WRC 2011 Season

[prisonermonkeys]

There has been no word. Ford are apparently deliberating whether or not they will have a works team in the WRC in 2012 at all. But if they do field a works team, they have to run two cars. Only customer teams have the luxury of running just one.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

There has been no word. Ford are apparently deliberating whether or not they will have a works team in the WRC in 2012 at all. But if they do field a works team, they have to run two cars. Only customer teams have the luxury of running just one.

Thats what I meant by nobody, Ford should've commited or left months ago, they've already missed out on some of the best drivers, its 2005 all over again, they left it so late they had to run Gardemeister (great driver) and Kresta.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

So Ogier will do every 2012 rally in a Fabia (and Polo if its ready by the end of the year), It doesn't say if he will go for the SWRC championship as well though: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96431

This is a great idea from VW, it means that they'll not be new to the sport in 2012 but just have a new car to learn about.

 

[Mike Rotch]

If there is no Ford next year, that's going to be a bit of a lame duck championship with one works team. Mini is also only in in 2013 right?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Don't forget - Ford did set a record at the Wales Rally GB by having eight cars in the top ten. Even if Loeb runs away with it, one tiny mistake from him will give Ford plenty of results, and I don't think that's something they can easily give up on.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

If there is no Ford next year, that's going to be a bit of a lame duck championship with one works team. Mini is also only in in 2013 right?

No Mini are doing the full season next year but I doubt they'll have Citroen worried on anything that isn't asphalt.

Don't forget - Ford did set a record at the Wales Rally GB by having eight cars in the top ten. Even if Loeb runs away with it, one tiny mistake from him will give Ford plenty of results, and I don't think that's something they can easily give up on.

Thats just because they've got so many cars built, Citroen only have a few DS3's (and they all crashed on Rally GB) and Mini have a few Countrymans, but only Araujo and Oliveira entered GB with them. WRC needs Citroen to be more supporting of factory teams next year and sell more cars.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The problem is that Citroen can't see beyond Loeb. They offer virtually no support for customer teams - certainly nowhere near as much as Ford offers their customers. But it's working; so long as they back Loeb, they could only enter one DS3 and still win titles.

 

[MagpieRacer]

http://www.wrc.com/news/tanak-gets-another-fiesta-chance/?fid=15833

Tanak joining Latvala for a French tarmac rally event. Possible "test" for Tanak then?

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

It looks like Petter Solberg is going for the 2nd Ford seat since he's said he no longer wants to be a privateer: http://www.wrc.com/news/could-bettega-run-be-solbergs-last-in-a-citroen/?fid=15869

he told Motorsport News in the UK that he no longer wants to run a privateer team in the WRC and that a move to Ford was his only option for a drive in 2012.

Another rumour I heard about Petter was that he and brother Henning could join up in a new 2 car team for next season however it all depends on sponsorship.

Francois Delecour is planning a return to WRC for Rally Monte Carlo in a Fiesta WRC sponsored by Visit Romania http://www.wrc.com/news/delecour-plans-monte-fiesta-run/?fid=15866

And finally some old news I've only just found; Nasser Al-Attiyah former PWRC champion will do all rallies of 2012 in a works prepared Citroen DS3 under a different team name (likely to be Barwa Rally Team) the new team will be similar to Al-Qassimi's Team Abu Dhabi in that it will be essentially a 3rd works car eligible of scoring points for a different team. The first rally (Monte Carlo) is likely to be skipped now since he will be driving the Dakar in a Hummer. Unless the car is driven by one of PSA's other drivers, Thierry Neuville and Bryan Bouffier are 2 I could see driving if this is the case. http://www.wrc.com/news/al-attiyah-reveals-big-wrc-ambitions/?fid=15279

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

So it looks like Petter will rejoin Ford http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96731

 

[prisonermonkeys]

No, he's just testing a Fiesta. He wants to drive for the Ford factory team, but this is not proof that he will.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

No, he's just testing a Fiesta. He wants to drive for the Ford factory team, but this is not proof that he will.

I was reading this part:

Providing the test goes to plan, the details of Solberg's return to the Ford team will be discussed over the weekend.

As well as Solbergs comments earlier this week about him joining a works team or quitting, it makes me think he knew something we didn't.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Evidently he doesn't, since the article makes it quite clear that he has not started talking with them about a drive for next year.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Nasser al-Attiyah will enter a third works-backed Citroen DS3:

http://www.sport360.com/article/exc...ah-race-citroen-2012-world-rally-championship

 

[MagpieRacer]

No, he's just testing a Fiesta. He wants to drive for the Ford factory team, but this is not proof that he will.

Its pretty solid looking at that to be honest. I mean, yeah, just read it.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

Evidently he doesn't, since the article makes it quite clear that he has not started talking with them about a drive for next year.

WRC.com has a quote from Solberg saying "I’m talking with [Ford principal] Malcolm Wilson and we’re working hard.” whilst he was talking about him trying for a factory drive for next year.

Nasser al-Attiyah will enter a third works-backed Citroen DS3:

http://www.sport360.com/article/exc...ah-race-citroen-2012-world-rally-championship

I beat you to that

And finally some old news I've only just found; Nasser Al-Attiyah former PWRC champion will do all rallies of 2012 in a works prepared Citroen DS3 under a different team name (likely to be Barwa Rally Team) the new team will be similar to Al-Qassimi's Team Abu Dhabi in that it will be essentially a 3rd works car eligible of scoring points for a different team. The first rally (Monte Carlo) is likely to be skipped now since he will be driving the Dakar in a Hummer. Unless the car is driven by one of PSA's other drivers, Thierry Neuville and Bryan Bouffier are 2 I could see driving if this is the case. http://www.wrc.com/news/al-attiyah-reveals-big-wrc-ambitions/?fid=15279

 

[MagpieRacer]

No, he's just testing a Fiesta. He wants to drive for the Ford factory team, but this is not proof that he will.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96752

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Yes, I saw that. But testing a Fiesta at the time was still not proof of anything - especially since Solberg said they would not discuss anything until after the test.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I've found the route for January's Rallye Monte Carlo. Looks like the Col de Turini isn't included, which I find disappointing.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Its stages 14 and 16 "Moulinet - La Bollene"

http://col-de-turini.pagesperso-orange.fr/en/turini/map.html

So glad Monte Carlo is back, such a staple of the rally calendar.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Right, I forogt about that. Monte Carlo's stage names always list the towns the stage start and finish in, but the Col de Turini isn't a town, so it's never in the stage name.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

Yes, I saw that. But testing a Fiesta at the time was still not proof of anything - especially since Solberg said they would not discuss anything until after the test.

Thats why I said "Looks like" Ford didn't really have any other options for next year other than Solberg, this will be a 1 season only thing I reckon until Tanak is ready to become number 2.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Ford didn't really have any other options for next year other than Solberg

Mads Ostberg.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

Mads Ostberg.

He's been the revelation of the season but he doesn't have the experience yet to be in a manufacture team. Hopefully he can find the funding for a full 2012 season then lets see what happens, if he continues to improve he'll be a great signing for any of the 4 manufacture teams.