Great video from Kajto: https://youtu.be/NFBgOm2fxdE
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Great video from Kajto: https://youtu.be/NFBgOm2fxdE
Well that's a good job then, because he's not going to score any points.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Don´t be so sure, even Serderidis did score points...Quote:
Originally Posted by RAS007
Bertelli retired from 8th in Argentina with gearbox failure on the penultimate stage. But still, he's a self-funded privateer driving for fun, not a candidate for a factory seat.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
More details of Ford Performance and their technical involvement:
https://www.motorsport-news.co.uk/ne...-from-america/
Looks to me like they will tap into FP in America behind the scenes (similar to what they did in WRX), but we won't see Ford officially return as a manufacturer any time soon.
I can't understand how some of you guys are fixated with "factory team". Does it really matter? Was Ralliart or Prodrive a "factory team"? No, they were backed by a car company to run a rally program. Hell, even the TTE was pretty much Ove Anders son's pet project till the mid 90s. What is really significant is that Ford was and is still backing M Sport to run a World Rally program. If the team is not named "Ford World Rally Team" or "Ford Performance " is secondary.
Agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
In my mind Tommi Mäkinen Racing is private company backed by car company, there is no "Gazoo" named company in Finland.
But if we compare all current WRC teams, M-Sport is most privateer.
Tommi Mäkinen Racing does not run the Toyota Yaris WRC cars. Its drivers are Jarkko Nikara, Takamoto Katsuta and Hiroki Arai.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
But it's true that the WRC teams are separate units from the factory. Citroen is probably the most factory-run team of the current ones?
You’re right; still, once Ford is technically helping and somehow funding MSport, it seems a waste not having Ford name in the WRC manufacturer entry and see them not profiting from the new Fiesta rally success (no official mention on the media or throught their importers/dealers net).Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
It is indeed Tommi Makinen Racing that runs the WRC team.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
The Toyota Gazoo moniker is a branding that's laid on top of Tommi Makinen Racing.
The structure is almost identical to how it is / was with Ford and M-Sport.
No, Ralliart and Prodrive were not factory teams. But they were 'manufactuer' teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
M-Sport get technical support - a grey area to what that amounts to - but not enough funds from Ford to officially call it a Manufacturer entry.
Citroen and Hyundai are factory teams. Their motorsport divisions are owned by the car manufacturer. Toyota is a manufacturer team with the car manufactuer outsourcing and funding the programme.
Yes and no. What matters in the end is technical expertise and dough. M-Sport has plenty of the former and needed more of the latter from Ford to stay competitive and still write paychecks to Ogier and Evans.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
https://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/t...=ampparit:8f57Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Sorry, it´s in Finnish. But actually it´s TMR which builds those Yaris.
Is there a supporting/funding limit from which a brand can figure as a WRC manufacturer entry? Once they allow (and support) a private team to run their models they surely are entitled to get the brand name on the manus entry form. Ford choose not to do it in 2013, as they were having a terrible time (bad financial results, factories closing), but the current situation is much better and, apparently, there’s no reason for not having Ford name on WRC entry list.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomhlord
I understood that TGR buys the development from TMR but TGR is the official company entering the cars to the rallies.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
YES, but TMR does all the work.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Now, if we would have, let's say, Ford Performance WRT, which would buy the development and service from M-Sport, we'd have the similar situation.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
So improved technical backing now from Ford Performance - but still not 'officially' a Ford Manufacturer/ Works team; still M-Sport World Rally Team. Good that they will get improved technical backing, but slightly disappointing that it appears they're still not coming fully onboard.
I think I read that Red Bull is investing quite a bit into the salaries of both Ogier and Evans. If both or all three cars will sport the RB livery next year it would be quite telling as to where the money comes from. Ford might just play a much bigger part in R&D but not necessarily in terms of financing M-Sport a great deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
Anyway, if Ogier approves it must be a decent project.
Local TV report on @MSportLtd's success this season speaking to company boss Malcolm Wilson about what it felt like to win the World Rally Championship and his plans for the future: http://www.itv.com/news/border/updat...bastien-ogier/
Malcom Wilson on Tanak leaving: "Ideally we would have liked to retain him as well but when the time came around [to sort out hos future] we couldn't offer him what he was looking for."Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
McRae, Sainz, Märtin, Duval and now Tanak all lost because Ford HQ couldn't make up their minds before August/September when drivers want to put pen to paper. It's just ridiculous.
But hey I guess I shouldn't complain after winning both championships and keeping Ogier and Evans onboard.
They couldn't afford what Toyota were able to offer Tanak, but as there was still a chance to retain Ogier that had to be their priority.Quote:
Originally Posted by Watson
And as it turned out Ford hasnt come back as a full factory team, so M-Sport couldn't have afforded both Ogier and Tanak after all...
Wilson has also hinted (maybe during Wales?) that they weren`t in a position to offer him what he wanted THEN...maybe now they would have been. Tänak himself hasn`t said anything bad about M-Sport, even said that their offer wasn`t bad, but he can`t be no. 2 for long (mentioning that due to budget new updates came firstly on car no.1 etc).
Solberg? Sorry. I could not resist.Quote:
Originally Posted by Watson
Yeah I also understood it this way. Namely, that now with the backing they could afford OGI, TAN and EVA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarmop
Tänak actually said before he signed for Toyota that he was torn and that he thought that the Fiesta was the only car that was fast everywhere.
For all of these guys (except Sainz) , leaving Ford proved to be the downfall of their career...Quote:
Originally Posted by Watson
Didn't help JML or Mikko either. Although Jari is in a decent place now having moved on from VWQuote:
Originally Posted by macebig
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
forgot Solberg?Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
For Solberg, leaving Ford worked mid term but in the long run, the uncompetitiveness of Subaru came back to bite him.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
Well they were both unlucky enough to have to endure the might of the Sebs.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
yes but became world rally champion after leaving FordQuote:
Originally Posted by macebig
That's why I said worked mid term. But then, Hollywood spent 7 full seasons without a win.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
if he had stayed at Ford he would won more?Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
Why is he called Hollywood?Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
A. I am fairly sure that he would have won at least one rally between 2006-2011 behind the wheel of a Ford. And B. Hollywood was an old nickname of Petter Solberg because of his spectacular driving style.
He was entertaining, as actors areQuote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
He probably should have got one in that last 'extra' year too...
All the quotes so far have been about extra technical assistance from Ford in 2018 (plus this is what Ogier mainly wanted). No mention at all about Ford being the paymaster for the driver wages...Quote:
Originally Posted by Watson
You might have a point there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
All cars getting the same upgrades the same time+ a decent salary from...someone. Was more important to Tänak if i understood correctly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC