Ignition Weekly #8

ISSUE_008

Small rally, big prize for Jackson Page 4

MAY 24TH

Oh Yeah, there’s some Dover stuff inside too!

May 24, 2013

EDITOR’S COMMENTS

Up in yah

A

grill

INSIDE

funny thing happened on the way to the Internet.

For a method that was devised to allow decentralized information it’s become even more fragmented as the sheer number of available material became concentrated. This concentration has created an insatiable demand within the persons who consume it.

Last week two major automotive items were leaked onto the web as we carried in Ignition. The first was the new Corolla. Not the most exciting of news, but obviously Toyota wasn’t ready to give out details to the public as it had the dealer take down the information almost immediately. As we all know, once on the Internet, always on the Internet. Then the same thing struck Mercedes-Benz. Ahead of its worldwide reveal someone decided to scan and put up the print material for the car days before the launch. While it did kill the surprise, it did generate the traffic and interest in the product that sellers like.

This is just the power of the Internet to affect the fate of the world by feeding the mobs that lay behind each screen.

As Ignition heads into the second major race weekend of the Motorsports season we hope to use that power to change things, by feeding you the information you’d expect for a publication covering your favourite topic.

That’s why we’ve got eight pages of Dover stories that you can pull up online, on your tablet, smartphone, etc, wherever you have a data connection fast enough to handle us. Next week we’ll have another eight pages of race coverage, and another eight of post-race wrap up. As I told the crew this weekend, Ignition is all over Dover.

Talking about change, our front cover picture isn’t what you’d expect.

For a while I couldn’t figure out what to put there. After rummaging through the unused Dover pictures from last meet, this popped up in my picture browser from the recent Rally. Fraser McConnell on his ATV shows the drama and energy this publication exemplifies. That’s why its front and centre, not because we need to abide by some vacuous rule on cover photos.

You really dont need to read anything else today - 6 INTERNATIONAL

ignitionweeklyja@gmail.com

Kia cements the move up market - 2

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May 24, 2013

LOCAL

Rallying’s new guardians Wayne Piper, President of the newly-formed Drivers’ Rallysport Club with Treasurer Kathryn Chin-See and Vice President of Competition Salvador Solis at their recently held AGM.

I

n a long awaited move, rallying and its disciplines have been handed over to a new entity charged with the task of reviving the sport. On May 11th the Drivers’ Rallysport Club (DRC) had its first annual general meeting to elect a board.

At the end of the voting the potential future of the local rallying will be led by Wayne Piper. Popular in the sport as the co-driver for Christopher McFarlane, Piper gladly took up the role of President of the DRC. The remaining board members are rally driver Salvador Solis, Vice President of Competition, publisher Sean Campbell, Vice President of Marketing and

Communication, photographer Nicola Williams, Club Secretary, and Kathryn Chin-See, Treasurer.

“The future of rallysport is in the hands of the drivers and the club is here to encourage the sport from the very grassroots level,” said Piper addressing the small membership.

The DRC will handle the running and organization of rally, dexterity and sprints, functions that used to be handled by the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club. This now leaves the JMMC with their stated mandate as just the pure governing body of the sport retaining their event sanctioning power through the DRC. Present at the AGM was former

president of the JMMC, Errol Anderson, who praised the DRC and said it was a long time coming.

Up first for the new club is to bring back competitor and spectator interest.

It then has to continue the other mandate of the JMMC, the push towards a Group N rule structure for the local rally championship in line with the regional series. Of utmost immediacy is the revival of the National Dexterity series which has been a non-starter this year and has led to a host of unsanctioned events across the island.

The DRC was also offered full FIA training in important motorsports areas such as marshalling through the JMMC. 3

May 24, 2013

LOCAL

Jackson capitalizes on low

It went from fun to fear for Joel Jackson as his Impreza WRX STI had its turbo fail and sprung a fuel leak.

4

May 24, 2013

LOCAL

entry numbers to win King wasn’t close enough to take first from Jackson.

I

t was said by the late great Colin McRae, when in doubt f lat out, and that was the mantra held by the organisers of the Tru-Juice Stages rally, the opening round of the Jamaican National Rally Championship.

With a scheduled 10 competitors the previous week, only three showed up forcing a tough decision as to the viability of running such an event. In the end, the powers that be held fast to their convictions and carried on, albeit a bit truncated.

As in rallying, things that seem easy are never so and the lone turbocharged four-wheel drive car of Joel Jackson held the lead all day. His JN8 Subaru Impreza WRX STI fresh off the boat from Rally Trinidad, Jackson was happy to be reunited with it. Despite a slipping clutch he and co-driver Dmitri Dawkins never missed a beat until the final stage when the car suffered turbocharger failure. To add to their woes, a hole in the fuel tank meant they couldn’t cruise off boost to the end of the rally. While they were eventually caught and passed by the Honda Civic of Daryl King, their time buffer was still significant enough to hand them the victory.

King finished second and with only three teams, all were guaranteed a podium and on the third step was Keith Saunders, in his trusty Chevrolet Chevette.

As small a victory is may seem, Jackson is now in contention for two National titles as he’s in the middle of a points battle with David Lee in the Sprint series as well.

Keith Saunders celebrated his birthday behind the wheel.

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May 24, 2013

Caribbean Invasion

FEATURE: CARIBBEAN INVASION

M a r c h

6

2 5 t h

-

2 6 t h

May 24, 2013

FEATURE: CARIBBEAN INVASION

A

n active racer from 1956, Hilary Jardine OD JP was one of the founding members of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC). Brought to life in 1995 out of his involvement in Motorsport across the region, the CMRC later died down but was revived by him in 2006 and continues strong to this weekend’s Caribbean Invasion race meet at Dover.

Originally from Guyana, Jardine moved to Trinidad & Tobago and then eventually to Jamaica where his love of racing took root and started

Creating the dream of the

CMRC

a long legacy beginning at Vernamfield, Clarendon in 1971 to this day through his involveby Tara-Kaye Salmon ment with the Jamaica Race Drivers Club and the CMRC. The concept, which was very dear to him, was a simple one, an event that would facilitate the top racers from around the Caribbean competing against each other. Despite the pre-2006 lull, he firmly believes the CMRC is going well, especially in achieving its goal of a regional championship and living up to the billing of hosting the best drivers from the Caribbean.

He however thinks for the CMRC to grow to its full potential changes in the rules to allow more racers to compete will be necessary in the future.

Motorsports legend and one of the founding fathers of the CMRC, Hilary Jardine.

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May 24, 2013

May 24, 2013

FEATURE: CARIBBEAN INVASION

QUALIFYING SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013 08:00 AM

Entry, Registration and Technical Inspection

08:00 – 09:00 AM

Official Practice All cars

09:00 – 10:00 AM

Official Practice Motorcycles

10:00 – 11:00 AM

Official Practice All cars

11:00 – 11:30

Event #1

Modified Production Class 3 + 4 Qualifying

11:35 – 11:55

Event #2

DEKAL WIRELESS/SUPER WI-FI Super Bike Class A + B Qualifying

12:00 – 12:30

Event #3

Bracket 32 + 27 Qualifying

12:35 – 12:55

Event #4

Bracket 38 Qualifying

13:00 – 13:30

Event #5

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING CMRC Group 4 Qualifying

13:35 – 14:05

Event #6

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING CMRC Grp2 & Modified Production Class 1+2

14:10 – 14:30

Event #7

TOTAL Lubricants Bracket 45 Qualifying

14:35 – 15:05

Event #8

RUBIS Energy Thundersport Class 1 + 2 Qualifying

15:05 – 15:20

General Drivers Meeting

15:20 – 15:30

CMRC Drivers Meeting

15:30 – 15:45

Event #9

Bracket 32 + 27 Race 1 5 Laps

15:55 – 16:15

Event #10

Bracket 38 Race 1 5 Laps

16:25 – 16:40

Event #11

TOTAL Lubricants Bracket 45 Race 1 5 Laps

16:50 – 17:05

Event #12

Modified Production Class 3 + 4 Race 1 5 Laps

17:05

TRACK OFFICIALLY CLOSED

The sand trap at corner one has been revised for safer racing.

Narrow escape from fire but Sebastien Rae will be back H

By Dwight Fraser

is vehicle caught on fire on last Easter Monday’s race meet at Dover Raceway. Since then Sebastien Rae and his team have been working feverishly in the garage to get his 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage RS back into competitive action once again.

The incident occurred in the final Modified Production class 2 (MP2) race after Sebastien was second in the first MP2 race.

“Coming up the front straight

I felt the car getting warmer than usual, and I was wondering why the vehicle was getting so hot. By the time I got into the Caribrake corner I glance over my shoulder and saw fire coming from the back of the car, and I immediately pulled over and jumped out,” he recalled the narrow escape to Ignition.

The Marshalls acted swiftly, but was unable to save the rear of the vehicle which was directly engulfed with flame, shattering the back glass and the two rear quarter glasses.

The vehicle’s brake system, along with the suspension, back light and

wiring were not saved. Fortunately, the front of the vehicle was spared from going up entirely in flames.

The insurance available at Dover does not cover such a situation of race cars bursting into flames, in such a case Ignition has learnt that the driver is alone in footing the repair bill.

Speaking to Ignition a month after the incident Sebastien said that things have been tough financially, but he is actively seeking sponsorship to be make a grand return adding that there is non-stop work on the car to get it race ready.

“We have pretty much gotten

back some of the parts to get the car back to its original state before the fire, and my team have been working enthusiastically in the garage, but to be honest I doubt that we will be ready for the upcoming Shell Helix Seaboard Marine Caribbean Invasion race meet on Labour day.”

“For right now we are just seeking a good Samaritan to help us close out the final stages of our budget,” and we will be back in action,” he added.

Sebastien Rae is currently second in the driver’s championship, behind Andre Anderson of Total Summerbell Racing.

The run-off area at corner three has also been expanded.

Rae is still trying to rebuild his Mirage RS.

8

The weigh station has been moved for faster processing.

9

May 24, 2013

FEATURE: CARIBBEAN INVASION

The corner six hairpin has been modified by removing the inner wall.

RACE DAY SCHEDULE SUNDAY May 26, 2013 08:00 – 08:30 AM Warm up All Cars 08:30 – 08:45 AM Warm up All Motorcycles 08:45 – 09:10 AM Opening Ceremony 9:10 – 9:25

Event #1

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING CMRC Grp2 & Modified Production Class 1+2 (concurrent)

9:35 09:50

Event #2

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING CMRC Group 4 Race 1 6 Laps

09:50 10:05

Jamaica Cycling Federation Bicycle – Devil’s Race

10:05 10:10

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING Groups 2 & 4 Prize Giving for Race 1 CMRC Awards

10:10 10:25

Event #3

DEKAL WIRELESS/SUPER WI-FI Super Bike Class A + B Race 1 5 Laps

10:35 10:50

Event #4

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING CMRC Grp2 & Modified Production Class 1+2 (concurrent)

11:00 11:15

Event #5

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING CMRC Group 4 Race 2 6 Laps

11:25 11:40

Event #6

TOTAL Lubricants Bracket 45 Race 2 5 Laps

11:40 11:55

Jamaica Cycling Federation Bicycle – Sprint Race

11:55 12:00

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING Groups 2 & 4 Prize Giving for Race 2 CMRC Awards

12:00 12:15

Event #7

12:15 12:30

ATL Autohaus Track Demonstration Dealer Demonstration

12:30 12:45

Event #8

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING CMRC Group 2 Race 3 6 Laps

12:55 13:10

Event #9

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING CMRC Group 4 Race 3 6 Laps

13:20 13:35

Event #10

Bracket 38 Race 2 7 Laps

13:35 13:50

Jamaica Karting Association - Kiddie Racers 7 Year Old Karters

13:50 13:55

SEABOARD MARINE SHIPPING Groups 2 + 4 Prize Giving - Race 3 CMRC Awards

13:55 14:10

Event #11

DEKAL WIRELESS/SUPER WI-FI Super Bike Class A + B Race 2 5 Laps

14:20 14:35

Event #12

Modified Production Class 3 + 4 Race 2 7 Laps

14:35 15:10

Bounty Killer FEATURE

15:10 15:25

Event #13

15:25 15:40

RUBIS Energy Special Presentation Title Sponsor Fun Time

15:40 16:00

Event #14 RUBIS Energy Thundersport Class 1 + 2 FINALE 12 Laps

16:00

Until PARTY Starlight Productions

10

Bracket 32 + 27 Race 2 7 Laps

DEKAL WIRELESS/SUPER WI-FI Super Bike Class A + B Race 3 5 Laps

May 24, 2013

FEATURE: CARIBBEAN INVASION

By Dwight Fraser

bell in 2012, will be broken.

A

It is not a question of if, but

TL Racing’s Douglas Gore, driving his monster Audi TT-R DTM, told IGNITION that he is ready for the competition that Barbados and Guyana is expected to provide when the curtain ascends for the 2013 Rubis Energy/Seaboard Marine Caribbean Invasion at Dover race way in St. Ann on May 26.

when” said Gore.

Doug’s Audi crashed at

Racers.

the CMRC race meet in 2012

sending the car to Germany

team very that we have ever

for major repairs and up-

assembled, and I don’t see

grades. Upon returning it has

any reason why we should

not lost a single race which

not be able to come away

Gore says sounds a warning

with maximum points here in

to Summerbell that his lap re-

Jamaica,” Gore said.

cord is now under threat.

Gore’s own individual in-

terest cannot be separated from the bigger picture as he’s part of the Jamaica team for the CMRC. Along with him and Summerbell are Peter Rae, Christopher Campbell, George Bayley, Andre Anderson who all round out the CMRC Group 4 drivers. Kyle Gregg and Alan Chen in Group 2B and Sebastien Rae and Natasha Chang in Group 2A complete the list of Reggae “I believe this is the best

IGNITION also asked Gore

“We have put in a brand

if he is worried by the pres-

new engine with an addition-

sure of the extra competi-

al 50 horse power and with

tion.

new

which

the

ing from across the region

shocks,

has

changed

“Not at all, 12 cars com-

aerodynamics of

may get you thinking, but not

the cars. Now

scared, I think Mark Maloney

the handling is

will be the biggest worry of

much

better,

them all, I have raced again

and the exist-

him before, he is a very good

ing

racer, extremely aggressive

track

re-

cord of 1 minute 17.7 seconds set

by David Summer-

Summerbell focused on getting his car ready to break lap record.

driver, but I will be bringing

ATL Racing all go for Caribbean Motor Racing Championship while rest of Jamaican team still in preparation mode Gore will concentrate on CMRC and Thundersport races only from now on.

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May 24, 2013

FEATURE: CARIBBEAN INVASION my A game to the battle, so it will be interesting to see if all the top drivers outside of Jamaica that are touted to challenge us can really do so.”

Rival Summerbell is still not full strength from

the turbocharger failure which cost him serious points at the last meet. The team has made it public that they’re still fighting with mechanical issues as they prepare his Lancer Evolution VIII for this weekend.

Summerbell, has assured his fans that the ef-

forts to get the car ready are to ensure that he is at full strength even though he and Gore will only meet face to face in the CMRC events as Gore has stated he has left Modified Production class 4 as the tyre rules no longer suit his Audi. Summerbell is defending CMRC champion driver.

The 2012 CMRC champion has made it clear that

his goal is a title repeat and if the conditions are good, a lower lap time. He will also be surrounded by his Total Summerbell Racing team-mates Andre Anderson and Kyle Gregg.

Peter Rae, who had a less than stellar show-

ing, is also attempting to have his car ready for the race. The age of Rae’s Mazda RX-7 meant sourcing a replacement rear differential has been a hard task leading to the only possible solution, repairing the old item with new parts. Rae has also fixed his tyre problem by switching brands to that of Eu-

Rae has new tyres on the way, while he attempts to fix the RX-7

ropean tyre manufacturer Avon. He is gambling on the fact that these will provide the grip he sorely lacked last event around to be competitive.

On top of Sebastien Rae’s problems with his

Mitsubishi Mirage RS, fans will not see him drive the VW Magnum that saw him put in an amazing performance last time around. According to Rae, the ex-Summerbell car was in poor health at the end of the previous event and requires a major component to be made competition worthy. Given the task of having to repair two cars he’s opted for the Mirage as it can qualify for more classes than the Magnum.

The 2013 CMRC will see its first female entrant

in the form of Natasha Chang. Driving for ATL Racing her Honda Civic has undergone a few modifications to handle the heated competition she expects with the international drivers. Like her team-mate Gore, there seems to be precious little to distract her from the racing.

The Motorcycles will be out in full force, even

though they didn’t get any international entrants.

Instead the bikers will have to deal with the return of 2012 Adrian Blake, who signaled his return to the class at the prize giving ceremony for the first event.

12

Chang dealing with the challenge ahead of being the first female in the CMRC and the lone woman on her team.

May 24, 2013

FEATURE: CARIBBEAN INVASION

Suriname has expanded the country count for the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship.

International Drivers ready

By Dwight Fraser

W

ith Jamaica the defending country champion of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) and David Summerbell the 2012 CMRC drivers champion, Barbados, Guyana, Cayman and for the first time Suriname will put the host competitors to the sword in a day of gruelling motor racing.

Leading Guyana is Kevin Jeffrey who is expected to compete in his

Mitsubishi Evolution VIII, having recently broken the track record set by Roger Mayers’ at the South Dakota racetrack. He is joined by Andrew King in Group 4. Guyana also has Harold Hopkinson and John Josephs in

Bajan Mark Maloney and his Mazda RX-3.

the Group 2B, Saheed Assan and Afraz Ali in Group 2A.

Barbados will be represented in Group 4 by Mark Maloney of Barba-

dos driving a Mazda RX-3, and Doug Maloney. Mark and Kurt Thompson will handle their country’s Group 2B and Group 2A duties respectively.

Cayman will have Gary Barrett in Group 2A while first-timer Suriname

will be represented by Oliver Tjin Liep Shie in Group 2B in a Honda Civic.

Jamaica scored a whopping 137 points to win the championship last

year, ahead of their closest rival Guyana who ended the championship on 88 points.

The second leg of the meet is set for Barbados in September.

13

May 24, 2013

INTERNATIONAL

Kia to make push upmarket with Quoris next year

Kia has arguably been autodom’s hottest brand the last few years, with increases in style, tech, consumer consideration and sales that are the envy of the industry. So it’s no surprise that it isn’t stopping its North American product onslaught with its just-introduced 2014 Cadenza sedan, it’s reportedly readying its premium-minded rear-drive Quoris cruiser for a launch here next year.

That’s according to a new report from Automotive.com, which spoke with Kia officials at the media launch of the Cadenza. The oddly named Quoris (“derived from the English words ‘core’ and ‘quality,’” says Kia), will likely nuzzle up against its Equus stablemate when it debuts, carrying an estimated $50,000 to $70,000 price tag. The Kia looks markedly more contemporary than the Equus inside-and-out. Its corporate brother, the Hyundai Equus has been doing just fine on the sales front – even before its recently introduced facelift. So it’s not unreasonable to interpret the luxury sedan market as open to the idea of owning a full-size luxury sedan from a non-traditional country.

In other news, Kia recently exhumed its elderly Sedona minivan, dusting it off, putting a little more frosting on its flanks and trotting it out to customers anew for 2014. The people mover’s odd, Lazarus-like reanimation moment apparently isn’t lost on Kia executives, who still very much want a modern minivan. According to the same report, an all-new Sedona, likely informed by 2011’s KV7 Concept, is still a ways off.

Ford’s small performance car officially a hit

The Ford Fiesta ST – Ford’s fastest ever production small car – is off to fast start with hot-hatch connoisseurs placing 3,000 orders since March.

“The word of mouth on Fiesta ST has been phenomenal and it’s clear we have something special on our hands,” 14

The Kia Quoris.

said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “We are really proud of our product development team for delivering a car that the top auto critics across Europe say not only is astonishingly good but also very affordable.”

Customers in the U.K. have bought more than half of all models sold to date, with Germany placing the next largest number of orders, followed by Switzerland.

The new 182 PS Fiesta ST can achieve 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 220 km/h – supported by an advanced chassis developed by Ford Team RS, the European arm of Ford Motor Company’s Global Performance Vehicle group.

It also offers both a 20 per cent increase in power against the previous, first-generation, model and a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions to 138 g/km.

The Ford vehicle dynamics department that developed the new Fiesta ST last month was named the Dynamics Team of the Year at the 2013 Vehicle Dynamics International Awards, and Ford Team RS vehicle dynamics specialist David Put won the title of Dynamicist of the Year.

Powered by Ford’s 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine, the new Fiesta ST offers performance-tuned steering, suspension, brakes and enhanced Torque Vectoring Control; as well as Ford MyKey and SYNC with Emergency Assistance.

(A video of David Put driving the Fiesta ST at Ford’s Lommel test track can be viewed here)

The dynamically styled new Fiesta ST exterior with a large trapezoidal honeycomb grille, dramatic rear diffuser element and a full ST body kit is proving most popular in new colour Spirit Blue, requested in 27 per cent of orders, followed by Frozen White and Race Red. More than 60 per cent of customers have opted for a Smoke Storm Torino leather interior in Charcoal Black, to complement the carbon fibre dashboard inserts, alloy-metal pedals and gearshifter, ST steering wheel and Recaro seats. 90 per cent of customers have specified Rado Grey 17-inch alloy wheels with red brake callipers; and a further 19 per cent have selected the Sony DAB radio and navigation option with 5-inch colour screen.

The success of the new Fiesta ST follows on the heels of the Focus ST, which went on sale in summer 2012.

Equipped with a 250 PS 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, the Focus ST was the best-selling hot hatch in Europe during the first three months of 2013, with 2,100 sales.

China resumes incentives for foreign auto investment

A surprise policy shift, China is expected to give a boost to the Volkswagen Group, General Motors Co. and other foreign automakers planning to expand in the world’s largest car mar-

ket. China said it will encourage foreign investment in vehicle manufacturing in its western region, reversing a policy to remove automaking from a list of industries qualifying for government incentives.

Starting June 10, foreign auto investment will be given preferential treatment, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement today, without giving more details.

The policy was among measures taken by the central government to encourage labourintensive projects in the central and western regions, which attracted US$19.2 billion in overseas investment last year, according to the statement.

The announcement follows official figures this week that showed foreign direct investment growth slowed in April, highlighting concern at the outlook for the world’s secondbiggest economy.

“The change in policy direction is meant to boost foreign investment and economic growth rather than for the need of the auto industry,” Zhang Xin, an analyst with Guotai Junan Securities Co. in Beijing, said by telephone. “It could well cause an increase in excess capacity and make it more difficult for local automakers to compete with foreign companies.”

Foreign automakers received preferential treatment for seven years on their Chinese plants until Jan. 30, 2011, when the NDRC removed the industry from its list of favoured industries for investment to clamp down on overcapacity.

VW and GM are among foreign automakers expanding their production in China to cater to demand in the world’s largest vehicle market, estimated by the nation’s auto association projects to exceed 20 million units this year.

Volkswagen said Thursday it has begun construction of a new factory in Changsha in southern China, part of its 9.8 billion-euro (US$13 billion) investment in the country where is already has 12 car and component production factories.

GM said this month it won regulatory approval to build a Cadillac factory in Shanghai.

May 24, 2013

INTERNATIONAL Skoda dropped to three cylinders in the final kilometres of the event.

“We took some time out of Bryan on stage nine but we took soft tyres for the final stages thinking it would rain. Finally we had some problems with the engine and finished second, which is still not bad for the championship,” Kopecky explained.

The Skoda driver’s unbeaten streak may have ended but he still retains a 37 point lead over Ireland’s Craig Breen, who ended up in fourth place in Corsica after sliding into a bridge parapet on stage seven. Despite his car suffering significant damage, it didn’t seem to do that much to impair his actual speed on the subsequent stages and he ended up losing out on the battle for third place to MINI John Cooper Works’ Stéphane Sarrazin by only just over three seconds.

Sebastiens butt heads again

Kopecky’s run European Rally Championship run ended.

Bouffier brings Kopecky’s reign to an end

Skoda’s Jan Kopecky had every hope that he would be able to extend his run of success in the FIA European Rally Championship even further into 2013, and after leading the Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse rally from Peugeot’s Bryan Bouffier albeit only by 3.6s it was looking as through he was on course to do just that.

Instead, Kopecky struggled in the slippery conditions on last Saturday’s opening test and the Skoda slipped behind while Bouffier took the event lead.

Unfortunately, believing it was going to rain, the Kopecky opted for soft-compound Michelin tyres for the final part of the rally and when the rain failed to materialise, Kopecky was left struggling in damage limitation mode as Bouffier receded into the distance ahead of him with the help of the Peugeot’s hard-compound selection to claim the victory.

“To join the illustrious list of French drivers who have won Monte Carlo and Corsica makes me very happy. I am also happy to win this event on French territory. Against some very strong opposition this is a significant achievement,” said Bouffier after coming home almost 40 seconds ahead of Kopecky at the end of the rally, which makes him a three-time ERC winner. “ Kopecky lost further time after the engine in his

Sebastien Ogier is to go head-to-head with Sebastien Loeb on-track after the Volkswagen driver confirmed he will join the Porsche Supercup grid for this weekend’s event in Monte Carlo.

Ogier, who currently heads the World Rally Championship standings, will drive for the Project 1 team in the Monaco GP support event while Loeb will be in action for the second time this season having finished eleventh in Barcelona last weekend.

The event will be the first time that the French duo have gone head-to-head on circuit, with Ogier saying he was looking forward to the opportunity to join the Porsche field for the event.

“I am really looking forward to the Supercup race in Monaco,” he said. “It will be a very special experience for me to experience Monaco from a non-rallying perspective for once. I sat in the Porsche for the first time last week at a test session in Hockenheim.

Last year’s winner Sean Edwards gave me a few tips

and I was coping really well by the end. I will obviously be keeping half an eye on Sebastien Loeb,” said Ogier VW Motorsport Director Jost Capito said he took was interested to see how Ogier would perform in a different environment.

“For the fans, seeing two of the best rally drivers in the world out on the racetrack will definitely be one of the highlights away from the Formula One race itself,” Capito added.

Mitsubishi confirms pair of MiEV Evolution II electric racecars for Pikes Peak

Preparing for next month’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Mitsubishi – the presenting sponsor of this year’s PPIHC – has unveiled its entrant for the race: the all-electric MiEV Evolution II. Building off last year’s MiEV-inspired entrant, the Evolution II has received numerous improvements, including a more powerful electric drive system, a lower centre of gravity and even a more traditional racecar look.

Driving a pair of MiEV Evolution II models this year will be Hiroshi Masuoka from Mitsubishi vehicle development and six-time PPIHC motorcycle winner, Greg Tracy.

Both MiEV Evolution II racers employ a quartet of electric motors with output increased from 280 kilowatts (375 horsepower) up to 400 KW (536 hp).

For improved handling, the cars’ lithium-ion battery packs help provide lower centres of gravity, and both Masuoka’s and Tracy’s cars have received active yaw control, stability control and redesigned anti-lock braking systems to help them stick to the mountain better. As previously mentioned, even their look has changed, with less of a wide-body i-MiEV feel and more of a racecar appearance.

Mitsubishi’s Pikes Peak Challenger.

15

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