Hyundai WRT

[deephouse]

What about Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Castrol they had on their cars. They can attract sponsors but, sponsors require some results. And with drivers not able to achieve anything, sponsors will be gone. I know that with results come also big paycheck for drivers, but when the situation with not enough seats, those who think that they deserve that much as Ogier, should lower their standards. They still earn more than normal mortal could ever earn.

I was quite surprised that Red Bull even stick with M-Sport (probably because F1-Ford future connection). Usualy they go with champions and champion winning machines. And interesting that they are not on Toyota, because when they came back, they straight away start winning.

[pedro16]

What about Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Castrol they had on their cars. They can attract sponsors but, sponsors require some results. And with drivers not able to achieve anything, sponsors will be gone. I know that with results come also big paycheck for drivers, but when the situation with not enough seats, those who think that they deserve that much as Ogier, should lower their standards. They still earn more than normal mortal could ever earn.

I was quite surprised that Red Bull even stick with M-Sport (probably because F1-Ford future connection). Usualy they go with champions and champion winning machines. And interesting that they are not on Toyota, because when they came back, they straight away start winning.

Red Bull is part owner of the promoter. It's of their interest that M-Sport stays afloat.

[typhoon]

In the earlier decades private teams used Manufacturers cars, they didn't make them from scratch. I can only think of one which was Prodrive and the Mini that I dont think was a factory car.

It's not even easy to get sponsors for WRC1. M-Sport as the only 'tuner' has struggled for years and only certain drivers bringing Red Bull has kept them viable.

Same was Subaru with Prodrive, maybe tuners getting some backing from a partner Manufacturer would ease the budget effort of the Manufacturers itself, but it could help out filling the entries with top-class cars?

I think that tuners like M-Sport (with all their difficulties) or Prodrive (which I think they learned from their mistakes with the Mini JCW) would bring good value together with manufacturers like Toyota and maybe any between Skoda and Stellantis, whatever brand they'll select to get back if it's their goal.

Sometimes a good shuffle can be a positive.

[WRCStan]

In the earlier decades private teams used Manufacturers cars, they didn't make them from scratch. I can only think of one which was Prodrive and the Mini that I dont think was a factory car.

Heading off topic, but Ralliart? Eventually got bought out by Mitsubishi.

[WRCStan]

Heading off topic

Hyundai Mk 1? That was MSD.

[saco0o]

what TURNERS actually mean? can I build the spaceframe and add some body pannels resembling a Chevy Sonic and compete? how the homologation thing works for Turners? or I have to choose between a few avaliable homologated bodies? (Puma, Yaris, Skoda, i20...?)

[deephouse]

Sometimes tuners do know stuff better than official manufacturers. So it would be sometimes better if manufacturer just throw money to them, and they would run things for them. In Hyundai's case I think this would be the best option to continue. And Paddon could take over their programme, since his team can build cars and he being loyal to that brand.

[wyler]

Same was Subaru with Prodrive, maybe tuners getting some backing from a partner Manufacturer would ease the budget effort of the Manufacturers itself, but it could help out filling the entries with top-class cars?

I think that tuners like M-Sport (with all their difficulties) or Prodrive (which I think they learned from their mistakes with the Mini JCW) would bring good value together with manufacturers like Toyota and maybe any between Skoda and Stellantis, whatever brand they'll select to get back if it's their goal.

Sometimes a good shuffle can be a positive.

m-sport, prodrive (subaru and mini), rallyart were all backed by manufacturers, or at least, the project was allowed by. they needed an omologation green light by the manufacturer.

the opposite was like corsa r5 or mirage r5, which were never authorized by manufacturers and never really competed.

i don't know with the future reg how this thing will work. maybe private builders will use a body not resembling any manus car...

on the other side, I would explore the r-gt market. alpine and porsche are developing something, why don't help them...

[PLuto]

the opposite was like corsa r5 or mirage r5, which were never authorized by manufacturers and never really competed.

But they were developed (same like Suzuki R5) with approval of manufacturer. But in the final it didnt went into official homologation as nobody wanted to pay the fee for it...

[focus206]

Ralliart can't be considered a tuner, it was literally the Mitsubishi rally/Dakar division. Yes, it was estabilished by Cowan but then it almost immediately became the official Mitsubishi works team, so in my view it can't be considered a tuner.

The line is often blurred between works/semi-works/private effort. Prodrive, M-Sport, MSD were all tuners that were chosen by manufacturers to run their WRC program, so to me they're works team too, just not in-house. M-Sport from 2013 on, after Ford officially left, I consider a semi-works "tuner".
Then we have Kronos Citroen in 2006 or PH-Sport Citroen in 2016 or Jolly Club Lancia (especially in 1992 and 1993 when there was no official works Lancia team) are semi-works tuners to me, but they're just using the old works cars.

Maybe Prodrive with Porsche and BMW M3 in the late 80's? I don't know if those were more Prodrive tuner projects or with actual manufacturer backing.