If we can believe the rumors stated on the website of Belgian Speed magazine, Lappi is going to Citroën, and it will be announced soon. Also Meeke would go to Toyota... :)
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If we can believe the rumors stated on the website of Belgian Speed magazine, Lappi is going to Citroën, and it will be announced soon. Also Meeke would go to Toyota... :)
That "Meeke to Toyota" is just one of these "Trump for president" things - not gonna happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
As in, "Trump will never be president!" And then he was?Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
If Lappi goes to Citroën I think the chance of Meeke going to Toyota is quite high (50%). As I wrote before I don't think they need to use money on any test. Since they know exactly what they are getting and he is not in position to demand anything and there is No doubt that Yaris is fast.
It all depeneds on how much risk they want to take. It can turn out very well with Meeke "stabilizing" without pressure on him, or it could implode completely and he could start crashing when Tänak is much faster than him and also cause Latvala to start to crash cause he tries to match Meeke's stagetimes between crashes.
In both cases PR coverage, specially in the UK, is quaranteed. Possible crash expenses are imo not a problem for Toyota (might be for Tommi), it's the title(s) that are at stake. Maybe if Toyota get both titles this year (or look set to get them) they might be more willing to go for it.
Kalle Rovanperä 18 years old today, finally allowed to drive everywhere(?) in the world
I think so. Sometimes it should be difficult to find a rental car company who allows him to rent a car, but as Skoda has its own recce cars there shouldn´t be any problem at all.
Stfu and leave the important decisions to those that know the business.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Don't talk like that. There is no need.Quote:
Originally Posted by wrc2017
Yes it's not over for Ogier & Tänak ... but Neuville could be 2018 #WRC Champion in @RallyRACC : explications ► bit.ly/2y5mDe6
Well for Ogier it is definitely not over, but it looks more theoretical for Ott but im still positive and hopeful.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbmarcus21
some guy in estonian forum did some maths (of course from Tänaks perspective)
Spain
Tänak 25+5
Ogier 18+4
Neuville 15+3
Australia
Tänak 25+5
Ogier 18+4
Neuville 15+3
in the end Tänak 228, Ogier 226, Neuville 225.
the bottom line is that Tänak has to definitely win the last 2 rounds and power stages and even then he wont win if Neuville finishes second on both rallies. Thierry holds the aces.
but nothing is over until it is over...this season just keeps delivering.
Even if Ogier were to score 0 in Spain, it would be very difficult for Neuville to win the title there, considering the sweeping in the first day and how poor Hyundai is faring on tarmac.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbmarcus21
In my opinion, it's Ogier who holds the aces: 2 good rallies and he is the champion again, Neuville will have a hard time in Spain. If Ogier doesn't have troubles in the last 2 rounds, it will be hard for Neuville to be champion on speed alone. Troubles can affect anyone, though.
If Ogier wins in Spain he has to open the road at Australia.Not so easy for him too.Quote:
Originally Posted by focus206
I'm hesitant to consider the title firmly in Ogier's hands, but Neuville flopped at the end of last year (so did the car, yes), and the same is happening now.Quote:
Originally Posted by focus206
This is an extremely difficult championship to call; on speed alone, Tanak should take the title, and he could, but winning another two rallies in a row is no easy task, and the Yaris needs to hold up this time.
The Fiesta is reliable, generally, and while he can't beat Tanak in a straight fight in that car he could surely brush off the nuisance and beat Neuville, so long as Tanak doesn't steal his valuable win points.
As for Neuville, he's still so prone to mistakes that I could definitely see the title slip from his hands come Australia; that i20 is also a box of chocolates when it comes to reliability and it's looking like the slowest car of the bunch.
Speaking of which, has Neuville made any rally ending mistakes this year?
That's true. But in Spain Ogier can potentially open a gap in the the standings that Neuville won't be able to fill even with a victory in Australia. I see it much more critical for Neuville in Spain than for Ogier in Australia, if he opens the road.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
No no, not firmly in his hands, everything can happen in two rallies. But I see him as favourite right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by steve.mandzij
Neuville didn't do big mistakes this year, a slip in Monte and one in Wales. But in many rallies he's not the one setting the pace anymore, and Hyundai doesn't look like it improved in terms of pace. In Spain Hyundai should have a new engine upgrade?
Will be quite surprised if Neuville gets a strong result in Spain (road sweeper + dodgy tarmac car), Ogier can potentially jump Neuville there and then roadsweep in Australia. Far from over, and both are good in Australia which also sets up the scene nicely.
Tänak the dark horse, tough task but definitely not impossible.
Anyway you swing this around, this is the most exciting season we had for a very long time, yes 2017 was a thriller but this year eclipsed it all, I can't recall the last time you had 3 drivers in with a shout to get that driver's title. 2003 was the last year but I think that towards the end of that season it was a 2 horse race between Loeb & Solberg. Before that it was 2001 when you had Sainz-McRae-Burns fighting for it and when you think about it, that's 17 years ago!
Skeptical as I am it is possible to compare this recent era with 2000-2004 which was also great.
Past/Present:
"old time" champ holding on but slowly loosing ground - Makinen and Gronholm at that time / Ogier now
"lucky" guy that got a shot at the championship in between - Burns + Solberg then / Neuville now
One team and driver starting to dominate - Loeb+Citroen / Tanak + Toyota
Hope it doesn't end the way it did in 2005-2006 and then into the "dark ages" of 2 teams.
Before Germany Nandan said something about suspension changes for tarmac coming before Spain. They certainly do need it. Don't remember anything about engine.Quote:
Originally Posted by focus206
I must be mistaking then. Good if that's the case, I'd have more faith on suspension changes rather than engine upgrades. Then again, I'm not an engineer so what do I know.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
I wouldnt be so optimistic with Tänak...Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Sad news that Craig Parry has been forced to retire from co-driving following his pre-Germany testing crash.
http://www.dai-sport.com/parry-calls...riving-career/
Seems the crash was a lot more serious than initially reported. I read something the other week that said he wasn't back walking yet. Thankfully the piece says he should make a full recovery.
Meeke is back again ! After Rally Legend .... He will drive Skoda Fabia R5 for Condroz Rally in Belgium ► http://bit.ly/2P0iLVx
So finally he found an agreement in his fight with Citroen, which didnt allowed him to do any rally this year?Quote:
Originally Posted by jbmarcus21
Think he's now been released from his contract.Quote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
Meeke was released from his contract as soon as he was fired. He was always free to be able to drive whatever he wanted as soon as that happened.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel157
As there was believed to be legal action by him against Citroen over the teams of his dismissal, and the resulting damage that this would cause to his future employment opportunities, he can hardly go around and wreck that claim by comtinuning to compete, can he?
Hence, why, now that the Toyota deal has done, and his claim is null and void against Citroen he's been free to do Legends and other rallies.
Allegedly.
Hence, why is like writing "Hence, hence now that the Toyota..." Or "Why, why now that the Toyota..."
That is not true. He was not free to drive whatever he wanted...Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
No way, Kris had a contract till the end of 2018 and got for sure some good money. He was free to go whatever he wants to do except to drive for another manufacturer in the WRC. Only if a manufaturer wants him to drive than Kris had to make a new deal in that case. I think why he could be driving the Toyota already and speaks what he wants because it's a deal with Lappi who can drive the Citroën as soon after the last round. Lappi (and all the orther drivers) mostly have a contract till the end of the year and needs permission to drive earlier for a new team.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
What i also believe is that when Tanak don't have a chance for the championship anymore and the manufacturers title (for Toyota) is as good as be won Lappi could drive the Citroën already in Australia and Meeke the Toyota. That's a win-win situation and for sure something what would be discussed between the teams.
I sat down with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC to answer a few questions about the new contract for 2019 and my initial thoughts. Thought I'd share it here, and I hope you find it interesting.
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It’s just a huge pleasure and honour to be back. Three years ago, I sat down with Tommi Makinen and discussed the possibility of me going there, but at the time it was just a vision. I would have needed to commit to a season without any rallies at first, and at the time, I needed to do a full season because I had never done one up to that point. Tommi understood my point of view, but the simplicity and logic of his vision never went away from me, and even once I had made my decision, part of me wondered if I’d missed an opportunity. So I’m delighted and grateful to have that opportunity again.
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The performance of the car speaks for itself and I can’t wait to be competing with it. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the quickest cars out there and there’s an incredibly strong team behind it.
But what’s just as important is the culture. There’s a Japanese culture of respect and honour, which is so refreshing and welcoming. I couldn't think of a better place to be. Everything that Tommi outlined to me when we had that conversation three years ago has come true. He’s done it his way, yet he’s so easy to relate to, and as a four-time champion, he sees everything from a driver’s point of view. It’s a whole environment that I didn’t think was possible any more, to be honest.
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Everyone knows what happened earlier this year, and afterwards I decided to stay silent for a while and keep myself to myself. Sometimes it’s best not to react. And during that time, I came to realise that I’d not really enjoyed myself for the previous 18 months. It was an incredible realisation, but I was determined that I wouldn’t let my time in this sport that I loved pass under a cloud. And that made me more motivated and determined than ever, so after Rally Finland I gave all the team principals a call and said that if there was ever an opportunity I would love to hear from them. Obviously the conversation with Tommi continued, and when he asked if I’d like to drive the car, it was an absolute no-brainer.
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It's very straightforward. I want to go back to enjoying myself in a rally car again and help Toyota to win a championship. It’s as simple as that really. I’m not here to rock any boats: instead I’m just incredibly excited about what lies ahead.
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Absolutely. When I was growing up, I was a rally fan throughout the height of the Toyota era in the past, with legends like Carlos Sainz, Didier Auriol and Juha Kankkunen. To be following in that tradition, behind all those incredible names, is awesome. And in fact, the very first championship that I won was in a Toyota, back when I was 16 and co-driving for my brother. Together we did the road rally championship and we actually won it in a 1986 Corolla. So for many reasons, it feels really good to be here.”
https://www.facebook.com/krismeeke/p...899?__tn__=K-R
Homologation PROTON IRIZ R5 is coming for next december with Mellors Elliott Motorsport ► http://bit.ly/2EuQFxQ
Jacko right, Rallyfriend wrong.
But who cares, great season ahead of us.
Shortly: Loeb praises the C3 evolution; is hoping for a trouble free rally in Catalunya and to be on the leaders pace. He ends saying nothing is decided about running WRC events next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
Looks like Loeb will have a few spare weekends on his hands as Peugeot have pulled out of rallycross.
Really the last one for Loeb in RallyRACC http://bit.ly/2CtRzrs ?
@SebastienLoeb
A page turns with the @peugeotsport en stop @FIAWorldRX. A big thank you to the whole team for this beautiful adventure ���� Place to new challenges, to new challenges �� eager to write the following ��
https://twitter.com/SebastienLoeb/st...28473042444288
It's great to hear Loeb has noticed the evolution in the C3. Taken too long but at least they eventually got on the right track, and hopefully it's a car that Ogier can challenge for the championship with and Lappi for wins.
Is it a farewell to PSA? Loeb’s team is already running a pair of Golf’s in the WTCR, with the support of VW Motorsport; will he return to the touring series also as a driver?Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
https://sebastienloebracing.com/championnat-wtcr/
Maybe it's the case. But Sebastien Loeb Racing has always run different cars - it's not bound by Loeb's own PSA contract. They've run Orecas, Audis, Porsches, McLarens etcQuote:
Originally Posted by Rally Power