WRC drivers as personalities
While waiting Monte to start, what you think about the current WRC drivers as characters? Are they interesting to follow and hear what they have to say? I had some extra time to wrote my current feelings on below. This is of course very subjective matter, so don't take any hard feelings from these opinions, but hopefully this will create some discussion :)
Driver character rating +++
Tanak, the current golden god of rallying. Has courage for sharp comments and big promises and has balls and skills to even surpass the expectations in stages after that. He is crazy fast but still on road while not in the air. Reminds me about Maximum Attack on his best days. Tanak is an example of how successful rally driver can behave and what kind of (inter)national fan movement they can create. Yet he keeps some shield on every now and then. Could team with Martin, who is alike.
Loeb, when his domination made WRC became close to destruction he was a much hated, now everyone loves Loeb’s rockstar like rough charisma, wants to see him back and back winning. Old super stars who have courage to comeback are the extremely popular, also because often being more funny, relaxed and honest, being more real person than in younger. Still Loeb shows his raw speed in stages. Danos is currently maybe the most interesting character to follow in WRC, he would have huge marketing potential.
Neuville, has more spice than many of the “basic driver products” both on and off the stage. Clearly he is not feeling that he has to behave certain way, but instead he is showing character, emotions bold comments and cat like skills from whole range. He is always on hunt which makes him liked. Neuville is showing that being serious in WRC title chase doesn’t meant that you have to be boring and predictable.
Gronholm, a bit same category as Loeb. Gronholm is known of being impulsive and giving sharp comments, untypical Finn, a bit Alen like. Everyone wants to see the duel of Loeb and Gronholm and these are the unique opportunities in WRC history that WRC+ should catch and document. What a pity that we are missing the Mr. Hollywood from this party.
Bertelli and Block. Guest stars with different fan following. Important characters for WRC also as a business. Often spectacular on and off the stages and they know, they are there to make the show, having fun and enjoying, still to be fast. They can be what they want and they don’t have to behave correctly dull in front of media just to follow some brand guidelines in comments. WRC needs more of free artists like them.
Ostberg, together with his codriver Torstein, they are interesting persons to follow. Mads seems to be very approachable, open and honest character with interesting continuous struggle to establish himself in WRC with respect. Known and liked for very spectacular old school driving style and funny commenting. Add just H.Solberg to this soup and they are even more “media-friendly” for real.
Latvala. Twisted character mainly known for driving mistakes and nervous breakdowns desperately hunting for some success and respect. Used to keep so strong shield that interviews started to be weirdly fun to follow. Has dumped the mental mentors and new girlfriend has encouraged to express his true feelings in last season? Rumour says he wants to adapt Tanak’s setup style in this year. Anyway, true rally fun himself.
Driver character rating ++
Meeke, unique combination in many ways. Character that has technical & analytical mode, outspoken mode, “basic driver product” mode, crazy driving mode, etc. As being sometimes unpredictable on and off the stage, he could be interesting to follow, but often drops just to “media-mode”. Probably will be more relaxed in this year if feels welcome in Toyota.
Lappi. Use to be very fun and fast in the past. Now he has turned to Gardemeisterish soft, sometimes patheticly unambitious , always whining and having poor performances on stages > No guts no glory! Of course in itself this change has made him as more interesting person compared to many others. And combined that his co-driver Ferm is one of the most funny characters in the series, WRC should follow more of Janne instead.
Al Qassimi and Serderidis. As Bertelli and Block, it is always interesting for followers to see different guest stars on events that present untypical background for WRC driver compared to “basic driver product”. These type of drivers are often very honest, approachable, fun and real as not having any shield on. Naturally it would be interesting to see more Lara Vanneste.
Ogier, used to be more of a dull “basic driver product” but has raised his character rating in past years. Known for continuous whining and super fast but consistent driving. Has started to collect more respect and sympathies from fans all over after changing to M-Sport and continuing with Citroen. Has opened up himself as a person, but is still not as colourful as some of the drivers. Plus points from interesting wife.
Breen. Might be more interesting character than drivers listed below as being more open, honest and unpredictable in stages. It is easy to detect the mood changes from Breen often not keeping the shield on.
Driver character rating +
Mikkelsen, Tidemand, Paddon, Evans. Would rate this group as a “basic driver products” that whose characters present restrained predictable neutral WRC driver. It could be called professionalism in some barometer, but does it really give much to people following rallying or potential sponsors? Is the sponsorship value counted on how quickly you put your RB cap on after stage and how correct comments you give or what you would really like to say or nothing at all? Mikkelsen’s difference to others in this group is that he is always smiling, wears full face helmet and his performance on stage varies more. There is certainly nothing wrong in this (or any) group, since they are what they are, great drivers indeed.
Driver character rating -
Suninen, what can you say about driver who always looks statically unhappy and whose input is mainly “I need to improve my driving” x number of driven SS on 2018. Well, at least that is being honest. Of course someone could interpret his static commenting and behaving as an interesting character as well.
Often co-drivers are more interesting characters to follow that drivers, since co-driver can be and behave more real on and off the events and social media.
