Silly Season 2020

**kiil** · 3rd November 2019, 17:00

Originally Posted by Indreq

I wish there was someone around who could add his comments with authority (like ex-world champion), who has not too out-dated knowledge of workings of current cars and teams (retired not too long ago), who has passable english skills and is naturally nice and chatty person... Know anyone like this? ;-)

Sounds like a job for Tommi.

**mknight** · 3rd November 2019, 17:05

"has passable english skills"

**Rallyper** · 3rd November 2019, 17:13

Originally Posted by Duvel

Nah, Peugeot or Abarth have much more rally DNA. A 208 in WRC trim would be great.

Just hoping Citroen stays for 2020!

Were you born when man walked o the moon?

Back then Opel already had some nice results in Gr1 and Gr2, with the Rekord 1900. After that came rallye Kadett Sprint with many victories. So talking about DNA, Opel definately has it.

**EstWRC** · 3rd November 2019, 17:42

Originally Posted by kiil

Sounds like a job for Tommi.

you made my day

**pantealex** · 3rd November 2019, 18:14

Originally Posted by Rallyper

Were you born when man walked o the moon?

Back then Opel already had some nice results in Gr1 and Gr2, with the Rekord 1900. After that came rallye Kadett Sprint with many victories. So talking about DNA, Opel definately has it.

and after that
Ascona 400
Manta 400
and then came B-group and P205T16 and after that Citroen...

For me Lancia have most rally DNA out of those FCA/PSA brands. (Stratos, 037, S4, Delta)

RS · 3rd November 2019, 22:47

Originally Posted by rallyfiend

If Ogier goes to Toyota, it’s because there is no Citroen.

So there’s no seats there to be filled.

Is it really a possibility that Citroen won’t continue next year, even with Ogier under contract?

**dnb** · 3rd November 2019, 23:11

They both stay

**Norm75** · 4th November 2019, 13:34

Originally Posted by pantealex

and after that
Ascona 400
Manta 400
and then came B-group and P205T16 and after that Citroen...

For me Lancia have most rally DNA out of those FCA/PSA brands. (Stratos, 037, S4, Delta)

And the fulvia.

The trouble is Lancia only sell one car. One car! and they only sell it in Italy. To a majority of which are women.

As for heritage, don't forget Citroen started in rally a long time ago, with the original ds (maybe even before that) through to the cx, then the visa and it's various group B incarnations, the BX4TC (yeah, I know) to the Xsara, C4, DS3 and now C3. So Citroen has had a presence in rallying every decade since the 60's.

**Rallyper** · 4th November 2019, 15:53

This is OT, so I started a new thread.

Rallycars with DNA and heritage from the old days

**EstWRC** · 5th November 2019, 11:10

Elfyn Evans has been tipped as Ott Tanak's Toyota World Rally Championship replacement after he visited the team's Finnish headquarters squad last week.

Autosport revealed before Rally Spain two weeks ago that Tanak would make a shock switch to Hyundai, leaving the Toyota Gazoo Racing team with which he sealed the 2019 drivers' championship for the first time days after the news of his departure from the squad broke.

Speculation about who will drive for Toyota next year reached fever pitch last week, when current Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville was also reported to have been in Jyvaskyla.

Hyundai sources have since denied this.

Citroen's six-time WRC champion Sebastien Ogier has also been linked to replacing Tanak, but his contract at Citroen next year complicates any potential deal.

Current M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver Evans and Toyota team principal Tommi Makinen were unavailable for comment when Autosport contacted them on Monday regarding Evans visit to the team.

It is understood that Makinen rates Evans highly, and has been impressed with his pace and consistency this year.

Evans spent a day with the Toyota team last week, looking at the Puuppola premises and talking to the squad's senior management.

A move from M-Sport would take Evans into uncharted waters - every one of his 86 World Rally Championship starts have been made in a Ford Fiesta of varying secification.

He took his maiden British Rally Championship with M-Sport in 2016 and first WRC win in Wales the following year came at the wheel of a Fiesta WRC.

Following Rally Germany, M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson told Autosport that it would be "crazy" to let either Evans or its second driver Teemu Suninen leave after the investment he had placed in them.

M-Sport WRC team principal Richard Millener told Autosport he would do all he could to keep Evans for next season.

"We've worked with Elfyn for a very long time," said Millener.

"As a team, Malcolm [Wilson, team principal] has invested a huge amount in him and we'd be very reluctant to see him leave.

"We're ready to fight as best as we can.

"I think it's fairly common knowledge that we perhaps don't have the same resources as some of the other teams, but we'll do all what is possible."

Millener admitted the realities of M-Sport's position complicated negotiations with Evans.

"As much as we would love to keep Elfyn and win more rallies with him next year," Millener added, "we have to be very aware that we're a private team in a competitive commercial environment."

Toyota's only retained driver for next season is Skoda's WRC 2 champion Kalle Rovanpera.

Both Kris Meeke and Jari-Matti Latvala are discussing contract extensions for next year, but Autosport understands neither driver has yet confirmed an agreement.

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...r-toyota-visit