FORD - The potential is there ?

I don't know about what you guys think but it seems to me that M-Sport has all the necessary tools to beat Citroën. Somehow they just can't seem to get it all together.

The brains are there, the car sure is on par technology wise.
The car engineering looks top class.
The PIPO engine is top class.
The shocks, from REIGER, are awesome.
The tires are same for everyone.
The people running the show have experience at top level.
There is plenty of testing for the drivers.
The drivers show speed, but not consistently. Why is that ?

How can a driver be fast like hell one day holding it all together, then not anymore the next day ?

And how come it doesn't work on tarmac ?

So what the heck is wrong with them ?

[N.O.T]

Spending resources on the managers useless son....
Investing on drivers with money and not with talent...
Too much focus on manufacturers championship...

[jbmarcus21]

http://www.motorline.cc/rallye/index...en_Piloten.htm

[6789]

Too much focus on manufacturers championship...

+1

[amilk]

http://www.motorline.cc/rallye/index...en_Piloten.htm

Interesting report. Like you wrote first time we hear about 3rd driver and also speaking about less resource than Citroen as explanation why they are behind

They have to bring back Galli if they would like to be good on Asphalt and Gravel with one pilot

[bluuford]

Well, I think that Ford needs to think forward and think about the future. It would be necessary to hire one young talent and develop him and see what happens. They can continue with their pay drivers and just add another car to their park (it is not that expensive anymore when the team is already there and etc.). It is now clear indication by Citroen that investing in youth is a good thing. I can imagine the amount of publicity they got in France when Ogier won in front of Loeb. There are plenty of young talents moving around to test. Lets say, Mikkelsen, Hänninen, Ketomaa, Tänak and a few older talents like Meeke, Wilks, Atkinson, Galli etc. I think that the one who can encourage the teams is FIA who should reintroduce third driver rule. Formerly they wanted thrid driver to be the one without podium finish in last five years. Maybe they should changes it so that the third driver should be under 35 years old (or under 30 years). And there should also be also rule that the team manager and official drivers cannot be close relatives;-)

Well, I think that Ford needs to think forward and think about the future. It would be necessary to hire one young talent and develop him and see what happens. They can continue with their pay drivers and just add another car to their park (it is not that expensive anymore when the team is already there and etc.). It is now clear indication by Citroen that investing in youth is a good thing. I can imagine the amount of publicity they got in France when Ogier won in front of Loeb. There are plenty of young talents moving around to test. Lets say, Mikkelsen, Hänninen, Ketomaa, Tänak and a few older talents like Meeke, Wilks, Atkinson, Galli etc. I think that the one who can encourage the teams is FIA who should reintroduce third driver rule. Formerly they wanted thrid driver to be the one without podium finish in last five years. Maybe they should changes it so that the third driver should be under 35 years old (or under 30 years). And there should also be also rule that the team manager and official drivers cannot be close relatives;-)

The third driver rule is definitely a good thing to have, I agree. it was big mistake when the third car was banned. The two best cars score and two of the drivers (or one) should be entered in all events ?

This would definitely get some guys to have a go at it with good material.

[Barreis]

They need P.Solberg but I don't like ford team.

http://www.motorline.cc/rallye/index...en_Piloten.htm

So after a rough translating, what loriaux is saying is that basically the drivers are not confident enough in the car ?

Maybe the car is too "specialized" and doesn't allow enough for improvising? Maybe it is not responsive enough and so the guys lose it when when they try too hard?

looks like they better stop doing whatever they have been doing up until now and try something else cause the manu and drivers titles are soon gone.

[Sulland]

Also another interesting point:
2010 WRCar: 500 000 euro
2010 S2000: 300 000 euro
2011 WRCar: 400 000 euro

Wow the private teams are saving 100 000 euro.
In two years we are back till todays situation, and still 2-3 manufacturers.

Morrie Chandler and FIA; wow, job well done.
If that is the case they could drop the whole plan for new regs in 2011, it is already a failure in my opinion.