[WRC] News & rumours (part IV) 2016

[EightGear]

Neuville should go to Citroen. It will also help Paddon to step up a bit, he's ready for a permanent #2 seat now.

[RS]

Neuville should go to Citroen. It will also help Paddon to step up a bit, he's ready for a permanent #2 seat now.

I agree.. and Citroen need him too. I don't think Breen is ready to be the number two driver yet and a Meeke - Breen lineup would be a bit too British.

[JUF]

a Meeke - Breen lineup would be a bit too British.

Don't let that hear the Irish...

[Mintexmemory]

I agree.. and Citroen need him too. I don't think Breen is ready to be the number two driver yet and a Meeke - Breen lineup would be a bit too British.

...and what may I ask is wrong with that?
Neuville /Meeke is not a good combo as the bespectacled one certainly doesn't consider himself to be a number 2 and Citroen really need a 'team leader' to focus on. Breen is ideal number 2 material in my opinion. Fast enough to take points but happy to follow Meeke's lead. It will all become clear soon.

[GravelBen]

...and what may I ask is wrong with that?

Being a French team they'd probably prefer to have a French or at least French-speaking driver to keep French fans happy.

I think you're right that Neuville wouldn't want to be 'No.2 driver', but I guess he isn't really No.1 driver at Hyundai either as they don't run things that way.

[Mintexmemory]

Being a French team they'd probably prefer to have a French or at least French-speaking driver to keep French fans happy.

I would like any of our French forum members to comment on this as I have the feeling that a Francophone may help communication with the team but to the wider French car buying public a Belgian is still a Belgian and not much different to having Brits / Irish. Lefebvre was the great hope, now derailed for the time being.

[Francis44]

I'd think Citroen would prefer someone to step back and take the points if they want to challenge for the manufacture championship, Neuville is still very crash prone and obviously Meeke will go for it if the car is on par. We will see soon anyway.

[GravelBen]

I would like any of our French forum members to comment on this as I have the feeling that a Francophone may help communication with the team but to the wider French car buying public a Belgian is still a Belgian and not much different to having Brits / Irish.

Thats a fair point, it would be interesting to learn. It could be like NZ and Australia!

[Mintexmemory]

Thats a fair point, it would be interesting to learn. It could be like NZ and Australia!

That's exactly it (from my experience of Les Francais) ;-)!

[Zeakiwi]

I would expect Citroen to have Meeke and Breen (with Lefebvre added for certain Euro events) if Neuville is not signed.