Listen to the latest Urheilu podcast below or from Areena via this link. Micke Suopuro and Henri Haapamäki dive deep into the future and final season setups of the World Rally Championship, in addition to team location speculation.
You know rally autumn has arrived when the team place game is declared to have started. This autumn, the game of chairs is more interesting than usual, because of the top drivers, only Hyundai’s With Thierry Neuville known to be under contract for the upcoming season.
First, of course, we await the decision of the world champions. When Kalle Rovanperä has decided on his continuation, is the next movable piece Ott Tänak, Sebastien Ogier without forgetting.
The layouts of the garage game should be reviewed driver by driver.
Toyota: Kalle Rovanperä (contract expiring), Elfyn Evans (contract expiring), Sebastien Ogier (contract expiring), Takamoto Katsuta (contract expiring)
Hyundai: Thierry Neuville (2024), Ott Tänak (contract expiring), Esapekka Lappi (contract expiring), Dani Sordo (contract expiring), Teemu Suninen (individual main class races in 2024)
M Sport: Ott Tänak (contract expiring), Pierre-Louis Loubet (contract expiring)
Kalle Rovanperä: Stays at Toyota
Kalle Rovanperä seems to be continuing with Toyota. The team has to offer the Finn the best car, with which he is driving to the second consecutive world championship. In addition, Rovanperä has also been able to compete in side sports, such as drifting, with Toyota.
In the case of Rovanperä, this point cannot be overemphasized.
– Sometimes the side sports are even forbidden for drivers. In light of that, Toyota has offered Rovanpera a great package, Urheilu’s rally expert says Henri Haapamäki reflects on the newly published Urheilu podcast.
Why then could Rovanperä switch to Hyundai?
– I can only think of one reason. Monetary. That is, if Hyundai hit the table with an absolutely outrageous pot. However, I don’t know how significant a role money will ultimately play for Rovanpera at this point, Haapamäki underlines.
Ott Tänak: Changing teams
Ott Tänak changed team for the current season from Hyundai to M-Sport. The Estonian matured badly for Hyundai’s technical problems and performance, as well as the lack of leadership.
Everything looked good in the British team even in Sweden, when Tänak was able to take the win. Since then, the 2019 world champion has again suffered from technical problems, which he particularly cursed at Hyundai as well.
There are few stable places. Tänak may be interested in returning to Hyundai, as the team is now led by a credible team manager, i.e. a marinated in F1 world Cyril Abiteboul.
There are even fewer team places for world champions. That fact would favor Hyundai’s interest.
– If Hyundai or Toyota offers a place, it’s worth buttoning your shirt, taking off your cap and quietly sneaking into the cabin to drive the low times, Haapamäki adds.
Sebastien Ogier: Half a season again
Of course, it is possible that Tänak would defect to Toyota, for example. In that case, Hyundai would get Sebastien Ogier. Three world champions in the same team would be the worst possible situation for the entire World Series, and that’s why it’s unlikely to end there.
What is certain is that Ogier will drive again for half the season. The multiple world champion is no longer interested in circling the ball all year round after the rally.
Ogier’s own comments speak in favor of continuing at Toyota.
– It’s no secret that I’m currently satisfied with my program. We are discussing continuing in the same way, commented Ogier For Motorsport.com.
Esapekka Lappi: “All the cards in your hands”
From the driver’s output, you can sometimes draw big conclusions about the future. This is mainly because the drivers rarely open their verbal chests about the contract situation.
When they open again, the words are heavy. Esapekka Lappi comments on his own situation in Finnish In an interview with the Rallit.fi website.
– Here, we are considering how next year will be structured. The cards are in your hands, so to speak. It’s not about what is offered to me, but what I want, Lappi said.
Lapland’s contract with Hyundai is for one year, but it is rumored to include option years. However, Lappi’s words also indicate the possibility of a return to Toyota.
It is also not completely certain that Lappi himself would like to drive in the World Series for a whole season. The possibility of this opened up for this season, but the Pieksämäki native was quite satisfied with his situation as Toyota’s gig driver in the previous season.
The time spent with the family has weighed a lot on Lapland’s balance sheet for a long time.
Teemu Suninen: Single races with Hyundai
Teemu Suninen manager Timo Jouhki already told Urheilu in the summer that the driver’s contract with Hyundai has already talked about next season.
The Finn, who toured the WRC2 series in Hyundai’s second team, has also won races with top class equipment in Estonia and Finland. The season continues with the rally1 car at least in Chile and the Central European rally.
It is likely that Suninen will drive selected rally1 competitions in Hyundai’s three-car next year as well – at least if the level of results is proportional to the increase.
– There is a long line of friends waiting for his place behind the back. Good special test times are needed. Then it would show that the place is deserved. I feel that demonstrating the necessary speed is completely possible for Suninen, Henri Haapamäki estimates.
Elfyn Evans: Continue with Toyota
Second in the World Championship Elfyn Evans is one of the possible pieces that could theoretically move to another team next season. The Welshman started his career with M-Sport, but moved to Toyota for the 2020 season.
Now he is about to grab his third World Cup silver in Toyota’s ranks. Evans going elsewhere would be a surprise. After Kalle Rovanperä’s rise to superstardom, Evans has become a reliable second driver for Toyota, who is doing his part to secure yet another brand championship for Toyota.
If Evans and Ogier continue with the old model at Toyota, it means that Takamoto Katsuta will continue in the team in his familiar role as a touring triple driver.
M-Sport: Young paid drivers in
Thus, the biggest change in the game for team positions would take place at M-Sport, which would lose its number one star Tänak. Of course, it is possible that Tänak will continue in the team, but M-Sport is already prepared to take a step back.
This would mean that the team would have young drivers who would somehow pay for their driving position with the help of their supporters. Adrien Fourmaux drove in the main class for several seasons with the money of the French Motor Sports Federation. Currently competing in the stable Pierre-Louis Loubet has also acquired supporters for its background. Driven in the WRC2 series this year Gus Greensmith was previously a long-term “customer” of M-Sport.
About young drivers Oliver Solberg has said that he is aiming to return to the rally1 level. With certainty, this would be realized precisely as a paid driver, and at that time M-Sport would be the most natural option for a Swedish-Norwegian.