Seven predictions for 2018

Happy new year to all, with the first post of 2018. And just like last year, the year before, the year before that and the year before that again, this post instead of five predictions in previous years its seven predictions for 2018, if this happen or not this more of a fun post on what might happen.

Number 1, McLaren to finish Fourth or higher F1 Constructors' Standings in 2018.
McLaren only managed just 30 points last season and finishing ninth in the F1 Constructors' Standings in 2017 with Honda power. With McLaren signed a new engine partnership with Renault for the next three seasons with a much powerful and much reliable power-units going into 2018 and McLaren having a world class drivers in Fernando Alonso. I am predicting that McLaren will score finish Fourth or higher F1 Constructors' Standings in 2018 meaning the team needs to score at least 170 points to do this achievement for 2018.



Number 2, Toyota to win the Manufacturers' WRC title in 2018.
This might not sound stupid as it seems. Last year Toyota won two WRC wins in the Toyota Yaris WRC with Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi winning one each; to conclude with finishing third in the Manufacturers' Standings, 177 points behind champions M-Sport with the manufacture return to the WRC after 18 years away. This year, Toyota have signed Ott Tänak from M-Sport. With Toyota's second season back in the WRC, I am predicting that Toyota to win the Manufacturers' WRC title in 2018.



Number 3, Aston Martin to announce an Engine partnership with Red Bull for 2021 F1 season.
With Red Bull signed a big sponsorship deal with British car manufacture Aston Martin as their lead sponsor repacking the team as Aston Martin Red Bull Racing going into 2018. Don't be surprise sometime in 2018 that Aston Martin to announce an Engine partnership deal with Red Bull for the start of 2021 F1 season when the new engines rules will be in place for 2021 meaning maybe more manufactures coming in or returning to Formula 1 (Cosworth, Ilmor, Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini to name a few).



Number 4, KTM to score at least one podium in MotoGP this season.
Yet again this might not sound stupid as it seems. With KTM stepping up to MotoGP last season with their new bike called RC16 with best results of mutliple ninth place finishes. KTM have retain duo Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith as their riders for 2018. And if KTM develop their bike to the likes of Ducati, Honda and Yamaha and a bit of luck too, KTM can take a podium or two in MotoGP this season.



Number 5, Sauber to score at least 40 points in the F1 Constructors' Standings in 2018.
Sauber F1 Team only managed just 5 points last season with a limited budget and using year old Ferrari Power-Units. Going into 2018, the team announced an Alfa Romeo sponsorship deal, current spec Ferrari Power-units and signing Formula 2 Champion Charles Leclerc as their lead driver. I am predicting that Sauber will score at least 40 points in the F1 Constructors' Standings and that would be enough for at least top nine of the F1 Constructors' Standings in 2018.



Number 6, BMW to win LMGTE Pro Class at this years 24 Hours of Le Mans.
I must admit is prediction is very ambitious (although I did predict that Ford to win LMGTE Pro Class back in 2016). BMW will return to Le Mans for the first time since 2011 going head-to-head with factory likes of Ford, Ferrari, Porsche, Corvette and Aston Martin. With the team having a few races under their belt before Le Mans, so I am predicting that BMW will win LMGTE Pro Class at this years 24 Hours of Le Mans.



Number 7, Maserati to announce a return to Motorsport via Formula E for the 2020/21 Formula E season.
Really? Yes really, here's the thing BMW will enter the series later in 2018 via Andretti Formula E Team, while both Mercedes and Porsche will enter at the start of the 2019/20 season. Meanwhile Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (F.C.A.) who owns Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati; to name a few wants to enter the series. Logical choice would be Ferrari, with Ferrari associated with Formula 1 that may not happen. The next logical choice would be Alfa Romeo, although themselves are trying for a return to Formula 1 with the Sauber F1 Team. That means Maserati who have won a Formula 1 world championship with Juan Manuel Fangio in the mid 1950s and GT success in the mid 2000s who be the logical choice to enter Formula E. Don't be surprise sometime in 2018 that Maserati to announce a return to Motorsport via Formula E for the 2020/21 Formula E season.



As I said at the start of the post, this is a fun post on what might happen, would any prediction might happen? maybe one or two, I have to wait till late November to find out.