Luckily there isnt even the remotest chance of another Japanese driver being promoted to one of Toyota's Rally 1 cars so that means Solberg should be a shoe in for at least half a season although its hard to see him not taking Kalle's place.
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Luckily there isnt even the remotest chance of another Japanese driver being promoted to one of Toyota's Rally 1 cars so that means Solberg should be a shoe in for at least half a season although its hard to see him not taking Kalle's place.
How it will go
-Toyota:
1. Evans
2. Katsuta
3. Pajari
4. Solberg
5. Ogier (selected rounds)
-Hyundai:
1. Neuville
2. Tanak
3. Fourmaux
-M-Sport
1. Josh
2. Sesks most probably but also maybe Rossel? Gryazin?
3. Jürgenson (some rounds i believe besides Rally2)
How i wish it would go
-Toyota:
1. Tänak
2. Katsuta
4. Solberg
5. Ogier (selected rounds)
-Hyundai:
1. Neuville
2. Evans
3. Fourmaux
-M-Sport
1. Josh
2. Pajari
3. Sesks
3. Jürgenson (some rounds for experience)
Ogier backs Solberg for Toyota seat...
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/ogier...s-toyota-seat/
M-Sport needs number 1 driver, which clearly nobody out of three currently driving Puma shouldn't be. Munster and potentialy McErlean got tough job at the team still learning, because it's always some pressure. I believe that he could do better if he was second driver and M-Sport would go with someone more experienced for number 1 seat. But it is what it is. As I said many times, maybe he could do a season in lower category to gain confidence, some speed and consistency and get back stronger, as many current drivers in WRC. There are so many drivers who could do the job and are sitting at home watching live coverage. Paddon, Meeke, Sordo, Mikkelsen, Lappi, maybe even Katsuta... I know there are some of them doing stuff but better be there than not being there at all.
Meeke and Loeb sharing the 1st car at MSport would be mega! Sesks and McErlean full time...
You know what would be even more mega. If each manufacturer would run old spec WRC cars alongside Rally1's. Toyota Corolla WRC, Hyundai Accent WRC and Ford Focus WRC with legend drivers behind. Imagine those cars beating those new ones. It would bring show and crowds at the stages
Apart from not seeing it happening in a million years, I'm pretty sure those early WRC cars, as much as I love them, would get destroyed even by today's Rally2 cars. Just like Group B cars would struggle against modern FWD rally cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Idea is good. But imagine the disappointment when realising todays youngsters beat legends all the time...Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Best idea last 20 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Yeah, they would get murdered by modern rally2 cars, especially the Accent which was crap even in period.Quote:
Originally Posted by focus206
A Delta S4 with a sequential gearbox, decent brakes and modern suspension could be quite a thing though!
please, no! toyota gotta stop wasting this good seat in this championshipQuote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
If Kalle wouldn't retire, it's possible that Solberg could take his seat, but I think now he is not in danger. At least for another year.Quote:
Originally Posted by saco0o
Didn’t you just describe RallyLegend?Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
That era of WRC cars would never beat a Rally1 car. They'd be somewhere between Rally2 and Rally3 pace.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
So there’s one Estonian indeed joining Toyota and it’s our young talent Jaspar Vaher who is joining the youth program.
Rough translate from finnish media:Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Finnish top rallying is experiencing setbacks at both the top and bottom. Toyota's Kalle Rovanperä announced that he would switch to rallying in formula one, and now Finnish promises have been ignored by the Japanese manufacturer's young driver training program.
According to information from Vauhtin Maailma, Toyota Gazoo WRT has selected Estonian Jaspar Vaher for its young driver training program. In practice, Toyota is helping Vaher advance in the lower classes of rallying.
18-year-old Vaher is the first non-Japanese driver in Toyota's junior program. Toyota tested young drivers in Europe, and there were also Finnish candidates. The Estonian beat out all the promising Finnish drivers in the selection, including Tuukka Kauppinen, who competed with Vaher in the European Junior Championship, where Vaher was fourth and Kauppinen fifth.
In the Italian championship, Vaher achieved better results than Kauppinen. Both drove Lancias for the MS Munaretto team.
Vaher's selection was announced in connection with the World Rally Championship in Japan.
Some reports coming from here and there that Tänak has had talks with Latvala
One of this rumor comes from Andrea Gambardella (wrctvitaly on IG) and another interesting bit from his post is that Fourmaux has exercised his contract renewal clause and will drive for Hyundai in 2026. Which is not a surprise but just haven't seen this info.
One for assumes it was Hyundai's option, not his. Their decision...Quote:
Originally Posted by flat_right
Lets face it, where else does ha have to go, and get paid OK?
His or Hyundai's... it doesn't matter and we all knew he is going to drive for them. Important part was that it hasn't been said anywhere or at least I haven't seen that.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
considering that Hyundai is going to win 26' Manus title, they need strong team also..
Neuville confirmed
Fourmaux not officially confirmed, but should be 99% logical
Third seat open:
Tänak?
Evans?
Solberg?
don't know other that could carry throughout the season
Hyundai will probably remain unchanged, Toyota will remain almost the same, as Solberg is expected to fill out departing Kalle's seat. The question is, what will M-Sport do, or if they will even be in championship in 2026 (maybe they will take out and focus on new car for 2027)
There are many, many questions around the future of M-Sport in WRC.. the new Regs, new Promoter, return on investment, Ford continuation, another OEM or even building their own car.
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/wrc-p...ts-2027-plans/
I'm sure they'll be there next year in some way or other. But 2027 is another matter.
If Hyundai wants to win they better hire ogier and rovanpera.Quote:
Originally Posted by TypeR
Have you heard, that Rovanpera is quitting rallying and will go racing formula cars from 2026 onwards?Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
I doubt Evans, Ogier, or Solberg would touch the Hyundai. It seems like it's a very specific car to drive and they'd risk spoiling their good reputations by getting poor results in it.
Even Loeb had mediocre results in the Hyundai, and that man can drive everything
Of what i read and understand, my guess is:Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
1. McErlean had 2 year deal at once - 1 year would make no sense for his investors.
2. Munster stays for another season, as speed is growing - if he has budget, why would MSport look to another similar driver around - they know that Munster would drive safe without major crashes.
3. Sesks will drive gravel events. Possibly will test 1 tarmac. This is pure speculation, but considering Sesks speed with this car, it would be smart bet.
There is no chance that anybody else, without massive budget would jump in this underdeveloped car, in its very last season.
Latvala isn't deciding who drives for Toyota.
M-Sport will be there next year don't worry.
McErlean's sponsors already mentioned some time earlier this year, that he has already shown enough progress to keep his fundings.
My guess for 2026:
Toyota:
- Ogier
- Tanak
- Solberg
- Katsuta
Pajari switching between Rally1 and Rally2.
Hyundai:
- Neuville
- Fourmaux
- Former top driver with low salary, like Lappi...
MSport:
- Evans
- Munster
- McErlean
Evans joins MSport helping with development of 2027 car.
In a feew weeks we´ll get the answer.
I don't think Lappi can sign Hyundai , Lappi had been agreed to work with Skoda for developing cars in 2026
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
I think he is not interesting anymore in WRC, but it would be cool if he would somehow come back with Skoda and with Haltunnen besides.
I can't confirm or deny that Solberg will be in a TGR WRC seat next year :D
According to unconfirmed sources, both Solberg and Tanak was in Japan in the beginning of July. Maybe only vacations, I don´t know, but...