Silly Season 2020

[doubled1978]

Interested to see what Hyundai have to talk to Mikkelsen about. On the face of it there doesn’t seem much available, as now they have Neuville/Tanak it’s certain Sordo/Loeb won’t drive in the same events.
I guess Breen would pick up any drives left (Finland/Wales etc) to go with the R5 development stuff...

[ggg377]

Interested to see what Hyundai have to talk to Mikkelsen about. On the face of it there doesn’t seem much available, as now they have Neuville/Tanak it’s certain Sordo/Loeb won’t drive in the same events.
I guess Breen would pick up any drives left (Finland/Wales etc) to go with the R5 development stuff...

Rally Finland for example is a rally neither Sordo nor Loeb want to do. Between Sweden, Argentina, Kenya, Mexico and the likes there may be probably a few of those and that's where Breen or Mikkelsen could come in handy.

[Rally Power]

Everyone knows Ott is winning because he's Ott, not because his car is better.

We don’t call Ogier, Tanak and Neuville the BIG 3 by accident. They’re clearly on a class of their own but if one of them manages to get a faster car it’ll soon be noticed. That was Neuville case in most 2017 season and Tanak during 2018 and part of 2019, at least until Turkey, where the rear wing was finally revised. Since Turkey the i20 seems leveled with the Yaris on gravel although still a bit behind on tarmac, as the 3.8s gap in Catalunya decisive PS has shown.

Btw, with today’s official announcement I hope the forum will stop washing Makinen and Tanak dirty laundry; they deserve better than that.

[er88]

The R5 thing is starting to make sense. WRC is maybe getting more like F1 where B2B relationships are evermore important.

Tbh having thought about this more, I think it's an absolute joke if this is the reason anyway. How is it it even acceptable for someone like Tanak and Martin to try and take a potential multi million R5 project away from Tommi AND Toyota. That's almost like taking R5 development and running away from Malcolm and Msport - it just isn't going to happen and never was...

If that is genuinely a reason why Tanak has left (I have to doubt it), then you can't blame Tommi and Toyota for not giving into those demands. And frankly I'd lose a bit of respect for Ott and question his full motives with Martin.

Tommi built this project/partnership on the trust and backing from Toyoda, and so far has delivered more success than even the most optimistic person could've predicted back in 2015/16. The majority (including myself) were fearing the worst.

Losing Tanak is the first big mistake this operation has made, but if it's because of not handing over the running and development of a future R5, then frankly I don't blame them. Those demands are over the top and below the belt at the same time, and not linked to a driver caring only about getting himself the best car/ team/ team manager and salary for the next few years - to keep him at the top of the sport.

[doubled1978]

Rally Finland for example is a rally neither Sordo nor Loeb want to do. Between Sweden, Argentina, Kenya, Mexico and the likes there may be probably a few of those and that's where Breen or Mikkelsen could come in handy.

Yes, but Loeb is contracted for 6 rallies, and Sordo will surely do a similar amount. That’s only going to leave 2 rallies, perhaps Finland/Wales as previously mentioned.
I can’t see Mikkelsen being too chuffed with that....unless Loeb/Sordo do less.

[wrc2017]

Well, when it comes to alternators, ECUs, faulty powersteering (of all the cars the same weekend), i don`t think he has more to do than others. And Evans has podium pace and was about to win rally Corsica, finished/is ahead of Meeke and Latvala in the standings WITHOUT doing 3 events...i`d rate him quite high at the moment, when you consider drivers reliability (including mental) and consistancy, he is right after the top 3.

Agree Evans if good, but still has off days.
Meeke started to feel comfortable in car mid season(after 'rim-gate') then came across events he missed last year. Meeke had winning pace on Finland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, GB.. Maybe some others. I think another year would be good for him, but also his last chance saloon.. Ogier, Meeke and Rovenpera is strong, exciting lineup. If Ogier goes to Toyota and Citroen stay.. Evans could be good there. But what chance of having Citröen top driver again in 2021? Neuvile would be a good fit, but he would only be moving if he was getting it tough against Tanak, and would Citroen be any better than Hyundai?

[EstWRC]

Of course the R5 project isn’t the main reason. And the Japanese were actually okay with handing it over to Märtin.

[dimviii]

Of course the R5 project isn’t the main reason. And the Japanese were actually okay with handing it over to Märtin.

how do you know it?

[Indreq]

Can anyone summarize this? https://www.autosport.com/wrc/featur...PRpsCiaqnIsPzo

[Sulland]

Ok, so the big cat is out of the bag.

what will now happen to the rest of the teams?

Hyundai will field Tänak and Neuville, third car split Sordo and Loeb.

Ford should swap one or two drivers. Both have underperformed.
who should come in? Breen or Mikkelsen I guess is stamdimg first in line

Citroen: I guess they stay with same crew, no third car

if Toyota keep Meeke and Latvala, Rovanpära in car 3
Or will Ogier move here, and Latvala retire?