Speculations by definition are forms of theories or conjectures about a subject without firm evidence. In the world of rallying, where decisions about the sport’s future are made not in service parks but in boardrooms, whispers and hushed conversations abound at this time of the year.
The “silly season” sees drivers, co-drivers, teams, manufacturers and sponsors scrabbling to sign up the best of the best for the next season. As it stands this week, Sebastien Loeb has renewed his contract with the Citroën Total World Rally Team for another two season, his teammate Sebastien Ogier for 2012, both MINI WRC Team drivers Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke are allied to the new team for two seasons and Jari-Matti Latvala is signed with Ford until the end of 2012. That leaves Mikko Hirvonen looking to renew his contract with the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.
The 31-year-old Finn recently spoke out about his current situation. “I’m still not sure what the situation is about Ford’s commitment at the moment, but I have always had a good time with the team so I’d certainly like to stay,” said Hirvonen during last month’s WRC ADAC Rallye Deutschland.
Hirvonen’s claimed a total of 13 WRC career wins and all behind the steering wheel of Fords. He’s finished twice as runner-up in the Drivers’ standings, and came one point away from claiming the Drivers’ title in 2009. But, since the beginning of 2010, he’s only managed to record two wins. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride?
However, the most troubling aspect of it all is the rumoured hesitation from Ford on committing to the WRC for 2012 and beyond. As further evidence, Latvala had this to say: “If Ford is continuing, I will be here. The main focus is for Ford to get the contract to carry on [in the world championship].”
When looking objectively at the matter, Ford’s participation in the WRC is largely as a privateer when compared to rivals Citroën. It is no secret that Ford’s budget for WRC is between £5million and £10million per season, as well as marketing and hospitality.
Ford of Europe funds the WRC campaign for the Blue Oval and M-Sport manages the cars, development and structures within that. Ford is also heavily invested in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), but this programme is not funded by Ford of Europe.
Sponsorships play a pivotal role in the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team. M-Sport, which took over from Ford’s factory motorsport inititiaves in the 1980s when it pulled out as a full manufacturer entrant, has carried the Blue Oval through WRC and rallying ever since. Through customer sales and support, from development of the Fiesta R2, the Fiesta S2000 and most recently the Fiesta RS WRC, M-Sport has been able to run Ford’s WRC campaigns. Of course, M-Sport is a business and is run in that way: its first priority is to make money and this it does by supplying and providing and supporting privateers in national championships and in WRC programmes. Winning, unlike Citroën’s aims, is secondary.
When assessed with the multitude of engineering problems on the Fiesta RS WRC thus far in the season, from differential problems, gearbox failtures to overheating braking systems, these could be attributed to lack of funding. Ford’s engines, built by Pipo Moteur, are underpowered when compared to the Citroën DS3 WRC, and upgrading the motor will require substantial capital that I fear M-Sport does not have at this stage.
This article is in no way a slight against M-Sport or their sponsors, for with the budget constraints and all told, the Blue Oval is doing an impressive duty for all in the WRC.
It does, however, make one wonder as to whether Ford of Europe is hesitant about renewing its contract with M-Sport. Will this leave M-Sport to run their WRC campaigns without support from head office as they have in previous decades? Ford has said that should it not win a Championship title, it would seek new drivers. Is this the cause of the current hesitation?
It is not M-Sport who are seemingly indecisive, for they are pressing on with plans and development for the Fiesta rally cars for 2012. In fact, the Cumbria-based operation is forging ahead with plans with up and coming rally aces…
What of Latvala and Hirovnen and the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team? It has emerged this week that Latvala, who is managed by Timo Jouhki, has an eye on a seat in the Volkswagen Polo R WRC in 2013.
Jouhki, one of the sport’s most connected managers, is akin to Bernie Ecclestone of Formula One. He’s managed Marcus Gronholm, Juha Kankkunen, Tommi Makinen, Harri Rovanpera and Toni Gardemeister, as well as Hirovnen, so Jouhki possesses that special ability to seek out and hone fast Finns.
The Finnish master manager stated that his goal is to get one of his drivers in one of the factory Volkswagen Polo R WRC seats. In an interview with a German motorsport amagazine, it was revealed he is working on getting Latvala into the German team for 2013 and Hirvonen in 2012 for two to three years.
He believes that both his Finnish stars are still in a strong position to claim Drivers’ Championship titles, as only two drivers in the history of the sport have claimed Championships when under the age of 30: Juha Kankkunen and Colin McRae. All of Sebastien Loeb’s Championship successes have been claimed when he was 30. That is Jouhki’s argument and sales pitch: it is interesting and insightful. Volkswagen has come knocking at Loeb’s door, but his refusal to compete for the manufacturer does leave that team in a position to now look behind Loeb for a suitor.
Should Hirvonen leave the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, who will M-Sport and Ford sign to fill his seat? M-Sport has an agreement of sorts with Ott Tanak, the sensation in the S2000 World Rally Cup. This future WRC star is mentored by the brilliant Markko Martin and is supported by the sport’s most influential business minds. His future is most certainly bright, and with his current progression on the charts his rise to a full WRC drive is within grasp.
A number of talented drivers are waiting in the wings for a factory seat too. Mads Ostberg would be at the very top of my draft list, as would Ott Tanak and Jari Ketomaa. Hermann Gassner Jr and Andreas Mikkelsen, along with Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah, have ties to Skoda and to Volkswagen Motorsport I feel they won’t break.
How the Ford and M-Sport situation will play out is anyone’s guess. What it means for Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala will also only become apparent in the weeks to follow. This WRC malarkey is most certainly highly entertaining both on and off the gravel roads…
It sound like Ford needs to get fully commit as a firm in WRC. Backing up M-Sport and Abu Dhabi to win WRC title , because the way it is going WRC is growing in information age of technologies .. It’s getting more exciting as a marketing championship world wide motorsport.
WRC is the next NASCAR motorsport growth..
Ford USA HQ Corp will make a big mistake not support WRC and the people/fanclubs &followers for Ford world wide.. Not just M-Sport Abu Dhabi. SPHawaiiFanWRC:)..