Quote Originally Posted by AnttiL View Post
Jouhki says Ford might return as a factory team with the hybrid regulations. He thinks Tänak will stay at Toyota, but if he leaves, Kalle will go there. He also says M-Sport is always a good option for a new driver to rehearse.

https://yle.fi/urheilu/3-10876239
I read it as saying pretty directly that Kalle will either go to Toyota or MSport and I agree it's the best options. C3 seems a bit tricky on gravel atm. and only one driver has ever been able to consistently deliver with I20. Just as before I am not so convinced he should drive full season yet though.

For me it also looks very likely that Evans will go somewhere else if he continues to prove a reliable points scorer. Surely that has to be something for the teams fighting for manu title (Toyota, Hyundai and probably Citroen next year). MSport with Tanak would want cheap/paying drivers and Evans probably would not be interested in that any more. But it might be that if MSport doesn't get Tanak they change their goal from driver title/rally wins to manu title and sign one of Latvala/Meeke/Mikkelsen and keep Evans.

Latvala/Meeke will want to stay at Toyota, but unless they do like 2 podiums each in next 3 rallies I think one of them will leave, then the question will be who (if?) hires them. Latvala going "cheap" to MSport seems most likely.

Mikkelsen would want to leave Hyundai if he can (unless he drives in Germany and has normal speed there). Tommi never seemed interested though and I can't see that happening unless he kicks both Latvala and Meeke, which is not very likely. Out of the other two Citroen (with 3 cars) looks most likely to me.

Anyway just like Jouhki says the fastest free driver will kick it all off and everything else will depend on what he does. That's undoubtedly Tanak atm. since Ogier and Neuville have contracts.