After spending yesterday wrestling with the political applications of my faith and today talking with Joshua about reformed theology, I’m going to rest my mind a bit…

Since there are still some unanswered questions about what the WRC driver landscape will look like next season, I’ll throw out my predictions of what the line-ups will look like come Monte Carlo in January.

Subaru
Petter Solberg
Mikko Hirvonen

No brainer.

Citroen
Sebastien Loeb
Francois Duval

I question Duval’s move to a team that has only one year left in the WRC. It wasn’t like the Focus was lacking pace, especially later in the season. My guess is that Duval just didn’t get on well with M-Sport management.

Peugeot
Marcus Gronholm
Markko Martin

Again, why is Martin leaving Ford? And for another team that only has a year left? And to drive with Gronholm, who has never gotten along well with a teammate that can win rallies?

Ford
Janne Tuhino
Harri Rovanpera

Ford decided to stick around the WRC and what do they get? Both their drivers bolt for other teams. Tuhino has shown promise. Rovanpera would be a good at Ford — he’s skilled enough to win rallies, and with the performance of the Focus he could (finally) be a factor in the championship.

Skoda
Armin Schwarz
Colin McRae/Kris Meeks

A win-win for all involved. McRae has been testing the Fabia, and if he can work out a deal with team management to split the second works drive with his protege Meeks, this could work well for all involved. McRae is experienced enough to push the development of the Fabia, and Meeks provides an investment for the future.

Mitsubishi
Gilles Panizzi
Kristian Sohlberg

The new Lancer is finally ready for the championship, and Panizzi could return to his pre-2003 form and win a rally or two. Sohlberg was the better of the team’s youths last season, and holds promise for the future.

Posted on 18 November 2004