[WRC] News & Rumours 2018

[Simmi]

Toyota's World Rally Championship rivals fear 'embarrassing' Yaris

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...ssing-wrc-pace

Weren't Hyundai allegedly going to embarrass the championship by completely dominating this season? Those were the headlines at the start of the year. It hasn't happened and neither will this.

[dimviii]

Weren't Hyundai allegedly going to embarrass the championship by completely dominating this season? Those were the headlines at the start of the year. It hasn't happened and neither will this.

+1

[dimviii]

Mads Østberg

I normally don't get overexcited by an entry list, but this one for @rallydeportugal makes me really happy!! Back in the @OfficialWRC with @CitroenRacing
#fightingviking #backinbusiness

[steve.mandzij]

Well I have been voicing concerns like that since Monte and some 1-2-3 stage results (and for that matter also last year after some rallies where Hyundai dominated). So let's hope it does not happen.
Sure for fans of one of the Toyota drivers it will be good but not for the sport in the longer term.


Last time we had very good competition from multiple manus was 2003-2004, and then Citroen started dominating (arguably not only due to car) and we went down to 2 manufacturers over just a few years.

This time it seemingly is like this:
Toyota - going up and putting tons of money in
M-Sport - keeping 1 car in the top of the comp., very dependent on his performance, no money for other drivers
Citroen - half-hearted program with uncertain future, using funds to make the car less unpredictable
Hyundai - big issues with performance on tarmac and in Finland (5 out of 13 rallies !)

Worst case:
Citroen drops out , M-sport goes into "cheap drivers and money-making" mode and Hyundai struggles to compete

the difference is that Toyota don't have either a Loeb nor an Ogier

[ESTR]

They are free as far as I know at the end of the season and Toyota have 2 seats avaible.

[AnttiL]

The silly season is going to be interesting this year with so many contracts ending. But it's too early to go there yet

[denkimi]

I don’t see Wilson putting at risk R5 sales, essential to his business, by promoting the use of current mega expensive WRC cars in national series; the same applies to Makinen, having in mind is interest of developing a R5 Yaris.

why would he care about an r5 less sold, if he can sell a wrc car and make a lot more profit.

and as rallyfiend said: since wilson is the only one who's willing to sell new wrc cars, he's the only one that customers can go to. if they want an r5, they can just as well buy a skoda.

[Essaj]

The silly season is going to be interesting this year with so many contracts ending. But it's too early to go there yet

Whose contracts are actually ending? IMO Tidemand is only one who could be stepping up for next year.

[rallyfiend]

Neuville
Meeke
Ogier
Sordo
Paddon
Evans
Latvala
Mikklesen (alledgedly with options)
Breen

Who isn’t is more to the point!?

[Essaj]

Mhm unless ogier swaps to somewhere I don't see any changes happening. Latvala and Meeke are bit question marks but is there any drivers to replace them with? Hopefully we still have 4 WRC teams next year.