[WRC] News & Rumours 2019

[Allez Andruet]

Are you serious thinking that will be a number one in M-Sport Ford in 2019?

Not number one like Ogier was number one ofcourse, but more as a driver who's the most likely to bring in results for the team. For that role, whether it's called being number one or not, Evans fits better than Suninen (starting his first full WRC season) or rookie-Tidemand. Assuming those are the three forming the M-Sport squad for 2019.

[wrc2017]

Looking only on results vs experience and car I'd pick Breen over Evans.

Breen has not yet done a full season and this was his second half season with last one being in C3 that had lot of issues. This year he has good results from Sweden and GB, didn't get to start on some of the best rallies for the car (Mex, Cors.)

Evans in his 4th full season did also only 2 good results (Por, Spain), and in Portugal he basically only beat Sordo on speed (and timepenalties) since everyone else had issues.

That said Evans has a history with Msport, which likely matters a lot.

wilson has invested heavily in evans, so to drop him, he give up all hope of getting a return. breen will pay if desperate enough. welcome to 2nd tier driver market.

[irish_tiger]

wilson has invested heavily in evans, so to drop him, he give up all hope of getting a return. breen will pay if desperate enough. welcome to 2nd tier driver market.

NO the MSA or Motorsport UK now as its know invested heavily - and also The Welsh Government ?? Not Malcolm - he has not put any money in from M-Sport ...fact

[deephouse]

People are assuming that Wilson iivest in young guys just because he takes them from lower classes. Every team could do that if they want. If Wilson would be in serious fight for the titles after the Ford left then he wouldn't bother of them but heavily ivolve guys like Latvala, Meeke, Ogier, Neuville, Mikkelsen, Tanak, and not let them go. Everyone left for the better paycheck and better chance of the title.

[T16]

People are assuming that Wilson iivest in young guys just because he takes them from lower classes. Every team could do that if they want. If Wilson would be in serious fight for the titles after the Ford left then he wouldn't bother of them but heavily ivolve guys like Latvala, Meeke, Ogier, Neuville, Mikkelsen, Tanak, and not let them go. Everyone left for the better paycheck and better chance of the title.

You seem to be forgetting that he simply wouldn't be able to afford their wages. Otherwise, what reason is there for him not to have one of them driving for the team?

He said the Ogier thing was a one-off and that M-Sport couldn't afford to take that kind of hit again.

He is doing everything he can to keep the team running and that means using the drivers that he looks to have secured for 2019.

[mknight]

Wilson has been doing this long before Ford left.
Duval and Martin were cheap (free?) drivers from 2002 (2003 for Duval) . When they started to get good he let them go at end of 2004. For 2005 he then got Kresta and Sola as paying drivers with Gardemeister prbly driving for little or no money. All this while it still was official Ford team.

[tommeke_B]

The real reason Duval left to M-Sport was because Wilson could not offer a contract, as support from Ford was unsure. The deal with Ford for 2005 was only signed very last-minute, when Duval had already signed with Citroën.

[Got Mail]

NO the MSA or Motorsport UK now as its know invested heavily - and also The Welsh Government ?? Not Malcolm - he has not put any money in from M-Sport ...fact

MSA investment may have bought him a couple of free lunches and the odd coffee but not much beyond that....

[the sniper]

NO the MSA or Motorsport UK now as its know invested heavily - and also The Welsh Government ??

Was this intended as a joke?

[Rally Power]

I've not considered the driver status in M-Sport for next year. Will Evans be number one?

Probably he's now more worried about being confirmed for the whole season; maybe he'll have to share the car with some paying drivers. For now, Suninen seems to be the only one with a full program in MSport.

Btw, why is it taking so long to confirm WRC2 Pro teams and drivers? With so many WRC drivers now available, it feels strange not hearing about WRC2 manus signing them; for some it'd probably be the best chance to also get a couple of WRC drives.