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Great news! Kris is back. He doesn't deserve to be retired. Good luck!
https://cdn-8.motorsport.com/images/...-kris-mee.webp
First rally? Rali Terras d'Aboboreira already this weekend!
https://www.ewrc-results.com/entries...oboreira-2023/
I wonder who will codrive?
Ola Fløene in this weekend.
So after Citroen and Toyota, he is going now to crash Hyundai.
Useful comment :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Managarium
After a couple of years doing the development on the Rally2 Skoda, Hyundai now have all that knowledge and information with Kris to help them develop the Hyundai.
Not sure what, if any, involvement HMSG will have with the deal... it was a purely Hyundai Portugal thing, if I understood it correctly. The opportunity is certainly there, though, if Alzenau are savvy enough to send an engineer or two to gather KM's feedback. He's clearly done (or helped to do) a reasonable job with the Fabia RS.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Hudson
It will be great to see him on WRC Rally Portugal in a Rally2 car and see how the current WRC2 drivers compare to him.
Your source was correct Andre, and I am surprised, pleasantly surprised. Sad how its came about but I hope it all goes well.Quote:
Originally Posted by satnav
I didn't expect it either, but it's a nice way to honour his mate Craig. In such difficult circumstances it's also nice for the Portuguese fans to see Kris back rallying, and it will help the Hyundai Portugal team keep going after such a tough time. I know they were real close to Craig.
Looks like Kris will be running #77 and not Craig’s number.
It will be interesting to see what happens with 3rd wrc car. Kris was in the frame along with Mikkelsen and perhaps Sunninen before this season started. Guess it might be difficult for Mikkelsen given the fact he told Škoda he was signing with Hyundai this year but it didn’t happen, so they took him back.
Sunninen would be easier as he is already Hyundai driver but it wouldn’t surprise me if something else happens with Kris after this latest development.
I reckon Sordo will maybe do one or 2 more events than planned. I would guess he will do the next 3, and definitely Chile. You're needing drivers for Estonia and Finland for sure, plus maybe Greece and one of the tarmac events (probably CER).
I would say Suninen or Meeke for the two fast gravel events, I can't remember Mikkelsen ever having much joy in Finland. I wonder if we might see Loeb in the car for Greece? He certainly won't do Estonia or Finland.
Meeke has never done Estonia. Suninen never got good result in WRC but 2nd in WRC2 last year. Mikkelsen won it twice in wrc2 and was 2nd in WRC on the candidate event.
Last time Meeke did Finland he crashed out twice in Toyota and did bad in C3 (Østberg and Lappi got podiums in C3). Suninen won WRC2 last two times, no good results in WRC. Mikkelsen was 4th last time in WRC, best Hyundai result up to date, ahead of Breen and Neuville.
So for both rallies Meeke is imo the worst candidate out of these 3.
Mikkelsen is best candidate for Estonia, Suninen for Finland.
Are you forgetting Meeke has won in Finland?
Didn't see the need to list it since I believe anyone remotely following WRC remembers. Mediocre to bad results are less remembered.
When he won in 2016 the rules were 2 days of cleaning for Ogier and co. So it is a bit hard to compare to more normal starting order rules.
Yes Mikkelsens two 4th places in Finland make Meeke a worse option for that event (1st, 3rd, fighting Tanak for the win in 19) :D
You're like a broken record in regards to Meeke; did he run over your cat? FFSQuote:
Originally Posted by mknight
First day in the new office!
https://twitter.com/eWRCresults/stat...04627305111556
Considering the shock, I’m not sure replacing Breen is really a priority.
Most logical for me would be to ask Sordo to make the reminder of the season except Estonia and Finland (with no replacement) with some sort of gentlemen’s agreement with Toyota not entering a 3rd manufacturer car in these rallies (probably Katsuta). Would be the most classy way to manage it in my opinion.
If they really decide to find someone for these rallies, well, I would say Paddon who, in spite of being sacked and a very short stint with M-Sport, was always loyal to the brand, was there in these rallies last year and will do some fast gravel events thanks to ERC. But I’m not sure it’s really a gift or a curse for him. At least, it wouldn’t be totally performance-oriented choice.
He won in 2016 and was 3rd in 2014...Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
I don't mean to sound harsh, but HMSG are the multi-million dollar motorsport arm of a multi-billion dollar corporation, whose main aim is beating Toyota to the manufacturers' championship.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny0405
There won't be a gentleman's agreement. There will be someone brought in to do the rallies that Sordo doesn't want to do / isn't so good at. There's no logic in asking for more from a driver like Sordo, who's not so motivated to do rallies he doesn't enjoy, when arguably his powers are waning even on ones he likes.
Paddon, Mikkelsen, Meeke, all the same names that were apparently in the frame at the end of 2022 will be in the frame again. I'd like to see someone like Lindholm or Rossel given a go on rallies that suit them (Finland / Estonia and Central Europe / Japan respectively) but it's not so likely I guess.
Exactly, it is completely normal to replace a driver in such an unfortunate incidence. Artificial out cry about this like it happened with Lauda in the 1976 F1 season is rather disgusting.Quote:
Originally Posted by ouvreur
Meeke's i20 with Breen tribute...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FuuFyiuX...jpg&name=large
Sad to see a tribute had to happen to pull some cool designs.
Two runs of shakedown stage, Kris just under 4 seconds faster than anyone else (first run quicker than the next best time)
Not a surprise. I think that if nothing unexpected happens, he shouldn't have problems with winning this rally.Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm75
This car looks good indeed:Quote:
Originally Posted by brian013
https://ralli.ee/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/meeke2.jpg
https://ralli.ee/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/meeke3.jpg
https://ralli.ee/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/meeke4.jpg
https://images.autosport.pt/2023/04/kris-meeke.jpg
SS1 Meeke says he was nervous on his first European rally in 3 years and under
the circumstances but is determined to enjoy himself.
Some live here...
https://www.facebook.com/raliterrasdaboboreira
Nice to see the 0 car in livery tribute to Craig
Meeke leads after winning all but one stage so far...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fu4ATRYW...pg&name=medium
But differences between drivers are quite small - https://clasif.anube.es/ss?rallyId=76Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Looks like he brought it home quickest on all but one stage to take the win
Indeed he did. A very good win on his comeback and especially in honour of the late Craig Breen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm75
He open the road all saturday. Half spin in one stage too.
Looks like he had a really nice controlled rally which is great to see and in the memory of Craig
Great job Kris
James Fulton will be his codriver for the rest of portuguese season.
That's brilliant. Glad James can get back in the carQuote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Usually better to get back on the horse.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88