Hyundai WRT

[denkimi]

yes. everybody has had problems sooner or later. I'm just saying and it is vastly acknowledged that tanak's driving style is more aggressive on the car than others. then, of course, you can build stronger cars and adjust for it (at least to a certain limit), still, the fact that has this nuance in his driving stays.

indeed. some drivers go around big stones and potholes and some go straight through, Tanak is one of the latter. I can't remember which year or rally, but i still remember video of a blind crest where everyone else took a line to avoid something, but tanak just went straight over it. If often works out fine, but sometimes it doesn't.

[Danny0405]

He finished 4th in WRC behind Tanak-Neuville-Ogier even while being dropped for multiple rallies (3) and while having no pace in the car on tarmac. Beating Evans (with same number of rallies) as well as Latvala, Meeke and Lappi with 3 more starts. Basically a season rather similar to Evans this year.

Yes it is possible he will do worse now (3 years, Rally1) but also that he will do better (See Loeb in i20 vs Puma and Tanak in old car on tarmac vs new).

On topic:

I'd also say dropping Solberg means it's more likely Tanak is staying.
But there is still a possibility that they want to aim for manu title at all costs because Tanak is leaving reducing their driver title chances. In that case Sordo-Mikkelsen-Suninen (or Evans in one car albeit unlikely) rotating in 2 cars could be a possible strategy.

I'd rate it like 70% for Tanak staying and 30% against.

PS: Find it close to impossible that Hyundai would be interested in hiring Breen for next year (likely would even need to pay him out of his contract).

I don’t say it’s awful but in 2019, he clearly only reach podiums thanks to road position by skipping the right events at the right moment and it’s probably only Adamo’s masterclass in his Hyundai tenure (in that sense, Evans was better in 2019 because Evans skipping events was less favourable for the Welsh); I wouldn’t have done better by doing the 3 other events. And it’s worse than Evans’ correct season.
So I still don’t really see how he can do more than 2-3 podiums in the season if he comes back full time and it will not be enough against Toyota in my opinion.

Then, as I evoked, the 2019 Hyundai strategy with only one full-time driver is a possibility. Less probable than Tanak staying though.
About Breen, I’m pretty sure M-Sport would be okay to free him of his contract for nothing if Hyundai wants him, considering how bad is the situation; still, I’m not sure it’s the best idea to make him come back for Hyundai.

[meh]

I'm just saying and it is vastly acknowledged that tanak's driving style is more aggressive on the car than others. then, of course, you can build stronger cars and adjust for it (at least to a certain limit), still, the fact that has this nuance in his driving stays.

I don't say that Tänak has not caused any technical issues for cars previously, but I still point out 2 things which comes to my mind when I'm reading this "aggressive style" talks:
* Tänak is known to be one of the best guys for tire-wear, he drives economically. It's a bit opposite of driving aggressive style.
* and with current car, Tänak has admitted that he can not drive that economically as he wants or what is "natural" for him.

[Danny0405]

Another interesting point in Hyundai’s announcement is that Solberg will do only recce and PR activities in Japan (whereas he was supposed to do the rallye normally).
They could put Sordo to maximize the result but, if the new driver is not a current manufacturer driver, it could be even more worthy to make him drive in Japan to get some habits.
As the publication of the entry list is very soon, it may explain why the announcement of splitting with Solberg has been done now and we may have the name of his replacement very soon.

[Eli]

Another interesting point in Hyundai’s announcement is that Solberg will do only recce and PR activities in Japan (whereas he was supposed to do the rallye normally).
They could put Sordo to maximize the result but, if the new driver is not a current manufacturer driver, it could be even more worthy to make him drive in Japan to get some habits.
As the publication of the entry list is very soon, it may explain why the announcement of splitting with Solberg has been done now and we may have the name of his replacement very soon.

When do they publish the entry list? is it 3 weeks prior? 4?

[Danny0405]

When do they publish the entry list? is it 3 weeks prior? 4?

Normally, closing is on 10th or 11th October and publication on 17th.

[trykmann]

I don't say that Tänak has not caused any technical issues for cars previously, but I still point out 2 things which comes to my mind when I'm reading this "aggressive style" talks:
* Tänak is known to be one of the best guys for tire-wear, he drives economically. It's a bit opposite of driving aggressive style.
* and with current car, Tänak has admitted that he can not drive that economically as he wants or what is "natural" for him.

In my opinion Tänak usually takes more out of the car than his teammates. This is reflected in the speed and stage wins statistics, for example 2018, 2019 and 2021 he had the most stage wins. Unfortunately this gives more stress to all the cars components, more speed = more force to all parts. I agree, in some occasions the more clever solution would be to take it a little bit slower and have a more careful approach. Still, if you want to win, then you have be faster than your rivals.

With all the technical errors, it is not so straightfoward as other members have pointed out. His teammates have had also similar technical problems. For example Toyota power streering or rims and Hyundai weak rear axle in 2021 season.

[WRCStan]

Another interesting point in Hyundai’s announcement is that Solberg will do only recce and PR activities in Japan (whereas he was supposed to do the rallye normally).
They could put Sordo to maximize the result but, if the new driver is not a current manufacturer driver, it could be even more worthy to make him drive in Japan to get some habits.
As the publication of the entry list is very soon, it may explain why the announcement of splitting with Solberg has been done now and we may have the name of his replacement very soon.

2 car entry possible?

[Danny0405]

2 car entry possible?

Nothing forbids it but don’t see the point for Hyundai (I don’t think they’re budget-constraint to be at that point) personally even if there will be nothing at stake in Japan. If they already know the identity of the new driver, it is clearly valuable to give him some mileage; and if not, sending Sordo could still be useful to give him mileage on tarmac.
On the other hand, for M-Sport, yeah, I would bet in an only 2-car entry (+ Serderidis as a client apparently).

[Tauri_J]

Dunno If posted but another confirmation about the toxic enviroment inside Hyundai's team.

"The difference in what they promised and what turned out was very shocking, says Solberg to SVT Sport.

The plan was a two-year contract together in order to invest in the future. But that changed quickly. The plan was that we would go for younger drivers, but we got new management and they only wanted to invest in experienced drivers, says Solberg.

Obviously it was tough. It has not been an easy year in the team. The team is not exactly in a good position and there has not been a good atmosphere in the team. But it's always better to have somewhere to drive, even if it's not always easy or fun. In a way, it's nice to be out, from all the politics and all the s**t that was in the team. But it was still a fantastic opportunity to drive in the world championship."