He meant contract. He clarifies that on the WRC Turkey preview show, and says that he didn't mean it would be his last season.Quote:
Originally Posted by MentalParadox
A two or three year deal at Citroen would be my guess.
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He meant contract. He clarifies that on the WRC Turkey preview show, and says that he didn't mean it would be his last season.Quote:
Originally Posted by MentalParadox
A two or three year deal at Citroen would be my guess.
Whichever scenario of teams and drivers will come into fruition, it seems like we'll anyway end up having three strong teams and one not-so-strong. And the weak one could be either M-Sport, Citroen or even Hyundai. Toyota it won't be, thanks to the Superman.
If Ogier leaves M-Sport, they will clearly be the fourth best team. No offence, but any squad lead by Suninen and/or Evans is not particularly strong for a title bid (in 2019 that is). And if Neuville decides to jump ship (presumably to Citroen), that would leave Hyundai with no credible championship contender(s) on hand. Citroen we all know, and I think even in case of Lappi as their #1, they're unable to match the others. Atleast on paper.
We could even end up in a situation with two strong teams and two less strong teams, if two of Ogier, Neuville and Tänak are in the same team.
Fair point. Let's hope it doesn't turn out to be that way.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I'm getting a feeling Ogier to Citroen is a genuine possibility. They really need a proper no.1 and must therefore be putting together a serious financial package. If Ogier wasnt interested I think we'd know by now and discussions would be over...
Carlo Canova's thoughts on silly season, I think it's machine translated from Italian http://www.racerviews.com/2018/09/11...und-seb-ogier/
Apparently Lappi is driving Toyota on a quite low salary
"At the same time it seems that Ott Tanak has become the owner of the management of the will of Ogier to move, he is the Estonian who is so close to Seb and hopes to be able to have him again as a team mate, from which he can continue to learn, but above all to have a very high salary on which to base his revaluation at the end of the year. It should be noted that Ott has a contract at the end of 2019."
what A BULLSHIT!
I get that Lappi started with low salary in 2017, but after the rally win in Finland one would think he got a bit more money in 2018. Still not suprising if he doesn't have that much.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Other points he has there:
- Paddon supposedly on the way out of Hyundai (looks unlikely to me)
- Evans out after this year (didn't he sign 2 year deal at end of 2017?, prbly not since noboy mentions he has contract for next year)
Btw. with people sending 2-3 drivers "out" (Evans, JML etc.), who is supposed to actually drive the cars... there are still 11-12 factory seats to fill.
I'm pretty sure only Mikkelsen and Tänak had deals for 2019. It's not looking good for Evans indeed.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Not buying the story as such either, but it could be true that the minimum level of Tänak's annual base salary is based on some formula which includes the base salaries of other TGR drivers. Ofcourse that's just a guess, but it wouldn't be a surprise.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Thierry Neuville
Verified account
@thierryneuville
4m4 minutes ago
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I’m delighted to tell you that @nicolasgilsoul and I will continue with @HMSGOfficial team for the next 3 years! Building a strong partnership for a long and exciting future. ����
#StrongerTogether #TeamGoals #WRC
https://twitter.com/thierryneuville/...61170583339008
Good point which so often gets overlooked. While it can easily be argued that Evans (for example) could rightfully be sent off from the main class for 2019, who would take his place (assuming the replacement comes outside of current WRC roster)? I.e. how many drivers there are, who are likely to score more points than Evans? This is one of the issues the FIA created by launching these new WRC cars which are practically only available for factory teams and drivers. You can say there's Tidemand, but even him, with all the achievements he's had in WRC2, is completely untested in a current-spec WRC. Quickly counting, outside of the current factory drivers, there are only Meeke, Hänninen and Camilli who have any kind of experience from these new cars (deliberately excluding Kremer, H. Solberg and Serderidis). I bet the number was a bit different in late 2012, but ok, that's probably the price we have to pay for having these new cars. And I, as a fan, am more than willing to pay that :DQuote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Camilli hasn't driven a 2017 car. But Lefebvre has.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
It's a good point, will some new guy be better than a struggling old one?
Didn't he test the 2017-spec Fiesta sometime back in 2016? Lefebvre I forgot about.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
That Neuville news is brilliant. Shows Hyundai are effectively commited for another 3yrs.
I think you are right, but there are more to that list then if we count non-competitive actionQuote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
That's true... so let's just stop before we have to count Tommi, Malcolm and Bosse in as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
and Kalle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
and Marcus
About 10 different drivers have tested Yaris... (Nikara, Katsuta, Petter...)Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
[Keiko Hogehoge WRC @ Turkey Diary] Neuville's announcement is that Sebastian Ogier has signed a deal #WRCjp #WRC #RallyTurkey #hogeWRC with Citroen
https://twitter.com/rallyplus/status...90236019560448
Don't forget Kajto had a go in one and he won his event in the process!!
Marcus=Bosse :)Quote:
Originally Posted by lluisva555
I belive so too. M-sport left with leftovers then.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
Better that way. Msport will be in the championship regardless you'd assume, whereas Citroen would've had to pack up and go home if they couldn't attract one of Seb or Thierry. They needed a top driver.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Malcolm should just go get Meeke. He'll challenge for wins and wreck a few cars while doing it, but they're not going yo challenge for the championships anyway. Suninen has potential and should keep improving, but it's hard to be sure what Evans actually offers. Just doesn't seem to have the pace of the top guys on any surface.
That’s not a huge issue; Lappi and Suninen also jumped from R5’s to current WRC cars and they managed to adapt rapidly. Besides, most of young drivers haven’t been able to run WRC cars on a regular basis long before 2017, unless there’s a wealthy manager (or parent) supporting them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
Btw, Bouffier also run MC and Corsica on a new Fiesta.
Ofcourse most of the talents competing in lower classes haven't been able to run WRC car, no matter what WRC-generation it has been. But with these new cars, the opportunity has basically been taken away even from the few who could have done it in the past (or so it seems). I mean cases like Hänninen in 2013, Nikara in 2012/2013, PG Anderson in 2013 or Breen in 2014. I think that is contributing to the current and seemingly static driver-up in the main class.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Power
In a nutshell: no, it's not a big issue - yet. If the trend becomes permanent and we start to get more and more Tidemands, then I'd say it is a big issue.
Exactly (for the first part).Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Don't think Malcolm will go for Meeke though. After winning both titles last year he's more likely going into "money making" mode.
C'mon Malcom... #meekeithappen
What is the link where Neuville makes his announcement means Ogier to Citroen confirmed ??Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
click on the translate button on the tweet...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
wow...
basic.
Most likely Tidemand would be already driving a WRC car if Jouhki was his manager…Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
Lappi (supposedly) went to WRC car too late. Now he is picking between Toyota and Citroen for best salary.
In the meantime Suninen went in early with Jouhki's money. Doesn't look like he is bathing in money from Msport just yet.
There is more than one approach that can work.
Another one of my PS prediction prjcts that's about to come true...
https://s5.postimg.cc/9xzdcs32f/o_C.jpg
https://www.rallit.fi/rallimestari-o...vat-ratkaisua/
Ogier saying he's close to signing the contract. It could be signed already next week. He says he has all required information. He wants a competitive car, a committed team and a good atmosphere in the team. He says it will be the last contract but it could be ten years long!
Regarding that last bit of information, I think he's leaving M-Sport, Wilson most likely can offer him a year at most at once...
Ogier also says he had known for a long time that Thierry is staying with Hyundai...
it seems that one thing is sure Ogier, Neuville and Tänak will be in different teams and thats good.
If he choose salary vs salary - it never ending well. He must chooses between cars. C3 vs Yaris... choice is clearQuote:
Originally Posted by mknight
It's also being #2 driver behind Tanak VS maybe being #1 driver at CitroënQuote:
Originally Posted by KKS
Ogier says he now has all the information to make a decision.. but I dont hear of him testing the C3 yet.
I bet they can arrange that secretlyQuote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC