• Welcome to Motorsport Forums, the ultimate hub for motorsport fans since 2000! Click here to register. It is completely free, takes just a few seconds, and you can sign in instantly with your Google account.

Silly Season 2019

S

seb_sh

Senior member
I was reading the news and rumors thread and this silly season is getting quite silly. I haven't closely followed who is contracted where but from what i know the only confirmed contracts are Mikkelsen with Hyundai and Tanak with Toyota. So that means it's quite open.

Apart from that, from what remember reading Neuville is negotiating with Hyundai which makes sense. Other than that the permutations are so many I won't even bother listing them all but it seems every member from here has a different idea of who will go where and why. I thought we might have some fun and try to predict the contracts. Anyway, i'll just put my predictions here:

Hyundai: Neuville, Mikkelsen, Sordo/Suninen
Toyota: Tanak, Lappi, Latvala
Ford: Paddon, Evans
Citroen: Ogier, Breen, Ostberg/Loeb

What are your predictions for the 2019 lineups?
 
Toyota is rumoured for 1 change, Hyundai has enough of average drivers, so a learner would not make much sense. Paddon has a close relationship with Hyundai NZ and has other reasons why his only option should be Hyundai.

And season 2019 rumours thread actually exists and covers it all pretty much.
 
Hyundai: Neuville, Paddon, Mikkelsen
M-Sport: Meeke, Evans, Suninen
Toyota: Tanak, Lappi, Latvala
Citroen: Ogier, Sordo, Breen/Ostberg
 
Hyundai: Neuville - Mikkelsen - Paddon
Toyota: Tanak - Lappi - Latvala
Ford: Sordo - Evans - Suninen
Citroën: Breen - Ostberg - Loeb/Al Qasimmi rotation

Ogier to DTM or something
 
Hyundai: Neuville , Mikkelsen, Paddon, Sordo
Toyota: Tänak, Lappi, Meeke
Ford: Ogier, Evans, Suninen
Citroën: Latvala, Breen, Ostberg
 
M-Sport: Latvala, Mikkelsen, Suninen
Hyundai: Ogier, Neuville, Paddon
Citroen: Sordo, Breen, Ostberg
Toyota: Tanak, Lappi, Meeke
 
pantealex said:
No changes for 2019.
Click to expand...

One would guess it's beginning to look more and more likely. Quite lame though, if it goes that way. That would make it three seasons with the new cars with Tänak switching from M-Sport to TGR being the only major move (ok, maybe free-agent Mikkelsen joining Hyundai could be considered as one as well).
 
He does, but Paddon and Sordo were also under contract for 2018 and they shared a car. Mikkelsen could be sharing a car next year...
 
Last edited:
racerx1979 said:
He does, but Paddon and Sordo were also under contract for 2018 and they shared a car. Mikkelsen could be sharing a car next year...
Click to expand...

True it can happen this year already. They said it to publicity at the start of the season that no one is safe from sharing a seat, even Neuville (but that won't happen because he is in great fight for title).
 
Heart:
Hyundai: Neuville, Mikkelsen, Sordo
Toyota: Tänak, Paddon, Latvala
Ford: Ogier, Suninen, Meeke, Evans
Citroën: Lappi, Breen, Ostberg


Head:
Hyundai: Neuville , Mikkelsen, Sordo
Toyota: Tänak, Latvala, Ogier
Ford: Evans, Suninen, Paddon
Citroën: Lappi, Breen, Ostberg, Loeb
 
Head:

Huyndai: Neuville, Paddon, Sordo
Toyota: Tanak, Lappi, Latvala
Citroen: Ogier, Breen, Ostberg
Ford: Suninen, Tidemand, (Meeke)
 
M-Sport Ford: Ogier, Evans, Suninen
Hyundai: Neuville, Mikkelsen, Sordo/Paddon
Toyota: Tanak, Latvala, Lappi
Citroen: Breen, Ostberg, Al Qassimi

Yup, same as 2017 could well happen if everyone snubs Citroen.
 
I wouldn't make it a single prediction, more like scenarios.

1. Ogier stays at M-Sport

Pretty much everyone will stay where they are. Citroen will be left without a number one driver and Abu Dhabi will take their money off. Unless they manage to get someone like Lappi or Sordo.

2. Ogier goes to Citroen

In this case M-Sport would now be left without a number one driver. As Colin Clark suggests, maybe Kris Meeke could be an option for them, but can the old burnt bridges be rebuilt? Would M-Sport try to get Lappi or Sordo as well?

3. Ogier goes to Toyota

This would be quite bad for the sport, but we must accept that it could be realistic. In this case Lappi would go to Citroen, but M-Sport would again be short of a winning driver, would they again try Meeke?

Citroen and Toyota might want Neuville as well, but I have a feeling he's going nowhere. We could also speculate about Hyundai's future. If Sordo goes, Paddon could just be put in the car for a full season, but they would need a tarmac specialist. Maybe Kopecky?

I would like to see Tidemand in a WRC car. At the same time, futures of Evans, Østberg and Breen might be uncertain with the pace and results they've shown this season, so there could be a chance for him? His manager has said it's not sensible to rent a WRC car for pace showing, but I think he should just try out with the possibility of showing pace like Suninen in 2017.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top