Mega lol NOT.
But if you think about it, wouldn’t it have been some fact to it - he give his seat up or car up for a better up coming driver who deserves it? A cruel joke for the driver!
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Mega lol NOT.
But if you think about it, wouldn’t it have been some fact to it - he give his seat up or car up for a better up coming driver who deserves it? A cruel joke for the driver!
Now it seems it's true :D
Well, my reaction yesterday was the same, but now the news is still there with Julian Porter praising Bertelli for that just atm. Have to wait until the entrylist is published.
Now he announced it's an April Fool's joke...
Ha ha.. never believe anything on April 1st.
Official WRC and Julian Porter tweeted it todayQuote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Yep. Unbelievable.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
It was a bit of a shit joke tbh, especially as Andolfi actually would probably do a better job than Bertelli.
I just heard some news from NZ. Shortly after showing off his Hyundai AP4 rally car's new livery, Hayden Paddon announced that he has bought a Hyundai TCR car. It seems he doesn't have a race programme for it yet (TCR will start in Australia this season and in New Zealand in 2020), but mentioned that he will use it to sharpen his tarmac skills.
Hayden Paddon's cars for 2019
Not WRC news or rumors.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Hokkaido
C'mon.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I believe it is, as Hayden has said his 2019 programme is part of his strategy for returning to WRC.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Maybe worth telling what cars they are? The right one is a TCR car, not even a rally car at all. The other is Paddon's AP4 car which he will use in some NZ rallies.
Hi AnttiL, I think you missed post #1734Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
True. Sorry :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Hokkaido
https://www.rallye-magazin.de/wrc/ar...chaft-zurueck/
I know it's been spoken of sometime but now it seems the Rally of Japan only needs to be signed off by the FIA. It seems Kenya & Japan will be added at the expense of 2 European rallies, the main contenders for leaving are Sardegna, Corsica & Germany. Again I know it's not new (news) but it seems imminent that this will happen.
https://twitter.com/rallyplus/status...00581664657408Quote:
Originally Posted by Eli
According to Twitter, this past week Mouton was in Kenya and Ciesla in Japan. It probably means business.
He had money for new car and he bought TCR-model...Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Hokkaido
Why not (i20) R5 ???
He is still doing rallies with very very old model i20 which isn´t even FIA legal. No chance to compete even in WRC Australia...
Hyundai could/should gave him one R5 to attack at Pro. But hey they don't care like other teams don't.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
HMSG don't care for him at all!
Hyundai also dropped Jari Huttunen from the WRC2 program. Or actually, Huttunen just said in a recent interview that he still hasn't been told he's dropped, but no drives either. Not sure if it has to do with Andrea Adamo being previously the R5 program manager, has anyone filled those shoes?
As for Paddon, it truly seems he's just cementing his future in the NZ motorsport scene and not investing in a WRC comeback.
Maybe Hyundai could invest some of the money saved from the cancelled WRC2 program into management courses. "How to manage your employees" would be good to start with.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Yes, it does seem like a deal was done during Oliver Ciesla's visit last week. An official announcement is scheduled for the 14th June. There is a new Rally Japan website up (wrc-jpn.com, mostly in Japanese so far) and another candidate event scheduled for November. The official logo has also been announced. http://www.wrc-jpn.com/common/data/M..._2019No4_j.pdfQuote:
Originally Posted by Eli
What should he do instead. He will show what he have in his sleeves and maybe just maybe he will be back (hoping that maybe he will get a call during this season to step up again instead of someone... I will not going further). The stupidest thing would be to pay for a one or two outings. Then all will assume that he will always pay for drive and will be not better than Ostberg...Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
1. Are you sure that he brought it?Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
2. AP4 Car allows for some more testing of development of componentry as a test bed vehicle than the R5 does before reverting to AP4 specs for NZRC and/or APRC events
3. Regional homologation and it will be interesting to see it up against the top European R5 cars should he take it to WRC Australia.
Do some drives in WRC2. But I understand what he's doing is building on his future beyond the WRC, although at the same time is not really helping the WRC return in any ways.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
I agree with AnttiL regarding Paddon. The most important thing is to stay relevant. Just like Mikkelsen did in early 2017. Be around, do recces, have occasional outings in some R5 etc. Things change quickly, and if Paddon fails to keep his name in the mix (something that requires effort, won't happen automatically), the reputation soon starts to fade away. But as said, it's totally understandable what Paddon is doing for his long-term career in the motorsport business, just not for the WRC.
In comparison to the two other WRC refugees, Østberg has even tested Citroen's WRC car and will have some WRC2Pro drives, where he gets to recce the events and show his face on the WRC broadcasts. Breen has done some tarmac rallies in Ireland and Italy, but not even on ERC level. Paddon hasn't driven yet any rallies and according to his plans he won't be rallying in WRC level or European rallies at all.
No-one will forget Paddon (or Breen).
But a lot can depend on funding. Even doing ERC rounds costs a fair amount and especially if they are island events. Østberg always has some backing from family and sponsors.
I see Østberg is about to do the Otago Rally in NZ in a Mk2 Escort. Long way to go for a Historic drive...
He did that last year as well. Also remember rallies like this benefit from celebrity drivers participating.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Mads is just one of a long list of famous drivers to have done the Otago Classic - Vatanen, Kankkunen, Mouton, Liatti and many more. They generally get a free drive for the publicity and with roads like this they're more than happy to come!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqx9cH_r9ig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PScjE2GuZbw
Mikkelsen had opportunity with Skoda and he got it because of their history and last employer (VAG). Then Citroen was in big trouble and they needed a guy and at that time he was only one available.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
I still think Paddon is trying to come back, just maybe he need to look at other teams also (seems like Hyundai is not interested much in him anymore). I know he have strong connection with Hyundai NZ but there are also other brands out there. Proton will need a strong driver if they will ever decide to attack APRC, ERC or even WRC2. Maybe Skoda? What if they join anyway in future (hybrid tech), despite they sa otherwise. I don't know. His call.
If Paddon wants to get back to WRC car, he should be ,,on stage''.. at least driving WRC2 on several rallies. Doing his own stuff and staying touched to Hyundai NZ isn't helping much.. + he is almost stranger to Hyundais new boss..
His loyality with Hyundai NZ is one thing, but obviously Hyundai WRC can give two sh!ts about him. Not sure why he's stuck on Hyundai... Better off being a Ford guy at this point. He will be let down once again when Hyundai fails to acknowledge him... I'm sure they can care less he just purchased a TCR... If they wanted him on the team he would be there. If you think about what they did it's pretty much a slap in his face.
His only hope is that Andreas has a complete horrid season... So far so good, but a long ways to go.
Problem for Hayden was that he was part of WRC Hyundai team mainly because of Hyundai NZ. He was good promotion for Australia and NZ teritory for Hyundai. Now, when he is out, there is a question if there is anyone else interested in him...
I actually sew Hayden in a Toyota next year