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Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see any difference just because Mini pulled out officially? They will no longer fund the Mini Portugal team (which was hopeless anyway and will mean that Nobre is gone!) but Prodrive are still going to run a team in the WRC just like last season with no less funding. Have I missed something?
I guess you are right, but Hanninen's hopes will be dashed now, or he might be in talks with Prodrive?Quote:
Originally Posted by pettersolberg29
Yep, prodrive will still try to be the best of the rest
They just won't be able to have a 'team' or score team points.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallye-vid
You can't do that unless the manufacturer registers.
I cannot say anymore on this but Motorsport Italia might not continue with WRC Program with Atkinson/Nobre .
Sad to see MINI go like that but suspect Prodrive have invested too much £££ to simply let it go now. The issue is the car needs more development because it has shown speed on occasion.
Was this already here?
Motorsport Italia Team: Ciao Means Goodbye But Also Hello... (12.10.2012)
Goodbye to Mini but hello to what?Quote:
Originally Posted by Miika
Sure we might see Prodrive continue but I guess only with pay drivers, and they were already disappointing in France even with Sordo.
Nikara is a very promising driver but I wonder whether it's really wise to go straight in at the deep end without driving a 'proper' car first...Quote:
Originally Posted by EightGear
Or in a car that has a more secure future....Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
Exactly
How not to run a Motorsport programme..... You are better keeping it in house.
What gives you guys the energy to think Hänninen could be in consideration of any team? He isn't.
F1, Dakar, WRC... cockup after cockup for BMW. How do they expect to have a brand representative team with a handful of money? Or they even expected somebody to pay them for using the brand?
I have to disagree. Why wouldn't he be under concideration in any team? He has won all series he has participated in last three years.Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
That might not be so if the teams were allowed 3 cars to run a WRC Rally probably. But with more manufacturers entering, there might be place for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
Some thoughts
1. Latvala case: I can see why decision is difficult. Ford has a car that has this proved to be a top contender. With Loeb gone, with Ford Latvala has his best chance ever to be a World Champion until VW gets their car together. Then stopping Ogier will be hard. BUT, Ford future is uncertain, so long term VW would be better option.
2. Solberg. Regardless of the France incident, he has made way too many mistakea this year. It was sort of acceptabe, when he was trying to beat works car in private car, but not when you are hired to be the "safe collector" of manu points.
3. Mini. Don't really get what BMW is thinking, they made the initial commitment and Prodrive produced quite a good car in the first year. It is still a good base to be a contender for wins, so why not invest? Especially as BMW as company is doing really well. If they are fed up Prodrive, then with someone else.
4. Huyndai. They have a mock up or show car, nothing else. Will be a long way before they can even compete, let a lone be competitive, so hold your horses :)
Something from the latest Vauhdin Maailma magazine: Esapekka Lappi is really close of signing a deal with Škoda's factory team for next year.
Lets hope he will grow and not end like Juho...
Let's still hope there is something for Juho also ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by rallye-vid
Its more than close.....Quote:
Originally Posted by vkangas
That sucks. So people who drive the JCW next year will not be allowed to have their results contibute to the manufacturers table?Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
Also, in light of Prodrive's press release, I was wondering aside from the lack of official sponsorship, how is Prodrive's situation all that different from M-Sport? I mean Ford does not directly own Malcolm's operation...
He should be! But then again he is one of my fav drivers/persons in rallying, so I'm biased ....Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
Just realized that Prodrive are saying they are and will be working towards a FULL 2013 campaign in the WRC.
I wondered how this would be so as they said the same thing with 2012... And they again, like now don't have full BMW support.
Until someone mentioned they didn't do full 2012 season because there was no confirmation on promoter and couldn't approach sponsors if they could not guarantee promotion, media and television push out. Now it makes sense so lets hope that Prodive will do a full 2013 season with two cars and proper sponsorship/advertising on their cars! :d
In the leading article it says that he is close to a deal with Skoda but in the article of Esapekka he says he have a deal for next year with Even rally made before NORF. He couldn’t say so much about his program next year but said he won’t be driving in Finland. He wants more tarmac experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by vkangas
In the leading article was also a PS. JML’s next year deal will be unveiled on the last day in Catalunya.
Contract with Even rally and with Škoda is in no contradiction ;)
Yes of course not but would Esapekka then have a contract with both Skoda and Even rally or only with Even rally and Even rally has the contract with Skoda.
Juho did grow. The problem is there is nowhere for him to grow further.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallye-vid
That's what i mean
Even Rally is just his management, helping him forward !
EVEN Rally
JML has a contract with Jouhki to manage him. It doesn't mean that Jouhki has contract with Ford, JML has, just pays a % to Jouhki for the management. Same here with Lappi and Even rallyQuote:
Originally Posted by OldF
OK, I’m not so familiar with these manager things but I agree with you COD in the case of JML but I don’t think Esapekka had a contract with M-Sport for this year (2012), Even rally was taking care to get a car for Esapekka. Next year is probably different. Even rally manage the negotiations for Esapekka’s behalf and Esapekka signing a contract with Skoda.
I don’t know where Cresta management fits in today but Esapekka is still on their list.
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I think it's same like Mikkelsen he's normally also still under EvenRally management? Eventhough he's a works driver.
Totally agree, but we tend to forget that touring cars racing is in BMW's DNA, not rally.Quote:
Originally Posted by COD
Of course rally raid isn't either, but XRaid excepctional partnership started in a very friendly and relaxed way (both companies are owned by the Quandt family).
Prodrive profit from earlier successful experiences with BMW and was able to maximize Mini rally heritage in order to influence german chiefs on an WRC engagement, but by the end of 2011 it was clear that BMW was losing confidence in Prodrive and the whole Mini WRC project.
They just kept around to prevent FIA sanctions related with the homologation process, but even this minimal WRC effort turned messy with the Motorsport Italia/Mini WRC Portugal affair.
Really, this WRC experience wasn't a joy for BMW. Good luck next time!
The whole prodrive/Mini partnership was a waste of time. Never had one proper competitive season.
Great that prodrive got some work out it, but from a championship point of view, time wasters!
Shoulda Woulda Coulda
The French company making/doing x-raid have got their funds cut off by BMW
Nokia WRC live app will be discontinued after this 2012 season.
I hope for some red bull live splits WRC app ;)
JML signed with VW