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

[df76]

Not long until the Monte already, and Citroen busy testing...

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

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

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

[Allyc85]

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

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

[Dovile]

first 2019 livery teaser - team hyundai




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


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

[DanielSan]

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

[GravelBen]

I see Hyundai have given Michel Nandan the flick too.

[Allyc85]

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

[GravelBen]

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

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

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 9th January 01:15

[zeb]

Do we know what breen is doing yet?

[GravelBen]

zeb said:

Do we know what breen is doing yet?

I haven't heard anything. Tough deal this year with Breen, Ostberg and Paddon all talented drivers on the sidelines while others (with arguably much worse performance in 2018) still have seats.

[DelicaL400]

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

[Alex Langheck]

It always surprises me that people can't understand the lack of sponsors; that seems to be the main reaction to the livery on social media.

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

[DelicaL400]

Alex Langheck said:

It always surprises me that people can't understand the lack of sponsors; that seems to be the main reaction to the livery on social media.

I understand it perfectly, I'm just disappointed that's how things are.

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

[ArnageWRC]

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

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

[chunder27]

Red Bull were only there because of Ogier, and also remember they own the media rights, so they go where he goes as they did with Loeb

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

[Allyc85]

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

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr


Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

Autosport Show 2019 by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr

[DanielSan]

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/141031/gronholm...

Gronholm doing Sweden in a Yaris.

[DelicaL400]

Times must be hard at M-Sport, looks like they couldn't afford an iron for Elfyn and Teemu's shirts!

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

[Alex Langheck]

DelicaL400 said:

Times must be hard at M-Sport, looks like they couldn't afford an iron for Elfyn and Teemu's shirts!

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

Yeah, nothing - this ain't F1.....

[tyrrell]

You could even imagine them running out of funds halfway through the season.

[Jerry Can]

DanielSan said:

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/141031/gronholm...

Gronholm doing Sweden in a Yaris.

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