Citroen WRT

[EstWRC]

longer explanation from Budar https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...-under-control

[Allez Andruet]

The massive frustration for me is that things were changing, Pierre Budar has turned things around - no longer are mechanics jumping ship from Citroen - and Meeke had found more consistency this season. Then Portugal happened.

He remains one of the top three fastest rally drivers in the world right now; few can deliver the blinding speed and spellbinding bravery the Dungannon driver can call on. Clearly, that's not enough for Citroen.

It was nice David Evans made the effort and gave us what Budar had to say, but this fanboy-like ending was somewhat unnecessary.

[T16]

It was nice David Evans made the effort and gave us what Budar had to say, but this fanboy-like ending was somewhat unnecessary.

To be fair, it was more balanced than I was expecting from Evans. I thought he worded it like he was saying 'fair enough, Citroen'.
What makes you say he made a fan-boy response?

[cali]

33469257_1794463407288408_3452830934896738304_n.jpg
https://twitter.com/SaariJarno/statu...46131646943233

[Allez Andruet]

To be fair, it was more balanced than I was expecting from Evans. I thought he worded it like he was saying 'fair enough, Citroen'.
What makes you say he made a fan-boy response?

Ok, it wasn't THAT bad, but still I find these statements a bit exaggerated and subjective for a news article:

"He remains one of the top three fastest rally drivers in the world right now"

"Meeke had found more consistency this season"

[bandit12]

I can't find news anymore about Citroen telling his drivers to start winning. But there was one on season beginning....

[Tarmop]

Well, he has managed to get to the end more times, is ahead of Latvala points-wise and loses less points to a man losing more points to the current leader and considered in the game for the title. But yes, still expensive offs and last in the manu. championship is quite the same story as it was last year.

[BigWorm]

I can't find news anymore about Citroen telling his drivers to start winning. But there was one on season beginning....

They also told Breen and Lefebvre to take more risks at the end of last season.

[dimviii]

[mknight]

Budar points out two reasons which I and others also mentioned before:

1. Crashing when there is no pressure.
He lists in detail how there was no pressure in Portugal and also mentions Mexico this year. There are numerous other examples of that (Argentina last year). That is something else than fighting for win/positions.

2. Note he specifically mentions "crashes since 2014" Cause he has been like that also with DS3, even to the point when he was threatened by Matton.

Reading between the lines it looks like PSA+Citroen leadership made the decision as also people here assume.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, it wasn't THAT bad, but still I find these statements a bit exaggerated and subjective for a news article:

"He remains one of the top three fastest rally drivers in the world right now"

"Meeke had found more consistency this season"

Precisely
a) top three fastest drivers?, so he is faster than one of Ogier, Neuville, Tanak right now? Top 5-6 sure.
b) major offs in Sweden, Mexico, Corsica, Portugal. (+Argentina puncture)

One other thing in his comment:

I'm a big fan of the big-hearted Meeke approach. Always have been and always will be. He's a fighter and - five times for Citroen - he's beaten the world and been a winner.

He is pointing out event wins as the main achievement. Sure they create publicity, specially in the short term, but it's still a championship so being a champion is what counts. In championship his best placement is 5th, behind his own teammate Østberg, in 2015.

==========================

It's this fanboyism that I simply don't get with Meeke. Sure he seems like a nice guy, but so does Latvala, Tanak or Paddon, all of them get quite a lot of criticism both here and elsewhere when they mess up. Even Evans and Breen get criticized much more and they are also from UK/Ireland.

Meeke's fans are on completely different level.