[WRC] News & Rumours 2019

[denkimi]

Ostberg to replace meeke then?

Or adamo buying everyone available on the market stop them from driving for the competition?

[KKS]

Ostberg in studio seemed confident with "I'm having meetings" "to help some team to win factory title". (edit: for 2020)

My prediction - Toyota - they need some points scorer.

Toyota fill up for next year. Or you think that Tanak or Latvala leave team? 3rd place was for Kalle

[AnttiL]

Ostberg in studio seemed confident with "I'm having meetings" "to help some team to win factory title". (edit: for 2020)

My prediction - Toyota - they need some points scorer.

Others:
Citroen - why to travel to Finland to have this kind of meeting with your current team
M-Sport - do they put their priority to factory title?
Hyundai - have already big list of drivers.

I would say Citroen. Østberg came to Finland because all teams are there at once?

[mknight]

I'd also say Citroen tbh. He will surely not cost them much and was quite consistent in 2018, just what you would need for 3rd driver. They also already have a "young" and coming driver with Lappi. They probably don't have funds to pay some other available driver like Evans or Mikkelsen. Also he will accept 1 year contract which Citroen will probably aim for, not sure if they start in 2021 at all or rather focus on developing new car.

Toyota would imo rather go for Evans or Suninen.

[er88]

Ostberg will be Citroen. No options for him unless he brings budget to Malcolm's door...

[meh]

Toyota fill up for next year. Or you think that Tanak or Latvala leave team? 3rd place was for Kalle

Prediction was purely based on that "interview" when Mads was in studio but I don't put my money on that. The most logical should be that he stays in Citroen. But of course, when full-time WRC seat will be available, he goes whereever.

I can not see any driver to be fixed yet in Toyota.
* Tänak - I guess it's Toyota vs M-Sport. More logical for me should be Toyota, but there are every kind of connection and friendly relationship with M-Sport also. If there are not world-class actors everywhere, then I rule out Hyndai. But you never know...
* Rovanpera - rumors rumors rumors, but it should be logical to get him some WRC seat-time next year. Full season in team with goal to get factory title... I doubt.
* Latvala and Meeke - both are fast, both are experienced, but they just don't deliver points. You can not rely on them. How long time someone want to pay salary if guys don't get the job done. I like them both, but at the moment I can not see the reason why they should be hired for next season.

[mknight]

I agree with you on not "fixed" drivers, but with what definitely looks like the fastest car around why would they go for Østberg, who while fast in Sweden/Finland and consistent on other gravel rallies, usually lacks a bit of speed to the top 3 and is weak on tarmac. Maybe if he would agree on sharing a car with Rovanpera (who wouldn't do all rounds).

Else for a fulltime seat I'd say Evans, Suninen and Mikkelsen are all clearly better choice and none of them would say no to Toyota imo.

[steve.mandzij]

I agree with you on not "fixed" drivers, but with what definitely looks like the fastest car around why would they go for Østberg, who while fast in Sweden/Finland and consistent on other gravel rallies, usually lacks a bit of speed to the top 3 and is weak on tarmac. Maybe if he would agree on sharing a car with Rovanpera (who wouldn't do all rounds).

Else for a fulltime seat I'd say Evans, Suninen and Mikkelsen are all clearly better choice and none of them would say no to Toyota imo.

I don't see Suninen going to Toyota despite his nationality. I like him, but he's not particularly marketable for the Japanese, and he's got the potential to do great things but the smallest operating window of all the drivers. He's rarely in the zone; when he is, he's fucking quick (and mistake prone) but when he's not he's quite slow.

For me, Toyota might go the Hyundai route (I think Tommi would be brave enough to take notes from Adamo) and start swapping out their two non-championship drivers to give Kalle and Katsuta runs in the Yaris.

I've been pondering lately that one of the biggest differences of the modern WRC compared to 15 years ago is the absence of the specialist driver. Skoda and the PSA teams would frequently switch out the drivers that didn't battle for the title. Hyundai has brought that sort of dynamic back with a multi driver lineup, keeping their championship challenger in all season and swapping the rest.

With both the lack of seats available nowadays (no privateers being the primary reason) the driver swapping strategy must return. Truth is that not all drivers can challenge for the championship, so why bother? It's a little drastic, and I can feel myself getting too extreme, but Hyundai is doing the right thing by sticking more drivers into the championship than seats available.

Sorry for straying off topic.

[Morte66]

the driver swapping strategy must return.

Apart from anything else, spreading the points around 3 or 4 secondary drivers gives them lower position in the WDC and better running order in the gravel rallies. Look at Sordo in Sardinia...

[steve.mandzij]

Apart from anything else, spreading the points around 3 or 4 secondary drivers gives them lower position in the WDC and better running order in the gravel rallies. Look at Sordo in Sardinia...

It sounds a little farcical but it's always been done, and would be an okay substitute for the privateer entry of yesteryear.