M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams

[stefanvv]

For Ford is great, for sure. They only provide tech support and MSport does all the hard work, including getting the running budget. Besides, there's no rational argument on why they're backing WRX and not WRC.

No doubt MSport needs to have Ford tech support, but as rally fans can't we ask for Ford's WRC return as a manu or wish that MSport could find a more involved partner?

Ford provides the cars, but I don't know how deep the tech support goes from there. For sure M-Sport are using the aero developing facilities from Ford and since the engine is built by M-Sport now, probably Ford has finger in that process as well. But if they want to keep winning perhaps they should invest more in drivers too, the best variant is to keep the current line-up, but if Tanak decides to go away, a team with Ogier, Evans & Suninen is not much more weak.

[Francis44]

Ford Motor Co was and is still a deceitful company when it comes to money. Dont forget this was a company that some years before had an habbit of paying the familys victims instead of fixing their cars simply because it was cheaper.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

For Ford is great, for sure. They only provide tech support and MSport does all the hard work, including getting the running budget. Besides, there's no rational argument on why they're backing WRX and not WRC.

No doubt MSport needs to have Ford tech support, but as rally fans can't we ask for Ford's WRC return as a manu or wish that MSport could find a more involved partner?

I ask @FordPerformance to come back officially after every rally. They will never have a better chance to get the Ford name properly associated with motor sport success again.

Ford stayed in rally even when Citroen were kings, but now M-Sport are leading the way they need to come back.

[mknight]

if Tanak decides to go away, a team with Ogier, Evans & Suninen is not much more weak.

I disagree, a team like that has no chance to win manu title against (probably in that case), Toyota with Latvala, Lappi, Tanak and Hyundai with current lineup.

[stefanvv]

I disagree, a team like that has no chance to win manu title against (probably in that case), Toyota with Latvala, Lappi, Tanak and Hyundai with current lineup.

Well my point was more oriented to M-Sport line-up disregarding the others. Evans has shown real progress this year, and even tyres are playing some role on some performances (meaning Argentina), as some driver said - there is still someone who must drive the car, though in most of the events he seem hampered with them. Kind of similar with Tanak last year going with the same brand.

As for Suninen, why not? Who had thought Lappi was going to win in Finland? Suninen might fall in the same category.

[AnttiL]

Ogier-Evans-Suninen team would be about as strong as Hyundai's team this year –*one driver winning a lot and others collecting points here and there but no winning pace.

[mknight]

Pretty impossible to judge how good Evans really is, any good stagetime/rally he does can be mostly due to tires.. same for any bad one. Also remember he has two full WRC seasons from before.

Suninen is imo not ready and going too early to WRC would most likely hurt him in the long term. Sure it was good to show himself on 2 rallies, maybe GB on top, but R5 results vs various drivers indicate there are things to learn.

[Tarmop]

Suninen is too raw i think to be nominated to score points. Although maybe it was his itention to go and see what happens, but in those two outings he had several lucky close calls.

[EstWRC]

as far as i know about the situation, Wilson isnt satisfied that Ford just promises to give more money and support because it isnt fully guaranteed. They can change their minds every moment, so thats why full factory support or nothing.

this is the info i got.

[stefanvv]

Suninen is imo not ready and going too early to WRC would most likely hurt him in the long term. Sure it was good to show himself on 2 rallies, maybe GB on top, but R5 results vs various drivers indicate there are things to learn.

Yeah, lots of people consider every class as a step of the ladder necessary to be taken. But I'm more of the others, which may consider real talent only when it comes to the top level of a championship. There are plenty examples of drivers which are not so good in 1 category and much better in higher category, and of course the opposite (who of course are the majority, but that is where the difference comes - the majority don't become world champions one day). Suninen had 2 chances to prove himself fast so far in WRC car and he did it more than probably 99% of the people expected. Of course there will always be critics of overdriving, offs, luck, and so, so on, but IMO he did fine job getting results and learning as much in the process.