Hi, friends!
It is nothing official but some people should have to react quickly after Hyundai decided to sign another contract with their top two drivers - Tanak and Neuville, so that no one can snatch some of the top Toyota's guns.
We already know that seven times WRC champion Seb Ogier won't be doing a full season after 2021 but he is open for a few rallies in the new hybrid era - with Toyota, of course.
That leaves Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanpera and Takamoto Katsuta kinda free drivers for 2022. I say kinda because Kalle Rovanpera has 2+1 contract and Toyota can activate that +1 year so that leaves two guys available on the market.
Katsuta is still in the development process as a driver and he needs at least a few seasons to become a top dog so without Toyota's support, he is nowhere. They just have to invest in him if they want Japanese driver in the World Rally Championship. I guess that will happen.
This leaves Elfyn Evans as a top driver available on the driver's market for 2022 and he would probably want to stay with Toyota.
Unless Malcolm Wilson (or Richard Millener because he is now a team principal at M-Sport Ford) offers a three year contract with lots of zeros in it. And it won't happen because they don't have the money because of BREXIT and coronavirus pandemic economic crises.
That means that all three drivers will stay at Toyota because they offer a big salary and relaxed atmosphere.
Why did I write relaxed atmosphere?
Because where is no money, there is no relaxed atmosphere (most of the time).
So who will drive for M-Sport Ford?
I guess that one of the drivers will pay for the seat plus one of their talents (Suninen/Fourmaux) plus one top driver without a job (Mikkelsen/Ostberg/Lappi).
Let we enjoy the sport more then contracts schemes...
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This is c/p of my old post