I would assume there's no great change to the relationship between Ford and M-Sport then, but time will tell. Here's hoping Red Bull give them a boost to level them up with the other two manufacturer teams, it's within their power...
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I would assume there's no great change to the relationship between Ford and M-Sport then, but time will tell. Here's hoping Red Bull give them a boost to level them up with the other two manufacturer teams, it's within their power...
Here the tarmac expert:
Loeb open to driving for M-Sport in the WRC
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/loeb-...rt-in-the-wrc/
Next year maybe, not for 2021 Rally Croatia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Great to see RB sponsoring a Fiesta again.
Fourmaux's WRC debut Ogier-like says Millener :
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/mille...er-in-croatia/
Obviously the huge difference was that Ogier's debut was on gravel, the most common surface in WRC. (Ogier was also known as very good gravel driver early on).
They should work on that. Could be in WRC car for that matter if they have money for it. But better 2-3 gravel rallies in Rally2 than one in WRC imo.
The comparison wasnt with Ogier's own WRC debut:
"It’s been a very impressive debut, and you can certainly see a resemblance to Ogier in the way he conducts himself".
I noticed Greensmith’s car doesn’t have Crown Oil stickers on it anymore (nor did Fourmaux’s car have Yacco stickers, but then he has got Red Bull backing now), probably shows how much atttention I was paying to Rallye Monte Carlo and Arctic Rally...
I thought Crown Oil is his dad’s company and was basically where his funding was coming from? Does anyone know what’s changed since last season?
Maybe it's because he is driving in the "main" team and that one has Castrol stickers as part of a sponsor deal for the whole team?
Yeah makes sense, also possibly explains why Fourmaux’s car didn’t have the Yacco stickers too if Castrol wanted exclusive presence on the World Rally cars this year
Castrol are sole suppliers to Ford for production cars, so Ford may be the driving force behind the M-Sport/Castrol tie-up.
It'll be cheaper for GG not to have his family firm pay for sponsorship on the car. They will already be paying a lot just for his drive for a full season.
cause otherwise he wouldnt have a drive at all
And fans would have one less WRC car to enjoy.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Just north of Barcelona, Wilson pulled on his M-Sport Ford overalls and ran a hybrid Rally1 car in anger for the very first time. Nobody else has done that. Until now, the 2022 test car has run with ballast in place of the battery. But now the Compact Dynamics supplied motors and Kreisel batteries are all aboard working a treat.
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/insid...lly1-car-test/
Lappi says he's the clear choice for 2022...
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/lappi...-for-2022-seat
A bit of a clickbait title. In the article he actually says:
Quote:
"I’m not saying that I’m the man to win, but I feel like I’m one of the best choices for what is available.”
Anyway there are two things that might work against him
1. As mentioned in the article he drove for MSport last year so they know what to expect.
He is not driving with them in any form this year and is instead paying WRC2 drives at a different team. Hard to say if that means anything.
2. He does not have many good results on tarmac.
He did finish 3rd in Germany 2018, but that was after Latvala and Sordo retired on last day. He does have some good stage times, but doesn't seem to be able to connect them.
So if he wants to increase his chances he definitely should drive some tarmac round (Ypres or Spain).
=============================
Dirtfish speculates that MSport could stick with
Suninen, Fourmaux and Greensmith next year.....
sorry but a lineup of Lappi, Mikkelsen, Fourmaux and Greensmith paying own starts sounds so much better. I'd guess MSport could afford both Lappi and Mikkelsen for the price of Tanak or Ogier.
I hope Ogier will rejoin M-Sport for the following season. It would be great, if he would do a partial season with them.
If he continues like that, I'm quite sure he will do full season next year.. in ToyotaQuote:
Originally Posted by trykmann
It would be great, but unfortunately will not happen, because he is dreaming to drive Le Mans and it´s also possible with Toyota...Quote:
Originally Posted by trykmann
I agree, if they could put that line up together, you would expect if the car is competitive that they would get good results.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Is Mikkelsen still Red Bull? With Fourmaux it could be a good angle..
Mikkelsen has Red Bull as a personal sponsor (recently got new helmet as well), no idea how big.
I am also not so sure how clean cut it is between Lappi and Suninen. At Monte and Sweden last year Lappi was much faster, but then starting from Mexico Sunninen was faster in all rallies until Monza (Mexico, Estonia, Turkey and Sardinia), typically with a bit better start position. In Monza Suninen got technical issues immediatelly so it wasn't possible to compare.
Now in Portugal they had same speed on Friday, then on Saturday Lappi pulled away, but they weren't in same car.
But for Suninen at this point, I would say it's a disadvantage that all he ever drove in WRC and partly also in R5 is a Fiesta.
If they are able to pay for a driver then Lappi is probably the one to go for in 2022, given those who are realistically available. He also has good experience in many teams to help develop the new car.
The top guys are either in contract or retiring and others like Breen very closely associated another team.
Suninen and Mikkelsen can bring some budget, plus Greensmith maybe can do another year of full payment.
Autosport:
Matton has reiterated that Ford is putting more focus on the WRC and is heavily involved in the development of M-Sport’s 2022 Rally1 car.
“From what I know Ford is deeply involved in the development of the new car and we have a Ford representative in the different working groups, so it shows they are really interested by this new car and the next generation of cars,”
Matton replied, when quizzed if the new rules could entice Ford to become a full WRC manufacturer again.
“They will be very close to M-Sport in the future.”
1999 Focus WRC compared to 2021 Fiesta Rally2:
https://youtu.be/H3H0KKsdKGU
Wide-ranging Rich Millener interview, incl. Safari, Rally 1 car, Covid, costs & Estonia.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4EX...FQ&dl_branch=1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Without proper drivers, full back means nothing.
Which 'proper drivers' are available ? Toyota and Hyundai have them all under contract.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Well.... Mikkelsen?
Lappi and Mikkelsen are both WRC event winners and multiple podium scorers and are "active" (unlike say Meeke and partly Paddon). (The WRC part is important cause some drivers just don't adapt to the change to WRC well (Tidemand latest example)). So just picking someone good in Rally2 doesn't automatically mean he will do well in WRC.
If they are in a competitive car there is no reason they shouldn't be able to fight for podiums on most rallies. I'd say they are both roughly comparable to Evans and have proven so when in similar cars in the recent past.
It is easy to notice how Evans results changed when he moved to Toyota in 2020.
However, neither Lappi nor Mikkelsen are proven "top class" drivers like the WRC champions Ogier and Tanak, or Neuville who has many more event wins.
Evans kinda upgraded to this topclass after he moved to Toyota.
It is totally possible that some new drivers like Rovanpera, Solberg or Fourmaux will get to that top class level at some point. But right now not even Rovanpera can show results similar to Lappi or Mikkelsen (he has 2 podiums in 14 starts). Fourmaux and Solberg are another step down.
But in rally as in other sports, drivers often get hired due to "future potential", rather then "decent results" that you would expect from "old" drivers like Lappi and Mikkelsen.
I'd say a good team needs both "future potential" and older experienced drivers, but Malcolm has often picked just the new guys. Sometimes it turned out well relatively fast (Martin), sometimes it took long time and a few demotions from WRC (Tanak, Evans), sometimes it went bad one way or another (Duval, Camilli, could also rank Gardemeister and Kresta here).
Millener says in this interview that he wouldnt mind if Fourmaux , Greensmith and Suninen is their line-up for 2022. He thinks they are becoming more and more competitive (setting some good times in recent events) and would be capable in their Rally1 car which is expected to be the fastest at the start of the new era.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Exactly. They lost the momentum (Hyundai ones renewed).Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Uh ohQuote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
I’m not sure how we have got to Msport being expected to have the fastest car at the start of next year. I think everyone acknowledges they do a great job at the start of new regulation cycles, but with the resources available elsewhere I’d be amazed if they have the flat out fastest car. I’m sure they will be more competitive than the current car is today, but if it was my money I’d be putting it on Toyota having the fastest car come the start of next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Hmm, with the greatest of respect, that doesn't fill me with massive hope/confidence. I doubt Toyota or Hyundai are worried about them come next year. No winners - some flashes of speed but lots of inconsistency.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
No matter how great the new Fiesta will be, if M-Sport lineup will be Suninen, Greensmith and Fourmaux, they have no chance. They will be last in every rally, just like this year.
And Ford will not like this. They want to promote the hybrid and finishing always last, it is not the best promotion.
I only see one way out, or hire Neuville from Hyundai (his position looks fragile) or pick the best unemployed -> Meeke. Second alternative is Mikkelsen or Paddon.
They could easily avoid that situation.Quote:
Originally Posted by bomber21