This is the Statt Mann Baby. It's time to Scat a little bit.

I’m having some trouble seeing beyond the meritocracy that’s disappeared from the world of motor racing. I’m having a hard time believing that what you do has no bearing on how far you get in a world that’s supposed to be built on competition.

The French automaker Peugeot has a rally program in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the final event in the championship is coming up next weekend in Cyprus.

Two Peugeot drivers have a chance to win the championship. Bryan Bouffier is fifth in points after winning Monte Carlo at the beginning of the year.  But another Peugeot supported driver Thierry Neuville is third in points, six ahead of Bouffier, even though he’s won nothing.

Bouffier has won the French and Polish national titles more than once. Neuville hasn’t won a national championship and his experience on gravel doesn’t match Bouffier’s. But Neuville is ten years younger than Bouffier.

With those resumes, Peugeot decided to send Neuville to Cyprus and leave Bouffier home even though both had a chance at the title.

This is becoming the norm in motor racing in one form or another.  Makes you wonder, though.  If winning no longer has any merit in a competition based industry, then why bother?

Peace.