WRC 2015 : All Chat Here

[davecoupe]

Maybe he didn't like the touring cars as much as he thought he would. I didn't see much of the racing but I see he came 3rd of the three Citroen cars, a good result for his first year but maybe hard to take for someone so used to winning.

Probably because he was still driving it like a rally car

Guess which one of these 3 Citroens is driven by a former WRC champion.

 

[Sam.]

Looks like he's still got it..

 

[Sam.]

Mads signed with Citroen again

 

[DC.]

Hyundai Monte-Carlo test with Thierry Neuville.



VW have skipped testing for MC & went to Sweden instead.

 

[davecoupe]

It's looking likely that another local talent will be on the world stage next year.

Monaghan county council along with others are on board to sponsor reigning BRC champion and former Billy Coleman award winner Daniel McKenna in mounting a JWRC championship challenge.

Hopefully he does well and proves his ability on a more global stage.

 

[Cess]

Yep. Daniel McKenna in WRC3, Keith Cronin, WRC2, Alistair Fisher, WRC2.

Also Citroen announced that Stephane Lefebvre will get at least 2 outings in a WRC next year. Well deserved.

Ahem...

Still think Chardonnet and Lefebvre feature somewhere in Team Citroen/DS plans.

 

[seanbob]

No pulling the wool over your eyes Bess

Starting to shape up nicely for 2015 in the rallying world.

 

[Graham]

Cronin has natural talent hopefully the lack of seat time doesn't hinder his drive

 

[DC.]

Kubica said to be doing full season next year with Citroen.

A full season of crashing that is

 

[Reno_LV]

Better to have many drivers, who cares e.g. likes of block or kubica crashes often, they have huge following that is good for the sport! I wish block would do a few rounds as well! The more in the sport the better. Booked sweden already and doing germany and sardinia hopefully and wales!

 

[Cess]

It would be better for the sport if the fastest drivers got seats. The lack of affordable progression and one make dominance is strangulating WRC.

Bertelli has a WRC for 2015. Becuase he can afford it. His money, his choice. And also because he's been given an ultimatum by his mother - a few more years of play, then he has to stop and work for the family busines (Prada). He'll not trouble the top of the timesheets.

 

[Cess]

And more faffing around and no clarity on the new car rules: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117111

Just implement R5 as the top level category and be done.

 

[Sam.]

Kubica said to be doing full season next year with Citroen.

A full season of crashing that is

Latest rumour is Solberg + Kubica driving DS3 WRCs for PH Sport

 

[Graham]

who is PH sport?

 

[Sam.]

who is PH sport?

http://www.ph-sport.com/

They ran Bobby's DS3 RRC in 2013, logo just above the "1":

 

[Cess]

PH Sport ran Rautnenbach and the Citroen Junior team back in the day.

 

[Graham]

AHA that makes sense, i wasn't sure if it was some major sponsor or a team

 

[Cess]

Story is on this website, if your Italian is up to scratch: http://www.rally.it/lindiscrezione-...ertelli-e-sogna-un-team-con-kubica-e-solberg/

Google translate says this

Pirelli in WRC 2015 Bertelli and open negotiations with Kubica and Solberg!

The real news may also be represented by the return of Pirelli in the World Rally Championship and with more cars. Than last season, when the Milanese company has supported intermittently Henning Solberg, there seems to be a willingness to be more present and in all thirteen stages of the calendar. The rumors that arrive a few days after the close of the inscriptions of the Monte Carlo Rally even speak of a private team run by PH Sport with Robert Kubica and Petter Solberg - eager to get back in the series by his own admission - ready to handle two Citroen DS3 WRC Wheel Pirelli. The deal seems to be going right step and went for long substantially for some problems of sponsors. The French company has always protected the official cars and brands, so he preferred to delay the operation for compliance with Total and Michelin.

On the other side Kubica would dowry Lotos - Total direct opponent - and the Pirelli tires. It is a combination of already realized in 2013, when the former Formula 1 driver has won the WRC-2 with a proven car sponsored by Lotos and Michelin tires: in this case we should instead toward the cut. It's not all, because even Solberg said he was clearly willing to return to the WRC although there is the title of world champion Rallycross to defend. Norwegian is a great friend of Yves Matton, who in the transfer of the Belgian Rally du Condroz has clearly said that the team official there would be a place for his return. More likely instead a return to "private" from Swedish Rally (or only for the Rally of Sweden?), Since the RX was not amused as he thought, and the budget is still very high. In short, this team is being finalized and are expected in the very short news. Pirelli addition to this hypothetical dream team should continue to support Bertelli in WRC and young Head And Andoh (Peugeot 208 R2).

So Pirelli backing for the Kubica / Solberg team, apparently

 

[Sam.]

Sort of ties up with his AUTOSPORT interview a few days ago...

Petter Solberg could switch to World Rally Championship in 2015

Petter Solberg could make a sensational switch back to the World Rally Championship next season.

This year's World Rallycross champion has never denied he retains ambitions for a return to rallying.

While he still working to try to find partners for a potential World RX title defence, he is also looking at options to take him back to the series where he won his first world crown in 2003.

The Norwegian wouldn't be drawn on the specifics of the talks.

"Things are happening," said Solberg, "and, yes, maybe it is possible [to go back to the WRC]."

"Nothing is sorted for next season. I always said I would never say never when I was asked about going back to the WRC.

"Rallying is in my heart and always will be."

Solberg admitted next month's Monte Carlo Rally was too close to secure a WRC deal, adding: "I won't be in round one, that's pretty sure.

"But after that, who knows? I like Sweden and we did well there in the last couple of years [winning the Swedish historic event in his own Ford Escort]."

Solberg departed the WRC at the end of 2012 when Ford withdrew, after finishing on the podium on five of 13 rallies in a factory Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

Solberg returned to a World Rally Car for the recent Condroz Rally, where he set the pace before his Citroen C4 WRC retired with transmission trouble.
Petter Solberg, Jenson Button, AUTOSPORT Awards 2014

He says his time in World RX has given him and edge to take back to rallying.

"I definitely feel a more complete driver now," he said. "When I started in Condroz, the feeling was stronger than ever behind the wheel.

"What I have been doing for the last two years has made me look at everything and analyse it a little bit differently. I'm driving better than ever now."

Solberg was honoured at last weekend's AUTOSPORT Awards, receiving a Gregor Grant award in recognition of winning world championships in two disciplines.

 

[Graham]

Hope is alive again

 

[B6GUE]

Id love to see Henning Solberg return in the "Expert" orange WRC Focus, I loved that car lol

 

[DC.]

I liked it so much I bought the 1:18 model lol

 

[Cess]

Hmm. I don't expect anyone to agree - but it's all a bit backward looking. Where is the young talent? Where are the up and coming drivers? It would be nice to see a company back new blood, rather that drivers who have been round the clock.

Solberg and Kubica are big names, but it would be good to see a young upstart get a break and mix it up. I'm just not sure where this young upstart is, though.

I will also give Henning Solberg this. He has some talent at getting others to pay for his rallying. Seems to conjure up sponsorship at the drop of a hat

 

[Graham]

There isn't much young talent ready for a wr car so get the old hats in with proven results to keep the championship alive so to speak which keeps viewing figures up and in turn main money coming to the series?

 

[DC.]

Fair play to M-Sport for going with Tanak & Evans for 2015. (even though it's probably through necessity rather than choice)

Citroen did their bit in past with Loëb, Duval, Meeke & Ogier.

VW, through Škoda, have helped some young talent too.