. I can see Ford moving to global rallycross when Prodrive Mini and VW start winning.
i cannot see mini winning...but yes the lineup you mention could have worked better....but Ford prefered drivers who payed their way to the official team and had good managers....
You obviously haven't read the "How to win in the WRC" manual. On page one it says "If you want to win, take a Finn", it's just a pity that one of the Finn's is never going to win a title because he's not fast enough (Mikko) and the other has gone into a top team a little early and has had the pressure of being the number 2 driver who is having to carry the number 1 driver in terms of speed (Latvala).Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Hmm, Global Rallycross?? I have seen and watched on ESPN - but that's even more of a niche sport than WRC. How big in the USA is it? It's not yet one of the great Motorsport series is it?Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
If Ford are really serious about the WRC - then spend £$£$£$£. The M-Sport operation do a good job, but have too many other things going on; customer WRC's, S2000's, WRC Academy cars.....etc
You wait, when WRC goes back to its traditional roots (routes even) some of the 3 stages and service plus repeat lot will go rallycross, factor in a bit of TV time and you will have a new home for a certain type of WRC driver / fan.
There's a new edition due out sometime soon, that one's been changed to "if you want to win, take a Frenchman (preferably called Sebastien)"Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel
Agreed. Ford need to decide whether they're in, or not, and if they are, and want to win, spend the required cash. M-Sport having to subsidise the 'factory' programme with customer and other ancillary operations is not the way to win...Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
I dont think we should get too hung up about the lack of Ford budget. They tested the Fiesta extensively before this year, they undertake a proper test pre event as much as Citroen, I still believe the car is well engineered by Christian Loriauox etc, but for whatever reason Ford are starting to become a bit of a joke, maybe its the culmination of the sum components of Matthew's 5+ year plan, Khalid Al Quasimi and the Abu Dhabi money, JML's blinding pace between accidents, Mikko's perpetual tortoise safety first approach, and their "good season" being measured by a Sweden and Finland win, plus whatever other gravel rally, NZ, GB etc that they may luck into. But they have done well, they have been second to Citroen for years.
I reckon the clock is ticking and how long will the big bosses tolerate this. I like both their drivers, but new blood is needed.
I think Ford just need a fresh start with new people running the team and a shake up of the drivers as things have got too stale and they seem to be in the losing mentality now sadly.
But second isn't much good when you're the only opposition.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Agreed. But for the money that Ford give M-Sport they're probably getting their moneys worth.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allyc85
Will happen for 2013.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
No, I don’t think so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel
Ford (some people like Wilson's devoted friend Gerard Quinn), they seem intent on spending large amounts forever on helping Malcolm Wilson on enhancing his lifestyle. Boreham could have done the same job for far less money. Boreham also helped to developed many production RS cars.
You have to ask what Ford actually get in return for all the money they are spending in M-Sport.
As I said before: Mr. Wilson is only a very, very good businessman, he's just looking for a profit from business activities in M-Sport. The show is about the Ford's boss Gerard Quinn who spends time checking and supervising all Ford's European pretty budgets for winning success!
To end speculation regarding the Ford driver line up Timo Joukhi who MH and JML's manager says they are contracted to Ford for 2012.
can we please use full names for the rally drivers instead of those retarded initials the F1 sheep use ???
Here is the link to the drivers full names,MTV3.fi, got to laugh that the guy who cimmented has a set of initials as a user name.
Strange... So early. I'd have bet a little money on Latvala being poached by Citroen. Obviously MW makes driver decisions. Sounds like Quinn (Ford) doesn't have much control.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Can't believe Mikko is contracted to 2012, they should leave the contact open. Givehim some incentive to drive!
I don't think that we should eb too quick to write off Mikko and Jari-Matti. If Ford ditch them in 2013, who would they use to replace them on the current grid? I think that if they put Tanak in too early it could ruin his career as he may not have the maturity yet (as Jari has shown in previous years). I read Prokop also has a similar deal to Tanak but I don't think he is ready yet either. It only leaves Sordo, Ostberg and maybe Haninnen. I don't think any of them are likley possibilities. Mikko has won 13 rallies with Ford and I think that fact does at least deserve some respect.
Good points there. I think that Ford just don't have any better choices for their line-up. J-M is the only driver around who can match Loeb and Ogier's speed quite consistently. Petter could be a choice but goddammit, he hasn't won a event almost in 6 years! True that he has been with Subaru and with privateer teams in recent years but he hasn't convinced me anymore. In every rally "something always comes up" what lacks his speed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
Some young-gun deal would have been too risky for Ford because there isn't actually any privateers who has showed some very good speed at the top level consistently. Ostberg did it in Sweden, but that's a very unique event. One must remember what Hirvonen did in 2005 that led partly to his factory-seat in 2006. He showed some serious speed with a privateer car (ex- Jari Viita, was it 03-spec Focus?) in Sardinia and Greece, where he led the event briefly, and finally good speed at Catalunya on tarmac. And the competition was much more fierce back then because of the number of the drivers and teams. I recent years there hasn't been that kind of performance from any privateer (except Petter).
+1 I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by julkki
With Petter I think that there may be some bad blood with Ford's management regarding his exit there are entry into the Subaru team. I'm not sure Wilson has forgiven him for that.
I am sure JML will be champion very soon and actually would have been last year if Loeb was not there. I see a similarity between Hirvonen and Burns, they are both smooth drivers that did not get a title until the dominant drivers moved on. As Burns didnt get a title until McRae and Makkinen went off the pace a bit, so it will be for Hirvonen when Loeb moves on.
What do you think of Ford's performace in the WRC overall? I am shocked that they have not had a title since 1979!!! I remeber thinking McRae or Sainz, Martin would get them as they had fast cars but it never seemed to work out for them.
Pretty poor, if you're being honest! Okay, so they've had 2 Manufacturers Title - but for not one single drivers Title, well draw your own conclusions. However, if Ford are happy - well, that maybe somes up their attitude to Motorsport.Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
Malcolm Wilson has said many times that Manufacturers title is their primary goal and the drivers seems to adapt that mentality. But I don't know which is better for the manufacturer in the end...I think that driver's title gives more publicity to the manufacturer than the manufacturers title.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
I think that the major goal for a team is (and should be) the manufacturers title, not the driver title... when Ford won the title in 2006 and 2007 I saw their commercial on TV, same thing about Peugeot winning the IRC title. I don't think they'll never say "world driver champion" about a car, because someone could think "ok, driver champion but not manufacturers champion, so it's not the best car"Quote:
Originally Posted by julkki
What the hell kinda crap is that?! That's the most stupid thing i've seen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobcat
"Hey, lets make a comp for roof design, hey guys what's your favourite food? We'll put it on the roofs!"
They did it here some years ago in Belgium for the Ypres rally. Classes of +- 10 year olds entered a competition to make the niciest livery for Freddy Loix half of the car would be in the best livery of the Dutch part of Belgium and the other of the French Part.Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1