WRC 2019

liam7831 · 12-12-2018 1:59pm #1

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

h3000 · 12-12-2018 2:42pm

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 2:49pm

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 3:27pm

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

Jordan 199 · 12-12-2018 5:29pm

Loeb is off to Hyundai. Official announcement tomorrow.

h3000 · 12-12-2018 5:34pm

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 3:27pm

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

Bobby04 · 13-12-2018 8:55pm

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 11:13pm

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 4:04pm

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 4:20pm

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 6:32pm

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

recyclebin · 17-12-2018 3:51pm

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 4:52pm

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

masit · 17-12-2018 5:55pm

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 9:19am

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 10:01am

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 5:23pm

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 6:02pm

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 8:34pm

How does he finance himself? Is his family minted?

Robbo · 19-12-2018 11:00am

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 9:16pm

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

jelutong · 20-12-2018 11:53pm

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

liam7831 · 22-12-2018 11:23am

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 6:14pm

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 10:34am

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 11:52am

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 12:23pm

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 7:10pm

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 7:13pm

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 8:11pm

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

WRC 2019

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