Am I the only Brit to have no idea wHat Adam Gould has done? He has won prize drives but on what basis??Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyrazz
WT
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Am I the only Brit to have no idea wHat Adam Gould has done? He has won prize drives but on what basis??Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyrazz
WT
And he has never been driving outside of Britan, right?
Good news, but i Hope they don't end up like Suzuki and Skoda...waving the white flag after 1 or 2 seasons
Early indication shows that factory support from BMW may be rather limited. I haven't noticed the WRC announcement on any BMW/Mini sites, only on Prodrive's own site.
One good thing is that the engine is coming from BMW Motorsport. So I don't expect SX4-like engine problems.
Aw it breaks my heart when you say that about Skoda. At least they tried... For 15 years!Quote:
Originally Posted by steve_spackman
That is really good news!Quote:
Originally Posted by vkangas
I head that Mr Bean is going to be the number 1 driver! :p :
I was referring to the FabiaQuote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
Skoda was in WRC as factory team since 1999 to 2005. Never really competitive but at least good for variety and numbers ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by steve_spackman
Since Germany 2003 to Wales 2005 with Fabia. That's 2,5 years. Later with CRT Kopecký which was still semi-factory team although with very limited development.Quote:
Originally Posted by steve_spackman
Ah yes, and since 1970' to 1998 in lower classes.
AWSOME! and with that teddybear as codriver? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by steve_spackman
Don't laugh! Mr.Bean knows better than anyone else how lock his car! :D
Besides that how many WRC drivers can drive from the armchair on the roof using a broom? :D
Ah, okay. Thats true. Thats a so big shame. They had a good car there... Colin, Mikko and PG all showed it...Quote:
Originally Posted by steve_spackman
and Duval and Kopecky and Mikkelsen and... Anyway, it just shows that if you want to suceed you need decent drivers so Mini need to get that right first, and there are plenty available right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
If they want a British driver then it has to be Meeke. Don't see the point in going younger just for the sake of it, Meeke still has 10 years in him. P Solberg/K Meeke sounds like a decent lineup. Petter is the best available driver with up to date WRC experience.
Atkinson I could also see happening as Prodrive worked with him before with decent results.
Ron, take pink glasses down. Fabia WRC never was a top contender and few flashes don't change much.
Many drivers showed that it had potential. But that was after the car was retired. I fint that so strange.. I count Gardemeister as one of the top drivers, but he never even had a glimse of performance in the Fabia..Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
I know it was never a top contender, on the other hand I trust you have seen the times in sWRC....Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze
It's not Skoda topic. We can talk about that elsewhere ;)
I guess the problems were split between the car, the management and the drivers. None of them were good enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
You are right; after the factory team retired it suddenly started winning stages and scoring points.
Anyway, let's get this thread back on topic! I don't really expect the Mini to challenge Ford or Citroen straight away, but I don't expect it to be a Suzuki either.
They can bring some REAL personality to the series...something it lacks at the moment ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
Fantastic news to see a confirmed manufacturer... not just another rumour.
My guess is that Petter will be invited to do some testing with the Mini.
For 2011 I see Marcus doing the driving on the WRC events.
As far as confirmed drivers for 2012 are concerned my money goes on Meeke and Petter. I just don't really see a young British driver up to the task at the moment.
I also predict Nikara in a third (junior position) car.
Lets hope this new manufacturer is the beginning of many more to bring the WRC out of 'being in the doldrums'.
the fact that they plan to win the title in 3 years time shows at least a level of dedication, nomatter how it ends...hope they manage reasonable results and stay then...
If they are serious they need four cars to compete with Citroen.
2011 is going to be a development year. How many times have we heard that for Prodrive in the recent past...
BWW & Prodrive really need to up their respective games. Lately they both have been unsuccessful in a number of motorsport programmes.
How they can win soon, so it shakes up the championship good and proper.
First I'd like to welcome Mini to WRC! It's always great to hear the new manufacturer comfirms the entry to WRC, and we, fans, have waited for a long period of time to see new manufacturer entry. I hope they will stick with sports for years to come and Mini's decision will encourage other manufacturers, such as Toyota/Subaru, to re-join the rally scene in the near future.
Good luck, Mini!
But if the car and management is not good enough, its impossible to get top level drivers in the team, not even with money, same goes for every team.Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
They tried and did good as long as it was the Czechs themselves running the show, John Hauglund fra Norge won RAC in 1,3 liter class and often very high overall placing HOW MANY TIMES?Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
Triner and Sibera in the Favorit in the early 90s----with gearkits made by Janne Selholm i Köpng, and Stig Blomqvist in RAC 96 3rd overall was pretty good, that was maybe 25 years of Giant killing...
Then the Germans took over and it all went åt helvete......
I can't see neither Petter nor Chris coming back to Prodrive. DR said in the past he only spent 30% company resource on rally, more on sport car and F1. Petter wants full commitment. I can see potentials are Meeke, loyal customer Ostberg, maybe Wilks, and maybe PG, but only if he drives for free, which would still be better than paying Ford to drive in a Stobart car, not that he could easily find the money. I wouldn't mind seeing Gronholm doing a few rallies before the full season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maui J.
However, I like the IRC and I prefer to see Meeke and Wilks continue in it, but they'll move up to WRC with opportunity.
I don't see Petter driving or testing for Prodrive not after 2005-2008...
This is why VW shouldn't enter the WRC. VW will never succeed, even if they tried. I could see VW being the next Hyundai/Suzuki but maybe even worse. VW can only win if there is no competition and I doubt there will be no competition. I think the Mini WRC will win more WRC victories before any future VWCar.Quote:
Originally Posted by janvanvurpa
VW's management is totally wrong when it comes to motorsport.
PG and Mikkelsen are the fastest drivers out there without a seat at the moment IMHO
If you want young talents, then Lindroos and Tänak will be my first choices. They don't have much experience yet, but both are blindingly fast out from the box.
Maybe next weekends S2000 in 1000 Lakes, gives some hint who they might pick.
What, because there German?Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfan2003
Why wouldn't they succeed? They have great resources and a vast experience in off-road motorsport. I also think Kris Nissen is a good team manager. Plus they've won the Dakar twice in recent years, so they know what succes is. Unlike VW, Hyundai (MSD) never really got the factory support they needed, more or less the same for Suzuki, which looked more like a one-off dream for Monster Tajima that only lasted a year.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfan2003
I viewed some comments saying this guy is old the other one too, etc. etc. BUT I recall you Sainz were in this business till his 41s..... And after retired It was called again to help Frequelin................. Then Solberg 36 is not a problem.
As much as Henning is happy with the new Fiesta, I think he should seek out one of these new team and possibly be the lead driver.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Josti
Josti, for a longer, more nuanced, and soico-/cultural view looking back search for an old post by me about this.
It was based on personal experience with World championship level German riders in the sport I did: International moto-cross, but referenced the history of VW, Opel, Audi and poor little Skoda in Rally and specifically rally on loose surfaces..
I am proud to say a man with years of direct experience---and employment at WRC level---who I think you would readily admit might possibly have more experience than either you or me, (I have only started in one WRC rally) quoted the entire post and said one word, something to the effect of "perfect".
That man was Pentti Airikala
My guess is Grønholm and Østberg as drivers for the first year !
the debut will be in May next year.
Bosse was this week in England, negotiating about the contract with Prodrive, but nothing is signed yet, at least not officially.
http://www.bilnorge.no/export/b_36119.jpeg
Don't know if it's been posted.. Sorry if it has.. ;)
Totally agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by Josti
That's correct: Hyundai didn't have a strong factory support, and the same for Suzuki (which cut the budget more than once, PG Andersson paid all the season except the first two rounds!).
;)