[WRC] Ardeca Ypres Rally 2022

[mknight]

To complete the M-Sport disaster, 4th time in a row that Katsuta finishes above the best M-Sport driver; and 6 out of 9 since the beginning of the season.

Saw the interview with Millener after Fourmaux crashed.

One interesting moment was he saying something like "there is only so many times we can praise mechanics for doing great job (when drivers don't)".

Problem is he has said things similar things like this a few times before.
But then a week or two later he always seem to meet (Malcolms?) budget reality and starts talking about good splittimes and developing drivers 5-10 years into the future.


I was thinking Fourmaux was doing reasonably well before the crash. At the same time the performance was still somewhat worse than his first rally in WRC in Croatia 1,5 year ago. On a "home" rally. The other reality check is the number of his championship points after driving every single round of the season.

[Eli]

They could use that 2 month break we had between Sweden and Croatia now, like Greensmith said, they need to switch off for a couple of days and see where they go from here (& that if by some miracle they manage to persuade Ott to join the team for 2023).

[Danny0405]

I was thinking Fourmaux was doing reasonably well before the crash. At the same time the performance was still somewhat worse than his first rally in WRC in Croatia 1,5 year ago. On a "home" rally. The other reality check is the number of his championship points after driving every single round of the season.

Well, yeah, reality is that he scores 9 points in 9 rallies, not even in top15 in standings and even behind Rossel and his 5 Rally2 outings. It’s even worse than Camilli’s 2016 season and Camilli had less Internationale experience and preparation when M-Sport gave him the drive (and we cannot say the car was better).
The only comparison I see for a while so far is Kubica (some speed potential but totally unable to do a clean full rallye).

Well, let’s tell the truth: it’s up to Red Bull to decide (it will be all about money) but, except a tremendous drive in Greece or New Zealand, I don’t see how he can be there next yearw

[AndersX]

Fourmaux has a raw speed and personality, plus French federation, market and Red Bull behind him. If I were team manager, I would stick to him - he seems to have what it needs. Many years ago, there were Pirelli Star drive Competition - you know, Tanak and Paddon came out of it in 2009. There was a guy named Ari Vattanen who was involved at certain level and he said one very important matter - raw, natural speed matters the most. Therefore Tanak won. And those who are familiar with Tanaks drive on early carrier, knows how many Pirelli's Evos and later cars he "scratched"...but the speed matters. FIA championships are packed today with good drivers, but just few have that raw, extra speed.

[seb_sh]

I enjoyed this rally, there were some nice fights and it was a though filter, even Neuville didn't make it.

One thing to note about MSport and their drivers, except for Monte whenever they get competitive times they have a mechanical issue or they go off. Is it maybe a limitation of the car and especially their testing strategy? Or lack thereof? Sure you can come up with explanations but it's getting to be too much of a usual occurrence. Are the drivers so bad or is there more to it? It kinda looks like the typical MSport under budget season. Just a thought.

Also Millener is just a talking head i don't give 2c of what he says anymore.

[AndyRAC]

I would doubt Red Bull back Fourmaux with too much money; it's more athlete support, etc He's done nothing to warrant any big money from them just yet; that will come later when he's won something.

[Eli]

I would doubt Red Bull back Fourmaux with too much money; it's more athlete support, etc He's done nothing to warrant any big money from them just yet; that will come later when he's won something.

So does that mean we won’t see him after Greece, or only be benched for the long haul rallies?

[steve.mandzij]

Fourmaux has a raw speed and personality, plus French federation, market and Red Bull behind him. If I were team manager, I would stick to him - he seems to have what it needs. Many years ago, there were Pirelli Star drive Competition - you know, Tanak and Paddon came out of it in 2009. There was a guy named Ari Vattanen who was involved at certain level and he said one very important matter - raw, natural speed matters the most. Therefore Tanak won. And those who are familiar with Tanaks drive on early carrier, knows how many Pirelli's Evos and later cars he "scratched"...but the speed matters. FIA championships are packed today with good drivers, but just few have that raw, extra speed.

where is his raw speed? one stage win once every blue moon? can't say he's like Novikov, who was very quick and never finished; forumaux is much more often than not among the slowest 3 drivers.

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[WRCStan]

I would doubt Red Bull back Fourmaux with too much money; it's more athlete support, etc He's done nothing to warrant any big money from them just yet; that will come later when he's won something.

I get the impression it's through his relationship with M-Sport rather than direct.

I also get the impression that if he was told to bring the car home without penalties or getting pulled over by the police - even if he finished last, he would still do his own thing.

Edit: Also, where is Loeb's 'coaching'? Being public might even help.

[Negaiss]

Exactly my thoughts too.