Pfei 102 Posted November 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Dytut said: Mikkelsen has had a season of ups and downs, but I guess he still might have one last season to show if he still has the potential. I dunno man, I was thinking the same thing, but he finished fifth in the standing despite sitting out three rallies. It's also interesting that Sordo was "best of the rest" despite also having a partial program. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dytut 56 Posted November 17, 2019 Yeah Mikkelsen is still a solid points scorer for any team, it depends a lot on what M-Sports aim is for the 2020 season. Was 2019 a just a sleeper season and they'll go full on for titles in 2020? If they go for manufacturers title with three drivers, I'd say Mikkelsen is a a solid option as a nr.2 or 3 driver as he will score points. If they want rally wins, I'm not so sure. He _might_ still have it in him to challenge for a drivers title, but he seems to be in the Latvala place where he can do it on one or two rallies per season but in general he'll break the car in some way if he tries to keep pace with the top trio. If M-Sport goes for development they might go with Suninen and Greensmith and let other drivers hire a car for a few rallies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PJTierney 3,001 Posted November 20, 2019 Interesting that the specifically call out not having Ogier as the reason for pulling out. Looking at the standings, and their quote about requiring a "first class driver", they're basically saying that without Ogier, Tanak or Neuville there's no point in competing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JamesMcAdam 220 Posted November 20, 2019 My compasionate thoughts for Esapekka Lappi 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonzboher 113 Posted November 20, 2019 They have blamed all the drivers that have been in C3 , ogier joined and still couldn’t drive it, to say ogier leaving to Toyota is the reason is ridiculous, if I was him i would be leaving for Toyota also, it’s the best car. Citroen are better off pulling out because they are wasting their time with that car anyway, going to be a lot of drivers without drives next year. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbtstt 1,770 Posted November 20, 2019 6 hours ago, PJTierney said: Interesting that the specifically call out not having Ogier as the reason for pulling out. "Interesting"? I think their press release is downright disrespectful! Typical of the (recent) Citroen program to yet again blame events on a driver rather than holding their hands up and admitting the program has been a disaster and they have built the biggest dog since the BX 4TC. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dytut 56 Posted November 20, 2019 So Citroen builds a bad car, blames the drivers for sucking, gets the best driver and it still sucks, so blame the driver. Yeah, nice going. Sucks to lose a marque for the championship, hope one or two new will join up for the hybrid era. Toyotas lineup with Ogier, Evans and Rovanperä will be interesting to say the least. I can see no better environment for Kalle to learn how to be a champ 🙂 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbtstt 1,770 Posted November 27, 2019 So Ogier, Evans and Rovanperä confirmed at Toyota, where do we think the rest of the field will fall? I'd love to see Meeke and/or Breen at M-Sport, but I wonder if they have the funding to make it happen? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PJTierney 3,001 Posted November 27, 2019 Here's the state of play: 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pfei 102 Posted November 28, 2019 Rally Chile officially suspended for 2020. 2021 planned to go ahead as usual. Source: https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/deportes/motor/2019/11/28/wrc-no-vendra-a-concepcion-en-2020-plebiscito-y-crisis-social-obligan-a-postergar-cita.shtml 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tranzitive 273 Posted November 29, 2019 (edited) On 11/28/2019 at 12:20 AM, PJTierney said: Here's the state of play: man they really need to entice more manufacturers into the WRC. Three teams is so few. Things have not been this bad since around the 2008 financial crisis when there were only two teams left in the WRC. in the late 90s/early 2000s there were 8-9 teams in the WRC at one stage. Edited November 29, 2019 by Tranzitive 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SquadBruce 111 Posted November 29, 2019 On 11/27/2019 at 4:20 PM, PJTierney said: Here's the state of play: Meeke and Suninen. Third car split between Breen and Paddon. No seat for Lappi or Mikkelsen. You heard it wrong here first folks! 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PJTierney 3,001 Posted November 29, 2019 Makinen in 4th Toyota 😉 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dytut 56 Posted November 29, 2019 4 hours ago, SquadBruce said: Meeke and Suninen. Third car split between Breen and Paddon. No seat for Lappi or Mikkelsen. You heard it wrong here first folks! Meeke and Malcolm don't quite gel, do they? I'd wager a guess that it's Suninen and Breen, and the third car will be split between different drivers. Paddon, Mikkelsen, Ostberg, Lappi. Your pick 😉 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SquadBruce 111 Posted December 1, 2019 On 11/29/2019 at 8:49 PM, Dytut said: Meeke and Malcolm don't quite gel, do they? I'd wager a guess that it's Suninen and Breen, and the third car will be split between different drivers. Paddon, Mikkelsen, Ostberg, Lappi. Your pick 😉 Chuck in Tidemand and Greensmith and they can have an arm wrestle competition to see who's in each event 😂 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dytut 56 Posted December 1, 2019 1 hour ago, SquadBruce said: Chuck in Tidemand and Greensmith and they can have an arm wrestle competition to see who's in each event 😂 Greensmith is a possibility, he did show potential. Tidemand... naah. I sadly don't think he has what it takes, was just too slow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SquadBruce 111 Posted December 2, 2019 17 hours ago, Dytut said: Greensmith is a possibility, he did show potential. Tidemand... naah. I sadly don't think he has what it takes, was just too slow. Tidemand was one of those who was super quick in WRC2 but never went any quicker in a WRC. Been a few of them over the years! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rallywil1 26 Posted December 3, 2019 On 11/29/2019 at 6:40 PM, PJTierney said: Makinen in 4th Toyota 😉 Actually Latvala is going to drive about 5 races if he can get sponsors. Sweden and Finland atleast. Then there is Katsuta who is going to drive Toyota in the 2nd team I guess. Suninen should be Ford driver for next year and i hope Lappi will get that 2nd spot from Ford. Greensmith could be 3rd driver. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dytut 56 Posted December 17, 2019 Has anyone heard any gossip of who's going to M-Sport? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pfei 102 Posted December 18, 2019 14 hours ago, Dytut said: Has anyone heard any gossip of who's going to M-Sport? The last I heard was that Lappi was the frontrunner. Nothing confirmed, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbtstt 1,770 Posted December 18, 2019 I really hope Breen features in the 2020 line up. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SquadBruce 111 Posted December 18, 2019 16 hours ago, Dytut said: Has anyone heard any gossip of who's going to M-Sport? Someone I know saw Malcolm Wilson out in Kendal the other day but he was very tight lipped! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dytut 56 Posted December 18, 2019 Come on Malcolm, show some guts and get Oliver Solberg in a WRC car 😄 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pfei 102 Posted December 18, 2019 Toyota and Hyundai might run B-teams for Breen, Mikkelsen, Latvala and Katsuta. And there are rumors that the C3s will be bought and run privately with Østberg, Camilli and Bouffier Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
