Silly Season 2019

[mknight]

You are right and the problem is aswell that most work for the same employer! When Motoring/Motorsport news was seperate from Autosport and we had other publications such as Rally Sport then us Brits had a choice who to believe. Now Evans and Benyon have to follow the same editorial steer to avoid upsetting the promotors.

As much as I would like to support our home drivers I get as much joy watching a spectacular Estonian driver as much as the man from Dungannon.

To continue the topic. It's in a way understandable when motorsport journalists from "small" (in terms of rally) nations write biased articles about their drivers. Partly cause they often don't know much about rallying and partly it's to "promote" rallying in the country (= "look how great we are doing").
So when reading news from these you immediately expect some bias and learn to ignore it.

But with the brits in the "international" media it's different for me. They often are doing only rallying so they have enough knowledge. Stuff like Allive runs only in 1 language but likely majority of the viewers are outside of UK. As an "official" channel it should be as independent as possible, also because the viewers are international, and this is where it often fails imo.

It's not only the fault of the journalists though, it's very hard to keep sub-conscious bias out. The easiest way to improve it would be to employ more non-uk hosts/commentators/interviewers. As far as I know now it's only Molly that is not from UK. There are tons of ex-drivers/co-drivers around as well as motorsport journalists in other countries. Should be possible to find a few that talk understandable English and want to do the work.

[Andre Oliveira]

My guess:

M-Sport
Breen
Suninen
Evans

Citroën:
Ogier
Lappi
Østberg
Al-Qassimi

Hyundai
Neuville
Mikkelsen
Sordo / Paddon

Toyota
Tänak
Latvala
Meeke
Katsuta

Unfortunately no Tidemand.

[noel157]

Can you guarantee that he really asked for specific improvements and the team refused them? Probably you base that acceptation on a few comments from ‘unidentified sources’ that the Brit press eagerly spread. The same press that forgot to mention that Alexis Avril, the C3 WRC chief of project, is a good friend of Meeke (since the C2 Junior days) and always supported him. The same press that failed to mention that Poland ‘suspension’ was settled by the team with Meeke agreement, as he felt a break was needed. The same press that only question Meeke driving approach after he was fired, ignoring his error prone attitude through the years.

!

Probably you talk nonsense?
None of what I said is from the press in any form. Make what you want of that, makes no difference to me.
Oh, and by the way the drivers often referred to the C3 during development as the "bastard" but I expect you knew that, maybe not. I suspect you know little about the situation if you have to further dismiss my post by rabbiting on about "Brit" press reporting and "unidentified sources". Brit?

I've often seen attitudes like yours on this forum during the many years I've been a member. If you disagree with what I say, no problem. But there is a problem when you attempt to belittle and patronise me because you disagree with or disbelieve what I say.
Perhaps you should find some manners and a little respect.

[Rally Power]

I've often seen attitudes like yours on this forum during the many years I've been a member. If you disagree with what I say, no problem. But there is a problem when you attempt to belittle and patronise me because you disagree with or disbelieve what I say.
Perhaps you should find some manners and a little respect.

Asking others to find manners and show respect while making wrong judgments on their intentions speak volumes about the way you’re making your point.

To keep portraying Meeke just as a victim of a disarrayed team is as distorted as blaming him for all Citroen recent misery. Nothing is ever black and white.

[pantealex]

So, I´m only one who still don´t believe that Meeke is Toyota driver 2019.

Outside this forum I know more than 10 people who also don´t believe, yet.

Interesting part is that all those people work in same place here in Jyväskylä or for same company in Tallinn

Waiting for next week...

[wrc2017]

Yes, not yet confirmes.
But why so hard to believe.
For an aggressive team who wants to win rallys, he is the only option. no?
Maybe Makenin rather have Meeke in his stable, than as a #1 pilot at msport?
Also, as far as know, Meeke has no bullshit manager trying to overhype.
With Meeke you know what your getting, and maybe Makinen likes that attitude.

[T16]

So, I´m only one who still don´t believe that Meeke is Toyota driver 2019.

Outside this forum I know more than 10 people who also don´t believe, yet.

Interesting part is that all those people work in same place here in Jyväskylä or for same company in Tallinn

Waiting for next week...

I think that given the impact that the news has had worldwide, someone would have made noises that it wasn’t true by now (as in someone official, not someone’s mate on here).
That headline wouldn’t have been written unless it was accurate. No matter what people think of Evans.

[BobJones]

My guess:

M-Sport
Breen
Suninen
Evans

Citroën:
Ogier
Lappi
Østberg
Al-Qassimi

Hyundai
Neuville
Mikkelsen
Sordo / Paddon

Toyota
Tänak
Latvala
Meeke
Katsuta

This would be very nice. Ostberg would be perfect as a third Citroen driver, bagging those points, and I hope a deal is struck for another C3.

[Allez Andruet]

So, I´m only one who still don´t believe that Meeke is Toyota driver 2019.

I'm with you! No matter what kind of press release TGR is going to publish, I probably won't believe it till I see Meeke actually posting a time on the Monte shakedown. On a Yaris that is.

[Norm75]

Well, looking at Twitter posts, one of the first to congratulate Kris on his Toyota move seems to be an employee of Citroen wrt, that appears to be friends with Kris in some way, so I think it may be happening.