Maybe, maybe not.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Testing is limited to certain areas...
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Maybe, maybe not.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Testing is limited to certain areas...
I think Citroen has a private track for testing?Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
Not knowing the details of the contract mr. Ogier has with M-Sport, but that (testing the C3 before the season or the year is over) sounds like a breach of contract to me.
Yes, I'm sure it's not hard.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Ogier, Lappi and Breen would be a good squad. I can see Lappi and Breen getting only better with Seb on the same team.
Malcolm wouldn't let his driver test another car as long as the contract is on. It would have to be in secured secrecy or wait until January 1st.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
I thnik it could be really hard, because it wouldn`t be just Ogier and the boss involved...and where there`s people, there is a big possibility that something will leak. Come on, if you look at what materials have leaked ( state sercrets etc).
Other thing is, if Wilson allowed it to happen (because he isn`t able to offer him what he demands) and maybe even gets some money from Citroen.
There are plenty of private testing facilities in France, where people won't get in if they don't want to let anyone in. Michelin is carrying out rally-tests every week, it's quite rare to see some footage from it. At least for gravel it should be very easy to do. Tarmac could be a bit more complicated, but I think also not impossible.
Before gearing up on the tub he will occupy in 2019: "I can not yet announce something about next year, it's getting closer ... What matters to me is to be competitive. We've made progress at M-Sport, but I'm still a little disappointed with Ford's involvement, we're still a private team, it's hard to fight with big powers in the long run. Ford's camp right now, I'm also having discussions with Citroen, they seem to have potential, and it's in the ability and motivation to keep moving forward that you have to watch. "
https://www.rtbf.be/sport/moteurs/ra...le?id=10018258
Then again, would Ogier sign a contract that would prevent him from sampling what other teams have to offer? With his experience, he is expected to know that when contract is expiring that's exactly what he'd want to do. I am pretty sure that driver of his caliber both knows this and would have it in the contract.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hartusvuori
It is entirely different matter when driver switches teams, he usually cannot promote the rival team by being photographed in their apparel before end of the year.
it's #2 at Toyota or #2 at Citroen... Ogier will be signedQuote:
Originally Posted by dupanton
If that was certain, then Citroen probably wouldn`t be / isn`t talking to Lappi. They don`t have so much money...
Of course they need to keep up the negotiations until anyone signs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarmop
Not an impossible scenario that one. As things were, Seb probably had the upper hand over M-Sport which might have led to this kind of, usually unthinkable, clause being put into the contract.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkka
Julian Porter saying on All Live Ogier is likely to go to Citroen
If that happens, then I see no other in M-Sport than Meeke or Latvala (if he isn't signed yet).
I've heard some funny stories about Toyota wanting Suninen if Lappi or Latvala leave.
I was also told by several people that Latvala has already signed with Toyota, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was confusion of the fact that he already has a deal for 2019 which was told by Jouhki.
Amen. The C3 test it’s only a matter of time; actually on a French forum some are saying it already happened and Ogier got pretty pleased. It can be true, but after last year disappointment I’ll only believe after the official announcement.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkka
Wouldn't be a surprise. Tommi has talked about Suninen in the past in such manner that you wouldn't know whether he's talking about rally or the last porn film he watched if you didn't know the subject.Quote:
Originally Posted by racerx1979
Then again, he also thought that Jari had the new engine in his car, unlike his teammates.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
is that the end of Craig WRC career?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DnImt4pXcAEaScw.jpg
He explained that. Latvala needed a new engine so could choose the latest spec.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarmop
They need him to get some wins, and by that support from PSA to continue.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
if not maybe they look elsewhere in motorsport, to get publicity, and increased sales.
JML is staying for sure. The only question is whether Lappi is leaving for Citroen which I don't think will happen unless Citroen pays him a lot more money. Considering Ogier is said to be leaving (even though a good source told me he is staying) I don't think they can afford both Ogier and Lappi??
I think with Seb we won't find anything out anytime soon.
Ogier said he's going to pick whichever team gives him the best shot at the title. He'd be nuts to pick Citroën over M-Sport.
Nope.Quote:
Originally Posted by MentalParadox
Citroen is seemingly progressing on gravel and still probably has the strongest engine. Historically their record shows they can keep developing the car for very long. DS3 seemed to lack vs Fiesta first then a lot vs Polo in the start but always improved from year to year.
MSport looks like they can't keep up with the development and from mid-season look like they are dropping behind others in pure car performance. This is what historically (last 6? years) has been normal at MSport. When the car first comes it's one of the best if not the best, but then further development does not go as fast as with others. Might have to do with how much money is invested.
On the Spanish coverage of rally Germany (so, this information is a month old), Fernando Albes said that it was 95% certain that Ogier would go to Citroen.
The host of the show pointed out that Ogier and Citroen had a very bad relationship, so what would make him go back to them?
Answer: The rumor is that Citroen offered him between 3-4x his current salary, which based on previous rumors would mean $30-40 million per year. That's Hamilton/Vettel money. Suddenly, all that stuff that happened in 2011 seems so petty!
Don't underestimate what 3 championships with 3 different manufacturers would mean to a man who has nearly done it all. And if he's going to try and do it while earning a massive wedge and being back at the team who gave him his WRC breakthrough, then even better.
neuville and tanak are faster drivers than him... and they are gainning experience as well as years pass (compare neuville last year and this year) the days of mrs kaisers pet at the top of the sport are nearly over... he is no Loeb, never was.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Kankkunen did that nearly 30 years ago. But nobody has never done at least 2 championships with 2 different manufacturer.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
The first double champion Walter Röhrl did it. He won in 1980 with fiat (fiat 131 abarth) and 1982 with opel (opel ascona 400).Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
You got that wrong. Kankkunen won with three manufacturers (1986 Peugeot, 1987/1991 Lancia, 1993 Toyota), but no one has managed multiple championships with two manufacturers. So you would need at least four titles in total, at least two with each manufacturer.Quote:
Originally Posted by bearclaw
ah, i got it...Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
The Citroen C3's chassis may be more sorted now but they still seem less reliable than the others.
I would still back the Fiesta for 2019 as the better choice with more upgrades are coming via Ford Performance.
I think it was mentioned somewhere that a promised engine upgrade was delayed into 2019, and not even to the beginning of the season. Also, the rear aero upgrade didn't really go as planned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Delayed updates, I think that tells you the priority of the WRC programme for Ford Performance....
Are they really coming...? I think Seb mentioned in some interview that he was somewhat disappointed (not sure if used exactly that word but anyway) in Ford's support to M-Sport, so it might be tempting to switch over to Citroen, where there's direct link between the car manufacturer and the motorsport department.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
The latest info I have is that Toyota squad remains as is, but Citroen really wants Lappi in addition to Ogier and Breen for next year.
Ogier to Citroen seems like a very strong possibility.
Meekes team has reached out to Ford and Hyundai and not sure why they left out Toyota.
Question is whether Evans and Suninen to remain and Paddon/Sordo situation at Hyundai?
Where does Ostberg go? Does Tidemand move up to WRC or will he just head the VW R5 program in another team?
Looks like Meeke will drive McRae's 99 Focus at RallyLegend, so there is the connection with Ford /M Sport.
No, someone here at this forum yesterday told me that M-Sport will never hire Meeke. He was talking like that he is Malcolm Wilson itself...
If DMACK comes back in with Meeke as a driver, MSRT will probably just look the other way.