bit wrong, new Astra engine is still from GM :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvel
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bit wrong, new Astra engine is still from GM :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvel
If Ogier moves to Toyota then I guess Citroen will go for Latvala or Mikkelsen. If it’s true Rovanpera is in the third Yaris then at least one of Meeke or Latvala will have to go.
If Ogier goes to Toyota, it’s because there is no Citroen.Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
So there’s no seats there to be filled.
I wouldn't mind, if Latvala would retire and grabs a commentator seat at WRC+
Not necessarily that it has to be Latavala, but they need someone with current WRCar experiance to replace Becs, during live stages. She is better in the HQ/ service area being in charge there, or they need 3 during stages,Quote:
Originally Posted by Franky
Becs is good. They need to replace Emyr. Everytime he opens his mouth its maked u facepalm.
I was about to add the same. Completely agree!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
So strong rumours of Evans to Toyota.
If they got Ogier too that is about as strong a team as possible to take on Hyundai for the titles.
I think that Becs is fine as the lead commentator, when she has Julian Porter or good guest like Ostberg/Hirvonen alongside her. When it’s her and PK or Desborough it’s starts to fall apart as neither are the ‘technical’ guys and it starts to become a bit unfocused.
Its good having J.Porter on commentary for at least some stages as he does find out useful bits and pieces, and I guess the stages are when the viewing figures are highest, but if it were me I would try to find a permanent ‘expert’ co-commentator to share the load with JP, and use Desborough in the studio, and Pk for the highlights packages.
I wish there was someone around who could add his comments with authority (like ex-world champion), who has not too out-dated knowledge of workings of current cars and teams (retired not too long ago), who has passable english skills and is naturally nice and chatty person... Know anyone like this? ;-)
Sounds like a job for Tommi.Quote:
Originally Posted by Indreq
"has passable english skills"
Were you born when man walked o the moon?Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvel
Back then Opel already had some nice results in Gr1 and Gr2, with the Rekord 1900. After that came rallye Kadett Sprint with many victories. So talking about DNA, Opel definately has it.
you made my day :laugh:Quote:
Originally Posted by kiil
and after thatQuote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Ascona 400
Manta 400
and then came B-group and P205T16 and after that Citroen...
For me Lancia have most rally DNA out of those FCA/PSA brands. (Stratos, 037, S4, Delta)
Is it really a possibility that Citroen won’t continue next year, even with Ogier under contract?Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
They both stay
And the fulvia.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
The trouble is Lancia only sell one car. One car! and they only sell it in Italy. To a majority of which are women.
As for heritage, don't forget Citroen started in rally a long time ago, with the original ds (maybe even before that) through to the cx, then the visa and it's various group B incarnations, the BX4TC (yeah, I know) to the Xsara, C4, DS3 and now C3. So Citroen has had a presence in rallying every decade since the 60's.
This is OT, so I started a new thread.
Rallycars with DNA and heritage from the old days
Elfyn Evans has been tipped as Ott Tanak's Toyota World Rally Championship replacement after he visited the team's Finnish headquarters squad last week.
Autosport revealed before Rally Spain two weeks ago that Tanak would make a shock switch to Hyundai, leaving the Toyota Gazoo Racing team with which he sealed the 2019 drivers' championship for the first time days after the news of his departure from the squad broke.
Speculation about who will drive for Toyota next year reached fever pitch last week, when current Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville was also reported to have been in Jyvaskyla.
Hyundai sources have since denied this.
Citroen's six-time WRC champion Sebastien Ogier has also been linked to replacing Tanak, but his contract at Citroen next year complicates any potential deal.
Current M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver Evans and Toyota team principal Tommi Makinen were unavailable for comment when Autosport contacted them on Monday regarding Evans visit to the team.
It is understood that Makinen rates Evans highly, and has been impressed with his pace and consistency this year.
Evans spent a day with the Toyota team last week, looking at the Puuppola premises and talking to the squad's senior management.
A move from M-Sport would take Evans into uncharted waters - every one of his 86 World Rally Championship starts have been made in a Ford Fiesta of varying secification.
He took his maiden British Rally Championship with M-Sport in 2016 and first WRC win in Wales the following year came at the wheel of a Fiesta WRC.
Following Rally Germany, M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson told Autosport that it would be "crazy" to let either Evans or its second driver Teemu Suninen leave after the investment he had placed in them.
M-Sport WRC team principal Richard Millener told Autosport he would do all he could to keep Evans for next season.
"We've worked with Elfyn for a very long time," said Millener.
"As a team, Malcolm [Wilson, team principal] has invested a huge amount in him and we'd be very reluctant to see him leave.
"We're ready to fight as best as we can.
"I think it's fairly common knowledge that we perhaps don't have the same resources as some of the other teams, but we'll do all what is possible."
Millener admitted the realities of M-Sport's position complicated negotiations with Evans.
"As much as we would love to keep Elfyn and win more rallies with him next year," Millener added, "we have to be very aware that we're a private team in a competitive commercial environment."
Toyota's only retained driver for next season is Skoda's WRC 2 champion Kalle Rovanpera.
Both Kris Meeke and Jari-Matti Latvala are discussing contract extensions for next year, but Autosport understands neither driver has yet confirmed an agreement.
https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...r-toyota-visit
Evans leaves M-Sport because of the R5 program? :D
Cracking news for Evans if he goes there. I always thought that M-Sport have not really shown him enough desire to keep him there (always waiting until last minute for contract etc). Seems they may regret that now and they should have signed him for 2020 already.
Yeah but hey have contract when the driver leave from m-sport then msport can take a portion of salary.I think something like that was with Tänak also. Malcolm invest millions into drivers and it would be odd that kinda move is not writed into contract.Quote:
Originally Posted by T16
It will be sad when M-Sport will not have any potential challenger for some rally win. Not really motivative for the team to put huge effort in, when there is no one to deliver results.
... but silly season is far from being over yet.
Much as I'd miss Evans at M-Sport I wouldnt blame him for moving. I think it would do him good to try another car and team and see just how far he can really go.
Suninen can still improve and has already shown some good pace at times. Paddon would be my choice to come in, with Greensmith in a third car at times.
Yeah, I agree with that, just get the feeling they might be kicking themselves a little that they didn’t commit to him for 2020 sooner, but then again, there is a chance Toyota would have come knocking if Tanak has stayed, but then again (!) they actually might have had him in their sights anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by reff92
As much as I wouldn’t mind seeing Meeke Make something of it and as much as I love Latvala being in the championship, I actually think Evans is a better bet than both of them right now.
yeap, heard rumours that he and his dad Gwyndaf wanted to steal Malcolms R5 project. They couldnt, so now they decided to try to get the Yaris R5 project from Tommi ;) ;) ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Wilson is a businessman and I think he didn't sign Evans early(ier) on purpose. He knew about Ott's team change and therefore ,,Evans to Toyota,, plan and €€ already playing in his mind..
+ the stories that letting Evans go would be crazy.. maybe trying to hype Evans up a bit and get him to Toyota.
Evans doesnt need to be 'hyped-up' - his speed has been very impressive at times and he is the 'best of the rest' despite missing three events with injury.Quote:
Originally Posted by TypeR
And quite rightly as he's stuck with Elfyn through some pretty lean years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal the 2nd
Comments like this are made a lot but it's important to remember that this is Malcolm's business model. He wants a driver who is promising and occasionally fast. They will drive for very little cost and bring the odd good result. He invests in them to develop them and his company. When they move on to a better pay situation he benefits as well and rightly so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Where these comments go a little off the rails are when it's stated in such a way like Malcolm has been benevolent and suffered or sacrificed to bring that driver along.
In the case of Elfyn, Malcolm chose to keep going with him, for his own reasons. Good for Elfyn that he may now have a chance in a proper paying situation and good for Malcolm that his investment may be paying off.
theres an interview with Adamo today in estonian newspaper.
"there were also rumours about golden toilet seat and that i make dinner for Ott every day, there were a lot of rumours".
about the contract: "shorter one would have been stupid and longer one too, im not marrying with them, two years is a good compromise to start a relationship"
about his saying in the summer that he hasnt got the money to hire Tänak: "it was a joke that i told everybody to win time, the budget coming from South-Korea is good enough to run the team as we want. we didnt have to cry in front of the bosses to double our budget, i didnt do any miracles."
he isnt sayin when exactly the deal was done because "he honestly" doesnt remember. About his and Ott sayings in september (when Ott said the conversations were difficult and they arent friends anymore): "At one point i and Ott were asked so much about our contract talks, that WE (he and Ott) decided we start playing with journalists."
The pressure from journalists didnt bother him, says that its part of his and Otts job and he actually didnt like playing games with journalists: "If i say to them that i dont have anything to say but they wont stop asking, of course then i have to play fool for them." "Ott is more important than me, he is a national hero now in estonia, he had a lot of pressure and i fully understand he didnt want to talk about rumours".
Also he mentions that Alain Penasse helped him a lot during the talks, he couldnt handle his temper at times but Penasse was more pragmatic :D.
About talks with Markko:
“It was tricky because Markko is a very tough guy. I told Märtin that I was once a fan of his and bought model cars - I had both his Subaru and Ford. I told Markko that I would never have supported him if I had known that he was such a tough guy to have negotiations. In the end, he gave a free signature to the model ”
Priceless stories!
@EstWRC
can we find online the whole interview to translate via google?
it was a paid article, you can only see the first pharagraph or introduction lets sayQuote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
i actually bought it, i dont remeber when was the last time i actually bought something from estonian media :D
You are a hero. I was about 30 seconds away of paying myself. Decided to check here before and it paid off...1,49 eur to be exact.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Guys its get sillier!
https://twitter.com/HartusvuoriWRC/s...909023744?s=19
edit at French forum wrote that they may took same plane for Australia
Aichi recce? Central Rally Aichi (8 - 10 November)
YepQuote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
Of course its business... M-Sport isnt a charity. But its taken a long time for Evans (and Tanak incidentally) to break into the top level and MW could easily have given up on him and switched to another prospect. His belief in him has been huge and I dont see him ever getting this anywhere else.Quote:
Originally Posted by OHL