[WRC] News & rumours (part II)

Andreas Mikkelsen has all but signed for VW according to his team manager. He will compete the IRC and whole SWRC next year, as well as start the testing of the PoloWRC and potentially then becoming an official VW driver in 2013.

Petter is also set to sign for Ford, but not as an official driver but instead to partner Ostberg and Henning in a 2nd team. This leaves a big gap for Ogier or Tanak to fill at Ford. The same article suggests Petter has signed for VW in 2013 but has no plans for 2012 yet.

www.vg.no/sport/motor/artikkel.php?artid=10031715 - Translator

Article says Mikkelsen's contract is signed. Further it says they expect to run the Polo R WRC in some rallies in 2012, but these plans are not complete and not been signed.

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Originally Posted by Mintexmemory

Pleasant chaps all of them, but having seen all of them and Ott at first hand I have to say he is already faster than them (PWRC last year v Flodin. S2000 v Sandell and WRC v PG) and capable of better results already. He can only get better, only someone with more cash can hold him back, and not for very long I expect.

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Maybe you´re right about Tanak is faster. But having said that after maybe one time competition compared (you could give me a hint which rallies?) you have to deal with other skills needed. For example experience. I think Tanak should be given time to get used to the WRC car, maybe in a second team at Ford.

But of course he will be cheap. But even more cheaper for MW will be a driver who pays him a lot of money for 2nd seat in factory team.

So far, as the rumours and facts are gathered together we have in WRC 2012:
TOTAL CITROEN WRT: Loeb / Hirvonen
BP FORD WRT : Latvala / Tanak (?)
? MINI : Sordo / Meeke
VW testing: Ogier / Mikkelsen / ? Hanninen - ? Neuville

Custumers Citroen
BARWA : Al Attiyah (offficial as third works car)
VAN MERKSTEIJN: Peter jr / Peter sn on selected rounds
ALM RUSSIA : Novitsky (or in Ford)

Customers Ford
FERM : Dennis Kuipers / Rene Kuipers on selected rounds
FORD TEAM NORWAY ARMY: P Solberg / H Solberg / Ostberg
JIPOCAR : Prokop
MONSTER : Block (on selected rounds, 6?)

SWRC 2012:
Sebastien Ogier (Skoda)
Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda)
Craig Breen (Ford)

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Originally Posted by bretddog

Article says Mikkelsen's contract is signed. Further it says they expect to run the Polo R WRC in some rallies in 2012, but these plans are not complete and not been signed.

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In fact it says that he has signed for Volkswagen Group United Kingdom, as i understand driving an Skoda in IRC and SWRC...

So the verdict is on Mikkelssen?

18 drivers have been chosen for the 2012 FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.
A couple rallydrivers among them.
Craig Breen, 21, Ireland
Brendan Reeves, 23, Australia
Pontus Tidemand, 20, Sweden
Timo van der Marel, 22, Holland
Sepp Wiegand, 20, Germany

18.11.2011 | Drivers Chosen for 2012 FIA Institute Academy

[quote="alleskids"]
Can someone help me here as I can't understand how an army can sponsor a rally team? I also understand that in US rallying the Air Force sponsors someone.

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Originally Posted by MJW

Can someone help me here as I can't understand how an army can sponsor a rally team? I also understand that in US rallying the Air Force sponsors someone.

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I think "army" is metaphorical, to say there could be 3 Norwegian drivers in one team :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alleskids

So far, as the rumours and facts are gathered together we have in WRC 2012:
TOTAL CITROEN WRT: Loeb / Hirvonen
BP FORD WRT : Latvala / Tanak (?)
? MINI : Sordo / Meeke
VW testing: Ogier / Mikkelsen / ? Hanninen - ? Neuville

Custumers Citroen
BARWA : Al Attiyah (offficial as third works car)
VAN MERKSTEIJN: Peter jr / Peter sn on selected rounds
ALM RUSSIA : Novitsky (or in Ford)

Customers Ford
FERM : Dennis Kuipers / Rene Kuipers on selected rounds
FORD TEAM NORWAY ARMY: P Solberg / H Solberg / Ostberg
JIPOCAR : Prokop
MONSTER : Block (on selected rounds, 6?)

SWRC 2012:
Sebastien Ogier (Skoda)
Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda)
Craig Breen (Ford)

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I think Ketomaa should have a 6 event program with a private Fiesta...