i think moncet is very far from being team neuville...
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Hyundai reviewing 2023 WRC driver line-up as Tanak speculation grows
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/...rows/10368786/
Maybe Mikkelsen next year again with the top Hyundai WRC car? Except his mishap at the SS1 EKO SSS Olympic Stadium, there is not much to complain about his very consistent performance this year in WRC2
Mikkelsen's Rally1 career is all but dead, but stranger things have happened...
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This is perhaps a more interesting question. If Tanak goes to MSport, who will replace him? To add fuel to the fire if I'm not mistaken Neuville is friends with Mikkelsen.
As long as he is both the fastest and most consistent of those who are not driving Rally1 at the moment he could.
There is a limit to how many "future talents" you can have in a team at the same time. MSport is over that limit with current lineup, Hyundai kind of balancing on the edge.
In the extreme if Sordo retires and Tanak goes to MSport (I doubt both will happen) it's not like Hyundai will drive with Neuville and Solberg only. Suninen is clearly worse option than Mikkelsen, not better speed, worse reliability.
Well, he isn't the fastest and most consistent outside of Rally1, really. At the very least, he seems to think he's faster and more consistent than he really is.
What's for sure, is that there's a lack of both a clear-cut future talent ready for Rally1, and a solid, no-brainer former driver worth paying for.
Indeed the list is a bit weak. Former WRC drivers who are active or semi active are Mikkelsen, Ostberg, Suninen, Lefebvre, Camilli, Meeke, Paddon... If you add top 3 championship positions from WRC2 and WRC3 from the last three years it's Hutunen, Tidemand, Kajetanowicz, Guerra, Bulacia, Rossel, Lindholm. Some are in both lists but didn't name them twice.
Of those Mikkelsen seems like he would be the best number 2 for Neuville, maybe Suninen if you want to promote from within, Bulacia, Rossel or Lindholm if you want to take a risk on a fresh face but Solberg is already there as a youngster.
The point is, drivers like Mikkelsen and Ostberg sadly are already done. They were pretty good, but not number 1 driver material. Suninen still has a chance, but time is ticking fast. Lefebvre, Camilli, Tidemand no way. Meeke too old sadly, Paddon already done because so long out of the game.
They would be better trying someone like Huttunen, Lindholm or other "new talent". It might go horribly wrong but atleast there is a chance to win something there.