For historic reasons, and to easier search back to this topic in a few years, it is better to comtinue 2022 seasons issues here.
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For historic reasons, and to easier search back to this topic in a few years, it is better to comtinue 2022 seasons issues here.
2022 prediciton from me
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
#69 Rovanperä Kalle - Halttunen Jonne
#33 Evans Elfyn - Martin Scott
#4 Lappi Esapekka - Ferm Janne/ #17 Ogier Sébastien - Ingrassia Julien
#18 Katsuta Takamoto - Barritt Daniel
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
#8 Tänak Ott - Järveoja Martin
#11 Neuville Thierry - Wydaeghe Martijn
#6 Dani Sordo/ #2 Solberg Oliver - Johnston Aaron
M-Sport Ford WRT
#42 Breen Craig - Nagle Paul
#16 Fourmaux Adrien - Jamoul Renaud
#44 Greensmith Gus - Patterson Chris
Gryazin? Loeb? Mikkelsen?
As I said before I doubt Adamo will go for that combination (Sordo+Solberg) in 3rd car. Not after both are having issues last few rallies. Some more starts for Solberg in 4th car for sure, but not as 3rd scoring car.
At MSport pretty much any crazy combination is possible.
Ideal sporting-wise would be 2 of Lappi/Mikkelsen/Breen and Fourmaux. But that's very likely not going to happen.
There will be one, and possibly two, different co-drivers in there.
For Toyota, the game seems over (Evans + Rovanpera + Lappi/Ogier + Katsuta), the only question remaining is how many rallies Ogier will do next year. I would have preferred Lappi in a full-time Puma seat but the relations with M-Sport seem complicated since last year. And for Toyota, Lappi is a no-brainer (best driver without contract with convincing Rally2 stints this year, he knows the team and he was in a WRC car in 2020).
For M-Sport, they need absolutely a consistent driver and, even if I’m not a fan, Breen is the best pick remaining today (still running in WRC cars, some podiums and his years with Citroen give an idea of his minimum level on a full-year basis and he may have improved) if we exclude Lappi. If Breen do not sign with M-Sport, it will be a very difficult season for them. For M-Sport, I do not think it makes sense to pay a second consistent experienced driver in addition to Breen, they should more focus on the quality of the car.
The issue is how much Hyundai is keen to retain Breen and what would Breen do if Hyundai offers him a full-time seat?
Personnally, if I was Adamo, I wouldn’t offer him a full-time job because I think that with the available drivers remaining, you can have better results with a shared 3rd car strategy than with a full-time Breen so I would let Breen go to M-Sport.
In spite of his age and his last results, Sordo is a no-brainer for me considering his profile (tarmac + some gravel events) whereas almost all the other drivers available are better on fast gravel and snow (Suninen, Mikkelsen, Ostberg, Solberg). Then, to do the rest of the season, the most logical would be Solberg (potential but still not consistent) or Mikkelsen (knows the team but 2 years out of a WRC car).
My personal wish considering the elements almost set:
Toyota:
Evans - Rovanpera - Ogier (3 rallies)/Lappi
4th car for Katsuta
Hyundai
Neuville - Tänak - Sordo/Mikkelsen
4th car for Solberg
M-Sport
Breen - Fourmaux
3rd car shared between Loeb (a couple of rallies) + 1 or 2 young paying drivers (Loubet, Greensmith, Gryazin, Suninen, Bulacia).
https://www.is.fi/ralli/art-2000008199890.html
Suninen likely out from M-Sport, says Jouhki
Peter Solberg to replace Adamo at Hyundai! Thats my weird bet for 2022
and Markko Märtin will take over M-sport