:eek: That's a big call, and would be interesting to see. However, it's unlikely he has the experience/ speed for that........Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
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:eek: That's a big call, and would be interesting to see. However, it's unlikely he has the experience/ speed for that........Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
In IMSA, he can definitely hold his own. A good percentage of the grid is either Serderidis type of guys or Matthew Wilson's level of drivers. WEC is more difficult, especially if Genesis wants to be competitive straight away.
Their loss not M-Sport's, as Fourmaux has proved. I doubt either would've done any better than him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimitris
Neuville on rumours...
https://rallyjournal.com/wrc-leader-...s-wild-rumour/
Their loss, not M-Sport's?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
- M-Sport approached them
- They turned them down
- Had to only field 2 cars, one is Gregoire Munster, so effectively one car
- Somehow it's the other driver's who lost.
M-Sport could have had a lineup with two competitive drivers, with one of them partnering up with Fourmaux, but instead they have Munster as a second driver. Come on now...
I doubt Wilson offered something to Suninen.. as how he left the team and commented them some years ago..
Said only negative things..
Sesks is in a very good position at the moment - He has a great personality, good speaker, it is interesting to watch him telling about stages. He just appeared in a right place in right time. Everybody is talking about him and out of nowhere he appeared on WRC stage. The good thing is that he actually also has speed, at least on fast gravel and I believe also on snow. I Think it is highly likely, that we will see Sesks in M-Sport in 2025. I would guess - all European events - Rally1 on fast gravel and snow, Rally2 on tarmac for learning.
No way he can drive a LMDh competitively in either series based on a bit of circuit racing in touring cars. Also saying that IMSA GTP drivers are Serderidis or Wilson level is completely wrong. Almost all of them have extensive single seater and sports car experience. Unless Neuville does at least a test in an LMP2 and shows he can be competitive I would in fact expect him to be the Serderidis level driver compared to the others. There is close to 0 chance of him getting a Genesis drive.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
Even Seb tried some endurance racing with his pedigree, but failed straight away. How Neuville could do it?
He was pretty ordinary; he wasn't particularly fast, and was making mistakes. He soon realised it wasn't going to get him a Toyota Hypercar drive, and called it quits. It's a different skill set, and there's the issue of sharing a car with other drivers - and trying to reach a set up that suits them all. It's like when racing drivers struggle with making, and driving to pace notes....Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Not all drivers are like Loeb, who was pretty good in the Pescarolo, and would have got better with more outings. McRae wasn't bad in the Prodrive-Ferrari either.
I'm all for athletes trying other disciplines, and I'd like to see Neuville have a go, but I can't imagine he'd be troubling the top guys.
Wilson hopes to keep him & wants to make Fourmaux a World Champion but there are doubts about Ford continuing in WRC...
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/wilso...mpion-by-2026/
It was an offer and the deals didnt work as the drivers wouldnt bring funding. Both sides lost out, but M-Sport has had a good season and what have Suninen and Mikkelsen had ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimitris
Suninen has had a terrible season, partly with terrible car reliability ,but I believe Jouhki just did not want to pay {MSport) any more.
Mikkelsen was in a fight for rally win until Sunday on his only gravel round, something Fourmaux has not managed yet. So hard to pick a clear winner/loser.
Toyota considering a bold move... possibly running five Rally1 cars and using a satellite team:
https://rallyjournal.com/source-toyo...-championship/
So considering the rumours around other teams, we are not very far from changing the series name from World Rally championship to Toyota Rally championship :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Jwrc have Fiestas, let wrc guys all drive Toyotas :D
Just pressure on FIA to make a decision on where WRC heads from 2027 onwards.
I do too feel it's something that teams are doing now. M-Sport without money, Hyundai treating to leave and Toyota expanding to two teams. At the end if that is the way to give them kick in the butt, then so be it.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
That wouldn't be a bad thing. Everyone in the same car, everybody equal chances.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyest
Promoter to fund more Rally1 cars for young drivers in 2025. But Hyundai are struggling to have enough cars which may show their low budget commitment to the WRC.
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/wrcs-...o-rally1-cars/
Cars need staff....Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
and allegedly there are fresh new problems with the hybrid units that mean some teams are running low. The supplier wants more money and lots of time to 'fix' a problem that didn't need to be fixed before...
Why then T and H don't run this ''wildcars'' without HY? Because it would be bad for their image to be beaten without the product they are trying to promote. M-Sport doesn't have those issues since they want to sell and offer cars for rent. I believe Hyundai doesn't even want to offer a car outside of their official selection because we never saw in their 10-year commitment that car being driven by someone else on WRC (don't know what was that ''Hyundai 2C thing'' in 2021, but probably doesn't matter since the WRC car was the past).
its frustrating not to understand the whole game.
do we know if these brands get, i dont know, TAX discount in europe or in asia or america for "having a spec hybrid" in their rally cars? do we know if A STICKER on the car can help them to do some money laundering? do we know if these souless hypocrite PR measurements they say actually influence their numbers on the stock market?
cuz its always so weird, theres always seems to be some deep reasons that we are not aware, dont you feel that?
edit: the "lets run some non hybrid cars" its like a band aid to fix a problem themselves dont want to solve: rally1's costs, which they keep repeating its really expensive. i dont understand the logic haha i feel i should just stop thinking about that. its a really cool subject and topic, im into this, but its all irrational or theres more to it than we know,.
Let's keep this thread for the possible 2025 WRC Driver changes, aka Silly Season.
The Promoter funding some more young drivers in Rally1's next year is a good thing. And if Hyundai cant provide cars it's their loss as the publicity M-Sport and Toyota gained with Sesks and Pajari proved.
If I remember well, that 2C Hyundai was basically put together from parts that was available, that's why sometimes it was a very interesting hybrid of various i20 evolutions.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
With non-existing setups as a result.Quote:
Originally Posted by TWRC
I dont know if this has been talked about here, but i got to thinking, nobody has even mentioned once, Ford has been mentioned but in my opinion if a team change is made, is it a possibilty for Evans to go to Hyundai to 3rd car?
Hmm from Hyundais point of view that would be a smart choice, but for Evans it would be worse. He would be the third driver in a weaker car instead of being the second driver (only on occasion third, if Ogier does fewer events next year) in the best car.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyest
And Toyota would be stupid to let him go.
It would be a very strong line-up for Hyundai, but Toyota can't let it happen..
And what about Solberg? No information about him at all..
I believe that he has some contract signed, because there is 0 point to continue in wrc2 next season.
Evans - Tänak swap please.
Thank you
Quote:
Originally Posted by TypeR
He still has no good result on tarmac and only two starts this year (Monte and now CER, both outside of WRC2 points). Easier (and cheaper?) to learn tarmac in Rally2.
That said neither has Pajari.
Still, Imo this kind of excludes both from full time point-scoring seat at Toyota or Hyundai next year.
Regarding Evans to Hyundai would be as stupid as Adrien to Hyundai too. Both would go from very good to worse. Since Hyundai situation very unlikely to continue, they could end up being left in the dust. I think it's time to Seb to realize it's time to go. He is young for other series and what challenge still he wants after 8th titles, rather than his big ego. As great as he think he is, he should be great enough to make way and call it a day. He still could take some important roll in a team and get good paycheck. And Evans think could actualy pull off great season if there will not be constant threat from 2 world champions.
While Solberg could actualy be good for Hyundai's third driver. And I'm asking for the tarmac good results... Is everyone else any better? The experience should get from Rally1 car too, not just second tier car. We fans and the world think that everyone with learning in a top category should instantly bring great results, but remember that everyone needs to learn and many get many chances. Even all those who are on the grid right now have ups and downs. Look how many chances did everyone got.
As his contract (Solberg of course). What if (potentialy spoken), Skoda enter the big league and being already in a team amd doing great for them could be his best ticket to glory. That would be harder if you would be some kind already contracted elsewhere, especialy somewhere where there is clear number 1-2 drivers, wdc's, brand's nationality drivers... I look it like that, if they will intend to enter it's better to wait a year or two right where he is and this is the right way to do it that way.
I know, but you will know soon
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/fourm...e-in-wrc-2025/
After Chile where Hyundai had no pace MSport sounds more likely.
Then again contract was likely decided earlier.
Also both Sesks and Millener didn't exactly sound optimistic/enthusiastic about Sesks getting any kind of permanent/paid drive.
Hopes he stays at M-sport, and that he gets Mikkelsen in there to.
Munster is in 3.car anyway.
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Think Munster and Sesks will split a Puma next year. Sesks on fast gravel/snow and Munster on tarmac/slow gravel. Whether that car will be the 2nd or the 3rd remains to be seen...
Im going on a crystal ball now but, considering Fourmaux sayd you will know soon where he is driving Hyundai or big reach Toyota next year, since Ford announces their line up very late always means that if it is announced soon where he is driving it must be other team, i know its a big reach but i just got to thinking
If Fourmaux goes to Hyundai, can we see Rossel in M-Sport?
M Sport announces it late when they bring a sort of "no hope" line up? Breen and Tänak were announced earlier if I remember correctly? So maybe Fourmaux gets announced soon, and the other car(s) are up to deals that can be made till the start of the new season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyest
Glad to see I wasn’t the only one automatically thinking about this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyest
Msport usually announces after the season has ended. Tänak was announced couple of weeks after Japan in 2022.
So my bet is that it’s Hyundai for Fourmaux