Might not be a bad punt. There is serious backing behind Alastair, and there is great history and relationship between DR and the Fisher family. Would also satisfy DRR's hopes for an Irish/ British young driverQuote:
Originally Posted by turves
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Might not be a bad punt. There is serious backing behind Alastair, and there is great history and relationship between DR and the Fisher family. Would also satisfy DRR's hopes for an Irish/ British young driverQuote:
Originally Posted by turves
Precisely. Plus, Eire has been a massive market for Prodrive over the years, and with the kind of roads in the country the mini looks like it'll be pretty nimble.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarmac Tommy
Yes, PG is one of the two future Mini`s drivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Koppomsbo
How certain are you? I think it's a good call for Mini as PG is experienced, yet also still has potential to succeed more than he has so far. Ostberg or Mikkelsen would be good in the 2nd seat perhaps?
Alister fisher......ok.....anyone else that hasn't achieved anything in his life that can quilify ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarmac Tommy
You?Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
my chances are as good as the guy you mentioned....
Talk on the irish forums is Eammon Bolland has placed an order for a mini
Ill Pass on Ali's number to you and you can ring him personally and insult him to his face you clownQuote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
your a great man to hide behind a pc and slag and insult people please tell me what have you done in rallying world that gives you the right to knock guys that are actually doing international championships
why is an insult to speak the truth ???Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinto
has he done anything worth mentioning so far in order mini to pick him up ?
I really don't even heard of the guy so please enlighten me with his achievments that justify he is capable of driving in the hieghest level and then i will personally call him and apologise....
just because a person is our friend/neighbour/countryman ects doesn't mean he is good enough. so don't get upset please.
Yes N.O.T thats a fact and a good point. :rolleyes:
In this rare case I think NOT is correct. Nice guy Fisher but I don't think he's shown anything that merits a works drive, same as those that think Cronin is a suitable candidate, neither have any international experience or shown to be adaptable to different cars and different formulae. Maybe they will at one stage, they're both young enough but at present nothing more than good national drivers.
If the car shows any potential after the first tests, Grönholm propably will take the role as developer.
The second guy will propably be some younger driver with experience from WRC events, who also can win rallies and have good sponsors, there is not so many of those, that counts some drivers out already.
Keith Cronin can show what he's capable of on international scene in Barum Rally. He is driving Proton S2000 there! It isn't top car but the bigger is the challenge.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
i think my neighbour is also a potential candidate she is 96 years old but she still drives and she hasn't killed anything in over a week now....at least she deserves a test if not a developers seat.
jokers with stupid suggestions and jokes apart i think mini should build on 2 drivers 1 with some experience at the top level and 1 that has the flare to develop but who of course has proven that he can at least win agaist competition.
if he is in the top 15 on stage times it would be good.Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze
:up:Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Not Ostberg ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by pettersolberg29
I suggested Fisher because he's quite often out-pacing current WRC cars in a Production Car. The point is, Colin McRae hadn't achieved anything when Prodrive hired him to drive the Legacy way back when, and look how that story went. I'm not saying give him a seat, I'm saying I would like to see his name in the hat for a test, whats the problem with that?
Hadn't achieved anything? 5th in a Sierra in Rally NZ wasn't too bad as well running in the top 10 in Sweden that season. Think there were a few British Championship wins too before joining the Ford/RED works team the following year and then joining Prodrive. And that was in the days when there was plenty of opposition in the WRC.Quote:
Originally Posted by turves
IMO drivers have to prove themselves outside the comfort zone of their local championship before progressing.
Why hasn't anyone mentioned Niall McShea, with a bit of testing and a few rally miles under his belt he'd be more than a match for anyone
Very illuminating interview with DR in this months Evo magazine in the UK where he talks about how much a season the campaign will cost for Mini(£15million per year as opposed to £30million in 05 for Subaru), the deal for privateers buying a car and the profile of the driver(s) Prodrive and Mini are looking for the works seats...
I reckon David Bogie will get one for the BRC
Do you guys from ireland/GB live in an alternate universe of some short and once in a while have these "interesting" ideas ???Quote:
Originally Posted by peespeed
Agree, I think its a very limited group of drivers who have a chance for the seat, PG, Atkinson, Sordo of those who has more WRC experience, and then maybe 3-4 others who has showed that they have potential.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
DR from the same article I have mentioned:
"While it would be nice to have a Britsh driver, we decide who the drivers should be as we are accountable for getting results. But we want drivers with personality, a bit more outspoken, a bit more edgy and a bit more proactive as this will suit the Mini brand. We need good personalities to get the UK media interested again and I'm hoping we will be able to announce our first signings by the end of September".
Edgy with a personality eh?! That counts out 90% of the robots around at the mo. Best fit if that is the criteria is Guy Wilks and Novikov! You cant get more edgy than that duo.
Sounds like DR is looking for the new McRae - a driver who has that flare and grabs the love and attention of rally fans.
I agree..
A bit strange thinking, to put drivers personality ahead of skill, skill should be first and if there is any personality it would be a bonus in my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by sal
Looks like he has not learned anything from the past, soon he has to bring back the female mechanics again to get some attention to the press, when the drivers cant deliver anything else but jokes and funny faces.
I guess Richards thinks that rallying is about getting the attention of 16 year old boys....good luck with staying in the sport for more than a full year.
I never really understood why the clown aspect of a rally driver or a motorsport driver in general is a plus.
Well he's right on one thing. Rallying needs attention.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
We have Ogier who has broken through as a winner this season, and noone outside rally fans knows who he is.
Probably not the most enticing investment for sponsors.
It's not a clown he wants but someone who the masses can relate to.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
A driver's job is two-fold. A driver of course but also a sales rep. They are employed to sell the product, a spokesperson for the manufacturer, it's tyres and other sponsors.
Colin McRae was a great ambassador for Subaru.
Downunder, Possum Bourne did wonders for that brand as well. Not only did he win rallies, but he had such a strong positive personality that he become a household name in this country, and because of him Subaru enjoyed a strong share of the market.
When a team finds a fast driver with a good personality it's a great asset to the manufacturer. Solberg is another that fits that mould.
Will the Mini WRC even be eligible for the BRC against the Group N cars?Quote:
Originally Posted by m.lowe
I'm not absolutely sure but at least the Super production variant (S2000 with 1.6T) should be allowed everywhere. The question is also since when...
FIA said that 1.6T will be allowed everywhere..
"Will be allowed" doesn't mean you could get championship points. If championship rules say that cars fighting for the glory are group n cars then it's simple.
For exemple in Finland FRC class 1 is Gr.N & S2000 4WD, I can't imagine they would allow 1.6T WRC's... But 1.6T will surely be allowed to drive in another class (as current WRC's are now) outside the championship.
Sure rallying needs attention, and im sure it will get some too, after all its a marginal sport compaired to many other motorsports so it gets what it deserves, and the attention varies much in different countries aswell i belive.Quote:
Originally Posted by theugsquirrel
There was an interview with Ogiers manager a little before 1000 lakes, he did not complaine anything about some difficulties to find sponsors.
I hope for one that not only the cars in the WRC will be good to watch, but the importers will start running teams again in their championships in their countries
Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Once again I must strongly disagree with you.
It's the attention of 14 year old boys that Richards and the Blockies of the world think is so vital.
Even Finns (well some of them like Markku Alen and Ari) had a public persona almost bigger than their driving ability! These were guys you could rely on to come out with something memorable in interviews or to the fans at service parks, but also whilst driving the door handles off anything they sat in. I couldnt see anywhere where DR (and I'm hardly his biggest fan) states the candidates wont need skill however compared to the wet fish we have in the sport at the moment with PR people making sure they brush their teeth every morning, anything has got to be better than nothing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
The mercurial Mr Loeb is a great driver regardless of how much competition he's had in recent years and his achievements will likely never be topped however what has he done to broaden his appeal other than grow his hair slightly longer and have a bit of facial fuzz every now and then ?!! Compare that to the likes of Colin who would think nothing about driving his car up ski slope in Sweden (spotaneously I may add and not at the behest of a sponsor) or some other crazy stunt. He was a guy who's name and persona were pretty big and he was as well known amongst people who had never seen him drive as those that had.
As much as we may hate or try to deny it the world is looking for different things from it's sporting idols these days. Look at who the new drivers (Pastrami and Blockhead) from what is seen as the WRC's new holy grail the USA name check it's Colin for his driving style but also his persona and approach to life i.e. full on not Seb for his personal grooming.