[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

[GigiGalliNo1]

DS3 RRC available for Monte in WRC spec?

[Mirek]

So what did he do when he was driving the DS3 RRC? Shifting with his nose?

Most likely linked to the 2015 homologation. In the time when Kubica was using DS3 RRC the normal WRC car had no hydraulic gearbox. This was changed in 2015 and I guess the modifications done on Kubica's car in that time are not compatible with the later WRC spec.

DS3 RRC available for Monte in WRC spec?

What are You asking about? RRC and WRC is same car.

[KiwiWRCfan]

Marc Marti has just tweeted "Dani Sordo is the nominate driver for 10 rallies" in 2016
Seems changes are occurring at Hyundai

Caution this may be connected to Día de los Santos Inocentes - December 28th is Spanish equivalent of April Fools Day

[dupanton]

Sebastien Loeb Racing will run a car in JWRC. Driver will be announced soon. It probably will be a French guy, maybe Dubert, Rossel, Margaillan...

The SLR driver will be Thierry Folb, he will do the full JWRC.

[Simmi]

Marc Marti has just tweeted "Dani Sordo is the nominate driver for 10 rallies" in 2016
Seems changes are occurring at Hyundai

Caution this may be connected to Día de los Santos Inocentes - December 28th is Spanish equivalent of April Fools Day

The plot thickens. Looks like he was responding to reports last night that the numbers for the season were going to be (3 - Neuville), (4 - Sordo) and (8 - Paddon). Wouldn't make sense to do a joke two days after the day itself.

Is he saying Sordo will be lead driver, or simply nominated as a manufacturer points scorer for 10 rounds?

[seb_sh]

The plot thickens. Looks like he was responding to reports last night that the numbers for the season were going to be (3 - Neuville), (4 - Sordo) and (8 - Paddon). Wouldn't make sense to do a joke two days after the day itself.

Is he saying Sordo will be lead driver, or simply nominated as a manufacturer points scorer for 10 rounds?

Manufacturers must nominate a driver at the start of the season who will score points on at least 10 rounds. I think he is only saying Sordo is that driver, it's due to the rules of entering a Manufacturer Team.

If it's true, why choose Sordo? I think it means is they see Sordo as a safe driver who finishes rallies, so they are more confident he can consistently bring points in. The other two are unknown quantities for next year. If Neuville gets his brain back on track and stops overdriving and crashing, which I think may happen if the new car is fast, then they will keep him nominated. If he continues like he ended last year and Paddon finishes rallies then they can switch them. I think they are looking at these two scenarios as most likely. They only have a problem in scenarios where Sordo scores less points than the other two but even then they have some flexibility.

[Hartusvuori]

Yazeed will start Arctic Rally with Fiesta WRC, most likely as a preparation for Rally Sweden.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

how do you know that PH Sport will run ONLY the DS3s of Citroen racing?

Just a good guess !

Plus Kubica had already been talking about testing in his Fiesta.

[denkimi]

Just read this info from 'Motorsport Island':

Translation:

"Robert Kubica will be at the start of the Monte Carlo Rally, the opening round of the WRC Championship 2016, aboard a Ford Fiesta WRC run by M-Sport. Days ago circulated a rumour according to which the Pole would run with a Citroen, but unfortunately it was not possible because of the many changes that should have been made to the car and that should have been approved by the FIA. Recall that Robert because of his handicap uses the handbrake lever, pushing instead of pulling and changes gear to the left instead of the right of the steering wheel."

that's just bullshit. reversing the handbrake and moving the paddle switch from the right to the left is hardly a few hours work. if the fia approved it for the fiesta, there's no reason they wouldn't approve it for the ds3.

there must be a different, more realistic reason.

[GigiGalliNo1]

What are You asking about? RRC and WRC is same car.

What I mean is is that car available to be converted in time to compete? Is it available?