Anyone seen any contract length for Hanninen? Have to assume it's a one-year deal.


What Tommi's team have in 2017 is a 'prove it' year. I'm not sure Hanninen is ultimately the guy to do that - but I can't fault Tommi signing him at all. They needed someone who was effectively out of contract and could test the car all year and gain familiarity. Meeke didn't want it, Hirvonen didn't want it. Solberg/Loeb - who knows? Not sure if they were even asked, but the point is there were so few drivers who fitted that spec.

Anyone else you sign can't 'officially' drive your car until after the season so Tommi was backed into a corner. Plus he now has a willing 'team guy' in his driver squad. Which can be beneficial over a diva top-three talent in some ways when you're getting started.

But this is a prove it year. So the biggest question for me is who drives the third car? Do they go the mercenary route and take a guy like Ostberg with a bit of money. All he will prove is your reliability. When really you need someone to showcase speed.