M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams

[T16]

That's another Monster Energy 'athlete' joining the M-Sport customer list... https://www.monsterenergy.com/gb/en/...altteri-bottas

With all that fuss about amateurs driving WRC '17 cars, it'll be interesting to see if anyone has anything to say about Bottas making his rallying debut in one... He should take it steady.

I thought the same thing, rallying and F1 crossover is a fairly hot topic, for obvious reasons at the moment.
I’m assuming that the nature of rallying between snowbanks is seen to be safer than in between rock faces and Armco? Otherwise, I can’t understand how Mercedes have allowed it with Kubica’s incident in the spotlight right now.

[AnttiL]

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Sounds promising that they will stay in WRC..
https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...re-after-ogier

[T16]

Sounds promising that they will stay in WRC..
https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...re-after-ogier

Interesting points on the cost of aero pieces - I guess we all saw that coming. Also confirmation that M-sport funded Ogier, not Wilson 'from his own pocket' like a few said on here.

You can't knock the guy's passion though.. like he says, he doesn't have to do it and commercially, it's not really viable.. he just does it because he believes in operating at the highest level.

I think the rule-makers have some serious head-scratching to do, so the new regs are defined ASAP and, ultimately, cost effective, without losing the spectacle.... And on top of this, they are probably going to give serious consideration to electric too.

As I have said before, this may look all rosey, but it's a critical time for the WRC right now and I hope to hell they get the next set of regs right.

Keep at it Malcolm, the series wouldn't be the same without you.

[T16]

The sides are ok (ish - could be tidier) but, the front and rear are too 'busy'... I know it's opinions and all that, but it still surprises me that some of the top-spec cars don't look as well finished as some further down the pecking order.

[er88]

3rd car possible then? The likes of Block, Camilli, Greensmith and Ostberg could pay for certain rounds.

Suninen is in for the full season and it seems like it'll be one of Breen or Evans for the 2nd seat. 4 full seasons in the WRC vs no full seasons for Breen has to count against Evans, so I'd choose Breen. And maybe Craig can find a little bit of money too, he's always managed to find some budget when in need. But maybe Wilson will want to remain loyal and give Evans one last, last chance.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

In his words again:
"I wouldn't swap those two years for anything, but I can't continue [like that]," he says.

I, not we.

[Andre Oliveira]

Maybe we get Bouffier in MC, Tidemand in SWE, etc etc etc

[T16]

In his words again:
"I wouldn't swap those two years for anything, but I can't continue [like that]," he says.

I, not we.

He means I as in I, the owner of M-sport... come on.

From the article:

"M-Sport is still counting the cost of two years of funding Ogier."

[T16]

3rd car possible then? The likes of Block, Camilli, Greensmith and Ostberg could pay for certain rounds.

Suninen is in for the full season and it seems like it'll be one of Breen or Evans for the 2nd seat. 4 full seasons in the WRC vs no full seasons for Breen has to count against Evans, so I'd choose Breen. And maybe Craig can find a little bit of money too, he's always managed to find some budget when in need. But maybe Wilson will want to remain loyal and give Evans one last, last chance.

I would love to see Evans have a crack at it again, but my gut tells me that Breen is probably the better bet of the two... especially given the reputation the Citroen had for being as bad as it was (is).