Obvious choice to me :p:
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Obvious choice to me :p:
Kubica said after last stage in Wales itīs 50:50 between rallying and circuit racing next year.
Thats interesting; he must have an offer from a circuit team? DTM? I havent heard/ read anything.
In latest interview for onet.pl he said it's between DTM and WRC. He will give himself a bit time to rest and then he will make a decision, we should know in November.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
I hope he stays in WRC.
last year he did a test on Mercedes DTM, so this year seems the parts are closer
maybe comes up his love for circuit-racing in a year very difficult for him, with maybe higher expectations and he would try to test himself physically on his racing's homeground
Sunday came and went but where is Citroen's announcement?
They said Sunday evening they would decide (internally). And announce after Tuesday. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkka
I'm sure a decision/s was made some time ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDA Cosworth
Matton revealed his plans in an interview with WRC Live, and also explained how the news would be communicated.
“I will make my decision before tomorrow night and will start to communicate part of it next week,” he explained. “I will not say anything tomorrow. I am still talking with some different drivers. I am 97 per cent decided for both, but I have some things still to solve. Our plan is to announce one driver each week, over the next couple of weeks.”
Ostberg was offered 10 rounds but he wants 13.
So who would he share a car with? Seb Loeb for Monte, Petter for Sweden and GB? Having said that Sweden and GB are Mads strongest events. Maybe it Monte, Germany and France that Yves wants another driver as Mads really struggles on asphalt.Quote:
Originally Posted by EightGear
Maybe it is 'just in case' someone better is available. Wasn't Meeke offered 10 rounds for this years as well? In the end he did all 13.
First Kubica was Mattonīs favourite for the second car, but they seem to have had an argument. Now Ostberg was offered 10 rallies as written above. Ostberg wants all rallies and hopes for a change in Mattonīs opinion after his result in Wales, otherwise M-Sport would again be interesting for him:
http://www.rallye-magazin.de/rallyes...erg/index.html
I saw info somewhere that in french canal+sport journalist told there is a contract on table for Kubica to sign - minimum 2 years with Citroen in WRC but he MUST drive WTCC
Matton is pushing on Kubica like crazy to drive their WTCC car for some reason, but Kubica don't want WTCC
Kubica Factory driver in WRC is stupid. Let him pay for 3rd driver or 4rd driver in an extra Lotos team. WTCC I dont get either they already dominate the series. Maybe for exposure?
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One very interesting solution (tough i suspect the real solution could be a little less creative), is to skip thinking about drivers championship, and focus on team/PR, and have several drivers in each car. With one "main" driver, like Hyundais second car this year.
One could even have a qualifying event, like a PR stunt, before each rally. This could be gokart racing, and a lot of other fun gigs. This it self could be a viral success.
I would like to see Kris Meeke, Mads Østberg, Seb Loeb, Petter Solberg, and a couple of young guns or other prospects battling it out in Citroen DS3 R3T cars in a local rally, to compete for the start in the WRC car :)
Young guns could very well outpace Loeb or Meeke in gocart racing but be very modest when it comes to real man in the forest...
When you have a can of paint open it's paramount to ensure you have good ventilation in the room, otherwise it can cause issues with your brainQuote:
Originally Posted by Lundefaret
So nice, now we will discuss new driver line-ups, new cars, new liveries, tests ... and quickly we are on Monte Carlo discusson mode :)
For Citroëns rally team it is paramount to get the most and best PR out of the WRC effort in 2015.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack4688`
1) Their new DS Brand needs all the PR it can get.
2) The WRC effort needs to be a cost effective solution to getting good PR.
Jost Capito complaines about the WRC in its current form not getting enough PR for the buck.
For me it is very strange strange that the official WRC efforts are getting pounded PR-vise by one man and his privateer effort.
Ken Block is the motorsport worlds undisputed PR king, why not learn from him?
Citroën could make them selves interesting by making a show out of who should drive their cars at certain rallies.
This could be YouTube-friendly, and also highly interactive. Rally fans can sugest who is going to enter the competition in front of the chosen rallies.
I would actually like to see the combatants beat it out in som low down machinery, like R1 Citroëns, on some relevant rally stages.
One of my wildest rally spectating moments came on Petter Solbergs farm watching him drive the crap out of a standard Volvo 940 Turbo (only skid plates and gravel tires). I turned down the opurtunity to get a passenger ride, because there where no seat belts in the passenger seat ;)
On the other hand I would like to see Meeke drive the whole season.
Regarding Mads, I am a Norwegian, and would also like to see him in for a whole season, but understand if he is not given all the rallies. Maybe this is the wake up call he needs?
Best regards from the paint fumes :)
I see you quickly got some fresh air ;)
Post Loeb era is affecting Citroen badly as it seems. There used to be some PR events before the Rallies while still he was competing, disappeared they are.
Thats partly their own fault; first Ogier, then Neuville were allowed to leave. Poor management, and blinded by Loeb.Quote:
Originally Posted by stefanvv
I think Mads should be the first driver for Citroen. Yes, he wasnt good at the star of the second half of the season and he struggled on tarmac but thats normal. He had very unlucky moments like in Sweden and Spain( catches the previous car) or Poland. Yes, Kris Meeke is faster then him on the tarmac but he can increase his speed like Jari Matti did and he has time for that.
Obviously im Ostberg fan and effects my comment but at the end of all he finished the season 5. Please dont get me wrong Kris Meeke was very good too and i think for the next year Citroen Team should like this year.
What Citroen need is a better car or i dont know an improvement on Ds3.
I think Citroen will keep both Meeke and Ostberg.
The possible 3rd car could be interesting on the rounds where Al-Qassimi isn't competing.
I am ready for the hounding I am about to receive........Quote:
Originally Posted by Sch17
After this year I'm thinking Ostberg has hit his peak performance (some good rallies), where as Meeke has not (he will get quicker with experience).
Kubica has never impressed me in a WRC car, same as what i thought of Raikinen (excuse the spelling). He didn't finish higher then 6th in any of the rallies he did this year. There seems to be this over exaggerated hype when it comes to ex F1 drivers. I just don't see why. If someone can explain I would be interested in a different opinion. :)
Thierry Neuville hasn't been as quick as I expected, I think that will change next year. Sordo is a good choice for second.
Hayden hasn't reached his peak, he's proved he's consistent. He's had some mechanical gremlins which have prevented some very good finishes. Some people tend to forget that fact. Not to mention the lack of testing, big gaps in the schedule etc. All the other drivers have an advantage on that front, plus event experience also is key.
I can't quite decide on Tanak as he did most of his events in a R5 car. I know he has raw talent.
Andreas Mikkelsen will be a world champion in no time, I am certain of this.
100% agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDA Cosworth
Andreas Mikleson will be the next not Sebastian world champion.
kubica isn't worth a WRC seat, he did well in the junior formula, but not quite got the edge against the best. Just stopping someone else getting a drive.
Steve
Meeke holds Citroen seat. Official.
Meeke is faster than Ostberg on gravel too. Not sure where that leaves you, Rally Sweden perhaps?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sch17
Citroen have aero and engine upgrades ready and testing later this week in Spain.
Do not confuse management with lack of resources.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
So what team is AM going to be driving for to become the next non-Seb WDC?Quote:
Originally Posted by big_sw2000
I say that because at VW despite his problems JML is still a better package across the board than Mikkelsen. (Before NOT starts complaining about using driver initials Jari-Matti now includes 'JML' on his autograph.)
I see parallels between Mikkelsen and Hirvonen with the difference being that Mikko only had Marcus ahead of him in the pecking order at Ford and it is arguable that team leader came 1 or 2 years too late for him. By the time Mikkelsen is trusted to be the top gun somewhere either some new young pistolero will have come along or they may all just have to wait for Seb O to get his Loeb-eclipsing number of championships.
I love JML, my favourite of the current drivers, apart from Meeke.
But I think next year as being a difficult one for him. He maybe the quickest VW driver on tarmac now, but I believe that next year, maybe the year after, Andreas Mikleson will be even quicker.
I also don't think Seb O is as far in front as Loeb was, not going to be so domanent as Loeb. His 2 team mates could IF THEY STOP THROWING THE CAR OFF take the championship off him.
Steve
Steve
If JML and AM do stop throwing their cars off the road they will still; a) be taking points off each other and b) be behind M. Ogier in places like Monte, Mexico and Catalunya. At Ruthin Services it was really interesting to see the VW drivers as they prepared for shakedown. Seb's crew had prepared the car to his spec. He made no alterations, just did 2 runs and left it at that. JML spent ages talking to his engineer about damper settings, did 4 runs and tinkered on every return to Ruthin. Mikkelsen was similar but seemed a bit more relaxed. I suspect, just as we saw in Wales Seb has quite a bit in reserve and can consistently drive at a speed that is within his limit but better than his rival's best.
JML has too many events were he doesn’t ‘have the feeling’; and can’t take the fight to Ogier.
Ooops, sorry, Meeke testing in Portugal this week.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
My mistake.
Great news re: Meeke... well deserved :)
Full info on the deal: http://krismeeke.com/news/2014-11-18...s-citroen-deal
http://images.wrc.com/News/2014/Nove...3_896x504.jpg?
I don't understand it either. The only logical explanation I can think of is that somehow people hope that those supposedly big F1 stars draw public attention to WRC by their mere presence.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDA Cosworth
Simple. F1 is seen by the general public & media as ‘The Pinnacle’ and as such they’re the best in the world; and any series is lucky to have them.
Of course it’s not true; yes they’re talented, but most find making pace-notes and driving to them too much; Kubica appears to still drive each stage as if he’s on a race track.
Wow, did you see each stage he drove?
Can British people please go and watch F1 ?? from AML CPL JML to mikelson ects... honestly guys go watch F1... you are a disgrace.