I have always supported Latvala but tbh I dont think he is much better than his totally useless team mate Hirvonen
Maybe Ford have realised that to win anything in WRC they will have to at the very least get rid of useless Hirvonen
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I have always supported Latvala but tbh I dont think he is much better than his totally useless team mate Hirvonen
Maybe Ford have realised that to win anything in WRC they will have to at the very least get rid of useless Hirvonen
Quote:
Originally Posted by ste898
I agree, Hirvonen only won in Australia because both the works Citroens crashed out and that Latvala was told to let Hirvonen past. If none of those happend, he would probably have finished 4th. He managed to nearley become champion in 2009 because he was consistent and was relying on other drivers to make mistakes or break down.
But the problem is that there are no other drivers who could replace Hirvonen in the works team, Petter Solberg maybe?
Hänninen, Mikkelsen, Ostberg and TänakQuote:
Originally Posted by Langdale Forest
Hanninen is bound to VW
Mikkelsen is nobody forthe moment struggling to win Loix in the ladycup competition
Ostberg is good for Sweden only
Tanak is the only Viable solution.
IMHO all of them are at least good enough to replace Hirvonen.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Mikkelsen has the speed and he has showed this in many occasions giving Hänninen very strong resistance. Don't look only the points.
And I was replying to the comment that there's nobody who could replace Hirvonen. I think there's quite plenty of them. Ofcourse I'm happy to see Hänninen in VW, but nothing official yet.
you are wrong about mikkelsen and Hanninen will not abandon VW after all these years of support....
As far as speed goes only Tanak and Hanninen have some chances...the rest are good privateers.
You didn't clearly get my point but OK :)Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
What's funny is that, Dani Sordo is finally showing what he can do when he is not in the shadow of Citroen team's depressant drugs. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Guys don t forget the masters absence.This is the benchmark in asphalt.
wat he can do exactly ???Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobcat
he was 2nd with the citroen and now 2nd with the mini STILL behind the citroen....
i see no progress.
Ahead of Loeb :pQuote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Citroen says it is still backing Sebastien Loeb for title despite Sebastien Ogier's win - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com
"The biggest danger is the blue corner: Hirvonen," said Quesnel at the end of the Alsace-based event, where Hirvonen finished fourth. "That is our main concern. Afterwards, Sebastien Loeb is team leader, then we will see what happens."
Go Loeb.
Have a look on wrc.com to see the final part of the press conference. Ogier trots out the "I am a Citroen driver" response to the question that he has signed for Ford. Look at Petter, Sordo and Carlos Del Bario response. The service park already knows.......
I've just watched that...Did you see Quesnel start sweating when the camera turned towards him? :p :Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Where can I watch this cOnference? Why do I always miss out?!
I think that it is way to early to speculate about drivers to replace Mikko. I feel that he is too good an investment to give away just because he cannot get the Fiesta to work well.Quote:
Originally Posted by cali
Hanninen & Mikkelsen will probably be involved with the Fabias next year at least and will want to show off to VW.
Unlike N.O.T. I think that Ostberg is a driver with alot of potential and is still young enough, with enough money to wait around till a manufacturer picks him up. Not sure if that will be Ford or not.
Tanak is now most likely on everybody's list for a drive in the next few years. I think Prokop will also have more involvement at Ford.
I am unsure why Ogier has not talked about the other British team involved in the WRC.
That is quite funny :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
on wrc.comQuote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
Even funnier is that Quesnell is so ashammed by the situation that he puts a glass in Dani's head in order to look happy and calm.
Maybe he's happy about ex citroen driver who helped them to gain some titles.
Or maybe just acting like a douche.
I don't consider this press conference to indicate anything. I think you are reading them wrong. Please explain the motive for Ogier to change to a team who hasn't won a single event that can be attributed to a strong engine performance during the last 3 years? Excluding Finland and Sweden, where the Finns are naturally very strong, all wins coincide with crashes or other adverse factors for Citroen.
So what is the motive? What type of restrictions you assume Ogier will have in 2012 which he can not accept? Has Ford demanded a horse-deal to get Ogier in order to stay for the coming season?
I just don't see the logic.
I agree +1. Can anyone post a link to this amazing press conference so I can try to read between the lines as well?Quote:
Originally Posted by bretddog
I just cannot see why Mikko & Ogier would want to play musical chairs. Neither benefits long term.
Mikko would be ASSURED as number 2 and never be equal to Loeb. Ever. Mikko could only be allowed to win if Loeb crashed or was not traditionally strong on the event (Sweden, Finland). The only (unlikely) light at the end of the tunnel would be moving into the Number 1 position when Loeb went and winning a swansong title before Citroen left the sport (Quensel has been quoted as saying that Citroen's presence in the sport somewhat dependent on having Loeb as a driver)
Ogier would be moving to a team with a weak car that would not be a winner on tarmac and many gravel based events & he would be partnered with Latvala who would not accept anything less than parity with him. Perhaps Ogier would just stay at Ford until Loeb left then bounce back in to Citroen.
The only reason that can make any sense is if Loeb put up an ultimatum that one leaves Citroen for 2012, either him or Ogier. This is obviously what he wanted to happen as of his comments to Ogier in 2010, suggesting him to go to Ford, before Ogier signed the contract. And that opinion would certainly not change after what happened this season. So it's not so far fetched. And the PSA board would support it.
Loeb is as we know extremely in character, humble and supportive of a fair game. But the observant one would note how seemingly smooth he accepted the Quesnel-plot building over the first half of the season, did in reality not go by him easily. But he's not the one to blink the eye twice over such a situation, in the public... This he leaves for the back-room. And his show of strength would come when he got the upper hand, negotiating the next contract.
This is imo the only sensible explanation, if the Ogier/Ford rumor turns out to be true.
Plan9,
It's the post rally press conference;
World Rally Championship - Video - Browse All - France 2011: Post-rally Press Conference
From what i have heard, and this is a ruomour!!! The reason for Ogier leaving is that when he signed the contract with Citroen he was granted equal status in the team, BUT Ogiers contract is with Citroen sport(Quesnel) whereas again when Loeb signed the contract before Germany it was with PSA, and highest ranking man in the company and also without Quesnels knowledge, and Loebs contract states he is number 1 in the team. In this case PSA oversees C-sport so Loeb got his way.Quote:
Originally Posted by bretddog
This also means Ogiers contract is basially violated so no buy out or anything is needed from Fords end.
I say again this is a rumour as I (or anyone else in these forums won`t probably ever get to read these contracts.).
And strong "rumours" say all contracts for next year are already signed with the switch Og<->Hi made?
I think your post make sence, Loeb would not have sign a contract where he would not be the nr1 driver, also there is no guarantee that Citroen continiue in rally after Loebs contract runs out, so its much possible that Ogier might move else where.Quote:
Originally Posted by AMSS
Citroen's current commitment is only to end of 2013 championship - the same as Loeb's deal.
So there are paper champions and paper champions. Others fix the results in the events whereas Seb 1.0 does the same and more with one piece of paper.
What is this guys? Ogier to Ford?
Siirtopommi: Ogier syrjäyttämässä Hirvosen Fordilla! - MTV3.fi - Urheilu - Ralli - Uutiset
This was discussed during Rallye de France - nothing new on that after the rally.Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
Rumours, rumours and more rumours.Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
so if both finish Loeb will take the win/finish ahead of Ogier in Spain.
I couldn t imagine that will be a day i realise that Gronholm and Makkinen are paper champions.Pitty...Quote:
Originally Posted by Miika
the first few words of the article are
Los rumores sobre....
if Ogier will have to give a win to Loeb in Spain it could be this what finally make him sign contract with Ford.. And if the rumours that Loeb's contract give him no. 1 status are true, there is rather nothing reasonable to him than leaving Citroen. But It's hard to believe to those rumours. Would Citroen marginalize such talented driver like Ogier?
At last two rallies at Ogiers interviews,his dissatisfaction is apparent.
If Ogier moves to Ford,i can t see why they have to keep Quesnel.
Yes if they are planning to be in WRC only two more years.Quote:
Originally Posted by havk