Latvala has been very lucky to have had some extremely patient team bosses over the years. I guess being a nice guy does help sometimes.Quote:
Originally Posted by OldF
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Latvala has been very lucky to have had some extremely patient team bosses over the years. I guess being a nice guy does help sometimes.Quote:
Originally Posted by OldF
Because Latvala is the second best driver available ;)
and probably a dad with deep pockets to soothe some team bosses when needed...Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
Why such a fuss over Matton's words?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Capito made similar remarks to Latvala before his Portugal win and Wilson has inumerous times comment Tanak inconsistency and he was able to improve, getting a brilliant podium in Poland!
It would be nice to see Kris affected by Matton pressure in a positive way: delivering results proportional to his great talent.
I believe that's what he'll probably do!
And most of all because of his highly influential managerQuote:
Originally Posted by RS
Maybe also because he is a 13 wrc rallys winner? And can be unbeatable when he is in his day?
It is past. I am thinking what else should I write, but it says it all. Strong Latvala is past. And in my opinion it will never return. Sad but that is life.Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
strong Latvala ?? when was that ?? what did i miss ??
The guy has the mentality of a 12 year old... he can win a few events but that is that.
Latvala can be easily at podium at each rally of the championship ATM.... if this is his goal. VW though don't have problem with that..... I don't know what his goal is, for championship title it seems impossible. May be it is frustrating, but that's life indeed.....
PS: he should just enjoy his rallies and that sums it up.....
Latvala is not the only one chasing Seb so much that they often going off instead of being consistent. It´s not easy for anyone atm having Mr Ogier in such pace.
There are a few more lads having similar problems. Call it mental and yes it is. Meeke, Neuville, Ostberg, Tanak ....
May be we should draw Neuville out of the equation for this championship. Probably '16 with the new Hyundai will be his year.....
Neuville should focus on being faster than his part time team mate first... then look for challenging for the title.
Neuville is taking steps backwards at the moment in his career and the unemployment office is close.
This championship was all over after Mexico. Drivers should think of the next.....
you should not do this to yourself...Quote:
Originally Posted by stefanvv
Don't worry about me, I'm ok with the championship progress.....Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
I suspected the same thing since his off in Sweden.Quote:
Originally Posted by liposh
That is past you say but people here was referring to the past so I answered referring to it. At the moment he is the ideal for VW that has already Ogier winning championship. I'll never stop hoping that he may change but my rational side knows that it is nearly impossible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SlowSon
I don't think so, on WRC Car Manufacturer level, a manager is less important than the goals the manufacturer has forecasted on short and long terms, they are the leaders of the negotiations. Do you think the general board of VAG, Toyota or Hyundai is interested in a manager...??? "Mister VAG, we have talked to Mr Jouhki and he says that we have to keep Latvala for '16..." No way, if that would be the case FIA WRC is a hobby club for children. And: in Motorsport contracts don't matter at all, if they there is a WRC ready Lappi or a Tidemand available , Latvala is exit very easily.
I don't think VW will let Latvala go, mainly because he could be a threat for them if he joins Toyota or Ford (again). If Latvala has some time that everything goes right, he is as quick as Ogier, if not quicker.
what kind of thread? for sporadic wins when he has the "feeling"?Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
Without SebLo no intrigue in WRCQuote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Do you really think after all these years Latvala will suddenly learn to be a consistent threat?Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
Maybe not consistent threat, but if he happens across the right set up, you have a rally without too many early morning stages, the wind is blowing in the right direction, a fortune teller tells him that he's going to be alright and what ever team he goes to gets a feng shui expert to arrange the motorhome, he could beat Ogier. If you were VW, why would you open the door for this possibility when there realistically isn't a much better option available for them to fill his seat?Quote:
Originally Posted by Allyc85
Agreed. He's one of the few guys who can go toe to toe with Ogier on a good day. Yet he's the perfect number 2 driver. Ogier knows he has the complete measure of him across the season. Zero intimidation from Latvala.
He will score you points. Honestly VW don't need to have an uber consistent second driver if they've got Ogier. And if his head ever completely falls off they can just switch in Mikkelsen for a round or two. The manufacturer title will fall into their lap regardless.
On the flipside - if Latvala does ever want to further his career he either needs to leave VW to try and shake things up. Either that or wait for Ogier to leave. Which may or may not happen.
Honestly I believe VW is perfect for him right now. He only have to wait for his "moments", not being too eager to win everything at all cost. I'm not sure he can handle kind of team leader position in another team, but I might be wrong of course....Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
Totally disagree with you, just look at the drivers standings at the moment - Mikkelsen is leading Latvala by 17 points and has not scored on only once when Latvala, VW's no. 2 driver, has not scored 3 times! He is too inconsistent to be a perfect points scorer IMHO. He's fast but just can't stand the pressure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
I think the crash in Sweden this year has been a turning point of his career.
Latvala did a very good 2014. After portugal he had 29 points to Ogier and he arrived in Spain with almost the same gap. Despite the usual stupid mistakes (Germany especially) he had finally improved, made a step more both in the mental side and in the driving (last year was clearly smoother).
This year he had high expectations because when you make a step ahead you are looking make another one and that other step maybe would have allowed him to accomplish his dream.
That off in Sweden was the end of that. Without it he could have been leading the event. He worked very very hard with his mental trainer and with the car and after 2 rounds he was at the same point as before.
That is not easy to swallow and now it is difficult, if not impossible, to come back like he was in 2014 knowing that in that case it won't be enough either.
In the last rallys I saw him a bit surrend-ish. I think inside him he knows Ogier is too strong. Let's see if he can work it out but it is very difficult and time is not on his side anymore.
I never said Latvala is a perfect points scorer - I said he's the perfect number 2 driver for VW/Ogier right now. When you have the dominant car/driver combination like VW do then why would you rock the boat? Jari can have a mediocre year and they will still pick up the manufacturers title.Quote:
Originally Posted by cali
If they actually had to fight for it then some of his results this year would be an issue. I stand by everything I said in my previous post.
Jarkko Nikara is replacing Jari Ketomaa with the DMack Fiesta R5 in Finland, according to rumors. Anyone can confirm? Looks like great news!
Its been on the front page of WRC.com for a few hours now..Quote:
Originally Posted by tommeke_B
That's hardly a 'rumour'....
Great! Not following WRC.com as mostly their "news" is no news. ,)Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
But so they would with Mikelssen too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
The disappointing thing about Poland was that he was slower than Mikelssen, and then he crashed.
Rally Paradise @rallyparadise
Tommi Mäkinen says that #Toyota #WRC will need 3 high-level drivers. #WRC2017 rules are changing & there will be 3 points scoring drivers...
if what he means is that just the top 3 will get points then i think it is retarded... but i also think that with the current points systems too many worthless tourists of nothingness get points.
I think returning to the old top six and 10-6-4-3-2-1 system is best for now especially if they keep superrally.
I hope then they'll get rid of Rally2 as well....Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
No way, 3 drivers per team probably.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Top 2 from each manufacturer to score could make sense.
top 2 from each manufacturer will give an extra edge to the big money teams though.
On the other hand if it forces teams to run three decent drivers it will mean better entry lists for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Really great news. They will allow the specialists like Panizzi time
They can do that now, if they want.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Only one of the drivers is in a Manufacturer Team is fixed, the other can circulate as they see fit. Who has done that so far?