s e k a r b Hand s n i p r i a H & of rallying ld r o w e h t o t in t h your insig
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NEW ERA IN BRC KICKS OF WITH RALLYE SUNSEEKER
ISSUE 171 • 24 FEB 2011
Service Park
Neuville for more IRC, P7 Rally and road safety, P7 More teams for WRC, P9
Irish rally news, P4
Wilson adds more WRC, P4
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Start Ramp
Parc Ferme
BRC and Irish rally news
r BRC, B RC RC, R P10 USA rallying snippets snipp
RA, R A P11 MINI on Facebook, P7
WRC and IRC news updates new Poulter for an award? P9
DOCUMENTATION 04
Editorial Information
Editor Evan Rothman
Photojournalist Eva Kovkova
Contributors RallyBuzz, Motorpics, Newspress.
All content copyrighted property of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, 200711. This publication is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the editor. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of information from sources and given to readers, the editor cannot accept responsibility for any inconvenience or damage that may arise therefrom.
News
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Six events for Irish Championship Wilson to drive six more WRC events Update on Kubica recovery Fan Foto Framed
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Features
06 07 07 07 08 09 09
Hanson revs up for 100 Acre Wood Rally Rally drivers and road safety Neuville signs for more IRC action MINI Motorsport on Facebook Cosworth plays role in Fiesta success More teams for WRC Poulter nominated for sports award
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Events BRC Rallye Sunseeker preview RA Rally in the 100 Acre Wood preview Event results from around the world
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Welcome to issue 171 of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, your FREE weekly insight into the world of rallying. As always, I hope you enjoy this week’s exciting edition packed with news on Craig Breen’s growing CV, news from the USA, the UK and of course the rallying mecca that is Europe. To top it all, as crews ready for the respective South African Off-Road and Rally Championships, we bring you a big read once more this week. Yours in Rallying, Evan Rothman
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Bringing you the latest international rally news, extensive event previews and reviews, indepth feature and technical articles, awardwinning photography and insightful columnists, HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS is distributed to your e-mail inbox each week for FREE in the form of a high-quality 2MB .PDF file. To receive this FREE eMagazine (in .PDF format), please send an email to evanrothman@gmail.com.
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START RAMP Team & Event News
SIX EVENTS FOR IRISH CHAMP’SHIP Words: Staff Writer The 2011 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship will now revert to six counting rounds following the withdrawal of the Jim Clark Rally from this year’s line-up. The decision, which has been ratified by the Tarmac Rally Organisers’ Association (TROA), sees the Scottish based event extend its current sabbatical from the series. Colin Pagan, Event Director of the Jim Clark Rally, said: “Our failure to secure funding, coupled with the current economic position, is the primary reason for the decision. We have had a very good association with the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship over a number of years and we are very keen to maintain these links, but present financial pressures mitigate against this.” “However, we will be offering driver incentives to qualifying registered competitors who want to compete on the event, although it will not be a counting round of the Championship.” Championship Manager, Don Wilmont, confirmed that Championship honours would be decided on competitors’ best five scores from the six rounds.
Videos
2011 Irish Tarmac Championship Calendar: 1) Safety Direct Galway International Rally: 5-6 February 2) Circuit of Ireland: 23-24 April 3) Rally of the Lakes: 30 April - 1 May 4) Donegal International Rally: 17-19 June 5) Ulster International Rally: 19-20 August 6) Cork ‘20’ International Rally: 1-2 October H&H
WILSON SIGNS FOR SIX MORE WRC EVENTS Words: Staff Writer Matthew Wilson’s participation in the World Rally Championship has been confirmed up until Acropolis Rally of Greece in June. The 24year-old revealed to WRC.com in January that he only had funds in place to contest the seasonopening Rally Sweden earlier this month. However, his programme has now been expanded and he will definitely take in the rounds in Mexico, Portugal, Jordan, Italy and Argentina.
Fan Foto Framed
Wilson, who finished ninth on Rally Sweden after dropping four minutes on Day One with a steering fault, now hopes that by taking part on rallies he will be able to secure the finances needed to complete the balance of the season for the M-Sport Stobart World Rally Team. “Everything’s in place up until Greece, which is brilliant really,” said the British driver. “Hopefully by being out on the rallies it will make the job of getting things in place for the rest of the year that bit easier.” Wilson has been an everpresent in the WRC since 2006 when he embarked on a 16-event programme as a teenager. He has scored points in every season since and counts his best result as fourth overall on Rally Japan in 2007. As well as driving in the WRC, Wilson has played a key role in developing several rally cars, including the Ford Fiesta S2000 and the new-for2011 Fiesta RS WRC. His father Malcolm, who heads up the M-Sport organisation and runs the factory Ford team in the world championship, said confirmation of his son’s programme would help his progress this season. Wilson, who is co-driven by fellow Briton Scott Martin, will be back on WRC duty on the second round of the series, Rally Guanajuato Mexico, next week. H&H
THIS WEEK’S BEST VIDEO << Tim Williams represented HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS at the opening round of the 2011 Rally America season. This talented photographer also filmed the cars in action, and here is his series of video clips: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2uq At the top of each page, a tabbed section contains video clicks we recommend viewing. In other tabbed sections, we have linked articles posted on our website that will add more perspective and insight into the article it accompanies. Together with the videos, HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS aims to offer readers a fully-interactive reading experience. Send evanrothman@gmail.com your favourite rally-related videos to to be featured in this section. Or, send us a twitter to @Evan_Rothman or a message on Facebook.
THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF RALLYING
RallyBuzz.com features European rally championships, British rallying, RallyCar events, international rally results and videos, as well as S2000 and WRC news.
www.RallyBuzz.com
Issue 171 • 24 Feb 2011
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Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo test the MINI Countryman WRC: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2CX
F1 STAR ROBERT KUBICA RECOVERING WELL AFTER DRAMATIC RALLY CRASH IN ITALY
Watch the mighty Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5 and Tommi Mäkinen in-car on the WRC Rally Finland 2001: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2D4
FAN FOTO FRAMED
Got a great shot from a rally? Send your favourite rally photograph to evan.hhmag@gmail.com to be featured here! Picture by Matthew Landers.
Words: Staff Writer Lotus Renault GP update on Robert Kubica: Q: Dr. Rossello, can you give us an update on Robert’s condition today? A: I saw him this morning around 8:30am. He is doing pretty well and his condition is positive considering what he has been through. The good news is that there have been no complications following all the surgery he has had recently. Q: You performed the surgery on his hand – what more can you tell us about that… A: He can move his fingers slightly and has a little bit of sensitivity already in his hand. What is very important is that there is no sign of infection, which is the main concern. Q: Last week he moved from intensive care to the rehabilitation department – what did that involve? A: Yes, he no longer needs intensive care so he has begun the rehabilitation process. He is now in his own large room so that he is as comfortable as possible. He has already started some gentle hand exercises with the slight flexing of his fingers. Q: Is he in good spirits? A: He’s no longer in pain and his psychological condition is pretty good. He’s obviously keen to start the rehabilitation work as soon as possible. Q: How much longer will he spend in the rehabilitation department? A: It’s difficult to say. For the next couple of weeks, he will stay here so we can monitor his condition. During that time there is still the possibility of infection and other complications so he will have the dressings on his hand changed every few days. After two weeks we will assess his next move. H&H
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HANSON REVS UP FOR 100 ACRE WOOD RALLY Words: Evan Rothman Picture: Tim Williams Coming off an historic performance in the opening round of the 2011 Rally America National Championship, Travis Hanson and co-driver Terry are off to the foothills of the Ozarks for the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood. The Hansons secured a place in American motorsport history while recording the first-ever overall victory for a Super Production Class car during last month’s Sno*Drift rally in Michigan. The popular victory was made even more impressive by virtue of the fact that they were able to beat factory-backed, professional efforts in their privateer Subaru Impreza STi. This weekend the fatherand-son team will face renewed challenges from fellow Super Production competitors as well as the Open Class teams who find themselves looking up at
the Hansons in the standings. The event is based in Salem, Missouri, and runs through the scenic, Mark Twain National Forest. The event is known to be challenging due to the high-speed nature of the roads and changing conditions. In the past, the teams have been confronted by road surfaces that range from dry to slick and ice to snow over the same weekend. A fact not forgotten by Hanson, who remarked: “100 Acre Wood is a favourite event of mine, and we have had success here before. With conditions changing from day to day at times, you’re never sure what to expect which adds to the challenges we’ll face if we want to follow up our win.” Last year the team won the SP class along with fifth place overall. Between Sno*Drift and the 100 Acre Wood rallies, T. Hanson Motorsports has spent considerable time searching for sponsorship. “In order to make our efforts sustainable for the rest of the year, we
have to find some support,” explained Travis. “We have proven that we are competitive and our car prep is good, now we just need some color on that white car!” Team O’Neil Rally School, from New Hampshire, has stepped up as a supporting sponsor for the remainder of 2011. Travis is an instructor at Team O’Neil. “The education I have received from Team O’Neil over the past few years has been instrumental in my success,” stated Travis. “Team O’Neil is the best driving school in North America, and I am proud to wear the Team O’Neil flag.” Currently residing atop both the overall and Super Production standings in this season’s Rally America National Championship, both father and son are eager to return to the stages and continue their drive for a title. “Our season began in the best possible way,” said Terry, “and we hope to see another solid finish.” H&H
Issue 171 • 24 Feb 2011
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Are these rally rookies? http://wp.me/ppkXc-2za
NEUVILLE SIGNS FOR MORE IRC ACTION IN ‘11 Words: Staff Writer
ROAD SAFETY GETS RALLY AMBASSADORS ON BOARD Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Barry Cregg/SPORTSFILE After a successful start to his 2011 campaign on the WRC Rally Sweden, where he finished an outstanding 15th overall, Irish rally driver Craig Breen was in Dublin three days later for the launch of Motorsport Ireland’s new Road Safety Initiative. The new initiative, which is supported by the Irish Road Safety Authority (RSA), is aimed at young drivers, particularly those aged between 17 and 24, who are most at risk on Irish roads. The initiative is part of Motorsport Ireland’s activity for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, which will be launched on 11 May and aims to save five million lives on the world’s roads over the next ten years. The new initiative was officially launched by the President of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Jean Todt, at Motorsport Ireland Headquarters, 34 Dawson Street, Dublin 4, on Wednesday last week. During the launch, it was announced that rally drivers Craig Breen and Toni Kelly were recruited as Motorsport Ireland Ambassadors. On being chosen for the role as Ambassador Craig said: “Motorsport has formed a major part of my life. My earliest memories are of my Dad rallying the length and breadth of Ireland. The Carrick on Suir Motor Club has formed the base on which my father gained his interest in Motorsport and I’ve followed in those footsteps. Within the last week I commenced my third full season of rallying on World Rally Sweden, and starting in March I will be one of the drivers competing in the inaugural running of the FIA WRC Academy. Every discipline of motorsport has to adhere to rigorous safety regulations. These
regulations have to be complied with by every competitor. The rules of the road are there for the safety of all road users. Drivers who break these rules put all of us in danger. The main objective of this new safety initiative is to educate young people before they get behind the wheel. I am honored to be asked to come on board.” Together with Motorsport Ireland, the message from the two newly appointed ambassadors Craig Breen (21) and Toni Kelly (22) is: • Taking risks on public roads isn’t cool. • If a young driver wants to practice their skills behind the wheel of a car, they can do so in a controlled environment through organised motorsport events. All participants in motorsport in Ireland will now be encouraged to “Wear the TAG”, the metal badge that declares their support for the Decade of Action for Road Safety. The tag and further information on the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety is available at http://www.decadeofaction.org. Motorsport Ireland’s Activity for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety also included: • Recruitment of part time MI Road Safety Officer (RSO), Robert Lyttle • Displays to coincide with motorsport events throughout the country involving Road versus Rally cars to demonstrate differences • Standard media pack to accompany demonstrations • Working with local authorities and RSOs • Each local motor club to appoint volunteer RSO • Signage based on 8 x 4 sheets mounted between stages in Rallies. H&H
Thierry Neuville has vowed to repay his backers for their continued support in this season’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC). Neuville, 22, learned last week that he will contest a further seven rounds of the series this year despite his early exit from last month’s Rallye Monte-Carlo. Driving a Kronos Racing-run Peugeot 207 Super 2000 under the Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg banner, Neuville will resume his IRC bid on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, which takes place from 14 - 16 April. H&H
MINI MOTORSPORT MOVES ONTO FACEBOOK Words: Staff Writer MINI Motorsport has just launched an official Facebook group http://www. facebook.com/MINI.Motorsport. Meet fans and motorsport enthusiasts, get the latest news, and share your best pics and stories of MINI Motorsport and you. There are exclusive photographs of the MINI WRC team, and you can also watch video clips of Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo in action fom the latest MINI WRC test sessions in France. Having enjoyed success at the Rallye Monte Carlo with the Classic Mini Cooper S in the 1960s, MINI is resuming its love affair with rallying this season, and will line up at selected events in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) 2011. The MINI Challenge will once again thrill fans around the world with its unique combination of lifestyle and racing. Be part of it! Find all the news, information and links to MINI Motorsport here! H&H
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Issue 171 • 24 Feb 2011
Watch the MINI WRC Evolution: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2AG
COSWORTH PLAYS ROLE IN FIESTA RS WRC SUCCESS Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Eva Kovkova Cosworth played a starring role as the new-look FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) got underway with Rally Sweden at Karlstad earlier this month. In one of the closest rallies ever seen, Ford’s all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car, featuring some of Cosworth’s most advanced electronics systems, secured a podium clean sweep. Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen took the spoils for the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team after three days of exhilarating rally action in Sweden, finishing just 6.5 seconds ahead of Mads Østberg and Jonas Andersson for M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team. Hirvonen and Lehtinen’s team-mates took the final podium spot Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila - all three cars benefitting from state-of-the-art Cosworth electronics which have been a crucial feature in Ford’s World Rally Cars for a decade. Such is the competitiveness and reliability of the Cosworth solutions that they have helped Ford to secure points in over 130 consecutive events in this ten year period. This year’s WRC Series has seen significant changes to the technical regulations but Cosworth’s close working relationship with Ford has resulted in another successful rally with Ford’s first podium clean sweep since Rally Sweden in 2008. The new Fiesta RS WRC has been developed as a platform in Super 2000 specification last year but 2011 sees the car’s debut in full WRC trim
with immediate results. Cosworth’s electronics division provides the complete set of systems for Ford’s rally cars, from R2 through IRC, Super2000 and WRC, with the latter being the highest level that Cosworth provides. This specification includes the MQ12 engine controller, the most capable that Cosworth has produced, which ensures maximum power and performance is obtained from the direct injection 1.6L turbo spec engine, new to WRC in 2011. As with any world championship series, whether Formula One, Touring Car or IndyCar, Cosworth’s WRC electronics systems collect and record a considerable amount of data which is subsequently analysed by the team’s engineers at service stages and back at the factory in pursuit of optimum performance. Power management is also a key factor with the Hyllus controller unit employed to manage everything from headlights and fans on the car to the windscreen wipers. An electrical fault on a stage can be costly and so units like this are important not only in providing every last possible ounce of performance to the driver but in reporting and automatically managing problems so that the car keeps running. The driver instruments and cockpit controls have been updated extensively for 2011 with a new multifunction display unit replacing the switches and screens that took up space in the previous WRC Focus. This unit provides access to all the car’s systems in a similar way to the complex carbon fibre steering wheels used in Formula
One. However the WRC car system provides greater levels of control and diagnostics information to the driver and co-driver including the Bluetooth radio intercom that enables SMS text messages to be relayed to the car out on stage. Martin Tolliday - General Manager of Cosworth’s Sport Business Unit said: “We have enjoyed a successful partnership with Ford for over a decade in WRC and the podium clean sweep in Sweden is another positive landmark for us. We are in a new era for WRC with substantial changes to the technical regulations so it is great for Cosworth to play our part in the future of the sport with Ford. Our electronics solutions for WRC are some of the most sophisticated that Cosworth has in motorsport so it is particularly pleasing to see them deliver excellent results against some tough competition in such challenging conditions.” Malcolm Wilson - Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team Director stated: “This is the fourth generation of WRC car that we have developed with Cosworth electronics and we are pleased with the results that our technical partnership delivers. Their electronic engine management and chassis data acquisition systems are top of the range solutions which give us peace of mind in our work at the factory and on event. It has been a fantastic start to the 2011 World Rally Championship. The new rules appear to have worked exactly as intended and all the cars are very evenly matched. It bodes well for an exciting year ahead.” H&H
Issue 171 • 24 Feb 2011
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Ken Block jumps over Colin’s Crest Arena jump at WRC Rally Sweden 2011: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2zc
MORE TEAMS REGISTER FOR POULTER WRC MANUFACTURER POINTS NOMINATED FOR SPORTS AWARD Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Eva Kovkova
The total number of teams eligible for the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers has increased to 11, the sport’s world governing body, the FIA, has confirmed reported www.WRC.com. Eight teams - two fully-fledged manufacturers and six WRC Teams - had registered to chase makes’ championship points ahead of Rally Sweden earlier this month. However, that figure now stands at 11 after the Brazil World Rally Team, the Petter Solberg World Rally Team and Van Merksteijn Motorsport from the Netherlands all signed up. Although the Brazil World Rally Team will break cover on Vodafone Rally de Portugal in late March using a Super 2000-specification MINI, it won’t be eligible to score manufacturers’ points until Rally d’Italia Sardegna in May when, as expected, lead driver Daniel Oliveira makes his debut in the all-new MINI WRC. That’s because teams must use World Rally Cars to qualify for the manufacturers’ championship. Petter Solberg’s eponymous squad was in action in Sweden when Solberg scored a fifth-place finish on the back of three outright stage
wins in a Citroen DS3 WRC. However, delays firming up Solberg’s deal for 2011 meant he was not registered for the manufacturers’ championship in Scandinavia, although that won’t be the case from Rally Guanajuato Mexico onwards when Solberg will battle it out for makes’ points as well as drivers’ points. Ken Rees, who runs the Petter Solberg World Rally Team, explained why the squad had registered. “We’re still a self-funded privateer team but very professional at the same time,” said Rees. “The prestige attached to being a manufacturer team is very important for our sponsors. We’ve been playing with the big boys for the last two years now and it’s high time we took that next step and went up against them properly.” Van Merksteijn Motorsport is the final new addition to the ranks of WRC Teams for 2011, which now stands at nine. The Dutch operation will field a Citroen DS3 WRC for Peter van Merksteijn Jr on ten rounds starting in Portugal. The car will be run in conjunction with the factory Citroen Racing team. With the deadline for registering as a WRC Team not until 26 April, it’s possible that other outfits could yet enter. H&H
Words: Staff Writer Picture: Evan Rothman Leeroy Poulter, 29, one of South Africa’s most versatile motor sportsmen with championships in karting (both national and international) and production car racing and victories in off-road production car racing, karting, Leeroy scorched onto the SA Rally Championship scene in 2010. Each event he started in 2010 was new, yet he started a five-rally winning streak that saw him clinch the Class A6 title with two rounds to go. In spite of 17 S2000 cars starting each event, Leeroy and Henry had their 1600cc car in eighth overall on the third round, in spite of this being the driver’s first experience of wet, muddy and misty conditions. On Round Four, he went one better to bring the Class A6 car home seventh overall. By September, his performance had earned him a works Toyota drive in the top S2000 class. In only his second outing in his new car, he was on the podium, third overall. H&H
Event Reports & Results
Action Photography
RALLYE SUNSEEKER KICKS OFF EXCITING BRC SEASON Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Jakob Ebrey Photography This weekend will see Rallye Sunseeker International begin the 2011 Dulux British Rally Championship, when on the Friday night the event is launched at Poole Quay. With crowds on the Friday last year of over 7,000 people, the crews on this year’s event will have a special atmosphere awaiting them when they begin their 2011 rally campaign. Equally the thousands of expected fans are in for a real treat when the stage action gets underway on Saturday morning and runs through the day in the Forests of Dorset and Hampshire. Leading the crews off the ramp this year will be number one seeds Craig Breen and Gareth Roberts in their Ford Fiesta R2. Craig comes to Bournemouth and Poole this year fresh from a stunning 15th overall on the Swedish Rally last weekend, itself the opening round of the World Rally Championship. Craig will start the event as favourite and has a hectic year’s rallying planned with 17 events in his R2 Fiesta scheduled for completion. Following Craig off the ramp will be the two car team run by Autosport Technology, with drivers Mikko Pajunen and Siim Plangi both running R2 Renault Twingos. Mikko won three of the R1 rounds on last years championship, along with an R2 round, so will be one to watch this year as he is back for another attempt. His team-mate Siim, was sixth overall on Rally Scotland in 2010, so the British forests will not be strange to him this year. Both drivers are confident of a good year in the BRC.
Callum Black will follow in his Suzuki Swift S1600, partnered by Paul Wakely, and as the 2010 BRC Challenge Champion will be worth watching as well. Running a works spec car, in what is his only second year of Rallying, Callum is aiming for the F2 title this year and with the added backing of his Prize Drive which he won last week will aid his Championship attempt through the year. Highest seeded Citroën crew at number seven are Desi Henry and John Rowan form Northern Ireland. This is their first visit to the BRC, having competed in Ireland last year, in the Citroën Racing Trophy and Fiesta Challenge. Following them off the ramp are fellow Citroën crew of Mark Donnelly and Barry McNulty also from Northern Ireland. Barry is the 2010 BRC Co-Driver champion having navigated Keith Cronin to success last year. Other entries come from John MacCrone, Molly Taylor and John Boyd, while TEG Sport have entered Nick Cristofaro in a Ford Fiesta ST. Top four wheel drive seed is the Scottish favourite David Bogie, in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX and Kevin Rae calling the notes on this event. David is no stranger to the BRC, and as 2010 Scottish Champion will certainly be seen as one of the favourites on this event, and for the title. Running behind David, is another former BRC competitor who has caused a bit of a stir this year in that he has swapped his Mitsubishi Evo for a Skoda S2000, and that is Northern Ireland’s Jonny Greer. Jonny will have Dai Roberts in the navigator’s seat on Sunseeker and good support from his father Davy, himself a former Irish
Champion who helps run the car on events. Certainly Jonny can rightly be seen as one of the favourites for this year’s championship, following some outstanding performances last year. Another Skoda S2000 mounted driver is Robert Barrable from Swords, near Dublin with Damien Connolly calling the notes. They had a superb year last year, winning the Billy Colman awards as well the British and Irish Citroën Racing Trophies. Elfyn Evans joins the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship again this year, but this time in the Pirelli backed, TEG Sport-run Subaru and will run behind Greer. He tested the car at Sweet Lamb a few weeks ago, and ran as a course car on the Wyedean Rally to familiarise himself prior to this weekend. Tom Cave and Daniel Barry will start Rallye Sunseeker International in a pair of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Xs. Tom recently competed on the Wyedean Rally in preparation for this weekend and came home seventh overall. Barry meanwhile is normally seen on the IRC, but enters Rallye Sunseeker International with legendary Irish codriver Rory Kennedy calling the notes. Other BRC entries come form Jason Pritchard, Adam Gould, Alan Cookson and Alan Carmichael amongst others and a last minute entry from Euan Thorburn. The action on Saturday begins for the BRC crews at 09h00 when they leave the Start at Elliott Canford Arena; the rally visiting the service area at this location twice during the day. The finish ceremony will be at Bournemouth Pier at 17h30. H&H
Issue 171 • 24 Feb 2011
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How the studded WRC car’s studded tyres work: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2z8
FORESTS CALL FOR RALLY DRIVERS IN RALLY AMERICA Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Tim Williams The Rally America National Championship continues this weekend in the majestic foothills of the Ozarks. That’s where two international rally champions will try to get to the end of the event and hold off the early challenge from points leader Travis Hanson who won the first event of the season last month on the frozen roads of northern Michigan. More than forty teams are scheduled to compete on some of the best roads in the nation for rallying at the 100 Acre Wood Rally based in and around Salem, MO on 25 - 26 February. The fast, tight, twisty, and normally dry roads will create some excellent opportunities to see the driver/codriver teams challenged in their battle for National Championship points. Two of those teams have one goal: reestablishing their preseason favorite status! 2010 Rally America champion Antoine L’Estage of Montreal, Canada will once again look to do battle with former British and American champion David Higgins who commutes to the events from Trefeglwys, Mid Wales. L’Estage and Higgins both went out with mechanical problems at the Sno*Drift Rally last month, leaving the top step of the podium to Hanson who grabbed his first national overall victory in a Super Production car, another first for the Rally American National Championship. Looking to improve on another first at Sno*Drift is BMX legend and action sports star David Mirra from Greenville, NC. Mirra had his highest finish to date with a second overall at Sno*Drift. He’s in a good position to put the Subaru Rally Team USA on the top of the Championship standings. Mirra has exhibited remarkable improvement in
his fourth year of rallying and is within striking distance of nabbing his first overall event win. David Higgins, Mirra’s Subaru Rally Team USA teammate, was considered a heavy favorite for the 2011 Rally America Championship having won the 2004 British Rally Championship and multiple SCCA ProRally titles. But his return to U.S. competition was marred by a mechanical setback. Now he needs valuable points at 100 Acre Wood. The championship only has six events so there are few opportunities to stumble in the short season. The same is true for L’Estage, the 2010 Rally America, Canadian and North American champion. The Rockstar Energy Drink Rally Team driver, Antoine L’Estage, uncharacteristically overheated at Sno*Drift after getting stuck in a snow bank. It was his first DNF since 2008. His second place finish at 100 Acre Wood last season catapulted him to the top of the standings and started him on his way to one of the most successful rally seasons in North American history. Much of the North American rally community, however, remains abuzz over the Hanson win at Sno*Drift; a near four-minute victory in a Super Production (SP) Class car against more powerful Open Class machinery. Hanson set a blistering pace in the Michigan cold and he hopes to continue a strong showing in Missouri where he won the Super Production category last year and finished fifth in the overall standings. In the National 2 Wheel-Drive (2WD) Championship, 2009 Rally America Rookie of the Year and 2WD Champ, Dillon Van Way from Carencro, LA held off charging 2010 2WD National Champ, Chris Duplessis from Mason Township, ME at Sno*Drift. Both were campaigning never been tested rally vehicles. Van Way brought RallyCar’s first 2010 Ford Fiesta entry to a national event win in a close, hard-fought battle
with Duplessis in a 2010 Scion xD. They’ll bring that same drama to 100 Acre Wood. The Rally in the 100 Acre Wood will see a contingent of local teams vying for regional rally honors. Topping the list is 100 Acre Wood former event chairman, Kim DeMotte from Webster Groves, MO a long time 100 Acre Wood organizer and co-driver who enters this year as a driver in a historic 1972 Datsun 510. It was DeMotte who was around when rally organizers first took on the name 100 Acre Wood, the forest home of Winnie the Pooh, the fictional stories favored by generations of children worldwide. In fact several of the regional events that run concurrent to the National Championship take on names from the Pooh series including Trespassers Will, a legendary sign in the Pooh story. It’s also the name of one of the weekend regional events. Twin brothers from St. Louis, MO, Mark and John Huebbe, who also organize the 100 Acre Wood Rally, will compete against Demotte in addition to splitting the “Honey Jar Challenge” $1,500 cash prize reserved for the top 5 Volkswagen teams to finish the weekend. The Rally in the 100 Acre Wood will begin with a Parc Expose, a meet & greet with the drivers before competition starts for the day, at the Potosi Lions’ Park at 1:00pm Friday, February 25th. Fans can arrive to seek autographs and pick up spectator information before heading to various spots in the woods to watch the rally action. Another Parc Expose on Saturday, February 26th will be held in downtown Salem at the intersection of 4th & Main Street at 8:45am. For a complete event schedule and to download the official 100 Acre Wood Rally spectator guide please visit http://www.100aw.org. H&H
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Issue 171 • 24 Feb 2011
The legend that is Richard Burns in a Peugeot 206 WRC: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2D6
SEAN CONLIN FOREST RALLY OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) O. Murphy/J. O’Brien Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX 02) J. Reid/E. Shiels Toyota Corolla WRC + 15s 03) F. Kelly/L. Brennan Ford Escort MkII + 02m 23s 04) I. Cochrane/R. Fitzpatrick Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX 05) V. McAree/J-P. McAree Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX 06) L. Ryan/A. Burke Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX 07) A. Fisher/D. Barritt Ford Fiesta R2 + 03m 48s 08) S. McGirr/N. Connelly Toyota Starlet + 04m 09s 09) P. Keenan/M. Brady Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX 10) J. Coleman/M. Hall Ford Escort MkII + 04m 33s
- 45m 01s
+ 02m 30s + 02m 44s + 03m 12s
+ 04m 22s
James Grint in action on the Wyedean Forest Rally. Picture by David Benson/RallySport Media.
RIPONIAN STAGES RALLY OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) C. Payne/C. Thorley - 41m 47s 02) M. Glendinning/A. Roughead + 01m 44s 03) J. McNeil/K. Baker + 03m 05s 04) J. McNeil/F. Roberts + 03m 08s 05) M. Johnston/I. Bevan + 03m 15s 06) P. Packard/I. Ball + 03m 44s 07) K. Procter/D. Bellerby + 04m 29s 08) I. Joel/G. Wood + 04m 30s 09) T. Pearcey/N. Shanks + 04m 54s 10) C. Haigh/S. Peacock + 05m 00s
CHRIS KELLY MEMORIAL STAGES RALLY OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) D. Pattinson/P. Whittaker - 01hr 15m 20s 02) N. Cannell/I. Cannell + 03m 12s 03) J. Stone/R. Fagg + 04m 38s 04) M. Jones/D. Radcliffe + 04m 48s 05) C. Corkill/M. PErryman + 06m 00s 06) S. Egglestone/B. Hodgson + 07m 12s 07) J. Cressey/M. Cressey + 09m 36s 08) A. Sherrington/B. Johnson + 10m 02s 09) S. Kelly/W. Rand + 10m 04s 10) A. Holmes/S. Fox + 10m 18s
JDominic Scott in action on the Wyedean Forest Rally. Picture by David Benson/RallySport Media.
MAGIC BULLET WYEDEAN STAGES RALLY FOREST RALLY OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) K. McKinstry/I. Johnson Subaru Impreza WRC - 15m 10.1s 02) C. McCloskey/F. Regan Subaru Impreza WRC + 03.3s 03) J. McGaffin/L. McGaffin Subaru Impreza WRC + 14.9s 04) E. McKinstry/K. Hull Subaru Impreza S8 + 17.7s 05) D. McGarrity/J. McKee Mitsubishi Evo WRC + 18.55s 06) G. Robinson/T. Speers Subaru Impreza WRC + 24.5s 07) D. Kelly/K. Flanagan Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX + 28.0s 08) M. Massey/G. Stewart Subaru Impreza N12B + 30.7s 09) J. Gillen/J. Harron Subaru Impreza WRC + 32.6s 10) G. White/A. Purdy Subaru Impreza + 33.9s
OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) A. Burton/R. Kellard Peugeot Cosworth - 43m 08s 02) P. Bird/K. Riddick Ford Focus RS WRC + 19s 03) H. Hunter/A. Marchbank Ford Focus RS WRC + 30s 04) D. Wright/M. Wilkinson Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX + 01m 05s 05) R. Chilman/A. Sankey Subaru Impreza S9 + 01m 08s 06) N. Elsmore/P. Spaner Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X + 01m 12s 07) T. Cave/C. Parry Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X + 01m 37s 08) R. Duckworth/M. Broomfield Subaru Impreza WRC + 01m 39s 09) M. Griffiths/J. Scott Subaru Impreza + 02m 15s 10) H. Hunt/S. McPhee Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX + 02m 44s