Could Mikkelsen be a factor? I'm a bit skeptical about VW and Skoda competing against each other with basically the same car.
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Could Mikkelsen be a factor? I'm a bit skeptical about VW and Skoda competing against each other with basically the same car.
I'm also skeptic. For sure we will see Škoda 1.6T in WRC soon but in my opinion only as slightly slower S2000 spec. I really doubt that VW would allow them to register for championship (necessary for WRC kit homologation).
I think what he means is that VW people will work at Red Bull Skoda later this year. With a 1.6T only from next year I guess?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Someone else asked about Mikkelsen, I guess he is a more serious option than a German driver at the moment. Let's see if he "steps up to the plate" in IRC this year.
Why not compete with the 1600T engine in the Fabia in WRC rallies as soon as possible. No better testground than a rally with a number on the door.
But thinking back to the S2000 Fabia they tested for a long time in CZ, and that turned out well as well. So lets see !
Further info on VWs plans are detailed in Motorsport News today; from Finland onwards Nasser Al-Attiyah will drive a Fabia S2000 serviced by VW Motorsport. He will do every remaining WRC round this year apart from Australia.
Nice to have Nasser back flying in Finland. Was there anything about a second, "more local" driver in that team? I remember reading about that perhaps in Autosport's article.Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
:(Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
I think they will have some drivers driving the Fabia and compare the times, so they can choose.
No, just that they would run the car on "a programme of events" next year too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hartusvuori
Any early pick on drivers then? I'd have to say I would pick a combination of Nasser and Mikkelsen, plus another. Hanninen, Petter I'm not so sure about
Has this been mentioned here yet?
This is all looking very positive. Being VW they'll have money and also the desire to beat Citroen whereas M-Sport seem to be happy coming 2nd.
If 3 car teams returned it would be muchos fantasticos
A young Michelle Mouton? :O
If the VW project works its the end of M-Sport.
We can only hope :D I think people are happy to buy Focus WRC's and Fester WRC's when they're the 2nd best and probably cheaper than a Citroen, but if you can get a Mini or a Polo which is better? :D As much as I dislike Mini's and I hate VW's, I want them to do well in the WRC.Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
VW people are very very serious about the project. I expect big things to come...
Well we've seen serious people before. But this is VW, they've got a lot of money to throw at this. It would be fantastic if they actually did a roadcar version.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
I just hope that they take a look at M-Sport and promise NOT to do what Malcolm is doing! Hire proper drivers, fire drivers if they're crap, develop new talent and just spend their money intelligently.
Serious means hiring at least two world class driver and the third car to a coming young Michelle Mouton if she exists.
I say Mattias Ekstrom..... (not as young female driver, but as one of two top drivers)
I don´t think Ekstrom is top RALLY driver capable of winning rallies in WRC.
and what about icecube? ... he is going to be champion by 2012 so his price may rise...they must move fast...Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
How about Ogier then?
Kris Nissen: “Rather Ogier than Loeb”
Autohebo
http://translate.google.com/translat...lutot-que-loeb
Matthew Wilson?
I think the third car is for some German driver, good thing with a new team is also that it brings moves in the driver market, I hope that Latvala would get a chance in VW, M-Sport is an o.k. team, but short on resourses compaired to real factory teams.
Would be interesting to see what Latvala could do in a professional team with proper resources
Latvala will be relaxed about crashin' then.
Almost all fast drivers are possible in the moment. It's early for final decision but they aim high...Quote:
Originally Posted by OldF
I think you are right, but there is not many of those who can win rallies around, if they are serious like it seem they need a profile driver for sure, the Audi Quattro times are gone long time ago already.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
I think in an environment where one moment his boss is telling him to drive 100% and then back off to let his compeition through, Latvala would probably thrive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
Driver Market hotting up... Show me youuur moneeeey!
The world's top ranked female rally driver is alive and well down in New Zealand and I'm sure she's not averse to driving VW's very quickly.Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
Forget Ekstrom. Not even sure Nasser would be a suitable candidate. Is Grassner showing any potential? Expected more of him.
PG would not be a bad choice if he got settled and knew that his team had the funds to let him be himself on the stages.
Petter and/or Hanninen would work and maybe Mikkelsen.
Females? There's an Irish girl called Amy Cox, only 17, but showing good early potential
I'm thinking that 1 of the driver at M-Sport could be lured away if they found that they could get a quick championship with the VW. I was thinking in particular about Hirvonen and Ostberg. I don't think they will want to wait till Loeb gives up before they can come within a shout of winning the title.
If VW choose a girl I think it will be someone who can fulfill the role that Danica Patrick performs in IRL. Talent will not be necessary.
Nasser is almost guaranteed a seat as he has money from castrol/Middle East.
I dont think they will sign any female driver, simply because there is not anyone good enough, and just to do it for marketing reasons sounds more like prodrive stuff, not really what a serious rally factory team would do.
Before you start dropping names of young female drivers, had any of you thought Nissen might have meant the talent of Michelle Mouton rather than sex?
Hartusvuori.. Maybe he kicks with the left foot..Quote:
Originally Posted by OldF
I gues Loeb would be a logical choice based on this criteria.
He is already a 7 times world champion, and before anyone forgets it he is leading this years championship before we get to the tarmac rallies, based on that he is very likely to be 8 times consequtive champion of the world, an amazing acheivement. What does he do? continue in Citroen and fight Ogier in the same car again? Retire and remain a Citroen ambassador, or does he say, a bit of a sabbatical, test and develop the VW Polo, maybe LeMans with Audi, perhaps a guest DTM race with Audi, re-charge his batteries, keep the motivation. Come back in 2013 for a year and try and do a Valentino Rossi.
For all we can speculate on this forum its too early to rewally know who will drive for VW, I dont think anything much will happen until after NORF and when we get to teh silly season, but Loeb is the key player.
I see Sebastien driving for Peugeot in Le Mans personally. I'd kill myself just so I could spin in my own grave if he drove for Audi! :pQuote:
Originally Posted by MJW
I belive Loebs serious rally driving is soon done, when he stops he stop, there is nothing to proof, maybe he shows his face in some village rallies now and then like champs uses too.
Just curious Tomi, do you watch the 24 hours @ Le Mans at all? Is it the sort of thing that's popular in Finland?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
Not really, I watch only WRC and follow national rally, thats it. :) I dont think Le Mans is so popular here, F1 and Rally I think is most popular of motorsport with cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel