Hyundai WRT

[GravelBen]

Funny how mknight blames road position/conditions/anything else when Mikkelsen is slower, but completely ignores it when he is faster. Been taking lessons from Ogier's PR!

Lets mention some of the bits he conveniently missed out...

Portugal "a few seconds ahead when he crashed"... Paddon was leading the rally when he crashed on SS7, SS6 results show Mikkelsen in 10th and over a minute behind.

Sardinia Mikkelsen had a good road position while Paddon was wading through a mudbath.

Turkey Paddon was driving strategically to protect the car (quite successfully too seeing as he finished on the podium).

GB similar pace yes, Paddon had clear instructions to hold back and ensure points and was always going to drop behind Neuville (maybe the same for Mikkelsen I guess). It is often his worst gravel rally, doesn't go so well in the mud.

Finland and Aus Paddon was faster while frustrated at how much he was holding back to avoid risk and ensure team points, and looked like he would have had much more speed on tap if allowed to push. He also did it without crashing, unlike Mikkelsen (on both occasions).

[wrc2017]

I still ask who will they send to Finland

Breen

[GravelBen]

And I also thought Paddon released a video at the start of the season, saying he had only been offered one rally (presumably Finland) and declined. Or did I get that one wrong.

You're right on that - but things can change, especially with Hyundai team politics.

[pantealex]

Many people said before Sweden entries that Loeb doesn´t like it / won´t drive it...
He did.

I expect him to drive Finland also.

Nothing he said before his Hyundai deal can´t be counted.

Only problem is that 6 rallies deal, if he really wants to do only 6, which is he skipping ?

[mknight]

Funny how mknight blames road position/conditions/anything else when Mikkelsen is slower, but completely ignores it when he is faster. Been taking lessons from Ogier's PR!

Lets mention some of the bits he conveniently missed out...

Portugal "a few seconds ahead when he crashed"... Paddon was leading the rally when he crashed on SS7, SS6 results show Mikkelsen in 10th and over a minute behind.

Sardinia Mikkelsen had a good road position while Paddon was wading through a mudbath.

Turkey Paddon was driving strategically to protect the car (quite successfully too seeing as he finished on the podium).

GB similar pace yes, Paddon had clear instructions to hold back and ensure points and was always going to drop behind Neuville (maybe the same for Mikkelsen I guess). It is often his worst gravel rally, doesn't go so well in the mud.

Finland and Aus Paddon was faster while frustrated at how much he was holding back to avoid risk and ensure team points, and looked like he would have had much more speed on tap if allowed to push. He also did it without crashing, unlike Mikkelsen (on both occasions).

Riiiight, I so enjoy arguing with you cause you accuse me of selective arguments and then top me up with being even more selective

Portugal
7.4s was Paddon ahead with better road position (after SS5) when Mikkelsen's power steering failed on SS6 (seems like most common fault at Hyundai last 2 years), and the 1 min drop happened. But hey let's pick positions after SS6, +1

The theme seems to be "Paddon always held back", that surely beats all arguments, impossible to prove just how much he did and equally as impossible to say what speed he would have if he did not.

Anyway even with your counting we get to 2 (FIN, AU) : 4 (SWE, SAR, TUR, GB)

[mknight]

Many people said before Sweden entries that Loeb doesn´t like it / won´t drive it...
He did.

I expect him to drive Finland also.

Yes he did, and was slowest WRC except Tidemand and slower than Paddon last year. If they are really so serious about point chances they will rather try to get Paddon or Østberg, especially since Loeb does not have it in his contract.

[racerx1979]

I doubt Mads will drop his Citroen R5 program for a single outing with Hyundai for Finland

[AnttiL]

I thought the third car being discussed was who would replace Sordo and Loeb. Second car will be Mikkelsen. Or have I missed something.

Yeah, although his Finland last year wasn't so successful either. And like mentioned here, Paddon's position in the team remains still under question.

[doubled1978]

Many people said before Sweden entries that Loeb doesn´t like it / won´t drive it...
He did.

I expect him to drive Finland also.

Nothing he said before his Hyundai deal can´t be counted.

Only problem is that 6 rallies deal, if he really wants to do only 6, which is he skipping ?

I suspect he may end up doing more than that, maybe if we discount the flyaways, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Australia to reduce the ‘commitment’ anything could be open. That said Chile could be good for him as it’s new for everyone, and after potentially missing Mexico and Argentina, he would also have a good road position.

[Mk2 RS2000]

I think that you will find that Sweden was the offer that Hayden declined.


It would be interesting to know how many power steering units failed on Paddon's car in 2017, as we all are aware doesn't bag the car in public but for sure there were more than were reported for stage ends.


2018, Paddon was driving to instructions, even to the point of sometimes receiving a txt message just prior to a stage start. This perhaps starts to explain why sometimes his last splits during a stage were slightly off the pace. He was a team player.