Silly Season 2022

[AnttiL]

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/m...s/6686466/amp/

No surprises coming from M-Sport

[er88]

So Mikkelsen, Ostberg, (Paddon), Suninen, Gryazin etc all wrc2 or will have to pay to drive a rally1 (or nothing at all). However with Msport pushing for privateers in the rally1, I can see Mikkelsen and maybe Gryazin paying for a few events. Suninen probably wrc2 for Hyundai, maybe a few events in a 2c hyundai later in the year, and Ostberg wrc2 again with citroen if he still has the appetite for another season in that category?

Paddon probably nothing, or a one off event with Msport somewhere. Loubet is a bit of an unknown too, especially if Hyundai might not have (m)any spare i20 rally1s for most of the year.

[AnttiL]

In direct comparison Rovanpera was supposed to outscore Sordo+Breen+Loeb on their chosen rallies with road position advantage, in his first WRC season. That was entirely impossible.

In the end Rovanpera got just 27 manu points!
Sordo+Breen+Loeb got 81 !!!

The thing with manu points is that the third best driver never gets them. With Hyundai's third drivers getting so much points, it's more of an indication that their first and second drivers got into trouble more often. Rovanperä finished many rallies as the third best Toyota, and in those situations his position was irrelevant to manu points. But it's also true there were rallies where he should have been ahead of some Hyundais, like Turkey, Sardinia and Monza.

[jonkka]

In the end Rovanpera got just 27 manu points!
Sordo+Breen+Loeb got 81 !!!

In 2020 Manufacturers'?
Rovanpera scored 37 points.
Sordo 40, Breen 18 and Loeb 25 which is total of 83 points.

[pantealex]

So Mikkelsen, Ostberg, (Paddon), Suninen, Gryazin etc all wrc2 or will have to pay to drive a rally1 (or nothing at all). However with Msport pushing for privateers in the rally1, I can see Mikkelsen and maybe Gryazin paying for a few events.

Msport was pushing for privateers 2017 also ...

Result is that both Hyundai and Toyota have builded more WRC17-21 cars than Msport.

[Danny0405]

Given the decision of Breen to jump ship early to M-Sport, was there a better single 3rd driver or combination Adamo could have signed than Sordo/Solberg ?

If Sordo and Solberg just do their strongest/favourite events they should be good points scorers if required.

No remaining drivers deserved a full-time season so a split car was the best decision. Sordo is a no brainer considering his level on asphalt; the only question was about the fast-gravel/snow driver; I think Solberg is not the best choice but at least, they succeed in taking Suninen in their «*sphere of influence*» so that if Solberg still get trouble, they could test him.

About the debate on last year manufacturer title, do not forget that Toyota lost the 2019 title so saying it is Rovanpera’s fault (or the fact of signing him) is harsh. He was consistent as a third driver by ensuring a 4th or 5th position each time.
Personally, for me, the main responsible of Toyota’s loss last year is the regulation which allows such a dominant manufacturer to lose the championship and also, don’t forget Evans craziness in Monza (understandable but he could have won the championship being more conservative).
And also the fact that Toyota have never applied a split car strategy (they will do it next year but more because you cannot refuse a seat to Ogier than because they are willing to, and even let’s see if Lappi will not do full year thanks to the 4th car) which has some advantages and some drawbacks
At least, it allowed Hyundai not to be humiliated but, from a performance point of view, there is no debate of which was the best manufacturer in 2020.

About M-Sport, I absolutely do not understand their strategy if they let Mikkelsen out, considering their situation in Rally2; as he has other ressources (Red Bull), I think he would even accept to drive for free as far as M-Sport gives him 4-5 Rally1 outings.

[mknight]

You can also turn MSports thinking around...let's say they don't have enough cars in the start of the season and taking Mikkelsen in would mean Greensmith can't run 1-2 rallies in the new car ( but could in the detuned old car as MSport now claims).
Do they think he would leave and take the money elsewhere? Where? Toyota rarely sells ride and will have enough work securing car for Katsuta. Hyundai will have similar issues with Solberg and already have Loubet, Veiby and likely Suninen interested in rides.

[Danny0405]

You can also turn MSports thinking around...let's say they don't have enough cars in the start of the season and taking Mikkelsen in would mean Greensmith can't run 1-2 rallies in the new car ( but could in the detuned old car as MSport now claims).
Do they think he would leave and take the money elsewhere? Where? Toyota rarely sells ride and will have enough work securing car for Katsuta. Hyundai will have similar issues with Solberg and already have Loubet, Veiby and likely Suninen interested in rides.

Personnally, my idea would be
Full season for Breen
11 Rally1 rounds for Greensmith
11 for Fourmaux
4 for Mikkelsen where Greensmith and/or Fourmaux are not competitive (Sweden instead of one of the two, one tarmac instead of Greensmith + 2 others) + a full 7-round Rally2 season.
And another young M-Sport driver in Rally 2 (Cais?)

Would sound a good compromise for all: Greensmith and Fourmaux with almost full season and being out only for rallies where they are not efficient.
M-Sport would benefit from Mikkelsen’s experience to try a come-back at a better level in Rally2 (as Citroen did with Ostberg).
And Mikkelsen would benefit from some Rally1 outings to maintain a hope of coming-back (3 years outside the main category would be too much like Ostberg now).

[AnttiL]

Le Mans 24h is arranged 11-12th June so it doesn’t prevent Ogier from doing any rally.

Only two WEC races collide with WRC: Fuji with Acropolis and Bahrain with Rally Japan.

Only one Extreme E race collides with WRC, again it’s Acropolis.

Ogier can pretty much pick and choose his rallies.

[seb_sh]

No it didn't, they lost the 2020 title due to it.

Who was available that could score more? Lappi maybe if he didn't go to Ford? Whoever it was needed to beat Loeb in Turkey and Sordo in Monza, otherwise you need someone who can beat "the big 4" in other rallies. Maybe if Toyota went with multiple drivers to profit from road position, but again who was available? Paddon? Hyundai simply had the better cards this time.

When Rovanpera was decided to be 3rd driver it was supposed to be Ogier's last season. What I meant was that they put a young driver in a full factory seat and now they have another rally winner and a clear driver for the future.