Citroen WRT

[EstWRC]

The others haven't stood still either

Well I haven’t heard anything big coming from Toyota and M-Sport but maybe they don’t just say it out publicly?

[wrc2017]

Well I haven’t heard anything big coming from Toyota and M-Sport but maybe they don’t just say it out publicly?

Yes, i think you are correct..

[TRW]

You just saw Juho whitrawed before last stage because of unhomologated new parts, you think it was about her socks or something?

[EstWRC]

You just saw Juho whitrawed before last stage because of unhomologated new parts, you think it was about her socks or something?

yes we know he was testing...what i meant was that M-sport and Toyota havent said publicly when they will come out with big updates, unlike Hyundai and Citroen who have admitted they will have big upgrades

[Eli]

The others haven't stood still either

Of course, can't discount that, perhaps they take Ostberg there, he did finish 2nd last year...

[AnttiL]

Lappi said in the Neste Rally podcast that the C3 has insufficient front aero, the level of a 2017 Toyota. Also that it reacts too slowly. And that it took Ogier six months to notice the same flaws but now that Ogier mentioned them, things started happening.

[OHL]

yes we know he was testing...what i meant was that M-sport and Toyota havent said publicly when they will come out with big updates, unlike Hyundai and Citroen who have admitted they will have big upgrades

A bit late replying... It could be that Hyundai and Citroen need to say these kind of things as they are both on their back foot. Hyundai, the manufacturer, must be putting immense pressure on Hyundai WRT to get a championship. Citroen, well we all can see how they are doing. Toyota and M-Sport don't have this kind of optics problem and don't need to make claims about better performance coming. Having said that, Toyota have been talking about reliability this year and that is something they must be under pressure to solve.

[mknight]

When Ogier was at Msport they were quite vocal about upgrades as well. Then there was a pressure that he should be winning/leading champ.

[OHL]

When Ogier was at Msport they were quite vocal about upgrades as well. Then there was a pressure that he should be winning/leading champ.

Yes, very true. M-Sport are in an interesting place right now. The car is pretty good, they are in the shadow of 2 back-to-back championships and Elfyn is doing a fine job of driving this year. New R5 car is good according to those who have tested it, Rally Estonia not withstanding. You would have to say there isn't whole lot of pressure on them at the moment, other than commercial success.

[Rally Power]

Lappi said in the Neste Rally podcast that the C3 has insufficient front aero, the level of a 2017 Toyota. Also that it reacts too slowly. And that it took Ogier six months to notice the same flaws but now that Ogier mentioned them, things started happening.

There’s a recent interview of Ogier that may help to understand Lappi situation ( http://forum-rallye.com/index.php?/t...monde/page-964 ). Ogier says that the C3 has been steadily developed and is now more usable, even if it’s still unstable. He believes the adaptation to the car was easier for him than for Lappi and he’s happy with the results so far, blaming starting order for not being faster in some events. Also mentions some (suspension?) evolutions for Finland and engine upgrades for Germany, while confirming he will stay with Citroen till the end of 2020 (his planned last WRC season).

It’s not hard to imagine that with current cars set-up complexity and homologation restrictions the top drivers are pushing for their tech abilities and status inside the teams to lead car development according to their driving style. Probably that’s why Lappi is suffering, just like Paddon or Mikkelsen on their earlier days with the i20 and Hanninen with the Yaris after Latvala changed it; if Lappi can’t wait for suitable car upgrades, he may always try to adopt Ogier style…