|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
5 Nov 2013, 23:32 (Ref:3327746) | #1 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 432
|
2014 World Rally Championship
With Neuville's signing, the potential line-up might be the following:
VW: - Ogier (no.1 driver) <<-- CONFIRMED - Latvala <<-- CONFIRMED VW II: - Mikkelsen <<-- CONFIRMED Citroen: - Meeke (no.1 driver) - Kubica Abu Dhabi: - Al Qassimi (five/six rallies) <<-- CONFIRMED M-Sport: - Hirvonen (no.1 driver) - Novikov Qatar: - Al-Attiyah/Evans (shared car) Hyundai: - Neuville (no.1 driver) <<-- CONFIRMED - Hanninen/Atkinson/Bouffier (shared car) |
||
|
6 Nov 2013, 02:27 (Ref:3327799) | #2 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,793
|
Would Citroen really take Meeke as #1 with the couple of prangs he's had when under express instruction just to keep it on the road? I could see him as #2 if Kubica doesn't end up there, at best.
No Ostberg? He hasn't quite lived up to expectations, but he'd not be a bad choice for anyone. Wish Atkinson and Evans were up for more than occasional rides, but not enough good seats even with Hyundai coming in. |
||
|
6 Nov 2013, 04:05 (Ref:3327811) | #3 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 432
|
If Ostberg's results were the same as last year's, when he was constantly is top five, and sometimes on the podium, then he might be a smart choice. On a contrary, not only he made no progress this year, but his results are significantly worse - he has just recently outscored Loeb, in as many as thrice the number of starts.
Although, such a reasoning would imply that next year's drive in Citroen or M-Sport will be given based on a talent, not on a thickness of a wallet, which just might not be true. |
||
|
9 Dec 2013, 20:44 (Ref:3342076) | #4 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 682
|
Rather depressing that I'm the first to post this, just a sign of how far the WRC has fell, but Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg will be Citroen's drivers next year: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111801
Great to see a Brit in a top drive for a whole season. I was already looking forward to next season but this is brilliant news! Here's hoping this means we'll get a decent TV deal in the UK next year, but I won't hold my breath... Hopefully M Sport will have Kubica alongside Hirvonen, just too bad it's not a works team anymore. |
||
__________________
Taki Inoue, the only driver in F1 history who's been driven into by a course car, twice! |
10 Dec 2013, 09:13 (Ref:3342285) | #5 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,707
|
Quote:
Great news. I'm a huge Meeke fan and it was a shame that BMW/Prodrive situation unfolded the way it did when he got the MINI drive. I hope this works out for him and he can get some decent results in 2014. Shame to see Ostberg leave M-Sport as I had hoped he could put the Ford on the podium a bit more. As kober has already pointed out though, his results in 2013 have been pretty dire. Does anyone else doubt that Kubica can deliver in a full WRCar? Can't help but think that seat would be better allocated elsewhere. |
|||
|
10 Dec 2013, 09:48 (Ref:3342290) | #6 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,279
|
Good news for Meeke but it's a bit of a surprise to be honest - I guess we'll find out next year if he's step up from Hirvonen. I guess Citroen have seen enough of Hirvonen to know he's not going to be the next Loeb so are going to try someone else. I feel a bit sorry for Hirvonen, it's never quite come together for him for whatever reason - he's very much the 'nearly' man of the WRC. Ostberg is an interesting choice as well, he's been improving and has shown some real speed at times (but needs to work on his consistency). Kubica is an interesting one - I think for a team looking to win titles he's not a good choice (not enough experience) but for a team looking for a publicity boost he'd be ideal. For M-Sport Hirvonen and Kubica would be a good pairing - Hirvonen is reliable and Kubica has the public following and high profile.
|
||
|
10 Dec 2013, 12:59 (Ref:3342349) | #7 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,394
|
|||
__________________
Nitropteron - Fly fast or get crushed! by NaBUrean Prodooktionz naburu38.itch.io |
10 Dec 2013, 13:01 (Ref:3342350) | #8 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,707
|
If Ford go with Kubica I assume that leaves Novikov out in the cold then?
I just hope that Meeke can deliver a decent performance after waiting to see him in a factory seat for so long. I have my doubts as to whether Ogier/VW can be de-throned but, at the very least, I would like to see a good battle behind him. |
||
|
10 Dec 2013, 13:03 (Ref:3342351) | #9 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 432
|
That updates the line-ups to the following:
VW: - Ogier <<-- CONFIRMED - Latvala <<-- CONFIRMED VW II: - Mikkelsen <<-- CONFIRMED Citroen: - Meeke <<-- CONFIRMED - Ostberg <<-- CONFIRMED Abu Dhabi: - Al Qassimi (four rallies) <<-- CONFIRMED M-Sport: - Hirvonen ? - Kubica ? Qatar: - Al-Attiyah/Evans (shared car) <<-- CONFIRMED Hyundai: - Neuville <<-- CONFIRMED - Hanninen/Atkinson/Sordo (shared car) <<-- CONFIRMED |
||
|
10 Dec 2013, 13:06 (Ref:3342354) | #10 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 432
|
|||
|
10 Dec 2013, 13:16 (Ref:3342356) | #11 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,279
|
That Hyundai looks better than I thought it was going to. Good to see the drives being confirmed now, just need M-Sport to get their lineup confirmed.
|
||
|
10 Dec 2013, 15:32 (Ref:3342398) | #12 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,885
|
Quote:
Meeke has been pushed on us for years as the next great driver and this is his big chance. |
||
__________________
Wolverines! |
10 Dec 2013, 16:12 (Ref:3342407) | #13 | |||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,279
|
Quote:
To some extent this is make or break for Meeke - he's been on the fringes for a while with many people touting him as the next big thing if only he got the chance. Well, now he's got the chance - he has to have a big year. I have to admit though I'm not 100% convinced by Meeke thus far is he a potential champion? I'm not sure. |
|||
|
10 Dec 2013, 17:44 (Ref:3342429) | #14 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 8,298
|
Only one winner
Only ever going to be lets face it |
||
|
10 Dec 2013, 18:27 (Ref:3342438) | #15 | |
Rookie
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 2
|
In my opinion both Citroen and Ford are gonna be weaker next year in compare to 2013...Hyundai got very strong line-up,Neuville is young and very fast,Sordo is maybe the fastest on asphalt...its gonna be a nice battle...
|
|
|
10 Dec 2013, 18:35 (Ref:3342440) | #16 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,885
|
Quote:
I haven't seen every rally Meeke has been in, but have seen some of his IRC and WRC runs. He strikes me as a go hard or go home type in the vein of his previous mentor, Colin McRae. This is his big year and big break and if he goofs, he's going back to the fringes. I like Ostberg. Used to watch him a few years ago when he ran in the Norwegian rally championship(which is a pretty cool championship IMO) and he's pretty good. Maybe never a world rally champion but a good driver and nice guy. |
||
__________________
Wolverines! |
11 Dec 2013, 10:15 (Ref:3342644) | #17 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,279
|
Well yes. But we're used to that in the WRC now (how many years has that been true for?)
That's a good point - it's widely accepted the VW will just steamroller everyone and be far and away the best. But behind them it really does look like it's up for grabs - neither Citroen or Ford look to be as strong and Hyundai are coming in with a good lineup. If Citroen have one eye on the WTCC then will they be putting as much into the WRC? It seems unlikely - I doubt they will be doing as much development as previously. M-Sport don't have the manufacturer money behind them so they could well slip back. Behind Ogier it could be an interesting year |
||
|
11 Dec 2013, 11:48 (Ref:3342669) | #18 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,272
|
|||
|
11 Dec 2013, 15:56 (Ref:3342740) | #19 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 432
|
|||
|
11 Dec 2013, 17:24 (Ref:3342771) | #20 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 930
|
Glad to see some drivers getting a chance next year. Kubica will be good PR for the sport, like others not sure he's a future WDC. Hananien (not sure I spelt that right) is long over due his chance. Nice to see Atkinson back and glad to see Meeke getting a full drive. I hope Meeke can step up to the mark, he has the speed just needs to keep it on the road.
As for the title, at the moment I can't really see anybody beating Seb Mk2 next year. As others have said Latvala has the speed just not the consistency. Having said that Hyundai are a bit of unknown, if they can be on the pace as quickly as VW then they might just mix things up a bit. Neuville thus far looks like a star of the future and the other three are very quick on their day and chosen surface in Sordo's case. While there might be a clear favourite to win the title, it looks like the battle behind should be a little bit more entertaining. If some of the drivers perform as we hope then they might just give VW a bit more to think about. |
||
|
11 Dec 2013, 21:15 (Ref:3342870) | #21 | ||
Racer
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 391
|
Great news for Kris Meeke. I'm not sure many people realise that he's only ever done about 10 WRC events in a WRCar, all over a 8 year period. He's massively in experienced compared to his rivals, which makes his performance in Finland, after 18 months out, remarkable. To set top5 times, in Finland, is a sign of his talent. I think after a less than stellar 2013, Mads Ostberg is fortunate to get a drive, but does have talent - maybe a change from M-Sport is what he needs.
As for Hyundai, well, they are here to win; forget the 2000-2003 programme. I thought the presentation dragged on slightly; but, showed a company full of enthusiasm to grow bigger, using their Motorsport programme as part of this. Signing Neuville was an example of this I am slightly worried about some of their driver choices: they signed Hanninen, Bouffier & Atkinson to do testing, etc Hyundai Australia have heavily backed Atkinson, as I can't see what he's done recently to warrant the drive. They then signed Sordo, and appear to have dropped Bouffier.....hmm If I was him, I'd be slightly miffed. |
||
|
11 Dec 2013, 23:13 (Ref:3342930) | #22 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 685
|
Will be interesting if Hyundai will be entering a third car later in the 2014 season or in 2015. They also got have a junior driver with Kevin Abbring. He tested the car, did shakedowns, and helped developing the car. But Abbring having won a prize with winning the a French Asphalt Cup, he will be racing a 208 R5 in a couple of events next season. So maybe we will see him racing in 2015 for Hyundai.
About the line-up for next year's second car. Hänninen has been test driver, knows the car well, has been in a factory team before with Skoda and has some WRC experience. Probably a very good solid driver next to Neuville. Sordo is always quick on asphalt. Only he needs the confidence that he can do it. The reason why they choose Sordo over Bouffier is I think because of experience. Sordo has experience with developing a car on asphalt, is quick on asphalt, etc. He did that with Citroën aswell with MINI. Those first events he did with the MINI on asphalt were very promosing. Shame that Prodrive/MINI didn't continue the story. Atkinson is ofcourse Marketing reasons. But don't forget he outscored Solberg at Subaru in 2008, especially in the beginning of 2008 with the S12b. So he can be quite quick, but needs seat-time and confidence to be quick again. Besides Australia I believe I also read somewhere he would do the Mexico round aswell. So it probably looks like this: 1 - Monte-Carlo - Sordo 2 - Sweden - Hänninen 3 - Mexico - Atkinson 4 - Portugal - Hänninen 5 - Argentina - Hänninen 6 - Sardinia - Hänninen 7 - Poland - Hänninen 8 - Finland - Hänninen 9 - Germany - Sordo 10 - Australia - Atkinson 11 - France - Sordo 12 - Spain - Sordo 13 - GB - Hänninen Hänninen - 7x Sordo - 4x Atkinson - 2x At the moment I just hope the car is quick enough for a top 6 and is able to score podiums at the end of the year. I already am glad to see Sordo back. |
||
|
12 Dec 2013, 21:10 (Ref:3343332) | #23 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 30
|
Quote:
I've only just started watching the WRC again, and I don't know everyone right now... I don't know who to support just yet, but I definitely CANNOT wait for the 2014. |
||
|
13 Dec 2013, 10:30 (Ref:3343597) | #24 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,279
|
Kubica has now been confirmed at M-Sport
|
||
|
13 Dec 2013, 11:10 (Ref:3343614) | #25 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,177
|
||
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
World Rallycross Championship 2014 | WJM | Rallying & Rallycross | 67 | 19 Oct 2013 21:10 |
2012 World Rally Championship | NaBUru38 | Rallying & Rallycross | 314 | 11 Oct 2012 13:42 |
World Rally Championship's future | bil588 | Rallying & Rallycross | 9 | 3 Jul 2008 20:51 |
World Rally Championship 3 | MichaelH | Virtual Racers | 20 | 7 Feb 2004 19:51 |