Confirmed?
Printable View
Confirmed?
As good as :-) maybe not published in some press release as yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by bf1_IRL
If true, and it seems to be, you can't blame him. He'll get paid properly, and have the benefit of the massive resources of VW. However, it is now Ogier's team...it will be hard - will he be a definite No2....??
And what of Ford?? Where does this leave them? I would have thought J-ML had a good shot at the Title next year in the Ford. Solberg/Ostberg??
Capito will take the usual approach- equal drivers, none preferred until title is at stake.
Slowly getting there:Quote:
Originally Posted by bf1_IRL
AUTOhebdo.fr | WRC - Latvala part chez Volkswagen en 2013*!
ford totally messed it up again. they have no real titlecontender left yet to get a contract with...
and you really know next year line up for Ford(M-Sport)?
It was clear that he Latvala was tempted to continue with Ford to ave a good chance to win the championship next year but Ford could not guarantee anything after that. For Latvala this is a wise decision but for the sport I hoped he would stay with Ford and become champion next year. The worst thing I can imagine for the sport and next champion is that certain retired bloke beats next champ in rallies he selects.
For me it's hard to see Petter or Mads beating Mikko in the championship. I really hope that Malcom takes a risk and hires a certain car acrobat. Unfortunately I think it will not happen.
Ford WRT:
Petter Solberg
Dani Sordo
Mads Ostberg (3rd driver)
Dani Sordo will be in Citroen next year! If Ford let JML go, I guess they wont have a real title contender next year! My guess for their line up it's Solberg, Ostberg and Tanak... but against Sordo, Hirvonen and Neuville or Latvala, Ogier and Mikkelsen I don't see how any titles are possible!
I think it all depends on how good the VW is - if it still needs development then Petter is equal to Sordo and Mikko averaged across all surfaces. If Petter can improve his consistency without losing speed then there is a chance, and Ostberg can get consistent top 4s too which will help in the manufacturers. But if the VW is quick then I agree - Ford have a slower car and slower drivers than VW!Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFlyingTuga
A lot of seat swapping going on then. My no1 and 2 guess would be:
Ford
Petter
Ostberg
Citroen
Mikko
Sordo + Loeb on certain rallies
VW
Ogier
Latvala
Mini
Whoever brings in the most money
I think that's how it's going to play out. With Juho at Mini or testing for Hyundai ready for 2014 I'd guess.Quote:
Originally Posted by Arwel Davies
Preliminary stages for Swedish Rally: Banförslag
For us who only can attend Saturday's stages this really rubbish. Frediksberg and Sågen are two really
über borning stages from a spectator point of view.
I'll guess they the don't care about us "Easties". :down: :down:
Hopefully I can go on Friday but if not i probably won't bother going in 2013.
Why not PG in Ford? Look what he did last year in Sardinia and Sweden in a Ford. I think he is faster than Östberg.
I would agree, PG is a lot faster than many give him credit for. Unfortunately, like one or two others, he's becoming the forgotten man.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messi
It would help a lot if he could keep it on the road...
Is there any Ford team for a title contender to sign a contract with ...Quote:
Originally Posted by darkstar
Exactly. No point speculating on drivers for a team that may not be there. I can understand why all and sundry are taking contracts elsewhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by DonJippo
There will be a Ford team I would imagine. No point wasting, or indeed breaching, the final year of the contract.
Should be a couple of RRC cars for the ERC too maybe.
Every contract has exit clauses. I'm sure Ford would be able to walk away without penalty.
Well, after Gronholm ford didn't have title contender, he gave them two manufacturers titles.
FMC generally don't do things like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
The Space Shuttle needs a driver, looks like it just had an off. Stuck behind a tree.... :)
People from time to time tend to bet PG in a Ford and i can say that will most likely not happen. MW gave him a chance and he blew it. You dont get more chances then what have have had...Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
I´m not talking about PG, more in general. Don´t you think MW gave some guys more than one chance? And PG wasn´t given one chance. He had to pay for a drive - and blew it. That´s correct. But I do believe he might get more chances in many teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
No point speculating on drivers for any team. All will come out in due course.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
I think Ford should consider hiring Hänninen for next year...
Not much point in having a forum then?Quote:
Originally Posted by sollitt
It's called discussion, chat etc. You'll find it's quite common in life.
They could do a lot worse. He wouldn't disappoint.Quote:
Originally Posted by Co-FIN
Nice. For years we whined about the championship... the lack of drivers and teams. Now, when VW finally step in, Mini and probably Ford will step out. Huyindai's try might end up like Suzuki's or Nissan's... the result is that we have TWO teams with same drivers to follow. Yieppee cay yeah mf :mark:
After all mini was here for homologations, didn't have real shot.
Glass half empty eh?Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
I was thinking the same thing. Everyone was complaining about the abundance of unemployed drivers, now they are complaining there isn't enough drivers around to fill the factory seats.Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
I do agree though that if JML does go to VW, it will take a title contender and turn him into a support driver.
Wilson finds himself in a dilemma now. Will Ford want 2 Norwegians (Petters & Mads) in the same team? Does M-Sport have money to hire drivers or will they need to bring money with them.
Options for him... Solberg, Ostberg, PG, Atko, Tanak, Hanninen and Novikov. Unfortunately none seem like title contenders.
Don't think M-Sport "hire" drivers, do they?
They hire out the spaces they sit inQuote:
Originally Posted by noel157
And that has been their problem for years. Not enough backing from Ford. To run a proper programme requires money.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
I can remember the day they signed McRae to a six figure salary.....it was mainstream news over here. Then Sainz signed, and then Martini as headline sponsor.......
Is Ostberg ready to lead a 'works' team? Would they take a gamble on him?
I'd like to know, and soon what are RedBull's plans - it might help teams pull in sponsors if we/they know what we can expect. Which is why I though BMW/MINI might give it one more season.
Would be a start if they signed a contractQuote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
The change driver needs immediate medical assistance from a shrink....Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
Don't you hate this bull****
After that will quit Rallying for good...
Take it like this. Solberg will leave the WRC if he doesn't get a factory seat.
Østberg will leave if he doesn't get a factory seat.
Both don't, won't AND cannot pay to drive in 2013. Both have said this recently and it'll reflect on the decision M-Sport will make for 2013.