[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

Really glad for Meeke, I think he did the right thing signing for Citroen, 3 years is a good deal.

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Originally Posted by focus206

Really glad for Meeke, I think he did the right thing signing for Citroen, 3 years is a good deal.

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It was a choice between two right, so it would have been difficult to go wrong :)

Toyota whit out Meeke is worse than Meeke whit out Toyota. So it will be interesting to see how Toyota solves this question.
Neuville could be a wild card, depending on his form in Hyundai 2016.
Mäkinen is THE team boss that could coach Neuville back to fighting for championships.

Really pleased that Juho is given a go at Toyota. Hopefully it will lead to more for him.

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Originally Posted by tommeke_B

http://www.autonews-magazine.com/blo...edium=facebook Some info about Lefebvre/Prévot and Breen.

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What is too important is that we learn that Lefebvre lost Red Bull support and Event doesn't help him anymore.

Interested to see how these Citroen seats shake out. Because if that Abu Dhabi money was leaving but now isn't then that's good news. Just remains to be seen who does what rallies.

i understand that Meeke and Lefebvre will do 10 rounds and Qassimi/Breen will share the third car? Nothing isnt confirmed of course.

so we have everything pretty much confirmed a part from how many rounds will they all run(M-Sport & PH Citroen)

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Originally Posted by tommeke_B

Bashing? Without Matton Meeke would probably have been sitting at home and would never have had the opportunity to be in a WRC works seat again. Up until this year he was the only one willing to take him in a works seat. He had 2 events in 2013, crashed it twice, and still got a chance for the 2014 season. Both this year and last year he had very good results (3 podium finishes, so did Ostberg), but also a lot of mistakes. I don't think Matton said many wrong things in the media aside of the facts? I think he's quite patient with Meeke (not that there are many other options at this moment).

Anyway, very happy to see some "semi-works" team from Citroën for next year. That should make at least 11 works/semi-works cars on each European WRC event. VW:Ogier/Latvala/Mikkelsen -- Hyundai:Neuville/Paddon/Sordo -- PH:Meeke/Lefebvre -- M-Sport:Ostberg/Camilli -- D-Mack:Tänak

I hope the participation of PH opens some doors for more privateers to enter in a rented WRC car as well. It could become a new option next to M-Sport, as PH will be present on most events. For anyone who ever wants (and has the ability) to enter a WRC event with a WRC car, this is the right moment, since from 2017 it could become (financially) impossible for privateers...

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The point is Matton has been very public with his criticism of Meeke. Whether they are facts or not Matton could have shown more class by speaking only internally about it, not to the press.

But the other fact is that Meeke ended the season strongly, so it could be argued that his style worked.

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Originally Posted by Jack4688`

The point is Matton has been very public with his criticism of Meeke. Whether they are facts or not Matton could have shown more class by speaking only internally about it, not to the press.

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In all fearness:
Matton brought Meeke in to the team.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.
Kept him there tough he crashed when he promised not to.

Matton has put Meeke under pressure - for sure. But he has been very clear about the targets. And he still chooses to keep Meeke onboard, even tough the three years instead of one or two that Matton wanted - is probably a result of the Toyota interest. Matton and Citroën is going to be defining, if not THE defining, parts of Meekes career.