See the bright side: it'd be a heck of a comeback!
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See the bright side: it'd be a heck of a comeback!
For some fans yes, not for the Champion I think.
Quesnel promised Ogier parity, Loeb objected. Quesnel was 're-instructed' from on high (and replaced by Loeb-placating Matton at the end of the season). Citroen told Ogier he would not be permitted to challenge Loeb and ensured that he couldn't by 'turning down the wick' for Spain. Subsequently when Citroen wanted Ogier running interference against the Hirvonen threat in Wales, Ogier inexplicably crashed his DS3 within the 1st Km of SS1 (Great Orme). Re-starting on Super Rally, Ogier then proceded to score a number of fastest stage times and won the PS.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
'Revanche' is a very real concept in the gallic psyche.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report...ier-and-msport
Another piece.
But same author, just another recyling process of 1 story.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eli
First Motorsport News, then Autosport and Motorsport.com
And voilá, 3 'stories.'
Why M-Sport are making this public?
Normally business proposal between both sides is enough. I think Ford Management will not be touched by this cry loud in the press.
I think Ogier has decided to leave M-Sport, but they are trying to make it easy for the fans.
Of course. Same owners. The articles are apparently "changed by the editors from each site, to reflect each sites identity" or something like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by EightGear
Cheers, couldn't remember exactly what went on and who was involved.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
Don't know if it may somehow affect Citroen's WRC effort but it is been confirmed that Peugeot is working on returning to the WEC from 2020 onwards.
Could it be that all teams are kind of waiting for Ogier's move, not sealing contracts with anyone to spare seat in case Ogier's suddenly looking for a new drive for 2018? And Ogier's waiting for Ford's announcement...
I think it's pretty certain that is what is happening. But Ogier doesn't want too long so he probably has some deadline like end of August or something. And I'm sure he's talking to all teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I said this weeks ago when people said Mikkelsen was the 'hot property' that teams would be chasing..Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Ogier is still the one they want as he has no contract after 2017.
Miika or Mikka? Anttila for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by stefanvv
Edit: AnttiL clarified much better than me :)
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
NoQuote:
Originally Posted by steve.mandzij
Miikka people..
Finland closing in, restart speculation?
Updates after Poland:
- Lefebvre probably secured his spot in the team for next year even if not for all events
- Mikkelsen maybe not so eager to sign Citroen for next year/longer program, will prbly try to aim for Toyota or Ford in case Ogier goes Toyota
- Ogier unlikely to want to go to Citroen, kinda leaves Toyota as only option other than Ford
- Sunninen showed up as serious option for selected rallies, still unlikely for whole season
- Hanninen likely on the way out, last WRC without major technical issues (though he did have some minor ones), even behind Mikkelsen who spend close to 2 mins in various ditches, not to mention Sunninen, Evans, Østberg.
- Østberg also not likely to get any manu seat, Poland has never been his rally, but beaten by Sunninen. Still doesn't have the pace on tarmac either.
Note that while contracts typically are signed around Finland they are rarely announced before the end of the season, unless they are just extensions for the same team. So watch out for the drivers without announced extensions.
On Ogiers current form, id pick a cheaper driver. There is no doubt he has plateued. In a VW you'd bet your house on him winning rally and power stage, now i wouldnt bet my dog's blanket on either.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Yeah agree, plus i dont think Andreas is 'hot property' as much as people made out. I don't think Tommi fancies him for whatever reason (although I could be wrong, maybe some of the Finns on here will know more?), and I could see Hyundai sticking with their current 3 drivers next year (although Mikkelsen would be an upgrade on Sordo you'd think).Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Andreas has also done himself no favour in the last few events. Getting beaten by Lefebvre in an older c3 and crawling round the stages in Sardinia wasn't great. Citroen might be the only factory seat he can get, so he better find some sort of pace in that car soon.
Or maybe he will just have to bring some budget to Msport to get a car?
I think the only certainty right now, in terms of drivers losing their place in a team, is Hanninen. The next few months are big for Meeke, Mikkelsen, Lefebvre, Suninen and maybe even Evans.
There's again rumours of an Ogier/VW/Red Bull comeback for 2018....
Where from? I haven't seen anything lately. But rally Finland is always the turning point where the talks and rumors begin. And now with a four week break there will be definitely some rumors
Read it from a Finnish forum, supposedly somene heard that "from Rally Poland and from elsewhere as well". Rumours are just rumours, but I had to post it for some speculations...think of all the seats that would open. Most likely Mikkelsen would be the second Polo driver (that's why he's leaving Citroen already?). Hyundai and Citroen could keep their current drivers and there would be a free seat in M-Sport and possibly in the place of Hänninen...for Suninen and Tidemand? Or a third Polo as well?Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
VW RedBull team would be the icing on the cake for WRC. It's already a suberb year for rallying, getting back VW for 2018 would be mind-blowing. But I think this is all just speculation.
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by [RMC]Pip
I thought Hänninen was signed for 2017-2018? Rumor has it TM will not can Hänninen after a year, but you would think something has to be done if he does not step it up. He's consistently on the bottom 5.
Will not believe that's happening until I see it on a stage. I have to think it's just a dream.
Hmm. I thought Toyota had Latvala and Hanninen on one year plus option deals? I'd assume it's the same for Lappi. Would have been pretty crazy to chuck Hanninen a two-year deal. But then we've seen Citroen do something equally rash.Quote:
Originally Posted by racerx1979
At rally sardegna Mäkinen said to estonian media that all the drivers have one year contract
I think Tommi will try to get Suninen. If he doesn't succeed he will keep Hänninen.
I totally disagree.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
The goal for Toyota for next year has to be to start being a contender for both championships. So first and foremost he would want Ogier, if that is not possible (also maybe due to Latvala) and Latvala as well as Lappi stay they would want/need a driver that can reliably score good points on any event.
No need for two "young"/new drivers, one is enough. (so no Sunninen).
Hanninen is neither young, nor promising and clearly not able to bring reliable points.
Drivers without contact that are able to bring stable/good points and charge for wins are: Tanak and Mikkelsen.
Was thinking about this very issue....Would Toyota want Ogier if they have a happy Latvala? Jari-Matti seems pretty content. Would this not totally throw him off of his game?
I would think that Latvala would stay with Lappi. I agree it would be either Tanak or Mikkelsen. Who would be better in your opinion?
Latvala/Tanak/Lappi would be some lineup!
Toyota might have the $$$ to tempt him away from M-Sport - although I'm sure Ott has plenty of loyalty to those guys. At the end of the day though it's a short career and these guys deserve paying.
I guess it's not inconceivable that M-Sport could win the manufacturer title and end up losing their two top drivers. But let's see...
You build a team around a happy Latvala you get a nearly man. You build your team around Ogier you get titles.Quote:
Originally Posted by Revman
Tänak would be a threat to Latvala too ;)
Yep. the same Mäkinen who last year insisted that no drivers were signed all the way till mid-September. Don't know, but I still have a strong feeling (due to way some things have been expressed especially in Finnish interviews) that we haven't been told the whole truth regarding Toyota contracts. Latvala and Lappi will stay for sure - just as sure as Ogier won't be part of the team. Hänninen MUST step up in Finland and then keep on delivering on Germany and Catalunya in order to have any chance to keep his seat. Atleast that's how it looks like. Then again, in his defence there might be something we don't know about Poland for example. If Hänninen doesn't improve his form during the rest of the season, I would bet my money on Suninen entering TGR.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Suninen will prefer M-Sport. He was in TGR and was first victim of VW exit, cause he would be the "Lappi". M-Sport bet on him instead Camilli, so, i think he will try stay in M-Sport.
Yet Tommi chose Latvala instead of Mikkelsen in December, even though Mikkelsen seemed like clearly the better choice based on 2016 results in same car, so hard to understand them, something about Finnish managers. Then again Lappi has same manager as Mikkelsen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
Re Mikkelsen or Tanak:
Tough choice, Tanak seems better at really pushing when needed to get a good result, but is more keen to crash. Mikkelsen is generally more stable and likely faster on tarmac. Tanak can come with Fiesta 2017 experience. They already have VW experience from Latvala so Mikkelsen would only bring very limited Hyundai experience and C3 experience (prbly not something you need to know ;) ).
All in all Tanak prbly best choice if you want/need further car development. Mikkelsen if you want to go for manu title straight away.
...or he will go wherever Timo Jouhki suggests...Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Yeah but you can't compare Ogier to Mikkelsen. With JML vs Mikkelsen there is some debate. The many pages of thread demonstrate this.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
With Ogier vs JML there is nothing to say.
Humm Toyota paying Tänak off to M-Sport, that money applied in Ogier contract. Suninen number 2.
https://www.rallye-magazin.de/wrc/ar...r-bei-m-sport/
That article is Such a bullshit and wrong many ways.