Quote Originally Posted by skarderud View Post
I remember subaru 04-06 was totally f***ed up because of some F1 engineers and a blind thrust on computers. They didn't listen to the drivers at all, maybe something similiar is the fear in any japanese-involved project?
There were a lot of reasons why Subaru struggled in WRC post 2003, but it was Prodrives making, not Japanese ways of working. The only Japanese influences on the poor results stem from small budgets (comparable to that of Citroën), and a boxer engine mounted way forward.

Prodrive has always been a great engineering company, and they punched way above their weight with all of their Subarus all the way to mid 2004. This with a car with a not perfect layout, and not the biggest budgets.
But new regulations limited Prodrives creativity when it came to battling the effects of Subarus quirky engine layout. That combined with a company with then big F1 ambitions, led to a lot of strange decisions.

With little rally experience the new engineers made cars that could not cross water streams like in Argentina, that lost their rear wing, and had very strange handling. The worst came last, and something wrong in the front geometry (to much anti dive?) made the Subaru S14 very difficult to handle on the limit, because it gave the driver almost no feedback.
I remember Petter being hugely frustrated by this.
But it was Prodrive, not the Japanese.

But Toyota has used a huge amount of money in both their first serious LeMans attack (with TTE) and the following F1-campaign, and have come up with measly results in comparison with the money spent. I think this is why TMG is left "out in the cold", and that they select hiring "outside" forces to run their rally campaign.

Tommi Mäkkinen off course has a big challenge ahead, but he has some incredible qualities that could be just what is needed to pip VW from the throne.

Regarding the car I am 100% confident that they will come up with a winner. Regarding the driver(s), well... Much more difficult. There is only one Ogier on the market, and he has married German.

Mäkkinen him self is a very good rally driver developer, but he needs the right subject with the right frame of mind. Lappi could be a guess, he seems to have the frame of mind, and he should be able to humble down in front of a four time world champion. Mäkkinen could also be the guy to bring back the mojo of Neuville (but if he is ready to take driving lessons, I am not so sure.)

Either way Toyotas comeback will bring excitement in to the sport, I only hope Citroën (DS) decides to stay, and drop the lame WTCC-racing with neither attracts PR or excitement.