Silly Season 2019

[AnttiL]

The VW will help change that

I thought they won’t run a factory team

[eib1]

1. Get rid of Lefebvre.
2. Use a better driver (Mads)

It`s like replace VS cognac to VS "Special Edition" cognac
There are still VSOP, XO etc...

[steve.mandzij]

I think Breen is a quite good driver. Bear in mind he's still never done a full season.

[er88]

@Racerx1979, why would you want to keep Mads over Breen if you were running things at Citroen?

Breen at least still has potential and his whole career ahead of him. Mads is already a known quantity and will never do anything except show podium pace on a few events per season. Then a bunch of 5/6/7th place finishes.

Breen is still developing at least.

[racerx1979]

@Racerx1979, why would you want to keep Mads over Breen if you were running things at Citroen?

Breen at least still has potential and his whole career ahead of him. Mads is already a known quantity and will never do anything except show podium pace on a few events per season. Then a bunch of 5/6/7th place finishes.

Breen is still developing at least.

It all depends on who you can get. If you can get Lappi and Sordo I would keep Breen. If you can get Lappi, Sordo and Ogier well then Breen can drive an R5 car unless he gets signed elsewhere. Lappi is a lot better in my opinion and based on purely on results.

If Mads does better than Breen for the rest of the season do you keep Mads or Breen if you had a choice?

[racerx1979]

The VW will help change that

Several teams already have orders for the VW. Even a gentlemen driver which I am good friends with is selling his Skoda and has placed an order for an R5.

[GravelBen]

If Sordo goes, Paddon could just be put in the car for a full season, but they would need a tarmac specialist.

I don't think they would need an extra tarmac driver. Sure its not his preferred surface, but he isn't that bad on tarmac (most often 5th or 6th which is useful points) and I think its mostly just lack of experience holding him back there which will keep improving with more time in the car. People on here talk like he's not even winning points, but I guess they used to say Latvala and Tanak couldn't drive on tarmac either.

[seb_sh]

Nice discussions, it's always fun for me to speculate on driver movements and also learned some things i didn't know before. i'm adjusting my prediction (since i started the thread i can make the rules for this prediction stuff - anything goes! ):

Hyundai: Neuville, Mikkelsen, Paddon/Sordo
Toyota: Tanak, Lappi, Latvala
Ford: Suninen, Evans
Citroen: Ogier, Breen, Ostberg

I think Ogier has seen enough of MSport/Ford and might be lured to Citroen, especially as the car is getting better. Otherwise Citroen can be happy with Breen and Ostberg, with this line up they could fight for both titles.

Neuville is leading the championship with Hyundai and he has no reason to change so I expect an announcement soon, Mikkelsen has a contract already, Paddon apparently has strong ties to Hyundai so I guess he'll stay put while Sordo has already said he is happy with a partial programme and Hyundai can use him to showcase the R5 and he generally seems happy so I also think he stays.

Toyota will most likely stay the same, the finns are making a bit of noise but i suspect it's mostly to get a better offer. Latvala might have to accept he is not the fastest driver in the team but i'm sure he is appreciated for what he did to develop the car so most likely he will get another contract. Lappi has a good environment to grow in so i don't think he'll leave just yet, I think he realises he has a lot to learn still.

Ford is the tough one if Ogier goes but somehow there are few alternatives, they might do another rebuilding year and put pay drivers in the 3rd car. They might get Meeke in for a rally or two but not more, I think the amount of crashes Meeke has had and his age and experience means he will not get a full season drive again, unless a manufacturer with big budget comes in and needs a fast driver to attract attention. Tidemand is the elephant in the room but with Skoda's rumored return he may not be available.

[ESTR]

First thing. Sordo want to do a full season again. Paddon probably too so he will look other teams as well if he gets the chance. Ford without drivers, yeah right. And what can Suninen and Evans do. Just the same as Ostberg and Breen at Citroen right now. Maybe a podium or two and few 5th or 6th places and nothing more. Ogier I suppose isn't that stupid to risk going to Citroen. And with saying that this will be his last contract it make no sense at all to go. But contract can be 2 years or 3 so he could be in sport for a few years...

[GravelBen]

I know that Paddon would prefer to stay loyal to Hyundai if he has the option (and he helps their image in the NZ market a lot, dominating NZRC rallies in the Hyundai NZ AP4 car too) but if they only offer a half season and another team offer a full season I suspect he would take it to avoid his career stagnating.