[WRC] News & Rumours 2019

[Tarmop]

Suninen tested the Yaris before finland?

[AnttiL]

Suninen tested the Yaris before finland?

He did?

[wrc2017]

Full tarmac Spain sounds boring..

Ever been?

[tommeke_B]

I'll put Catalunya back on my calendar once it's full tarmac again. Been to Catalunya 2 times, both times I enjoyed the tarmac stages more than the gravel ones.

[Tarmop]

He did?

There was a news abou "Suninen having secret tests with another manuf. in Finland, before Finland"...what else could it be...if it was.

[meh]

i wasnt able to follow ALLLIVE at all during Rally Finland but we could watch Leustu 2 from the mobile and i remember Mads saying something like he is working on a deal to help a manufacturer to win the championship or smth like that.

If Citroen continues with 2 cars then it must be Toyota or Hyundai.

I had AllFollow (Full time ALLLive) and noticed the same thing. Even posted about it here.

Ostberg in studio seemed confident with "I'm having meetings" "to help some team to win factory title". (edit: for 2020)

My prediction - Toyota - they need some points scorer.

Others:
Citroen - why to travel to Finland to have this kind of meeting with your current team
M-Sport - do they put their priority to factory title?
Hyundai - have already big list of drivers.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I agree and can see Toyota following Hyundai's system next year by having a roster of driver's, swapping and changing them to suit particular rallies.

It seems pretty clear that these two big WRC Teams are the only serious contenders for the Manus championship for 2020.

Citroen and M-Sport dont have the money to run enough cars and drivers to compete. I can see maybe Citroen calling on Ostberg if they ever get near to the top, but that's unlikely. Therefore his best hope is to be one of the Toyota driver's supporting that team on his best events.

[tommeke_B]

Why would Ostberg's best chance be Toyota? IF Toyota needs some "expert" to add to their line-up, it would be a tarmac expert (in case Meeke and/or Latvala are replaced). They already have what they need for Ostberg's favorite events.

[Allez Andruet]

I agree and can see Toyota following Hyundai's system next year by having a roster of driver's, swapping and changing them to suit particular rallies.

Mäkinen has said that TGR won't do that.

[mknight]

Outside of Citroen that don't seem to be going for manu title I'd actually say Østberg's best chance is Hyundai.

If Mikkelsen leaves somewhere else they could certainly use a driver that is good on fast gravel and is willing to do a part time season.

However, both Breen's and Mikkelsen's pace in Finland are bad news for him in that regard. Mikkelsen's pace on his worst rally makes it more likely he will stay and Breen's pace makes it likely he gets part time drive if Mikkelsen leaves.

Early to say though. If Mikkelsen still struggles on tarmac in Germany it is less likely he stays and Breen needs at least one more start in Hyundai to confirm he can perform with it. So I'd say Østberg can still be under consideration.