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they picked him to test him.....not to sign him.Quote:
Originally Posted by donlorean
As i said....none of the youngsters tou mention are ready yet...and thats my point they have to spend some of their own money to become as ready as possible because none will take the risk to develop a driver while in a manufacturer team especially now that only 2 cars are allowed.
Well, Ypres is a rally where Hans Jr must be fast... And he was. But he was not shocking fast in Finland or Sweden so he also need schooling...Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
I think that Ogier before he came to Citroen and drove one season of JWRC, did only three seasons of one-make cups in France with small cars like 206XS. Another example could be Neuville who is supported by PSA since a moment when he drove only some one or two years with small cars. These two definitely were developed by manufacturer effort.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
In my opinion if VW now picks Lindroos and he shows something in NORF, they can let him drive Fabia S2000 in next years WRC events (which is basically similar to what Citroën did with Ogier in 2008) and that all would happen before they enter WRC, so there isn't that much risk in it besides quite a lot of money spent but they can afford that like Citroën could.
As they will do with many other young drivers during this year... Joonas is not the chosen one yet. I know that. Like i said, he has an opportunity and it's in his own hands... For now it looks that VW will use some money for schooling...Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Do you have any names?
Its not about naming names or nationalities.....i just think that VW will not risk too much on their first year of involvment...like mini...they will probably go for 2 established drivers in the WRC/IRC who can be consistent and fast and then they will offer 2-3 private cars to privateers with deep pockets...then if they see that the car is good and can challenge for wins and championship they will open their market to some young guns with future prospects.
Lindroos and the rest are just going to have a small test for future reference, but if they want to aim for that seat they are going to have to leave the confort of the special stages they know by heart and show some skills on grounds they do not know that well.
Most of those young talents just doesn't have money to do that. My opinion is that it's not just a "small" test. VW is realy looking for someone. I think that Hänninen might be a guy who built and test that car at first. Few young and talented guy will get a chance to show what they can do with a car, then they pick up one for schooling like Citroen did with Ogier.. And I also think that Lindroos isn't only "nobody" on that list...Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
you have a wrong perception of how things work on the higher level.....very few people can help you, but you are happy so its fine by me...
When was the last time in the modern financial era that a new manufacturer took a risk like that ??
I might have. But what I know about that VW small(as you say) testing program, they'll but hell of a lot of money and resourses on it. And I'm not talking about drivers now. If they do it just for fun, then it's just waste of money, and first time in modern financial era as you said. With all that money, there must be some plan behind all this. And you know that plan just as well than I do.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
I hear the name Duval with VW ;)
N.O.T again I do not understand your attitude, but fortunately you are coming little bit softer when the discussion goes forward. Lindroos is nobody internationally for sure but I must take my hat off for VW company when they give him possibility to so his driving skills. Joonas do not have rich family behind him and I know that he can`t afford to drive even with group N subaru in Finnish series without help of Tommi Makinen. Maybe Tommi has something to do with this VW case. Lindroos comes from a family who`s hobby has always been rally driving. His father, mother, sister, grandpa , and uncles have all driven rallies in national level and they are still driving. His greatuncle ( 67 years old) still competes in finnish rallies with a car worth some 5000 euros.
Most WRC rallies are driven on gravel so it is limited number of good candidates with enough skills. Paddon, Tänak maybe Semerad and Neuville are good but who else. Finnish youngsters Nikara , Esa-Pekka Lappi and Korhonen are fast but where is the money, they do not have rich fathers like Mikkelsen and Ostberg . And Jouhki is not taking them forward as he did with Mikkola, Kankkunen Rovanperä, Mäkinen etc. Hänninen had luck when Kuistila and few others helped him to international level.
I am sure VW would like to take German driver but there is no one who is fast enough. This Esa-Pekka Lappi, I mentioned, was last year first time abroad. He hired a group N Honda Civic from Schmack motorsport and drove one competition in german series. It was his first rally in tarmac ever and he won his class with 3 min difference and was 7th overall. He is only 20 years old.
ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU VW FOR YOUR APPROACHING TO WRC WITHOUT PAYING DRIVERS.