Expensive way of doing it, paying four drivers contacts when only two of them can score you points in any one event...Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
If that happens I wont give them any credit if they win the title.
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Expensive way of doing it, paying four drivers contacts when only two of them can score you points in any one event...Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
If that happens I wont give them any credit if they win the title.
3 drivers score points.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
How have you missed that point so many times? That's the way the WRC works now....
is it reasonable to make the comparison to M-Sport, which operates differently to other WRC teams? I don't see a point in hiring a driver who can't win the championship or score manufacturer points. Unless he pays for it like the M-Sport guys, and Mikkelsen said he's not paying to drive.
But only the 2 best placed drivers eligable for Manu points, score. I think you have missed that point!Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
Denial from Hyundai for the moment. Nothing more than the test but let's see - http://www.autohebdo.fr/wrc/actualit...al-184885.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
Exactly, thank you Mike. I'm glad someone understands.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeD
Apology accepted Rallyfiend.
Thinking more about this - if you could always pick 3 from 4 drivers at Hyundai - then you're basically subbing in for Sordo on some (particularly the fast) gravel rallies and then Paddon on all tarmac rounds.
For me I don't think there's any combination of 3 guys (on any round) that wouldn't include Neuville and Mikkelsen.
So Hyundai immediately go back into the territory of potentially having to hurt a driver's feelings by demoting them.
Does Paddon have a contract beyond the end of this season? If not, it may be the kick that he needs to find his form from late 2015, when he was in a similar position.
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As I understand it Neuville and Paddon have deals through 2018. As does Sordo, but media reports at the time said Hyundai also have first option for 2019 on Sordo.Quote:
Originally Posted by dodge33cymru
Hyundai will choose to nominate 3 of the 4 drivers to score pts before each rally. Then the best 2 finishers of those 3 selected drivers score manufacturer pts. Simple.
Could help Paddon actually, he's the weakest of the 4 drivers atm so he should be #4 and told to just focus on pushing hard and driving his own rally (without having to think about manufacturer pts). Let Andreas and Sordo help Neuville and Hyundai out. Paddon needs to regain his confidence fast or he will be quickly lost, and chucked into the scrap heap of nearly drivers that have went before him like Duval, Marko Martin etc. Paddon should have a word with his "mate" Neuville about how to fight back from the dumps. I still believe in him, but he's currently very poor on tarmac and has lost all pace on gravel. Unfortunately for him, that is not a good situation to be in
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would, not will, nothing confirmed yet and Hyundai has stated that Mikkelsen is just testing the car. The team has also stated last December that they cannot have four drivers this season, hence sacking Abbring and not even trying to get Ogier.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
There is just no way Hyundai let Andreas test the car without a deal being in the pipeline for him. The only question is whether Mikkelsen gets a drive from Portugal onwards, or whether he will just take on a test and development role this season, before he starts competing from 2018 onwards. He's going to sign a long term deal with them. And Hyundai can have 4 cars, as has previously been mentioned. Abbring was let go because he wasn't good enoughQuote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
The rules allow it, yes, but it's a different thing whether they have resources for it.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Close friends and hear they live next door to each other in Monaco...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9tDzjcXsAIW1kH.jpg
Yep, Mikkelsen joining Hyundai it's a big surprise but it makes sense to see the Koreans betting all chips to get this year championship. Citroen and Toyota clearly don’t have a driver's line up strong enough to challenge Hyundai and without Ford’s full backing MSport resources can’t be compared to those of Hyundai. Hopefully next year competition will get stronger but ’17, with now Neuville and Mikkelsen as frontrunners and Sordo and Paddon probably sharing the third car, it seems will be Hyundai’s year!
https://mobile.twitter.com/voiceofra...90986721689600
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pretty sure this is a commercial deal. Don't exclude other offers coming in
Also they're securing Mikkelsen for the future years (and taking him from the competition). Add to it that he is a big friend of Thierry, which means less arguments inside the team...Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Power
Maybe the only cons is the fact that it will be very difficult, at this point, to eventually get Ogier next year.
So team orders will ensure that Thierry gets support from AM? While there is a contest that may get Hyundai the manufacturer's title I still see Ogier's consistency taking the driver contest.Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
Agree with Ogier taking WDC.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
My statement about less argument was not about this year's support to Thierry. I was generally speaking. It's more likely to see them two cooperating for the team since they are close friends.
On first thought it is surprising. But on second thought it would actually make a lot of sense.
Hyundai has seen after first rallies that they have a car capable of winning manu champ, but Paddon seems out of form.
So hiring Mikkelsen as 2nd driver and switching Paddon and Sordo on gravel/tarmac would maximize their chances.
That said no contract is signed. Hearing Mikkelsen, it seems he wants a multi-year deal. Signals from Toyota are quite mixed and Citroen's program/plans has been strange for quite a while so anything can happen. The only team out of question is definitely Ford, pretty sure they have enough issues with finding money for Ogier+car development and desperate in trying to keep him for more than 1 year.
Interesting times anyway.
Hyundai have been in the WRC for a while but with little real success. So it's strange now that they didnt go for Ogier, believing their existing line-up was already strong enough. But they now possibly concede they need Mikkelsen...
Either they made a big mistake not going for Ogier or their drivers have let them down and the bosses have lost patience/confidence in them.
I am guessing Sordo will retire WRC after 2017. He has driven since 2006, and 12 years at top level is a long time!
The rumors of Andreas Mikkelsen's test with Hyundai this week in Portugal were confirmed by the brand.
Hyundai Motorsport source confirmed to SportMotores.com the test of the Norwegian driver next Friday but ruled out there is more to the future.
"This is a one-off test because we are interested in having a different point of view from one of the WRC's leading drivers on our 2017 car. And Andreas Mikkelsen is currently on the market and free to do this Test, "explained Nicoletta Russo.
"We've been in touch with him since the end of last year, and we've managed to find this date to try out the car that fits well with our test program and its commitments," said Hyundai Motorsport Communications Manager.
In closing, he made it a point to stress "our drivers are and continue to be Dani Sordo, Thierry Neuville and Hayden Paddon."
This test with Hyundai is a big surprise, as the rumors in recent days pointed to two possible scenarios: One was the entry into Toyota to replace the poorly productive Juho Hanninen; Another was a new private team that Nasser Al-Attiyah would be trying to set up this year, and would feature Mikkelsen as a team-mate.
(translated by google)
http://sportmotores.com/portal/!site...20055&id=48263
He is under contract for 2018Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Crazy situation really with Mikkelsen. Today we have the story in MN saying Andreas is close to joining Toyota. But with pretty vague sources/info.
Then yesterday obviously the Hyundai story. The Toyota one was written first as it had to go to print a few day ago. It seems Andreas is in negotiations with both and they need to work now to get the extra car in place. Although I still think Toyota could still sideline Lappi later this year - something that the MN article referenced.
Who knows? Clearly a lot of talks behind the scenes. Also potentially a bit awkward for Evans having two stories in two days saying Mikkelsen is joining two different teams.
Well, Mikkelsen stated earlier that he is negotiating with all teams so there isn't really any wrong information
But it could add some tension in the team which no one wants. They're pretty identical in terms of pace so probably none of them would like to play second fiddle.Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
I would guess Neuville would have a big advance by having rallied more in WRC 2017 specs and been longer in the team.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigWorm
This season, naturally. But should they be teammates in the future.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
They same that form is temporary ... and it is. In reality Paddon's results in the 4 opening rounds are, Sweden aside, identical to last year. And Sweden was an aberration. Let's also remember that he was in a 3 way fight for P2 in the championship right until it's conclusion.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
On form, Paddon is at least the equal of both Mikkelsen and Neuville.
That said, I did comment when it was apparent Mikkelsen had no drive for 2017 that Nandan should be getting his cheque book out.
BTW the Portugal entries were already closed on Tuesday and Mikkelsen is testing Hyundai tomorrow...I wonder when that entry list is published?
I'm sure Mikkelsen will have some form of entry lodged for the rally - even if it's just in WRC2. Then after that's its up to them to maybe get a waiver to change it. I'm sure it can be achieved.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Colin Clark's podcast suggests that Hyundai might want Mikkelsen to prevent other teams from getting him, or him testing Hyundai might be a reminder to Citroen and Toyota that he might be wanted elsewhere if they don't get him. There's also a crazy rumour of driving a Hyundai under Kia livery :D
I agree. Sometimes others are just in better form. You have the likes of Ogier, Neuville and Meeke who are always going to be fast unless they run into problems, then you have the other up and coming drivers who just seem to have a better run atm. So even if you are doing an average job you look a bit lost and that goes for Paddon and all the other drivers who currently look a bit disappointing, maybe apart from Levebvre who seems to have to spend a bit more time in WRC2 to get to the level of the others.Quote:
Originally Posted by sollitt
In short, you have a set of roughly 10 '17 spec word rally cars and somebody will have to fill the lower positions even if they are not doing particularly bad.
Just when did Andreas Mikkelsen become Sebastien Ogier?Quote:
Originally Posted by Colin Clark @voiceofrally
its colin clark... the fact that you value his opinion is a bit worrying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
First 4 rounds last year for Paddon:Quote:
Originally Posted by sollitt
crash, 2., 5. 1.
first 4 rounds this year:
crash, 7., 5. ,6
4th event is Corsica this year instead of Argentina. Still not really identical.
"form" is how you drive during last few rounds. Not how you drove 6 months ago. Clearly Paddon does not have same "form" as Neuville this year. 0 stage wins compared with 20 for Neuville speak for themselves. It's not really possible to compare him with Mikkelsen when last time they drove same class was 6 months ago.
I am looking forward to the event where Paddon can have a mechanical trouble free run, his overall pace and position prior to power steering failures hasn't been too badQuote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Half the cars sold in Norway now are hybrid/ electric http://www.independent.co.uk/news/bu...-a7615556.html Would the Norwegian public prefer to see Norwegian drivers in hybrid or electric WRC cars?
How is that related to Andreas Mikkelsen? It's interesting question for sure (especially because the car market in Norway is anything but free competition) but it shall be asked in appropriate thread.