WRC » Wilson Jr ready for 'big challenge'

Know I het it! That is why FIA is making the 2011 WRC cars 1.6 Turbo engined, so that Mathew may be able to handle them...Mr Wilson Senior OBE had a hand in it!?
So it will be Fiesta Turbos for Stobbart/Mathew...

Pops, Please don't compare Matt Wilson with Richard Burns. There is NO comparison.

Richard was a legend, who was always there or thereabouts, and up there with a chance of winning WRC rounds, thus making it exciting for us British WRC fans to follow.

Richard gave Colin a run for his money on more than one occasion on our round of the WRC, and as well as winning the championship in 2001, came close in other years.

Matt is typically four and a half minutes or more off the leaders on most rallies, and in his 4th year (of the famous 5 year plan.....), is yet to even get on the podium !

pops, Richard Burns won Rally New Zealand in his champioship year.

@ Nick

Al Qassimi has no delusions of grandeur, I'm pretty sure he's aware he won't win a title/or an event.

Wilson (Malcolm and Matthew) think that they can win the title......delusional.

And that's why I don't like Matt.

Right, the WRC is difficult and believe me those cars are not easy to drive and they do take a lot of time to get used to so Matt has had a good approach building speed and confidence on the rallies. But... I agree with a lot of you here if matt is to challenge why not push now?

I don't believe he is at maximum attack I think he is preserving the car for finishes and that does lead to results for sure, Burns won the Championship without winning a rally. But he was a lot more competitive than Mark is currently so Matt does need to start proving he has the speed as well as consistancy because consistant seventh place wont win any one anything...

Oh and come on Meeke

Who cares about 5 year plans or how well he is doing. Everyone always complains about him but secretly everyone is jealous (I am). His dad owns a WRC team and gave him a car to drive in the championship, he is effectively a privateer. Matt is no different from Khalid Al Qassimi who basically bought himself a seat in the WRC. They are both extremely privileged and are taking advantage of opportunities available to them. Matt has the chance of a lifetime because Malcolm Wilson is his dad, and Khalid is super rich and decided he wants to go rallying.
They may both be average drivers at the moment but why should either of them give up ? Would you if you were in either of their places ?

With the 5th year of the 5 year plan being next year, who is Malcolm going to fire Hirvonen or Latvala?
I know Latvala has had an up and down year (so far) but why fire him?

Runnah, your right. God forbid ! We've already had to endure 4 years of the famous five year plan. I think I'd give up rallying and start following curling if the 5 year plan started all over again, with Scott driving and Matt in navigator's seat calling the notes !

TCS-

That would be a great plan except for the fact that it would ruin the 5 year plan. They'd have to start all over again.

All kidding aside it is getting all a bit much for me. In a time where the sport is suffering from not only a lack of financial and manufacturer support but also a lack of competition.

It'd not fair to the fans, the sport and financially struggling drivers to let this so-called "next wrc champ" do another stage in the WRC.

Dafydd, agree with you regarding Kris Meeke. Fantastic result at Ypres, looking good for the IRC championship.

Disagree with you regarding Matt. I don't think they are holding him back, or that he's pacing himself, I think he's just far too slow - plain & simple !

Judging by Matt and Malcolm's comments in this story about Scott's experience in Poland, maybe they should swap seats, and let Scott drive ? Given the poor level of competition, I bet Scott could get that car higher than Matt's customary 7th place, and nearer than his typical four and a half minutes or more off the winner.