Quote Originally Posted by Rally Power View Post
On the other hand, it’s really puzzling to see genuine rally fans making so many negative prejudgments over TMR/Toyota WRC project.
Because it frustrates the hell out of Rally fans to see something being set-up which has so much history and pedigree with a huge element of amateurism.

VW set a benchmark by taking small steps with a plan, signing Ogier without a car and testing with the Fabia for a year.

Mini when it was set-up used Prodrive who had significant WRC experience and signed Sordo and Meeke. That car was also competitive but unfortunately there was no budget.

Hyundai signed Neuville and Sordo to develop the car and used Atkinson (history in the WRC), Hanninen (history in the WRC), and Paddon in the third car. They also assembled a team and stucture which had no partizan attachments, based in Germany with an International well funded team being pulled together.

The thing which bugs people about the Toyota approach is it is very hard to win the pole jump when you are an old, short and fat athlete using the wrong pole in the middle of winter.

It just doesn't feel set-up for success...