Silly Season 2019

**mknight** · 18th September 2018, 09:06

Originally Posted by Allez Andruet

That's quite an unequal bunch of drivers you're comparing there. Like most sports, also rallying is "game of levels" as they say. IMO all the current factory drivers are of the most supreme class. Sure, then there's Neuville, Tänak and Ogier who all are just that tiny bit above everyone else - which makes them the top 3 in the championship - but I'd find it a bit odd to call that different level altogether (referreing to your view on Latvala and Mikkelsen). Lappi, as a WRC rally winner, has nothing to do with either Rovanperä or Huttunen, who haven't even competed at the level Lappi's been for the past two seasons.

I'd also say that Matt Wilson is a poor example in that context, as he never showed speed at any level where it would truly have mattered, unlike Rovanperä for example, who we can already judge vs. proven drivers like Tidemand (hence vs. Lappi and others too). That ofcourse isn't serving as any guarantee that Rovanperä will ever win a WRC event, but we can already be sure he's got the tools to make it to the very top.

The thing all those drivers have in common is that they were all declared "future champions". It's the last bit (going from multiple rally winner to a champion) which is hardest imo, logarithmic progression. Neuville and Tanak have not made the step yet either, since they obviously are not champions. Nowhere did I wrote that Latvala and Mikkelsen are level below them overall.

Lappi still has to make the step from single rally winner (like for example Sordo, Østberg and Evans) to multiple rally winner. Interestingly this season he has not led for a single stage. I am not saying he is doing bad (look at Ogier's first full WRC seasons), just that he is not going to be a champion just yet

**AMSS** · 18th September 2018, 09:09

Originally Posted by Sulland

Sad, but maybe another brand will want to give it a go. Even a season in Wrc2 to gain experience.
Hankook, Conti, Kuhmo, Maxxis, Zestino, Yokohama, MRF or maybe Dunlop?

It is a steep learning curve, but development departmemt will also learn a lot that can be transferred to road tyres!!

I think from these MRF are considering joining for 2019 and Kumho, Hankook and Yokohama already have quit good tires in their portfolio, also Maxxis and Zestino has tires in their portfolio but don`t know anything about their quality. Dunlop to my knowledge does not produce gravel tires anymore

**tomhlord** · 18th September 2018, 10:17

It's happening... https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/...-2019/3178947/

**AnttiL** · 18th September 2018, 10:36

Of course it's just a David Evans article. 12 months ago he wrote that Tänak is set to remain at M-Sport. But this year, I believe Ogier goes to Citroen.

However, it will be interesting to see if Red Bull would follow Ogier to Citroen and would Abu Dhabi then be off Citroen, maybe back to M-Sport?

**Eli** · 18th September 2018, 10:48

Originally Posted by AnttiL

Of course it's just a David Evans article. 12 months ago he wrote that Tänak is set to remain at M-Sport. But this year, I believe Ogier goes to Citroen.

However, it will be interesting to see if Red Bull would follow Ogier to Citroen and would Abu Dhabi then be off Citroen, maybe back to M-Sport?

Maybe, I don't remember if it was here on the forum that someone said Ogier's deal would be revealed this weekend.
Anyhow, should be interesting to watch, a couple of interesting months ahead of us.

**Fast Eddie WRC** · 18th September 2018, 11:04