WRC 2019

liam7831 · 12-12-2018 12:59pm #1

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/140632/loeb-signs-hyundai-wrc-deal-for-2019

h3000 · 12-12-2018 1:42pm

Next year will be very interesting. I wonder is Loeb giving the two fingers to the PSA Group after overlooking him for a WRC drive and pulling their WRC program.
I hope Breen gets a seat but it’s not looking too promising at the minute. Hopefully there might be room in M-Sport for a few rounds at least.

h3000 · 12-12-2018 1:49pm

So far it’s

Toyota with Tänak, Latvala and Meeke
Citroen with Ogier and Lappi - only two cars confirmed and a third currently been ruled out.
Hyundai with Neuville being confirmed. Sordo, Paddon, Mikkelsen and now Loeb all rumoured to play some part.
M-Sport with Suninen confirmed but may only run one car. Breen and Evans said to be in discussions.

liam7831 · 12-12-2018 2:27pm

Think Evans will get the other M Sport seat, it's looking great for Paddon in Hyundai.

Jordan 199 · 12-12-2018 4:29pm

Loeb is off to Hyundai. Official announcement tomorrow.

h3000 · 12-12-2018 4:34pm

I'm sure you all know but just in case you missed it Meeke and Nagle have split and Seb Marshall will navigate for Meeke next year.

liam7831 · 13-12-2018 2:27pm

https://motorsport.hyundai.com/wrc-line-up-fine-tuned-for-2019/

Bobby04 · 13-12-2018 7:55pm

Very intriguing year ahead. Can't wait to see if Ogier can wrestle the Citroen to success, or if Meeke can stay on the road with the Toyota, or if anyone can beat Loeb! Would also be great to see Breen get sorted with Ford but that's far from certain.

recyclebin · 13-12-2018 10:13pm

Hyundai now have 5 drivers on the books, Citroen are only running two cars and M-sport might not compete at all. Lots of talented drivers but not enough cars for them to drive. It's a shame because 2018 was so close between a lot of teams and a lot of drivers.

masit · 14-12-2018 3:04pm

Confirmed by himself on twitter, Paddon will not be taking part in the WRC in 2019. He was offered 1 drive but turned it down. Just hope the same does not happen to Breen.

masit · 14-12-2018 3:20pm

recyclebin wrote: »

Hyundai now have 5 drivers on the books, Citroen are only running two cars and M-sport might not compete at all. Lots of talented drivers but not enough cars for them to drive. It's a shame because 2018 was so close between a lot of teams and a lot of drivers.

I hate to say it, but I think R5 is the way to go in WRC. The current cars are great to watch and look at but when you have so many drivers wanting to drive but not enough seats, something has to be done. Apart from Toyota, the top WRC teams have R5's. Throw Skoda and Volkswagen into the mix, a few national drivers form which ever country the WRC is in and you could have between 10 and 20 drivers fighting for the win. Looks at M-Sport, they are in the business of selling rally cars. They are never going to sell anymore than 5 current WRC cars. They sold 1 to Mads but even he found it to expensive to run. If the R5's was the top car in WRC, I'd say M-Sport could have a 3 car team with paid drivers promoting their products. Thats the way I look at it, maybe others have different ideas?

jelutong · 15-12-2018 5:32pm

It's a shame to see Paul Nagle without a seat next year.

recyclebin · 17-12-2018 2:51pm

Does not look like M-Sport will be running a WRC next season. Friday is the deadline and they don't have the finances.

jelutong · 17-12-2018 3:52pm

M-sport are looking for an Entry Deadline extension.
Drivers with bags of money required.

masit · 17-12-2018 4:55pm

Mads Ostberg on twitter. At the airport looking for a new job. Didn't say where he was going but I have a feeling he could be heading to the UK.

recyclebin · 18-12-2018 8:19am

Does Ostberg have a big bag of cash with him? He must have some serious resources if he is going to prop up M-Sport for a season in WRC.

masit · 18-12-2018 9:01am

recyclebin wrote: »

Does Ostberg have a big bag of cash with him? He must have some serious resources if he is going to prop up M-Sport for a season in WRC.

Well he's not short of cash that's for sure. Bought a Fiesta worth €700,000 - €800,000. Reports are that he spent €500,000 on rally Finland 2017 alone last year. If he's able to find that amount of cash I'm sure Mr Wilson would only be to happy to help him out.

.red. · 18-12-2018 4:23pm

masit wrote: »

Well he's not short of cash that's for sure. Bought a Fiesta worth €700,000 - €800,000. Reports are that he spent €500,000 on rally Finland 2017 alone last year. If he's able to find that amount of cash I'm sure Mr Wilson would only be to happy to help him out.

Serious bobs behind him. Was it 2016 he was able to run the whole season as a privateer?
He's probably my favourite driver after Breen, always has a smile on his face and seems to be great craic. Don't think he's near good enough to ever win a championship but more than capable of a few podiums and the odd win.

masit · 18-12-2018 5:02pm

Apparently Mads is in Belgium testing a Skoda. Looks to be at a track on cooper tyres so could be WRX for him.

recyclebin · 18-12-2018 7:34pm

How does he finance himself? Is his family minted?

Robbo · 19-12-2018 10:00am

recyclebin wrote: »

How does he finance himself? Is his family minted?

His father has a number of business interests in insurance and gambling.

masit · 19-12-2018 8:16pm

Scott Martin moving onto co-drive with Evans so could be a sign of Breen with no drive next year.

jelutong · 20-12-2018 10:53pm

A year away from rallying mightn't be a bad thing in Breens case.

liam7831 · 22-12-2018 10:23am

https://www.m-sport.co.uk/single-post/2018/12/21/M-SPORT-FORD-WORLD-RALLY-TEAM-ANNOUNCE-PLANS-FOR-2019

Don't think Evans is worthy of another season he's bang average.

recyclebin · 22-12-2018 5:14pm

liam7831 wrote: »

https://www.m-sport.co.uk/single-post/2018/12/21/M-SPORT-FORD-WORLD-RALLY-TEAM-ANNOUNCE-PLANS-FOR-2019

Don't think Evans is worthy of another season he's bang average.

I think he is at a similar level to Breen. Neither of them are top top drivers. Loeb and Ogier have proved that this season that in the same cars.

h3000 · 02-01-2019 9:34am

This is a bit harsh isn't it https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/140835/hyundai-replaces-its-wrc-team-boss-nandan

mjhickeyie · 02-01-2019 10:52am

h3000 wrote: »

This is a bit harsh isn't it https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/140835/hyundai-replaces-its-wrc-team-boss-nandan

It is harsh but the expectation from Hyundai was titles with the amount of cash they are spending.
I wonder if the issues with Mikkelsens contract the final straw?

liam7831 · 02-01-2019 11:23am

mjhickeyie wrote: »

It is harsh but the expectation from Hyundai was titles with the amount of cash they are spending.
I wonder if the issues with Mikkelsens contract the final straw?

It suppose it's the price he has to pay for failure

Oops! · 02-01-2019 6:10pm

masit wrote: »

Well he's not short of cash that's for sure. Bought a Fiesta worth €700,000 - €800,000. Reports are that he spent €500,000 on rally Finland 2017 alone last year. If he's able to find that amount of cash I'm sure Mr Wilson would only be to happy to help him out.

His father Morton Ostberg is an extremely wealthy man.

Oops! · 02-01-2019 6:13pm

liam7831 wrote: »

It suppose it's the price he has to pay for failure

If Neuville had his head screwed on a bit tighter they'd have at least a drivers title in the bag by now. Loeb will be a massive addition to the cause over the next 2 years.... He will win rallys.

jelutong · 24-01-2019 7:11pm

Monte Carlo first stage live on BT Sport now. Tanak is fastest so far. Suninen off the road. Mikelsen 37 seconds off Latvalas time.

jelutong · 24-01-2019 7:20pm

Meeke 5 seconds behind Tanak. Great start.

jelutong · 27-01-2019 10:29am

Ogier 0.4 seconds ahead of Neuville with just the Power Stage to go.

TigerTim · 29-01-2019 10:13pm

Anyone know if any of the FTA channels are showing the WRC this year. Can't see it listed anywhere,

Thanks,

T.

jelutong · 29-01-2019 11:10pm

Doesn't appear to be on any of the FTA channels this year. CH 5 had it last season. Keep an eye on Freesport and Frontrunner channels.

recyclebin · 29-01-2019 11:49pm

Channel 5 doesn't seem to be showing it this week at all. I watched the review on BT instead. I think the Red Bull website might show highlights too.

irishrover99 · 14-02-2019 8:38am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=677GQ6RZngI

live now

mjhickeyie · 18-02-2019 2:11pm

5 Spike is showing highlights from Sweden tonight at 7pm.
This is a FTA channel.

liverpool1A · 24-02-2019 9:53pm

Anyone get Wrc live. I put it on for Rally Sweden and for 8 euro a month. It was well worth watching I loved every minute of #WRClive. Anyone else watch it

pyramuid man · 08-03-2019 5:51pm

Great to be able to watch the live stream on BT Sport's red button. Mexico has been on since 3 o clock today.

jelutong · 09-03-2019 11:19am

Hour long highlights programme on 5 Spike @ 19.00 hrs on Monday.

recyclebin · 09-03-2019 8:23pm

If anyone has Sky Q (or a Smart TV) you can also watch highlights using the red bull app.

masit · 10-03-2019 6:02pm

recyclebin wrote: »

If anyone has Sky Q (or a Smart TV) you can also watch highlights using the red bull app.

Ihave an LG tv and only found out today that there is a WRC app for it. Can what WRc+ on it now.

jelutong · 10-03-2019 11:35pm

Great win for Ogier today. Fastest on the Power Stage also.

jelutong · 11-03-2019 2:00pm

Meeke made a fool of himself by accusing Citroen of influencing the organisers in red flagging a special stage to benefit Ogier. He's since apologised but he hasn't done himself any favours.

jelutong · 11-05-2019 1:57pm

Rally Chile in progress. Tanak leading by 30 seconds from Ogier. Neuville crashes out of third on stage 8. Meeke having a nightmare rally. Drove stage 8 without a windscreen after rolling on previous one.

h3000 · 11-05-2019 2:17pm

jelutong wrote: »

Rally Chile in progress. Tanak leading by 30 seconds from Ogier. Neuville crashes out of third on stage 8. Meeke having a nightmare rally. Drove stage 8 without a windscreen after rolling on previous one.

Neuville's off seem to have been a big one. I've only just sat down to watch some stages now. Lets hope he and Gilsoul are okay but I believe they have asked for medical assistance and stage has been red flagged.

h3000 · 11-05-2019 3:42pm

There was some rumours of a leg fracture for Thierry so it’s great news to hear he is well.

https://twitter.com/HMSGOfficial/status/1127235670341246976

h3000 · 11-05-2019 3:44pm

And now that they are confirmed safe. Holy ****ing **** :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jJVcJvlNbA

.red. · 11-05-2019 6:45pm

Anyone know why the live stages and daily report just stopped on BT Sport a few rallies back? All I can find now is the hour long review of the full weekend.

h3000 · 11-05-2019 7:32pm

.red. wrote: »

Anyone know why the live stages and daily report just stopped on BT Sport a few rallies back? All I can find now is the hour long review of the full weekend.

I’m not sure but it was never reliable anyway. I often had it set to record only to find ****in tennis when I went to watch it. I got WRC ALL LIVE this year and I love it.

Glad Thierry and Nicolas are well
https://twitter.com/thierryneuville/status/1127286530639388672

WRC 2019

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