Driver Market Reports
Citroen
Four time world champion Sebastian Ogier returns to Citroen after being with Volkswagen Motorsport since 2012. Citroen will be hoping to keep Ogier happy after a tense relationship with former management at Ogier's first stint with the team. Stephane Lefebvre will remain with Citroen for 2017, but gets a works team drive this season. Lefebvre didn't have the easiest of seasons in 2016, with his best result being a 5th at Monaco. Julien Maurin joins Citroen from Skoda's WRC2 program. He put in a couple of good performances in 2016, but had quite a few troubles. Time will tell if he can cope with the pressures of a top drive.
Ford
Mikko Hirvonen announced a shock return to the sport with Ford. The four time WRC runner up returns looking to pick up a championship that has eluded him for so long. Yoann Bonato makes the move from Citroen in WRC-2 to running with the factory Ford team. Yoann picked up a podium at his home rally in France last season in WRC-2, and looks to make a smooth transition into the WRC championship. Eyvind Brynildsen has been promoted from M-Sport's WRC-2 team in a controversial move, especially considering Eyvind's lack of WRC-2 running time and the fact he hasn't driven a top tier WRC car since 2012. He can definitely put in competitive performances, so it'll be interesting to see how he copes.
Skoda
Kris Meeke was forced out of the Citroen fold to make way for Ogier and some younger talent, despite having won two rallies in 2016. He will spearhead Skoda's lineup for this season. Meeke will be joined by two WRC-2 frontrunners. Firstly was Pontus Tidemand, who had a breakthrough season last year, finishing with one win and three second places. Quentin Gilbert had one podium in WRC-2 last season, and after doing some running for Citroen as well in the top tier WRC car, we will be looking to impress.
Toyota
After Hyundai left the sport due to financial problems, Dani Sordo was left with no drive. Luckily for him, he was selected to spearhead Toyota's return to the sport. Latvian Ralfs Sirmacis received the call up from the ERC, after winning three rounds in 2016 and finishing the championship 3rd. Pierre Louis Loubet moves up from WRC-2. He proved himself to be a solid point scorer, but will he be able to compete in such a competitive field.
Subaru
After a major fallout between Elfyn Evans and Ford Management, despite a competitive WRC-2 campaign, Evans moves to the returning Subaru team in order to try and rebuild his career. He is joined by another Ford refugee, Mads Ostberg. Mads had a positive start in 2016, picking up a couple of podiums, before dropping off the pace a bit.
Mitsubishi
Volkswagen refugee Jari Matti Latvala moves to the returning Mitsubishi to try and start afresh, after losing the championship to Ogier in the past four seasons, and after a hugely disappointing 2016 where he finished the championship 6th. After running a limited campaign in 2016, largely due to anger of the running order rules, Martin Prokop finally gets a shot at a works drive. He is driving a Mitsubishi for the first time since 2009. Mitsubishi also sign the Slovakian Rally Champion Pavel Valousek, which is a riskier move.
Peugeot
Another man who fell out of favour with Citroen was Craig Breen, despite being highly impressive in 2016. He moves to Peugeot, and will be looking to prove Citroen wrong. Eric Camili leaves Ford after a difficult 2016 campaign. He has a point to prove after being well off the pace of Ostberg and Tanak. Finally, Peugeot made a surprise move for Osian Pryce. It is unknown if Pryce will be able to compete at the top level this early in his career, but only time will tell for the 2016 Drive DMACK champion
Mini
Mini went a very interesting route in terms of driver signings. They made a move for ERC-3 champion Chris Ingram, who is quite highly rated in the ERC paddock. There are questions marks over of this move is too soon for him. He is joined by Yonatan Perez, who had a good run in the round of the ERC he competed in.
Renault
Renault went for a star studded lineup for 2017. They signed Hayden Paddon, a man who had a great 2016, he won a rally and two other podiums. They also signed 2016 runner up Andreas Mikklesen, who had a great 2016 finishing the championship 3rd after winning two rounds, and started to look like a guy who could win championships.
Opel
Opel are another team that have a star studded lineup for 2017. They signed 2016 runner up Thierry Neuville, who won in Italy and had an impressive six other podium finishes. They also signed Ott Tanak, who made progress in 2016 finishing 2nd twice, and looked like a guy who could win rallies.
Seat
Seat brought in three drivers, two considered future stars of the sport. They signed 2016 WRC-2 champion Esapekka Lappi, who won four rounds and two other podiums in 2016. He will be joined by 2016 WRC-2 runner up Teemu Suninen, who won three rallies and took two other podiums in 2016. They also signed Nicolas Fuchs, who won a WRC-2 rally in 2016 while also taking two other podiums on his way to 6th in the championship
Honda
Honda signed one full time driver, and that is Nasser Al Attiyah, a man who has lots of experience. The Olympic bronze medalist and two time WRC-2 champion is making a leap into a full time seat for 2017.
Suzuki
Suzuki signed Jan Kopecky, who finished 4th in WRC-2 in 2016, taking a win and three second place finishes. They also signed David Botka, who had some tough times in 2016 but finished 7th in the ERC. They also made a risky signing in Josh Moffett, with the Irishman having similar experience to the likes of Perez in recent seasons of rally.
FULL TIME DRIVERS
Available Drivers
Everyone below Perez is available (see list on page 1 and post two)
Don't send me anything yet on part timers
