[WRC] News & Rumours 2019

[AnttiL]

great and interesting news, especially the part "to stay race-sharp"

I still think it’s mostly for testing purposes. And to recheck his pace level

[er88]

If he does well in Sardinia would Finland be a possibility? If he's only in for one event I don't get why they'd do Sardinia over his home event.

This could also be Makinen perhaps hedging his bets and maybe thinking about getting Juho upto speed for a full campaign in 2020 - taking over from Jari? If Latvala's performances/luck don't improve, Juho might even be needed to help out in the second half of this season.

[denkimi]

So toyota already understands a 4th car might help tanak get the title. Now lets wait untill hyundai realises the same thing and also starts using 4 cars.

[AnttiL]

https://www.rallit.fi/tommi-makinen-...uussa-on-kyse/

In here Mäkinen says it’s just for testing. But yeah, it’s also Mäkinen saying.

[mknight]

That's great news!!!
Took him half a year to get upto speed in 2017, hopefully he can be on the pace in Sardinia but I don't have big expectations. One of my favourite drivers, shame he never realised his full potential in the WRC.

I don't think he will aim to "get up to speed", if he retires there wont be much testing done.

But if it's normal Sardinia with heavy cleaning he could be top 5 ish after Friday since he starts last.

EDIT: Toyota doesn't need any more testing in Finland with the "unlimited" testing they have there atm.

[mknight]

So toyota already understands a 4th car might help tanak get the title. Now lets wait untill hyundai realises the same thing and also starts using 4 cars.

They did that exactly a year ago in Portugal... and showed how problematic it was.
The two nominated drivers dropped (Paddon crashed out, Mikkelsen got first powersteering and after engine issue), and Sordo who wasn't nominated didn't bring any points.

That said, in heavy cleaning rallies it might sometimes help for driver points but imo it's better to use the money on other things... unless you can combine it with testing... bringing us back to Toyota.

[Googol]

They did that exactly a year ago in Portugal... and showed how problematic it was.
The two nominated drivers dropped (Paddon crashed out, Mikkelsen got first powersteering and after engine issue), and Sordo who wasn't nominated didn't bring any points.

What was the problematic part?

[mknight]

What was the problematic part?

Even though he finished 4th, running the 4th car gave them 0 manu points and 0 driver points taken off their rivals. So high? cost with no benefit at all.

[dimviii]

Even though he finished 4th, running the 4th car gave them 0 manu points and 0 driver points taken off their rivals. So high? cost with no benefit at all.

and because that happened once,it will be such for ever?

[Googol]

Even though he finished 4th, running the 4th car gave them 0 manu points and 0 driver points taken off their rivals. So high? cost with no benefit at all.

And the problem? I'm pretty sure they knrw that he won't score team points when they put him in the start list.