So Hirvonen is off to join Citroen and be Loeb's lap dog, and Ogier has the sweet seat at VW. But what happens with Jari-Matti now? Ford is contemplating their future with the WRC and M-Sport. Not sure if they're intent is to pull out completely, reduce funding and support to M-Sport, or to separate from M-Sport and field their own proper factory team as per Citroen and VW.

Stateside, who else comes to contend with Higgins and L'Estage for the Open Class in Rally America? Duplessis will be in a proper factory backed Fiesta R2 for the 2WD class, and I hope he kicks the crap out of that line-cutter ACP and that wretched Scion. (Yes, I'm still bitter about 100AW in 2010 and ACP's cutting in front of me in the concession line.)

As an aside, anyone from TF going to make it to Salem, MO for the 100 Acre Wood rally in Feb?