M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams

[Jarek Z]

So, we want to see rally great again (MRGA), but as soon as some new guy appears on the horizon, we all are jumping on him.

Not true. Did anybody jump on Sesks or Pajari?

[deephouse]

Not true. Did anybody jump on Sesks or Pajari?

True that. There was so many guys more suitable for that seat. Sesks is the first choice obviously because he already beat many top guys at debut, with slower car. No matter how good he know Latvia roads, it's the top class and the grid is competitive with multiple event winners and many title winners. Then there was Solberg, Rossel, Gryazin, Virves... Even two irish stars were better or at least showed something, Armstrong and Creighton. This was pure money. I hope that he will show something, or we could have another crawling "Munster" of course we are happy for new talent, but calling him talent over many better talents isn't justified. Sorry.

[Backa]

calling him talent over many better talents isn't justified.

Calling him good driver with potential doesn't mean drivers deserving that seat more but omitted due to business side of rally don't exist.

Between taking best talent possible (that would be Solberg, not Sesks as Swede showed more on tarmac and slow gravel) and "pure money" is plenty of space in between. Gryazin and Rossel would be also more deserving but McErlean is younger, less experienced and not that far off from them in terms of performance.

30-years old Armstrong and 27-years old Creighton didn't show enough to be considered more investment-worthy than 25-years old McErlean. Creighton in 2023 Junior WRC showed similar results as G.Munster but somehow McErlean is "Munster-like" and Creighton isn't?

[meh]

M-Sport is a private business and choosing a driver is a business decision. Simple as that. You can not provide a car if you don't have money for that.

We should not blame that McErlean found his way to have a seat, we can only cry that WRC is on the level that many promising talents never get a chance to show and validate their talents.

[Steve Boyd]

Even two irish stars were better or at least showed something, Armstrong and Creighton.

Don't forget that McErlean isn't there because of his own money. He's there because he has been selected by Motorsports Ireland as a promising young driver and has sufficiently impressed a very rich Irish competitor to back him so far. This rich backer has supported Motorsports Ireland's young driver programme for many years and McErlean is just the latest in a long line of Irish drvers who have made it to ERC & WRC level because of this backing. If McErlean continues to develop I'm sure his support will develop, if not he'll fall by the wayside to make room for the next promising youngster.

[Duvel]

Don't forget that McErlean isn't there because of his own money. He's there because he has been selected by Motorsports Ireland as a promising young driver and has sufficiently impressed a very rich Irish competitor to back him so far. This rich backer has supported Motorsports Ireland's young driver programme for many years and McErlean is just the latest in a long line of Irish drvers who have made it to ERC & WRC level because of this backing. If McErlean continues to develop I'm sure his support will develop, if not he'll fall by the wayside to make room for the next promising youngster.

I think its good that McErlean gets a chanse, he's Irisch, i think there's a pretty large fanbase in Ireland, so thats also good.
Lets see how he can compare to Munster fof instance. good first benchmark.

[denkimi]

It's just weird to see someone who was 9th in wrc2 last year, someone without any victory or even a few decent results in the past jump to wrc1.

But i guess M-sport just needs the money. And perhaps we're all wrong and he suddenly turns out to be some massive talent.

[Sal yet again]

And how is that different in many ways to Taka though?

[denkimi]

And how is that different in many ways to Taka though?

Not. Katsuta is only in an rc1 because he is japanese and toyoda wants some japanese driver in his cars.

[Doon]

It's understandable the some people are upset that a more deserving driver isn't in that M-Sport Rally 1 seat (....or both). Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way, especially in the rallying world. It's not like there are sponsors queuing up to put their company name on a car which quite frankly isn't going to be seen by many people. Just look at the crowds at the ceremonial start in Monte Carlo, the "jewel in the crown", right now.....there aren't any.

So, if someone is willing is willing to pay, at least it keeps another team in the sport to fight another day. Without that money, we are watching two teams. That's the sad reality of the WRC currently. It's a minority sport, mainly for people who can fund themselves, lets stop pretending otherwise and enjoy the show.