[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

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Originally Posted by focus206

I'm glad for Paddon for his chance, even if I would have preferred to see Bouffier on it...
Btw could someone explain me how the Hyundai's line up will work then? I understood it like
1st car - Neuville for all rounds
2nd car - one between Sordo, Hanninen or Atkinson (with Hanninen in the third car in Portugal)
3rd car - Paddon for all rounds starting from Sardinia
is this correct? or there will be actually 3 Hyundai's works car + Paddon's Hyundai NZ car in most of rounds?

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Sordo is third car in Portugal, Hänninen and Neuville for manu points

Sordo should be one every event 'cos he rarely crash or NF...

http://www.3news.co.nz/Video-Hayden-Pad ... fault.aspx
Once you get past the 2 adverts there is a 4 minute interview with Hayden following the announcement.

This Year there are several drivers: Paddon, Tanak, Meeke, Hanninen, Breen, Evans... they are young and with no big experience with WRCar.
Maybe in the end of year 2014 we will see, who is who. Now only Tanak and Meeke can show, what they can with good car's.
Paddon, fast, but....
What I see, his team working very well with PR. All world know every move of Paddon's........

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Originally Posted by faateris

This Year there are several drivers: Paddon, Tanak, Meeke, Hanninen, Breen, Evans... they are young and with no big experience with WRCar.
Maybe in the end of year 2014 we will see, who is who. Now only Tanak and Meeke can show, what they can with good car's.
Paddon, fast, but....
What I see, his team working very well with PR. All world know every move of Paddon's........

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Meeke and Hanninen are not that young, Tanak has more than a year with WRC, Meeke also has almost a season I think.

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

Tanak has more than a year with WRC, Meeke also has almost a season I think.

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Yes, Tänak has 1 season and 2 rallies. Meeke's "almost season" is just a summary how many events has he done with a WRCar in WRC, but they are quite spread out on multiple years.

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Originally Posted by Mirek

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Originally Posted by sollitt

Nonsense. I'll repeat myself too.

On debut, in a WRC team, Paddon's credentials will surpass (means be better than) the credentials of both Loeb & Ogier at the time of their debuts.
I'm not suggesting Paddon will be the next Ogier. With the right support I'd aim one higher!

Many of you forget the very privileged introduction the Seb's had into the WRC. With the same level of support, others could achieve equally. There is no one more qualified than Paddon to do so.

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So tell me, which big boys has Paddon defeated? Where and when? Which international championship he won?

Sordo reached 37 podiums and 137 stage wins in WRC events and You tell me Paddon will beat him easily? Come on...

I like that guy, he is driving well but he is sooo much overrated by some of You guys that it is quite annoying (same goes to Breen). He may become champion one day, why not, but he has not reached the level yet.

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I like Paddon and all, of course to predict him as a Loeb-alike is looking into a crystal ball, but I think it can be agreed that he deserves what he's got - a half a season in a well supported seat. To be honest, no one, not even Loeb or Ogier, does much in their first whole WRC-car season. Mikko Hirvonen had two years in WRC class before he podiumed.

I think Paddon deserves as much a chance as the Sebs, Neuville, Sordo etc.: One full season to get a podium or two prove he is not a Ken Block consistent 8th-10th place driver, then hopefully more once that's proven.

I don't think anyone (except maybe sollitt) thinks he will instantly challenge the top, but I believe it is not overrating him to say he belongs in the WRC long enough to prove what others took a year or more to prove. His driving and results in support championships demonstrate this as much as those guys' careers pre-WRC.

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Originally Posted by N.O.T

time will tell... all the best in his new adventure.

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Could it be? Is N.O.T.... backing down and saying something positive? Who are you and what did you do with the real N.O.T.?

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Originally Posted by RS

... but what are these amazing credentials people are talking about?

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Remember, RS, I talked about credentials at time of debut in a WRC car, not a comparison against what Loeb has achieved over the last decade or Ogier more recently.
When Paddon drives his Hyundai over the start ramp in Italy in June (his WRC debut) his record of wins & achievements exceeds that of Loeb when he began his Citroen journey in 2002 and Ogier's in 2009.
We all know the greatness they have achieved since. Why would we not consider the possibility of the same from someone starting out with a stronger resume'?

What Mirek and others refuse to understand is that sport is not about how many times you've turned up ... it's about how many times you've won.
The ability to understand fully what is required to win and then to implement those requirements is a skill and a mindset not everyone possesses, and when a competitor has a record of winning at every level they contest there is every reason to believe that they will continue to do so when they reach the top tier ... or at least be competitive.

These are skills that Paddon has developed and as a result he has been 'the person to beat' at every level he's contested for a number of years including WRC2.
That is why he should have been on the shortlist of every WRC team but, as we know, who has a seat presently is more about politics and money.
How's that working out for you?

i did drugs once...

once...