[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

[focus206]

I'm amazed by how much pressure some of you guys put on the young or inexperienced drivers when you consider how much time and patience guys like Hirvonen and Latvala were given.

He doesn't have to convince ME. He has to convince manufacturers, and we all know they don't have much patience if drivers don't bring $$$. You think he'd receive many other chances if he would crash out in 3 of those remaining events?

[MJW]

http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/20...16-wrc-season/

First taste of 2016.
Australia confirmed, so I guess that's NZ still out.
If they're bringing in at least one new event and keeping the same number, I guess that means that France, GB, Germany or Portugal out....

I think of the unconfirmed rallies Germany will be safe, afterall there are two teams based thers plus Toyota joining soon. I would say France is most at risk but Portugal is also a risk from moving north (that's why organisers are probably SO strict on spectators this year) and as for GB 2015 is last year of current sponsorship agreement and an extension has (yet)not been confirmed. GB also has a risk from new spectator safety rules imposed after several fatalities on Jim Clark Rally in Scotland plus others in the last year.
I am failrly confident FIA will award a 'new rally' instead of one or maybe two of the above rallies money talks very loudly with FIA.
Shame that NZ hasnt had a guaranteed slot. Maybe Hyundai (and Toyota) see Australia as a bigger market?

[RS]

He doesn't have to convince ME. He has to convince manufacturers, and we all know they don't have much patience if drivers don't bring $$$. You think he'd receive many other chances if he would crash out in 3 of those remaining events?

Was it ever confirmed that Hirvonen and Latvala were paying or did they just survive because Malcolm had a Finn-Fetish?

I think Meeke is a good example of a reasonable time frame. If Abbring can show some speed on his events this year I think he will be ok for next year even if he makes some mistakes.

[rallyfiend]

New car sales in 2014:

Australia: 1,113,000
New Zealand: 126,000

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to work why the manufacturers, promoter and FIA would choose Australia....

[focus206]

If Abbring can show some speed on his events this year I think he will be ok for next year even if he makes some mistakes.

Exactly, that's what I mean by "doing good". Showing some speed, possibly not crashing out.

[N.O.T]

Abbring has no past, present, or future in the top league.

[stefanvv]

Abbring's Sweden wasn't that impressive for lots of expectations, but this was still his first rally with a new WRC car, moreover on unfamiliar ground. I don't expect him to do many mistakes, but I expect him do much better in every rally afterwards.

[AL14]

Unfortunately at that level or you are Evans or you don't have too much chances to prove you are worth a seat. It's a pity because you need a lot of time and experience to show what you can really do in WRC but that's the way it is. If I were Abbring I would push as hell from the beginning not caring too much about crashes.

[Eli]

http://www.maxrally.com/2015/05/13/d...to-you-thierry
a rumour claiming that thierry might move to M-Sport next year? i thought he had a longer deal with hyundai

[Eli]

http://www.rallye-magazin.de/wm/nach...e-deutschland/
article talking about next year's calendar and also saying at the end of it that maybe Jordan will be back next year