2022 WRC News & Rumours

[AnttiL]

That seems less and less to be true.

Most recent example, Greensmith "signed" for full year while Fourmaux is seemingly still haggling about money.

This guy talking about possible Puma starts while Huttunen says he knows nothing about next year.

Suninen is out of MSport already, etc.

If MSport can get "full price" from some guy with no hope for good result and much less from a "talent" it seems they go for the full price option.

I'm quite sure this Australian dude will not be driving for manufacturer points. It will be a customer "gentleman" drive. Greensmith has blended the border here by making their way into the manufacturer team, but is also likely to score better manufacturer points than the average customer "gentleman".

It's also good to remember that these customers could be what keeps M-Sport in the business because they don't have the car manufacturer budget behind them.

[sti123]

Heard a rumor that New Zealand Rally will not take place and it will be replaced with rally Germany. Real pity if true.

[rallyfiend]

Heard a rumor that New Zealand Rally will not take place and it will be replaced with rally Germany. Real pity if true.

Is there a 'Rally Germany' to replace it?

After 2 years, surely there's not much left of the organisation....?

[MartijnS]

Indeed..
There is a new rally in the area of Rally Germany on the 1st and 2nd of July but only 6x 2 stages.

[TypeR]

lol, that's how it starts.. didn't expect it so early tho

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/why-o...me-wrc-return/

[ictus]

I'm quite sure this Australian dude will not be driving for manufacturer points. It will be a customer "gentleman" drive. Greensmith has blended the border here by making their way into the manufacturer team, but is also likely to score better manufacturer points than the average customer "gentleman".

It's also good to remember that these customers could be what keeps M-Sport in the business because they don't have the car manufacturer budget behind them.

Also bear in mind that such gentelman drivers will be able to compete in 2021 WRC cars in 2022

[mknight]

They're a business, not a charity.

Rally cars cost money to build and run - who knew?

Yep, they are business who's primary goal is to be profitable, not to win or perform well.

Results are just a requirement for
a) Ford to keep supporting them in some way (is it really?, seems like Ford doesn't care much about results as long as it's "MSport WRT").
b) Customers to keep paying them (and not go to Hyundai like Loubet and Veiby did, or rather drive WRC2 in a competitive car like Lappi, Mikkelsen and Suninen all did this year)
But part of their business model is also in raising and "selling" drivers, like Tanak and Evans. Hard to sell anyone if they only get non-competitive drivers.

Personally my long term issue with them is when they try to pretend otherwise (not only in press releases but also in interviews).

My long term issue with some fans is when they defend how this is great. It might be better than one less team, but only to a certain point. If it's as bad as this year they might as well have left for my part. (For someone standing on the road-side of a stage it is still better than less WRC cars for sure).

In either case any real fan of MSport should want them to be better and be able to compete, not defend how well they make money.

If the 'talent' hasn't got the money to run, the car stays at Dovenby Hall. It's not like the guy with €1 more steals the car away from them.

You know it's not like that. A talent like Huttunen surely has some sponsors that can pay say 70% of the price, doesn't get him a drive when MSport doesn't want to use any own money.
Would the car still stay in a garage if Huttunen with half the money was the only option (for example due to some rules, as was suggest when 2017 cars started)?

See also the above comment. A talent like Huttunen can potentially bring future profits, which is why MSport might "invest" in them and run them for less money as they have done with many drivers before.

Also bear in mind that such gentelman drivers will be able to compete in 2021 WRC cars in 2022

That article mentions Puma specifically.

[macebig]

Guess some posters don't anything more useful to do than shit on a team that was, is and will be in WRC (unlike the ones they support...) and has proven time and time they can challenge for the titles and win them when things go their way...

[logic]

Guess some posters don't anything more useful to do than shit on a team that was, is and will be in WRC (unlike the ones they support...) and has proven time and time they can challenge for the titles and win them when things go their way...

I cant like this post enough, then there´s the ones that think they know better and should be running the teams, its laughable.

[er88]

Guess some posters don't anything more useful to do than shit on a team that was, is and will be in WRC (unlike the ones they support...) and has proven time and time they can challenge for the titles and win them when things go their way...

They challenge for titles (and very occasionally win them) when they act like a proper team and employ the best team/drivers possible. That's a fact.

They are getting a bit of stick for next for next year, because they told the world they had the means to try and attract at least one of the top top drivers which would've been millions in salary + a financial commitment to maintain proper development for a few yrs. In fact, Malcolm even said it would be his dream to have 3 strong drivers like he did with Ogier/Evans/Tanak....

So either they lied to their fans about that, or they've waved the white flag because they couldn't get (Tanak/Evans/Neuville), and decided to go into money making mode instead of employing the next best available drivers.

If they wanted to be a serious team they could've had Breen, Lappi and Mikkelsen in a 3 car team for a full year - that's still a damn good lineup (especially if the car has an early advantage). Then with full pay driver Greensmith in a 4th car and good prospect Fourmaux in a 5th car with red bull backing (possibly shared with Loeb, as Seb wants to do his 4rounds).

Instead, we effectively have pay drivers/ drivers with backing in the 2nd and 3rd cars, plus the pay/gentlemen drivers in the 4th/5th/6th cars too (besides Loeb for a few events).

It's great they're still in the WRC and will be here for years considering the business they have, but Ford also invests in them more than some people like to make out. They aren't hung out to dry by Ford.