2019 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and all other)!

2019 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and all other)!

Author
Discussion

df76

Original Poster:

3,615 posts

277 months

Tuesday 1st January 2019
quotequote all
Not long until the Monte already, and Citroen busy testing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlWjwgmphQo

Not sure what's been confirmed at M-Sport??

Have been following the MSN All Circuit Rally over the winter, seems pretty popular and they're making an effort with the coverage. http://msnrallychamp.co.uk/video/

Allyc85

7,225 posts

185 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
M-Sport is down to 2 full time drivers with Evans and Suninen, with Tidemand down to do the Monte and Sweden. It's going to be a tough year for the team as none of those drivers have front running pace, especially against the very fast Toyotas and what you would think is a rejuvenated Citroen.

Anyone going to the WRC launch, which is open to the public this year?

Dovile

47 posts

139 months

Tuesday 8th January 2019
quotequote all
first 2019 livery teaser - team hyundai




hyundai still using the 'coupe' shaped car for 2019? they dont even sell this 3 door bodyshape on i20 road car since its mid-2018 facelift.. not too much change in colours used from 2018 season, either.. yawn.
i have hope for a interesting look of 100th-anniversary citroen racing, now that they dont have to accommodate title sponsor logos of abu-dhabi this season.


even if there is no more widebody/homologation specials- it is sad you cant even try to mimic colour schemes for your regular roadcar!

DanielSan

18,748 posts

166 months

Tuesday 8th January 2019
quotequote all
I predict the Citroen will be red yet again, the Abu Dhabi sponsorship never changed that so can't see why it not being there will either.

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Tuesday 8th January 2019
quotequote all
I see Hyundai have given Michel Nandan the flick too.

Allyc85

7,225 posts

185 months

Tuesday 8th January 2019
quotequote all
I know one of the mechanics from Hyundai, he didn't even know it was happening until it was announced. I guess the top guy always has to take the hit when teams don't succeed. I wonder if signing up Mikkelsen with seemingly no performance clauses also had anything to do with it?

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Wednesday 9th January 2019
quotequote all
There have been a few puzzling/dubious decisions made and as you say, someone at the top usually has to take the fall when a team fails to achieve goals that looked like they were within reach.

I was reading on another forum than Nandan was also involved with/responsible for the Peugeot 307 and Suzuki SX4 WRC cars, which isn't a great record of success! Sounds like he's always had a tendency to favour theoretical engineering solutions over driver feedback, in contrast to some others who regard driver confidence as the most important factor in car behaviour.

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 9th January 01:15

zeb

3,193 posts

217 months

Wednesday 9th January 2019
quotequote all
Do we know what breen is doing yet?

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Wednesday 9th January 2019
quotequote all
zeb said:
Do we know what breen is doing yet?
I haven't heard anything. Tough deal this year with Breen, Ostberg and Paddon all talented drivers on the sidelines while others (with arguably much worse performance in 2018) still have seats.

DelicaL400

516 posts

110 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
quotequote all
New M-Sport livery. Disappointing to see they've not got any major sponsors but I suppose that's the way rallying is these days.


Alex Langheck

835 posts

128 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
quotequote all
It always surprises me that people can't understand the lack of sponsors; that seems to be the main reaction to the livery on social media.

Sponsors would be interested if they thought it was worth doing. For all the talk of the 'WRC success' - it's just not an attractive series for sponsors. Too many WRC people seemingly have their heads in the sand....

DelicaL400

516 posts

110 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
quotequote all
Alex Langheck said:
It always surprises me that people can't understand the lack of sponsors; that seems to be the main reaction to the livery on social media.
I understand it perfectly, I'm just disappointed that's how things are.

Crap promotion and cars that cost way too much to build/repair.

ArnageWRC

2,050 posts

158 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
quotequote all
If I'm a top guy at at M-Sport, I'd be asking questions to RedBull/ WRC promoter; 2 drivers titles plus a Manufacturers title - and still can't pull in a major sponsor.

As Delica has said above, the promotion needs to be better. All Live+ is for the die-hards; the 'free stuff' has to be better and more of it.

chunder27

2,309 posts

207 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
quotequote all
Red Bull were only there because of Ogier, and also remember they own the media rights, so they go where he goes as they did with Loeb

Quite how the rights holder is a company like that I have no idea in terms of monopolies etc.

Allyc85

7,225 posts

185 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
A few pics from a very well attended launch of the WRC. The Fiesta looks amazing in person, while Citroen scored a massive OG byy launching the car in gravel spec!

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

DanielSan

18,748 posts

166 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all

DelicaL400

516 posts

110 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Times must be hard at M-Sport, looks like they couldn't afford an iron for Elfyn and Teemu's shirts!

I read an interview with Rich Millener earlier, I didn't realise the championship winning team received no prize money at all.

Alex Langheck

835 posts

128 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
DelicaL400 said:
Times must be hard at M-Sport, looks like they couldn't afford an iron for Elfyn and Teemu's shirts!

I read an interview with Rich Millener earlier, I didn't realise the championship winning team received no prize money at all.
Yeah, nothing - this ain't F1.....

tyrrell

1,670 posts

207 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
You could even imagine them running out of funds halfway through the season.

Jerry Can

4,424 posts

222 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
DanielSan said:
there's a lot of news about this. I'm a bit meh! about it. Retired driver returns, hasn't driven a rally car in what? 10 years? is given the Toyota test hack and we're supposed to be amazeballs by the news. Couldn't care less! He'll do well to finish in the top 10, but I suspect he'll be out on SS2 with engine failure...