[WRC] News & rumours (part IV) 2016

[EstWRC]

first video interview with Ogier that i have seen after signing with m-sport http://www.motorsport-magazin.com/wr...rd-fiesta.html

[spark13]

I think the location of the team HQ has no relevance unless it's in the middle of Siberia.

I will not leave such disgraceful and disrespectful comments about Siberia alone!!!! It have proper rally roads whenever you lay down our site, direct flight connections with Japan and unique variable wather conditions mixing from dry hot gravel of Argentina to Sweden snow banks.
Well.... okay it might be quite away from Europe=)

[Walach]

I think you could also test your WRC there every day of the year and nobody would notice

[Franky]

I will not leave such disgraceful and disrespectful comments about Siberia alone!!!! It have proper rally roads whenever you lay down our site, direct flight connections with Japan and unique variable wather conditions mixing from dry hot gravel of Argentina to Sweden snow banks.
Well.... okay it might be quite away from Europe=)

If you disrespect Siberia, you do not return from there. Trust me, I've got absolutely nothing against Siberia. It's a stunning place and I'll be heading to the Far East next year. This time going further and longer.

It was an example of remoteness, if you literally take the middle of Siberia.

Walach is right. The middle of Siberia is the perfect testing ground.

[Mirek]

Back in 80' Audi used to test gr.B/gr.S prototypes in secrecy behind the iron courtain in Czechoslovakia so even Siberia wouldn't be anything really new

[Mirek]

Capito to leave McLaren?

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ca...1-team-860356/

[dimviii]

Following the announcement that Ogier would join Ott Tänak to lead the M-Sport team as the WRC enters a new era of more powerful cars, Vatanen spoke to RedBull.com about his joy Watching Ogier's decision and what it means for the championship.
So Ari, are you satisfied with the news?
I was so happy when I learned it. This testifies to the excellent work of Malcolm (Wilson, director of the M-Sport team).
It must be remembered that Ford has very little investment (in M-Sport) and Malcolm has to find the money himself and manage his company well. He took big risks, and I love his entrepreneurial spirit. He started by selling pilot gloves at Carlisle Airport and now he is there, he deserves everything that happens to him. People do not realize it's easy to work for someone, but it's entirely different when you risk everything without knowing what it's going to give you, you take calculated risks and you hope it works. And it worked for Malcolm, he's a real businessman. Have Ogier today, imagine that means to them.
It's really a great moment for M-Sport ...
Absolutely. The arrival of Ogier is going to be a big boost for Malcolm and Ford. Maybe others will get involved. I'm sad that Volkswagen stops, but this combination will give rise to an exciting revival.
Were you in touch with Sébastien during his decision-making?
Of course. I always tease him, because when he won his first world championship, he was older than me by a few months when I won in 1981. So I always said to him: "you are not really talented, otherwise You would have won by being younger than me. " Seriously, I said, "Seb, the most important thing for you is winning, and that's what Ford can bring you." I did not want to exaggerate either, but I really hoped it would. I'm really happy with his decision.

Would you have been a little disappointed that Sébastien signed for another team?
Yes, because it would have been the same again. There, the cards are totally redistributed. It's good for sport this kind of renewal. You have to know how to appreciate those moments.
Do you think Sébastien can conquer a fifth title in 2017?
You'll see next year. I do not exclude his chances of victories, he also said that the car was excellent, but nobody knows so much that the competition did not start. But do you realize that I am the last Ford driver to have won the WRC? Nobody has done it since 1981, so to joke I told Malcolm to hire me! I hope that Seb can succeed me, I do not want to be the last Ford driver to have won forever!

Last question: would you like to test the new cars of 2017?
Of course. Not in competition, of course. But I would love to try. It's like giving a Stradivarius to a violinist!

http://www.redbull.com/fr/fr/motorsp...gnature-msport

[RS]

The last thing I do bother about is how their buildings look like (actually if I did I would have to give some proper roasting to Škoda as well, lol).

Skoda Motorsport hq is literally within the old factory walls I think? Quite small but I guess they use the wider facilities of Skoda Auto too.

You can't get closer to a true factory team than that!

[Sulland]

Capito to leave McLaren?

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ca...1-team-860356/

If Mäkinen had the balls and dared to jump up and take a management role, he hired Capito to run the team in WRC day to day. He knows form current experience what it takes to build a top team. Would save them 2 years, but again I guess entrepeneur Tommi would like to finish what he started.

[raybak]

Capito needs a big budget to achieve what he does. Would there be enough funds from Toyota to keep him happy?