M-Sport's Malcolm Wilson sits down with DirtFish to talk about how M-Sport came to be and some of the challenges he faced over the years.
https://youtu.be/9nwVCwI6DF4
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M-Sport's Malcolm Wilson sits down with DirtFish to talk about how M-Sport came to be and some of the challenges he faced over the years.
https://youtu.be/9nwVCwI6DF4
https://www.rallit.fi/teemu-suninen-...allin-jalkeen/
According to this article, M-Sport has been rotating old spare parts on the latest rallies. Suninen was asked whether the team has enough of spare parts for the two final rallies of the season, but he didn't reply anything to the question.
No suprise.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I thing someone here already mentioned that they have a new spec engine, but they will not use it untill they have used up all the old engines.
Even Katsuta isnt sure he can drive a Toyota in Ypres after recently crashing two WRC Yaris. If Toyota isnt able to cope with such a financial situation and repairs, you see now why I worried if M-Sport had a couple of big WRC crashes...Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Its 6 weeks till ypres. If toyota doesn't have a car for Katsuta, it's only because they see no point in it. It will definately not due to technical or financial reasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
This.Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
Is that a Rally1 car? ;)
Missing prices on that figure
Price is different for different buyers ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
and they sell also used ones
Nice livery for that Rally1 car, wouldn't mind seeing it in next season's opener.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Rally1 cars are allowed from 2022, so you must wait one more year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eli
I know, I meant WRC.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EoUeJ1eW...pg&name=medium
M-SPORT SELECTED AS FIA RALLY STAR PARTNER
M-Sport is pleased to announce its selection as the official rally car partner of FIA Rally Star – the largest talent detection programme in the history of rallying.
M-Sport’s involvement will be spearheaded by M-Sport Poland thanks to the unique insight it has into developing young drivers taking their first steps on the world stage.
FIA Rally Star is a truly global driver detection and training programme launched by the FIA with the main aim of uncovering rallying’s most promising future stars. Spotted by ASNs, the best young drivers between 17 and 25 will be selected and subjected to an intense preparation year ahead of entering the 2023 FIA Junior WRC Championship. During this preparation year, the selected drivers will take part in a rigorous training schedule incorporating a variety activities such as physical training and entering national rallies to build experience ahead of a campaign in FIA Junior WRC. The programme is roadmapped to include a fully funded season in the FIA WRC 3 Championship if a selected driver wins the FIA Junior WRC Championship.
The road ahead for any young driver in the world of rallying is tough and even more so on FIA World Rally Championship events which feature some of the most demanding special stages in the world. M-Sport prides itself on having a longstanding history playing its part to support young drivers in rallying from local rallies right the way up to success on the world stage. It is evidenced by M-Sport’s commitment to its ‘Ladder of Opportunity’ while becoming the first, and currently only, rally car manufacturer to offer a car at every level of the FIA’s ‘Rally Car Pyramid’.
As rally car partner to FIA Rally Star, M-Sport feels it is perfectly positioned to take any driver with potential and develop them into a world-class athlete. It is through M-Sport’s ‘Ladder Of Opportunity’ that drivers of any background will be able to learn what it takes to tackle real life rally stages: from learning basic principles in the entry-level Fiesta Rally5, right the way to the WRC-level Rally1 tier.
M-Sport’s experience and resources are unrivalled when it comes to developing young talent. Every single driver that has won a WRC event in the past two years has at one point found themselves behind the wheel of an M-Sport car. In addition to this, M-Sport is more than accustomed to working with young drivers thanks to its involvement with various young driver programmes. Combining its FIA Junior WRC and Fiesta Sport Trophy activities, M-Sport has over a decade of international talent development experience which aligns perfectly with the trajectory of FIA Rally Star.
Malcolm Wilson OBE, M-Sport Managing Director: “Developing young drivers with a clear and concise route from grass-root to top-level rallying has always been at the core of our business, and the FIA Rally Star is perfectly aligned with that goal. We pride ourselves on supporting young drivers and are constantly looking for new and innovative ways of finding the sport’s future stars. There’s never been anything quite like the Rally Star programme, in its scale and ambition, and I’m looking forward to working with the FIA as we search for the next generation of FIA World Rally Champions.”
Maciej Woda, M-Sport Poland Director: “We have been very interested in the FIA Rally Star programme for quite a while now. It is a fantastic initiative that the FIA should be very proud of andreally resonates with M-Sport’s fundamental values. Our ‘Ladder of Opportunity’ mirrors the FIA Rally Car Pyramid now and we are the only manufacturer to have a car available on every tier. The preparation year that selected FIA Rally Star drivers will embark upon will need to be accessible. We could have a driver that has never set foot in a rally car before. We are perfectly placed for this, our range starts with the entry-level Fiesta Rally5 which is great for somebody learning the basics of rallying and finishes with the WRC-level Fiesta Rally1.”
So Lappi out.
what about the rest of the drivers, and who will come in?
Lappi situation from Dirtfish: https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/lappi...21-wrc-season/
He does not want to pay for drive, better stay at home with family.
Rumour has it that Fourmaux steps up to WRCQuote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
I predict a Camilli all over again...Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
This is what happens when you have only two paying teams.. Lappi and Mikelssen on the sidelines and Suninen, Greensmith and Formaux in the hotseats (although Formaux does seem to have some promise)Quote:
Originally Posted by meh
I think Camilli should do better work in that car. Fiesta WRC'17 better car than the Fiesta RS WRC.
yes, today for sure. I meant that Adrien is less experienced now then Camilli was in 2016, and that was a disaster for M-Sport.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Formaux has very little experience on gravel atm. Most of WRC is gravel..
If the team even gets to the line in 2021 they will be in real trouble.
Shame that it has to go to this that b or even c level drivers are there while much better options on the sidelines.
But, it is what it is when the sport is freaking expensive and not doing well at all.
Those that pay.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
The economic situation is still not looking good for m-sport, so don't expect them to fund any driver next year.
Does Jouhki pay for Suninen with his own money? One has to wonder why when there is no prospect of any paid drives coming up and Teemu hasn't exactly shown a lot to deserve one either.
Thatīs true! Itīs no sense for Jouhki to invest anymore, because there is probably no places in any team in the future. The only way is that they have a long term agreement with Wilson and Malcolm is still thinking that he can get his share if someone is interested to hire Suninen...Quote:
Originally Posted by RS
Suninen is certainly not hopeless, and there were drivers at MSport which at some point looked prettty bad and came back - Tanak and Evans. But they were also some that did not like Camilli.Quote:
Originally Posted by rp
Suninen is pretty good. But not winner atleast yet. Though that Ford at this moment is hopeless. Sad to say, as I personally really like Fords but it just isnt that good.
At least Suninen has occasional mojo and speed, consistency comes with time and kilometres.
i feel Lappi is stronger in the psyche than Suninen.
He seems to go down in flames if he makes a small miss.
i basically had a lump in my throat when Lappi was sayin he isnt continuing.
i really really like the guy, such a shame
I felt really sad for him too, I really really like him too, and it just shows how much the sport is having trouble to breathe when you have drivers like him on the sidelines. Sure, it wasn't his best season to date and sure he didn't score a podium, but that Fiesta is well under-developed compared to the other two, although by no fault of their own but there is only so much you can expect from it's drivers, especially with this year being extra tough due to COVID... He did the best he could with the tools he had, he should've had a drive next year but as a lot are finding out this year, these are extremely tough times.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
It's sad that the WRC is once again going through a contraction. It's really important in the future to somehow guarantee more top level cars especially to give more talented people chances to learn. I'm afraid we've witnessed another of those "golden eras" and are now going in a bit of a recession for a few years.
And also he could have been one the best available drivers to develop the new 2022 car :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Eli
How epic would it be if we had 4+ team with 3 paid drivers on all of them + all the hobbyist or drivers willing to take the chance with paying for their seat... I guess man can dream
I hope you're right and it will be 'just' a recession for a few years, the way it looks atm, this particular discipline won't survive until the end of this decade if they don't start getting their act together. This discipline doesn't have the time to muck about, manufacturers won't invest their money in it if they don't see some kind of return, it's as simple as that. I really love rallying and the WRC in spite of all their faults but this year has emphasized just how badly they need to work on them, the future of the WRC depends on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
Yep, sadly there are lots of good drivers and not many seats. The only seat that is really questionable at Toyota and Hyundai is Breen, and that’s only half a seat at best. Now M-Sport have fallen behind in the development, paying for a seat with them is less attractive than previous years, which possibly means people will be more reluctant to do so.Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
Hopefully they can do what they are usually good at and come out of the blocks strong in 2022.
For now I'd even take 3 full teams (imagine M-Sport not having financial woes and having full backing from a Manufacturer) that pay their drivers, of course I would've like to see Lappi next year (or in 2022) but unfortunately reality is harsher than usual this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Essaj
Yeah 3 proper manufacturer backed teams would work as well, but it would still leave some WRC level drivers out and it makes harder for new talent to get a proper chances, that's why I went with 4 teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eli
This is the really big danger for M-Sport.Quote:
Originally Posted by doubled1978
People that have some funding ("own" or sponsors) that are just on the edge of entering WRC and not 100% sure about the talent. (unlike the "certain" stars that win everything)
People like Greensmith, Tidemand (in 2018), Paddon (last year 2x, without starting though) or even better Suninen in 2017.
These are the people that make M-Sport WRC less of a money sink (ever since start of 2017 it is just a money sink). Losing them cause the car is clearly not competitive is a long term problem. And they are doing that right now to Hyundai (Loubet, Veiby).
Also to show that the car is competetive they need at least one fast driver, they kind of had it this year, even with 2 drivers, but the car wasn't there without any testing.
Surely we all know the main reason for this - COVID.
At this point there is actually very little point for MSport to bring a good driver (they doesn't bring money) or to even spend much money developing the current car for last year while Toyota and Hyundai already are far ahead.
They should and likely will put all efforts towards the 2022 car. Which makes one wonder whether they will start as manu team at all. After all it only limits their testing days.
On a slightly more serious note, I hope M-Sport keeps their 2020 livery for next year, with a few refresh touches for the sake of newness. it's my favorite livery of theirs ever.