The annual driver-go-round of WRC is in full swing. Who's going where, who stays where they are, and who misses out, are at the forefront of the questions being asked by drivers and fans alike. Impossible to say with any certainty as usual, but a number of connected people have offered their opinions. Very few of them agree.
In my post prior to Rally Australia, I pointed out some obvious answers to the questions posed above while confessing total ignorance of the rest of the driver carousel. However, I'd be very surprised should any of the VW drivers decamp to other teams. So lock them in, would be my guess.
Citroen has given Meeke a chance for stardom this year and he's been undeniably the 3rd best pilot so far, so Matton is unlikely to pass him up for '15. Mads has had a lacklustre year but he's capable of some extraordinary speed at times, so he's a possible to stay with the French marque for 2015. But that's likely to depend on his performance in France - a podium could cement his seat with Citroen for next season.
Sadly, Ford seems determined to remain aloof from the WRC for another season, and M-Sport will suffer the consequences of a modest budget as a result. That means Mikko will probably stay, on a reduced salary, while Evans is confirmed as apprentice for a another full season programme.
So to Hyundai.
Thierry has a multi year contract and he's going nowhere. Driver #2 is unknown but as I've said before, Sordo would be an excellent fit. I will not be surprised to see Hyundai choose the Spaniard for the second seat.
It's no secret that Hayden Paddon got his limited programme in 2014 due in large part to tireless lobbying from the Hyundai head honcho in New Zealand. Not that it's an unusual turn of events in motorsport. And to be fair, New Zealand's proximity to the Korean manufacturer's home base would have done his case no harm at all.
The thing is, Paddon rallies under the Hyundai Motorsport N banner, a situation that was never pre-announced by team boss Nandan at the beginning of Hyundai's WRC journey. So it's easy to assume that the Kiwi was never meant to be part of the team at all. In fact, his partial year for Hyundai also strongly suggests a limited budget for the New Zealander, which in turn plays back to some regional influence and as a result, lesser funding.
Despite the restrictions that he faces this year, it's an enormous improvement over the previous two years and Paddon would obviously be grateful for the opportunity afforded to him. And he's proving to be highly committed and a quick learner at this level of the sport. So much so, that this is somewhat of a conundrum for Nandan. Does he put Paddon into his regular #1 team over some more fancied drivers, or reluctantly without additional funding, let the Kiwi go. Tough choice...
From Paddon's perspective though, his performance this year has also attracted attention from other teams and the remaining rounds this year could swing the balance in his favour should he continue to punch above his weight. But even then, there are no guarantees that he will be in the frame for a seat - there are very few seats and many candidates to fill them.
So, Hyundai remains Hayden's best bet for 2015 but it's still up in the air. "No budget, no drive" is the harsh reality. Luis Moya, past Sporting Director for Subaru WRT, commented during the Power Stage in Australia that he believed that Paddon was destined for great things if given the opportunity and I agree with Señor Sainz's regular co-driver. But it's up to the WRC teams to give him the breaks he needs to prove his potential one way or the other.
I hope that they'll do so,
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