SLR doing JWRC is to me an indication Loeb want to stick to rallying. MAybe SLR develops to a full WRC private team. Sponsors should like it, I´m sure.
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SLR doing JWRC is to me an indication Loeb want to stick to rallying. MAybe SLR develops to a full WRC private team. Sponsors should like it, I´m sure.
SLR is in quite a few series; WTCC, French GT, Porsche Carrera Cup/ SuperCup, etc
There's no need to speculate over Loeb's future outside PSA group.Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
2016 is going to be an interim season for Citroen in WRC before their '17 full attack. During next year they will gradually move human and material resources involved in their WTCC program to WRC. That's why they'll run a two cars team in WTCC, instead of the usual four.
Loeb's disappointment comes from not being chosen to stay in WTCC, because he hates to loose and wanted to prove that was able to beat Lopez (and Muller). Last two seasons results proved otherwise and probably his speed wouldn't be enough, again, so it was quite understandable that Matton kept Lopez and Muller in Citro reduced WTCC effort.
The Dakar program was the logical alternative, but in their rush to get the most of Loeb's image, Peugeot and Citroen marketing guys ended in a PR mess, giving the impression he was living for a different company, when his overall boss remains exactly the same.
It's in this PR messy environment that foolish journos print their BS articles, speculating about elaborated Loeb moves that'll never happen because everybody knows that it's more probable to see Jesus returning to Earth than Loeb leaving PSA!
I look at it completely the other way - why would Loeb not leave PSA now?
If there was any so-called loyalty Citroen basically tossed the guy that made their motorsport brand to the kerb. Once the Dakar is done, unless Loeb wants to do a few small rally raid events and play second fiddle to Timmy Hansen in WRX then he's going to need to do something else. If you read up on the situation, and Loeb's comments printed today, then you'll see that he can't just waltz between the two PSA brands, even if they do share a facility.
Wasn't Loeb decision to leave WRC? Wasn't also his decision to get into WTCC after trying some GT races? Wasn't his decision to do Dakar after the Morocco experience? If he won't get enough thrill on Rally Raids (or even WRX) and at some point wants to get back into WRC, surely Citroen will find a way to run him alongside the other drivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
This Loeb/Citroen split was a PR move to get a wider exposure for the Peugeot Dakar team, but turned into a mess. It'll pass rapidly with no major drama, as Peugeot, Citroen and DS motorsport activities are now more integrated than ever. It's not only a question of sharing the same facilities: for the first time there's a sport overall manager that supervise all brands programs.
Btw, the loyalty from Citroen to Loeb is there since the beginning of his WRC career. The team always run according to Loeb's preferences (that's why Ogier was sacked and probably Sordo never got a real chance to shine). Even now in Peugeot he managed to take Elena with him, when most factory teams uses experienced Dakar codrivers. In WTCC he got first driver status since day one, but simply wasn't able to match Muller and Lopez speed. What could Matton do more?
If he comes back it will surely be with Citroen. And why not comeback? Because you always longing to good old days and memories that was good. And oc he still can drive a rallycar as well. WRC was where he got all the victories.
Loeb has very little to offer to the sport anymore from a driver point of view, your desperation to find the "Ogier killer" is sad people, and it shows. It reminds me the times when Loeb dominated and every nobody was coming up with names to save them from the pain.
Maybe a challenge like this would be exactly what he needs!
But I would also hire Lappi, and buy him a Fiesta WRC to use in 16.
Just so Loeb are not falling into the trap of developing a car just suited to hos driving style.
Other drivers have found the DS3 a bit difficult to master 100%.
a new car need to be flexible, and a possibility to be set up for different styles of preferences!
Evans' former codriver Daniel Barritt has joined Toyota to help develop a Japanese driver which name I can't remember.
I would disagree here, I'd say if Seb came back, he'd prob be faster than the majority of drivers currently in WRC...Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Takamoto Katsuta. 1st start together is Arctic Lapland Rally Finland 28-30.1Quote:
Originally Posted by EightGear
The other Japanese driver is Hiroki Arai.
http://en.responsejp.com/article/2015/06/03/252673.html
One of them will probably drive the third Toyota in 2017. Remember reading they both will drive FRC this year.
This is one of the most intriguing stories of the year for me - watching to see what results these guys can get. IMO these drivers need to be in R5 cars right now in WRC events if they want to realistically be in the WRC car in 2017.Quote:
Originally Posted by OldF
Wouldn't be wise for Toyota to rush them.
Maybe they are going to drive the R5 when it will be developed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
Toyota has chosen MAN trucks, Tommi wanted Mercedes or Volvo but japanese said no because they are "real" car brands.(MAN belongs to VW-group but normal people does´t know that)
Wonder which recce car they will choose, Toyota has no own 4wd stock car.
Arai and Katsuta have entered to SM1 class (S2000, R5, WRC 2.0T, FinR) not in SM2 (N, R4, FinN) with Impreza at the moment, so probably they will drive some R5 this year.
Hillux? RAV4? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
LAND CRUISER sounds rightQuote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Subaru is sort of part of Toyota empire.
I'm sure they'll just use WRX.
Aber.....Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
Wiki:I don't think I'd call Toyota owning a little under 9% of shares "bringing Subaru into the (evil) Empire"Quote:
On October 5, 2005 Toyota Motor Corporation purchased 8.7% of FHI shares from General Motors, which had owned 20.1% since 1999.[5] GM later divested its remaining 11.4% stake on the open market to sever all ties with FHI. FHI previously stated there might have been 27 million shares (3.4%) acquired before the start of trading by an unknown party on October 6, 2005, and speculation suggested a bank or perhaps another automaker was involved. After the purchase, Toyota announced a contract with Subaru on March 13, 2006 to use the underutilized Subaru manufacturing facility in Lafayette, Indiana, as well as plans to hire up to 1,000 workers and set aside an assembly line for the Camry, beginning in the second quarter of 2007.
Oder was?
I think they own a bit more nowadays, should be 16,5%Quote:
Originally Posted by janvanvurpa
http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles...stake-pays-off
Either way Subaru's Lafayette plant isn't making Toyotas past this year. Production is increasing for the barge-sized Outback and Subaru wants to start building Imprezas there since the raised suspension CrossTrek had been a good seller, too. There are also plans for a large US/Canada only SUV of some kind. There's a big expansion and over a thousand new jobs to handle the switch, while Toyota's plant in Kentucky will have to increase production of the Camry.
I bet Toyota builds some WRC cars to a mild spec and uses them for gravel duties. Or use Subarus, which are cheaper than the Golf R or Focus RS.
STI cost 15000€ more than Focus RS (in Finland)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregor-y
Focus rs isnt 4wheel drive either
The new one is:)
what is webadress to Makinen new Toyota Rally Team?
Recce car can only be a standard road car or production (Group N) under the regulations.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregor-y
http://www.tommimakinen.com/news.htmQuote:
Originally Posted by Gordini
the flop begins.
or NOTQuote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
at best we are going to get a Suzuki kind of performance.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
Katsuta at 2015Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
https://youtu.be/CW9j49W4-k0
Interview with Makkinen at WRR right now
I missed it, what did he say?Quote:
Originally Posted by stefanvv
nothing new I guess, he seems satisfied how the development is going and still has to find the winning driverQuote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
from rallye-magazin.de via google translate
Tommi Makinen is located in the Service Park of the Monte Carlo Rally the honor. The Toyota team boss wants to not only keep in touch with the scene and brought up to date state of affairs, he goes along with his sporting director Jarmo Lehtinen also targeted at recruitment. Especially with M-Sport observes the doings of the two fins with a certain suspicion. As with the introduction of Volkswagen and Hyundai, the team of Malcolm Wilson many good employees lost to the competition.
Meanwhile, the new Toyota team has grown to 40 people, and the work on the new World Rally Car are in full swing. "The CAD development of the car is finished, just we build the chassis for the first prototype. As of January we want to start with the tests "confirmed Lehtinen. So Toyota would be the first manufacturer, receives the test mode with a WRC, which was created completely by 2017er Regulations.
Where exactly held the rollout and the first test runs, currently is not yet clear. In March Father Frost should keep the team base in the Finnish Jyväskylä still firmly in his hand, an evasion in southern climes is therefore inevitable.
Even the driver who will drive the Yaris WRC, is still unknown. "It ghosts yes a few names in the scene around and it's no secret that Mikko Hirvonen and Juho Hänninen us as a test driver available," says Lehtinen.
Bouffier may be the next testdriver, especially testing for asphalt!
So none of the drivers who tested previously are being kept on? What a waste of time that was - I'd have thought Sarrazin would be kept for Tarmac testing. TMR are obviously making a fresh start.
Maybe Hanninen as a test driver