M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams

[Allez Andruet]

maybe some finnish guys here can shed some light why Suninen isnt doing a full season? Is it because of the budget or inexperience?

I think it is right to put him to an R5 for Monte but from Sweden onwards he should participate on every round with a WRC machine.

I think it's a combination of both - budget and inexperience. Sure, he has a Timo Jouhki backing, so the millions are there, but Jouhki does what he thinks makes the most sense for him and his driver, also from the financial point of view. If the cost of the "additional rounds" (not included in the plan of 6-8 rallies) is not reasonable, then Jouhki won't do that. Probably the best deal (considering all different elements of it) Jouhki could get from Wilson for Suninen in 2018 is what has already been rumoured: 6-8 outings in WRC and the rest in R5.

[seb_sh]

That's not a bad deal for Suninen to drive the WRC on his strong rallies to get confidence and drive the rest in R5 to learn them and improve himself. Also he is young so he should be in no rush to push for a full works seat, better that he shows good results in the WRC and gets picked up on merit.

As for MSport Ford I think they will focus on Sebastian. Evans should be consistently in the points and they'll take whatever they can get from the third car so they may be in the manufacturer's fight as well. However in terms of parts, evolutions, support, new cars and so on I assume Ogier will be prioritized, since the team is still limited in budget and so it makes sense to maximize the effort to have one car ahead of everyone instead of spreading it out over several cars that could be slightly slower.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I agree... Ogier and the Drivers' Title will be the M-Sport priority in 2018. The strength of the factoy teams will be even greater and really hard to compete against.

If Ford wanted to help retain the Manu's Title they needed to comeback fully and fund a 3rd car and driver.

[Jarek Z]

8 starts against 4. Points per start 19,5/21 for Bouffier. Direct fights 2/2. Wins per start 12,5%/50% for Bouffier. SS wins per start 2,5/2,75 for Bouffier. So how did You come to a conclusion that Kajto is much better?

Maybe I know maths better?

Kajto:
145 / 6 = 24,16 points per start
or, if you want to calculate all points (not using the 6-best-results rule):
151 / 7 = 21,57 points per start

Bouffier:
84 / 4 = 21 points per start

Summing-up:
24,16 > 21

[Mirek]

Maybe I know maths better?

Kajto:
145 / 6 = 24,16 points per start
or, if you want to calculate all points (not using the 6-best-results rule):
151 / 7 = 21,57 points per start

Bouffier:
84 / 4 = 21 points per start

Summing-up:
24,16 > 21

The table on ERC website is wrong (Liepaja is missing - even when Kajto retired for very understandable reason).

Anyway playing with tenths of points is completely pointnless. Just admit that saying that Kajto proved himself many times to be better than Bouffier (Your exact words) has no factional backing. I have also forgot to mention that Kajto had works car...

[Andre Oliveira]

Bryan Bouffier

1999 FFSA Rallye Jeunes winner
2002 Volant Peugeot winner
2007/08/09 3x Polish Champion
2010 French Champion
2011 Rallye Monte-Carlo winner
2014 Rallye Monte-Carlo 2nd in privateer Ford Fiesta RS WRC (winner Ogier, Ford not the strongest car)

[Alex009]

On the other hand - Bouffier, Breen and Lefebvre got their chances at WRC level and Kajetanowicz proved many times that he is a better driver than they are, so why not?

It's about the money, not the results. If Kajetanowic wants to drive WRC, he have to buy it or rent it for some events.

[AnttiL]

It's about the money, not the results. If Kajetanowic wants to drive WRC, he have to buy it or rent it for some events.

And he can do it with M-Sport whether they have two or three factory cars entered.

[Jarek Z]

The table on ERC website is wrong (Liepaja is missing - even when Kajto retired for very understandable reason).

I don't know what you mean. I see all results in my browser and Liepaja is not missing.

[Jarek Z]

Bryan Bouffier

1999 FFSA Rallye Jeunes winner
2002 Volant Peugeot winner
2007/08/09 3x Polish Champion
2010 French Champion
2011 Rallye Monte-Carlo winner
2014 Rallye Monte-Carlo 2nd in privateer Ford Fiesta RS WRC (winner Ogier, Ford not the strongest car)

Yes, impressive. But why did you forget to list Kajto's titles for comparison?

2008 Polish Rally Champion in group N
2010 Polish Rally Champion in group N
2010 Polish Rally Champion
2011 Polish Rally Champion
2012 Polish Rally Champion
2013 Polish Rally Champion
2014 FIA ERC Gravel Master
2015 FIA ERC Gravel Master
2015 FIA ERC Ice Master
2015 European Rally Champion
2016 European Rally Champion
2017 European Rally Champion