Incorrect. This is a completely different Evo X, with all sorts of new goodies including an R4 spec suspension. Libra Racing hasn't released many details on it, but with Antoine breaking the gearbox at the last CRC event, and everyone else in CRC and RA getting sequentials, I am willing to bet he has one now as well.
This is also incorrect. The Rally xD team's car has a bolt on Greddy street car Turbo kit, as the entire team consists of west coast dudebreaux tuners. The team, with the exception of ACP himself, is basically making it up as they go along. He may get a Top 3 finish, but hes not going to touch the R2 Fiestas, of which there are several this season.
DVW is the only person with maybe a chance you listed. Again, the R2 Fiestas are damn near unstoppable. Duplessis would have to crash for him not to win. DVW has a power advantage, as his car is basically a turbocharged R2, but he isn't as good of a driver as Duplessis. At New England last year, Duplessis was in FIFTH OVERALL. The next 2WD car was ACP, and there was a massive, massive gap between the two cars. He was even spanking most of the Open class cars.
Not much to say here, it is what it is, with the exception of Crazy Leo Urlichich committing to a full RA season in addition to a full CRC season.
It's Verena Mei, and shes not a new driver. The model/former drifter/former time attack driver made the jump to RA more than a year and a half ago. Shes been working at Team O'Neil as an instructor as well as learning and developing her cars. Last year she had an MS1 Spec Fiesta. This year she will have an R2. Last season, she navigated for Wyatt Knox at Sno Drift, and ran NEFR in her MS1. She wasn't doing too bad until she rolled it.
Somewhat agree here. They always say that Sno Drift is about finishing, and with RA and CRC regulations banning studded tires, any rally we have that has snow has to be a "slow and steady" race.