[WRC] News & rumours (part II)

[jacko]

Is he driving instead of Henning? Lack of budget?

It's said he's driving in the green/white colors of Stobart, nothing news in the press release about Henning so far. But looking the results so far it could be that Expert & co said; the tarmac rounds could be skipped over...
A pitty that Ford (or Expert sponsor) didn't take Duval for tarmac Bulgary rally (and maybe the other tarmac rally also).

[Barreis]

A pitty that Ford (or Expert sponsor) didn't take Duval for tarmac Bulgary rally (and maybe the other tarmac rally also).

I agree..

[Barreis]

Just saw in UK's EVO interview with Quesnel where he says that Mini's in WRC in 2011 and Shirocco in 2012..

[Tomi]

A pitty that Ford (or Expert sponsor) didn't take Duval for tarmac Bulgary rally (and maybe the other tarmac rally also).

Why did they not, what was their reason, did Duval explaine why not?

[jacko]

Why did they not, what was their reason, did Duval explaine why not?

I do understand your question, the true reason we will never know.
Duval did a superb role back in 2008 on the tarmac rounds for Ford and with 4 comming tarmac rounds it made sense to use him again.
Ford's situation at the moment is really pathetic, Hirvonen has lost it or i think he never had it, not a champion-driver for sure, Latvala.. well that's really sad.. sleeping on the first stage as he said and then the crash (again). I hope that to take PG in the line-up for next year there will be more competition against Citroen but it seems that Mr.Wilson doesn't see the poor results from the last years.
And one other note why i think Duval was the man for the job: PG said by himself that he doesn't like tarmac in the first place...

[maxter]

If they wanted a tarmac specialist to score maximum points then they would of course use somebody else, but for now they probably just want to give PG a chance in a real event and since Henning seems to willingly sit Bulgaria out then that's an opportunity, regardless of surface. They should still get a general idea of what to expect from him and that's probably more important (especially since it's for Stobart and not the works team). Well that's what I think.

[jacko]

If they wanted a tarmac specialist to score maximum points then they would of course use somebody else, but for now they probably just want to give PG a chance in a real event and since Henning seems to willingly sit Bulgaria out then that's an opportunity, regardless of surface. They should still get a general idea of what to expect from him and that's probably more important (especially since it's for Stobart and not the works team). Well that's what I think.

I think Ford will have always want the maximum points, Latvala, specially after Portugal could be transferred for some rounds to Stobart and Duval get his seat. Maybe there was contact between Wilson Sr. and Duval, we will never know. What i do know is that PG is a better option for the rest of the season than Henning Solberg. He might be unlucky but he has no speed in general. He can look back to a few good rally's but that's it.

[maxter]

Well yes of course they want to win the manufacturers championship, but it's not like it's gonna be with Stobart anyway so they might as well give PG a shot. He's still a better choice than Henning as you say.

And yeah if they want maximum points for the works team nominating Duval for a few rounds (especially tarmac) would be a clever choice. But as you say we don't know whether he (or any other driver) has been contacted already. We'll see what happens.

[teufel]

And yeah if they want maximum points for the works team nominating Duval for a few rounds (especially tarmac) would be a clever choice.

Maybe i know it wrong, but Duval has retired? or not?

[Barreis]

They (ford) need paying boys just like the two of current Finns were..