[WRC] News & rumours (part IV) 2016

[stefanvv]

then they cant blame drivers if car is not fast enough.

What's that supposed to mean?

[AL14]

If those two drivers will not go to Toyota it would be because they don't want to... Makkinen would be totally crazy it that's true. No way that rumour is true. But well, I was sure also that Britain would have remained in UE and Hillary would have won but...

[sollitt]

... bur if he can get Latvala or Mikkelsen almost for free (considering VW’s likely compensations) ...

I struggle to understand what some of you are thinking here. Where do you get the impression that these drivers are available "for free" because of the "compensation" they will get from VW?

[Simmi]

Latest rumours - dont know if its true - is that Toyota will not have Latvala or Mikkelsen because then they cant blame drivers if car is not fast enough.
these rumours say Häninen, Lappi and Suninen.
If this is the case I will be deeply disapointed.

These were the three guys Motorsport News said were about to sign - prior to the VW issue kicking off.

Bit strange they were so clearly after Meeke then if this is where they are now at. I'm not sure to be honest. It's a long-term commitment from Toyota so why not get quick guys in from the word go. If it is true then all the sh*t this forum has slung at Toyota would be warranted.

[Simmi]

Tommi saying he'll look at all possibilities - http://www.autosport.com/news/report...medium=twitter

[skarderud]

Mikkelsen has been in meetings with mäkinen, according to rumours in Norway. Same rumour says latvala quit WRC, going to be official after Australia. I don't know if the rumour is belivable.

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[BigWorm]

Mikkelsen has been in meetings with mäkinen, according to rumours in Norway. Same rumour says latvala quit WRC, going to be official after Australia. I don't know if the rumour is belivable.

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A bit Hirvonen-esque if he quits after a bad season.

[bassist]

A bit Hirvonen-esque if he quits after a bad season.

One `Bad` season !!!! Perhaps he`s finally realised that despite being one of the quickest around, he just aint got it!

[Rally Power]

I struggle to understand what some of you are thinking here. Where do you get the impression that these drivers are available "for free" because of the "compensation" they will get from VW?

We don’t know VW’s drivers contract clauses, but generally contracts can be disputed and additional compensations claimed when the contract purpose is not respected by the employer. One possible settlement can be a deal with a new employer, in order to share the employee salary payement till the projected duration of the contract expires. This means MSport could only pay a small part (or even nothing) of Ogier’s wage till the end of ’17.

[Allez Andruet]

Mikkelsen has been in meetings with mäkinen, according to rumours in Norway. Same rumour says latvala quit WRC, going to be official after Australia. I don't know if the rumour is belivable.

No, it's completely false. Latvala himself and his manager Timo Jouhki have repeatedly said on Finnish media that quitting the WRC is not an option.

And regarding Mikkelsen, in this story
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/ralli/art-2000001950650.html
published yesterday in Finnish media, Mäkinen says that Mikkelsen is not the #1 choice for Toyota.