[WRC] News & Rumours 2021

[meh]

I agree with mknight comment, that rally overall top10 drivers must coverage even if they are WRC3 drivers.

As a rally-fan, I would like to see a lot of WRC2, WRC3, WRC-X action, but then it's quite complicated to have schedule with nice flow. Often stages are in row and there is not enough time to show all WRC cars sometimes.

To have "manufacturer" championship for WRC2 and by current names WRC2+WRC3 common championship for drivers would be really nice.

Anyway, probably this discussion is a bit offtopic here and should be moved to WRC+ thread or something like that.

[Tom K]

Just short thought. If they do not want to merge WRC 2 and WRC 3 (we have prons and cons) maybe the good idea would be to give and bit promote RC2 title...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Couldn't Toksport run a third car? I thought they are hiring their services.

Maybe they will instead run Ingram in ERC again.

[meh]

Toyota and Hyundai line-ups are clear now and without any changes. Quite boring silly season compared to previous years. Only M-Sport roulette to play.

[AnttiL]

Here's some rumors...Roughly a year ago Miika Wuorela saw "Elf in Central Finland". Now he claims having seen in Central Finland "one of these guys, traveling with Mr. Samsonite outside his native country..."

[Andre Oliveira]

Suninen out too?

https://tiegl6gza6jskpysitd4pulqmi-a...SWH8P2VMETK2LE

[AnttiL]

Suninen out too?

https://tiegl6gza6jskpysitd4pulqmi-a...SWH8P2VMETK2LE

I believe the original source for that Delfi article is this

https://www.rallit.fi/kahden-tallin-...c-kokoonpanot/

It surely says "Apparently Jouhki is not interested in paying anymore for Suninen's drives" but there is not a direct quote or citation.

[the sniper]

why then?

I just can't see when the money is going to get agreed, if it's going to be agreed at all. It'd be interesting to know what MSUK's (rally organiser) deadline is for getting the budget and going ahead. I can imagine it'll be a last minute thing as we don't seem to be hearing anything from Northern Ireland and everything will be focused on Brexit and Covid in the near future. MSUK are pretty conservative when it comes to spending their own money...

People outside the UK should remember too that rallying has been almost completely decimated in this country by Covid. Next year's Isle of Man TT in June was cancelled only a week ago. Rally GB this year was cancelled 5 months before it was due to be held. We're only 8 months away from "Rally UK" and there isn't even funding agreed for it yet. MSUK always make a big fuss about how long it takes to plan Rally GB each year in Wales, when it's largely the same year after year. I don't think they'll be doing an Estonia.

Strange this one. Any confirmation ?

Chris Ingram tells me he had no idea this was happening. He was expecting Toksport to run his WRC2/3 program in 2021...

Why would it preclude them running him in WRC3? They've ran three cars. A WRC2 program would seem unlikely for him regardless.

[meh]

Suninen out too?

https://tiegl6gza6jskpysitd4pulqmi-a...SWH8P2VMETK2LE

Sidenote - usually delfi.ee does not produce any news theirself. If delfi writes something, then usually I try to find source / original article to read, what was actually said.

[masa90]

Honestly m-sport situation looks really bleak. As does the whole situation of the world rally championship. Sad to say, but if m-sport just field a complete paydriver lineup they will not get any real interest out there. I know the times are tough, but the whole sport will go down the drain soon if there is not any competitors out there on somewhat "close" and competitive cars. Stuff like the Le mans few years ago with only Toyota in that class was awful. Hope it does not go to that.

2021 will desperately need an exciting title battle. Hopefully the racing between Toyota and Hyundai will be tight. Otherwise it will look really bad. For the whole sport. And isnt 2022 cars gonna be even more expensive? I have a really, really bad omen about the future of wrc without quick actions.