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http://forum-rallye.com/uploads/mont...1478027285.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
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I wouldn't be so sure if the dieselgate will not affect other members of vw group.Quote:
Originally Posted by HaCo
Sordo a while ago in an interview said something about as long as he was wanted and was competitive he would continue in WRC... Is this Hyundai's chance to offer him a retirement package he can't say no to?
Can you imagine the fireworks of an Ogier/Paddon/Neuville team...?
Do not forget that if VW pulls the plug and doesn't participate in 2017 WRC they still have their drivers under contract. Which means that they will get salary from VW (at least for 2017, maybe longer depending on their contractual terms). Which would mean that they can drive for anyone at very low price or even for free without affecting their income - which in turn means that missing budget wouldn't be a problem.
Also, for 2017 any team is a potential employer because everyone is in same situation eg. with new and unproven car. The only downside is that the three VW drivers have not tested any of those new cars (which they'll do before signing) and will not have same amount of testing than other drivers that have developed those cars. So in this sense, switch for 2017 season is a bit easier to make than normally.
So the big question for them is: which team provides not only best car for 2017 but also best total package for 2018 when they conceivably have to be paid for real.
Toyota sell over 60 000 cars a year in France and around 12 000 a year in Finland. Do the marketing departments get a say in who the rally teams get to sign as the driver.
Latvala to EKS WRX or Marklund?
Ogier to Toyota? and Hanninen kept on as a test driver.
Ostberg to become a 'Henning Solberg' doing selected Euro rounds
FFSA - M-Sport relation are better than ever with Rallye Jeunes deal....
It would be great but even if it were to happen i can't see it before 2018 or even 2019. Skoda take their time.Quote:
Originally Posted by HaCo
I am sure they would do much better than last time now that the team is much better managed and engineered.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
i have noticed it also, especially in Wales last week. Like people say here, he doesnt get a along with Meeke very well, so for me it leaves Toyota or M-sport for Ogier.
Yes, we shouldn´t forget also Audi has to pack in at WEC.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
As long as Makinen is the boss I don´t see any other driver at Toyota than Finnish ones.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeakiwi
Great team ;)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CmoEaJ0W...jpg&name=large
Would Ogier try be the ultimate legend? Changing team and become World Rally Champion, something that Seb v1.0 never did?
Since we are trying to predict:
I think that Ogier will go to the one who will offer more €€ and has a winning car.
It means Toyota is out of the equation cause even if tommi will do a good job this year they will not win. Also M-Sport is out since they have not money.
I see Hyundai advantaged but would not be surprised for a return of Seb in a french team. The past is past...
lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Well, Kankkunen won 4 titles with 3 different manufacturers, so that makes him the greatest, in my opinion. Would be great to see Ogier trying it in a different car.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Perfect time for Ford to returnQuote:
Originally Posted by AL14
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Only little tweeks to livery ;)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B75eZp6I...jpg&name=large
Still no confirmation yet ;)
Yes it would be a travesty to see a 'yesterdays man' like Jari Mati Latvala get another opportunity with another team and be seen as a potential winner in the eyes of a team manager .Rally GB was his 15th time doing it !!! ....There are too many of these 'stale drivers' including Dani Sordo , Mads Ostberg doing the rounds of the WRC and there is no opportunity for any new young drivers .Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
I agree - time for a good `Spring Clean`Quote:
Originally Posted by irish_tiger
I hope that if this is true, VW will create a semi-works team in M-Sport style, would be a waste otherwise... Hoping they will make an expection for their bulls**t politics of their cars run only and exclusively under VW Motorsport banner. But I doubt they care.
Would be great but that's not a decison you make so quickly. Maybe if they would have known some months ago...Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
If they were planning to return in 2018, which is what I had heard, they could accelerate their comeback with this news to get Ogier. Or maybe they have already decided to return in 2017 ;)?Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
Remember everything is nearly in place with Msport anyway, who have tested and developed the car with a lot of technical assistance from Ford.
They just need the financial clout that a huge global manufacturer would bring to land Seb. He is a gamechanger for these teams, in that he is as close as you can get to guaranteed success in the WRC. Every team including Citroen and Hyundai should be trying to attract Seb by doing whatever it takes.....
That was mainly because of Porsche a) beating them in Le Mans and b) having decisive word in VAG.Quote:
Originally Posted by WUff1
I don't think so. We'll be happy if they continue with R5 works team. In this moment the official word is that they won't reduce motorsport activities for next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by HaCo
It's not their style to do this - and as the reports says, they won't be changing this policy. The 2017 WRCar will go to the VW museum most probably.Quote:
Originally Posted by focus206
Can't help but smile when I see your location, it reminds me of a stage in a certain rally game... ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
To stay on topic, they have not let their car to be used by privateers as of yet, so that wouldn't change I think.
Some remarks:
- You all put Ogier to M-Sport with Tanak alongside, but you forgot that Camilli has signed contract with M-sport to 2017 as 2nd driver. So it's same way as replace already signed drivers in Hyundai or Citroen. And if Hyundai have money for that move, M-Sport doesn't have it. So it's probably be Ogier-Tanak-Camilli
- VW drivers have signed to VW in 2017 and have salary, in one hand they can "drive for free" in such team as M-sport, in other hand VW can say "You have a contract and you must sit tight whole 2017 and maybe do some rallys with SkodaR5". So future this trio also can be decided by VW top-management
- And I have strong premonition that's Ogier knows about this situation, and already have a deal with Malcolm with VW approval. Because Ogier at GB feels so relax, he know about rumors inside VW Team and having direct access to VW WRC Team heads as can told him all situation.
- And looks like JML know about this as well, but can't find a good choice for 2017 yet.
I don't care about their "style", it's not an excuse nor a god's law: it's their own (VW) fault if they have to pull out, having a new car in good stage of development would be a good reason to change their style and do something good for rallysport. But yes, if this is all true I agree that it won't likely happen, they will keep their idiotic and disrespectful "style".Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
VW can also say: " we pay, but you don't drive for anyone else. Or if you drive, we don't pay"Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkka
You are right about the importance of the contract termination strategy of VW for their drivers. WQuote:
Originally Posted by KKS
However, VW is at Risk on this subject if they adopt a stringent strategy.
They have no more to play in the WRC first and, on the other hand, let imagine the négative impact on VW's image if they refuse to free a 4x World Champion driver, a 3x Vice-Champion driver + Mikkelsen, without anything to do. Yet this fast withdrawal will have some négative impact but minimized by the fact that nobody Will be fired. But if they make the mistake of retaining drivers, they Will have no confidence at all from drivers of any championship for the next decade, something which would be very problematic if they decide to return to the motorsport in the future. And it would be a nightmare for the image of the brand, destroying the job done during the last 4 years.
I think a gentleman agreement is needed for both drivers and VW (something such as VW pay only one of the two years remaining). In addition to that, drivers may have clauses about the issue of VW withdrawal in their contract.
1. FFSA M-Sport relation are betten than ever ;) That trio would be enough to M-Sport.Quote:
Originally Posted by KKS
2. Contracts have WRC car clause i presume, so, they can break it.
3. Many rumours about that yes :)
4. Latvala in Toyota are written in the stars since the begin of TMR WRC scene.
Even if he didnt know for definite Ogier is way too smart and too big in the sport to be taken by surprise by this news.
I think he knew and thats why he was so keen to ensure the Manufacturers title in GB before the news broke.
M-Sport is my bet for him.
Like Andre says, this is the reason get-out clauses were invented for contracts.Quote:
Originally Posted by KKS
On one note: think about this realistically.
Ford coming back and supporting M-Sport.
Ford have their badge on the front and back, stickers on the side and logo on the TV. Everyone knows it's a Fiesta. A Ford model.
What difference to the manufacturer will it make if they invest back with M Wilson and M-Sport?
Yes they could, emphasis on could win the Championship and Fords name would be up there again... but realistically is it worth it?
I'm not baging the sport or team or process of having the car company back but think about it.
Understand what you're saying but if Ford were to offer some financial support then maybe Malcolm could afford Ogier instead of Ostberg..Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
If I remember correctly from a few pages back it seems like the other manufacturers would need to agree to allow dispensation for a car to be homologated without the required production numbers yet. How open to that notion do we think Citroen and Hyundai would be if M-Sport were the ones who managed to sign Ogier?
I'm not suggesting they'd do that just to be petty and use a technicality to try an eliminate one source of competition for next year, but it'd be a pretty bitter pill to swallow to say to M-Sport, "Yes of course you can run that car before you produced the number of cars we went to the bother of making. Oh Sebastien will be driving it? That's lovely news, sport is the winner here today."
Or is it simply a function of the FIA to allow homologation if some part of the requirement has not been met?
We shouldn´t forget also Red Bull could sponsor another team now, as for instance M-Sport ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Anyway. I guess I spoke to early back then :DQuote:
Originally Posted by AL14
One side of this that isn't being talked about so much is the impact that losing VW sponsorship will have on events - namely Sweden, Rally Legend etc.
One column here - potentially quite worrying for Sweden to lose what is effectively a title sponsor at late notice - http://www.vf.se/sport/bilsport/det-...allyt%E2%80%9D
Watching this Colin Clark vid also helps give an appreciation of all the things VW were doing behind the scenes for the good of the sport - https://www.facebook.com/voiceofrall...9461530883180/