WRC2 / WRC3 News & Rumours 2022

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Great WRC2 times by Ingram on day 2 - so far 2nd, 2nd & 3rd fastest.

[Jarek Z]

It will be very difficult for Mikkelsen to past Lefebvre on clear speed here in Ypres. You can say its Lefebvre's home rally, he knows the roads well, car setup must be close to ideal and if tarmac stays dry, i dont see him lose this one. He can lose it only by his mistake or unlucky puncture. But clear speed wise he is the fastest one.

But Lefebvre makes many mistakes, so Mikkelsen still has a chance for the win. Let's wait , there's Just a couple of seconds between them...

[Danny0405]

Let’s see tomorrow, a bit surprised that Lefebvre resists so well but at the moment, Mikkelsen is partially losing his bet of going in Ypres; not totally as Rossel is a bit disappointing and he is still has a chance for title (as Paddon can beat Kajto in NZ) but he would be forced to win in Acropolis.

Rossel, well, quite average considering he was there last year and even if his title hopes would not be completely crashed with a 3rd position, it will be quite complicated now except with a great performance in Acropolis.
Good job also from Munster and Ingram losing points for WRC-2 Junior title if it finishes like this

[skarderud]

I think the main thing for Mikkelsen is to show decent speed on every rally and surface, if he can't win he is still second against "local specialists".

He aiming for a seat in Rally1, another Rally2 WDC is just a bonus.
Especially after the 2 DNFs this year.
Much more impressive to the teambosses to do what he do now than go to kenya and japan for some "easy" wins.

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[Danny0405]

I think the main thing for Mikkelsen is to show decent speed on every rally and surface, if he can't win he is still second against "local specialists".

He aiming for a seat in Rally1, another Rally2 WDC is just a bonus.
Especially after the 2 DNFs this year.
Much more impressive to the teambosses to do what he do now than go to kenya and japan for some "easy" wins.

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Well being «*decent*» is a bit short for Mikkelsen; he must be in play for the win everywhere. And contrary to what happened last year, he has quite succeeded this season; he beats the French bunch in MC, he beats Veiby in Sweden, he beats Suninen in Estonia and was in the lead in Portugal (Even if Suninen was dangerous) and Sardinia before engine-related retirements.
So here, it is his 1st true «*loss*» of the season in a really particular rally so he is doing a good year. Now, let’s see if he can obtain a job in Hyundai or M-Sport this time (don’t see really the point in Toyota where they have better opportunities IMO); else, it will be complicated with more than 3 years outside RC1. If Sordo retires and if they’re as few tarmac events as evoked by rumors, a Mikkelsen/Solberg or Mikkelsen/Suninen pairing in Hyundai 3rd car could be compatible and interesting.
In M-Sport, we know the issue (money) and if Red Bull hasn’t spend money for him so far, I don’t see why they would do it now.

But as a competitor and as he is paid by Skoda, I think his goal this season is to win the title even if I agree he wants to come back in RC1.

Well 21 points earned here, acceptable result to stay in the game but he will need the win in Acropolis.
Sounds even more complicated for Rossel with only 3rd position. He will have to lose less than 6 points to Mikkelsen in Greece to maintain a hope to win the title in Catalunya.

[mknight]

I was expecting Mikkelsen to struggle against Rossel here based on last year and I saw a lot of people in pickems did as well.

Compared to Rossel and almost all others (see Gryazins times) he did very well....but then there was Lefebvre.

Championship -wise still better to loose to him than Rossel and title chances vs Rossel improved. Katjos chances depends on a lot of things. Sure in NZ Paddon should beat him and in Catalunya he is unlikely to score that many points (like vs Camilli and Rossel), so Japan is the big question.

[Danny0405]

Well, in Japan, I don’t really see a big name coming so, with no issue, it should be an easy 28-point win for Kajto as in Safari. All the more than Skoda won’t help Toksport for this as it is the same for the brand to win the title with Mikkelsen or Kajto (I would even say if it is better for them to win with Kajto if he had not done 3 abroad rallies). And Japanese level is pretty weak with very few local Rally2 cars (2 or 3).
Kovalainen might compete with him in 1 or 2 stages such as Gill in Safari but that’s all considering his time against the old Japanese who was there in Ypres.

The question mark is more what Mikkelsen will do in Greece and then Kajto in NZ and Catalunya for me: Paddon should win in NZ IMO but it is not an easy pick as the margin between the two is not that huge (risk of puncture, off, ...). And 2nd in NZ could be too short but a win would give him an open road for the title now.
About Kajto in Catalunya, difficult to predict: will Rossel be there if he is out for title? Will Camilli be there after the issues he has this season? How many Toksport drivers? And even will Kajto be there? (Because 3 abroad rallies should cost a lot) Kajto could make a 3rd or 4th position which could be enough to make the difference (compared with 5th position in Estonia).

[WRCStan]

But as a competitor and as he is paid by Skoda,

Is this definitely the case?

[Danny0405]

Is this definitely the case?

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/where...-go-from-here/

“They know my situation, they know I’m in WRC2, I have an opening in my contract that says I’m available for any WRC driving if that comes up and I want to thank Škoda for making that possible, that was quite important for me.

[Jarek Z]

Well, in Japan, I don’t really see a big name coming so, with no issue, it should be an easy 28-point win for Kajto

Isn't it a big name?
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/...abia/10352228/