Silly Season 2020

[RS]

Loubet was hinting at the weekend that he will be in a WRC1 car in 2020.

MSport is really the only realistic option.

Really? That’s a rather quick progression. Maybe a combination of WRC2 and WRC1 like Greensmith did this year.

[Tarmop]

What " crashing a lot" he had since 2016 season...2 restarts i remember.

[er88]

Loubet needs another solid full season in WRC 2 or whatever it's called.

[deephouse]

that shows that Paddon, Breen, Ostberg, Latvala or Meeke are out of job. Sure ocasional outings but not full seasons anymore when every year some youngster knock on the doors and teams accept them with open hands

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Ostberg, Latvala & Meeke have had plenty of WRC years and chances to prove their ability. I hope Breen and Paddon get any seat options that are available. But as usual money will talk and teams will probably take a 'proven' driver first...

[wrc2017]

Ostberg, Latvala & Meeke have had plenty of WRC years and chances to prove their ability. I hope Breen and Paddon get any seat options that are available. But as usual money will talk and teams will probably take a 'proven' driver first...

how many full season has Meeke, otsebef and Latvala had?

[TypeR]

how many full season has Meeke, otsebef and Latvala had?

Meeke 4 full and 3 half seasons
Mads 6 full and 6 half
Latvala 13 full and 4 half

[deephouse]

The thing is Citroen did a big mistake when chosing Lappi over Ostberg. If he would drive I bet they would be in the mix of Manufacturer title, which is by the way more important than another Ogier's title chasing (bosses from PSA and Citroen would maybe drop a little bit more funding to the team). But who knows at the start of the season when new driver come along to the team, how he will perform over the year.

About Latvala he was a real contender in Loeb era (2008-2012). Then get caught in Ogier's era again. And now Tanak. He just lost his confidence and no one deserves the title more than him (sorry my thinking). If he will continue doing full seasons I really hope he will get a chance and become one. It doesn't have to be 3 or more, just one and I bet he will be more than satisfied.

Meeke - hmmm. He is fast, but crash prone at least in Citroen case. But that probably leave a scar to his career. And age. His years are running out so he doesn't have more chances. He probably realizes that this year and will probably aim for number two spots (points scorer for team). But there are so many of them already that he is not highest on the list (and he is contract free every year and that's one plus for him).

Paddon - Hyundai just don't believe in him anymore at least in world stage. I hope if he don't get a chance in another team it would be fare and square after he do so much for the marketing aspect for the team that he at least drive in WRC2 full time for works team. But if I would be him I would be looking at another teams already. He is young and if he will showing his speed and consistency, he can be hired again by Hyundai sometime in the future. It's not unusual that some drivers came back to the original teams, they've started.

Breen: he will do anything even if just one rally, because he is used to from previous seasons.

Again not enough seats available. For youngsters it would need to be wildcar entries not full seasons straigh away, but that's utopian world.

[denkimi]

About Latvala he was a real contender in Loeb era (2008-2012).

No he wasn't. His best result was 2th in 2010, 105 points behind Loeb.
Even in the dominant polo he was never a real contender for the title.

I always wondered why people have given latvala so much credit and continue to do that. There has not been one year in his carreer where he has actually delivered what he is paid to do. He has, except in a few rally's, never been anywhere near consistent, either being slow or crashing.

He was called crashvalla when he was still driving the ford, and nothing has changed now 10 years later.

[Norm75]

Meeke 4 full and 3 half seasons
Mads 6 full and 6 half
Latvala 13 full and 4 half

Technically, this season will be Meekes 3rd full season after Australia, without being benched or booted.