WRC and other rallying

h3000

With the premature end to WRC 2019 I think it's time to start looking at 2020. Below are the current signed drivers/teams. Lobe and Sordo are sharing a car for 2020. There is a lot of talk that Elfyn Evans could end up at Toyota and some that Mikkelsen is off to M-Sport.

No. Driver name Co-driver name Entrant Car
4 Esapekka Lappi Janne Ferm Citroën World Rally Team Citroën C3 WRC
TBA Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Citroën World Rally Team Citroën C3 WRC
1 Ott Tänak Martin Järveoja Hyundai Motorsport Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
6 Dani Sordo Carlos del Barrio Hyundai Motorsport Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
11 Thierry Neuville Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai Motorsport Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
19 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Hyundai Motorsport Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
TBA TBA TBA Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC
TBA TBA TBA Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC
TBA TBA TBA M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC
TBA TBA TBA M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC

mjhickeyie

David Evans reports in Autosport today that Citroen possibly pulling out and Ogier & Evans going to Toyota.

jelutong

I could see M-Sport following suit.

guyfo

I thought Toyota already had Kalle Rovempera signed for next year?

h3000

guyfo wrote: »

I thought Toyota already had Kalle Rovempera signed for next year?

Very strong rumours but nothing confirmed just yet.

h3000

Talks of a Subaru return to WRC in 2022 run by M-Sport with Oliver Solberg driving.

Inquitus

h3000 wrote: »

Talks of a Subaru return to WRC in 2022 run by M-Sport with Oliver Solberg driving.

That'll be good to see, I remember the days of McRae in the Impreza, was living in England at the time, when to see some stages and special stages in the RAC back then. Rally really seems to have died in popularity since those days, sadly.

h3000

It's sounding like Citroen will announce they are to pull out of the WRC today. Lappi was meant to be testing today which has been cancelled.

h3000

h3000 wrote: »

It's sounding like Citroen will announce they are to pull out of the WRC today. Lappi was meant to be testing today which has been cancelled.

Confirmed and a bit nasty to blame Ogier.
https://twitter.com/CitroenRacing/status/1197102720018079744?s=20

jelutong

Not very classy to say the least. It’s hard to disagree about the availability of winning drivers though.

jelutong

Toyota drivers for 2020. Ogier, Evans and Rovanpera.

ianobrien

The trouble was that the Citroen was a right donkey. Ogier, Meeke, and Lappi, all WRC rally winners, couldn't make it work consistently. The R5 version didn't do too well either. Maybe Citroen couldn't get or keep winning drivers is that they didn't want to work there!

Anyway, I think it'll be Ogier, Evans and Rovenperra in Toyota, Tanak, Neuvelle, Breen & Sordo in Hyundai, Lappi Sunenin in Ford. Latvala will probably work in the background at Toyota and maybe Meeke at Ford (if he brings sponsorship).

mjhickeyie

jelutong wrote: »

Toyota drivers for 2020. Ogier, Evans and Rovanpera.

Is that confirmed?

h3000

ianobrien wrote: »

The trouble was that the Citroen was a right donkey. Ogier, Meeke, and Lappi, all WRC rally winners, couldn't make it work consistently. The R5 version didn't do too well either. Maybe Citroen couldn't get or keep winning drivers is that they didn't want to work there!

Anyway, I think it'll be Ogier, Evans and Rovenperra in Toyota, Tanak, Neuvelle, Breen & Sordo in Hyundai, Lappi Sunenin in Ford. Latvala will probably work in the background at Toyota and maybe Meeke at Ford (if he brings sponsorship).

Toyota sounds like that alright.

Hyundai is confirmed Tänak and Neuville. Sordo/Loeb sharing a car. Breen might get Finland and GB as neither Loeb or Sordo like it.

mjhickeyie wrote: »

Is that confirmed?

No but it’s a very strong rumour.

jelutong

On The Limit Sports are doing a livestream of the Killarney Historic Rally on YouTube.

h3000

jelutong wrote: »

On The Limit Sports are doing a livestream of the Killarney Historic Rally on YouTube.

Awesome. I was hoping to get down but it looks like I won’t be able to now so this is great news.

h3000

https://twitter.com/TGR_WRC/status/1199659360173076482?s=20

As expected Ogier, Evans and Rovanpera at TGR for 2020

recyclebin

Will M sport be back at all next season?

h3000

recyclebin wrote: »

Will M sport be back at all next season?

They should be there alright. They have quite a few drivers to choose from now. Although some of those drivers may be looking for big paycheques that I can’t see M-Sport handing out.

jelutong

The M-Sports drives will go the people who bring sponsorship money with them in my opinion.

h3000

Lappi off to M-Sport
https://twitter.com/MSportLtd/status/1212705315961131008?s=20

h3000

Carlos Sainz is Dakar winner again. Some achievement from the guy.

flazio

Closer to home, the launch of the Galway rally has been cancelled as not enough participants have paid up to enter the rally. They have until Monday 20th of January to get 40 paid up participants otherwise the event is getting called off.


https://www.facebook.com/552344334831213/posts/2732044846861140/

h3000

flazio wrote: »

Closer to home, the launch of the Galway rally has been cancelled as not enough participants have paid up to enter the rally. They have until Monday 20th of January to get 40 paid up participants otherwise the event is getting called off.


https://www.facebook.com/552344334831213/posts/2732044846861140/

That's a shame. Hopefully they can get the numbers.

h3000

The little off yesterday aside it’s fair to say Ogier is getting his head around the Yaris :eek:
https://twitter.com/hugo_blancher/status/1217808399955582978

Doctors room ghost

flazio wrote: »

Closer to home, the launch of the Galway rally has been cancelled as not enough participants have paid up to enter the rally. They have until Monday 20th of January to get 40 paid up participants otherwise the event is getting called off.


https://www.facebook.com/552344334831213/posts/2732044846861140/

Surely the Galway international will have to go ahead with it being the first round of the championship or will they reschedule the championship otherwise.40 entries short according to statement.
They will know Monday night what’s going to happen.statement due then

Doctors room ghost

There’s a statement due this evening on whether the Galway international will go ahead.
Some interesting reading online about motorsport Ireland officials promising lowered entry fees but failing to produce anything.huge issue surrounding insurance costs.also several commenting on officials having a stand in the Birmingham motor show.
Used to be a great 2 day event.cut back to single day in recent years.
Interesting to see what will happen.
Several competitors calling for all to not enter until change is implemented in the interest of competitors

Doctors room ghost

Galway international to go ahead as planned according to latest statement from Galway motor club with 65 entries received and entries left open.scheduled for February 2nd

jelutong

Tanak big off on stage 4. Crew uninjured. Evans in the lead from Neuville and Ogier.

h3000

jelutong wrote: »

Tanak big off on stage 4. Crew uninjured. Evans in the lead from Neuville and Ogier.

Sure was a big one.
https://twitter.com/eWRCresults/status/1220635275002556416?s=20

h3000

The cars are built well these days. They are out of the car safe and I hope they will be fine but I'd say they will feel that later.

https://twitter.com/eWRCresults/status/1220640639055998976?s=20
https://twitter.com/T_Tuominen/status/1220639658293563392?s=20

h3000

Breen and Nagle are back with Hyundai for Rally Sweden. Hopefully it goes well for them.

.red.

h3000 wrote: »

Breen and Nagle are back with Hyundai for Rally Sweden. Hopefully it goes well for them.

Delighted for them, hopefully they get at least 4/5 drives this year and do well enough for a full seat in 2021.
The best bit about Craig in a WRC car is his post stage interviews.
"Well holy God says Miley"

Doctors room ghost

Gary Jennings decided due to family reasons not to start the Galway rally this morning having done scrutiny and seeded number one in the Subaru.
He has not yet decided if he will permanently retire according to his statement.
Alastair fisher currently in the lead with 3 stages remaining

h3000

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Gary Jennings decided due to family reasons not to start the Galway rally this morning having done scrutiny and seeded number one in the Subaru.
He has not yet decided if he will permanently retire according to his statement.
Alastair fisher currently in the lead with 3 stages remaining

Wish Garry all the best.
https://twitter.com/rallyinsight/status/1223888494512214016

Doctors room ghost

Congrats to Alastair fisher on his Galway win

Sunny Dayz

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Gary Jennings decided due to family reasons not to start the Galway rally this morning having done scrutiny and seeded number one in the Subaru.
He has not yet decided if he will permanently retire according to his statement.
Alastair fisher currently in the lead with 3 stages remaining

I'm not really a fan of Jennings but I really felt for him reading that statement. Last summer's unfortunate accident has really had a profound effect on the rally community. There really is a lot at stake everytime they get behind the wheel of a rally car. They are not invincible. I respect Jennings decision, one which I'm sure was a difficult one to make.

h3000

Breen and Nagle off to do the ERC in a Hyundai i20 R5 with MRF tyres and BRC Racing.

https://twitter.com/MotorsportIRL/status/1224729805582671874?s=20
https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/breen-returns-to-erc-with-hyundai-and-mrf/

jelutong

Elfyn Evans leading The Swedish Rally from Ott Tanak with just tomorrow’s Power Stage to run.

h3000

An interview with Jon Armstrong after his off in Sweden. Those cars really are built extremely well these days. Thankfully he and Noel walked out okay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga-ybVthEs4

jelutong

West Cork Rally postponed.

h3000

Rally Azores has been postponed too.
https://www.fiaerc.com/azores-rallye-update-12-march/

h3000

Argentina postponed now
https://twitter.com/officialwrc/status/1238256786974674944?s=21

h3000

Mexico breaking cars again. Happens after the stage and not a crash. Both guys out of the car safe.
https://twitter.com/paddocknews/status/1238594820404391943

h3000

h3000 wrote: »

Mexico breaking cars again. Happens after the stage and not a crash. Both guys out of the car safe.
https://twitter.com/paddocknews/status/123xx

Dani on fire now too. Much smaller though and it looks like he got the extinguisher in time.

h3000

Expensive bill for M-Sport

h3000

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BTW...........
It's really annoying when you post images from an IOS device that look perfectly fine when posted but than when you later view the post from a PC you realise they are rotated grrrr :mad:

flazio

The 2020 Irish Tarmac Championship has been completely cancelled.
http://www.motorsportireland.com/news/20-04-28/2020_Irish_Tarmac_Rally_Championship_Cancelled.aspx

jelutong

Motorsport Ireland to broadcast RPM TV programmes on YouTube from May 7th.

AMKC

Anyone here see the new documentary with Micheal Fastbender in it called ''Rally of The Lakes'' ? Its a 3 part documentary on is based on the one in Killarney.

AMKC

AMKC wrote: »

Anyone here see the new documentary with Micheal Fastbender in it called ''Rally of The Lakes'' ? Its a 3 part documentary on is based on the one in Killarney.

Just seen it on the News now, looks great.