2024 Rallying

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Rally Japan certainly provided some action!

Neuville had car problems on Friday and it looked like Tanak might be able to snatch the drivers title whilst Hyundai seemed odds on to take the constructors title. On the final day however Tanak binned his car - gifting the drivers title to Neuville and allowing Toyota to snatch the constructors title with a 1-2 finish. So finally after being second 5 times Neuville wins a title - with the part seasons for both Ogier and Rovanpera it was his (and Evans') best shot at winning, now that he's finally done it can he repeat? Has Evans missed his chance? Will he get a better chance than this year?

I'd imagine there will be an investigation by the FIA as well after a stage was cancelled due to an unauthorised vehicle driving the wrong way down the stage

Glad to see Neuville finally do it. I don't dislike the fella, but I've never really taken to him. That said he was the most consistent of all the drivers this year and deserved it. All the other fulltime drivers, just made too many mistakes.

Can he repeat it? Not convinced but time will tell. As you say, I do wonder if that is Evans best chance of winning it gone.

On a totally different note, went to the Winter Stages Rally at Croft yesterday. Despite the milder temperatures, the wind was biting at times. Great variety of cars and some drivers really pushing hard. Seeing the first of the last two stages in the dark was a treat. Had to concede defeat to the cold before the last stage. All in all thoroughly enjoyed it though.

[NaBUru38]

In any case, it seems clear that Ogier and Rovanperä are much better than the full-time drivers.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

In any case, it seems clear that Ogier and Rovanperä are much better than the full-time drivers.

Absolutely - that's why there was a feeling of "now or never" for Neuville and Evans. Ogier is only doing a part season again next year so he's not a contender - but Rovanpera surely has to be a strong favourite for the title? You'd think Tanak and Neuville will take points off each other in the Hyundais so that might make it easier for Rovanpera as well (I don't think Evans will take points away from Rovanpera very often).

[flatlandsman]

I think it depends if Kalle wants to other things, I get the feeling he has enjoyed his time off and might only do a few more years in WRC before doing other things, the reasons he gave for giving up were strong.

[ArnageWRC]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

In any case, it seems clear that Ogier and Rovanperä are much better than the full-time drivers.

Yet both of them had a few offs this season....and might have cost their team the Manufacturers title - fortunately, Tanak threw it off on the final morning.

I wasn't impressed with their team work this season; didn't support Evans at all, and were only interested in their own chances. A stronger team manager would have stepped in......

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

Yet both of them had a few offs this season....and might have cost their team the Manufacturers title - fortunately, Tanak threw it off on the final morning.

They both made mistakes - I wonder if it's the part time nature of the drives that contributes to that? A lack of seat time can impact performance even for those at the very top of the game.

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

I wasn't impressed with their team work this season; didn't support Evans at all, and were only interested in their own chances. A stronger team manager would have stepped in......

It certainly looked like Toyota prioritised the constructors title - Evans was left to battle it out on his own for the drivers crown and his part time teammates took points off him on occasion. Without trawling back through the results I'm not sure how easy it would have been to switch positions to give Evans a better chance?

[flatlandsman]

Toyota corporate have a very clear way of running their teams, probably why their F1 effort was such a disaster, they run their WEC team with a very hard stern regime, it works, but is now being shown up a little with more competition.

[ArnageWRC]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

Toyota corporate have a very clear way of running their teams, probably why their F1 effort was such a disaster, they run their WEC team with a very hard stern regime, it works, but is now being shown up a little with more competition.

Yeah, I think when there is limited competition, they can get away with poor management. And I think this was the case in this year's WRC......they only had Hyundai to beat - and nearly failed; Tanak's off let them off the hook. Just because they won the title doesn't mean Latvala did a good job - I don't think he did. Latvala will share duties next year - and Juha will join him; Finns sticking together, what a surprise. I'm a Juha fan, but I don't know what management skills he has.

Evans is a great team player, we've seen that countless times - but he was never supported, even as their main full time driver. That's just poor. I got the feeling Latvala didn't want to upset the two part timers......

[kurski]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

Just because they won the title doesn't mean Latvala did a good job - I don't think he did. Latvala will share duties next year - and Juha will join him; Finns sticking together, what a surprise. I'm a Juha fan, but I don't know what management skills he has.

It's not really leadership, they are team the "front mens/bow faces", i mean Juha and JML, the real leaders of the team in handling things are Kaj Lindström and Tom Fowler. JML/Juha doesn't have as big a role as Mäkinen did early.

[flatlandsman]

Do we know if Elfyn brings money to the team, is he paying? So that means they do not really support him as they do with others?