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M-Sport has held back engine and aero parts it has ready to save money until 2021. This season was a write-off with nothing to fight for by the last few rallies.
Their 2021 car with these new parts will be a much better one. I hope the well-backed Mikkelsen & O.Solberg will take a chance on it.
I don't see this happening. They will both stay in WRC2/3 and look at Rally1 seats for 2022Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Any chance of Fourmaux with help from the FFSA ?
I don't think Mikkelsen would be happy to pay for his drive. However, I can see Solberg happen. Malcolm could use Monsters Energy good relationship with Ford (via gymkhana man) to get him a seat. I would put the team as Suninen, Solberg with Gus and Formaux dividing the third car (mainly tarmac for Formaux).Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
It makes sense to me, but Malcolm has had years to capitalise on the possible Monster link and has failed to do so. It'd be interesting to know if they've ever made much effort to make that link up.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFlyingTuga
I know there are many who don't agree, but I think Oliver has less to lose in RC1 than RC2 and potentially more to gain. He can use the year to adapt to the more powerful car. If he underperforms, he can blame it on the car. While I imagine he'll do very well in RC2 next year, if he doesn't it could somewhat damage his reputation. The best reason to stay in RC2 would be to learn the rallies at a slower pace. At the end of the day, he's never even done the likes of Rally Finland once...
How much space on car, suit and helmet will be given to the drivers to bring in own sponsors. I think Malcolm need to give them slack to get seats filled in 21.
Solberg confirmed he is staying in an R5 car:Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFlyingTuga
https://twitter.com/OliverSolberg01/...446672897?s=20
Doing WRC2/3 again seems a bit tame for Mikkelsen. The WRC Fiesta has to be better than the rumoured resurected C3 WRC. He surely has to show his ability at the top level again if he ever wants another factory seat (with Toyota after Ogier).
Not so sure. M-Sport will introduce this years upgrades (most of them atleast) next season i believe? Same applies to the C3: they said that this car is going to be a different beast. Who knows, they aren`t i20/ Yaris, but there is a possibility that Pirelli pays for that C3, atleast a bit.
I agree with you, I don’t think Solberg would have any issue with the RC1 car, his lack of experience of the events is his learning curve.Quote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
Solberg tweet deleted, what did it say?
Basically asked what he'll be doing next year by Colin Clark (in a video), talked a bit about learning rallies, said amongst other things, iirc, "for sure in a R5".Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Happy to be corrected though.
No testing again for Msport this week.
Toyota and Hyundai both starting their Monte preparations with Pirelli's new rubber.
No point of testing if the 2021 drivers line-up is not decided yet..
Maybe so. Although I don't believe that they are as unaware of next seasons line up as they've let on.
I'm pretty sure Suninen will be there, and Msport will have a little idea by now if Fourmaux/Greensmith could stump up some more cash or not. They have been in that part of the world following rally Monza, and I think putting anyone in the car would be a benefit to start fully testing their new upgrades that keep getting postponed..., and also to collect data about the new Pirelli rubber.
They have experience when Ogier was there of bringing big aero updates that didn't work, and that was after lots of testing. Can't expect to just bolt these new parts on and expect everything to go smoothly if there's been little-to-no testing.
Testing costs money and that's very tight at M-Sport.
I'm pretty sure the engine and aero will be tested well-enough in development and will improve the car when fitted. Tests for the drivers can wait.
Why you are sure? Why you think his situation is different from Lappi? Why you think he want or can pay for his drive?Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
Cause he or sponsors have been paying at start at MSport and likely also did it in 2020 and he is managed by Jouhki who basically introduced the whole concept of "paying to get WRC drive" to top teams and has a long history of drivers that did that under him. (starting with Hirvonen 2004)Quote:
Originally Posted by meh
On the other hand Lappi has been payed to some level by Citroen ("rumors" say) since he had 2 year deal and they pulled at end 2019 and is manged by EVEN (Veiby) who was known has very much against paying to drive. (kinda funny at with his son driving at Monza though)
I know this sounds a bit crazy, but would JML do services for MSport if he got all for free, but no salary?
Perhaps he would. But no car will drive at m-sport unless the drivers brings the money to pay for almost all of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
He still has a marketing job at Toyota and wants to keep loyal to themQuote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Let's put a Gurney flap... EVERYWHERE!
Anyway interesting find, either they ran out of "old" fronts or they were persuaded by Suninen & his team to use it.
Is anybody else worried that we might not see a full M-Sport RC1 team program in 2021? Lappi isn't paying. FFSA aren't interested in Rally1 yet. Mr Jouhki probably won't be able to see a return on funding Suninen again. What options remain? Gus' dad paying for a full season? Even just theoretically, who else? The only reasonable option would seem to be the speculation about Orlen/Lotos funding a seat for Kubica and Katjo, but all seems to be quiet on that front, so maybe there was nothing to that either? Running the team out of Poland might become advantageous with Brexit...
Maybe the time has come where Malcolm will go through with his threat of many years and pull the plug on the WRC/Rally1 program? Concentrating on a proper Rally2 program, with professional drivers, more PET and a more comprehensive development program, might actually make far more sense for M-Sport as a business, selling rally cars.
Compared to previous years, this year I have not noticed talks with tone "We don't have enough support from Ford so we are not sure to continue at all". Economically they seem to have hard times, but what is actually going on, probably only insiders know or can assume.
Yes. Why would they pay 200K entry fee to WRC when everyone knows that will be last in Manu Champ ?Quote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
FIA just canīt ban Fiesta WRC use for privateers, because we need all possible WRC starters.
Taking part in the championship also means they need to take part in all rallies with two cars. If they have only Greensmith and maybe some other paying for events here and there, it makes more sense to do them outside the championship. But it would be interesting to see how the cars would be shown on TV or seeded in the starting order etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
If some one remember Davidas Jocius He was intresting on paying to M-Sport for seat last season but covid-19 make sense to stop it in next round. Some people saying that might 2021 season he might drive half seson if he got deal with sponsors (but is on rumours).
Yeah, he actually got to drive only Monte. He canceled Sweden at last minute because a storm canceled his flight from France to SwedenQuote:
Originally Posted by bwallace
From what Gerard Quinn says, Ford backing for M-Sport has remained pretty substantial. They have always assisted in the development of the improved engine and aero via Ford Performance.
It seems it is M-Sport's own (2020 Covid-affected) finances which are the main problem. Plus the lack of a big sponsorship partner.
2021 WRC entry is a big worry, but if anyone can find a way its Malcolm Wilson.
What is pretty substantial? If it was, they could afford testing, top drivers, etc
Conclusion: Ford don't think the WRC is worth it financially.
Or Gerard Quinn doesn't actually know as he no longer works at Ford - and you can be sure Ford is in no hurry to tell him their plans!Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
It's a different thing to fund running of the team than helping developing the aero and engine, which can be updated only a few times a year (or not, if the team cannot afford to put the new parts in use)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
That would be horrible for the sport. Honestly I can not see any new teams joining, sport really needs to change up to be cheaper. If it just goes to two team battle might be crushing for the sport. Atleast 09-11 had loads of privateers. Now there is not many at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
The current Fiesta WRC development was payed in interity by Ford.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
Malcolm wishes it was..........Quote:
Originally Posted by Francis44
That's 3-4 years ago. What about now?Quote:
Originally Posted by Francis44
The main thing is the driver. Works team pay for the drive and hire who wants... not who pay to drive.
One thing that cause me some surprise is the inability to get a big sponsor to the car.
It shouldn't be a surprise though........The sport isn't visible enough for sponsors. Far easier to sponsor a football team/ tournament....Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
But has M-Sport even had "smaller" sponsorships?Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
Really?! Last time I checked there are several sponsors on the other teams's cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
Just to name a few: Microsoft, DMG Mori, Panasonic, Hanon, Shell.