He's 100% doing Japan. Toyota want all their drivers for their home rally.
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He's 100% doing Japan. Toyota want all their drivers for their home rally.
Imagine if Ott wins at CER and Thierry crash.......
bUt Tanak pushed too much!!Quote:
Originally Posted by spyros
It makes sense that Neuville wants to decide drivers title in CER, then he can push in Japan and doesnt need to be cruising trough to secure title and he can fight for manu title with no stress about WDC.. And Neuville is absolutely key factor for Hyundai, if he won't be pushing on Sundays, Hyundai will hardly get a title..
It will take a major turnaround from what we saw in RMC and Croatia for Tanak in the i20 to beat Ogier and Evans on tarmac. Maybe even Fourmaux will give him a run for his money.
I agree and same goes for Mikkelsen vs Katsuta and Fourmaux.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
But Hyundai needs points from someone else than Neuville (who should be more focused on not crashing in CER). So you could argue that someone else than him should be getting extra testing/seattime before CER.
If they get little testing the chance of any turnarounds gets even smaller.
This!Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
As I said, Neuville and Tanak have equal chances of winning the title, but have equal chances to crash in both rallies. Neuville is on the top step from the start of the season, he was cleaning, have many issues, even punctures and crashes, but he still manage to get the most out of every rally, thaks too to the new point system. Tanak was always in the middle, I could say worse, but have better start position almost a whole season and start to manage points too. Right now N have we could say one good rally points advantage and advatage because there is only two tarmac rallies. And I think that if he would still have problems, he will somehow manage to get at least something.
More importantly is, no matter who of those two will win, it should be Hyundai and I mean both titles. That way the bosses (I hope) will reconsider and saw that it's worth of being in the WRC. I mean it's too soon to leave. Not now, when finally some people started trying to save it.
It's obvious that if Neuville won't run into trouble, he'll get the title, there's no catching him with only speed. But Thierry seems willing to push a bit in CER to avoid a risky retirement in Japan... imagine he has driveshaft failure on Sunday in Japan and gets 0 points...
Tanak needs something to happen to Neuville, but he also needs to keep Ogier behind. Ogier is fast on asphalt, would you be surprised if he won both CER and Japan? If Ogier can gain 10-11 points over Neuville in CER, then he's still in the fight in Japan. So we go back to everything being decided by the chance of something happening to Neuville on Japan's Sunday.
�� FOURMAUX-HYUNDAI
Adrien Fourmaux will be Hyundai’s third driver in the 2025 season. His contract includes a FULL TIME agreement and therefore Fourmaux will join Neuville and Tanak in all events of the next season.
As we anticipated last August 5, contacts between Fourmaux and Hyundai were already underway but the definitive “yes” arrived during Rally Chile.
M-Sport’s attempts to retain Adrien have been in vain.
No confirmation has arrived from the interested parties (but it will be confirmed very soon) and on the duration of the contract which will most likely have a 1+1 formula: a certain year (2025) plus a possible extension in the case Hyundai will still have a program in the 2026 WRC season.
At this point Hyundai will release Sordo, Lappi and Mikkelsen while M-Sport will have the first driver’s seat free.
https://www.facebook.com/wrctvitaly
such a stupid thing to do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Managarium
Signing a big manu contract for full season in WRC is the top thing to reach in rallying.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Yes, M-Sport is also in top class, but in Hyundai he will also make good money.
And on the other hand, I think Wilson is also proud about the fact that his youngster is getting a big deal.
IF this happens.
Sorry that M-Sport`s only ambition is to develop drivers. Get`s boringQuote:
Originally Posted by TypeR
This is still a speculation. Has anyone checked credibility of the source? Motorsport guys are fighting so hard to get paid and there are so few who really gets over that fence, that it is understandable that one would take money, plus there must be investors behind, plus, i red one comment somewhere that Malcolm and MSport actually also gets cut if their development project gets paid ( i am not sure if this is true, though).
[QUOTE=manthey;1353160]croatia deserves a place in the wrc[/QUOT
Hope , is not over!
https://istarski.hr/node/105961-vlad...i-prijeci-ucku
I also see this as some kind of speculation atm. Hopefully there will be confirmation either way soon.
Sorry to say, but beeing 3.d driver at Hyundai is with todays car is ruining your carriere.
Only sordo is the only one.
Not many options to get paid in this business, but he hasn't droved for free at M-sport i presume.
Mikkelsen developing the Rally2 car these days, is Hyundai offer him a full season in that with a good paycheck instead of the Rally1 drive?
Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk
Hyundai have admitted they've given up on the Rally2 car for WRC - they will just try to turn it in to a tarmac-only car for national use.Quote:
Originally Posted by skarderud
I don't see paychecks coming to anyone to drive Rally2 - and if there were, for sure Paddon would be top of the list. Truly the only driver in the history of that car to really enjoy any kind of success.
Being 3rd driver at Hyundai might be not that bad. Obviously you have to be in the shadow of Neuville and Tänak, but you still can show your speed. If you are in a position where you have to slow down to give points to your teammates, then you have done something right. This would still have an positive impact to your career, because you are seen as a team player if needed and also you have the speed to fight with the best. Tänak was doing the same thing in 2017, when he had to slow down for Ogier and if Ogier was not in the position, then he was able to fight for his wins.Quote:
Originally Posted by skarderud
At MSport this year at basically every rally Fourmaux is behind the top 5 (Rovanpera/Ogier/Evans/Neuville/Tanak) on speed and gets to 3-4 ish after retirements. (Some rallies with heavy cleaning being exception)
Whether that is due to his speed, car speed or tactics is hard to tell.
Anyway if he would do that in Hyundai how would that impress anyone? If he would instead push and crash a bit more (he does crash a fair bit now too) it would be even worse.
Historically we know that most rally drivers seem to overestimate their skills. But if this happens (the source current rumor source doesn't look very reliable) it does remind of Duval to Citroen.
So 3 guys will lose their job and surely it's the end of their careers as WRC drivers.
As we can see the WRC 2024 lineup will be:
-Hyundai:
-Neuville
-Tanak
-Fourmaux
-Toyota:
-Rovanpera
-Evans
-Katsuta/Pajari/Ogier (Shared 3rd or sometimes 4th car)
-M-Sport:
-Sesks (probably)
-Munster
I see this very bad for the championship, because if somehow some new team find a way to enter, they would not have enough guys being sharp. In a 2 years no one will look at those who felt out right now.
A new team would definitely need at least one experienced driver to lead the car development, but speed wise there are young drivers already knocking on the door. I believe Solberg and Rossel would show similar speed as Fourmaux in a Rally1 car after some testing.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
I'll be gutted if this is true. But it wouldn't be a surprise as you cant really turn down a full-time contract with a factory team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Managarium
Fourmaux could've stayed at M-Sport but then he may never get another chance to earn the sort of money Hyundai will pay. It may also have been seen as a lack of ambition too.
Hopefully Sesks can take his place and he's shown some good speed and a brilliant personality which will help him and the team have future success.
WRC Croatia back in 2026?
https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/spor...-eura-15508511
I am not so sure about the constant excitement for "new" drivers. Since 2015 the only "new" drivers that made it to consistent fight for win level were Tanak, Evans and Rovanpera.Quote:
Originally Posted by trykmann
While many drivers that seemed like the next big thing very early just couldn't consistently deliver - Suninen, Breen and Lappi being prime examples, not to mention the likes of Lefevbre, Loubet etc.
At the same time many "old" drivers keep the same or almost same level no matter what, apart from the obvious Loeb and Ogier there is Latvala, Sordo and Mikkelsen.
A good speed/result even very early (i.e. Lappi) does not really guarantee that it will stay that way, and even less that consistency in both speed and reliability improves.
Another source of Fourmaux to Hyundai...
http://www.areacorse.com/in-cile-fou...b3PsiAQFjMd6Cw
The issue about the current best drivers is their age. Most of them are already in their mid thirties. I am not sure we will be seeing Neuville, Tänak or Evans driving a full season in their forties. The generational change will happen in 4-5 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
If they will have a good and stable team behind, they will drive at least few seasons. But sure one by one will leave and not all at once.
I see it the opposite way, if Fourmaux doesn't deliver at Hyundai, which is very likely alongside Neuville and Tänak, he will be seen as a failure. If he improves his reputation further at M Sport then the others will keep looking at him. Imagine Tänak jumping ship to Hyundai in in 2017 for example, his career could have ended up a lot less successful.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Of course Adrien will not deliver better than in M-Sport. He will not be allowed to. As usual. And it would be surprise if he would be good in that car straigh away, as no one, even WDCs didn't manage to deliver it straight away. Only Neuville and Sordo can somehow drive everywhere, but they are in the team from the start. One year is not enough.
It's possible that Wilson did sell him out like he did with all previous talents. And manage to increase his value through development and saying how he will try to keep him, but realisticaly they are doing business. If we don't had him and his team, we never had half the grid, we have right now in the WRC. Probably would be Ogier, Neuville, Latvala and some Serderidis like, millionaire uncle backed kids with no talent, and likes of overrated drivers with ''good'' connections. And that way the gaps would be far bigger, dominance from one and killing the sport step by step.
Tanak have enouh time to adapt to the car and team and only in second half of the season he start delivering. I bet if he would not perform well they would reconsider his seat too, although he have one title around his belt and this maybe save him. I wonder what would happen if Hyundai would not offer him a seat this year. Would M-Sport take Adrien along or it would even have funds to run a WDC for another year. Is it possible they got some money to buy out Tanak from M-Sport?
I dont say I like the decision (or even agree with it), but there will be reasons from all concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by becher
I'm sure a lot will come out once it's made official and there will have been discussions with other drivers once Fourmaux decided to go which may make it make sense for M-Sport.
Can FFSA support Rossel now? He deserves the support.
Don't know why Citroen did back him and Gryazin with official programme this year after absence for so long time and with quite ''old'' Rally2 car model, but my guess is they are looking at 2027 what it would be. It could be they are maybe just boosting their car recognition but doing that would be sensible when they build it (2018), not now when car manufacturer have completely new model of C3. Maybe they are preparing the terrain for Lancia to come and take their experience and build similar machine, since they are quite serious about rallying. So having already drivers with experience is better to showcase straight away than hiring someone new. But this is just my guess, only reffering to that article about their looking closely at FIA.
Supporting him by FFSA at this stage when he can become WRC2 champion, I think it doesn't have a point, just making him some more money. It would make sense if he would be in JWRC or show talent, and being young. That way he could afford outing on a WRC level, but he already have it by Citroen.
He is supported by FFSA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
He is branded by FFSA, and for sure the YACCO sponsorship comes from this direction....
Rossel is a good shout for an M-Sport seat. He appears to be very much like the previous French stars in his attitude and professionalism. He also has good experience from WRC2 (although mainly tarmac). Let's see if he has enough backing to get ahead of Sesks or Solberg.
I forgot to mention before, thanks to Citroen this year, and Pajari in Toyota Rally2 somehow backed, we now have exciting battle ahead for the remaining two events in WRC2 and not Skoda winning everywhere and way before season ends. Shame that Hyundai can't recognize true potential in Paddon and Meeke to bring them up and spice things up. And M-Sport could do it too with Sesks and some other talent.
As regarding M-Sport in WRC. I saw every episode now for that documentary and is quite obvious that Munster have this bad feeling that he is dissapointing the team. He could be degraded next year as many before them, build up experience and come back if step up would be shown. It worked for many drivers before. That way M-Sport could bring Sesks up, try with him do a full season, and maybe snatch Solberg, Rossel, Gryazin, Mikkelsen, Lappi or even Evans. I think that after this year if anyone will get the offer they will not refuse.
I found and old article about future of WRC, at least something is mention, if anyone is interesed https://rallyjournal.com/did-you-not...am-is-pleased/
Great news!Quote:
Originally Posted by Managarium
I'm not so sure about that Fourmaux move to Hyundai thing. I think it is not a good news for us and for him himself.
The obvious thing is that that automatically close the door for Young Solberg and his chance to get a seat in Rally1 car which he truly deserves. Unfortunately I can't not see that he can drive for M-sport unless he ends his cooperation with Monster. Formoux however will than end up as no. 3 driver with a lot of pressure and I will take time for him to could challenge Tanak and Neuville as a no.1.
I mean the general problem is that there is nothing enough Rally1 cars on the top level and unless that changes the manufacturers always will take safe choices when it comes to drivers. In my opinion a WRC2 plus it is still the best way to go as a lot manufacturers has already finished developed chassies. It would also make it possible for privet teams to drive in the top class and top level as it was in the old days.
At least I hope tat a next gen Rally1 car won't have a tubular chassis wich is a complete nonsense.
In before we launch a whole new Rally2 discussion, Rally2 and WRCars already had a tubular chassis, it was just combined with a cut up road car shell and therefore pretty expensive to develop.Quote:
Originally Posted by turdzi