Why not Breen to Toyota if Lappi leaves? A swop. And both happy?
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Why not Breen to Toyota if Lappi leaves? A swop. And both happy?
will you say the same of ogier doesnt master the c3?Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Maybe the thinking would be that with the Tanak & Latvala that they could afford a "maverick" in the 3rd car that could bring a few wins, even if he does stack it a few times also. If, and its a big if, he could win a few events they might see that as someone stopping a Neuville or Ogier winning that particular rally, and thus a help to Tanak towards Championship.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
The question is if that would actually be better for manu champ and worse for driver. Bad for driver championship because there would be no telling when he would charge for win. And it's quite sure he won't settle for 2-3rd or react well to team orders.
But for manu + PR it could be good.
I agree with most of that, but I'm not sure about the team orders bit. Toyota hold all the cards as Meeke has nothing else it would seem, so a Number 2/3 contract with them, and a chance to win a few events is better than where he is now.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
maybe he has more options than toyota.. its just tommy has spoken. eg.. if ogier leaves.. ford are in more need of a driver than toyota.Quote:
Originally Posted by doubled1978
As Citroen are the only team running just two full time drivers, and if we are to presume they want that to change next year then it's a pretty good market right now if you're a driver.
This might create opportunities for the likes of Meeke and Tidemand (who i doubt will stick with Skoda if they are not coming with a WRC in 2020)
I think the silly season depends on Ogier, once he decides the rest of the pieces can fall into place. After Ogier at the moment Toyota is probably the most wanted team so they can choose whoever they want, unless Citroen starts to throw some money around. With Neuville signed Hyundai can stay calm and wait to choose a 3rd driver.
If he stays at MSport then Citroen will probably push to get Lappi. So Toyota will need to replace him with someone like Suninen or Breen, maybe Paddon. That could free up a space for Meeke or Tidemand.
If he goes to Citroen then Toyota probably stays as is and MSport need a driver, could be Ostberg if they go to money saving mode.
A bit more aggressive for Citroen would be to get both Ogier and Lappi so that would be a mix of both other situations, but I doubt they will do it, but it would be a good shake up of the team. Also keep Breen and that would be a very strong team.
we'll see
Anyone heard of any secret tests happening in a Yaris over the past month?
I`m sure that Ogier`s one demand is having at least one wingman. Breen isn`t up to it yet.
Maybe he has, but we haven't heard anything about that...I suppose in theory, he could be the 3rd driver at Hyundai also.Quote:
Originally Posted by wrc2017
I think M-Sport would just take a season off chasing titles.Quote:
Originally Posted by wrc2017
Or two or three...with paying drivers it is not so important.
Yes, we've gone around in circles here...Quote:
Originally Posted by OnlyRally
more moves in the driver market im hearing this morning...Quote:
Originally Posted by tomhlord
that post would be better if you gave us a clue.Quote:
Originally Posted by wrc2017
Hyundai: Neuville, Paddon, Mikkelsen
M-Sport: Evans, Meeke, Suninen
Toyota: Tanak, Lappi, Latvala
Citroen: Ogier, Sordo, Breen/Ostberg
With this theory, instead of two backup drivers, Ogier will now have three.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivo
What's with all these partners who sign with WRC one after another? Or is that happening all the time and media just novadays publish all that is related to it.
Ogier is key, yes.
But Toyota for sure want´s Lappi answer very soon. They have no reason to wait Ogier´s decision...
Lappi just can´t say "Hey Tommi I will drive Toyota if I don´t get 1st Citroen seat"
Tommi doesn´t say "we will keep seat open for Lappi until Ogier makes his decision"
Fair point, but what about this ‘à la Hyundai’ alternative: Latvala and Meeke sharing a car? Like Sordo, their title dreams are long gone and they could have a more relaxed approach to events (Meeke ’16 half season went quite well). On the 3rd Yaris Makinen could get Hanninen back or invest in a young guy, like many suggested. Anyway, it’s quite a surprise to see this turbulence at Toyota; they seemed pretty balanced.Quote:
Originally Posted by pantealex
Not quite sure if I'd call it balanced. Tanak is dominating while the two others struggle.
Latvala and Lappi have not led a rally for even a single stage after 10 rounds, with what often looks like the fastest car, that's actually quite amazing. The only rallies where one of them got podium on pure pace was Latvala in Finland (a rally where he dominated last year until technical issue), Monte is hard to count with 3 cars ahead of him hitting issues. Lappi has been complaining now on last 2 gravel rallies about gearbox not shifting down and stalling the engine and repeated it also happens on tests.
Might be that the changes introduced after Tanak came don't really suit them that much, Latvala even voiced something along those lines recently.
Promoter is doing their job well.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
* More sponsors
* Evolving calendar
* Increasing global television coverage
* Development of WRC All Live
What turbulance? So far everything I've seen is fiction created by media or fans.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Power
This is a good point. But let's say, hypothetically, Lappi moves to Citroen and so does Ogier, he'll never be allowed to win a rally again.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Well media wants to sell/get clicks and fans like to speculate, so off course there is a lot of that.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkka
Let's just list the facts:
- Neither Latvala nor Lappi have been announced as signed for Toyota next year and it's becoming relatively late in the usual signing season. If it was straightforward they would have announced them already, there is no reason to hold back on announcing it since they are in the same team.
- Latvala said he knows there will be changes in the teams and that he has contract for next year, but wouldn't say for which team. Again if it was 100% sure it was Toyota it would be strange not to announce it. Either it's somewhere else or there are multiple offers.
I think we’ll be a lot wiser next week
Latvala saying "there will be changes"? In Toyota or overall? Ogier to Citroen for example is a change or 1 departure from Hyundai.
Neuville is only one announced as signed, does that mean everyone else (driver/team) are in turbulance?Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Toyota is factory team from Japan, those Japanise decide when they announce their drivers. Previus years they had press conference where they introduced all 3 drivers same time.
Fact is that Latvala has deal for all rallies, so not sharing car with "Meeke"
I`m personally 100% sure that JML has signed with TGR. Lappi situation is bit open...
Possible but it´s also possible that some news comes only after Catalonia...Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
so it could be long wait.
Neither has anyone else except Tanak and Neuville. When Ogier makes his move, rest of the pieces will fall in. Until then, every driver and every team are preparing multiple solutions to as many possible permutations as they possibly can. And that is the only fact, even Latvala's generic there'll be changes is just statement of affairs in general, I believe.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Mikkelsen also has a deal for next year at Hyundai.
Latvala and Suninen are confirmed to drive full seasons next year.
Rovanperä is confirmed to stay at Skoda.
Yep, lot’s of fiction and rumours, as usual on a silly season; but if Latvala already has a contract whoudn't it be simple having Makinen announce it? And Lappi situation doesn't seem to be just a rumour; even Makinen revealed it wasn’t granted he would continue. That’s why it makes sense to talk about turbulence; especially once everyone was expecting Toyota would easily keep the current line-up.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkka
Maybe they just realise they can get much more publicity mileage by leaving people guessing for longer even if it is already decided.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Power
and there is still plenty of time before the end of year for someone to slip in the shower or have a mountain bike accident to alter plans( not that I wish ill fortune to happen to anyone)
These contracts are complicated and probably Toyota for example wants to announce the whole lineup at once, thus Latvala’s contract would be hidden now
Exactly. And I'm pretty sure Tommi has no say regarding when the line-up will be announced. Toyota is such a massive corporation that most likely the timing of every single press release / public announcement is managed more or less centrally by HQ.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
The only question currently for Toyota is Lappi. Apparently when Toyota guys went to TMG in Germany, Lappi went to have talks with Citroen. Tommi is aware of this and they are now playing the same game as Lappi.
Lappi wants more money (as would anyone else in his position) and Toyota is playing hardball as well by being open about speaking to Meeke or bringing in Huttunen. I think Lappi has put the team in a difficult position since he actually is a good choice overall if you ask me...
Do you think it's Toyota playing hardball here? Its really hard, neigh impossible, to think that Toyota would consider seriously to bring Huttunen in, and Lappi would know that. Tommi may want Meeke but do Toyota want him?Quote:
Originally Posted by racerx1979
Who knows what is really happening behind the scenes but we do know that what we see in public is only what we are intended to see.
Lappi is a great choice for Toyota and Toyota is a great choice for Lappi. The team is based in his home country and Toyota obviously have a passion for rallying. It seems a bit wide of the mark to think Lappi would move to Citroen purely for money.
He went home because his second child had been just born.Quote:
Originally Posted by racerx1979
But still, I believe he’s out of the team.