2022 WRC News & Rumours

[AnttiL]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/latva...toyota-lineup/

Latvala wants to keep the same lineup at Toyota for next year.

[flat_right]

For sure, this would be a no-brainer.

[Sergiow]

And Neuville is looking for help at the higher-ups
https://twitter.com/Ben_Sulayem/stat...CjzZv55bIrAAAA

Could be that Thierry is explaining the Hyundai situation to the FIA. Former Hyundai team member Alain Penasse was hinting as such in a Wallon DHSports interview:

What's going on at Hyundai, your former team?
"There are a lot of management problems. There is no longer a real boss. Some ex-colleagues have explained things to me in confidence. Thierry also knows things, but that is something you better not tell the journalists…""

[mknight]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/latva...toyota-lineup/

Latvala wants to keep the same lineup at Toyota for next year.

Before Ypres and especially if the Finland roll led to retirement there could be a discussion.
But in Ypres Lappi has shown he can also do a safe point-scoring run for good points.

This puts Latvala in a very easy positions. Though I am not sure whether Adamo wouldn't want to change something anyway, but Adamo is not there.
I believe Latvala does not lie when he says nothing about Tanak.


I believe Japans objections on Katsuta not getting into main team got stopped by two Hyundai wins in a row showing that Toyota can't relax.

The only question is if Evans wants to leave by himself. I think it's very unlikely, but let's think about it:
Hyundai could try to get him in 3rd car, with Sordo retiring and Solberg in 4th.. or to replace Tanak if he goes to MSport.
MSport could also try replacing Breen (based on latest rumors).

If Evans leaves I think Latvala would just keep Lappi, Katsuta+Ogier with Katsuta getting nominated on some rounds.

[Sergiow]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/latva...toyota-lineup/ Latvala wants to keep the same lineup at Toyota for next year.

To me this interview expresses the wish of Latvala to have a serious contender who can go for the wins where Rovanperä is still developping some weakness, that is Monte Carlo (a natural for Ogier) and Sardinia (where Lappi always have been fast)

[bandit12]

For sure, this would be a no-brainer.

Indeed. Toyota has good drivers and team inner chemistry looks good also. No secrets between drivers and no team orders.Why risk replacing somebody with former champion, who most surely will add tensions .
I am a fan of Tänak but he is surelu stubborn and demanding person

[lmmjvss]

uff thats harsh on Breen.
I mean... Msport is not doing so well, as we can see... The pay drivers are reeeaally weak - and Breen is not delivering much too tbh. But Loeb delivers so better drivers are required asap.
I was thinking yesterday... Imagine Msport gets Mikkelsen... then he crashes in his first race.. then some problem hits in in his second race and BOOOM. Everybody will start to "Ah, he is a R5 driver, not Rally1" - "Ah we over estimated him".

[Eli]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/m-spo...ime-next-year/

Says it all I guess.

[mknight]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/m-spo...ime-next-year/

Says it all I guess.

Well there is no real info or anything to back up in the article. Just writing about something to fill up time....

They could at least try with some proper questions (like they did a few times to Millener).
Questions like:

- Does Wilson want to pay Loeb (more) for those extra starts? (one would think so, but rumors had it that RedBull is paying his starts this year)

- Do they want to increase Loeb's starts at expense of Breen?


-----------------------
Breen's goal this year was to bring some podiums or even wins to show the speed of the car, both to sponsors/partners and customers. (Millener basically said this directly). Loebs performance was uncertain after Hyundai so it was a lot about PR.

Breen didn't deliver, but Loeb showed the speed=> "kick" Breen and keep/get Loeb and paydrivers in all other cars would sound like typical MSport approach.

[AnttiL]

I think the headline is stupid, when the interview actually goes

“For sure he will not want to do a whole championship,” Wilson continued, “which is something that would appeal to us, but if we can get him for a few events then for sure we would look at it.”