Where there is smoke, there is fire... Dunno if it's happening 100%, but it's sure both M-Sport Ford and Tanak are courting each other.
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Where there is smoke, there is fire... Dunno if it's happening 100%, but it's sure both M-Sport Ford and Tanak are courting each other.
Well.. he can be quite straight talking and demanding prick sometimes. Not all does not like this kind of behaviorQuote:
Originally Posted by lmmjvss
However I should say these guys are competition humans. They need and demand the support they should have, to become in just in the position they want to be, and are in.Quote:
Originally Posted by bandit12
I have full respect for both Neuville, Tanak and lately even Kalle being demanding.
Oh yes. I totally agree with you.
And also, Tänak has been quite polite and quiet on years 2020 to 2021.
More interesting to me is if he goes who replaces him?
Is Suninen an option? I mean, he has been there a year now, even did Monza in the WRC car last year and it's hard for me to see Toyota letting Hyundai take one of their drivers. Also, is Sordo continuing doing another 4 events for next year or are they stepping up Solberg Jr. to a full season?Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
Why Tanak, very demanding, not so nice guy to be teammate, but super fast and ruthless rally driver would go to M-Sport, considering that M-Sport to has ok speed car, constant reliability issues (most probably bcs of budget restrains), lack of full scale budget to even run PETs...; after his contract ends with Hyundai - ok, possible, just for fun; otherway - no Ford or some other big backing, no Tanak for Malcolm.
Would be a stupid decision to leave Hyundai for Msport. Hyundai have been constantly improving their car throughout the year and have won 3rallies in a row. 3 rallies that are very different types of events and surfaces. And the car has been more reliable than that fragile shell Msport have.
But then everyone knew moving to Hyundai from Toyota was a stupid decision, but he did that anyway!
only reason is to be the be the only focus of the teamQuote:
Originally Posted by AndersX
Hey, just rewatch this Tänak's interview:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1149515018983661
It's just analytical #nofilter honest answer with sharing own opinion and point of view. Explaining as well, that it's a shame he was not able to fight for the lead/win because of troubles earlier.
I think it' too much drama built out of that.
For me, it's hard to see that Tänak may want to leave Hyundai and all what he and team have built there with 2 years. Car seems to be improving and there is no hope at least for next year.
At the same time I need to admit I thought the same way when he was in Toyota but he still left.
Some funny "Mäkinen" statement to conclude the situation:
https://www.facebook.com/RallyTroll/...a2My4mg1BTF5Vl
If you could make a poll for all Tänak's previous team-mates, I wonder, what could be the actual stats.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndersX
Tänak was/is friend with Ogier. I think the same is with Sordo. I don't remember any troubles with Evans, Latvala, Lappi or Meeke.
There is just clear mismatch with Neuville and it may say more/also about Neuville than Tänak.
sordo? last friday doesn't seem so...Quote:
Originally Posted by meh
I believe Lappi wasn't too complementary of him as a team mate.Quote:
Originally Posted by meh
There was some issue that Sordo didn't check phone before starting the stage and that is why he "ignored" team orders.Quote:
Originally Posted by wyler
But friendship with Sordo made the contact with Adamo and entire movement to Hyundai.
I don't think there is a big crisis between Neuville and Tanak yet. Tanak was actually more pissed off at clear backup driver Sordo not gifting him a place for better road position, than he was with Neuville not wanting to gift away his well deserved win. I know if roles were reversed, Tanak would be equally against gifting away a win. That's where strong team management comes in to deal with the situation...., as no top driver is going to actively decide to gift a win away. But if they're told to...
I still think they should've switched them, but even if they did, it's still a distant pipe-dream Tanak can win this championship. It will take the biggest collapse in the history of the WRC if Kalle loses it (although he is 2 rallies into a potential collapse). I have no doubt Hyundai would've switched them if Tanak was a fair bit closer to Kalle, they're surely not that amateur to not have.....
IS THE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESSURE GETTING TO ROVANPERÄ?
WITH THE TITLE IN REACH, THE WRC LEADER HAS CRASHED ON THE PAST TWO ROUNDS
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/is-th...-to-rovanpera/
Has anyone considered that Tanak may retire at the end of the season? I believe he has a reason to do so.
A reason from rallying or from personal life?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Hokkaido
PersonalQuote:
Originally Posted by meh
Sent from my DN2103 using Tapatalk
Can we be more specific, or should everybody start to look to crystal ball?
I posted here about it once but since some of the members did not like it, I then removed my post. So, if anyone wants to know more specifically please PM. Not gonna let some of the guys here jump on my throat no more.Quote:
Originally Posted by bandit12
According to Ott Tänak: the Movie they had a good relationship.Quote:
Originally Posted by becher
Still milking that cow...
The only interesting thing in that article is the claim to have information about disagreements in the team from an inside source. Not that it would be hard to guess but if it's getting printed it's might be pretty bad.
The Hyundai judgement was probably that Tanak was still very unlikely to challenge Rovanpera for the Ch'ship even if they switched positions and Neuville deserved and needed the victory.
Even if what you say was the actual thought process, it's still a vote against Tanak. Rather than backing their best chance, they admitted defeat. It would be quite something if Rovenpera ended up winning the title by less than 7 points...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Again I have to remind everyone of the contrast vs Toyota in Sweden 2020 where Ogier did not get teamorders vs Rovanpera who basically risked a crash (and came close to it) on PS to overhaul him.
"We don't do team orders" was basically the whole story. Before at MSport Ogier was demanding and getting teamorders already in Sweden on second rally of the year, same at Citroen.
So it does seem a bit inflated, sure Ditfish inflates it to create some buzz, but Tanak seems a bit like a spoiled child.
One good point in this article is that there is a huge contrast between Adamo/Penasse times and this. During their reign all kinds of team orders were applied, restarting drivers dropping minutes mid-stage for different road cleaning, team orders on who could push on PS etc etc.
Yet when Toyota didn't win it was more about their own mistakes than due to these tiny Hyundai things. (in 2019 it was as much about Meeke and Latvala loosing a lot of points unnecessarily due to own mistakes, in 2020 Toyota putting Rovanpera in his first season vs Breen+Sordo+Loeb combo).
It is not as straightforward "correct" decision as Dirtfish tries to make it.
What were the team orders in Sweden 2017-2019? IIRC Ogier's Sweden was ruined by heavy snowfall in 2018 and his own mistake in 2019. In 2017 he finished behind Tänak, no team orders were issued. Ogier however did get some team orders in Finland 2018, first Evans let him past on Friday for better start position and then on Sunday Suninen took time penalty to let Ogier pass.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
As for Sweden 2020, Rovanperä was the third best Toyota before the power stage started so it wouldn't have made a difference if he crashed. Toyota wouldn't have gotten a 1-2-3 anyway.
I was thinking about Sweden 2018 yes. Most notably where Ogier got 4:10 penalty for his PowerStage ("hiding in forest" stunt) and they let Evans get 4:20 penalty just so he doesn't get ahead of Ogier in overall which would cost Ogier a single point.
In clear words. Evans who just won his first rally recently (GB 2017) as well as Suninen get pushed around with team orders for tiny advantages and one point on second rally of the year.
Then in Sweden 2020 Rovanpera in his second rally in WRC car and after finishing 5th 4mins behind Ogier in Monte (which Ogier didn't win), is allowed to take podium from Ogier without any drama. Quite a different approach.
( Toyota were 1-3-4 if Rovanpera crashed they would be 1-3).
Tldr. Imo Tanak not getting team orders is not extraordinary even by recent standards. Maybe by recent Adamo standards.
How much of your own money would you place on that happening though ? Not much I bet.Quote:
Originally Posted by ouvreur
Neuville deserved some consideration in this situation. Swapping postitions for points is one thing, but taking a victory off a driver is another... and especially one without a win for nearly a year.
It isn't like taking away Neuville's first victory..
But let that be.
They gave Toyota extra 5 points on PS. Both Neuville and Sordo were driving at bicycle speed there..
Bringing Oliver to most events in a Rally1 car this year probably cost them more than those 5 points, but I agree, they left a fair few points for Toyota to take in Greece. Luckily for them, Evans wasn’t there to take any.Quote:
Originally Posted by TypeR
No difference in manu points.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
The thing about Acropolis 2022 situation was that the whole rally win was in question. Not even Adamo or Ogier at M-Sport demanded wins to be given away, just low positions, super rally tactical penalties or sacrificing one single point for power stage performance. We remember giving wins from Lancia team of the 80’s but when was the last time it happened in WRC? Kankkunen gave two wins to Sainz in 1997 (Greece and Indonesia).
Top of my mind: Australia 2011, Spain 2009, Acropolis 2000 and probably a few more...
How about Turkey 2019? Before Sunday Ogier and Lappi were even and Lappi just beat Ogier by 4s after a small mistake on stage before.
Immediatelly on first stage Lappi posted worst stage result of the weekend until that point and both him and Ogier started to talk about taking it safe and saving tires for PS (Ogier).
Was pretty much understood as team orders. Sure it is not giving away a clear win, but it is as close as you get.
https://twitter.com/TGR_WRC/status/1571771773493952513
Ogier drives all of NZ, Catalunya and Japan
I don't remember it that way. Lappi made a small mistake at a hairpin on SS12 and Ogier got past him. Lappi was still faster on SS13 and they were separated by only 0.2s at the end of Saturday. At that point, it has been just sensible to "hold positions", not like Lappi was asked to give Ogier a win.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Saw Antill already posted about Ogier, disregard this post.
Interesting news about Ogier; he cut short his WEC programme to spend more time with the family...And now does the rest of the WRC season.