[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

[Mariusz]

The difference is that Kubica did not succeed at ERC level before moving on.
In fact perhaps he is the perfect example that driving WRC2 is not a good preparation for stepping up to a World Rally Car in WRC.

ERC is waste of time for drivers who have money and want to achieve something in WRC.

[Zeakiwi]

Hyundai are likely to turn up with 4 cars or bench Paddon at some WRC events. I would expect to see Bouffier in a Hyundai at Rally France.

[RS]

ERC is waste of time for drivers who have money and want to achieve something in WRC.

Ask Mr Mikelssen, Meeke, Neuville if they feel the same..

I also think Abbring and Lappi have brighter futures ahead than most.

[peter_85]

One thing is certain, Kubica is not qualified for WDC in Rally, not currently anyway.

No one is qualified for WDC in Rally after only 2 seasons in WRC.

The important thing is what he really wants. If it is to drive WRC, why not, everyone which has such possibility can do that, the more, the better. For sure he can't fight with Ogier & Latvala, but we can say with same weight to other teams and drivers in WRC factory teams.

Lotos wants to see Kubica in WRC and Kubica wants to drive. But he need good-prepared car. In current situation, if you want go full season in WRC, you can choose only M-Sport. But Kubica is not satisfied with that cooperation after this season. So, the most likely scenario is that Kubica will quit WRC and go back to racing at circuits.

By the way. If you want to know what I meant by a good-prepared car you can also ask Francois Delecoier after his last Monte Carlo...

[N.O.T]

Ask Mr Mikelssen, Meeke, Neuville if they feel the same..

I also think Abbring and Lappi have brighter futures ahead than most.

Apart from Neuville no one else was atrue WRC boy. Mikkelsen was just there to gain experience for VW and Meeke because he got a deal with peugeot uk and the funds were good enough for there only. ERC is not a waste of time but it is not something you can harvest talent from.

[Mariusz]

Originally Posted by Mariusz
ERC is waste of time for drivers who have money and want to achieve something in WRC.

Ask Mr Mikelssen, Meeke, Neuville if they feel the same..

Do you think they want to go back to ERC? I'm sure they want to stay in WRC and keep gaining experience with the best drivers and toughest roads, keep learning stages and keep polishing pacenotes and setups.

[stefanvv]

But he need good-prepared car.

Why? What he wants to achieve? Why isn't his car good enough for a private driver? I know there are some differences in "factory" and private cars, but isn't that level also depends on the payment level?

So, the most likely scenario is that Kubica will quit WRC and go back to racing at circuits.

Well, he is certainly going to do better there judging from his current Rally experience. Is this mostly sponsorship quest?

[WUff1]

...
Lotos wants to see Kubica in WRC and Kubica wants to drive. But he need good-prepared car. In current situation, if you want go full season in WRC, you can choose only M-Sport. But Kubica is not satisfied with that cooperation after this season. So, the most likely scenario is that Kubica will quit WRC and go back to racing at circuits.
...

Think so too after today´s non-announcement of Kubica/Lotos. Don´t forget entries for Monte close today.

[peter_85]

Why? What he wants to achieve? Why isn't his car good enough for a private driver? I know there are some differences in "factory" and private cars, but isn't that level also depends on the payment level?

For me it looks like Kubica just didn't receive what he paid for. It's not about about differences between factory and private car. It's more about that M-Sport has some kind of monopoly for private cars in WRC and at some point they probably thought it doesn't matter if they put used parts as new because Kubica will crash again, but Kubica didn't crash like in Catalunya and someone discovered that M-Sport is cheating.

[stefanvv]

For me it looks like Kubica just didn't receive what he paid for. It's not about about differences between factory and private car. It's more about that M-Sport has some kind of monopoly for private cars in WRC and at some point they probably thought it doesn't matter if they put used parts as new because Kubica will crash again, but Kubica didn't crash like in Catalunya and someone discovered that M-Sport is cheating.

If M-Sport are monopolists in WRC private cars, how come Raikonen had Citroen when was in WRC? I don't know about used parts, I was thinking about different parts.
Still I'm wondering, how many times his car is broken because of used parts, and how many times because of crashes?