The 2015 Rallying Thread
Discussion
It sounds good - but what is going on with Toyota? Toyota in Japan, Tommi Makinen in Finland plus the 'ousted; TMG in Cologne. Are they all pulling in the same direction? Why spend money building a new base in Finland when the massive facility already exists in Cologne?
I wish some journalists would tell us what has happened - and why Tommi got the deal.
I wish some journalists would tell us what has happened - and why Tommi got the deal.
Allyc85 said:
Amazed that Ola has split with Mikkelsen, when those 2 seemed such a tight pairing!
Mikkelson binned him off thought didn't he a couple of years ago? May be he has a long memory. Also how many co drivers are there that can deliver notes in norwegian? Mikkelson can do notes in English I think.Ola only had a year left on his contract with Andreas, I guess he's got the idea it wouldn't be renewed at the end of 2016. This comment on WRC website gives it away - " “I would like to become world champion and I believe it is a better chance with a long-term co-operation with Mads then to achieve it in 2016 with Andreas. Mads is one of the top drivers in WRC.
Andreas wont win the championship while JML & SO are still piloting Polos.
The whole Toyota/Tommi/TMG thing is still just as bizarre as it was the day it was announced. I cant help but think Tommi is getting as much out of this deal as he can as quickly as he can (new facility comes from Toyota funding). He's still got his GroupN team running too with Subaru's, and as far as I know is till involved in the R3 BRZ/GT86 development, along with the Yaris 2017.
I'd rather see Kris stay at Citroen developing the 2017 Car and getting out on a few events, even if its in a R5 C3 or the sister 208. The Citroen effort is less likely to fall apart like the Toyota one. If it doesn't then I'll hold my hands up at being wrong
Andreas wont win the championship while JML & SO are still piloting Polos.
The whole Toyota/Tommi/TMG thing is still just as bizarre as it was the day it was announced. I cant help but think Tommi is getting as much out of this deal as he can as quickly as he can (new facility comes from Toyota funding). He's still got his GroupN team running too with Subaru's, and as far as I know is till involved in the R3 BRZ/GT86 development, along with the Yaris 2017.
I'd rather see Kris stay at Citroen developing the 2017 Car and getting out on a few events, even if its in a R5 C3 or the sister 208. The Citroen effort is less likely to fall apart like the Toyota one. If it doesn't then I'll hold my hands up at being wrong
Hopefully the improved testing pace translates well into rally pace and they can give the VW brigade a challenge.
The drivers have pulled some impressive performances out of the old car considering its limitations, if the new one delivers the goods it could make for quite an interesting season.
Looking forward to seeing the R3 GT86 in action too, IIRC its homologation is all complete now and its ready to compete in 2016.
Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 9th December 23:02
great news for Kris. And I think the right choice too. Better the devil you know in Citroen & Matton than the potential fireball Toyota could turn out to be (still hoping to be proven wrong)
He's probably got the thought of tailoring the 2017 car to his style and not having to fit into a car built for a different driver as has been with the outgoing DS3.
A bit of speculation on social media that the emission scandal is going to cost VW Rally a chunk of budget and despite last year committing to the championship until at least 2019, that could be in doubt. I've yet to see an official article or statement, as at the moment its more of idle chit chat/rumours from sources like "my mate who's mates brothers girlfriends cousin works for a SEAT dealership and he's heard from his mates sister who's a receptionist to the barber who cuts the VW sales managers hair" type of stuff.
He's probably got the thought of tailoring the 2017 car to his style and not having to fit into a car built for a different driver as has been with the outgoing DS3.
A bit of speculation on social media that the emission scandal is going to cost VW Rally a chunk of budget and despite last year committing to the championship until at least 2019, that could be in doubt. I've yet to see an official article or statement, as at the moment its more of idle chit chat/rumours from sources like "my mate who's mates brothers girlfriends cousin works for a SEAT dealership and he's heard from his mates sister who's a receptionist to the barber who cuts the VW sales managers hair" type of stuff.
glorious sounding Porsche R-GT video compilation - sorry its a facebook link, they dont have it on their youtube
https://www.facebook.com/Devillersvideo/videos/903...
https://www.facebook.com/Devillersvideo/videos/903...
RyanTank said:
great news for Kris. And I think the right choice too. Better the devil you know in Citroen & Matton than the potential fireball Toyota could turn out to be (still hoping to be proven wrong)
He's probably got the thought of tailoring the 2017 car to his style and not having to fit into a car built for a different driver as has been with the outgoing DS3.
A bit of speculation on social media that the emission scandal is going to cost VW Rally a chunk of budget and despite last year committing to the championship until at least 2019, that could be in doubt. I've yet to see an official article or statement, as at the moment its more of idle chit chat/rumours from sources like "my mate who's mates brothers girlfriends cousin works for a SEAT dealership and he's heard from his mates sister who's a receptionist to the barber who cuts the VW sales managers hair" type of stuff.
We'll both Audi and Porsche are only running 2 cars at all WEC rounds next year - instead of the 3 at Spa & Le Mans; and other projects have been binned or put on hold. VW are cutting back on the PR & hospitality - but I'm not sure that's enough. He's probably got the thought of tailoring the 2017 car to his style and not having to fit into a car built for a different driver as has been with the outgoing DS3.
A bit of speculation on social media that the emission scandal is going to cost VW Rally a chunk of budget and despite last year committing to the championship until at least 2019, that could be in doubt. I've yet to see an official article or statement, as at the moment its more of idle chit chat/rumours from sources like "my mate who's mates brothers girlfriends cousin works for a SEAT dealership and he's heard from his mates sister who's a receptionist to the barber who cuts the VW sales managers hair" type of stuff.
RyanTank said:
glorious sounding Porsche R-GT video compilation - sorry its a facebook link, they dont have it on their youtube
https://www.facebook.com/Devillersvideo/videos/903...
Sounds bloody fantastic thanks for posting https://www.facebook.com/Devillersvideo/videos/903...
RyanTank said:
great news for Kris. And I think the right choice too. Better the devil you know in Citroen & Matton than the potential fireball Toyota could turn out to be (still hoping to be proven wrong)
He's probably got the thought of tailoring the 2017 car to his style and not having to fit into a car built for a different driver as has been with the outgoing DS3.
A bit of speculation on social media that the emission scandal is going to cost VW Rally a chunk of budget and despite last year committing to the championship until at least 2019, that could be in doubt. I've yet to see an official article or statement, as at the moment its more of idle chit chat/rumours from sources like "my mate who's mates brothers girlfriends cousin works for a SEAT dealership and he's heard from his mates sister who's a receptionist to the barber who cuts the VW sales managers hair" type of stuff.
maybe it will be the Skoda works team that suffers instead of the main Vw team? I read on another site that they won't be be putting in an entry for Monte.He's probably got the thought of tailoring the 2017 car to his style and not having to fit into a car built for a different driver as has been with the outgoing DS3.
A bit of speculation on social media that the emission scandal is going to cost VW Rally a chunk of budget and despite last year committing to the championship until at least 2019, that could be in doubt. I've yet to see an official article or statement, as at the moment its more of idle chit chat/rumours from sources like "my mate who's mates brothers girlfriends cousin works for a SEAT dealership and he's heard from his mates sister who's a receptionist to the barber who cuts the VW sales managers hair" type of stuff.
Autosport said:
Craig Breen will join Kris Meeke, Stephane Lefebvre and Khalid Al-Qassimi in the line-up for the PH Sport-run private Citroen programme in the 2016 World Rally Championship.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122291Great news for Craig Breen. He's been putting some propper graft in with the 208 in the EWRC and previously the IRC
http://www.craigbreen.com/news.php?&id=581
I've been a fan of his for a while now and he's done well to come back from the tragedy of losing Gareth Roberts.
RE: Toyota - the lack of any information coming out is weird really, especially when there's an abundance of testing vids for the Yaris.
Re: Toyota/ MakinenMakinen - The lack of info isn't helping ; what is going there? There's all kinds of questions not being asked by the WRC journalists; most of whom are merely PR people - and don't ask anything remotely difficult. Contrast with Sportscars - and the excellent DSC/ Graham Goodwin.
Most of the Yaris testing videos are from when TMG were running the development.
Most of the Yaris testing videos are from when TMG were running the development.
The Toyota project is a mess, they need to release some kind of official news on the progress (Or lack of) as the rumours can't be helping.
moribund said:
Great news for Kris and Craig
Brilliant opportunity for Craig, hope there is a few more so it doesn't just rest on this one drive!
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