Silly Season 2015

[EstWRC]

Tänak deserves a proper chance with in season testing. In 2012 he and Neuville were even, one rally Neuville was faster the next rally Tänak was faster. They finished 7th and 8th in the championship with 53(Neuville) and 52 (Tänak) points. But the difference was that Tänak had no testing before rallies while Neuville had, the only test Tänak had was before rally Monte Carlo and that was it for the whole season. So, in that perspective i would say Tänak was more impressive.
But what happened was that Tänak was dumped and Neuville wasn't and look how good Thierry was last year.

[Fly]

Kubica official announcement shortly.
No surprise, he will drive a DS 3 WRC (PH Sport) with teammate Protasov on several occasions.
http://www.autonews-magazine.com/blog/?p=42845

[BDA Cosworth]

Bouffier is a fast driver, but not enough to be in a factory seat. Also he's a little bit old to learn all the rallies in the championship. The best thing for him will be to continue with Hyundai I think. Hanninen has the speed and also has some knowledge of the rallies already and will be great if he can get the seat but doubt it. Tanak is the most obvious choice - he's young, fast, has relationship with M-sport, know's already the stages but of course need some consistency. Let's see what will happen in next weeks.

Hmmm Tanak being the obvious choice. Not so sure on this logic. Tanak has had a lot of WRC events to settle down and has done a pretty piss poor job of that. Paddon did EXACTLY what he was asked to do by the team. He's not exactly in a position to just throw the car off the road like some of the up and comings have been able to with bigger budgets (E.g Novikov, Tanak, Mads, Kubica, Wilson etc etc etc).

Hayden has very little seat and testing time in the current car (more so then past seasons). His results are very good considering this fact. Lets see how this weekend goes shall we and see if you guys change your tune.

Tanak is certainly a quick driver, I just hope he can keep a WRC car on the road for a few events in a row and still set good stage times.

[mohit]

any news about 2nd Citroen driver for 2015

[noel157]

any news about 2nd Citroen driver for 2015

You mean any news about Petter? Just joking, appreciate you're a fan of his but I think, if Mads gets the boot, a younger driver would be better.

[MJW]

any news about 2nd Citroen driver for 2015

I was recently told that Kubica was joining the main Citroen team, however, more sources are now saying that it is a two car team with Protasov with LOTOS backing in PH Sport. That leaves the question does Mads stay to accompany Meeke or is it Chardonnet or Lefebrve in the other factory Citroen.

[Iron]

Hmmm Tanak being the obvious choice. Not so sure on this logic. Tanak has had a lot of WRC events to settle down and has done a pretty piss poor job of that. Paddon did EXACTLY what he was asked to do by the team. He's not exactly in a position to just throw the car off the road like some of the up and comings have been able to with bigger budgets (E.g Novikov, Tanak, Mads, Kubica, Wilson etc etc etc).

Hayden has very little seat and testing time in the current car (more so then past seasons). His results are very good considering this fact. Lets see how this weekend goes shall we and see if you guys change your tune.

Tanak is certainly a quick driver, I just hope he can keep a WRC car on the road for a few events in a row and still set good stage times.

I think Tanak clearly deserves a second chance with a whole WRC season ! He was really fast for a first season in 2012, his few outings with the WRC were really impressive (Sweden - 5th place, Portugal, fastest Ford driver before a crash...)

Ok he has a problem with finishing events (such as Neuville in 2012) but he may progress and it would be a shame not to give him a chance... He's for me at the moment, the fastest driver who has not an officiel wheel in WRC ! And I remember that in 2012 he lost many points by crashing on Sundays (with no rally2 possible), so he was really close to make a lot of a great results...

Now he's more mature, everything is possible for 2015.

[Motorsportfun]

I was recently told that Kubica was joining the main Citroen team, however, more sources are now saying that it is a two car team with Protasov with LOTOS backing in PH Sport. That leaves the question does Mads stay to accompany Meeke or is it Chardonnet or Lefebrve in the other factory Citroen.

Still keep Bouffier on the list for Citroen. He's experienced, no contract renewal with Hyundai. Let's keep an eye there...

As for Chardonnet, didn't Matton told in Spain that he wasn't that confident that Chardonnet was really ready for a full-season in a factory team, because of the pressure and high-level? Hmmm...

[Iron]

Still keep Bouffier on the list for Citroen. He's experienced, no contract renewal with Hyundai. Let's keep an eye there...

As for Chardonnet, didn't Matton told in Spain that he wasn't that confident that Chardonnet was really ready for a full-season in a factory team, because of the pressure and high-level? Hmmm...

You won't see Bouffier on a Citroën, he isn't on any list...
He isn't experienced in WRC, he is (quite) old to begin in WRC... And Monte-Carlo appart, he wasn't really convincing this season...

Matton has explained many times he wants to help some young drivers for the future... (when he estimates they will be ready). If tomorrow, he decides to replace Ostberg by someone who is new in WRC that represents future for him, he will take a young (french) driver but not Bouffier, 36 years old, with no knowledge of the WRC events and who has shown a good pace only in Monte Carlo... Bouffier is good for ERC but never has the potential for the WRC...

The best Bouffier could get is two or three outings on tarmac with Hyundai like this year (and I think that Hyundai should give the chance to other drivers in priority : Paddon, another young driver or Hanninen to see what he can do on tarmac)

[WUff1]

Kubica official announcement shortly.
No surprise, he will drive a DS 3 WRC (PH Sport) with teammate Protasov on several occasions.
http://www.autonews-magazine.com/blog/?p=42845

Several occasions? So just a few rallies and not the whole season?