Silly Season 2022

[bandit12]

If so, how do you see Fourmaux and Loeb working out? A bit cramped in one car, are they trying to run 4 cars?

One Puma will be with three seats.

[Mackie]

One Puma will be with three seats.

Hm.

Fourmaux was hailed as a great, upcoming driver. Than Greensmith get a full year, and Fourmaux, Loeb and Loubet are supposed to share?

[becher]

Loubet as a customer?

[Andre Oliveira]

Breen
Greensmith
Fourmaux
Loeb/Huttunen

Loubet (custumer)

[Mackie]

So 5 cars?

[Andre Oliveira]

Loubet only from Croatia.

[mknight]

Hm.

Fourmaux was hailed as a great, upcoming driver. Than Greensmith get a full year, and Fourmaux, Loeb and Loubet are supposed to share?

It should be pretty clear to anyone that (extrernal) funding is the prime decider at MSport. They were trying to make an impression that they were aiming for results after Puma was announced, but almost everything they did after that shows that running a business is the prime goal.
Loeb might be getting a drive for free or even get some money (from Redbull) but that's because he brings a lot of ("free") PR.

[denkimi]

If so, how do you see Fourmaux and Loeb working out? A bit cramped in one car, are they trying to run 4 cars?

They will run 10 cars if they find enough people who want to pay for them.

[AndyRAC]

It should be pretty clear to anyone that (external) funding is the prime decider at M-Sport. They were trying to make an impression that they were aiming for results after Puma was announced, but almost everything they did after that shows that running a business is the prime goal.
Loeb might be getting a drive for free or even get some money (from Redbull) but that's because he brings a lot of ("free") PR.

Exactly! And also confirms that Ford aren't as committed as we hoped they would be; otherwise you don't need funding from your No 2 driver. It's rinse & repeat; so people need to stop the sympathy for M-Sport.....it's how they run their business. As for Gus, as yet, he's nowhere near a No 2 level; but now he is, he has to deliver those type of performances. And I hope he does.....

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Exactly! And also confirms that Ford aren't as committed as we hoped they would be; otherwise you don't need funding from your No 2 driver. It's rinse & repeat; so people need to stop the sympathy for M-Sport.....it's how they run their business. As for Gus, as yet, he's nowhere near a No 2 level; but now he is, he has to deliver those type of performances. And I hope he does.....

M-Sport is private team, not a full Ford factory-backed team, so they need to run with financial stability in mind.

They have also suffered in the pandemic with lower car sales, parts sales and servicing earnings.

They have signed the best available driver, Breen, who has impressed in WRC this year, and who they are able to afford.

The 2022 Puma isnt going to be cheap to make and buy and even more to run than the WRC cars. Someone has to pay if its not Ford and that's the driver and their family or sponsors.