Good to see this on the car before the Ford name somehow got attached later...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DOwW45lWsAA30fB.jpg:large
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Good to see this on the car before the Ford name somehow got attached later...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DOwW45lWsAA30fB.jpg:large
Good to see the numbers 1, 2 and 3 on the 2018 cars again. I'm looking forward to the third driver and livery presentation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
The car of tests will be used here, explains the livery
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQ7gA8ZX...pg&name=medium
Ogier Gap Motor Show now live here: https://youtu.be/ZqZ43IiHuRA
not so much people?Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
well, he isnt popular in france :p
I think he is in Gap...Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
https://youtu.be/QVZoj3cD9wk
Entries to Monte-Carlo close today, so i guess that info about 3rd driver should be known soon.
Sunninen in WRC2, Camilli maybe at home or maybe R5 also
Will be another disappointment if they only run with two cars on Monte, and certain other events too. Hope that's not the case
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Source?Quote:
Originally Posted by br21
I have a feeling they will have just two cars at Monte. Even if you put suninen or Camilli in the third car then the chances that they would finish higher than Evans or finish at all is basically zero. R5 for suninen should be good, he needs more experience
The neat thing about the regulations are that if one of your leading cars bites the dust, the third car only has to finish to salvage a couple of points. They could just tell Suninen to take it easy and learn the car on asphalt.
I suppose every single point will be crucial this season.
Yeah I think it is easy to forget how inexperienced Teemu is when you look at the bigger picture.
Just 28 events at WRC level in his career. By his sixth event he was in 4WD. By his 24th he was in a full spec WRC car - which is some pretty big fast-tracking!
He's only ever done the Monte once before. So I agree, R5 is fine, but honestly I think he could still do a better job than Camilli in the car.
As long as it's just for Monte or some events it's ok but they should give a third car to Suninen for as much rounds as possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
I think some of us is understimating this guy. Simmi's number speak for themselves. He is pure talent, and is good in all surfaces, he's not mentally weak and is very determined and committed.
No investement is safe but if I have to put my money to give a WRC car to anyone this year that would be him.
Agreed AL14. Him, Lappi and Tidemand are more than likely going to be the big guys of their generation.
Exactly, just Monte...Dont get me wrong, i am a Suninen fan and i definitely want that from sweden onwards he should be in that car on every round, not just that rumoured 6-7 rounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
But for Monte it wouldnt be bad to have him in an R5. Like SImmi said he has done that round for once just.
It's still a bummer if there's only two M-Sport WRC Fiestas on Monte Carlo, or any other rally...
Not sure who would do better, Teemu or Eric, or who would benefit the team more from doing the event in a WRC car. One day Suninen might be a championship contender and the experience is then valuable.
MW knows that the chances of a second Manu's title in 2018 are very slim anyway, with Hyundai and Toyota strengthening.
So with no #3 driver available with enough funding for a full season, it looks like MS-RT will have a two-car team only.
Unless there is still a surprise coming...
Would be nice to see Bouffier in the third Fiesta for Monte, even if he appears to have lost a bit of his previous speed.
http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/decem...9--12-12-.html
Yes!!! finally some good and long expected (& awaited) news!!! Finally the team's name matches this thread lol
I like it, M-Sport before Ford. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Eli
Me too :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
I know I'm last to this party but ABOUT BLEEDING TIME they came to M-sports side.
Malcolm (and Ogier) worked waaaay too hard for this and boy have they earned it.
When M-Sport announced Ogier & Evans as drivers they said news on 3rd car would be coming in next few weeks. A third car will not be a surprise. Who will drive third car may be a surprise.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Ford will be more interested in manufacturer title than driver title. Hyundai & Toyota will get a fight from M-Sport Ford WRT for 2018 manufacturer title
Ostberg/Suninen/Camilli all of them also in WRC2. Others are not logical at all.
That's a good news. Now I'm sure more than one manager will regret to not have taken the chance to hire the only one capable of winning a championship. Their team "balance" is safe and everybody is friend, and also the shelf with trophies will not have any change to its balance since it will likely remain the same. :D
The team balance might be key. Ogier and Evans seem to be good pals because Evans admires Ogier, is eager to learn from him and won't try to mess up his party whereas I can already smell major fallouts between Neuville/Mikkelsen and JML/Tanak. We know Neuville's temper and JML has weak nerves unless he is the clear teamleader, now they both have teammates that can seriously challenge them.
my self im soo much Happy for Malcom. These are the people who keep rallying running. im Glad Ford has come back. i know Ogier will get some challenge on 2018, but they have a better chance ford sims rigid enough to manage to hold up.
I wonder if we celebrate too early.
From the Autosport article on the matter, I wonder if they actually give them any money at all... this just seems like more free sponsorship from Malcolm. This line is what threw me off (interview with MW):
"We welcome the increased level of technical support from Ford Performance."
Technical? Not a huge bag of friggin money? I mean, really? They will give them some free body shells so they can build more R5 and R2 cars?
Good, glad I'm not the only one that's seen a bit of an over-reaction to this news.
In essence we're talking about a four-letter word on an entry list. It doesn't suddenly mean Ford are 'back'. I don't know but I assume M-Sport could probably have called themselves this since 2013 if they'd chosen to?
Seems like a nod from M-Sport to acknowledge that Ford Performance technical support which should help with updates. I guess you could call it an 'official return' - but it's not really is it. Don't get me wrong it's better than nothing, but it's baby steps.
I don't even want to know how much money Ford needs to pay to have you guys happy :D
And now that Malcolm has brought M-Sport already to this stage I don't event believe that he is willing to let Ford to take the lead anymore.
So you expect a full-time 3rd car and driver... who and who's paying ?Quote:
Originally Posted by KiwiWRCfan
And if Ford are 'more interested in manufacturer title than driver title' why are they just giving greater technical support, not a full factory support ?
If they were, they would have had to get serious and paid for Tanak to stay.
What is *this* you're referring to, use of name Ford in their business?Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
Tanak WANTED to leave. As long as Sebastian was staying, Ott was always going to be second fiddle. He wasn't content with that, so he will try to wrestle Toyota away from JML. And BTW, once again, Ford NEVER left WRC. They just scaled back their involvement after 2012.And, by the looks of it, they are now upping their commitment.
I agree with you; we only know Ford are back because of the FiA releasing the named Manufacturer entrants for the 2018 WRC season. There is absolutely nothing on their social media platforms, or press releases, etcQuote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
Maybe there'll be more in a few weeks time at the Autosport show - but you'd have thought there would have been an announcement about their return.
Yes. Not their business, but the registered team name in the championship. Happy to be proven wrong though.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkka
Whatever the extent of Ford's involvement, it was enough to make Ogier stay (at M-Sport and in the WRC) so it must be fairly substantial.
Main problem was the car. No. 1 got all the updates before him due to small budget. Something that wouldn`t or shouldn`t be a problem for Toyota.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig