2022 WRC News & Rumours

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Even if what you say was the actual thought process, it's still a vote against Tanak. Rather than backing their best chance, they admitted defeat. It would be quite something if Rovenpera ended up winning the title by less than 7 points...

How much of your own money would you place on that happening though ? Not much I bet.

Neuville deserved some consideration in this situation. Swapping postitions for points is one thing, but taking a victory off a driver is another... and especially one without a win for nearly a year.

[TypeR]

It isn't like taking away Neuville's first victory..
But let that be.
They gave Toyota extra 5 points on PS. Both Neuville and Sordo were driving at bicycle speed there..

[Eli]

It isn't like taking away Neuville's first victory..
But let that be.
They gave Toyota extra 5 points on PS. Both Neuville and Sordo were driving at bicycle speed there..

Bringing Oliver to most events in a Rally1 car this year probably cost them more than those 5 points, but I agree, they left a fair few points for Toyota to take in Greece. Luckily for them, Evans wasn’t there to take any.

[AnttiL]

( Toyota were 1-3-4 if Rovanpera crashed they would be 1-3).

No difference in manu points.

The thing about Acropolis 2022 situation was that the whole rally win was in question. Not even Adamo or Ogier at M-Sport demanded wins to be given away, just low positions, super rally tactical penalties or sacrificing one single point for power stage performance. We remember giving wins from Lancia team of the 80’s but when was the last time it happened in WRC? Kankkunen gave two wins to Sainz in 1997 (Greece and Indonesia).

[macebig]

Top of my mind: Australia 2011, Spain 2009, Acropolis 2000 and probably a few more...

[mknight]

How about Turkey 2019? Before Sunday Ogier and Lappi were even and Lappi just beat Ogier by 4s after a small mistake on stage before.

Immediatelly on first stage Lappi posted worst stage result of the weekend until that point and both him and Ogier started to talk about taking it safe and saving tires for PS (Ogier).

Was pretty much understood as team orders. Sure it is not giving away a clear win, but it is as close as you get.

[AnttiL]

https://twitter.com/TGR_WRC/status/1571771773493952513

Ogier drives all of NZ, Catalunya and Japan

[AnttiL]

How about Turkey 2019? Before Sunday Ogier and Lappi were even and Lappi just beat Ogier by 4s after a small mistake on stage before.

Immediatelly on first stage Lappi posted worst stage result of the weekend until that point and both him and Ogier started to talk about taking it safe and saving tires for PS (Ogier).

Was pretty much understood as team orders. Sure it is not giving away a clear win, but it is as close as you get.

I don't remember it that way. Lappi made a small mistake at a hairpin on SS12 and Ogier got past him. Lappi was still faster on SS13 and they were separated by only 0.2s at the end of Saturday. At that point, it has been just sensible to "hold positions", not like Lappi was asked to give Ogier a win.

[Eli]

Saw Antill already posted about Ogier, disregard this post.

[AndyRAC]

Interesting news about Ogier; he cut short his WEC programme to spend more time with the family...And now does the rest of the WRC season.