[WRC] News & Rumours 2021

[Steve Boyd]

Here's some rumors...Roughly a year ago Miika Wuorela saw "Elf in Central Finland". Now he claims having seen in Central Finland "one of these guys, traveling with Mr. Samsonite outside his native country..."

Ah! Malcolm to replace Tommi at TGR

[pantealex]

Strange this one. Any confirmation ?

Chris Ingram tells me he had no idea this was happening. He was expecting Toksport to run his WRC2/3 program in 2021...

You were telling year ago that Ingram is doing WRC 2020 and he did 0 events...

Most people will understand if Mikkelsen and Solberg get deals before Ingram

Besides Toksport had 3 cars in Monza, so 2 for WRC2 and some for WRC3 is possible...

With more cars, it´s cheaper for every driver.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

You were telling year ago that Ingram is doing WRC 2020 and he did 0 events...

Most people will understand if Mikkelsen and Solberg get deals before Ingram

Besides Toksport had 3 cars in Monza, so 2 for WRC2 and some for WRC3 is possible...

With more cars, it´s cheaper for every driver.

Well Covid put a big spanner in the works for Ingram in 2020, both with the events delayed and sponsorship.

And he stated he was told nothing by Toksport about the deal for Solberg/Mikkelsen. He was very worried by this so he clearly thinks it affects his chance of a drive with them.

[AndyRAC]

I just can't see when the money is going to get agreed, if it's going to be agreed at all. It'd be interesting to know what MSUK's (rally organiser) deadline is for getting the budget and going ahead. I can imagine it'll be a last minute thing as we don't seem to be hearing anything from Northern Ireland and everything will be focused on Brexit and Covid in the near future. MSUK are pretty conservative when it comes to spending their own money...

People outside the UK should remember too that rallying has been almost completely decimated in this country by Covid. Next year's Isle of Man TT in June was cancelled only a week ago. Rally GB this year was cancelled 5 months before it was due to be held. We're only 8 months away from "Rally UK" and there isn't even funding agreed for it yet. MSUK always make a big fuss about how long it takes to plan Rally GB each year in Wales, when it's largely the same year after year. I don't think they'll be doing an Estonia.

A Regional/Tourist board spending public money on a 'niche' sporting event, especially after Covid/Brexit wouldn't be a good look. Unless, a big money benefactor turns up.....

[doubled1978]

A Regional/Tourist board spending public money on a 'niche' sporting event, especially after Covid/Brexit wouldn't be a good look. Unless, a big money benefactor turns up.....

There is a flip side to that tho, if by investing in the event the local tourist board bring a whole load of money into the local service and hospitality sector via the rally it might actually been seen as public money well spent as those industries were some of the hardest hit through the pandemic.

[mknight]

Well Covid put a big spanner in the works for Ingram in 2020, both with the events delayed and sponsorship.

And he stated he was told nothing by Toksport about the deal for Solberg/Mikkelsen. He was very worried by this so he clearly thinks it affects his chance of a drive with them.

At this point a Toksport Solberg/Mikkelsen deal is just pure speculation afaik.

[dimviii]

Ruben Perez
@RubnPerez
Cándido Carrera, one of the candidates to get on the Hyundai i20 WRC next season with Dani Sordo.

In addition to Del Barrio, the Galician co-driver is also climbing to the right of the Cantabrian today in his tests prior to #RallyMonteCarlo. #WRC

[dimviii]

Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT
@TGR_WRC
We can confirm that two team members have tested positive for COVID-19 in regular after-travel tests upon returning home from Rally Monza. These cases have been confirmed by a subsequent retest. (1/3)
The team members concerned are self-isolating in line with national guidelines, and the team wishes them a quick recovery. These team members have not been in close contact with anyone outside of our own team members. (2/3)
All other team members that were in Monza have been tested and have so far returned negative results. All team members are also undertaking retests to help confirm that there are no further cases

[Rally Hokkaido]

Tommi stepping down as Team Manager?

[flykas]

Tommi stepping down as Team Manager?

Yes, it was announced about a month ago