Other than the paragraph..
You talked about the fact that after next year your plan has always been to retire, when you see out your contract.
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That's actually not what it says. 'When you see out your contract'... where did you get that bit from? He doesn't say anything about seeing out his contract, just responds to a question when the interviewer says it has been renewed.
edit: also note Ogier's response to the question about grooming Lappi.... He doesn't answer the question that was asked.
Latvala said he will do at least one rally next year if left without a seat
https://twitter.com/rallitfi/status/...772500481?s=21
My guess at the moment
Hyundai
#1 Tänak
#11 Neuville
#19 Loeb
#6 Sordo
#42 Breen (maybe 4th car on some rounds but mostly R5 development)
Toyota
#33 Evans
#5 Meeke
#10 Latvala
# Rovanpera (not doing a full season)
#17 Katsuta (not doing a full season)
Citroen
#9 Ogier
#4 Lappi
# Ostberg, #89 Mikkelsen (part time season if one of them gets chosen)
M-sport
#3 Suninen
#44 Greensmith
# 89 Mikkelsen, Ostberg (with m-sport they may do full season, depends on budget)
Hmmm, I seem to remember it being reported somewhere that a shared car isn't the prefered method, but it was successful for Hyundai in 2019. I wonder if Meeke and JML would agree to a system like that?
I can't see Kris agreeing, somehow, but food for thought.
I think TGR should take both Evans and Mikkelsen.
Breen, Paddon and maybe Østberg also are not bad choices either but those 2 have better "records" lately.
Mäkinen interview to rallit.fi: "I would like to see a Finn racing in our team"
Paddon to 1News: "It was probably my last WRC rally"
Suninen to Toyota? The fact that he's managed by Jouhki who has deep ties with TGR makes this all the more reasonable. Should Toyota snag either Evans or Suninen or both, there will be a gap to fill at M-Sport and why not Paddon?
I only now realized Sordo has a contract for seven rallies and Loeb for six rallies. Season has 14...