2016 Silly Season

[rallyfiend]

Camilli was never contracted to 'Toyota', but to TMG. And it is reasonably well-known now that TMG is unlikely to have any involvement in the new Toyota GAzoo Racing WRC team under Tommi - indeed the car they've been testing seems to be destined for the museum, so all past work lost...

[dodge33cymru]

Yeah, that's the weird part of it. So it has to make you ask, who is paying if not them?

[Lundefaret]

Tommi has used both Camilli and Sunninen in testing, and they are both Toyota drivers. Don't see any other logic to this than that Toyota has outbid the Evans family, and want Camilli primed to the number two driver spot in the 2017 Toyota line up. Camilli is a very interesting driver, and in my opinion his current potential is above that of Evans.

[EightGear]

Looks like he has a deal for more than one year so that makes any Toyota link unlikely. Colin Clark is on twitter suggesting FFSA may be paying for him.

[kiil]

I am not disagreeing on the potential of Camilli, but i really see no indication this has anything to do with Toyota. Why kick out the current (long term) payer, Evans with a one year drive for Camilli who you will be competing against next year?

[dodge33cymru]

Surprising but that was my other guess, they could surely be funding a lot of young drivers in France with that budget, but depends

a) if they're actually paying a large % of it or 'just' a contribution

and

b) if it's a specific request of a private FFSA backer



At least it should calm down EstWRC knowing Tanak has a drive and Evans doesn't, but I feel that's very unlucky on Evans. Hopefully he has a few outings planned in the R5, is involved in development of the 2017 car or there's more news to come.

I don't see why Bertelli would share a car. If he doesn't have to (and clearly he can afford to run a season himself), I don't understand why he'd pay for someone else.

[tommeke_B]

And what if Evans has to bring a certain amount of money for the complete season and he couldn't manage to do it? Maybe we could see a B-team with Bertelli and Evans next year (as mentioned here before).

[dodge33cymru]

I don't believe Evans has ever brought money to the team, he works at their facility and was a personal project of Malcolm, but I understand it's not one he can afford with the extra events, improving R2 and R5 competition and hopefully a 2017 car development.

[WUff1]

Bertelli said that he´ll keep his typical brown livery - so probably no official M Sport driver, maybe similar to Kubica in 2014.

[AndyRAC]

Where would Evans get the money from?? UK drivers have no chance of raising sponsorship....

I would think Camilli has got funds from possibly both the FFSA & TMG....
The MSA won't and never have funded drivers.....