[WRC] News & Rumours 2020 [Archive] - Page 2

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AnttiL

1st January 2020, 17:18

There’s no doubt this is a factory team, it’s obvious from the way the team is running it’s a very high level.

This is basically saying "Toyota was a village team" :P

Fast Eddie WRC

1st January 2020, 19:23

Spanish website says Lappi is confirmed at M-Sport for 2020.

Plus Suninen also doing a full season and Greensmith with 9 events.

https://as.com/motor/2020/01/01/mas_motor/1577900392_723226

Barreis

1st January 2020, 20:24

link error

Fast Eddie WRC

1st January 2020, 21:56

https://as.com/motor/2020/01/01/mas_motor/1577900392_723226.amp.html

Fast Eddie WRC

2nd January 2020, 11:28

Lappi joins M-Sport Ford - http://bit.ly/2QFfeeg

Fast Eddie WRC

2nd January 2020, 11:32

Esapekka Lappi Rally
@EsapekkaLappi
Extremely happy to announce that we will be joining M-Sport Ford !
I’m very happy they put their trust in us and I'm excited to see what we can achieve together.
@MSportLtd 👍
#WRC #MSPORTERS
#HappyLappi

Rally Power

2nd January 2020, 14:47

This is basically saying "Toyota was a village team" :P

The ‘village’ team took 2 seasons to become world champion; the ‘factory’ team took 6…

Rally Power

2nd January 2020, 15:14

http://trackleaders.com/transchaco17

I managed to find a some sort of map from Transchaco 2017. The red lines are special stages. For example at the Northmost point of the route, there's SS15 which is 25 km of just straight road. SS7 is 43 km with one 500m twisty passage, three 90° turns and otherwise just straight road.
I don't find this rally interesting in WRC context.

Paraguay plan is to run Rally Trans Itapúa (their Codasur round) as WRC candidate event, not the Transchaco.
https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/deportes/2019/12/27/amplia-repercusion-por-la-postulacion-al-wrc/

Trans Itapúa videos can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Rally+Trans+Itapua+

Allez Andruet

2nd January 2020, 17:57

https://www.is.fi/ralli/art-2000006361026.html

According to this column (which is mostly about Lappi and Suninen) on Finnish media IS, it looks like Latvala will drive atleast Sweden, Sardegna and Finland with a Yaris WRC.

sete

2nd January 2020, 18:05

Do we know something more about Mikkelsen plans?
Looks like again no Hyundai at Sweden for him.

Allez Andruet

2nd January 2020, 18:14

Do we know something more about Mikkelsen plans?
Looks like again no Hyundai at Sweden for him.

Too early to tell maybe. The two teams (if there's two) don't have to be entered simultaneously.

AnttiL

2nd January 2020, 18:43

sort of WRC news: Miikka Anttila is co-driving for Eerik Pietarinen in Arctic Rally.

P.T.L

3rd January 2020, 04:16

Do we know something more about Mikkelsen plans?
Looks like again no Hyundai at Sweden for him.

https://www.vg.no/sport/motorsport/i/xPprBn/andreas-mikkelsen-om-vm-2020-jeg-har-noe-uoppgjort Here’s interview with him. There is no drive for Monte, but possibilities to run other rounds. He is open for other opprtunities beside Hyundai. Don’t want to drive without pay, because he was 4th WC. Somehow glad that Tänak joined the team. Hopes benefit from Tanak’s car setup. Something like that.

AnttiL

3rd January 2020, 10:33

https://www.rallit.fi/esapekka-lapilta-paljastus-uudesta-wrc-sopimuksestaan-saatoin-olla-hyvin-edullinen/

Lappi saying he "might have been very affordable for M-Sport" and that there's a two year option in the deal.

He also talks about the few kilometer test he did with the car in Greystoke. Apparently the concrete base on the track didn't give him a full picture of how the car handles.

Fast Eddie WRC

4th January 2020, 13:33

Kris Meeke concedes his time as a full-time #WRC driver is "finished", saying he refused to consider driving for M-Sport for no money:
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/meeke-finished-toyota-dakar-despres/4624421/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

masa90

4th January 2020, 14:44

Any idea on when the teams hold the 2020 reveal? (I know it is basically a livery reveal these days)

EstWRC

4th January 2020, 14:56

M-sport will be at ASI show and Toyota at Tokyo motor show.

i guess Hyundai will just publish photos on social media.

pantealex

4th January 2020, 15:52

Any idea on when the teams hold the 2020 reveal? (I know it is basically a livery reveal these days)

Next friday.

Bishop 12

4th January 2020, 16:58

bassist

4th January 2020, 17:59

EstWRC

5th January 2020, 15:58

Next friday.

all the teams or just TGR?

pantealex

6th January 2020, 06:17

all the teams or just TGR?

MSport Autosport Show England Friday

Toyota Tokyo Japan Friday

Don´t know about Hyundai

T16

6th January 2020, 17:39

https://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/january-2020/toyota-order/page/6917--12-12-.html

Fast Eddie WRC

6th January 2020, 18:53

https://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/january-2020/toyota-order/page/6917--12-12-.html

Wow WRC.com so late. We discussed this days ago.

dupanton

7th January 2020, 15:36

FFSA (French federation) published an interesting press release today.

The program for Fourmaux was already announced (WRC2)

Also Yoann Rossel (French champion of 2019, aged 25) will compete in WRC3 with a C3 R5: Monte, Portugal, Sardegna, Finland, Germany and Wales

Last but not least, they announce that PY Loubet will do some round in a WRC! Car and program not announced yet.

Danny0405

7th January 2020, 16:23

The link from FFSA: https://www.ffsa.org/Pages/Actus/2020/Yohan-Rossel,-Pierre-Louis-Loubet--Adrien-Fourmaux-selectionnes-en-Equipe-de-France-FFSA-Rallye.aspx

They only talk about several rounds in the main category with no further information.
Not really surprised about it because there were some rumors and he seems to have good backing from Qatar as he was able to go to Australia last year.

However, I wait to see the car.
Citroen would be a bad idea in my opinion because Ostberg´s 2017 season has shown how difficult it is to run a 2017 WRC without the support of à manufacturer.

M-Sport seems the most logical, maybe in the 4 Greensmith-less round (Sweden, Kenya, New Zealand, Japan) or in a 4 th car for European rallies. The 4th car seems a better idea because I’m not sure Sweden is a gift with so little snow experience.

Well deserved for him because he was one of the most interesting drivers in R5 last year

Tarmop

7th January 2020, 16:25

PhSport running a C3 WRC vs Ostberg in 2017 are totally different things.

Danny0405

7th January 2020, 16:33

denkimi

7th January 2020, 17:37

If ph-sport will run the c3's, they surely will do it with the help and support of citroen.

As a privateer its nearly impossible, but PH is not run as a private company.

T16

7th January 2020, 17:38

Wow WRC.com so late. We discussed this days ago.

Shouldn’t be such a surprise... they’re always late with info.

Tarmop

7th January 2020, 17:41

Adapta and Jipocar were experienced team when it comes to run pre-2017 car.
Ostberg’s 2012 was with Adapta.

Yes, PH sport is a bigger team and they had success in 2016 but they don’t have a huge experience about 2017 cars at the highest level.
I do not say they would be pathetic but M-Sport would be a better option imho.

Yes, but you can call PH Sport the M-Sport of PSA group. whereas Adapta/Jipocar had to rely on...M-Sport giving everything (know-how, parts). I`m also pretty sure, many Citroen Racing members will/would/already have head(ed) there.

Fast Eddie WRC

7th January 2020, 17:44

Press Release says info on Loubet's WRC programme coming in a few days... so maybe given at ASI and maybe with M-Sport ?

spiderem

7th January 2020, 18:05

team of 2 C3 runs by PH Sport sponsored by Qatar, would be a nice addition (Loubet and Ostberg).

Are there any links between Qatar and PH Sport at the Dakar?

KKS

7th January 2020, 20:05

team of 2 C3 runs by PH Sport sponsored by Qatar, would be a nice addition (Loubet and Ostberg).

Are there any links between Qatar and PH Sport at the Dakar?
But if this rally happen it's not be like competing for good results or so. It just to be shown on TV and other PR stuff. C3 with factory support with multiple world champion behind a wheel couldn't do anything better. So I can't see how semi private team with rookie and not very fast Norwegian could do better

Got Mail

7th January 2020, 21:26

Press Release says info on Loubet's WRC programme coming in a few days... so maybe given at ASI and maybe with M-Sport ?

The last event he did was with Yves Matton's team.

Read into that what you will.

dupanton

8th January 2020, 07:17

The last event he did was with Yves Matton's team.

Read into that what you will.

Yves Matton has no link with Citroën anymore...

Fast Eddie WRC

8th January 2020, 11:43

With Østberg confirming 8 WRC2 rounds in 2020, then Loubet is the last chance for a private C3 WRC to be seen.

Eli

8th January 2020, 11:45

With Østberg confirming 8 WRC2 rounds in 2020, then Loubet is the last chance for a private C3 WRC to be seen.

When did he confirm it?

Fast Eddie WRC

8th January 2020, 11:54

Here...

Østberg will do the WRC2 season with Citroen C3 R5. Thus no WRC drives for him.

His season consists of 8 WRC2 rallies and development tests. He aims to be the champion.

https://www.rallit.fi/mads-ostbergin-rallisuunnitelmat-selvisivat-tavoitteena-mestaruus/

Original source: Aftenposten

Eli

8th January 2020, 12:14

Here...

Thanks

Fast Eddie WRC

8th January 2020, 16:26

But if I was a gambling man I'd bet he drives the C3 R5 again. I dont think Citroen Norge will pay enough for him to run the WRCar.

I was right, sadly.

dimviii

8th January 2020, 17:17

2568/5000
08 / Jan / 20
Share

The arrival of hybridization and the possibility of creating tubular chassis brings the manufacturer closer to a land they already know well

The siren songs are real. From Autosport Japan they already talk about the real possibility of Subaru's return to the World Rally Championship and even provide details that speak of a model, coach and even the pilot who would be the spearhead of his project.

Many may think that 2022 (the date on which the Japanese firm would theoretically enter the WRC) is too far away, but it is the necessary period to launch a project with guarantees, just as another car giant arrived from the country did. of the 'Rising Sun', Toyota.

The change in regulation, which in principle caused the departure of the PSA group (then complemented with the departure of Sébastien Ogier after an abrupt end of the 2019 season), can make other brands such as Subaru itself to bet on rallies again. And it is that whoever weighs, electrification and the hybrid world (in the case of the World Cup would be a unique supplier of this system for everyone) come to stay. They have already done it on circuits and now it seems that the road is going to outdoor tests, rallies and raids.

WS000002 Therefore, rumors of the possible entry of Subaru, coming from his own country and with the constant run-run of the North American market with Oliver Solberg (the son of the 2003 World Champion) and his arrival at the WRC-2 with The Polo are nothing more than the realization that something is moving in the firm.

From Autosport Japan, as is evident, they go further. They talk about the interest in having a coach in the purest M-Sport style to take charge of the project and although they don't give names, they talk about Petter Solberg (again) as a possible recipient of the assignment with Xavier Demaison as a fundamental part of this path. Both have already agreed in the WRC with Subaru and the good connection between them was evident.

As for the model, few doubts. The ability to develop a tubular chassis makes the Subaru XV win whole, for the headache of an amateur. As for the regulations, it is said that some alternative to Japanese mechanics should be sought, but there should be no problems to adapt to the new regulations, more with the need for new brands to arrive.

The end of the Japanese media article puts calm to expectations talking about the low possibilities of carrying out this new project, but ... when the river sounds (and sounds a lot), water carries.

https://www.laregion.es/articulo/mas-motor/subaru-plantea-seriamente-volver-wrc-dicen-japon/20200108180543917966.html

katxal

8th January 2020, 17:37

Andre Oliveira

8th January 2020, 17:48

Original: https://www.as-web.jp/rally/554370

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ENx3Dp3WoAAKwMc?format=jpg&name=small

Gregor-y

8th January 2020, 20:25

Subaru of America (USA) paid for the company's rally team and Oliver Solberg was a convenient newcomer. He could come learn in a safe environment and SOA got some star power and a good driver to draw some extra fans. They haven't confirmed a team this year and their regular driver (David Higgins) has his own schedule that doesn't include US events. SOA may pay for a season or maybe not. Subaru Canada still offers lots of contingencies but stopped fielding their own rally team a few years ago.

If Subaru can get the Solberg family to set up a shop ala Makinen more power to them, but nothing from North America should be an indicator of this. Plus after following Subaru news in Japanese enthusiast magazines for twenty years you get kind of skeptical of anything they publish.

Got Mail

8th January 2020, 20:44

Yves Matton has no link with Citroën anymore...

I'm sure he still has plenty of 'links'.

the sniper

8th January 2020, 22:41

...and their regular driver (David Higgins) has his own schedule that doesn't include US events.

Off topic, but do you know what David's plans are?

AnttiL

9th January 2020, 06:16

https://www.rallit.fi/teemu-suniselta-on-jo-lupa-odottaa-menestysta-taytyy-taas-todistaa-etta-on-tallipaikan-arvoinen/

Suninen tells about his experience of recceing Rally Japan candidate event, saying it's the slowest rally he has seen during his career. "Quite exotic rally. Some extremely slow roads, you have to drive long sections on gears 1 and 2."

mknight

9th January 2020, 10:14

FIA updated the homologation list:
https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/toutesvoitures_janv.2020.pdf

New jokers (all registered 1/12)
MSport - engine
Toyota - engine
Hyundai - engine + "general" (guess that means diffuser +exhaust and likely the scoop as well)
Citroen C3 WRC - engine (also on 1st December)

Fast Eddie WRC

9th January 2020, 14:14

Toyota launch is tomorrow at Tokyo AutoSalon.

Henryfiles

9th January 2020, 16:25

What’s rally Germany like to spectate? I’ve heard it’s not the best?

Gregor-y

9th January 2020, 16:32

Off topic, but do you know what David's plans are?

I do not know about competition plans but see the Facebook page for Higgins Motorsport Services, Limited that's listed as a training/coaching service. It looks like it was set up at the end of November. There is a nice video put together thanking him for his service to Subaru of America.

https://www.facebook.com/higginsmotorsportservicesltd/

rallyfiend

9th January 2020, 16:48

What’s rally Germany like to spectate? I’ve heard it’s not the best?

I've been a couple of times.

I'm complementary about it. Especially if the weather is nice. However in October...

dimviii

14th January 2020, 18:28

Colin McMaster
@colmcklein
WRC Champ Ott Tänak will stick with number '8' throughout 2020. Last time the World Champion started a WRC rally without #1 on the door was Juha Kankkunen on the 1994 Sanremo Rally. His Toyota Celica GT-Four ran with No.3

Mirek

14th January 2020, 18:37

Who will have No.1 then?

TypeR

14th January 2020, 18:52

Who will have No.1 then?
Nobody. #1 is reserved for WDC and if tge driver chooses ,,his own,, nr then so it is

tommeke_B

14th January 2020, 19:21

Honestly I liked it more when all numbers on the entry list were earned by performance in the championship, and not randomly chosen.

AnttiL

14th January 2020, 20:09

Honestly I liked it more when all numbers on the entry list were earned by performance in the championship, and not randomly chosen.

It was pretty random before as well.

The champion had #1 and his team had the following numbers, then the numbers were allocated by the team championship order. The numbers were allocated for the teams, not for drivers. A team could switch drivers for their numbers. Remember how Citroen had cars 7-9 in 2017 but for example Al-Qassimi drove a different number on each of the four rallies he did? Or Neuville had #5 in 2018 although we could consider him the "number one" driver of Hyundai (Mikkelsen had #4)?

Then, before 1995, it was usually only that previous year winner had #1 and everything else was decided by the organizers.

PLuto

14th January 2020, 22:34

It was pretty random before as well.

The champion had #1 and his team had the following numbers, then the numbers were allocated by the team championship order. The numbers were allocated for the teams, not for drivers. A team could switch drivers for their numbers. Remember how Citroen had cars 7-9 in 2017 but for example Al-Qassimi drove a different number on each of the four rallies he did? Or Neuville had #5 in 2018 although we could consider him the "number one" driver of Hyundai (Mikkelsen had #4)?

Then, before 1995, it was usually only that previous year winner had #1 and everything else was decided by the organizers.

Maybe random, but still better than this joke...

sindroms

15th January 2020, 06:47

Petter Solberg is working on to attract manufacture to WRC to be team manager as himself after that. There is negotiations with several manufactures but he can't say anything more specific.

Source: Petter himself in interview to latvian motorsportsite go4speed.lv - https://www.go4speed.lv/lv/news/wrc/9664-peters-solbergs-uzsacis-darbu-pie-rupnicas-komandas-piesaistes-wrc-cempionata/

Norm75

15th January 2020, 08:05

Maybe random, but still better than this joke...

Don't see why it bothers people to be honest, it's just a number, and standard practice nowadays, just following suit from a lot of world championships.
It's better for the drivers, Fia, marketing, for example if you see someone with a bright yellow #46 on a cap or shirt you know who they follow.
It's also easier to know for the fans who is driving what car if they have a permanent number assigned to them.

Norm75

15th January 2020, 08:15

Although having said that, drivers need to use a bit of caution when choosing numbers.
I've just googled GG44 for example, and it is the code name for Amitriptyline, a medication used for depression.
Wonder if Gus knows this!

Rallyper

15th January 2020, 09:30

EstWRC

15th January 2020, 09:30

no, i hope its Subaru

skarderud

15th January 2020, 09:51

I'm quite sure it is subaru.
And a younger solberg at the wheel.

Sent fra min SM-G950F via Tapatalk

dck1989

15th January 2020, 13:00

does toyota own 20% of Subaru and would toyota let them?

Norm75

15th January 2020, 16:48

does toyota own 20% of Subaru and would toyota let them?

Yes they do. It wouldn't be unprecedented, in the early 2000's we had Peugeot and Citroen competing at the same time, and there was an overlap with Seat and Skoda but think they only nominated one of the teams as a manufacturers entry at the time.

Tarmop

15th January 2020, 17:11

Mr. Toyoda himself is passionate about motorsports and has urged other Japanese brands to step in, i don`t think a 20% ownership would get into way.

Andre Oliveira

15th January 2020, 17:22

cali

15th January 2020, 17:40

That is one of biggest problems of rally nowadays. Make groups will not fight one against other. 1 win, yes! But 1 loose. Some little percentages ok, it is possible. But how explain Peugeot loose to Citroën? Or the vice-versa? The funds come from where?I had same thought one day. How many big automotive mergers actually we have?

Daimler are currently alone as far as my memory serves me

BMW Mini Rolls-Royce

VW Audi Škoda SEAT Porsche Bugatti Bentley Lamborghini

PSA-FCA has Maserati Alfa Romeo Lancia FIAT Dodge Chrysler Peugeot Citroën Opel/Vauxhall

Renault Nissan Dacia Lada

Toyota has Daihatsu, Lexus and Subaru (only 20%)

TATA Jaguar Land Rover

Hyundai Kia

GM has Chevrolet GMC Buick Cadillac Holden

Ford
Suzuki
Mazda
Mitsubishi
Honda

Not much to choose if we count in who already participates, who is not interested and are driven by their global policies, some of them do not have the right segment cars and market share, some of them are not doing well...
In that light I would be happy if no manufacture leaves and we have one more to join.

Sent from my GM1913 using Tapatalk

doubled1978

15th January 2020, 17:47

I had same thought one day. How many big automotive mergers actually we have?

Daimler are currently alone as far as my memory serves me

BMW Mini Rolls-Royce

VW Audi Škoda SEAT Porsche Bugatti Bentley Lamborghini

PSA-FCA has Maserati Alfa Romeo Lancia FIAT Dodge Chrysler Peugeot Citroën Opel/Vauxhall

Renault Nissan Dacia Lada

Toyota has Daihatsu, Lexus and Subaru (only 20%)

TATA Jaguar Land Rover

Hyundai Kia

GM has Chevrolet GMC Buick Cadillac Holden

Ford
Suzuki
Mazda
Mitsubishi
Honda

Not much to choose if we count in who already participates, who is not interested and are driven by their global policies, some of them do not have the right segment cars and market share, some of them are not doing well...
In that light I would be happy if no manufacture leaves and we have one more to join.

Sent from my GM1913 using Tapatalk

Daimler have a hook up with Nissan/Renault for some stuff, the X Class is a Nissan underneath.

Toyota also have collaboration with PSA, for the Aygo/1008 and BMW for the Z4/Supra..

The lines a blurred everywhere you look these days.

Mirek

15th January 2020, 18:01

Toyota also have collaboration with PSA, for the Aygo/1008

Is's Aygo/107/C1 but this collaboration is going to an end. Since 2021 Toyota takes over the factory in Kolín, CZ, and the joint venture will be over. Toyota will produce Yaris there.

Anyway these are only joint ventures like many others (Mitsubishi/Kia/Hyundai engine cooperation for example). Those are not about the brand ownership sharing.

Norm75

15th January 2020, 19:02

Renault Nissan own Mitsubishi
VW group has a similar percentage in Suzuki as Toyota has Subaru unless they have relinquished it.

Duvel

15th January 2020, 19:04

Is's Aygo/107/C1 but this collaboration is going to an end. Since 2021 Toyota takes over the factory in Kolín, CZ, and the joint venture will be over. Toyota will produce Yaris there.

Anyway these are only joint ventures like many others (Mitsubishi/Kia/Hyundai engine cooperation for example). Those are not about the brand ownership sharing.

Toyota pro ace/ Peugeot expert / Citroën jumpy is same car.
1.6 benzin engine used by psa is still a ep engine which came from BMW.
C zero car is a Mitsubishi just like the 4007/4008 where.
Puma engine in boxer was ford
107/c1/Aygo
V6 diesel was also Ford/jaguars
Plenty of examples
,...

So I get that they don't want to battle each other in same class, but like Citroën official in rally 1 class and Opel in rally 2 should be possible.

Mirek

15th January 2020, 19:41

As I said joint ventures are something different than being part of the same group. For this discussion they are meaningless.

Gregor-y

15th January 2020, 20:24

15th January 2020, 21:38

WRC highlights on ITV4 in the UK this year: https://motorsportbroadcasting.com/2020/01/15/world-rally-championship-highlights-to-return-to-itv4-in-multi-year-deal/

doubled1978

15th January 2020, 21:52

steve.mandzij

15th January 2020, 22:13

Totally separate topic, but I wonder if Toyota/Hyundai might consider fielding extra cars on Pirelli’s at times throughout the season? Not relevant until Pirelli have the 2021 tyres ready, but it could/would provide valuable data.I'd rather see Pirelli field their own team... But of course that's but a pipe dream

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

Norm75

15th January 2020, 22:33

If Makinen can put together a team I hope the Solbergs can, too. I thought the family has some history as a team operator but all I could discover is that Henning is Pontus Tidemand's step father.

Subaru would be nice, and it would be nice if they were planning some decent new cars, too. The Impreza/Crosstrek and WRX are way too big these days. I'm kind of hoping for that because it's the most likely maker to offer a halfway close road car in the US.

Regarding the size of Subaru models, or any manufacturer, are the proposed new rules for space frame chassis and silhouette vehicles not including the ability to downscale the size of the mass produced model it's based on, I thought this was once mentioned but haven't read what has been proposed.

Tarmop

16th January 2020, 14:05

Yes, that they can do.

Gregor-y

16th January 2020, 19:20

And now I'm depressed.

Tarmop

16th January 2020, 19:21

The only way in todays world, if we want to give many manuf. a chance. Subaru for example.

KiwiWRCfan

17th January 2020, 08:14

dimviii

17th January 2020, 14:31

A visit at ''BOS''

If the company "Bos" doesn't mention anything to you, it's worth remembering that this company has been supplying the shock absorbers for the Toyota Yaris WRC for three seasons now.

Just 20 years after its creation in 1999, BOS Suspension has just taken a new step in its development in 2019. Being one of the few major players "100% made in France" at the highest level of the world rally, and as we are a little chauvinistic to the editorial staff at Rallye-Sport (!), we took advantage of this off-season to learn more about this company, by going to visit its creator, Olivier Bossard, and the one who embodies this renewal, in charge of the business development, Cédric Mazenq (which we no longer present to rallye-sport.fr readers).

After a description of the different sectors of the company, we will end this visit with an interview with Olivier Bossard, mentioning in particular his first contacts with Tommi Mäkinen, director of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team.

An appointment is therefore made in Toulouse in the workshops of BOS Suspension at the beginning of this month of January. First surprise when arriving on site, the technicality and cleanliness of the premises: it feels like disembarking at NASA! Clean room, huge workshop, rooms with restricted access for official Toyota WRC programs, we wonder if we manufacture shock absorbers, luxury watches or nuclear weapons! Nothing lingers, nothing exceeds ...

"The thoroughness and care given to our products is the hallmark of BOS. »Explains Cédric. "Olivier has always instilled this in all employees, and it is really the DNA of the company. When you know the importance of quality in the assembly processes of the most technical shock absorbers, you quickly realize that this care is not a luxury, but a necessity. Working for and with the best requires being irreproachable. "

While wandering in the heart of the assembly workshop, from where Cédric explains the activity to us by mixing gestures with words, we realize the diversity of activities: on the one hand, two technicians are working '' assemble the shock absorbers of the Toyota Yaris for pre-Monte Carlo tests. On the other, a technician assembles five ATV descent forks. At another station, a technician packs forks and shock absorbers for the motorcycle, and loads everything into a test truck to go to the field. Finally, on the other hand, a production line assembles the front shock absorbers chain for a small production, that of the shock absorbers of the future Renault Clio V Rallye.

I then ask Cédric about the specificity of the WRC program. It is widely recognized by specialists that the Yaris has dominated the last two WRC seasons, and that its suspension is considered by the community as a benchmark, on land as in asphalt. We wanted to know more.

“This official commitment to Toyota requires very specific and unique management. It's about being very responsive to each of their requests. A WRC season is 13 rallies and around fifty days of testing. So it's a full time activity. There is a lot of shadow work also in design and development on the bench. We have an engineer who is 100% dedicated to this project, two technicians who also take turns on the tests. At the workshop, this is a permanent common thread: there is always assembly or revision of products for the WRC. We prepare 4 to 5 sets of shock absorbers per test session, with different technical solutions or settings, and on rallies, it's 7 sets for 3 cars, as stipulated in the sporting regulations. It therefore requires total involvement. "

By asking what was the specificity of BOS shock absorbers compared to the competition, Cédric kicks in touch:

" Work ! Olivier’s experience acquired over the years in the WRC, first via Mitsubishi, then Subaru thereafter, helped step by step to make our products more reliable and efficient. We use a lot of innovative and patented technology, and the added value also lies in the ability to constantly develop. Many improvements have also come from our other activities, such as MTB and motorcycles, a real laboratory for BOS. "

We will not know more (!), But the technological war that the different manufacturers are waging to keep their trade secrets explains and justifies this silence. We simply understand that 3 parameters are major in deciphering the information delivered drop by drop: reliability (because to win a rally, you must first finish it) which involves quality monitoring and a very demanding validation process; then the technological qualities of the shock absorbers, that is to say the technical choices for performing the different functions (end stop, control, traction, support, etc.); and development, or more precisely the hydraulic curves developed on each of the different terrains.

The rest of the visit takes us from department to department: the design office first, freshly reinforced by new elements.

"Here is the brain of the box: the ideas, the sketches, the patents that Olivier has filed in the past, everything necessarily starts within the walls of the BE. Explains Cédric. “We recently did a lot of work to rationalize our studies, by resolutely turning to an objective which is our target now: service and customer satisfaction. This process begins at the design stage, thinking from the first stroke of the pen about the future quality of the After-Sales Service. "

It is by leafing through a customer manual for a shock absorber intended for a Subaru R4 that Cédric adds: "This type of document is now created in parallel with the product. We are starting to feel the benefits of this new organization in everyday life, and customer feedback is increasingly positive. "

Then comes the trade part, in direct contact with the studies part.

"This is one of the great organizational innovations for society. Explains Cédric again. “We have created a“ Business Pool ”, made up of 3 experienced engineers whom I supervise: Thibault, Romain and Lionel, who are respectively in charge of the“ AUTO WRC ”,“ AUTO 4 wheels ”and“ MOTO / MTB 2 wheels ”activities. "

dimviii

17th January 2020, 14:32

“Olivier wanted to improve contact with the client, with dedicated people. I wanted the 3 to be engineers by training, with a very "field" profile: we don't sell shock absorbers like we sell yogurts! Each case is specific and requires very specific expertise in the field. They therefore don 3 additional hats: that of project management, that of commerce, and that of ingenious "exploit", to be able to be as close as possible to the client during the test sessions or the competitions. "

Once on the ground floor, Cédric naturally directs us to the room dedicated to development.

"And this is the 2nd brain of BOS Suspension! "

We discover a room dedicated to an impressive shock absorber passage bench, with its external control console.

"He's Steven's baby! He spends more time here than with his wife! ", Steven Bossard, son of Olivier, comes to join us.

“Steven has accumulated enormous experience over the years. Being strolled in the footsteps of his father in the 4 corners of the world from a very young age gave him an expertise of the clapery and the depreciation that it would take to the common mortal for years before mastering half of it!

He is an excellent developer, with a particular sensitivity to vehicle dynamics. His background as a good crossman and rallyman also gives him a sensitivity to the not always very scientific discourse of pilots. Finding the right setting and damping level on a vehicle you are discovering is also the great strength of BOS Suspension. Our database and the permanent search for perfo alongside the biggest teams forced us to question ourselves daily. "

“Working with the official teams has made us tremendous progress. Adds Steven. “We dialogue with engineers, we analyze data, we instrument the whole car with sensors to corroborate what the drivers say and our feelings. It is all the more interesting when we manage to transcribe these advances in the dampers of everyone. "

After passing in front of the commercial pool, where three people are busy to answer customers and supply the parts, Cédric takes us to a central screen visible to all.

“The BOS of tomorrow will be a connected business 4.0. He begins. "Here is a first illustration of this line of work: guys don't have to go and get the news, it's the news that comes to them. "

"This will allow us to shorten the customer response time, whatever the process (new products, after-sales service, services ...) or the sector of activity (Auto, motorcycle, ATV ...). 2019 has enabled us to define the foundations of this new pact with the client, 2020 will have to be the real realization of this new philosophy. ”

Along the same lines, Cédric shows us and explains to us the desire to digitize documents, the "zero paper" objective in 2020.

"Olivier is a geek! But we have a little the same disease! Jokes Cédric. “We are going to deploy tablets on the workstations. The goal is to substantially increase productivity and efficiency, so that the customer is the winner. "

The tour ends with the machine shop. State-of-the-art machining machines are busy chipping. The technicality of the parts is stunning. We stop for a few minutes in front of a machining center cutting a strut intended for Sébastien Ogier's Toyota.

"Machining is Olivier's hobby horse. The ambition is to reduce subcontracting as much as possible. We gain extraordinary responsiveness. On programs like the WRC, we are able to design, produce and test a new part in less than 48 hours. This is why the manufacturers trust us. "

It’s finally over a coffee that Cédric tells me: “2020 is going to be an important year. We have staffed the company to be able to respond more effectively to demand. On the auto side, we now have a complete range, the CR range, with highly competitive and high-performance products for each of the disciplines. We are working more and more with amateurs, for F2000s, Group N, etc ... The label of expensive shock absorbers and intended only for factory teams has been obsolete for a long time! We offer alternatives for all programs and budgets. And our experience allows us to have added value in most of the products we develop. More than elsewhere, in shock absorbers, magic does not exist! Work pays off, nothing else!

2848/5000
Before leaving Toulouse and its cold January day, we take advantage of our visit to interview Olivier Bossard, general manager of the company.

At first, Olivier returned to the first contacts between BOS and Toyota, until the signing of a partnership in WRC.

“I have been in contact with Tommi Mäkinen since 2008-2009 I think. At the time, his team manufactured Subaru Impreza N4 and R4. We had some interesting projects together with test sessions in particular. He really appreciates our product, especially its traction quality, an important element in rallying.

After this first collaboration, it was obvious that we were going to work together for the WRC and I did not hesitate for a second to accept his proposal.

For the record, during Mäkinen's first tests with our products, he arrived in clogs and without a helmet! I had the impression that he was there to laugh. But after two runs, he asked for his things and we drove for two and a half days.

Now I have her on the phone regularly, every 15 days / 3 weeks. "

For BOS, the arrival of Toyota obviously had a huge impact on the organization and operation of this company of around 30 employees.

"Toyota is what drives the business. I think half of the business spends half of its time on Toyota. We have four separate parts: production, testing, test tracking and research. And in this area, the work is monstrous with a priority recipient: Toyota. Just last year, we had 27 development versions with changes that could affect the pistons, seals, geometry, new systems and even the oil.

It’s a leading program that takes us a long way. Research work represents 80 to 90% of our budget. "

Associated with Toyota for three years now, Olivier and his company BOS are obviously honored to work with the Japanese manufacturer.

"We are extremely proud to be part of the adventure and to have their trust. It puts a little pressure but also ambition, with the goal of having the best car in the world. We have no right to relax, it's really a lot of investment. "

Very often focused on official programs, BOS now wants to broaden its target.

"We want to focus more on customer service and amateurs. We want to make this technology more accessible to everyone. "Ends Olivier.

After this visit full of lessons, we obviously thank all the staff at BOS for this welcome, and more particularly Cédric Mazenq who you will find very soon for his first review of the 2020 season.

https://www.rallye-sport.fr/visite-chez-les-bos/

steve.mandzij

17th January 2020, 14:40

Argentinian media have reported that an FIA postal vote was to have taken place this week on date of Rally Argentina. Will it stay in first weekend of May as originally scheduled or be moved forward a week to last weekend of April.
Spare a thought for the events organisers and all those wanting to lock in travel and accommodation plans. Currently just 103 days until rally should start, if date is moved forward make it 96 daysHonestly it's not so bad in that regard, give or take six days it's still nearly three months to prepare. What's not so good is that the original date takes place on an extended weekend (Friday would be a national holiday). Moving it a week back would definitely reduce the amount of spectators, the economic boost to the region, and would kick a good portion of spectators' plans out the window.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

KiwiWRCfan

17th January 2020, 20:02

Arngentine website says FIA will announce on Monday January 20th that Rally Argentina dates are changed to be April 23 - 26.
The wait for official news continues
https://www.cadena3motor.com/noticia.asp?categoria=Carreras&titulo=Se-adelanta-el-Rally-de-Argentina-es-inminente-su-anuncio&id=250828

pantealex

19th January 2020, 14:11

Totally separate topic, but I wonder if Toyota/Hyundai might consider fielding extra cars on Pirelli’s at times throughout the season? Not relevant until Pirelli have the 2021 tyres ready, but it could/would provide valuable data.

if you look RG2 of MonteCarlo you will find out that Pirelli only offers tyres for WRC2/3 not available for real WRC cars ...
Michelin is only choice for WRC cars.

tr4m

20th January 2020, 06:57

Both Colin Clark and Dirtfish are hyping for some announcement today in Instagram. I think there's some collaboration between the two about to be announced. https://youtu.be/Y2RE8lQ9EQ0?t=647 Here Colin already films with Ott some Dirtfish welcome message/interview. Wonder if he's leaving the WRC team?

Edit: yup https://www.dirtfish.com/pressroom/welcome-to-dirtfish-rallys-new-home/

EstWRC

20th January 2020, 07:13

Ah that’s why he was at Tanaks test then.

Dirtfish seems to be very serious about this thing. Their site www.dirtfish.com has changed completely for today.

tr4m

20th January 2020, 07:24

Looks like it. Lots of content promised in https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/colin-clark-why-ive-come-to-dirtfish/, could become a healthy competition to Red Bull (not the TV most likely). Anyway, more content is always welcome and good for Colin for "selling" his Kitchen Table.

AnttiL

20th January 2020, 07:28

Updated calendar confirmed. Argentina moved one week earlier (23-26 April) and Chile cancellation confirmed.

https://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/january-2020/calendar-changes/page/6948--12-12-.html

HKSjbg

20th January 2020, 08:32

https://www.dirtfish.com/pressroom/welcome-to-dirtfish-rallys-new-home/

Is that it? They kinda hyped it up last week when announcing themselves as one of Tänak’s sponsors that there was something coming on the 20th that “you won’t want to miss” and making a few references to previous US rounds of the WRC.... This is just an anticlimax

AnttiL

20th January 2020, 08:35

Is that it? They kinda hyped it up last week when announcing themselves as one of Tänak’s sponsors that there was something coming on the 20th that “you won’t want to miss” and making a few references to previous US rounds of the WRC.... This is just an anticlimax

I'm not familiar with DirtFish. Did they have WRC reporting before at all?

tr4m

20th January 2020, 08:41

Is that it? They kinda hyped it up last week when announcing themselves as one of Tänak’s sponsors that there was something coming on the 20th that “you won’t want to miss” and making a few references to previous US rounds of the WRC.... This is just an anticlimax

What did you expect? DirtFist WRT? The amount and type of WRC coverage promised by them is quite significant and imo fitting to the level of "hype".

Got Mail

20th January 2020, 10:00

I understand that they will also have another 'big name' from the media joining them soon.

They are very serious about this.

tomhlord

20th January 2020, 10:10

I understand that they will also have another 'big name' from the media joining them soon.

They are very serious about this.

Would that be David Evans?

There's certainly a mass-exodus at Motorsport Network to start the year, a lot of their best F1 journalists are now moved to the start-up 'The Race' which is coming soon.

meh

20th January 2020, 11:39

turves

20th January 2020, 11:42

Would that be David Evans?

There's certainly a mass-exodus at Motorsport Network to start the year, a lot of their best F1 journalists are now moved to the start-up 'The Race' which is coming soon.

with Autosport seemingly going away, I wouldn't be surprised. That and the fact that David Evans did a piece at Autosport show on the cars BGM Sport had at their stand, which happened to include the Dirtfish collection they run, and DE was their at the same time as Colin and also Mr Rimmer who runs Dirtfish...

Dug83

20th January 2020, 11:47

Even Max McRea has Dirtfish on his car.

Fast Eddie WRC

20th January 2020, 11:58

Dirtfish is a bad name... it wont mean anything to most people and nothing which suggests rallying.

TypeR

20th January 2020, 12:32

Interesting to see that the Formula E race went ahead in Santiago (Chile) at the weekend. Bet the organisers of the WRC round are maybe thinking they were a bit previous calling the round off...

Formula and rally are a bit different things.. one is on certain track and other lays on hundreds of km of the country.. + a lot more money is in formula business also..

rallyfiend

20th January 2020, 14:15

I think Colin Clark's profile and relevance will go down being associated with just a single outlet, rather than with the official platforms.

I'm not sure I'll miss him too much. He brought some excitement at times, but he also spouted some absolute rubbish most other times.

and he clearly spent too long at stage ends, because he definitely had no ideas what was going on in the rest of the sport in terms of rumours and news...

Fast Eddie WRC

20th January 2020, 14:18

Matt Beer who freelanced for Autosport wrote this for Dirtfish about M-Sport 2020:

https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/why-m-sport-cannot-be-discounted-in-2020

Got Mail

20th January 2020, 14:58

Dirtfish is a bad name... it wont mean anything to most people and nothing which suggests rallying.

Like Red Bull.

Gregor-y

20th January 2020, 15:05

I'm not familiar with DirtFish. Did they have WRC reporting before at all?

In the US they're a training center and car builder. I never thought of them as a media group but it looks like that's a new thrust.

dimviii

20th January 2020, 15:24

training center for what?

AnttiL

20th January 2020, 15:46

training center for what?

rallying and driving.

Sulland

20th January 2020, 15:47

Driving
https://www.dirtfish.com/
https://drive.dirtfish.com/

tomhlord

20th January 2020, 16:57

with Autosport seemingly going away, I wouldn't be surprised. That and the fact that David Evans did a piece at Autosport show on the cars BGM Sport had at their stand, which happened to include the Dirtfish collection they run, and DE was their at the same time as Colin and also Mr Rimmer who runs Dirtfish...

Hmm, strange times indeed.

Sorry for going slightly off-topic and if this has previously been mentioned, but Motorsport News has also been sold off https://www.kelsey.co.uk/news/kelsey-media-acquires-motorsport-news/.

pantealex

20th January 2020, 17:25

Even Max McRea has Dirtfish on his car.

Who ?

is he some "VIP" I should know ?

That car looks like some beginners rally-car ;)

T16

20th January 2020, 17:28

Who ?

is he some "VIP" I should know ?

That car looks like some beginners rally-car ;)

It’s Alister McRae’s son.

Fast Eddie WRC

20th January 2020, 17:49

Like Red Bull.

Errrm, everyone has heard of Red Bull. And they have been sponsoring WRC cars and motorsport for years, so well linked.

Got Mail

20th January 2020, 18:06

Errrm, everyone has heard of Red Bull. And they have been sponsoring WRC cars and motorsport for years, so well linked.

So, when you heard the name Red Bull for the very first time did you automatically associate it with rallying?

If you did, you're either physic or a bit weird.

I know where my money would go.

T16

20th January 2020, 18:39

Dirtfish is a bad name... it wont mean anything to most people and nothing which suggests rallying.

Yet you've already linked one off their articles in the M-Sport thread.

Gregor-y

20th January 2020, 19:29

The official announcement looks like Dirtfish is a media group now:

https://www.dirtfish.com/pressroom/welcome-to-dirtfish-rallys-new-home/

Nine years on from the creation of the United States’ best known and most successful rally school, DirtFish is excited to announce the next chapter of the brand’s growth. DirtFish has a mission to inspire, educate, promote, and expand the sport of rallying by engaging automotive enthusiasts globally.

DirtFish.com is a rally-centric platform, focused on providing a single source for rally – and rallycross – related content. As well as reporting what’s going on around the world, we’re equally committed to growing the sport in North America.

In 2020, DirtFish will cover every round of the FIA World Rally Championship, American Rally Association Championship, FIA World Rallycross Championship, as well as key events taking place around the world.

...

DirtFish was founded in 2010 as a rally driving school. It continues to fulfill its original mission as an organisation to become the world’s best rally school, having educated more than 12,000 driving enthusiasts on the skills required to drive a rally car – and control any vehicle on a loose surface – to date.

Headquartered just outside Seattle, Washington, USA, DirtFish has more than 300 acres of property to serve as its rally playground. In addition to the DirtFish Rally School and newly launched DirtFish Media platform, the DirtFish eco-system also includes much, much more.

DirtFish Motorsports is a two-time ARX2 championship-winning team. DirtFish Performance Shop, specialises in rally vehicle builds and accessories. DirtFish Merchandise is your source for rally inspired apparel. DirtFish Events is a global team supporting rallies and events worldwide, large to small. DirtFish Giving is a philanthropic platform dedicated to supporting the Seattle community.

There have been a lot of promises over the years to cover the US rally schedule and it's only made it to television a few times. Other programs released online had pretty low production values and were made to draw in new people rather than report on the rally. It'll be interesting to see their set-up at the first rally in Michigan this week.

EstWRC

21st January 2020, 08:53

Interview with Latvala https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/how-latvala-feels-as-wrc-2020-starts-without-him/

Fast Eddie WRC

21st January 2020, 11:12

So, when you heard the name Red Bull for the very first time did you automatically associate it with rallying?

If you did, you're either physic or a bit weird.

I know where my money would go.

First time was when I saw it on the side of a rally car !!

AMSS

21st January 2020, 11:20

First time was when I saw it on the side of a rally car !!

Me to, 1994 or something Ari Vatanen Ford Escort Cosworth :)

dimviii

21st January 2020, 14:49

How Latvala feels as WRC 2020 starts without him

https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/how-latvala-feels-as-wrc-2020-starts-without-him/

Timmy

21st January 2020, 18:45

Dirtfish released short interviews with Tänak, Järveoja and Adamo on their youtube channel.

Adamo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9uDxJ3Fmvc
Tänak - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKFTvd4RZ_M
Järveoja - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ45K9AiGZE

EstWRC

21st January 2020, 18:52

they have been very very active since yesterday, new articles on their site every day so far. ( and not just of Hyundai and Tänak but covering the whole series)

i recommend to follow them

dimviii

21st January 2020, 19:02

deephouse

21st January 2020, 19:44

No driver can surprise now, except if they are signing Ogier.

Mk2 RS2000

21st January 2020, 19:50

Adamo said that maybe they have and another surprise driver this year.

Hyundai NZ are the major sponsor of Rally NZ, I wonder now...…...

AndyRAC

21st January 2020, 20:58

So, when you heard the name Red Bull for the very first time did you automatically associate it with rallying?

If you did, you're either physic or a bit weird.

I know where my money would go.

Vatanen carried Red Bull livery in 1994, Sauber-Mercedes had it in 1995, and El Matador has been sponsored by them since about 1996.....

tc10a

21st January 2020, 21:06

Vatanen carried Red Bull livery in 1994, Sauber-Mercedes had it in 1995, and El Matador has been sponsored by them since about 1996.....

Austrian Raimund Baumschlager was probably the first sponsored red bull rally driver in 1993.

https://www.ewrc.cz/images/1993/photos/barum_rallye_1993/ewr_11700647_1069268393144405_7955988013029802103_ o.jpg

HKSjbg

21st January 2020, 22:22

Vatanen carried Red Bull livery in 1994, Sauber-Mercedes had it in 1995, and El Matador has been sponsored by them since about 1996.....

*Sauber-Ford 😉

Allez Andruet

22nd January 2020, 05:20

Austrian Raimund Baumschlager was probably the first sponsored red bull rally driver in 1993.

Was it Baumschlager's sponsor or were they just sponsoring Schmidt Motorsports in general? Also Vatanen had the Red Bull livery in his SMS Escort the following year.

https://www.ewrc-results.com/image/498552/

pucky54

22nd January 2020, 06:46

Was it Baumschlager's sponsor or were they just sponsoring Schmidt Motorsports in general? Also Vatanen had the Red Bull livery in his SMS Escort the following year.

https://www.ewrc-results.com/image/498552/

Baumschlager's, as he was driving a car of ROMO Motorsport in 1993...

rallyfiend

22nd January 2020, 07:20

Baumschlager is a big mate of Mateschitz. Hence the constant Red Bull sponsorship...

Rallyper

22nd January 2020, 12:56

Should this RB stuff more belong to Bar talk? ;)

dimviii

22nd January 2020, 13:23

The curtain opens. The 2020 World Cup kicks off in its traditional Monte Carlo Rally framework. A season with many novelties that will reveal to us one of its protagonists, the Spanish Dani Sordo. The Cantabrian faces his fifteenth campaign in a top-level team, Hyundai, and is therefore the best guide to show in 10 keys the main changes of the year that now begins.

1: Ott Tänak passes to Hyundai

“It's a mystery, because it has to be adapted. We will see what he can do with this car, and now what is clear is that he has the ball on his roof because he is the champion. ”

2: Sebastien Ogier inherits the Toyota from Tänak

“I think it will go as a shot, as we saw with Tänak last year. It will be interesting to see if it was Tänak who marked the differences or it was the Toyota. ”

3: Hyundai super team

“It is clear that last year there were three pilots, Tänak, Neuville and Ogier, who dominated. With the papers on the table Hyundai should always be on the podium, but it is always difficult to have two roosters in the same chicken coop. Citroën will be missed. I am sorry for his departure, especially since they had a good car and equipment. I think they should have taken a step back to come back stronger, and not leave it. ”

4: What will Dani Sordo do?

“I am very motivated, looking forward to it. I will try to win more rallies this year, and finish on the podium in everyone who competes, which will be seven or eight. But it will not be easy now that I am in a structure with more roosters. Of course, the more, the better. ”

5: Other actors

“Evans is going to be very fast and is very regular as he has shown with Ford, a team that will have to be taken into account because his car is going well in all areas. With Lappi they will be up. And we must not forget Rovanpera, who despite being so young, is also very strong. Without realizing it, Toyota has assembled a great team too. ”

6: Kenya Rally Safari returns

“I still don't know if I will run it, but I would like to. It is good that he returns to the championship, because it is a rally with a lot of history. Just hearing his name you remember the cars with the air intake above and the defenses, the animals ... but I think it will be different because it is going to be played on a particular estate. Imagine what property the owner has that fits a World Cup rally! ”

7: The New Zealand Rally also returns

“We have always done very well in New Zealand. It is a beautiful rally, with sections in which there is a lot of gravel in the first pass, but with a fluid and fast layout. It may be less advertising because of how far it is, but Hayden Paddon, who is from there, will be delighted. ”

8: Japan's new Rally

“I think that the new Rally of Japan has more curves than the Tour of Corsica, so we can get an idea of the type of sections that we are going to see on asphalt. I would also like to run it, but I will not be able to do all the tests I want. ”

9: Without Rally of Spain

“It's a shame, a big loss for the World Cup, and not just because it's the home rally. The last year was ten, and that's how all the drivers and teams saw it. I'm going to have to go to what they do this year of the Spanish Championship! ”

10: Young Spaniards

“It's a pass that there are other Spaniards fighting in the World Cup. Hopefully they do it well and some get ahead, because we need it. Jan Solans has a lot of future, not only because he is very fast, but also because he does things very well out of the car. Hopefully Pepe López make a good Monte Carlo and continue his program in Citroën ”.
Carlos Sainz: "If I were a jury of the Princess of Asturias I would vote"

https://as.com/motor/2020/01/22/mas_motor/1579676456_810370.html

dimviii

22nd January 2020, 13:30

4397/5000
Character limit: 5000
This weekend starts the World Rally Championship in Monte Carlo, and Sebastian Ogier does it in front of his countrymen, his last campaign, presumably, as a pilot and premiering, at the same time, the colors of Toyota. It is the new challenge that he has assumed, after his random rentrée in Citroën, the hexacampeón of the world. A promising epilogue, undoubtedly, behind the wheel of the car with which Tänak has dethroned him in 2019 and with which he will give a unique career.

Question. What have you learned throughout all these years?

Reply. Luckily for me, I have lived very good times, in which I progressed more and more. I have very good memories of my first season with a WRC (2009). Probably, he was going too fast for the shoot he had at that time [laughs]. As a pilot, you first need to be able to go quickly; Then, find the limits and know how to manage them with solvency, which requires some time and experience. And also patience. When you start, you always have the feeling that you must continually attack one hundred percent. And that is a mistake, because it leads you to make many mistakes, as happened to me at the beginning ... Although it was also the way I had to learn. Perhaps, if I had been slower, taking the car intact to each assistance, I would not have expanded the program of six tests that I was given at the beginning, after winning the Junior World Cup (2008). You never know ...

I already showed that not only did I win by having a great car, I did it with a private one "

Q. How would you compare the Ogier of the past with that of the present?

A. I am a completely different person. As an athlete, I have evolved a lot during these ten years, but also as a man. My responsibilities and my priorities have changed a bit. Now, I live calmer. When you start on this, you have a lot of pressure on it to show that you deserve to be there and that you are able to reach something. Today, logically, with the successes that I have already achieved, the situation is different. That allows me to be more relaxed, and probably enjoy more also with what I do.
<HIT> Ogier </HIT>, with Toyota

P. He started running in 2006, and in 2013 he was already world champion. Is it still as killer as at the beginning?

A. The ambition is still there, I still have the same character, I am not someone who does things halfway. Or I go with everything or, if not, I do not. I do not contemplate being part of a competition if you do not give the maximum. But that hunger is already different. When you are young, you are willing to do anything to crush anyone in front of you in order to get what you want. You need to have that spirit to be a champion, and I still have it, although at a lower level.

P. Cesare Fiorio, the legendary head of Lancia, believed that fatherhood weakens a pilot. Have you felt that way?

A. Well, your perspective in life changes. You see things differently. When I'm doing my job, I give one hundred percent, all I have, but the most important thing for me is no longer the rallies. At first, I only thought about rallies, rallies, rallies ... Now, my son and my wife are a step above. When I was going to be a father in 2016 and they brought me this topic, I was sure that, with my helmet on, I would remain the same; but then moments or situations arise during a career in which, perhaps, you think about it a little more than before. That's for sure.

Q. Do you regret anything?

A. I am a person who always looks forward. I prefer to stay with the positive. There were some difficult moments. The first year at WRC I received a lot of pressure, I didn't know if I would have a future later. When I arrived at the official Citroën team in 2011, I had to endure a lot of tension with Loeb and the team people. I would have loved to know how to keep calm sometimes in front of the media, not saying what I thought, better controlling my emotions. But it's complicated with a strong character like mine, and, when you're young, even more.

P. Some time ago he confessed in an interview with MARCA that he hates losing. This year, they have taken the title for the first time. What does defeat taste like?

A. Basically, if I don't win, I don't feel the best anymore. Although the truth is that over time I have relaxed more. Since I am a father and I have a family, I find it easier to disconnect when I return home, leave behind what happened in a rally and live a vine

https://www.marca.com/motor/rallies/2020/01/22/5e27485aca4741e0618b4595.html

dimviii

22nd January 2020, 13:36

A few days ago, they cheered him again on his island as the great reference he always was. After a while in the shade, sportingly blurred with thirty-one, Yeray Lemes (the youngest ever Spanish champion, at age 22, like Sordo) has once again excited his people. The same one that, on the first weekend of the month, took him on a roundabout along the roads of Lanzarote, picking him up, almost with epic dyes, as a Canarian champion. What was budding since he was put behind the wheel when he was a kid; and even more: the last Spaniard, until the emergence of the Solans, who truly shone worldwide, where he beat the best of his generation. Among them, nothing less, the new star of the specialty: Ott Tänak. The antithesis, in a sense, of the flying conejero.

Both belong to the same vintage (that of 87). They are islanders, introverted, of few words, but tremendously admired for their peers. They became very young pilots, emulating their parents, and immediately emerged as the most promising kids in their respective countries. Now they are parents, they run their own businesses (Tänak a sports structure, Lemes a plumbing company), and they have even begun to share shield (Hyundai). Although only the Estonian has managed to fulfill the triumphant destiny that the canary began to see also almost at par.

They met in 2008, during a selection promoted by Pirelli, which eventually led to the world premiere, with a Mitsubishi Gr. N, from the Saaremaa pilot. Lemes also certified his speed, but not the level of English and physical form necessary for him to be caught too. However, Juan Petisco, former co-driver of Antonio Zanini, and historical manager of such memorable teams as the Jolly or Piedrafita Sport, wanted to bet on him.

"He had an incredible talent. He climbed into any car and, after 10 minutes, he was already going to full milk on any surface. Without a doubt, it was WRC meat, but he lacked self-discipline. Of course, by pure driving, it is what We have had the best, "says Peti, recalling the 2010 Junior World Cup, in which Yeray won rallies to another contemporary of his who, rightly, did know how to channel himself to the elite: the current runner-up of the World, Thierry Neuville.
Sainz and Volkswagen support

The following year, the Lanzaroteman ran the original version of the monarch Ford (the WRC Academy) that has conquered this Jan Solans course. But the zenith of his season, and, in general, of his entire career, came before Catalonia, when the Germans, who were already tuning the Polo R WRC, wanted to test their performance, urged by the Canarian importer and Carlos Sainz, at steering wheel of a Skoda with which he looked good.

The pace and self-confidence that Lemes showed, both on land and on asphalt, hit Volkswagen. "They hallucinated ... The chief engineer sent us his conclusions by letter, and said he had never seen a telemetry of an uncle that would squeeze the mechanics of the Fabia S2000," explains the pilot's father Emma Falcon (European champion in 2018) , car entrepreneur and supporter, even today, of the flying conejero. Even so, despite the records he credited, his language limitations, and also on a technical level, the doors of the youth team were closed to Yeray, with which, shortly after, Mikkelsen won his first official flyer at the WRC.

"They took note of how good it was, but, as it could not be understood, when it came to the assistance or communicated with the team or transmitted anything. If I had approached the issue in another way, the position would have been his, I am sure" , Petisco points out, still fervently evoking those days of October 2011 in which Lemes passed his hand over his face, a section yes, another as well, to the pomegranate of the S2000 World Cup. Including the pilot revealed that year, which was Ott Tänak.
In neutral

That demonstration was not worth much. From then on, although he continued to give some blow in the lower category of the World Cup, the projection of the canary stagnated. The train passed him, and, unlike the Estonian, who returned to the elite after having spent a whole year without running, Yeray never managed to get hooked again.

"Tänak was financed by a businessman who runs in Estonia with a WRC. He is to blame that, finally, 8 years after Catalonia where we compete together, he has been champion. Belief in a driver must be very long term. I am sure that if someone had taken Yeray from Lanzarote to train him and invest in him, today he would be earning a lot of money with him. But, unfortunately, that vision they have in other countries is not in Spain, "says Rogelio Peñate , co-pilot of Lemes since its inception.

"Sometimes I think about it, but we shouldn't regret it either. We tried, we put a lot of our part into it. It couldn't be and that's it," Lemes says with resignation. The one that has been digesting since then, in silence, until this year, finally, the Spanish Tänak has been able to regain its instinct, competing at least for the Canary Islands, and its status as a winning pilot.

https://www.marca.com/motor/rallies/2020/01/22/5e274c10ca4741fa368b462a.html

katxal

23rd January 2020, 11:21

Suzuki Spain will be present in Portugal Rally (WRC) with 2 Swift R4.

https://www.laregion.es/articulo/mas-motor/suzuki-ourense-copa-mundial-pardo-nuevo-swift-r4lly/20200123123641920500.html

erikli2

26th January 2020, 14:45

SubaruNorway

26th January 2020, 15:09

Does anyone know what this Dirtfish thing is? They recruited Collin Clark as a commentator and I saw their logo on the helmet of Tänak and on one of the WRC Fiestas. Can't figure out what their business is?

Rally school mainly in Washington and the owner collects a lot of old cars like Burn's Impreza WRC, you can drive their area on Dirt Rally 2.0.
Hosted an GRC rallycross event some years ago.
https://drive.dirtfish.com/

Eli

27th January 2020, 13:00

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/148035/hyundai-gives-breen-career-lifeline-sweden-outing

Craig's response to him being nominated for Sweden. Not anything new, just each side's comments.
Also it says their (Autosport's) sources say a decision to run the rally will take place on February 3rd.

"Irishman Craig Breen has talked of his relief at being handed a "career lifeline" in the shape of a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC drive at next month's Rally Sweden.

Breen, who joins Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak in the Korean team, is delighted to be going back to the scene of his best ever WRC finish, when he posted a second place in Torsby driving a Citroen C3 WRC in 2018.

"I could see that, from the outside it might have looked like it was all over for me," Breen told Autosport.

"But Andrea [Adamo, Hyundai boss] told me to trust him.

"He's very much looking out for me and he's very much a man of his word - if he promises something he's absolutely genuine in that regard and he's come to fore and given myself and Paul [Nagle, co-driver] a career lifeline.

"At no point have I felt out of the loop, Andrea made it clear he would look after me, he told me to trust him and I do.

"I'm just over the moon to be back in the car and I'm obviously desperate to be back in the WRC to show what I can do.

"I'll do whatever it takes to stay with this team now - I really want to move on with my career with this team. It's a special place to be."
Hyundai confirmed the decision on Monday, admitting it was based partly on a tactical approach - because he missed last week's opener in Monte Carlo, Breen will start at the back of the World Rally Car pack.

The route for Rally Sweden remains largely free of snow, but if winter does arrive, running further down the order with snow swept from the line is the fastest place to be.

Adamo explained the decision, saying: "We have taken the decision to add Craig Breen to our line-up for Rally Sweden in a bid to field the most competitive package possible for the event with the best available options for road position.

"We opted to bring Craig based on his performance in Sweden when he finished in second place, and the potential he showed in our i20 Coupe WRC last season."

Autosport understands a decision on whether Rally Sweden will run will be taken on February 3, with Hyundai expected to test in the days following.

mknight

27th January 2020, 13:10

Adamo just confirmed (again) what I wrote in the Hyundai thread.

He decided he trusts Breen so he gets picked over Mikkelsen even when in both outings on same rallies last year he was slower and crashed in one of them bringing a total of 0 manu points.

Eli

27th January 2020, 13:14

mousti

27th January 2020, 13:16

As expected Oliver Solberg announced as Skoda Motorsport supported driver in WRC3.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn ONEPLUS A6013 met Tapatalk

Fast Eddie WRC

27th January 2020, 13:34

Breen career lifeline from Adamo

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/148035/hyundai-gives-breen-career-lifeline-sweden-outing

mknight

27th January 2020, 16:55

Check out the news about Breen on WRC site:

https://www.wrc.com/en/editor-tree/season-2020/wrc/breen-sweden/

"Breen drove for Hyundai twice last season, starring in Finland where he challenged for the lead before dropping down the order to help the team. He was back in an i20 in Britain, where he was running fourth when he crashed and dropped to eighth at the finish."

- The first is quite big stretch as he was never better than 5th overall.

- The second thing is flat out wrong, he crashed from 6th position.

Is the journalism level really that low?

Allez Andruet

27th January 2020, 17:11

Is the journalism level really that low?

Maybe I'm nitpicking, but it's wrc.com which is more like a promotional website than anything else. Has very little to do with journalism as such.

atsiotras79

28th January 2020, 10:11

So Loubet to 9 rounds with I20 WRC according to his FB, starting from Portugal.

AnttiL

28th January 2020, 10:37

So Loubet to 9 rounds with I20 WRC according to his FB, starting from Portugal.

That's quite big news. Is this the Satellite team?

Also, what happened to Huttunen's "development program"?

Fast Eddie WRC

28th January 2020, 10:56

So Loubet to 9 rounds with I20 WRC according to his FB, starting from Portugal.

Wow, nice !!

HKSjbg

28th January 2020, 12:06

https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/campaign-wrc-perth-return-2021/4677490/
Interesting, if a little hard to believe

28th January 2020, 14:00

That's quite big news. Is this the Satellite team?

Also, what happened to Huttunen's "development program"?

Very weird decisions by Adamo once again to gather 5 new drivers, when they already had Mikkelsen and Breen almost without the driving program. It seems that Adamo had no trust to Huttunen and at the same time he trust Gryazin and Veiby, but how long? There was already some comments after Monte Carlo that he was not happy at all :) “Honestly speaking, the driver performance this weekend has not really been up to our expectations.”

After all I am rather sure that Hyundai is not putting very much money to this Junior program and now there are drivers who have been able to find their own money. FFSA is paying Loubet´s prgram and there is a lot of money. Only surprise is that the team is Hyundai and not M-Sport...

AnttiL

28th January 2020, 14:03

After all I am rather sure that Hyundai is not putting very much money to this Junior program and now there are drivers who have been able to find their own money. FFSA is paying Loubet´s prgram and there is a lot of money. Only surprise is that the team is Hyundai and not M-Sport...

That is true, in the past there have been good backings for Veiby and Gryazin. And Loubet, he's got also the Qatar money behind him.

Karbonyl

28th January 2020, 14:15

mknight

28th January 2020, 14:35

FFSA has its horses in all manu teams, although not all with WRCs - Loubet in Hyundai, Fourmaux in M-Sport and Rossel in Citroën. I agree about the backing, Gryazin has almost unlimited sources behind, Veiby covered by Even management... At the same time I think that's the reason why Mikkelsen is finished as his contract with Even expired by the end of 2019.
Policy of Even is that they don't pay for drives. Which is why Tidemand left them at the end of last season. So your logic is backwards. On top of that Mikkelsen has enough own money to pay himself, but says he doesn't want to. Whether EVENs policy of not paying also applies to his own son is another question.

er88

28th January 2020, 16:43

Yeah but Veiby was looking nearly finished without backing. I don't know if it has been talked about much on here before today, but as soon as i saw that Hyundai R5 team it screamed of Veiby and Gryazin bringing money, with Martin/Tanak predictably making a few bob out of the arrangement.

If it was a proper Hyundai team, they would run Breen, even maybe Mikkelsen, and sign a long term prospect like Solberg. That would show off the true speed of the R5 to potential customers, win events and the championship, and also keep an eye on the future with Oliver signed long term.

Gryazin and Veiby are good drivers, but there's no way in my eyes they've been chosen over other options available without bringing backing/paying.

dimviii

28th January 2020, 16:57

SubaruNorway

28th January 2020, 20:53

Solberg wasn't too interested in Hyundai since there would be 3 drivers in the team, now they added 3 more that will use of resources and people so Skoda was definitely the best choice i belive.
11 drivers in total now within Hyundai of different levels...

AnttiL

29th January 2020, 08:52

https://twitter.com/skunnercampbell/status/1222417485938298881

David Evans is leaving Motorsport News, Autosport as well?

rallyfiend

29th January 2020, 09:42

To DirtFIsh as well.

Quite a lot of departures from Motorsport Network recently. Believed to be that the end is nigh....

AnttiL

29th January 2020, 09:47

To DirtFIsh as well.

Guess or fact?

AnttiL

29th January 2020, 10:41

1920

David Evans liked a tweet which suggested DirtFish has something to do with his moves

T16

29th January 2020, 10:42

https://twitter.com/skunnercampbell/status/1222417485938298881

David Evans is leaving Motorsport News, Autosport as well?

I thought something was up when he didn’t seem to have anything to do with any of the Autosport articles, covering the Monte, but now he’s written a few that they’ve published since then... so no idea!

hsmed

30th January 2020, 10:10

David Evans is checking out from Autosport in his column in todays magazine.

Sulland

30th January 2020, 12:33

In January 2020 Motorsport News was acquired by Kelsey Media. Amongst the notable motorsport journalists to work for the publication are Alan Henry and David Tremayne. The newspaper is published every Wednesday. Its offices are in Richmond in Middlesex, England.

en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Motorsport_News

Motorsport News - Wikipedia

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorsport_News)
https://motorsport.radio/kelsey-publishing-buys-motorsport-news-what-does-it-mean-for-the-industry/

steve.mandzij

31st January 2020, 04:24

denkimi

31st January 2020, 09:01

Seeing Breen pop up all over the forum, along with all those other sidelined drivers waiting to return, I remembered and wondered where Stephane Lefebvre ever went? We all know he had a catastrophic 2017 (I remember him being as quick as Breen before his crash in Germany the year prior) but while nearly all the drivers from 2015/2016 are still around Lefebvre hasn't appeared anywhere in forever...
He has been doing some French rally's last year. He won the rallye du condroz the last 2 years, and participated in germany in 2018.

But thats about it. I assume he wasn't good enough for the available places, and doesn't have the money to keep playing at the top.

SubaruNorway

31st January 2020, 09:02

Some rumours that Mikkelsen is out of Hyundai now...

wyler

31st January 2020, 09:16

Italian media on Monte 2021:

The next edition of the Montecarlo rally has started to make headlines even before the 2020 one ended; a special edition to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the Monaco auto club, which for the occasion should move its center of gravity to the Principality of Monaco.

The leitmotif of the 2021 edition will be the great celebration of the ACM for its 100th birthday, a motivation that is giving a great impetus to basing a Monte Carlo rally up to its legend. Farewell to Gap this time has nothing to do with Ogier's probable withdrawal, or with the god of money. The tide of public that has also poured into the Gap region this year is a sufficient stimulus for local and municipal administrations. Wanting to bring all three / four days of competition to the center of gravity of the principality is the same organization, which for its hundred years would aspire to a Montecarlo race in every respect. The main problem to date is the service park, with the ACM that would like it in Monaco or La Turbie, but the problem of the necessary and adequate spaces is creating many problems. In the port area the spaces are quite limited and in the case of eighty ninety competitors would still be insufficient. Not to mention the traffic problems in returning to the mid and end of the day service, given that the highway between Nice and Monaco often offers queues and slowdowns at peak times. One of the solutions could be to go and occupy the large spaces surrounding the new stadium in Nice, located alongside the Saint Isidore highway exit. Logistically perfect location, but distant and with limited impact on the principality. The only thing that is not lacking is the stages because in the valleys that embrace the N 202 (Nice, Gap) not far from the capital of the French Riviera there is a myriad of historical stages: Saint Auban, Aiglun, Entevaux, La Cayolle and many other. Very classic, full of charm, but with the possibility of ice and snow reduced to the minimum terms.

http://www.areacorse.com/montecarlo-2021-avanti-tutta/?fbclid=IwAR1200xfQzmgmDRU6aWcVgU3L6fZqg2ydORqmg8m WJx22nslMZZi-00eAks

Katvala

31st January 2020, 09:21

Some rumours that Mikkelsen is out of Hyundai now...Could see that coming. No point in him staying anyway when he doesn't get any drives. Wonder what he'll do

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

SubaruNorway

31st January 2020, 09:30

Could see that coming. No point in him staying anyway when he doesn't get any drives. Wonder what he'll do

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

Now there's an article on parcferme.no where he says he will be doing events In a i20 WRC

Katvala

31st January 2020, 11:09

Now there's an article on parcferme.no where he says he will be doing events In a i20 WRCAs a pay driver or are they entering him in main team/satélite team?
I would like to see him get a drive, but it seems odd when Adamo picks Breen over him

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

dimviii

1st February 2020, 18:13

Shakedown complete… What’s next for DirtFish

After a great start with the Monte Carlo Rally, we've got plenty more to come

https://www.dirtfish.com/archive/shakedown-complete-whats-next-for-dirtfish/

Gregor-y

2nd February 2020, 17:36

racerx1979

3rd February 2020, 05:30

Their articles for the first ARA event last week was okay, though it wasn't particularly exciting. Just under 40 cars when there were over sixty ten years ago. Subaru's factory effort such as it is wasn't present, either.

The next event in March should be bigger; the organizers say they have over a hundred entries. I just got an email asking if I'd volunteer.

Any chance the international reporters will have a chance to grace the US series with a visit? Not sure how they'd manage talking to people that aren't already news items and with no instant timing. They'd need crews at the start and finish communicating on their own radio frequency as there's no phone service. I've always wanted to try the logistics of something like that; years of laying out marshals and instructing start/finish crews is fun for an on the spot challenge but a change would be fun.

As someone who was once involved with US rallying since Hyundai and Mitsu were involved way back when Henry Joy and Paul Choinere was driving with Buffum Hyundai team. That was as close as we were going to get to have a WRC event in the states with over 100 entries at nearly every event. When you see how events are run in Finland, Germany and even Turkey it would involve a huge effort to run an actual WRC event. Maybe an event in Canada or up north with the involvement of Dirt Fish. Most other states would just get crazy trying to protect endangered moths and mosquitoes. Dont forget Subaru brought over a couple WRC cars at Rim of the World. One of them was driven by Mark Lovell. The other was a GC8, but not sure who drove it. Petter Solberg also came out and drove a stage and this was when Petter was killing it in WRC. I have not seen such involvement since then. Rim of the World was extremely close to being a WRC event, but the head of the Angeles National Forest was concerned about some endangered frog in the hills of Palmdale. The event never took place and Rim of the World was canceled for good. City of Palmdale would have made a boat load of money if the WRC were to take place, but dumb US politicians failed to cease the opportunity. It's this kind of thinking why the US will not have a solid WRC event. We have plenty of capable organizers in the US so lets hope it happens somwhere up north like Seattle

AnttiL

3rd February 2020, 06:45

David Evans confirmed to DirtFish

https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/top-rally-journalist-david-evans-joins-dirtfish/

Sulland

3rd February 2020, 06:49

Some rumours that Mikkelsen is out of Hyundai now...

I think so as well. He tells ParcFerme that he hopes for Hyundai, since he knows that car best. But Hyundai seems to be well off with driver options, so lets see. Mr Adamo could suddenly switch back to Mikkelsen, if that feeling sneeks in.

AnttiL

3rd February 2020, 06:52

He tells ParcFerme that he hopes for Hyundai, since he knows that car best. But Hyundai seems to be well off with driver options, so lets see. Mr Adamo could suddenly switch back to Mikkelsen, if that feeling sneeks in.

Now there's an article on parcferme.no where he says he will be doing events In a i20 WRC

Have you read the same article?

Gregor-y

3rd February 2020, 15:28

Rim of the World was extremely close to being a WRC event, but the head of the Angeles National Forest was concerned about some endangered frog in the hills of Palmdale.

It should be possible to run a rally without belittling endangered species, let alone hurting them. I wouldn't be surprised if Dirtfish makes a push for Seattle or Oregon to at least be a candidate but as you say the organization and infrastructure is really primitive. Canada's a little better from what I've seen in Ontario but they're also using home-built timing equipment and get coverage fromm the CBC. Besides, it's a long way to go. Barcelona and Moscow are roughly the same distance apart as Chicago and Seattle.

Unless there really is a US WRC push this can all go to the Dirtfish thread, anyway.

SubaruNorway

3rd February 2020, 15:37

Have you read the same article?

Yup, i heard on a not very reliable podcast called "Lyktepodden" that he was out just before the new article came.

EstWRC

5th February 2020, 08:22

Tänak and Sordo will take part in the first round of Portugal championship

https://twitter.com/hmsgofficial/status/1224981296721559557?s=21

the sniper

5th February 2020, 08:25

Tänak and Sordo will take part in the first round of Portugal championship

https://twitter.com/hmsgofficial/status/1224981296721559557?s=21

Surely its better prep for Portugal than Mexico? That rally uses the same stages as Rally Portugal!

mknight

5th February 2020, 08:37

It's just a continuation of last years tradition of using (other) rallies to get around testing day limits.

AnttiL

5th February 2020, 09:39

Surely its better prep for Portugal than Mexico? That rally uses the same stages as Rally Portugal!

Especially one new stage in the WRC event...

KKS

5th February 2020, 14:07

Surely its better prep for Portugal than Mexico? That rally uses the same stages as Rally Portugal!
It's better to get more millage in a new car, and if it's gravel before gravel WRC rally it's better twice.

dimviii

6th February 2020, 13:41

''A year which is best forgotten."

It's the first time I've had the chance to speak to Gaurav Gill since the fateful incident at the Rally of Jodhpur in September 2019.

http://overdrive.in/news-cars-auto/features/gaurav-gill-moving-on/

dimviii

7th February 2020, 22:14

https://www.autohebdo.fr/wrc/actualites/interview-exclusive-de-meeke-pour-moi-est-il-encore-temps-ou-deja-trop-tard-208805.html

Kris Meeke's career in rallying is not lacking. On the sidelines of his victory at the Bastogne Legend Boucles with a Ford Escort MkII, the North Irishman confided at length to AUTOhebdo on his moods and his delicate situation in rallying.

The man of the five successes in World Championship (WRC) was not kept by Toyota Gazoo Racing in 2020. The fault in a game of musical chairs, triggered by the passage of Ott Tänak at Hyundai in the autumn latest.

"Events followed one another without any discussion because of the way the Tänak affair suddenly developed. It broke out during the Rally of Spain. It would be a lie to say that I was not disappointed, but to say that I was surprised ...

When you have a realistic and global vision of the WRC driver market situation, what could I do to change the situation? The snake, I swallowed it. "

Kris Meeke, over 40, knows full well that the age barrier counts more and more when it comes to signing an official contract. “Tänak has been in the WRC, on a WRC, since 2012. Neuville too. Today, they are 31 or 32 years old! I always knew it: for me, getting to rally my life was going to be a challenge.

I was always going to be on a wire. In the back of my mind, I always knew that one day my age would play against me. It happened. When I found myself driving a car identical to that of Tänak, he dominated me. It was faster and more consistent. For the past two years, it has been incredible! "

A handsome and pragmatic player, the former Citroën driver took a step back at the start of the year, unlike other comrades. "I haven't explored any leads. As soon as the Citroën withdrawal was announced, I understood that it looked bad. I spoke with Jari-Matti (Latvala).

He said he was ready to pay to drive a Toyota. It's Latvala! This year, Lappi is paid by Citroën (who owed him a year of contract. Editor's note). It's free. Paying to promote products sold by others is not part of my ego.

The shuttlecocks whose holders are paid being all taken, if I was no longer worth enough to be one of these privileged people - which I am not saying they do not deserve - what is the point of insisting? I didn’t try anything.

However, the 2009 IRC champion does not admit defeat. "" Never say never ", they say. Ogier claims that his season is the last. This could reshuffle the cards. "

dimviii

12th February 2020, 16:51

Evans needs to keep losing to Ogier

Opinion: Why holding off on a 2020 title bid might be the best move for Evans' career

https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/evans-needs-to-keep-losing-to-ogier/

mknight

12th February 2020, 17:33

D. Evans talks about Evans fighting or going to fight for the championship for the last 3 years or so... every time Evans does a good result. But so far that typically happens 1-2 times a year. So we'll see how it goes this time.

dupanton

13th February 2020, 07:14

AnttiL

13th February 2020, 08:34

Miikka Anttila said Sweden is his last rally as a co-driver so far.

flat_right

13th February 2020, 10:15

Miikka Anttila said Sweden is his last rally as a co-driver so far.

Meaning that there is no scheduled events with Pietarinen in the future or he wants to retire?

13th February 2020, 11:38

Meaning that there is no scheduled events with Pietarinen in the future or he wants to retire?

He was aiming to continue his career, so probably some problems with Pietarinen´s program or Eerik is not able to pay enough for Miikka...

AnttiL

13th February 2020, 19:24

Anttila will have some other job within the sport. He said from the start to Pietarinen that he can commit only to the winter season.

https://www.rallit.fi/jari-matin-tilanne-on-todella-vaikea-pitkaaikainen-luottomies-tiedostaa-latvalan-hankalan-tehtavan/

dimviii

13th February 2020, 19:36

Makinen trying to persuade Ogier not to retire

Toyota boss admits talking Ogier into staying on in WRC beyond 2020 is a clear aim

https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/makinen-trying-to-persuade-ogier-not-to-retire/

er88

14th February 2020, 16:05

https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/toyota-gives-latvala-extra-rally-as-apology/

Latvala to Italy.

Allez Andruet

14th February 2020, 16:07

Tomi Tuominen also tweeted that he had a chat with Mäkinen and Tommi said that Latvala will drive in Sardegna.

mknight

14th February 2020, 16:16

So they pay or he gets a very good price cause the car failed?

Allez Andruet

14th February 2020, 16:34

So they pay or he gets a very good price cause the car failed?

In Finnish interview Mäkinen talked about "putting him [JML]" in Sardegna. So... whatever that means.

AnttiL

14th February 2020, 16:46

Latvala also said he will save km-based expenses by not running the rest of the rally

EstWRC

15th February 2020, 16:44

Ciesla steps down https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc-commercial-chief-ciesla-to-step-down/

Eli

15th February 2020, 17:18

Ciesla steps down https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc-commercial-chief-ciesla-to-step-down/

Do you know where he's from? tried to find more information about him but simply couldn't.

CWJ

15th February 2020, 18:40

Bavaria / Germany

https://de.linkedin.com/in/oliver-ciesla-b3482b67/en

Eli

17th February 2020, 14:08

https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/crunch-time-in-2022-wrc-engine-rules-deadlock/ Interesting information about the next set of regulations for 2022 onwards.

T16

17th February 2020, 14:15

https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/crunch-time-in-2022-wrc-engine-rules-deadlock/ Interesting information about the next set of regulations for 2022 onwards.

Interesting for a couple of reasons: firstly, the target cost of a complete 2022 car is £500k, not double that, as had been mooted. Secondly, it claims that 2 manufacturers is enough to push a vote through and one may be M-Sport... I thought they weren't classed as a manufacturer?

doubled1978

17th February 2020, 14:17

https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/crunch-time-in-2022-wrc-engine-rules-deadlock/ Interesting information about the next set of regulations for 2022 onwards.

Interesting, the R5 based unit with close to GRE performance at a third of the cost sounds a sensible approach.
Obviously Msport and Hyundai have such engines available to work from, where as Toyota do not (so far as we know). I presume this is why they sit on the keep GRE side of the fence.

dimviii

17th February 2020, 15:43

hahahaha thats a good one!
M-Sport
@MSportLtd
·
5h
Happy Birthday Boss! You don't look a day older! #MSPORTERS

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQ9ez4kXkAILEgX?format=jpg&name=small

dimviii

17th February 2020, 16:28

Evans has Toyota, Makinen permission to fight for WRC title

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/148291/evans-has-toyota-permission-to-fight-for-wrc-title

dimviii

18th February 2020, 15:32

https://www.wrc.com/en/news/news-archive/wrc/result--prograde-photo-of-the-year/

Co-driven

19th February 2020, 20:46

I couldn't find the Rally Argentina thread, so I will post it here.

There are rumours saying that Federico Villagra will drive a fourth Toyota Yaris in Rally Argentina. Local media is reporting:

https://www.cadena3motor.com/noticia.asp?categoria=Carreras&titulo=Con-Villagra-en-un-WRC-y-Raies-en-el-auto-0&id=253237

To me it's a bit strange, as in the recent years Villagra has been driving a Ford Fiesta Maxi in the National Championship, with some support of Ford. He also competed in Dakar a few years ago with Ford and lately in trucks class.

atsiotras79

20th February 2020, 08:44

I heard something about Jose Maria Lopez about that car...

Co-driven

20th February 2020, 14:20

On one hand, would make more sense, as Pechito López is a Toyota driver.

But on the other hand I don't think he ever competed in rally.

Andre Oliveira

21st February 2020, 19:51

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERU5fXvXkAUf3YH?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERU5fXvXsAQlA5c?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERU5fX0XkAAHn66?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERU5fXqW4AA-noK?format=jpg&name=medium

dimviii

21st February 2020, 20:10

https://twitter.com/OttTanak/status/1230949600867078144

Micke_VOC

21st February 2020, 21:07

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERU5fXvXkAUf3YH?format=jpg&name=large

I guess the junior are Emil Lindholm who have sponsorship from HiQ who are Stugemo´s company.

ZequeArgentina

22nd February 2020, 09:36

4th Yaris in Argentina: Lopez was original idea, but WEC calendar clashes with Rally Srgentina, therefore the talks for another driver

pantealex

22nd February 2020, 14:18

I guess the junior are Emil Lindholm who have sponsorship from HiQ who are Stugemo´s company.

Tom Kristensson (JWRC) is also "his boy" so I´m expecting that all 3 will test FiestaWRC19.

Damian Baldi

23rd February 2020, 17:38

It looks like Federico Villagra with codriver Virginia Klus will be part of the WRC class with a fourth Toyota. Virginia is usually the codriver of his father on a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX.

Here Villagra and Klus when they shared a Maxi Rally Ford Fiesta in 2019
https://i.postimg.cc/rdTcGLyT/Villagra-Klus.jpg (https://postimg.cc/rdTcGLyT)

Villagra is very experienced starting with motocross since he was 12 years old, then he started with rally cars. He raced on some races of the world championship between 1998 and 2011 (even have had his own rally team on the world championship).

Between Villagra (9) and Marcos Ligato (4) they count 13 of the last 14 argentine rally championship. Said that, obviosly he seems old for this kind of cars but it's an one off race. There are youngest drivers but with lack of experience.

dimviii

24th February 2020, 14:25

https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/what-to-expect-from-the-2021-wrc-calendar/

Allez Andruet

25th February 2020, 08:45

https://www.rallit.fi/toyotan-wrc-tiimilta-upea-ele-jari-matti-latvalalle-iso-kiitos-tommille-ja-isolle-pomolle-japaniin/

There was some debate here after Sweden whether Latvala would get a discount from TGR for Sardegna or if he gets the Yaris for free. According to what Latvala says in this story there will only be some logistics expenses for him to pay, otherwise he gets to drive the car for free. No wonder JML praises Tommi and the Japanese bosses (who obviously had something to do with it as well) in the story.

AnttiL

28th February 2020, 07:51

According to Autosport Portugal, Subaru is not returning to WRC https://www.rallit.fi/huhuille-tyly-paatos-subaru-ei-ole-tulossa-rallin-mm-sarjaan/

dimviii

3rd March 2020, 19:32

https://twitter.com/SebastienLoeb/status/1234923260862750720

AnttiL

3rd March 2020, 19:39

https://twitter.com/SebastienLoeb/status/1234923260862750720
Google translate:

In full discussion with the team and the boss on the continuation of our 2020 program. We hope to be able to tell you good news soon.

mknight

3rd March 2020, 21:29

That's somehow weird statement.

He was signed for 6 events no? Is the good news supposed to be that he is starting some/most of them? Isn't that kind of expected?
For sure it doesn't look like he will start more unless Hyundai runs more than 3 cars. But with the 2nd team rules Loeb wouldn't be able to score manu points then, since he took points for first team in Monte, so it's a bit pointless.

AnttiL

4th March 2020, 05:25

Paraguay is hosting a candidate event of Rally Trans Itagua

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ESNYNP7WAAErCT8?format=jpg&name=900x900

https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/55460-petrobras-rally-trans-itapua-2019/

A lot of long straights and 90° junctions

https://www.rally-maps.com/Rally-Trans-Itap%C3%BAa-2019

Spectator safety has a lot to improve, here's a bunch of people spectating under a landing of a jump https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47qnNZ6xiPM

Fast Eddie WRC

4th March 2020, 10:12

AnttiL

4th March 2020, 10:41

WRC Rally Chile expected not to run in 2021

http://www.mundorally.cl/chile-comienza-a-despedirse-del-wrc/

wyler

4th March 2020, 11:36

Sounds like his continuation was in some doubt after he pulled out of doing Sweden.

the picture in the tweet has them laughing with Adamo. doesn't look so worrisome to me. maybe usual irony/joke?

Fast Eddie WRC

4th March 2020, 12:03

the picture in the tweet has them laughing with Adamo. doesn't look so worrisome to me. maybe usual irony/joke?

Maybe the news will be about which national rallies he'll do as 'testing'.

Rally Power

4th March 2020, 15:01

According to Autosport Portugal, Subaru is not returning to WRC https://www.rallit.fi/huhuille-tyly-paatos-subaru-ei-ole-tulossa-rallin-mm-sarjaan/

That’s interesting once autosport.pt used rallye-magazin.de info which supposedly was based on a polish site, although no one is able to cite the original (japanese?) article, if actually there’s one…

Fingers still crossed for Subaru return!

cali

4th March 2020, 17:56

That’s interesting once autosport.pt used rallye-magazin.de info which supposedly was based on a polish site, although no one is able to cite the original (japanese?) article, if actually there’s one…

Fingers still crossed for Subaru return!It's still very unlikely

Sent from my GM1913 using Tapatalk

Rally Power

4th March 2020, 21:50

It's still very unlikely

Sent from my GM1913 using Tapatalk

You're probably rigth, but it doesn't hurt to keep wishing it...

GigiGalliNo1

5th March 2020, 11:06

Spoke with the Japanese journalist who wrote the original article. It was based on rumors but it won't come to fruition with Subaru not moving forward with returning and their relationship with Prodrive not so good.

JAM

5th March 2020, 13:10

That’s interesting once autosport.pt used rallye-magazin.de info which supposedly was based on a polish site, although no one is able to cite the original (japanese?) article, if actually there’s one…

Fingers still crossed for Subaru return!

The original source explained here:

http://sportmotores.com/portal/sportmotores_go_noticia?id=56537

Guess who was the source...

dimviii

5th March 2020, 18:52

https://scontent-bru2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s960x960/89107102_2735350763228350_2969735276890423296_o.jp g?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=62VMq-d_804AX-APFGC&_nc_ht=scontent-bru2-1.xx&_nc_tp=7&oh=0bda19c1107ebf79f3b40914e553af91&oe=5E839FEF

EstWRC

9th March 2020, 18:21

really good red bull tv episode with Kris Meeke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOATFnveKH8&t

def worth to watch

Damian Baldi

11th March 2020, 23:10

Today the government announced the cancelation of all international events for a month, because the coronavirus. Some activities like the international motocross at Villa La Angostura was cancelled, and MotoGP was reschedulled to november.

This gap of time ends just the week before the Rally Argentina, so I don't know how all this could end.

KiwiWRCfan

12th March 2020, 04:07

Friendly reminder :- if you are entering Pickems for Mexico remember to add your User Name after your 8th drivers name. Most people are doing this correctly already :-)

er88

12th March 2020, 05:58

AnttiL

12th March 2020, 07:19

Argentina has announced it will decide tomorrow whether it cancels the event or not. It's not an option to run the event with no audience.

EstWRC

12th March 2020, 07:26

and then we have portugal and sardegna, european rounds...ok theres still a lot of time until them but still, you never know

steve.mandzij

12th March 2020, 15:20

I'm now convinced that Jari Matti is the unluckiest person alive.

Mechanical failure in Sweden, free rally is rally ITALY of all places.

Tarmop

12th March 2020, 17:44

Paddon didn`t get to start at all...

Mk2 RS2000

12th March 2020, 20:38

Paddon didn`t get to start at all...

Twice, and he brought the drives

HKSjbg

12th March 2020, 22:13

Twice, and he bought the drives

Corrected that for you 😉

EstWRC

13th March 2020, 02:22

Argentina postponed https://www.dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/rally-argentina-officially-postponed/

EstWRC

14th March 2020, 09:44

I wonder if the rally Argentina would go ahead on normal date if things don’t get worse And improve ? 34 cases at the moment there, Still over a month left until rally.

Katvala

14th March 2020, 10:18

I definitely wouldn't count on it. Regardless of the situation there, many drivers and teams would be unable to travel due to restrictions in travel, and mandatory quarantine and so on.

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

steve.mandzij

14th March 2020, 14:09

I wonder if the rally Argentina would go ahead on normal date if things don’t get worse And improve ? 34 cases at the moment there, Still over a month left until rally.Things aren't really getting better. Every major event has been cancelled and universities have postponed their start dates. The virus is spreading quite quickly here as people don't take precautions. I expect it to get quite a bit worse.

Mirek

14th March 2020, 14:26

I wonder if the rally Argentina would go ahead on normal date if things don’t get worse And improve ? 34 cases at the moment there, Still over a month left until rally.

The problem is the incubation period in which the people who are already infected aren't found by the system. The number of confirmed cases shows therefore only data from roughly two weeks old state and only a part of the real number (many non-symptomic cases are not found at all). The statistics show that in most of the countries without very hard preventive measures the spread follows similar trend. In Italy it took roughly two weeks to get from five known infected cases to a disaster.

When it was still in China people in Europe saw it just like some kind of a movie. Nobody really cared until Italy started to collapse. Don't take me wrong I'm quite certain that such outbreak could happen in nearly any other European country as well but without this eye-opener nobody would start to take it seriously in Europe. I guess it's same in South America. Without a direct experience it's very difficult to make the people take it seriously.

Damian Baldi

14th March 2020, 14:38

The event was officially cancelled. As nobody knows how the situation will be in a couple of days or months, it's difficult to say when the event could be done.

The Rally of Argentina had money losses last two years, but organizers went ahead anyway waiting for better times. With the local economy near a debt default the future looks very unpromising unless a debt deal could be done in the next month.

Then, we have the climatologic side, the river's crosses will be low enought to let the cars pass by? I don't know exactly but at spring I think they will be higher.

A lot of unknowns.