Toyota announces WRC plans

[mknight]

whoa!!!, this article claims they will test for poland here in estonia! i hope we will get to know where!!! http://www.is.fi/ralli/art-2000005251370.html

and Mäkinen again saying he is interested in Tänak http://www.is.fi/ralli/art-2000005251932.html?ref=rss

for some reason google translate wont translate these sites for me, you have to copy the text.

I wasn't able to find how long Tanak has contract at M-Sport.

What I could find is that at Hyundai all 3 have contract up to end of 2018.

Meeke and Breen have up to end of 2018.
Lefevbre I do not know.

Evans I do not know, prbly 1 year?
Ogier has 1 year.
Tanak don't know.

Latvala 1 year I think.
Hanninen and Lappi 1 year.

Of the free drivers there is Mikkelsen and then Sunninen (due to age, speed and performance also on tarmac) , Camili kinda unlikely, maybe Østberg, dunno about other likely candidates.

Now is the time when deals are starting to be made and typically are signed around Finland (but published first at the end of season). Some drivers will have real pressure on them in Poland, most notably Lefevbre and Hanninen.

Let's speculate on the possible moves:

Ogier to Toyota (more likely) or Citroen
Tanak to Toyota is imo not so likely, but possible.
Evans imo stays where he is. (good performance, but not so good that other teams will be very interested). Possibly 2 car deal with Østberg?

Latvala and Lappi will stay at Toyota.
Hanninen most likely out.
Sunninen limited program at Toyota.

Meeke either stays or out, all depends on Finland and car development. I certainly cant see other teams picking him. (crashes, seemingly can't develop a car)
Breen stays.

Lefevbre prbly reduced program if they can get someone else.

Mikkelsen to Citroen (if he feels the car can be driveable), to Toyota (if they don't get Ogier) or to Ford (if Ogier moves elsewhere).

[Rallyper]

So Toyota six car team and Ford one car team then?

[AnttiL]

Maybe a new thread for 2018 seats? http://www.motorsportforums.com/show...287-2018-Teams

[EstWRC]

Tänak has a contract until the of this year. as far the info i have got, Tänak himself wanted to go to Toyota last year but as we know Wilson had the "first right" to keep him and that was it.

[KiwiWRCfan]

Keep an eye out for a documentary called "TEAM" which follows Toyota's return to WRC. It is 1 hour long and looks at how relationship between Tommi & Toyota was formed then how the team gradually grew over 2015 & 2016. Finishes up just after Monte Carlo 2017 event. It is a must watch if you get the chance to see it.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Watch it where?

[mohit]

Toyota have done a great job and

people doubted makinnen should simply zip there lips.

Yaris is a pretty robust car and fast too. Respect that at least.

[N.O.T]

Toyota have done a great job and

people doubted makinnen should simply zip there lips.

Yaris is a pretty robust car and fast too. Respect that at least.

Maybe thats why Latvala will have his lowest championship position in years and also the least number of wins in years this year....

[KiwiWRCfan]

Watch it where?

In NZ it appeared on free to air TV on Duke channel. No idea what TV channels on other countries may put it to air. Way it was listed was more like a documentary or business program than a sport program.
Suggest you try searching online TV guides for your own country and see if you can locate it.

[Revman]

In NZ it appeared on free to air TV on Duke channel. No idea what TV channels on other countries may put it to air. Way it was listed was more like a documentary or business program than a sport program.
Suggest you try searching online TV guides for your own country and see if you can locate it.

Would love to see this. I am fascinated by the necessity of human relationships in the success of technologically driven sport.