Young talented drivers

[Slipzen]

I would say Pontus Tidemand from Sweden have good potential to perform well.

[vino_93]

What did he do from 2009 to 2013?

nothing related to motorsport

What is missing the most in nordic countries is one-make cup. It helps you a lot to progress, facing a really good opposition because everyone wants to be here. And you're highlight if you win, manufacturers clearly see who you are, sponsors too ...

Quite strange for me was the carrier of Rantanen. He did really good times on his national WRC event (7th in 2008 in his second year of 4WD rally, 5th in 2009 whereas a drove a Clio Ragnotti in UK, and then he struggle to find programs ...). There was a lack of support for this guy, whereas we could have seen him doing a year of SWRC, JWRC, IRC ... if it was a bit better organized in Finland. How a guy doing such great times couldn't find money to run other international events ? Why noone support in Finland, even national federation ? Did he have a manager, or someone to put him in touch with official teams ?
Finland is missing something to help their young guys. Today we can see good guys, like Suninen, Vuorisalo or Haapamäki ... but what will they do this year ? Will they have some international highlights ? If finnish hopes can't go out of Finland, for sure they'll never find international highlights.

[tommeke_B]

Keep in mind that a one-make cup only works in countries with enough competitors. In France there's a lot of interest, but in most countries the system doesn't really work. Last year the Belgian one-make cups weren't worth watching either...

BTW, this topic should be re-named to something like "young talents", there's much more to talk about than the 3 drivers mentioned in the title...

[Ounin]

Keep in mind that a one-make cup only works in countries with enough competitors. In France there's a lot of interest, but in most countries the system doesn't really work. Last year the Belgian one-make cups weren't worth watching either...

BTW, this topic should be re-named to something like "young talents", there's much more to talk about than the 3 drivers mentioned in the title...

Yes you are right we should rename this topic it's running out of hand.
Every country has its talents for sure, but that's all within their own specialism like being snow-, gravel or tarmac specialists. In order to be interesting for the manufactures you have to be allround. And to stay an bit on this topic; France is the place to be. FFSA provides young talents to drive in Tarmac as wel as Gravel championships. it also provides young guys with small budgets to enter in one make R2 champiosnhips with interesting prices were next year - gaining more experience/climbing up the ladder, is guaranteed.

[Rallyper]

One thing bothers me @Rallyper... You complain that nobody is talking about Nordic drivers, and it's all about the French. Why don't you tell us about the young talents from Nordic countries? Who made a big impression on you in the last 2 years, in national championships in Sweden and Norway? There must be some... We can't see and know everything, why don't you show us..

Maybe I did. Not on WRC topics. Look at European National championships topics instead. It´ll be more in the future.
(However - should I tell you that Pontus Tidemand won swedish sprint championship today by 11 secs over 6 K, would it impress you? And Emil Bergkvist won 2WD in an old Astra Kit car in same championship - would you and your buddies bather?

[Mirek]

Pontus has been around on the international scene for quite a time. It sure said a lot more about him than 6 km long event in Sweden (no offense there)

[Rallyper]

Pontus has been around on the international scene for quite a time. It sure said a lot more about him than 6 km long event in Sweden (no offense there)

He´s been around but never had the ultimate chance like driving when others pay... Today he impressed a lot, whether you believe it or not. Swedish champion Jerker Axelsson in S12 beaten by over 12 secs in very tricky conditions over as said about 6 K.

[EightGear]

It's kind of worrying for him though that he wasn't picked by Toyota. Of the 5 young drivers who tested for them he's the only one who hasn't been linked to a program with them.


Still I'm curious to see him in WRC2 for a full season.

[Rallyper]

It's kind of worrying for him though that he wasn't picked by Toyota. Of the 5 young drivers who tested for them he's the only one who hasn't been linked to a program with them.


Still I'm curious to see him in WRC2 for a full season.

Agreed. For me he has done much more than Camilli, but still - he is nordic. And at the moment you have to be french, right?

[tommeke_B]

Agreed. For me he has done much more than Camilli, but still - he is nordic. And at the moment you have to be french, right?

Abbring, Paddon and Tanak aren't French either... Tidemand didn't do much events last year. He was very impressive in Germany... Pitty he chose to do RallyX, which is more a sport for retired people... I'm also not sure about the advantage or disadvantage of being at EvenRally... With Mikkelsen and especially Lappi, it was clear that one manager could not always work for all 3 drivers, especially on projects with manufacturers where there's only one seat available. Now we'll have to see how things evolve with the managers son (Veiby) starting his career as well...