WRC 2021 • Silly season

[pantealex]

Mikkelsen should bring money for a drive in a rally 1 car, even if it's just for 6 events.

Yes, when use of Rally1 starts at 2022

2021 he should drive Rally2 and keep in touch with events.

[EstWRC]

I don’t think Gryazin even will make that level, this season has been hugely disappointing.

yeah not Solberg and Rovanpera level but i still think he could be fast, but yeah this year has been a step back.

[mknight]

Ref. Mikkelsen in MSport.
While what er88 wrote is an option I am not 100% convinced it's the best idea.
The most likely outcome with that car is that he would be faster than Lappi and Suninen but clearly slower than all factory Toyotas and Hyundais and sometimes even slower than their "customer" cars (see Katsuta in Estonia this year).
Furthermore sometimes the internal competition would be decided by road position ( see Suninen vs Lappi in Mexico this year).

If it goes like this will he be more likely to be picked than the fastest "new" Rally2 drivers?

The other option is to drive in Rally2 against those new drivers and prove that he is faster than them. There the risk is that he will be just a little faster than them so the "younger" drivers get picked due to more "potential".

No easy call. His best chance would definitely be with a new manu as a safe pick to perform on all rallies. But doesn't look like any new manus are coming.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Let's look!

Tänak's first WRC car event was Wales 2011. On SS12 he was 3rd fastest, beating the likes of Ogier, Østberg, Sordo, Meeke and Novikov. In his third WRC start, Sweden 2012, he won a stage.

Elfyn also was 2nd and 4th on stages in Monte 2014, his second WRC start.

These are already better than Greensmith has done in his eight starts.

It's true that it takes years to become a regular podium finisher or winner, and not all get there ever. But any driver to become should be able to show even occasional bursts of speed earlier on. Even Lefebvre won a few stages!

To be fair, I have the same feeling about Katsuta, I doubt he will progress much from the current level, even with this much practice.

Rich Millener:

'We’ve always said even if you went into a WRC car it’s probably a three-to-four-year process once you step into that car before you’re actually competitive at the top end. You look at somebody like Kalle who’s been doing a huge amount of testing, he’s putting in some incredible times and he probably could have won a rally this year at some point but there are small mistakes which comes with just having more and more and more time and experience in the car and not only the car but understanding the stages that you’re in and not making any mistakes.
The top guys are on the top level in the world so to get to that point is not easy.'

[AnttiL]

Like I said, Kalle is in the level where he can show rally winning pace from time to time but not still consistent enough to win rallies. Tänak and Evans were there also quite quickly after getting into WRC. Greensmith is still far from that level.

[T16]

Rich Millener:

'We’ve always said even if you went into a WRC car it’s probably a three-to-four-year process once you step into that car before you’re actually competitive at the top end. You look at somebody like Kalle who’s been doing a huge amount of testing, he’s putting in some incredible times and he probably could have won a rally this year at some point but there are small mistakes which comes with just having more and more and more time and experience in the car and not only the car but understanding the stages that you’re in and not making any mistakes.
The top guys are on the top level in the world so to get to that point is not easy.'

So the team manager at M-Sport defends the clearly inadequate (at this level) driving of a man who pays the team a shit load of cash in exchange for one of their cars. Surprise surprise.

[wyler]

So the team manager at M-Sport defends the clearly inadequate (at this level) driving of a man who pays the team a shit load of cash in exchange for one of their cars. Surprise surprise.

Come on, that's too harsh. I'm sure they really think there's some more in greensmith to check out. And he showed some rare glimpse. I remember some good time in Germany and a good afternoon loop in Monte this year. Not nearly enough for sure, i think definitely isn't there yet, but maybe he can improve his pace to a good second-tier driver. I'd give him more time.
And btw, some style of sunglasses in wrc can't harm! : )

[AnttiL]

I remember some good time in Germany and a good afternoon loop in Monte this year.

Monte I already checked out, only one or two stages where he wasn't the slowest WRC and also an embarrassing crash.

Germany 2019 however went better, he was constantly closer to the main pack and much faster than Katsuta, also being able to beat the likes of Lappi and Mikkelsen a couple of times when they were struggling with their cars, and also being faster than Meeke and Latvala on one short stage. But he also crashed there.

[T16]

Come on, that's too harsh. I'm sure they really think there's some more in greensmith to check out. And he showed some rare glimpse. I remember some good time in Germany and a good afternoon loop in Monte this year. Not nearly enough for sure, i think definitely isn't there yet, but maybe he can improve his pace to a good second-tier driver. I'd give him more time.
And btw, some style of sunglasses in wrc can't harm! : )

He can take as he wants (or as long as the funds allow) to get up to speed. He’s a pay driver, after all.
I’m just convinced he’s not going to do anything at all.
M-sport will play whatever tune needs playing to keep him in the car.... it’s all just pound notes to them.

[TypeR]

He can take as he wants (or as long as the funds allow) to get up to speed. He’s a pay driver, after all.
I’m just convinced he’s not going to do anything at all.
M-sport will play whatever tune needs playing to keep him in the car.... it’s all just pound notes to them.

Did Gus take your gf/wife or why are u so btthurt about him in many threads..