Sordo with Citroen team mate Hirvonen 2013 for 8 Rallyes ! Sordo kehrt zu Citroën zurück*:: rallye-magazin.de
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Sordo with Citroen team mate Hirvonen 2013 for 8 Rallyes ! Sordo kehrt zu Citroën zurück*:: rallye-magazin.de
Problem with Mini is that they've lost just about a season of development. Very few proper tests other that preparing for events running around a car park. But, if the money was there they could eventually catch up.
Loeb will do the 5 events he likes the most. being Monte carlo, Sweden, France, Germany.
Sordo's best change over Hirvonen is tarmac, but he will not do the tarmac rounds, because Loeb will do them. and if Sordo does it in the 3rd factory car, and he will have to support Hirvonen, also Loeb will be doing his utter best to winotherwis eit is no use in coming back.
Sordo might find himself strapped down in the same tight team order situation in 2013 with Citroen
Agreed for 2013, however this gives Sordo a year to get used to the DS3 and improve his pace ready for a full assault in 2014 when Loeb is no longer a factor and it's a straight battle between Mikko and Sordo for number 1 in the team. I think Sordo is a more talented rally driver than Mikko (though I know that's controversial and perhaps not backed up by stats) and believe he would beat Mikko over a full season. Overall I think it's a perfect deal for both parties.Quote:
Originally Posted by alleskids
In an ideal world I'd like to see Ford keep JML and Petter, VW trust Mikkelsen next to Ogier and hopefully see Meeke and Ostberg trusted with Hyundai testing as well as perhaps privateer entries to keep their skills up.
Again, I want to raise Hänninen up here. Why not him to Ford? He is looking for a WRC seat... Hope some sponsors will be reading :)
I would like to see Östberg step up to a works seat for 2013...
I agree with this. Soon enough people will start to say he's too old to make the transition. Though I also think because of his service to Skoda he should be in a VW on some team or other.Quote:
Originally Posted by vkangas
I'm sure if JML goes to VW that Mads will be No2 to Petter at Ford or maybe No2 to Sordo _ there had to be a reason why Malcwent for him when JML had his accident!Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
Probably lost their drivers too, and they won't be easy to replaceQuote:
Originally Posted by noel157
True. We'll see what Wilcox has to say over the coming month or so.Quote:
Originally Posted by bt52b
Rumor has in the the VW thread that he is staying with Skoda for ANOTHER year. Yes, I don't know why either. I think he would be wonderful anywhere that makes WRC machines...Quote:
Originally Posted by vkangas
How did Mini lose a year of development? I follow their press releases and they are always full of info about new parts that Dani is going to be trying on various rallies. As you seem to be in the know, would you say that there is any chance of thius project comming of life support. I am fast losing my faith in it since France and Dani was so far off the pace...Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
Any particular reason why Petter has not been offered a new contract by Ford? I think he has done a terrific job this year, as a "Number 2" driver. :rolleyes:
If anything, Ford should be taking a long, hard look at Malcolm's contract.....
I cannot put my response to that into words.
I might, however, be able to put it into a URL: Crash de Solberg au WRC Rallye de France Alsace 2012 à Epfig - YouTube
I wouldn't re-sign him after doing something as bloody stupid as that.
Accidents happen even to the best. For some reason people have come to want a non-stop perfect execution from the drivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisoner Monkeys
Petter has said to Norwegian media that he belives he is a Ford driver also next year, contract meetings in near future.
And i read somewhere that there has been contact between Mads and Prodrive, not so strange as Adapta were an long time Prodrive customer.
Well, looking at Petter´s recent record.. I would suggest to hire Ostberg if I have to choose the best from the market (considering Sordo and Citroen is done deal). Petter has retired 4 times in 11 rallies and he is behind Mads in the championship table. Mads has been privateer + he has done two events less than Petter.Quote:
Originally Posted by RAS007
And he has birthday tomorow? 25?
I remember that I watched from TV some kind of show where Mads was considered as a driver who managed to crash very ofthen and even twice in one stage (It was containing some kind of crazy videos). And the person who was running the show concluded that this driver needs to choose new proffession ;-) Anyone knows it? Look what has happened now. Mads is one of the most reliable drivers in WRC.
I hope it's not Mini, unless their financial/performance situation is better than this year - new drivers with potential need proper support to fulfill that potential - look at Ogier, Neuville etc. Maybe he's had word from Hyundai, if there's any car brand even remotely interested in the New Zealand car market (small as it is), it'll be Hyundai (or a Japanese make). They've pushed hard to break into NZ/Aus.Quote:
Originally Posted by makinen_fan
I hope to see Paddon fighting Ogier with the rest of the new breed (breen, ostberg etc.) in a year or two!
Press releases? Press releases are just press releases. And they don't cost anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
Development means money and that's something that Prodrive don't have, sadly.
Who knows what will happen?
Scenarios:
#1 Mini will disappear
#2 Prodrive will find some money and continue with the Mini as a private entrant
#3 BMW will take it in-house
#4 Go back to renta drivers
#5 BMW and Prodrive will kiss and make-up
#6 ???????????????
I hope something positive happens with Mini but.....
In prodrive tweeter they "invite" Muller to compete in Monte Carlo with their car so I will assume is maybe #4
from Colin Clarks twitter
Spoke with Johki in France, and he didn't say it outright, but heavily hinted that VW was where JML is going
He had quite a few major accidents in the beginning of his career in Norway. My company supplied the footage for the (american) TV-show you are referring to. But then of course Mads started his first rally in a WRC-Subaru just days after his 18th birthday (Lausitz Rallye, Germany, oct. 2005), where he stunned everybody by leading in front of multiple german champion Matthias Kahle after the first evening.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluuford
News Sordo signed with Citroen. From Mexico 8 rounds.
No flies on you.... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
Nasser with Fiesta RRC in Jordan
http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...70529256_n.jpg
That is a brain fart!
Livery confusing on another car! Haha
I'm not demanding perfect execution. Only that Solberg thinks about what he does.Quote:
Originally Posted by Franky
When he went off, his pace notes would have clearly indicated that the right-hander was coming up - and they would have told him how sharp they were. And yet, he continued to power through the vineyard, somehow missed the road that he was crossing (and he is experienced enough to know that the gap in the vineyards and the sudden change in the surface corresponded roughly with the position of the upcoming road), and then powered through the vineyards again, driving too fast while he was completely blind.
It's one thing to demand absolute perfection from a driver every single time.
It is another thing entirely to demand competence from a driver. In this case, I'd only expect the latter from Solberg.
If you drive on an angle... You'd think you'd hit the road again no? The vines were in his windscreen and that is that. He couldn't see. Yes he should have stopped earlier but no one can comment on how he could or couldn't have handled it. We were NOT in his shoes,he is the only one with the experience and intelligence to make the decision on what he does. Sorry but it's true.
Again, Solberg's pace notes should have warned him that the corner was coming up. Especially since the left-hander and the right were so close together and the right was effectively a ninety-degree bend; the notes had to warn him it was there before he went off. He also should have noticed the change in surface when he reached the road, especially when he had to climb an embankment to get back up and could suddenly see again.
At the very least, he should not have accelerated when he went off the road. I get what he was trying to do, but he made an absolute mess of it. Common sense would dictate that you slow down when you go off and can't see where you're going because of all the vines - there's no excuse for that - lest you accidentally miss the road, drive through another vineyard and crash into a telegraph pole so hard that you bring it down and cut power to a nearby village.
Sometimes, I think Solberg is a lot like Kimi Raikkonen: he's got a leigon of fans who won't hear anything against him (though they're not as militant about it as Raikkonen's fans). If it were any other driver involved in this accident - Nobre, Oliveira, Novikov; anyone except maybe Loeb - you'd all be decrying the accident as a moment of monumental stupidity by the driver. But because it's Petter Solberg, it's okay.
Like the OP said, people make mistakes. If I understand you correctly, you are saying that in your opinion, Solberg should not be offered a new contract with Ford because of this one incident? Or because this fits into a pattern of behaviour? Either way, I am assuming that you wouldn't offer JML a new contract either, then?Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisoner Monkeys
Well, how smart petters move was, can we discuss to the bitter end. Put yourself in same situation, you know that you are stuk if you left the trottle. You don't see anything around you, but you know that the road change direction in front of you. An angle difference of 10 degrees make your way back on road atleast 100m longer, so you give trottle and hope for the best. When we know the result maybe not the smartest move, but you would probably do exactly the same if it was you inside that car in that moment. Its to easy to critisise Petter and Chris for this, most of us would do exactly the same.
The rally driver instinct is to push hard in order to reach the road again (I now it from personal experience). But the question is how sensible it is? Usually the driver is too affected from his mistake and couldn’t find the most rational decision, just remember Tanak’s off in Argentina.
Peter did it his way, but although he has a great experience, he didn’t count for potential spectators somewhere there. From this perspective he was lucky to stop into a telegraph pole.
Great news for Hans, but surprised that TN hasn't got the car for Spain - does this mean that Citroen will be entering him in a Junior Car?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fly
Read that earlier today here Hans Weijs jr. im Citroën WRC*:: rallye-magazin.de, presume it's just between Nasser and Hans rather than official Citroen Sport entry although Neuville in Sardinia may make it official?
Bit of a surprise given his deal with VW. Perhaps that deal is all over.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
Hasn't exactly shone in South Africa.
There fixed that for you (based on 2010 JWRC results ;) )Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
Was a ****ty car, 3 engines blown in 2 of his last rallies in a row.
Let's hope this is true!
You are right about Hans' personality - I found Hans, Thierry and Kevin Abbring all to be really pleasant guys. I hope they all make it to a WRC podium in time.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
Petter Solberg visited Paris yesterday...Strong rumours has it that he, Mads Østberg and Dani Sordo is in the fight for a Citroën seat. Mini/Prodrive won`t get any support from BMW, except for a new engine homologation, and will not run as a factory team in 2013. M-Sport (Malcolm Wilson) wants to run Huyndai. Ford will quit. (and thats the reason for Latvala not staying with M-Sport and moving to VW) How`s that for a little shake-up?