[WRC] News & rumours (part IV) 2016

[pantealex]

Why would Suninen go to M-Sport R5 ?

My guess is factory Skoda R5

[EightGear]

He was no reason one of the fastest karting drivers in Europe and Finland. I think he needs his chance in top level if not next year then 2018. Hope Jouhki make good deal for him

His karting background is something that made me wonder the other day.

Pretty much all top-level kart racers focus on circuit racing with F1 being their ultimate goal, but what if some of them instead focus on a rallying career? Compared to the non-karting rally drivers you would imagine they would have an advantage.

[EstWRC]

why waste a car with useless Lefebre ? The guy is nothing. They should have invested full time on breen.

He was saved by his nationality.

[Rallyper]

OFFICIAL Neuville deals 2 Years 2017-2018 with Hyundai => http://bit.ly/2dqQ2Z9

That´s what you could read between the lines last Sunday at finish on RS.

[BigWorm]

You should think in terms of potential. This guy is at his second year (first and a half to be precise) at WRC2 and he is going to win it.
It is very difficult to find one driver who got so fast so early in a 4x4 car at the maximum level. I think that among youngsters he is for sure the most interesting one so far.

I don't rule out him in the future, but I don't think he's good enough yet to be in the main class. Maybe in 2 years, but Evans and Tidemand should be the ahead of him when picking drivers now.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Elfyn Evans to DMack WRC makes perfect sense. He's a Brit, has WRC experience, M-Sport experience and DMack tyre experience (2016 BRC)...

Plus he is super-hungry to get back into a WRC car and so would give it everything.

[Rally Power]

Smart move from Hyundai. They’re keeping their most complete driver and with this line up they’ll still be VW’s main competitors. A bit disappointed not to see Matton running for Tanak, probably Green’s fantastic exhibitions were determinant for that. Still, Citroen will be weaker than main rivals.

The biggest issue for Evans was he had two years at WRC level and he very rarely flashed pace. I don't think anyone is expecting him to be winning rallies but all the top drivers have shown more than that. And he himself has said that's he's not going to have developed this year in R5 cars.

Let's be fair: Evans did a fine first WRC season in ’14 (not great like the one Breen’s having but much better than Camilli’s), making people to raise expectations for ’15. He wasn’t able to full fit those but during ‘16 he brilliantly dominated BRC and gave Skoda’s squad a superb fight in WRC2. He totally deserves to be in WRC.

[AndyRAC]

He was saved by his nationality.

I think there is some truth in that. He hasn't achieved too much - he has shown the odd flicker of promise in previous seasons. However, I don't think Citroen could take a chance running 2 drivers from the Emerald isle - and the possible backlash about not supporting French talent.

However, you wish him well, especially after his monster shunt in Deutschland.

[Andre Oliveira]

Fiesta RS WRC 2017 by Jaume Soler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngH2Ums1yKU

[dimviii]

Fiesta RS WRC 2017 by Jaume Soler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngH2Ums1yKU

nice sound from engine.