How will the factory teams look like in 16?
last I have read is;
VW as is
Lefebvre to Citroen
Meeke to Ford
Sordo out and Paddon in at Hyundai
Who if any will start the testing at Gazoo Toyota Team?
will we see any private teams in 16?
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How will the factory teams look like in 16?
last I have read is;
VW as is
Lefebvre to Citroen
Meeke to Ford
Sordo out and Paddon in at Hyundai
Who if any will start the testing at Gazoo Toyota Team?
will we see any private teams in 16?
No way Meeke to Ford, Citroen or nothing to him.
Along with the Citroen guys I think Sordo has to be the works driver under the most pressure right now. He really needs to put it on the podium next week I think.
I'm not sure we'll really see much change next year. Pretty much every contract is up going into 2017 so that is when the big moves will happen, if they do.
Most of movements will depend on Citroen's moves.
If they wll decide to stay in WRC they will find some young talent to make him be ready for next seasons, I don't know with who they will replace their drivers. Maybe Ostberg will stay because of no alternatives. At the end we are talking about the third placed man in overall ranking.
But I'm very curious about Lappi's future. Considering VW lineup will remain the same, will he stay in WRC2 another year waiting for his chance with VW? There will be a solid chance in VW for 2017? Will he resist to other manufacturers offers already for 2016? Maybe from finnish Toyota (but for sure others will make a call)?
we need gigigalli in this thread now... after his inside info for Meeke to VW and Ogier to citroen for 2015 he is a legend now.
Already decided and confirmed by Matton. He also confirmed that driver line-up will be different than this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
Lappi already confirmed himself that he stays in Škoda for 2016. For me it means he already has VW contract for 2017.Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
I think AL14 is referring to whether they stay on in 2017, as Matton has said that this will influence their driver decisions for next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
Ostberg to stay in Citroen and Meeke somewhere else. Citroen needs to keep consistent driver. Maybe Loeb comeback?
As Simmi said I was referring about 2017.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
I was aware of this but you'll never know in these cases... Of course if he has already a signed contract, it's the right move. But in my opinion it would be a good decision even without it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
may be Citroen aren't happy with Meeke atm, if so they would replace him with young talent, but only if they are committed for wrc it makes sense. Ford should be happy with Tanak & Evans. May be we'll see changes only @ HyundaiQuote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
Aha, ok. Anyway I think that Matton gave very strong hint that they are going to stay in WRC by saying that that their marketing studies show that nothing except F1 is even close to WRC in terms of worldwide popularity and that they are disappointed with WTCC.Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
No way Lefebvre as a full works team driver considering his performance this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Citroens main market is France and I believe they would like to see a french guy in "their" team. There is Quentin Gilbert that seem to go really well also, but he'd have to jump the middle step which would be risky. I don't think there is any proven talent for Citroen to take from unless Loeb decides to eat his own words and do a full season, so they'd either have to go with young talent or keep Crash Meeke... in which case I'd go with young talent. Probably same number of crashes but potential whereas Meeke is not impressing anyone but his die hard fans *sigh*. I had such hopes for Meeke... shame.Quote:
Originally Posted by WUff1
If I was wilson I'd be thoroughly disappointed with Evans. He has had two seasons now where he has done absolutely nothing in my opinion to earn a 2016 seat. His best ever results were due to other people crashing and he doesn't have even close to the speed to match the top even with the updated Fiesta. He has problems matching even the pace of Privateers like Kubica and Prokop
Also, I don't expect Sordo to get a full season (if any seat time at all) next year.
Sordo already has a contract for next season (all season long) with HyundaiQuote:
Originally Posted by itix
If both Neuville and Paddon stay, I think we'll see what that contract is worth... ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Eli
Didn't know that... well, like Tommeke_B says, if there is fresh talent snapping at his heels I'm sure there is a buy-out clause somewhere. I'd agree that Paddon will probably be moved to a permanent nominated position next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eli
I'm curious to what Msport will do. My guess is either Meeke or some young talent. If Tidemand or Lappi aren't staying at Skoda I think Msport will probably try to snatch either one of them. I would!
He seemed to be the new Loeb, now I'm afraid he will become the new Chardonnet.Quote:
Originally Posted by WUff1
Let's give him more time, but yes, his start was not impressive.
Evans' pace on tarmac is better than on gravel, but I agree he will need to start showing some more speed now. Germany may be a good opportunity.
Have to admit I'd forgotten about Sordo having a deal in his back pocket.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116608
As others have said it doesn't seem like he's been guaranteed full seasons or anything like that. Out of all the guys they ran in 2014 there weren't exactly many stand-out candidates.
If I had to guess I'd say it will be Thierry and Paddon next year in the works cars and then Dani/Abbring splitting time in the N car?
With Citroen I think Loeb will possibly come back for 2-3 rallies. If they re-commit then I'd expect they'd want Seb to help them with testing the new car.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
I hope loeb is willing to do a full season, if DS decide to continue after 2016 they should run a 3th car for a young talent, alternating whit Khalid.
For Hyundai i also think Sordo And Paddon wil change places, And Sordo will share N car whit Abring.
Msport than, i hope for a change there, but dont think it will happen. Wilson is very Evans minded. Ott, does have pottential but hasen't shown enough speed in my opinion. Tidemand or Meeke would be great.
VW stays the same, in 2017 i also think we will see Latvalla at Toyota, and lappi in the Polo.
I also think latvala might go to Toyota in 2017. With Mäkkinen in charge and base in Finland, he might feel more at home there than in VW. I really do hope Citroen continue past 2016. It would be a big shame losing them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvel
All indications from Matton seem to be that he isn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvel
It wouldn't surprise me to see Loeb end up in Formula E in 2017.
I think Loeb misses WRC but he will not come back because he will lose against Ogier and ruin everything.
Never thought of Formula E. I think it is a very good guess.
Lappi in VW and Latvala to Toyota in 2017 would be good for everyone. Apart from Latvala if Toyota won't be competitive.
Tidemand or Lappi to M-sport with Tänak, yes, but with Evans, no. At the moment for me Tänak and Meeke are the only ones who can trouble the VW's on pure pace but they are also the ones who have the darkest future at the moment, especially Meeke, Tänak not so much.
All in all i think the line-ups will be basically same next year.
Does Tanak bring any money with him at all for that M-Sport drive?
I'm just wondering if it ever does come down to a Meeke vs Tanak situation, whether that will be a consideration?
You are forgetting Kubica on Tarmac (of he could just get the experience he needs) and Paddon on gravel.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
But yeah, largely I agree with you. Meeke is like Kubica, only he has the experience so he has nothing to blame.
After 9 won championships why to make a comeback for a full season? To be beaten by Ogier?! Also is it clever for citroen to be number 2 in WRC when they can be number 1 in WTCC? Also Matton choose drivers as guy who wants to be second...
as far as i know the couple of sponsors what Tänak has got pay his test drives and thats it, He and Raigo dont get any salary from M-sport, confirmed by Raigo couple of a weeks ago in estonian newspaper. Basically they are driving for free.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
But "nobody" knows about their wins in WTCC, just look at the youtube views difference in their WRC and WTCC video's.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
neither Elfyn or Ott get paid. Elfyn also works (long hours) at M-Sport whilst others concentrate on being drivers only.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
That's disgraceful. I find it hard to believe that M-Sport couldn't find the money to pay them something. As long as you aren't paying your drivers, you can't seriously expect to win.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
They're allowed to have their own sponsors to pay their wage.
Not uncommon in motorsport.
That is why, as said in other threads I still hope that Citroen goes away and Abu Dhabi goes back with M-Sport. I know it's pure speculation, maybe fantascentific, but it would be the best scenery for 2017.Quote:
Originally Posted by RAS007
nonsense, absolute nonsense.. Both drivers are 100% full-time proffessional and they will get paid although it's the minimum salary i think like most of the working-people around the world (with some bonus if they get a podium or so). All the expenses like hotel, transport etc. will paid by M-Sport (and the sponsers of the team), the team is in the WRC for almost 20 years now, they know how to run a team.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
But the question is will Tanak and Evans drive faster if they had a salary like €500.000 a year ? Don't think so. Both drivers have something to prove and only the best drivers will get paid in the end, it's like this in most of the sports. Only Hyundai with a lot of money to spend around can afford drivers to pay a good salary, that's why Neuville couldn't resist the offer in the end. Also a normal human thing.
Please be positive that M-Sport (and so Ford) is still in the game, that they have build a very good car and hopefully they will be there also on 2017 with the new regulations. The only thing i blame Malcolm Wilson is his choice of topdrivers (not all) and support drivers (specially in the Stobbart time).
What I meant to say was they get a small salary, normal wage not superstar driver wages.Quote:
Originally Posted by jacko
LOL He maybe was right in some way. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120338Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
"Capito defended Kris Meeke after recent criticism from his Citroen squad, and says he would be first choice for a fourth VW seat."
Nice words from Capito. Not sure how much it helps Meeke mind you. Hopefully Kris still has a seat somewhere next year when VW stick Lappi in that fourth Polo ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
Capito is laughable.
Oops... I was 7 minutes late in the news thread hahahha. My bad!Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
I really don't get Capito. Meeke crash something like twice the amount of Latvala... sure VW has deep pockets but 150 000 euro PLUS a 50% chance for a rebuild of a 500 000 euro car every event is probably too much even for VW.
Citroen that has probably lost all of its good sponsorship deals after Loeb wen't AWOL certainly can't afford it. I am not impressed with Meeke's recent run of form! I completely get Matton
Aside from whether Matton is right or not, their strategy of publically putting pressure on their drivers is quite strange. They've done so for some years in a row now.
Is that some kind of French 'thing?' Maybe Ostberg and Meeke can go on a strike as response then.