[WRC] News & Rumours 2021

[mknight]

Well if enough cars break down it's entirely possible.

Anyway I will believe that Safari takes place first when the first car is at start of SS1.

[Jarek Z]

It may be their last chance. When not now - then when?!

[AnttiL]

https://www.rallit.fi/jari-matti-lat...uomalaisnimea/

Latvala says there will be driver news soon. He's talking about Ogier possibly continuing a half season but they don't know the calendar yet so they cannot choose which rallies he's doing. As for the driver for the remaining events, he mentions that it was nice to see Lappi and Suninen doing so well in WRC2...

[mknight]

One of those two as part time instead of Ogier sounds very good tbh.

Driver wise Lappi fits better cause he is fast on the events where Ogier isn't and likely won't do (snow, fast gravel) , while Ogier could still do tarmac for example.
Not really sure if Ogier would want to do slow gravel when he is not cleaning.

But Joukhi manages Suninen.....

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://www.rallit.fi/jari-matti-lat...uomalaisnimea/

Latvala says there will be driver news soon. He's talking about Ogier possibly continuing a half season but they don't know the calendar yet so they cannot choose which rallies he's doing. As for the driver for the remaining events, he mentions that it was nice to see Lappi and Suninen doing so well in WRC2...

Toyota has to sign-up it's drivers soon as they will be testing the new 2022 hybrid car. They wont be allowed to test it otherwise in case they take the info elsewhere.

[AnttiL]

https://www.rallit.fi/esapekka-lappi...-ehdottomasti/

Lappi says also here he would like to go to Toyota even for just half a season, or would like to go to M-Sport as well (of course). He says he still has high targets on WRC level and feels bad about the two last seasons.

[mknight]

Understandably he doesn't want to close any doors...
Still it's an interesting question, if given the choice what would he pick, half-season at Toyota or full at MSport. My thoughts:

Toyota
+ likely better salary (even with half season)
+ quite certain to be competitive
+ he will drive the events he likes (fast snow/gravel) likely with good road position, so good chances for making himself attractive for the future
- not all rounds, Ogier might decide to do more events anyway (should be really careful about how the contract is written)
- probably will only get contract for one year

MSport
+ Full season
+ Likely possible to sign a longer than 1 year contract right now
- less money/might need own sponsors
- not so certain that the car will be competitive (MSport usually has very fast WRC cars on launch, but the recent Fiesta R5 upgrade (Rally2) had pretty disastrous start)

Not sure what the relationships are with MSport after last year. External impression is that perhaps not great.

---------------

For Suninen I think Sardinia will be extremely crucial. Cause in recent two rallies after the engine upgrade the Fiesta seems competitive. Especially given his last year performance at Sardinia he really does need to be able to mix with Toyota/Hyundai drivers.

I guess that's what Latvala is waiting for.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Evans' on Instagram today showing the TGR Yaris Rally1 test. He's not going anywhere - expect a new contract to be signed very soon.

[AnttiL]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/fia-i...ally1-in-2022/

Current WRC cars will be possibly allowed on WRC events with smaller restrictor.

[skarderud]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/fia-i...ally1-in-2022/

Current WRC cars will be possibly allowed on WRC events with smaller restrictor.

Mostly M-sport cheering for this?

But, with the right driver, some of them can blend in. And the best, more cars at the startlist! But it is some running costs...

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