2023 WRC News & Rumours

[TypeR]

Evans seems pretty unhappy with the Toyota and Loeb is leading a rally every time he drives the Puma while he barely managed two podiums from many starts in i20.

Unhappy with Yaris?

This season's best car by far and taking WDC + Manus title..

Only problem is himself not being able to manage the pressure of young fin beating him here and there..(after messing everything up in Monza).

[meh]

Is there anything to test? I mean we know Toyota is the best package at the moment so if he can choose either one I think Toyota would be a no-brainer.

This seems like that... but... do we actually KNOW it? I think we don't have valid comparison. It can be that Loeb is just the master who can drive with everything... but was not able to drive with Hyundai actually. The same pattern is with Loubet. The question or worry here is, how reliable the Puma is.

[flat_right]

This seems like that... but... do we actually KNOW it? I think we don't have valid comparison. It can be that Loeb is just the master who can drive with everything... but was not able to drive with Hyundai actually. The same pattern is with Loubet. The question or worry here is, how reliable the Puma is.

It's not only the car, it is the whole package. Can M-Sport develop the car, can they arrange PETs etc? No one is questioning that the car isn't good, but if you look at the bigger picture, it should be clear that Toyota is a place to be.

[bandit12]

We all know, that Toyota is the best place to be.
Also we know that this is the only team with fully filled lineup. Loosing one part time driver does not put any pressure to them to find replacement for him. They have Taka San for that.

[Managarium]

I thought he was studying pharmacy.

He finished 4 of 9 years of medicine study.

[Danny0405]

I've heard that maybe Formaux will join toyota.

As what?

With Lappi out, Toyota will clearly need a driver to lead the final part of the development of the Rally2 car.
Hanninen can lead the first part but they need a more up-to-date driver to make this final stages of development if they want to compete against such a big competition quite quickly (Skoda for sure, Hyundai is good now, Citroen also, VW is still an interesting car).
Evans has participated in developing R5 Fiesta but a full-season driver can not develop a car IMO and same for Ogier for a different reason (they can make one or two run but not full sessions).
All the last Rally2 developed has proved you need some time to optimize it and overall, to have a lead driver with a certain knowledge to optimize it.

Fourmaux has developed the Fiesta Rally1 but as not that much experience in Rally2, I would select Suninen, Mikkelsen, Ostberg or Lindholm over him personnally. But maybe someone still believes in his potential and want to keep it close in his field.

[mknight]

We all know, that Toyota is the best place to be.
Also we know that this is the only team with fully filled lineup. Loosing one part time driver does not put any pressure to them to find replacement for him. They have Taka San for that.

Lappi left them already once when they were best (2018) for Citroen and now if rumors are true he is doing that again (though maybe not on own will).

[spyros]

The rumour was for Loubet not Formaux to join Toyota.

[mknight]

No late-night tweets from Tanak

The rumour was for Loubet not Formaux to join Toyota.

That actually makes some sense and would also mean MSport loses the seemingly only driver with potential they have.

[AnttiL]

The rumour was for Loubet not Formaux to join Toyota.

And use the same co-driver with Ogier