Good question, he already tried to pay top coins for a top driver 15-16 years ago. The outcome wasn't very different.
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VW have blown every other team out of the water since entering WRC, both financially and technically.
So how can a non -factory team seriously compete, either for titles or for drivers ?
I dont doubt that MW would love to be fighting at the very top, but it just aint possible.
He tried to sign Loeb. He tried to sign Ogier. He couldn't have been much more public in trying to get Neuville back in a Ford.
He can't provide the same salary or development level on the car as a manufacturer.
Right now there are basically 3-4 guys who are rally-winning calibre drivers. And sometimes I think even that number is too high. So I'm not really sure what he's supposed to do. Safe pair of hands + young driver to nurture is about all we can expect.
Simmi i dont talk about this year,but for last years.Yes now its impossible to hire a decent driver,even Toyota and Hyundai with plenty of money have similar problem.And when Toyota and Citroen comes,will be more difficult.
When they will be present vw.toyota,hyundai,citroen all of them willing to pay a good salary,its obvious you will hire these will left without drive.
Wilson have find through the years some talents,but didnt managed to keep somebody.All left.
Who would have won the WRC in an M-Sport Ford vs. Loeb ? Gronholm and Hirvonen pushed him as close as anyone. Who else should MW have hired ?
As for vs. Ogier/VW - Neuville came second in 2013 and Ostberg was the highest placed non-VW in 2015 ...