You get the same news I do, so I dare you to ring Malcolm and ask these same questions then.
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The events are not just gravel, tarmac and snow. There are certain characteristics and styles of driving and you get that by experience. For example Oliver's first technical/rough gravel rally was Sardinia 2020 exactly two years ago (well Mexico too, but it ended on the first stage). And in 2021 he only did Portugal and Greece, latter with only half of the kilometres. Meanwhile, for example Kalle did a bunch of this sort of rallies in the Italian series in 2017, even before entering WRC2.
Also what cali said is true, he needs to learn how to perform throughout a rally with no mistakes. And like I've said, learn how to keep a lead, how to win an event. It's a psychological thing.
You can learn all this with Rally1 machinery as well but it's a very expensive way to do it. Also it's more difficult to win the overall in a WRC event than to win the WRC2 class, but even the latter is not that easy.
If it is a possibility with a deal with Malcolm & Co, it would imo make sense with a three stage deal.
Year 1: WRC2 campaign, including development work on the Rally2, and as much testing as allowed with the Puma.
Year 2: 3rd car Rally1.
Year 3: 2nd car Rally1 fighting for podiums, and fighting for best scorer in the team.
Amateurs? he should beat those AMATEURS then first when he wants to do good in upper class. he didnt do it on Rally Portugal this year, far from it
i dont get it Per why you are so against him going a step back. Tänak is a perfect example how it worked and his debut season in big class was much better than Olivers this season and its clear to see he isnt ready yet.
Fun fact:
Solberg has entered 13 WRC2/3 rallies.
He won once (Estonia 2020, though Østberg wasn't loosing points to him so had no big motivation to fight him) and was on podium once more (Monza 2020, second).
Since that rally in Estonia 2020 he has led the Rally2 category on a rally once (Greece 2021 for two stages).
Doesn't look like he is a match for the amateurs...