[WRC] News & rumours (part III)

[Prisoner Monkeys]

And yet there comes a point where that stops being a defence and starts sounding like an excuse. How many times does he have to make a mistake before Citroen pull the plug? Everyone says he really is talented and that his results don't show it. I could perhaps understand that if he was being let down by reliability, but he's constantly making errors of his own. In that case, his results *do* reflect his talent.

The only problem facing Citroen is that he is the best of a bad bunch. If they let him go, then there isn't really any ready replacement, unless they want to take Novikov or Tanak for the rest of the season and see who might have potential in the WRC-2 or -3 for a 2015 drive.

[stefanvv]

And yet there comes a point where that stops being a defence and starts sounding like an excuse.

A "champion" wouldn't need neither of them. If Meeke feels himself like such (at least I didn't noticed him making those), he must continue his way, if it is WRC crown his higher ambition, then probably some things can be polished with proper direction. WRC is not only Citroen after all, supposing they are so dissapointed, but same goes for any other driver after Loeb, except Ogier.

[semsem]

The in-car footage of Kris Meeke going off the road in Portugal was very interesting.

Kris may have told Paul Nagle, as he went off the road, that his career was over, but I do not think Kris fully understands the strength of his position. He is the number one driver in Citroen's team, and Citroen are contracted through their championship registration to run Kris on ten of the thirteen rounds of the WRC this year. It is Mads Ostberg that can be freely replaced ... Citroen cannot just "sack" Kris!

[Francis44]

I think the biggest question here is will Citroen stay after the end of this year?!

Kris must show some consistency aswell if he wants to continue in the championship, Otsberg can easily be picked up since he is fast and consistent and that makes a great number 2 for any team, Meeke on the other hand must be aware that this season may be his only chance to estabilish himself as a worthy official driver.
It also depends aswell on how things will be next year, will Ford come back, will citroen stay?

[N.O.T]

The in-car footage of Kris Meeke going off the road in Portugal was very interesting.

Kris may have told Paul Nagle, as he went off the road, that his career was over, but I do not think Kris fully understands the strength of his position. He is the number one driver in Citroen's team, and Citroen are contracted through their championship registration to run Kris on ten of the thirteen rounds of the WRC this year. It is Mads Ostberg that can be freely replaced ... Citroen cannot just "sack" Kris!

Do you realise that by "career" most people consider something a bit more than a year ???

[dimviii]

about Meeke

http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/april...4--12-12-.html

[stefanvv]

Pace notes problem on second loop, hmm doesn't make much sense to me. If they've corrected it, there is something wrong with that correction. Anyway bad 3 of 4 Rallies is not reason for despair, Ogier is going to be champion again anyway.

[rallyfun]

The in-car footage of Kris Meeke going off the road in Portugal was very interesting.

It is Mads Ostberg that can be freely replaced ... Citroen cannot just "sack" Kris!

It would be Khalid's decision not Citroen's

[Zeakiwi]

Are there spare Citroen WRCs to try Bouffier (or someone else) on a few events?

[jonkka]

He is the number one driver in Citroen's team, and Citroen are contracted through their championship registration to run Kris on ten of the thirteen rounds of the WRC this year. It is Mads Ostberg that can be freely replaced ... Citroen cannot just "sack" Kris!

So I thought too, but here is an excerpt from current rules:

7.2.6 Must inform the FIA of the names of the drivers entered to score points in each rally before the closing date of entries of the rally concerned. At least one driver must be nominated for a minimum of 10 rallies in any championship year.

So, no requirement to name the driver (that will do the 10 events) beforehand. They can sack Meeke and run Ostberg for ten rallies to satisfy the rules (no replacement can as there is only nine rounds left).