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If you can't take the word of a chap who is overseeing the build of one and who has the official documentation from M-Sport, have you thought about contacting M-Sport direct and asking them? This would clear it up once and for all and get it off your mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
@MSportLtd
Our hard work is paying dividends and the Fiesta WRC showed winning pace @RallySweden with five fastest stage times. We know the speed is there, and we're looking forward to seeing what's possible @RallyMexico!
➡️ Read more here: https://www.m-sport.co.uk/single-pos...PEED-IN-SWEDEN …
Actually M-Sport cars and drivers showed some good speed and I'm happy about it. Pity that the driver line-up is still too error prone. But hopefully they will improve. Overall a nice rally for them.
One day he was going to lead the World Rally Championship...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DznudPeWkAA8w9I.jpg:large
After the horror show that was Monte they really bounced back, points scored were not representative of their performance. At least they'll have nice road positions in Mexico.
this young fellow (Tanak) could be a champ this year
He could be a champ last year if he didn't broke that radiator on many occasions. And a year before if he found a pace a little earlier.
M-Sport has now proved to itself and its WRC rivals that it's still a team to be feared post-Ogier, says its boss:
https://t.co/78nuYLTEEw
In Sweden they were.
The only doubt I have is that the competitiveness seemed to be caused by upgrades that were introduced "for Ogier", but for various reasons delayed last year (like the engine). So question is if further upgrades will keep on coming.
Sounds like a decent amount of car development is still happening...
"Before the season, M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson insisted there would be no let-up in the effort or investment in performance from the team despite Ogier leaving for Citroen.
Suninen said the Ford Fiesta's Swedish pace was testament to that policy.
"From last year, the car is fully different," said Suninen.
"The team worked so hard. We have much more grip generally on the car and this is coming from the [extra] downforce we got from the aero work.
"This is where the Ford help is really showing. It's great that we keep pushing forward with the car and I really think we can fight this year."
Wilson`s idea was to offer top package to make it appealing for top drivers in 2020. They have to keep up.
That requires that Msport/Ford or some sponsors has the money to pay those top drivers. Even without the top 3 who I believe are under contract (Ogier and Neuville are, not sure about Tänak, but cant see him leaving Toyota) the "2nd best" are not likely to want to drive for free or pay.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarmop
I think one of Mikkelsen or Latvala/Meeke will be at Msport next year. Depends what Toyota do with Kalle...Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
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Also Abu Dhabi is set to return in 2020, but with which team?
Sign him - which I wouldn't be surprised one bit if it had already been done. Latvala to M-Sport also sounds like a safe bet. I'm sure Jouhki can deliver him that seat.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Abu Dhabi would surely be able to provide funding but I doubt they will go to MSport without any of Ogier/Tanak/Neuville there.
Latvala could probably get some funding but none of the others are likely to do that (Meeke and Mikkelsen were mentioned, I'd maybe include Paddon, Breen and Østberg since all are drivers that have relatively guaranteed podium speed on multiple rallies).
Rovanpera will likely drive some rallies at Toyota next year (though it could also be at MSport) but so far this year he is far from stable top contender, much less in WRC. Monte - out in first stage (if Suninen wasn't there he'd end in the ditch instead, Sweden - out in 3rd stage. So I doubt he will do full WRC season already next year.
Craig Breen implied Abu Dhabi will return in 2020 and thanked them (SKAQ) for their support in getting him into a WRCar. Maybe he hopes for a later 2019 chance in a 3rd C3 funded by them ...
Toyota will do nothing with kalle besides maybe a 4th car sometimes if he starts performing well the rest of the year.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
They want to win championships, so they need three good proven drivers, not youngsters.
Given the rumours about Toyota working on an R5 car, a mixed WRC/WRC2(Pro, if it survives) campaign in 2020 would work nicely for Kalle...
And less significantly, Katsuta could be accommodated as a Toyota driver too.
We are 2 rounds into 2019 and you are already speculating about 2020...
If they would have an R5 car ready for 2020, we would know already.Quote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
Didn't you just contradict yourself? They are returning in 2020 so how would they be involved in Breen's program already in 2019?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
I just meant possible support for Breen, not the whole team.
So a year off from supporting motorsport means they can still support Breen?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
"Maybe he hopes for a later 2019 chance in a 3rd C3 funded by them" Which part of "maybe" is so hard to understand?Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Maybe Unicorn WRT will give him a seat for 2019.
And since when speculating hasn't been allowed here?Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Last week Breen said he was still confident of a WRC drive later this year.
Where else is more likely than in a Citroen and why did he thank the Sheikh ? And helping Breen is not sponsoring the whole team...
If you are referring to Absolute Rally, it's not like he mentioned Abu Dhabi without asking. Of course he has to be polite because there's very little bridges to be burned, although inside he's probably mad at them for taking away the financial support that cost him the WRC seat for this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
I don't see how supporting Breen would revert Abu Dhabi's decision not to support WRC this year, since they announced returning in 2020. https://twitter.com/F_Gustavsson/sta...03632538234881 And it may not be with Citroen since they basically waved goodbye to them. https://twitter.com/khalidbinfaisal/...99911400574977
At this point I would see Breen doing at most some rounds in an M-Sport Fiesta and/or maybe a few WRC2 outings.
Craig breen doing Italian championship. This will get him drive in sardegna at least https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...37d453a1e7.jpg
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Sardinia is on Tarmac? thats new to me... ;) I think Craig will do CIR (Campionato Italiano Rally) wich is the Main Italian Rallye Champinship with Rallyes on Tarmac as well as Rallyes on Gravel.. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by DocMS
I need to think before I actually write :)Quote:
Originally Posted by WRC1
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Paid for by ?Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
People with money... He has already done some events as a privateer with a Fiesta WRC you know...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
That was way back in 2014 in a rented Irish car. There arent any 2017-spec cars there now.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
And any such car costs a lot more to run than the earlier WRC's.
If Abu Dhabi come back to sponsor Citroen in 2020 it could mean a third car. That may be where Breen has a couple of 2019 drives to get him ready.
So you're assuming all of these things will happen:
1. Abu Dhabi will return to WRC in 2020
2. Abu Dhabi will return to Citroen WRT
3. The return will mean a third car for Citroen WRT
4. The third car will be driven by Craig Breen instead of any other driver out of contract for 2020.
5. Because of this, Abu Dhabi will buy drives for Breen from Citroen in 2019
Also, I'm still considering the clash of Abu Dhabi and Red Bull a possible reason for their year off and maybe even a reason for moving to another team (maybe M-Sport). But this as highly speculative as any of the statements above.
These are my ideas for the most likely way Breen will get some WRC action in 2019, considering his statements.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
1-3. is very likely, but step 4. is imo rather unlikely and then 5. sounds like pure fantasy.
ref 4. Sadly Breen was slower than Østberg on most gravel rallies where they started together which looks negative for a role of "reliable point scorer". Citroen already have Lappi as a joker that could possibly win rallies.
We have some more aerodynamic advancements on @ElfynEvans’ Ford Fiesta WRC this weekend - with updates to the dive planes for improved downforce efficiency. Spot it if you can �� The update will be on both cars in Corsica ���� #WRC #FordPerformance #RallyMexico
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D1ENJ8TX...jpg&name=large
Is that where the yellow arrow is pointing?Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira