2022 WRC News & Rumours

[skarderud]

Do anyone think any of the best drivers in WRC2 would do a worse season than the M-sport boys? I don't.

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[EstWRC]

What pressure? If Ogier and Tanak are in the same team and he still crashes, is he then just shit?

Really have to say it out to you?

The pressure from being the number one and only one in the team who can bring decent results

[seb_sh]

The way I see it with Breen is he's now top dog at MSport so he's comparing himself with the other top dogs. So he's trying to be on pace with Rovanpera, Evans, Tanak and Neuville. Now his ability and maybe the car is possibly not quite up to it so he's pushing over the limit and crashing. When he was 3rd driver he could be comfortable in 2nd 3rd 4th 5th behind the main drivers and that was job done. He could then complain that he's missing a few percent of speed due to not having a full time drive. I like the guy but I think we're seeing his limit.

[WRCStan]

Really have to say it out to you?

The pressure from being the number one and only one in the team who can bring decent results

I get that his experience means expectations are higher, but this is all in your heads. Like - it's the standard commentary so it must be fact.

[EstWRC]

I get that his experience means expectations are higher, but this is all in your heads. Like - it's the standard commentary so it must be fact.

“We know as a team Craig is capable of securing good results, but that just hasn’t happened in the last few rallies,” said Richard Millener.

“There is a lot of pressure on him right now and this accident only makes things worse again for him. We just need to support him because we know that Craig can do it.

[Jarek Z]

Craig Breen has been competing in WRC on a regular basis since 2009. He has 77 WRC rallies on his account. In recent years he was constantly repeating that he wanted to compete in a WRC car in a factory team. Now he has it. Pressure is a natural ingredient of this situation. Didn't he have enough time to get used to it?

P.S. I don't want to criticize him. I am just surprised that he has such problems. I wish him all the best.

[Danny0405]

For me, Millener’s story about they only would hire a WDC contender is clearly bs. I don’t really understand how they could hope to hire one with a team not able to make PET everywhere (I precise it’s not a criticism, I understand the financial situation is not simple), with not that much ability of development and whereas all the contenders have a contract for next year. It’s clearly only PR thing: only spot for hiring one will be 2024 at the end of their contract if one has been disappointing with this risk that it’s a declining driver (a bit like Hirvonen comeback in 2014).

And on the other hand, Wilson has always been clear that they are making top-class only as a store front to show they are better than other preparation brand; as they don’t have VW or Toyota money, it’s understandable they cannot compete for a lot of wins but they should be able to compete for at least 3/4 podiums as they did after Ford and Qatar withdrawal in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019 (and we could say they were not that far in 2020); 2017-2018 was a bit special in the next few years.
If they’re not able to do this at least in the next few years (with no more advantage of having prepared the new generation car first), it’s a non-sense to follow in the top-class championship, they should focus to fix the Rally2 car and quit the top class because they’re not winning any money in Rally1 (almost no pure client) and the front store would not be attractive.

IMO, best realistic solution for them for next year is to go for a individual rally strategy and completely forgetting about the global picture championship.
Which means:
- Take back Breen to a role of part-time driver, it’s where he was the most efficient with Citroen and Hyundai, focusing on some events and having even better road positions. Should be possible with Breen outside of top 5 in WDC except if they messed up badly on the contract.

- sharing his car with a guy with not too far RC1 experience who could be able to play one or two podiums with cheap salary (not paying to drive but paid only the minimum): best would be Ogier or Lappi if they are not maintained by Toyota but complicated I think. Else Mikkelsen or Suninen are probably the best shots; would be surprising they couldn’t convince one of the 2 with that type of offers, they have to take risks now to comeback in top class. Ostberg, Paddon or Meeke too risky in my opinion so only other option would be Solberg if not kept by Hyundai

- convincing Loeb of making a 3-to-5-round calendar; don’t think he wants to do more and anyway, he is not anymore the 30-yo Loeb, don’t think he can be efficient in a large calendar as he is making much more mistakes than in the past (hopefully I would say considering his age)

- focusing on one second-tier youngster, probably with some backing, either Loubet, Fourmaux, Huttunen, Rossel or even Lindholm. Theoretically, best would be Loubet as it was the most convincing and he knows the car so lowest learning delay to wait and more probability to take profit fast. In other scenario, Solberg if not kept by Hyundai

- and then, to finish, whoever pays fully for the drives.

For me, it’s the best way they have to optimize the result with something that is in their financial range.

[WRCStan]

“We know as a team Craig is capable of securing good results, but that just hasn’t happened in the last few rallies,” said Richard Millener.

“There is a lot of pressure on him right now and this accident only makes things worse again for him. We just need to support him because we know that Craig can do it.

Oh Ok, thanks.

[ouvreur]

For me, Millener’s story about they only would hire a WDC contender is clearly bs.

What is he supposed to say? "We want to hire someone bang average"? "Mediocre driver wanted to lead our team"? "We surrender, just give us third place now"?

They clearly expected a LOT more from Breen.

[AnttiL]

For me, Millener’s story about they only would hire a WDC contender is clearly bs.

No, the exact opposite. And Breen's seasson just proves them right. He was supposed to be "the best of the rest" but they haven't really done better this year than with just paying drivers. But with Ogier they got three titles in two years.

Of course, it's not as simple as just hiring a driver, a world champion level driver like Ogier or Tänak will demand higher level of development and testing and will be granted it.