Silly Season 2026

[Eli]

Next season will be an internal battle at Toyota. M-Sport will probably direct its resources towards the 2027 car, leaving their drivers without updates or testing.
Hyundai is rolling through its last year, already becoming ridiculous. Minimal factory support, zero motivation from staff and drivers.
Sad.

Hyundai seem very keen to become the next Citroën and even they in their final year wracked up 3 wins with that C3….if Hyundai do retire at the end of ‘26 (which lets face it seems more and more likely) I do hope Lancia (& perhaps Dacia?) step up and we’ll get a Toyota vs Lancia Round 2 for those of us who weren’t around in the 80’s

[Rallyper]

Why should Ogier try to win a 10th next year? His ego is big, but not that big.
Ogier- so Ogier leaving, with possible one or two guest appearances
Evans? - what is his insurance being at Toyota next year? He could have good options at MSport.
Katsuta - secures 2026, is my guess. Or swapped to WRC2 is season starts bad.
Kalle? - It´s only himself to decide or motivate what will happen.
Pajari - Forsure one more season secured.

To sum up:
Yes, Oliver has a place at Toyota Rally1 next year. The replacement can be in many ways.

[flat_right]

Why should Ogier try to win a 10th next year? His ego is big, but not that big.
Ogier- so Ogier leaving, with possible one or two guest appearances

I really don't know anyone who has bigger EGO in current WRC line up than him. And I bet if he gets 9, he needs just 1 more to be better than Loeb. And this has to motivate him because being better in total tiles than Loeb is something he surely wants. So I bet he will drive and will start again with half campaign and if he has a chance, he will do it.

Evans? - what is his insurance being at Toyota next year? He could have good options at MSport.

What? Guy has been leading the WRC the whole year. How is that not an insurance?

Katsuta - secures 2026, is my guess. Or swapped to WRC2 is season starts bad.

A better season than last year for sure but nothing special compared to 2022 for example. He had 80 points last year (and he didn't drive in Chilie). This year he has 94.

Kalle? - It´s only himself to decide or motivate what will happen.

Agree.

Pajari - Forsure one more season secured.

Let's hope so. Hasn't really done anything do be dropped but in my opinion he hasn't shown anything special also. With the car as good as Toyota, you'd expect better results and stage times. But he only got his 5th stage and 4th this year. 3 of them were from 2025 rally Finland and now in Chile

To sum up:
Yes, Oliver has a place at Toyota Rally1 next year. The replacement can be in many ways.

Difficult decision. Definitely should drive in Rally1.

[Rallyper]

Ogier has BIG ego, but he must one more year sacrifice all those private thing a man gets avare of, when groving up; family, business, old parents etz. (eg. passing his 40´s)

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I would bet on Ogier going for 10 in the final year of Rally1 Cars and possibly doing it the same way, missing a couple of early events he dislikes.

As well as getting the record ahead of Loeb, he'll probably see that the competition will be weaker than this season with Hyundai fading away and his teammates already mentally beaten.

[Rallyper]

I would bet on Ogier going for 10 in the final year of Rally1 Cars and possibly doing it the same way, missing a couple of early events he dislikes.

As well as getting the record ahead of Loeb, he'll probably see that the competition will be weaker than this season with Hyundai fading away and his teammates already mentally beaten.

Well, let´s see what happens. One has to take notice of Oliver if he joins he might beat Ogier in every round. Sounds silly, but he already did once. And that might also affects Ogiers decision.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Well, let´s see what happens. One has to take notice of Oliver if he joins he might beat Ogier in every round. Sounds silly, but he already did once. And that might also affects Ogiers decision.

Anything is possible. Ogier could start the year uncommitted and see how Solberg goes (assuming he's in the team) before he decides on a full season.

Solberg would certainly be hungry, but is that enough to beat 9x WDC over a year ? I doubt it.

[pedro16]

Well, let´s see what happens. One has to take notice of Oliver if he joins he might beat Ogier in every round. Sounds silly, but he already did once. And that might also affects Ogiers decision.

When was that?
Ogier wasn't in Estonia this year.

[Rallyper]

When was that?
Ogier wasn't in Estonia this year.

Alright. My bad. Guess I was thinking of Kalle who also was a bit humiliated, head to head. However I do think Ogier will be challenged as never before by Oliver...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Alright. My bad. Guess I was thinking of Kalle who also was a bit humiliated, head to head. However I do think Ogier will be challenged as never before by Oliver...

It's a bit strong to extrapolate a WDC from one (amazing) win in Estonia.

Of course Solberg is much better, but it's a bit like all the hype about Sesks after his first Rally1 drives.