Hyundai WRT

[mknight]

Are Sordos and Neuvilles driving styles similar? Because Sordo is also fast with it in on both surfaces. But he has been also with the team since day1 so it can be that they both just understand better the car.

Sordo just doesn't drive the rallies where he isn't fast. In Argentina and Turkey this year it was him that was the slowest Hyundai still.

Mikkelsen out

Breen in

For Australia

If true it's interesting decision making as Breen was slower than Mikkelsen in both outings this year and in GB crashed from behind Mikkelsen... and as a reward he gets to drive a rally where he crashed the last two years.

Could also be an indicator that Mikkelsen already signed elsewhere.

[AnttiL]

Are Sordos and Neuvilles driving styles similar? Because Sordo is also fast with it in on both surfaces. But he has been also with the team since day1 so it can be that they both just understand better the car.

On technical gravel rallies, everyone is fast with Hyundai. Neuville, Sordo, Paddon, Mikkelsen, Loeb, all have made stage wins and been in the lead. On fast gravel, they have issues, and on tarmac, for a reason or another, Neuville and Sordo can be quick, others not. I know that Neuville used to have a style where he pulls the handbrake a lot to get the car turned in. Not sure if Sordo would do the same, maybe he's just learned the car throughout the years?

[Andre Oliveira]

fact or guess?

[AnttiL]

So, Breen drives now with #18 because #42 was taken by a WRC2 car.

Mikkelsen would have been fourth on the road. Now, they make Latvala and Meeke road positions one step worse and instead get 8th and 10th.

[mknight]

So, Breen drives now with #18 because #42 was taken by a WRC2 car.

Mikkelsen would have been fourth on the road. Now, they make Latvala and Meeke road positions one step worse and instead get the last and third-last starting positions.

Even so it's hard to believe that Adamo seriously thinks that Breen is likely to deliver a better result. In Finland he had better road position.. and was slower ("2nd" rally though). In GB he was slower and crashed. Last year Breen also had good road position in Australia and went off road.

So imo there are other reasons, for example:
- he wants to keep Breen for those 3-4 rallies next year and this is to also let him get used to the car or test him
- Mikkelsen is already engaged somewhere else

[AL14]

Adamo is on a mission... Makes you wonder what Hyundai would have achieved if he would have replaced the previous French guy (can't remember his name) earlier.

Taking Tanak and not caring about "team balance" will give them a very high chance to win WDC next year.
Adamo is not making Nandan mistake when he didn't took Ogier after VW dropped out.
I've always thought since the beginning that he made a big mistake gifting Ogier to M-Sport back then.

[er88]

Could be about road position or just another sign Adamo doesnt have faith in Mikkelsen to do a certain job - he likely figures knowing Andreas is without a drive he will push hard for the win to prove himself. Whereas Breen is maybe more easy to control - with the promise of a campaign in R5 + a few wrc events next year.

Iirc Meeke has been running 4th on the road a lot this season and i dont think it has helped vs the two Hyundai running further back. Jari hasn't been able to fight well against the two Hyundais with good road position even when he had started in similar position on the road. So maybe it is just Adama thinking Mikkelsen at 4th won't to do better than Breen starting 11th...

[skarderud]

I think Mikkelsen has signed for another team.
He is a top-contender in Australia, 4th best driver in the championship, can win the damn race.
Breen, crashed last time, going to crash again.
Sad to say, but if Mikkelsen dont have signed for another team, adamo and Hyundai has shit theire legs, manu-champ wise.

Its the only explaination, he is going somewhere else.

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[ggg377]

I think Mikkelsen has signed for another team.
He is a top-contender in Australia, 4th best driver in the championship, can win the damn race.
Breen, crashed last time, going to crash again.
Sad to say, but if Mikkelsen dont have signed for another team, adamo and Hyundai has shit theire legs, manu-champ wise.

Its the only explaination, he is going somewhere else.

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Sordo hasn't done Australia since 2016, ended up in the 5th place as the slowest Hyundai. Breen is promising, but no way he's better than Mikkelsen. I would say swapping out Mikkelsen gives Toyota a much better chance.

[Katvala]

But as said, swapping Mikkelsen with Breen is a better investment for next year as Mikkelsen is likely out and Breen will do the remaining events next year.
Maybe Hyundai already believes that Toyota is not capable of taking the title from them and therefore willing to make this risk

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