The 2014 WRC Thread
Discussion
Slippydiff said:
But the Citroen works team have worked with him before ? So maybe they think there's some value in having him on board, if nothing else he generates publicity for the sport ! And any publicity is good publicity !
I thought part of the reason Kubica didn't join Citroen this year was due to the oil company sponsorship he carries - which would clash with Total. Wonder if something is changing here. There are some cracking rumors and speculation wizzing around at the moment - depending on what you read.
Citroen have potentially 5 cars out in 2015 - Meeke + Ostberg (an.other) works cars, 3 rd works car for I think Khalid (with Loeb doing tarmac rounds - on top of his WTCC driver and running a team commitment), then Kubica & an.other (Protasov??) to run under the RK Motorsport banner. With Citroen planning 3 major phases of upgrades for the DS3 during the year.
Hyundai - Talking to Paddon to stay in the 3rd car - but launching the completely new I20 for 2015 - and rumblings that they may look to start to sell WRC cars with a customer department and maybe develop an R5 alongside everything else.
Ford - Talking to Paddon as well - the potential of Evans, Tanak & Paddon in one team is really quite exciting (although could be expensive) - 3 young chargers!! Ford really do need to step up to the plate with the Fiesta now and throw some money at it - make them an official works team again. It's a cracking car but with the VW, Citroen and Hyundai all developing the cars early next year lets hope Ford stay on the pace.
On top of all of that Toyota are pounding round testing the Yaris, which would be great if they decide to re-enter the sport.
Really hope Kubica does hang around - he has the raw speed, just needs to stop crashing - I suppose it's easier to get a quick person to crash less than make a slower driver, drive faster - plus with the amount of Polish spectators on GB, I can see why Citroen may want him in a car - sales in Poland would go through the roof!!
Having said that would be nice for the 5 car idea to become reality - Ostberg would seem like a very good option for the 2nd works seat. He scores plenty of points, and if they are sending Meeke out to try and win Ostberg will be there collecting the points when things go wrong!! For a serious attack on the championship Ostberg and Meeke seems a very good option, especially if any of the Loeb-tarmac rumors are true.
All very exciting - can't wait for the Monte now.
sanf said:
All very exciting - can't wait for the Monte now.
Agreed 
On another note :
Not sure if this has been linked to previously ?
Loeb and Elena f*cking about at speed .......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r98P1nJmIdU
sanf said:
Ford - Talking to Paddon as well - the potential of Evans, Tanak & Paddon in one team is really quite exciting (although could be expensive) - 3 young chargers!! Ford really do need to step up to the plate with the Fiesta now and throw some money at it - make them an official works team again. It's a cracking car but with the VW, Citroen and Hyundai all developing the cars early next year lets hope Ford stay on the pace.
Just read the press release about Tanak being in the 'Ford' team for next year - the most disappointing thing is the part where Wilson states "we can challenge for podium finishes on several rounds". He is obviously not expecting much improvements on car the car with such low ambition.Its great to hear that Loeb maybe returning for the tarmac rounds - that's exactly what the sport needs as at present, no one can really challenge the VW's. Meeke has done a great job but has to drive over the limit just to hang on
I guess Tanak isn't a bad choice, he is certainly fairly quick. It will be interesting to see if he has matured since his first time in the WRC. He certainly won't get another chance if he blows this one!
Mr Slippy I see your point about the publicity Kubica would bring, but after the year he has had surely he can't get a top drive? If I was to crash my mower at work every time I used it I wouldn't expect Wentworth phoning me up and offering a job. It would have to be a 3rd car for Kubica IMO.
As for Loeb I really can't see him giving himself the hassle of squeezing WRC between his WTCC and team owner efforts. The Monte is possible, but that is it IMO, and surely Citoen wouldn't want him possibly taking points away from the full time drivers?
Mr Slippy I see your point about the publicity Kubica would bring, but after the year he has had surely he can't get a top drive? If I was to crash my mower at work every time I used it I wouldn't expect Wentworth phoning me up and offering a job. It would have to be a 3rd car for Kubica IMO.
As for Loeb I really can't see him giving himself the hassle of squeezing WRC between his WTCC and team owner efforts. The Monte is possible, but that is it IMO, and surely Citoen wouldn't want him possibly taking points away from the full time drivers?
Allyc85 said:
I guess Tanak isn't a bad choice, he is certainly fairly quick. It will be interesting to see if he has matured since his first time in the WRC. He certainly won't get another chance if he blows this one!
Mr Slippy I see your point about the publicity Kubica would bring, but after the year he has had surely he can't get a top drive? If I was to crash my mower at work every time I used it I wouldn't expect Wentworth phoning me up and offering a job. It would have to be a 3rd car for Kubica IMO.
My guess is Lotos bring a VERY sizeable chunk of cash to RK's drive :Mr Slippy I see your point about the publicity Kubica would bring, but after the year he has had surely he can't get a top drive? If I was to crash my mower at work every time I used it I wouldn't expect Wentworth phoning me up and offering a job. It would have to be a 3rd car for Kubica IMO.
http://www.lotos.pl/en/694/lotos_group/our_compani...
I mentioned to my ex-Ralliart mate that Malcolm Wilson must love RK. He said on the contrary, M Sport want to build cars (they have after all got a nice little production line going) and that fixing shunted cars takes a lot of time and manpower, manpower M Sport would rather have building new cars or carrying out straightforward maintenance to there customer cars or "works" entries.
So maybe RK will indeed run a third "works" Citroen but in Lotos colours ? But maybe this a sticking point with Citroen, Total and Lotos.
Allyc85 said:
As for Loeb I really can't see him giving himself the hassle of squeezing WRC between his WTCC and team owner efforts. The Monte is possible, but that is it IMO, and surely Citoen wouldn't want him possibly taking points away from the full time drivers?
I wonder how fulfilling he finds the WTCC ? Not very I suspect.I found it "annoying" when he did selected rounds last year. If he wants to come back, it should be to do all the rounds or none. Loeb returning to to do the Tarmac rounds would no doubt bring some welcome entertainment, but I'm not convinced it would do much for the championship itself.
SAGTAFF said:
Just read the press release about Tanak being in the 'Ford' team for next year - the most disappointing thing is the part where Wilson states "we can challenge for podium finishes on several rounds". He is obviously not expecting much improvements on car the car with such low ambition.
The main press release does go to talk about major upgrades the car will be getting in 2015 - so hopefully the Fiesta will keep progressing.Slippydiff said:
I wonder how fulfilling he finds the WTCC ? Not very I suspect.
I found it "annoying" when he did selected rounds last year. If he wants to come back, it should be to do all the rounds or none. Loeb returning to to do the Tarmac rounds would no doubt bring some welcome entertainment, but I'm not convinced it would do much for the championship itself.
unless Meeke beats him, which he might.I found it "annoying" when he did selected rounds last year. If he wants to come back, it should be to do all the rounds or none. Loeb returning to to do the Tarmac rounds would no doubt bring some welcome entertainment, but I'm not convinced it would do much for the championship itself.
on another note, would just like to say how much I liked the in car camera shots from Meeke's Citroen on this event. they actually used the over the shoulder number for a change and after many years of complaints.
Edited by Jerry Can on Saturday 22 November 09:41
Jerry Can said:
unless Meeke beats him, which he might.
on another note, would just like to say how much I liked the in car camera shots from Meeke's Citroen on this event. they actually used the over the shoulder number for a change and after many years of complaints.
With the best will in the world I don't see Meeke being at anything like the same level as Loeb next year. Had Kris got a two or three year deal, I think he could really start to push the envelope, but knowing next year might me his last in the Citroen squad will impact on his ultimate speed. on another note, would just like to say how much I liked the in car camera shots from Meeke's Citroen on this event. they actually used the over the shoulder number for a change and after many years of complaints.
Loeb appeared to be revered within the Citroen team in very short order, accordingly his place within it was never in question.
Agree wholeheartedly with your comments regarding the camera positioning, it's far more interesting looking over the driver/navigators shoulders as opposed to a dash cam.
Meeke is quicker than Sordo, and Sordo ran Loeb close a couple of times, particularly on rally Germany. Loeb would also be coming back to rallying after a year away, which means that he won't be at the absolute pace he was when competing regularly. I'm not saying Meeke will beat Loeb, just that the circumstances around Loeb's return could lend themselves nicely to an upset. Personally, however I cannot see why Loeb would want to return for just a couple of tarmac rallies. He won't beat VW/Ogier.
Jerry Can said:
Personally, however I cannot see why Loeb would want to return for just a couple of tarmac rallies. He won't beat VW/Ogier.
SAGTAFF said:
Loeb and Meeke confirmed for Citroen at the Monte - what a great team and surely they can put pressure on the two VW's??
Tempting fate this, but why should Ogier feel pressured by Loeb ? If Loeb is only doing a few (two ?) Tarmac rounds, Ogier has nothing to feel pressured about, and the fact that Loeb fell off the road the last time they met, should only add to Ogier's self belief. Even with a revised car, I don't see the Loeb/Citroen combination being a match for Ogier/VW.I have a lot of respect for Seb Loeb, but dipping in and out of the WRC isn't going to do him (or the championship) a lot of favours imo. If he doesn't like what his paymasters are making him do (who could blame him ?), jump ship and go to Ford, Hyundai, or Toyota and win another WRC title with one of them.
TBH I'm not that excited about the "return" of Loeb, and think it maybe a marketing/publicity stunt for the PSA group, that handily has Loeb doing nothing with his WTCC commitments on Monte weekend.
The only bonus I see of Loeb doing the Monte is that he may just steal some points from Ogier and make the title race between him and JML that little bit closer than this years.
I'm prepared to eat my words, but I don't think Loeb will do much more than maybe a few stage wins on the monte and possibly a podium finish, I don't think he'll bin it, but the pace of the VW's this year was outstanding, and now with the winter upgrades I think they may just go up another gear, unless they have dodgy parts out of the box that cost them the event
Perhaps if Tuthill Porsche had managed to put him in in their RGT3 I'd be more excited at his return. :thumbsup:
RE Ford drivers - I said it'd be Evans & Tanak. Malcolm has shown support in Tanak this year by giving him the cars to drive at WRC/ERC and whatever events he's done this year, after they both said at the end of last season that he still didn't have the experience at top events to be a proper factory driver this year. I'm pretty sure had Elfyn had as many off's and poor times as Tanak did last year then he'd befall the same fate.
Only 4 weeks till the start of WRC2015!!!!
The only bonus I see of Loeb doing the Monte is that he may just steal some points from Ogier and make the title race between him and JML that little bit closer than this years.
I'm prepared to eat my words, but I don't think Loeb will do much more than maybe a few stage wins on the monte and possibly a podium finish, I don't think he'll bin it, but the pace of the VW's this year was outstanding, and now with the winter upgrades I think they may just go up another gear, unless they have dodgy parts out of the box that cost them the event
Perhaps if Tuthill Porsche had managed to put him in in their RGT3 I'd be more excited at his return. :thumbsup:
RE Ford drivers - I said it'd be Evans & Tanak. Malcolm has shown support in Tanak this year by giving him the cars to drive at WRC/ERC and whatever events he's done this year, after they both said at the end of last season that he still didn't have the experience at top events to be a proper factory driver this year. I'm pretty sure had Elfyn had as many off's and poor times as Tanak did last year then he'd befall the same fate.
Only 4 weeks till the start of WRC2015!!!!
creationracing said:
RyanTank said:
Only 4 weeks till the start of WRC2015!!!!
You're thinking of Christmas. Which is almost as good!8.5 weeks till the start of the WRC season!!
5 Weeks to the start of Dakar!
SAGTAFF said:
Why don't citroen put kubica in the WTCC and Loeb in the WRC - that way they both get to do what they love and what they are good at. Or has that got too much common sense attached to it?
I seriously doubt Kubica would want to do the WTCC - a FWD saloon with 350BHP+ I'm not totally convinced Loeb wants to do it either. He wanted to try circuit racing more often, and had mentioned high powered cars; not what the WTCC is about. The WTCC is the only series Citroen could do were they could be competitive. I want to see Loeb trying some Endurance racing - he's surely made for it - and already has a 2nd place at Le Mans on his C.V. RyanTank said:
TBH I'm not that excited about the "return" of Loeb, and think it maybe a marketing/publicity stunt for the PSA group, that handily has Loeb doing nothing with his WTCC commitments on Monte weekend.
The only bonus I see of Loeb doing the Monte is that he may just steal some points from Ogier and make the title race between him and JML that little bit closer than this years.
I'm prepared to eat my words, but I don't think Loeb will do much more than maybe a few stage wins on the monte and possibly a podium finish, I don't think he'll bin it, but the pace of the VW's this year was outstanding, and now with the winter upgrades I think they may just go up another gear, unless they have dodgy parts out of the box that cost them the event
Perhaps if Tuthill Porsche had managed to put him in in their RGT3 I'd be more excited at his return. :thumbsup:
RE Ford drivers - I said it'd be Evans & Tanak. Malcolm has shown support in Tanak this year by giving him the cars to drive at WRC/ERC and whatever events he's done this year, after they both said at the end of last season that he still didn't have the experience at top events to be a proper factory driver this year. I'm pretty sure had Elfyn had as many off's and poor times as Tanak did last year then he'd befall the same fate.
Only 4 weeks till the start of WRC2015!!!!
^ The only bonus I see of Loeb doing the Monte is that he may just steal some points from Ogier and make the title race between him and JML that little bit closer than this years.
I'm prepared to eat my words, but I don't think Loeb will do much more than maybe a few stage wins on the monte and possibly a podium finish, I don't think he'll bin it, but the pace of the VW's this year was outstanding, and now with the winter upgrades I think they may just go up another gear, unless they have dodgy parts out of the box that cost them the event
Perhaps if Tuthill Porsche had managed to put him in in their RGT3 I'd be more excited at his return. :thumbsup:
RE Ford drivers - I said it'd be Evans & Tanak. Malcolm has shown support in Tanak this year by giving him the cars to drive at WRC/ERC and whatever events he's done this year, after they both said at the end of last season that he still didn't have the experience at top events to be a proper factory driver this year. I'm pretty sure had Elfyn had as many off's and poor times as Tanak did last year then he'd befall the same fate.
Only 4 weeks till the start of WRC2015!!!!
I tend to agree with your comments as to what Loeb will achieve on the Monte, the VW is a far superior package, whether Loeb's testing helps him get the car on a more equal footing is doubtful.
I'd be more than happy for Loeb to return to the WRC. What I dislike is him coming back for a few selected rounds.
A year long scrap between an on form Loeb armed with a title worthy Citroen and Seb O in the VW would make for a very entertaining season, and I suspect the like of which we've not seen for some time.
Failing that, if Malcolm would stop buying/leasing new helicoptors
and pay Loeb properly to drive a Fiesta in the WRC (with the promise of the opportunity to have some roundy round fun in a Bentley GT3 car), then we'd see just how good the Frenchman is. My guess is you'd see the Tommi Makinen Mitsubishi/Mickey Schumacher Ferrari effect.Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff