[WRC] News & Rumours (part V) 2017

[smsgrafica]

Seems like a gamble for Ogier.. leaving a car he can win with for one which is, err, sub-optimal at best.

Without official Ford support, M-Sport won't have the money to develop the car, hence it'll become the worst choice for him.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Without official Ford support, M-Sport won't have the money to develop the car, hence it'll become the worst choice for him.

But they developed it well enough from scratch to lead the Manufacturers this season. I think saying that is just an excuse for Ogier to leave.

The truth is, MSport cant afford his wages again without Ford or a major sponsor...

[AnttiL]

It would be pretty crazy wouldn't it. Moving to the assumed worst car for 2017 and then doing the same thing again in 2018.

Everyone thought Toyota would be the worst car for 2017

[BigWorm]

Paddon insists 2018 is his year for the push, which means he needs to be in the main car for the whole 2018 season, yet David Evans writes this:

''Hyundai has remained tight-lipped on next season, but Autosport's sources have confirmed Mikkelsen is expected to tackle a full season along with Thierry Neuville next year. Paddon and Sordo are expected to share a third i20 Coupe.''

Meh.

[pantealex]

Citroen said that they don´t have money for 4 cars in Catalonia, maybe that is also reason for not hiring Mikkelsen ?

How can they make deal with Ogier, he is 10x more expensive than Mikkelsen ?

I still don´t believe that M-Sport and Citroen are Ogier´s only choices.

[HaCo]

Citroen said that they don´t have money for 4 cars in Catalonia, maybe that is also reason for not hiring Mikkelsen ?

How can they make deal with Ogier, he is 10x more expensive than Mikkelsen ?

I still don´t believe that M-Sport and Citroen are Ogier´s only choices.

I see it the same way...

Nobody has a big sponsor for Ford in the pocket? Martini would be nice :-)

[macebig]

Unless a new manufacturer is coming (0% chance for that now), Ogier's choices is either Ford or Citroen. And possibly in both cases with reduced wages...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Ogier also said he could retire if 'everything isnt in place'...

I think its quite possible if he can go out winning the title with a different team... something Loeb didnt do.

[er88]

Citroen said that they don´t have money for 4 cars in Catalonia, maybe that is also reason for not hiring Mikkelsen ?

How can they make deal with Ogier, he is 10x more expensive than Mikkelsen ?

I still don´t believe that M-Sport and Citroen are Ogier´s only choices.

Citroen will find the money for a driver like Seb, but not Mikkelsen. Just like they would've found room for Ogier at the beginning of this year but not Andreas or Jari. Ogier probably feels he has unfinished business there, and it cannot be underestimated how important winning a championship with 3 different manufacturers could be for someone like Seb, who has nearly done it all now.

Almost a no lose situation for him. He has nothing to prove to anyone, with him highly likely to win a title away from the VW domination. He goes to Citroen on a nice big long term contract, French driver/French team, with the aim of returning them to the top of the sport. If he wins another title he's a god and regains a lot of support from the French people who still aren't huge on him, and if he struggles everyone will just blame the car which we know is currently the worst anyway (although i still dont think its fundamentally flawed, and can be turned into a title challenger)

[itix]

Strange news today. I guess it's the manufacturers title that they are chasing. Isn't Msport a bit too far ahead though? I'd be amazed if they manage.