Gonna need a bit more than fresh wheels and a wash...
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Gonna need a bit more than fresh wheels and a wash...
some polishing and decals and it's ready for mad max style rally chileQuote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
I heard the commentators say yesterday they were flying a whole new car in for Chile.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I can't see Lappi possibly get a renewal for his contract for 2020 unless something magic happens.
Renewal? Why would they renew contracts if they will leave anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by itix
They won't leave for 2020... 2021 perhaps if the regulations won't include hybrid.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Ogier has a two year contract with Citroen.
As long as I know VW was telling the whole world they would stay in the sport for a couple of years. Then boom, they dissapear from horizon. And I'm pretty sure some of them 3 had contracts for another year. And Citroen with Meeke's contract. Hyundai with theirs. What does that tell you.Quote:
Originally Posted by itix
Never say never. If Linda person say they can be out immediately, no matter for how long will Ogier cry.
You have literally zero hard facts to support that so let's just go with what we know ok?Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Everything indicates that Citroen will stay on for next year and I'd be surprised if I find Lappi in that team.
They put up with Kris for an awfully long time, but he had pace at least. Lappi has struggled to get past 5th this year.
Lappi also has 2 years deal but nothing is certain as we know.
2+1 for OgierQuote:
Originally Posted by itix
Lappi finished 2nd in his second rally with the car (guess you forgot?). Sure with a large bit of luck after that near roll on Friday.Quote:
Originally Posted by itix
Also here he was quite fast before crashing (discarding the stage with puncture). Anyway I don't see him getting fired before the end of the year with the current situation on the driver market. They could use Østberg on some gravel rally, but Lappi is usually good on same types of rallies as Østberg is.
Lappi better up his game. Seriously. The whole gameplan of 2019 for Citroen was to have two strong drivers so Seb II could focus on retaining the crown while Lappi would block vital points from other title contenders.
On the other hand, this is not 1997 when Armin Schwarz could be sacked in favor of Juha Kankkunen after six rallies.
No, it's not even a year after Citroen sacked Meeke in favour of Mads Ostberg.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
I'd say they sacked Meeke to spare funds and use them for development (with Loeb) to attract Ogier. Which they managed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm75
Either way, my point being not much difference from 1997-2018.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
I think you're cutting corners there. Case Meeke was a different story altogether (with bad PR, high hopes turned into failure, not even mentioning the driver profile). In 1997 (not that it would be that relevant in this topic, but anyway) there were likes of Kankkunen, Thiry and Vatanen on the sidelines without a contract, and bunch of rookies like Grönholm and Rådström waiting to be signed by someone. Now there probably isn't anyone other than Breen, who would have absolutely zero contractual obligations towards competing teams (and Östberg ofcourse in case of Citroen).Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm75
I stand by my last comment, not much difference between 1997-2018.
1997-2019 however, maybe a little different, but you can trust Citroen?
I think another important point was to get rid of their number one driver to send a clear message to the big bosses that they need a new one. Anyway, it's quite far-fetched to say they sacked Meeke in favour of Østberg. He would have driven some rallies anyway and now just got more of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Yeah all right... Except for fast sisu oriented rallies he has struggled to get past 5th this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
How is that far fetched. Fact is they sacked Meeke. They then put Ostberg in the car, be it because there were no one else available or not, he was still favoured to drive the car rather than retain Meeke.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Because the decision was to ditch Meeke, not to make room for Østberg to have more rallies.Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm75
Besides, I think Breen also got more rallies (at least Catalunya) because Meeke was gone.
Didn't say they ditched meeke to make room for Ostberg, merely they favoured him in the car. That was a by product of sacking meekeQuote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
And that's exactly why it would be far-fetched to say Meeke was sacked in favour of Østberg.Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm75
Ah ok.
In that case, I must be in a parallel universe, where Citroen didn't sack Meeke and Ostberg didn't drive the remaining rallies.
Sounds like a nice place. Have fun!Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm75
Esapekka Lappi has the full backing of Citroen Racing boss Pierre Budar ahead of Rally Chile: https://t.co/7J0Q3LeDy6
Oh..., a dreaded vote of confidence already.
Raising likelihood of seeing Ostberg competing in WRC main category rallies this season?
You have to admit, Ostberg was fairly consistent and rarely binned the car... every team could use an Ostberg or Sordo for consistent points.
https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...c3-wrc-changes
Hardly a surprise. Least Citroen are listening to him from the get go ;)
He said the same when he joined MSport and didn’t rest until the car was improved (Portugal 2017). Ogier is always successfully pushing the teams around him to be more competitive; that’s one of his talents.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Nice doc, provided by Total, giving an insight view of Citroen’s pre season work and MC win: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFrNTfZtxCQ
Craig Breen testing a C3 R5 in Sardinia ?!
https://twitter.com/SmnSpn1/status/1129718261455695872
Another mistake by Lappi, rolling the C3 in Portugal. He must be under big pressure now.
I wonder if Citroen are considering a replacement yet or 3rd car to support Ogier ?
If things haven't radically changed, they still don't have the budget to run a third car. So if something is changed, it would have to be to switch Lappi for someone else for x amount of rallies. I'd say the next two races are absolutely crucial for Esapekka. In both Sardegna and Finland he should be really strong, if anywhere. Good results from those rallies and everything should be ok for the rest of the season, I think. But... if he yet again fails to deliver in either one (or both), then it will get really tricky for mr. Budar. It's no secret that they have Östberg in the roster already and he knows the car and would probably be more than willing to play the support role if needed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
For me he is still under less pressure than those two at Toyota that have not managed a podium in 7 rallies. After all he was 2nd in his 2nd rally in the car.
Citroen have no real goal for him this year, except help Ogier by taking points off rivals, which he did at least in Sweden.
That said the situation with Østberg who still works for Citroen is somewhat special and it is possible that Østberg might drive in Finland, but maybe even as 3rd car and they decide on further starts afterwards.
Btw. note that Linda Jackson was visiting the team in Portugal, so that might mean more money.
In other words, out of seven rallies, he's done his job properly in one. Not exactly what you would expect from a guy who won his fourth ever rally in a World Rally Car.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
And I love Lappi, I really do, but it's June now and that Swedish highlight is long gone.
Meeke had more points with Citroen last year than Lappi has now...
so far it seems, that Lappi is running 2nd and also the 3rd car by himself.. considering the repairing costs :D
but really, hope he can restart his mind and start driving more stable, even if it means slower times. but he needs to avoid any off-roads or stupid mistakes..