M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams

[the sniper]

Solberg tweet deleted, what did it say?

Basically asked what he'll be doing next year by Colin Clark (in a video), talked a bit about learning rallies, said amongst other things, iirc, "for sure in a R5".

Happy to be corrected though.

[er88]

No testing again for Msport this week.

Toyota and Hyundai both starting their Monte preparations with Pirelli's new rubber.

[TypeR]

No point of testing if the 2021 drivers line-up is not decided yet..

[er88]

Maybe so. Although I don't believe that they are as unaware of next seasons line up as they've let on.

I'm pretty sure Suninen will be there, and Msport will have a little idea by now if Fourmaux/Greensmith could stump up some more cash or not. They have been in that part of the world following rally Monza, and I think putting anyone in the car would be a benefit to start fully testing their new upgrades that keep getting postponed..., and also to collect data about the new Pirelli rubber.

They have experience when Ogier was there of bringing big aero updates that didn't work, and that was after lots of testing. Can't expect to just bolt these new parts on and expect everything to go smoothly if there's been little-to-no testing.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Testing costs money and that's very tight at M-Sport.

I'm pretty sure the engine and aero will be tested well-enough in development and will improve the car when fitted. Tests for the drivers can wait.

[meh]

I'm pretty sure Suninen will be there, ...

Why you are sure? Why you think his situation is different from Lappi? Why you think he want or can pay for his drive?

[mknight]

Why you are sure? Why you think his situation is different from Lappi? Why you think he want or can pay for his drive?

Cause he or sponsors have been paying at start at MSport and likely also did it in 2020 and he is managed by Jouhki who basically introduced the whole concept of "paying to get WRC drive" to top teams and has a long history of drivers that did that under him. (starting with Hirvonen 2004)

On the other hand Lappi has been payed to some level by Citroen ("rumors" say) since he had 2 year deal and they pulled at end 2019 and is manged by EVEN (Veiby) who was known has very much against paying to drive. (kinda funny at with his son driving at Monza though)

[Rallyper]

I know this sounds a bit crazy, but would JML do services for MSport if he got all for free, but no salary?

[denkimi]

I know this sounds a bit crazy, but would JML do services for MSport if he got all for free, but no salary?

Perhaps he would. But no car will drive at m-sport unless the drivers brings the money to pay for almost all of it.

[AnttiL]

I know this sounds a bit crazy, but would JML do services for MSport if he got all for free, but no salary?

He still has a marketing job at Toyota and wants to keep loyal to them