Silly Season 2019

[RS]

I am sure. Breen out.

And Ostberg?

[er88]

Only way Breen is overlooked for Ostberg is if Mads is bringing a lot of budget again to pay for the 3rd car.

I can't see Citroen running just a two car team, if they're pushing the boat out for Lappi and Seb they'll surely be targeting both championships. So 3cars are the way to go.

[Tarmop]

I also think that for a manuf. the manuf. championship is equally, if not more important.

[Essaj]

What about Skoda drivers? Rovanperä is confirmed but what happens to Tidemand, Kopecky, Nordgren?

[Tarmop]

Škoda promised some news soon, probably lineup will be included?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Btw, where does the Citroen money suddenly come from to pay Ogier, maybe Lappi and probably a 3rd car ? Red Bull is some but it will take more than that.

They didnt have the money for proper WRC testing not so long ago and the Meeke sacking was said to be partly money-saving on shells... strange turnaround.

[er88]

Toyota; Tanak, Meeke, JML

Hyundai; Neuville, Mikkelsen, Sordo/Paddon

Citroen; Ogier, Lappi, Ostberg


That's what it's starting to look like for 3 teams, with M-sport an unknown. If I was Malcolm I'd get Tidemand in one of the Fiesta's for the full season along with Suninen. Don't think Evans has done enough or shown enough potential speed, but he could stay or get replaced by Breen/Paddon. I'd take both over Evans tbh, but guess it'll all come down to money.

MSport Ford; Tidemand, Suninen, Breen/Evans/Paddon?

[mknight]

Find it hard to believe that Tidemand will go MSport. Malcolm is in love with paying drivers and Tidemands management is all against it. Yet he is not proven in WRC to demand much.

[racerx1979]

Ford would want Ostberg just as much as Citroen considering Malcom likes drivers with some funding. Would make sense for Ostberg to head to Ford and Breen stay at Citroen. I hear Citroen is okay with 2 drivers for 2018 and a rotation of drivers for the third car. I have no idea if Abu Dhabi is out or if Red Bull will no longer sponsor Ogier... This was an issue at one point.

Ford = Suninen, Ostberg and Evans
Citroen = Ogier, Lappi and rotation of drivers.

My friend at TGR just told me "what if JML went to Ford" but I think he's just pulling my leg.

[er88]

Ford would want Ostberg just as much as Citroen considering Malcom likes drivers with some funding. Would make sense for Ostberg to head to Ford and Breen stay at Citroen. I hear Citroen is okay with 2 drivers for 2018 and a rotation of drivers for the third car. I have no idea if Abu Dhabi is out or if Red Bull will no longer sponsor Ogier... This was an issue at one point.

Ford = Suninen, Ostberg and Evans
Citroen = Ogier, Lappi and rotation of drivers.

My friend at TGR just told me "what if JML went to Ford" but I think he's just pulling my leg.

Yeah but Ostberg doesn't want Msport and Malcolm's cars. He wants Citroen and only if they don't want his budget, will he revert back to Msport.