Originally Posted by
jacko
If people like Jonkka can't judge the speed of Abbring, leave them alone. For me, it's a very positive sign good drivers can become in the picture of the manufacturers. KA didn't have the big sponsorship on his career but was doing very good drives in the lower classes and each time he has a good car, he won or did remarkable times. Volkswagen already notices the speed of KA and contracted him for 2012 (to drive the Skoda Fabia S2000) but for some reasons he didn't got the WRC-car. Hyundai gave him two days of (secret) testing in the i20WRC and that was not for the fun.
He drove the French championship R3 class last year because he was left without a drive and saw a chance for a new step in his career because the winner got the drive in the Peugeot 208 T16 in some ERC-rounds. He won it and this year KA is very impressive in the ERC.
Now in France, his first time out there, he beats local & talented drivers like Gilbert & Chardonnet, hot wanted drivers like Tidemand and experience drivers like Pons and Sousa. And halfway this rally his advantage is almost a minute !!
KA is by far the most impressive driver this season, think 95% will agree with that here on the forum especially after the first 1,5 day in the Rally France.
Yes, he's like me a dutchmen and i'm really over the moon we will have for the first time a driver who will have a 100% workseat next year and the years after, read my words! It can be the the third or fourth car @Hyundai, maybe with VW or PSA will hold him as a worksdriver and gave him a Peugeot for the ERC (and some rounds in the WRC) or to compete in the WRC2 or maybe a third Citroën to compete in the WRC.
