[WRC] News & rumours (part IV) 2016

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Originally Posted by Allez Andruet

No, it's completely false. Latvala himself and his manager Timo Jouhki have repeatedly said on Finnish media that quitting the WRC is not an option.

And regarding Mikkelsen, in this story
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/ralli/art-2000001950650.html
published yesterday in Finnish media, Mäkinen says that Mikkelsen is not the #1 choice for Toyota.

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No surprise for Mikkelsen.
If Ogier chose M-Sport, there will be only one seat for either Latvala or Mikkelsen.

If Makinen prefers Latvala, it will be difficult for Mikkelsen to find a seat for next year (at least the beginning of the season).
Hanninen must drive full-year, especially the rallyes in the beginning, as he was the development driver. The third seat will only be part-season so Makinen will probably prefer a young driver such as Lappi of Suninen.

If Ogier goes to M-Sport, Tanak has yet signed and he has shown he is fast. And as a third driver, Malcolm may be forced to take a pay driver as Ostberg (or in the worst case Bertelli) or to keep Camilli to avoid to pay contract release.

D-Mack could be an option but they may prefer Evans who is a consistent driver and knows their tyres. However, D-Mack may have a great opportunity to make a good season if they sign a Evans-Mikkelsen line-up.

Lavalas heart and passion is pure Rallying. If he doesn't get a seat at Toyota, or Dmack, my guess is that he will even pay for driving - if that is required. Latvala has a true passion for the sport.

if i would be Dick Cormack i would any day take Latvala or Mikkelsen instead of Evans...nothing against Evans but the speed and experience that Mikkelsen and Latvala have is just another level...but i guess its not just up to Cormack to decide and i think these two guys have too big egos to go such a small team and not having the best tire.

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Originally Posted by Lundefaret

Lavalas heart and passion is pure Rallying. If he doesn't get a seat at Toyota, or Dmack, my guess is that he will even pay for driving - if that is required. Latvala has a true passion for the sport.

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Yeah like Petter Solberg :) i adore them!

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Originally Posted by Rally Power

We don’t know VW’s drivers contract clauses, but generally contracts can be disputed and additional compensations claimed when the contract purpose is not respected by the employer. One possible settlement can be a deal with a new employer, in order to share the employee salary payement till the projected duration of the contract expires. This means MSport could only pay a small part (or even nothing) of Ogier’s wage till the end of ’17.

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Possible but unlikely.
No, we don't know what is in the contracts ... but we can make an educated guess.
The drivers will get a termination payout, which may, or may not, be equivalent to a year's salary. Or more.
After which they'll be free agents on the open market.
If they choose to discount their services due to their Beetleworks payout that's up to them.
Does Seb seem like the charitable type to you?

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Originally Posted by Lundefaret

he will even pay for driving

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So business as usual then...

If Andreas don't have a wheel in 2017 it will be very sad! He deserves a lot since 2013, so he haved to be in WRC next season!
Camilli, Breen or Lefebvre with a seat and not Mikkelsen ? That's a very bad joke!

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Originally Posted by Sub_Skoda

If Andreas don't have a wheel in 2017 it will be very sad! He deserves a lot since 2013, so he haved to be in WRC next season!
Camilli, Breen or Lefebvre with a seat and not Mikkelsen ? That's a very bad joke!

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If Andreas dont get either a factory or a privateer (Dmack) drive, it will be a big shame...
If this is the case I am guessing Skoda R5 and developing Polo R5

M-sport has at least 1 place available. Toyota has 2. They are the three best driver in the world. I think they all will get a seat.
The problem is for guys like Lappi and Suninen that will struggle to have the chance they deserve next year. These trains don't pass too many times...

I bet Toyota has at least two drivers signed already for weeks.