https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...223719559a.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
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https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...223719559a.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Substitute actual events for round order and you have ;Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
2016 ... Out, 2, 5, 6
2017 ... Out, 7, 5, 6
Looks pretty similar to me, particulary when you consider last year's Sweden result was unexpected.
In respect of the remainder of your post, it can pay to remember that the season comprises significantly more than 4 events.
Sure, but then it's no longer talking about "form". If you take Mads Østberg as an example. His season in total was quite good, pointwise ahead of Tanak, close to Latvala and Sordo. But in terms of "form" he clearly wasn't very competitive in the second half of the season (be it car or driver, or a combination). This "form" is one of the main reasons he is not driving in a factory team at the moment.
Anyway this is a bit off topic here.
Give some slack to Paddon, the accident in Monte will probably slow him down for a while. And I'm sure the team understands that as well.
One off test, more feedback from the car
https://www.facebook.com/HMSGOfficia...235575842321:0
I hope he is seeking support from a therapist. You hear all the time how train drivers feel a lot of guilt when someone jumps on the tracks and how it chews them up. He must be feeling similary.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
So let's say we take this Hyundai statement at face value.
They are going to let a guy who is known to be deep in contractual talks with Toyota test their car for an extra point of view - beyond the 4 drivers already known to have tested that car. I get why they've come out and said it changes nothing regarding the contracted drivers - but I think there's more to this test. Just my opinion.
Well, he has been talking to different teams since the VWexit, testing-compeiting for Škoda and has driven and tested for a team which produced a championship-winning car for four years in a row, so...until nothing is signed, why not. Sure he`ll be back, maybe with a Hyundai, maybe with something else.
Andreas Mikkelsen is i20 WRC testing today at the Portugal with a neutral combination http://bit.ly/2pKmerQ*
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C97vu-xXUAA2p4x.jpg
How hyundai is handling their WRC project is trully amazing... a GREAT professional team.
small clips from Mikkelsens test
https://twitter.com/RallyingUK
i posted it in Rally Argentina thread but i think it also belongs here
Laura Cerezo @lauraviajera 33m33 minutes ago
Mikkelsen will make the recce of the @rallyargentina and said that soon there will be news of his return to the @OfficialWRC
https://twitter.com/lauraviajera/sta...73202071420929
a deal with Hyundai then?
No, my crystal ball said Citroen ... ;)
I bet Citroen are still saying "No one drives the car unless they sign a contract" and I would say, Do it Andreas! Do it!!!
I think Citroen will go all out to sign Ogier for next year. They've always said 2018 was the year they wanted to fight for both championships and they can't win the manufacturers title with the current line up. Lefebvre is not going to be up to the required standard for them (despite fulfilling the French quota). A team of Ogier, Meeke and Breen would be superb, although I'd rather see Seb remain with Msport. However Ford have to come back for that to happenQuote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Ford is leading both championships.
Citroen's best driver is 6th.
Ford has won 20 stages so far.
Citroen 9.
Ford needs to do comeback. Citroen is poised to win 2018. Mhmmm
The fact that Mikkelsen goes to Hyundai doesn't mean Ogier will not go to Hyundai.
Ogier can go where ever he wants :)
Every team will say "Welcome"
well it wasnt the case at the end of the last year....
Colin Clark's podcast had Jost Capito as a guest and talked about how the teams stick to the drivers' contracts, not sacking too easily. The Hyundai and Citroen guys and Hänninen had a contract when VW called it quits, so there were not that many places for JML, Ogier and Mikkelsen to go. Of course Ogier was welcomed to both Ford and Toyota, but Hyundai said they didn't even try to get him.
I bet Ogier will stay in Ford
What happens next season depends probably on how this season goes for each team. Right now, it seems all teams are pretty equal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
I think Ogier only has one thing on his mind and that is to win the drivers title with M-Sport. If he does that, Ford will come back and Ogier will stay put. I don't see him going back to Citroën or wanting to go to Hyundai. He has won his titles with VW, so now he wants to win against the odds and become a true legend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Front cover of Motorsport News today sees David Evans double down and write that Hyundai are going to sign Mikkelsen, run four cars for the next two years and become the new WRC super power.
No real quotes to back this up as nobody is really going on record. Just an internal Hyundai source saying they are very interested. Vague quotes from Penasse saying they have the capability to run four cars - and it won't be a commercial deal. They have R5 for that in his words.
Couple of other bits. Mikkelsen apparently rolled on the test. I think we knew he'd done some damage. Not sure if a full roll is new info or not.
Also Penasse quoted as saying Meeke doesn't have a contract for next year? That's news to me given he signed a three-year deal - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122261
Apparently there are concerns in the service park that this would turn Hyundai into a VW-esque super power which made me laugh. They'd have four drivers with just eight combined victories - and still wouldn't have the quickest two guys in the championship.
Before VW quit, the plan was Ford back officially in 2018. Now with the best rally driver in world i don't think that will not happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
You have some source for this info Andre?Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Here's the news story - http://www.autosport.com/news/report...minate-like-vwQuote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
The Meeke-related quote is intriguing. Doors open for 2018 if true.
He maybe just said it wrong. I think he just talked too much about others, he has not been correct with his opponents IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomhlord
Really strange if true. Meeke's deal was published at the end of 2015 as a "three-year deal".Quote:
Originally Posted by tomhlord
http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/decem...7--12-12-.html
With all due repect, Alan Panasse does not know what is in anyone's private contract, other than his own drivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
Have to assume it's a mistake from Penasse. And if so it shouldn't really have been published. Or at least have an editor's note added against the quote.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
Not officially. I will be not surprised if Andreas ended as Seb and Ott team mateQuote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
You mean because of the money boost they'd get from official Ford support? I'm not even sure if I'd prefer Mikkelsen to Evans. Evans showed good pace, setting fastest stage times at all events but Corsica. He's been slowed down by time penalties and technical issues, as well as the DMack tyres. I reckon he'd be Tanak/Sordo/Latvala-fast were he on Michelin rubber; that's also where I assume Mikkelsen is at. So the biggest boost would be that they wouldn't have to finance the third car with DMack money.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Probably it is a 2+1 three-year deal both parties having an option to end it after this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
Facts:Quote:
Originally Posted by Watson
- Evans has won 3 stages in Monte that were dry tarmac while cold. (unclear how much tire related it is, but certainly there could be big differences in compound performance for this un-normal conditions).
- No stages won in Sweden, 2x 6th place best result
- 3 x 2km street stages won in Leon in Mexico (with gravel tires on tarmac?)
- best 1 7th place on Corsica (only worse WRC on that stage was Lefevbre 0.3 sec behind)
I wouldn't say that it shows "good pace". Where he would be on same tires is just a guess, maybe he wouldn't even get the stage wins on Monte.
Note that Evans has historically been best on tarmac and not so good on other surfaces. Reportedly this was why DMACK picked him after Mikkelsen refused to pay to drive. While it might make sense for DMACK, it's probably not a preferred choice for 2nd or 3rd manu car.
Anyway I think Mikkelsen at Ford is the least likely option atm. If Ford is going in they are unlikely to announce or sign any paper this early. Mikkelsen is impatient and wants to drive this year . So M-sport would have to use some own funds at least for the car (if not salary).
This is imo unlikely as funds are needed for testing/developing the car so that Ogier and M-sport stay on top of the standings which in turn will convince both Ogier and Ford to join for 2018.
Touché. My memory has really failed me here.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Meeke has a contract for next year 100%. Citroen wouldn't sack one of the fastest, if not thee fastest driver in the WRC and Meeke would be happy to work with Seb in same team (if that does end up happening). He feels he can beat anyone and Seb isn't a problem to work with.
Time for a Pickems on where Mikkelsen will go ? ;)
My money on WRC:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC