The very same applies for Meeke even in events where there is nothing to fight for - like Ypres this year ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by bluuford
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The very same applies for Meeke even in events where there is nothing to fight for - like Ypres this year ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by bluuford
Meeke is already 34 years. He had time enough to do WRC rallies with a WRC car and he has shown only accidents and a few good stage times, that is all what he has done in the WRC... while Neuville is one of the greatest young talents, you can't say that about Meeke.Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
For me, Meeke and Hirvonen are the most overrating drivers in the last couple of years. They had their chances.
Andersson is only very fast in Sweden and in Norwegian national rallies in the past. There are better Swedes than him at the moment, like as example Pontus Tidemand.
I think Meeke still deserves a fair chance to prove his capabilities in WRC car. He has shown excellent pace in the two rally's he could do in WRC car this season. I think Matton would make the right choice to put him into Citroen. Anyhow, there are not too many drivers around who can make better times then Meeke, at least no drivers who are available. ;)
Yeah, lost was just an expression ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
I do not hink Ostberg is good idea for Citroen. He is always complaining about the set-up of his car (despite many hours of testing) and I remember him saying that he got some set-up adwise from his fater for the second part of GB.. get real!!! Who is drivin the car? Better if he stays at Ford. Then we would have two good and consistent drivers in Ford.
I do not think it is good idea to put Kubica straight into the Manufacturer seat. He has done only 0.3 rallies with real WRcar and the pressure would be too big.. and as we learned.. with new co-driver. I would say that it would not be radical, it would be almost stupid for the team and for himself as well. However, they can change drivers during the season.
Do not be so sure about Ott ;-)
I would say Tanak wasn't such a bad choice for Citroen atm. They have to try something as the drivers available to them ain't much cop apart from Meeke.
Kubica - Will be awesome, but lacks experience, however he would be my 2nd choice after Meeke.
Ostberg - When you look at how many events he's done including national ones, he really isn't that special. Had a great season in '12 but that's it.
Duval - Desparation if they choose a driver who was trashing cars 6 or 7 years ago, and having done very little since.
Hirvonen - Hope he is in a Ford next year. He's still one of the most consistant drivers, just had a bad season in '13.
To be honest Citroen might as well put Seb Chardonet in the car early if he is thier future star?
I somehow fail to see Chardonnet as such super talented driver. Maybe Gilbert or Lefevbre can do more?Quote:
Originally Posted by Doon
Me neither, but i got the impression Citroen seem to think so? I'd say over the season Keith Cronin has shown the most promise of the DS3 R3 gang.
Somewhat like Ford's moto, Citroen's should be "If you wanna win, take Sebastien" :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Doon
Gilbert imho is faster among them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Let's say something crazy: Hans Weijs.
He still has a good connection to Yves Matton and has been one of the main test drivers for the R5 this year. I suppose his entry in the DS3 R3 in Wales wasn't just for fun either, and he drove a WRC in a round of the French gravel championship.
I know it's not really realistic, but he could be a factor (maybe for an R5 program).
Agree with this totally. Anyone who says meeke has had his chances in wrc is talking out their ass, hes never even had a full season in wrc. Btw do we even know yet if kubica will even be in wrc next year?Quote:
Originally Posted by wwbroe
no. I think none of them are future super star.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Gilbert crashed too much.
Chardonnet is consistant, but has a lack of speed.
Lefebvre is good, but not so good to be a new World Champion.
For me they are a bit like 00' generation, with Bernardi, Robert, Bengue, Vouilloz, Bouffier ... really good drivers, able to do great things, but missing something to be the next world champion.
Any other interesting names in French cups which can bring something for the future? I'm not able to follow all Peugeot, Renault, Opel, Citroën cups in France...Quote:
Originally Posted by vino_93
Here we are again. Are you Meekes PR-consultants or what? There are many drivers without seat that might deserve a steering at Citroen besides Meeke. And I don´t mention PG one more time for an example. Many more there are.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
What about Germain Bonnefis? He didn't do bad this year in ERC before his injury, how is he rated?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
[/quote]Here we are again. Are you Meekes PR-consultants or what? There are many drivers without seat that might deserve a steering at Citroen besides Meeke. And I don´t mention PG one more time for an example. Many more there are.[/quote]
You always come up with a lot of blabla, but you don't give any names, only defending PG. Don't get me wrong, i also love PG's style, but if you have the choice between Meeke or PG i don't think it is a difficult choice. But you are saying that there are a lot of better options, so come up with some names that are better choice....
I don't know if Meeke is the right choise for Citroen. If I remember right his goal for Australia set by Matton was to finish the Rally! Which he obviously failed to achieve - twice. He has the speed, yes, and will be entertaining to watch next WRC season, but I don't think this is what Citroen is looking for.
to be in the points, you have to finish.
It's not just about the points. I think the team wanted to test his ability to handle extreme situations. Obviously the championship was lost to them. But to face VW's threat, they really need to find some new "Loeb", which is not Meeke.
And who is this "new Loeb" for you? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by stefanvv
Some young and ambitious driver, but I don't have anyone in mind ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by wwbroe
EDIT: Probably Paddon is close to that profile, but he is in M-Sport, is he not?
The problem is that there aren´t so many. And PG was mentioned by me just as an example of a driver with similar career as Meeke. The only difference is Meeke had his show one year later than PG.
Others: if I could dream, maybe Petter, Märtin, Tänak, Loeb, Tidemand, Wilks(?), Evans, Paddon(?), PG (of course, as Meeke is mentioned) etz, etz. And when these are named also Meeke. ;)
seeing the name Meeke a cartoon character Mickey Mouse pops to mind... :D
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/5047/jdfh.jpg
The problem I see here is that lots of peiple are just discussing has beens. I mean Meeke, PG, Hirvonen let alone Duval etc. Where are the real NEW talents? Paddon? Maybe, not convinced yet. Kubica in a way, if you are WRC2 champion, next logical step is WRC. I somehow hate it when people say you need private team expeience before steppng into WRC team. Why? If you are good driver, you are good in any car. McLaren took Magnussen into F1. Chardonnet? Maybe he needs to prove himself in WRC2 still, maybe not. Same with Tidemand. Still, worried that there is such small number of al young talents.
Yes, the young talents need to prove themselves in WRC2 first before thinking of WRC. It is the next logical step in drivers evolution. Loeb and Ogier are just exceptions jumping from junior champions right into WRC and have all that is necessary to be on top, that's just how amazing these drivers are. Probably there is a young driver out there capable of doing this, but it is big gamble before proving it right at least for 1 year.
Telling someone to "finish at all costs" is almost as stupid as telling a mentally fragile driver he is undisputed no.1 from the start of the season.Quote:
Originally Posted by stefanvv
I didn't get your point. Why not? If some driver can't control his Rally, this discussion is over. Everybody are considering Latvala as fragile driver, but he obviously had done exaclty that last few Rallies. So why Meeke can't do the same?Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
Before the meeting in Paris the changes are known - http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... ml&act=url
Quote:
Originally Posted by "Rallyper
Martin & Loeb I don't think have any intention of coming back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Wilks is not as good as Meeke.
Evans, Tidemand; promising but have some way to go yet. Need to have a full season in a feeder series to prove themselves. Paddon, jury is still out IMO, also needs more time in ERC or WRC2.
You were right with your second statement, there aren't so many...
Only realistic ones of those mentioned are Petter, Meeke, Tanak.
what a joke. no more R4 cars for Europe. That should satisfy the Euro manufacturers who are unable and unwilling to build something remotely like the car they race, for consumers.
No im not his PR guy anymore , i used to be but he fired me for not getting him a full time seat in 2012 and 2013 unfortunately :laugh:. Being serious though, Im not the only person who thinks meeke is citroens best option now with the better drivers in other teams. Some of the suggestions youve come up with are laughable or all scandinavian . If citroen want a 'steady eddie' to finish rallies, bringing the car home in 7th or 8th they should hire chardonnet as he has a good track record of finishing rallies it appears. But i somehow doubt citroen are looking for that. Rallyper take your blinkers off man, if you seriously believe wilks, evans, PG, tiedmand, paddon etc are better option next year for citroen than kris. Kris has downsides but he is a better driver atm than those youve mentioned, other than the retired loeb :) .Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
It doesn't look like Mitsubishi and Subaru want to continue with production cars in new generation. We shall prepare for all N4/R4 disappearance in the future.Quote:
Originally Posted by litifeta
When JWRC had proper support it was enough to step up. No feeder 4WD category was needed. As You mentioned - Loeb, Ogier or Sordo didn't need any step between. WRC2 seems to be more a category for wealthy gentleman drivers with only few exceptions from the rule.Quote:
Originally Posted by stefanvv
Loeb and Ogier did not step directly into big factory nominated team either. On Loeb times, there were still 3 cars nominated and it was possible to enter him as third car (On first season, Citroen did not take part the whole season as well). Moreover, Loeb did even some rallies with Corolla WRC in 2000 (Sanremo and Corse).
Ogier had frist start in GB and then he had almost the whole season as Citroen second team. I do not remember anyone in recent history who has just come.. done 0.3 rallies with WRC and popped in Manufacturer team for all events. The pressure would be too big.
No im not his PR guy anymore , i used to be but he fired me for not getting him a full time seat in 2012 and 2013 unfortunately :laugh:. Being serious though, Im not the only person who thinks meeke is citroens best option now with the better drivers in other teams. Some of the suggestions youve come up with are laughable or all scandinavian . If citroen want a 'steady eddie' to finish rallies, bringing the car home in 7th or 8th they should hire chardonnet as he has a good track record of finishing rallies it appears. But i somehow doubt citroen are looking for that. Rallyper take your blinkers off man, if you seriously believe wilks, evans, PG, tiedmand, paddon etc are better option next year for citroen than kris. Kris has downsides but he is a better driver atm than those youve mentioned, other than the retired loeb :) [/quote]Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
You still don´t understand what I mean. I don´t say they are better options in the first place, only that they can be mentioned at the same time you say Meeke. (Eg. I started comparing with PG).
I just want to point out there are more drivers than just MEEKE.
Nordic dreams? Yeah in a way, but I try to be serious as well. Forgot though: Lappi, Kubica, Novikov, Ostberg, Breen ... All are drivers without us knowing if they have a seat.
What about Tänak? He is trying to get a seat too. :rolleyes:
If I'm the boss in company and tell worker to do important job properly and worker twice 'properly' scr€€w up, would I give him a job? No. So why to put Meeke in works seat if he doesn't pay for it?! Also to be IRC and WRC champ is different.
Tänak's 2012 season was similar to Neuvilles, same amount of points in the end of the year. Power stage win in France on tarmac and podium in Italy on gravel. That was his first ever season in world rally car and he had no testing at all between the rallies. I think he deservs a second chance. But that is just my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Carbon
In addition, the Peugeot Rally Academy, created by Peugeot Sport in 2013 to showcase emerging talent, will enter Dutch driver Kevin Abbring and Irishman Craig Breen in a pair of R5-specification 208 T16s on several rounds of the ERC.
- Extract from ERC News
Now this will be a good indication of whether either of these young men can step up to WRC in late 2014 or for 2015.
Citroen should also be considering Chardonnet, Gilbert, Weijs jr. and Ancian as Al Q stand-ins to gauge their progress
I've been impressed with Abbring's style whenever I've seen him but I think a regular top line co-driver could make all the difference.