H&H-152 by HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS

s e k a r b d Han s n i p r i a H & ld of rallying r o w e h t o t in t h ig your ins

Cover

Cronin crowned BRC Champion again!

Issue 152 • 30/09 - 06/10

Features

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Armchair WRC guide, P7 DHRT survives Nationals, P6 Advertising special, P15

News

Events OORC, RC PP8 RRC, IIRC, R P12

L’Estage in CARS rally action Off-Road Racing news and updates WRC and IRC W nnews updates

Contents / Issue 152 Editorial Information

News

Editor Evan Rothman Photojournalist Eva Kovkova Contributors RallyBuzz, Motorpics.

Features

06 07

First National outing for DHRT WRC Rally France armchair guide

Events

08 10 12 14

SAORRC: Toyota 1000 Desert Race BRC: Int’l Rally Yorkshire REVIEW IRC: Rallye Sanremo REVIEW RallyCars: Rallycross #2 PREVIEW

All content copyrighted property of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, 200710. 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.

Contact E-mail us evan.hhmag@gmail.com Call us +27 83 452 6892 Surf us http://wp.me/pkXc To receive your FREE weekly HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS eMagazine, or if you’d like to share this with a friend please send your e-mail address to evan.hhmag@gmail.com. HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS is not a SPAM e-mail: email addresses are added to the mailing list voluntarily.

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Welcome to H&H! Welcome to issue 152 of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, your FREE weekly insight into the world of rallying. This week’s issue proves that the world of rallying is still very much alive, even though the year is fast coming to a close. As always, I hope you enjoy this week’s exciting edition. Yours in Rallying, Evan Rothman

In last week’s feature article on Erika Detota (Page 6 of Issue 151), I mistakenly omitted the photographer’s name of this dramatic action picture: Livia Hritulec (www.LHimages). The other pictures were taken by Lori Lass and Neil McDaid (http://rallyworldnews. blogspot.com).

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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News

>>MORE NEWS For even more news, with daily updates, visit http://wp.me/pkXc

HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS

Team & Event News WRC IRC South African Rallying DAILY ONLINE UPDATES

For your convenience, here are the news items in this easy-toclick menu page: WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP FSTi battle gains pace in France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TK S-WRC title fight for Ford: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TM Munchi’s face tricky test in France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TO Ford targets strong Rallye de France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TQ Pirelli set for all-new French rally: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TS Wilson aims for improved pace: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TV World Rally Radio - Rallye de France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1U7 Petter Solberg aims for success: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ux Kimi in France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Up Sandell confident of French success: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ur Citroën Junior Team set for France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UB Gassner jr aims for Top Five: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Uu Loeb and Citroën determined: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UD EUROPEAN AND INTERCONTINENTAL RALLY CHALLENGE SERIES Andreucci triumphs in Sanremo: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TX Campana out of luck on Sanremo: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1U0 Panizzi completes Sanremo: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1U3 A new challenge for the Citroën C2: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1U9 Sanremo IRC glory for Andreucci: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ub Estonian Honda Juniors in Rakvere: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UU

Black’s red letter day: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UW Lucky number seven for Evans: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1V1 AFRICAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN RALLYING AND OFFROAD RACING Intense 1000 Desert Race: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ug Variawa/Rousseau mission done: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ui Hat-trick for Variawa/Rousseau: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Uk Heartbreak for Castrol Team Toyota: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Un Peter focused on France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UG Grandstand finish for offroad: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UM Pressure situation offroad leaders: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UO Barden Tyres’ Rundle/Mohr miss: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UY INTERNATIONAL RALLYING AND OFF-ROAD RACING Official Golden Stage Rally website: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TH The Citroën DS3 R3 programme: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UQ Inkster wins at Ashley Forest: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1V4 USA AND RALLYCAR RALLY NEWS AND EVENTS 2010 Rally America Awards Banquet: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TE L’Estage/Richard battle in CARS: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1V7

BRITISH AND IRISH RALLYING Evans wins rally; Cronin retains title: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ue Pritchard on championship podium: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UJ

THIS WEEK’S BEST VIDEOS << WRC.COM released this teaser video of Citroen’s DS3 WRC machine for 2011... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmF0TRMwNrg 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.

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

NEWS

Features

Issue 152 • 30 Sept - 06 Oct 2010

Events

Watch Ken Block in action at the LSPR Rally 2010... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFY31g8SJWg

Download the iRally app for your iPhone here for FREE!

Here’s an hilarious compilation from a Sebastien Loeb fan on “What does Loeb’s Citroen C4 WRC sound like?” Brilliant video clip! Seen other like it? Send to evanrothman@gmail.com! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW67QQWLRrk

HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS NOW AVAILABLE IN SEVEN LANGUAGES! The power and universal appeal of both the Internet and rallying around the world has prompted me to offer H&H’s website in seven different languages. Simply visit the website, scroll down to find you favoured language (represented by a country’s flag) and select. It is that easy!

The iRally App is produced by Crown House Media, the wellknown UK TV and radio agency which created, owns and operates the popular World Rally Radio internet radio station. It is supported by Ford and is available to download FREE of charge via iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/irally-2010wrc-irc/id347126364?mt=8 from the App Store on the iPhone.

JOIN H&H ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK

Rally cartoon launched: RUSTY RIMS by Evan Rothman

With the recent news that MINI and Prodrive had signed with WRCs bosses to enter the World Rally Championship for 20111, the hnt for suitable drivers began minutes after the announcement was made. Marcus Gronholm, Kris Meeke, Kevin Abbring jr, P-G. Andersson and even Petter Solberg’s name has been mentioned in the press. With Kris Meeke at the forefront of this supposed race for the seat, RUSTY RIMS was created. View and read this cartoon on H&H’s website at: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ky

With the ever-increasing number of events and news items being published on a daily basis, HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS has published relevant news items to its website and Facebook Page, and we also feature breath-taking videos from YouTube!

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Features

Interviews Exclusive columnists In-depth articles

FIRST NATIONAL OUTING FOR ROOKIE DHRT CREW Words: Divan de Goede Picture: Evan Rothman The 2010 Swartland Rally, held on the 17 and 18th September, was the penultimate round of both the Sasol South African Rally Championship as well as the Western Cape Regional Rally Championship. The event was held over two days, with the crews tackling 180 kilometers and nine special stages. DHRT took part in this rally as a regional entry, once again competing in Class S3 with our Toyota Corolla RXi. This rally would be the team’s first national event and as such the team was very much looking forward to this experience. Day One comprised of three stages, with SS1 taking place next to the N7 close to the Killarney Motorsport Complex. The stage was extremely rough and at times the tracks left by the previous cars were so deep that it was more like riding on a train than driving a car. Still, getting used to driving on gravel after the long layoff and we almost knocked over a photographer as our car’s rear end stepped out. The infamous rock at the end of the stage

also caught us out, puncturing the underbody protection and giving Henry a fright. SS2 and SS3 were run on the tar at the Killarney Motorsports Complex, and we completed these without incident. After Day One, we were lying 25th out of 35 entrants. Day Two was the rally proper start, with four stages in the Swartland area before returning for the N7 and Killarney stages of Day One. Except for a wrong slot and a struggle to find reverse gear, SS4 was an uneventful stage. SS5, the aptly named Langvlei, would be a real test for us as it was the longest stage ever contested by the team, measuring 38.13km. Luckily, we completed this stage without any issues. SS6 was a repeat of Langvlei and now knowing what to expect, we set off with high hopes. With driver and co-driver in perfect sync, this stage seemed to be going well for us, but Lady Luck had other plans. Henry called a deep-water splash and Divan slowed the car down significantly, not wanting to risk a premature stop to our rally. This, however, was not enough and as the car exited the water the engine suddenly cut out. Try as we might, the engine would

not restart. With both Andre George and Dolf Coetzee passing us, a good result had no slipped away. After an agonizing five minutes, the car finally started and we could continue. At the service everything was checked and our car seemed to be fine again, but as we left service the engine check light came on. We decided to push on and see what happens… SS7 was a reverse of SS4 and we decided to take it easy to make it to the finish. The stage was going well until our car hit a ditch at one of the spectator points, causing the car to pull badly to the right, signaling a puncture. At the first suitable spot we stopped and changed the tyre in-stage. This was our first puncture on a rally and as such it wasn’t the fastest change. SS8 and SS9 played out without any hitches, giving us our first national rally finish as well as a third in Class S3. We would like to thank the organizers and marshals for a great event, as well as Debt Inclusive Vredenburg, Saldanha Truck and Marine center, 4 Wheel Alignment, JD Motorsport and Speedy Vredenburg for making it possible for us H&H to compete.

News

FEATURES

Issue 152 • 30 Sept - 06 Oct 2010

Events

FSTi battle gains pace in France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TK S-WRC title fight for Ford: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TM Munchi’s face tricky test in France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TO Ford targets strong Rallye de France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TQ Pirelli set for all-new French rally: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TS Wilson aims for improved pace: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1TV World Rally Radio - Rallye de France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1U7

Petter Solberg aims for success: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ux Kimi in France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Up Sandell confident of French success: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ur Citroën Junior Team set for France: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UB Gassner jr aims for Top Five: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Uu Loeb and Citroën determined: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UD

ARMCHAIR GUIDE TO THE WRC RALLYE DE FRANCE Words: www.rallybuzz.com Pictures: WorldRallyPics, Citroen Racing Welcome to the www.rallybuzz. com armchair guide to the 2010 Rallye De France, which takes place between Friday 31st September and Sunday 3rd October. The event is round 11 of 13 for the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship. For 35 years, France’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship has been hosted on the island of Corsica. However, in 2010, Rallye de France moves to the mainland and is based in Strasbourg, the capital and principal city of the Alsace region, located in the north-east of the country, close to the border with Germany, this year’s Rallye de France will provide diverse competition. The rally will kick off with a ceremonial start at Place Kleber the largest square in the centre of Strasbourg on Thursday 30 September, but the first full day of action will commence the following morning. The opening day takes the crews south for two loops of four fast stages in the Haut-Rhin region with only a remote service separating the groups of stages. Day Two covers another two loops of four stages but takes the crews to the vineyards in the Bas-Rhin region. The route also includes two runs through the longest stage of the rally (Pays d’Ormont, 35.48 km). The final day is the shortest, covering 57.80 competitive kilometres, however there is no service halt separating the two loops of two stages. Rally Information. Total Distance: 1,272.31km

Stage Distance: 352.88km Number of stages: 20 Based: Strasbourg, France Stage surface: Tarmac Longest stage: Pays d’Ormont, 35.48 km (SS11 & SS15) Service Park: Strasbourg Zénith Weather prospects: In September, average temperatures range between 9ºC in the morning and 18ºC in the afternoon. Currency: The local currency is the Euro. Tyres: P1 and P2 drivers can select from a quantity of 24 hard compound PZero tyres and 22 soft compound PZero covers on Rallye de France. However, they cannot exceed 36 tyres for the entire event. All other four-wheel drive crews can select from 20 hard compound tyres and 16 soft compound tyres but are restricted to a total of 25 for the duration of the rally. Crews in the Junior World Rally Championship will use the RX tyre, available in 16- and 17-inch diameter. Rallye de France is the fifth event of the season for the Pirelli Star Driver programme, a joint initiative between Pirelli and the FIA. It gives the opportunity for five promising young talents, Nick Georgiou, Peter Horsey, Hayden Paddon, Alex Raschi and Ott Tanak, to contest six rounds of the World Rally Championship in identical Pirellibacked Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Xs. As well as counting as Round 11 of the main WRC, Rallye de France is also Round Eight of the Production Car World Rally Championship, for two-litre turbocharged Group N cars, and Round Nine of the Super 2000 World Rally Championship, which uses normally aspirated two-litre cars.

Pirelli supplies its hard and soft compound PZero tyres to both support championships, thereby underlining the performance and efficiency of the Italian rubber on a wide range of machinery. Itinerary:

Thursday 30 September: Ceremonial start - 18.30 Friday 1 October: Day 1 07.30 - SS1 Hohlandsbourg 1 (9.90km) 08.43 - SS2 Firstplan 1 (16.58km) 09.01 - SS3 Vallée de Munster 1 (22.33km) 09.39 - SS4 Grand Ballon 1 (24.12km) • 11.02 - RSZ A Mulhouse (15 mins) 12.42 - SS5 Hohlandsbourg 2 (9.90km) 14.05 - SS6 Firstplan 2 (16.58km) 14.23 - SS7 Vallée de Munster 2 (22.33km) 15.01 - SS8 Grand Ballon 2 (24.12km) 16.24 - Serv B Strasbourg Zénith (45 mins) 19.02 - Finish Strasbourg Zénith Total 145.86km Saturday 2 October: Day 2 07.30 - SS9 Klevener 1 (10.54km) 08.28 - SS10 Ungersberg 1 (15.50km) 08.57 - SS11 Pays d’Ormont 1 (35.48km) 10.05 - SS12 Salm 1 (13.09km) 11.03 - Serv D Strasbourg Zénith (30 mins) 13.03 - SS13 Klevener 2 (10.54km) 14.16 - SS14 Ungersberg 2 915.50km) 14.45 - SS15 Pays d’Ormont 2 (35.48km) 15.53 - SS16 Salm 2 (13.09km) 16.51 - Serv E Strasbourg Zénith (45 mins) 18.24 - Finish Strasbourg Zénith Total 149.22km Sunday 3 October: Day 3 Serv F Strasbourg Zénith (15 mins) 07.15 - SS17 Haguenau 1 (4.20km) 08.23 - SS18 Bitche Camp 1 (24.70km) 09.32 - SS19 Bitche Camp 2 (24.70km) 12.10 - SS20 Haguenau 2 (4.20km) 13.28 - Serv G Strasbourg Zénith (10 mins) 14.22 - Finish Strasbourg Total 57.80km H&H Rally total 352.88km

Events

Interviews Exclusive columnists In-depth articles

INTENSE TOYOTA KALAHARI 1000 DESERT RACE Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Motorpics PRODUCTION VEHICLES: A stunning performance from veterans Hannes Grobler and Hennie ter Stege has confined Toyota to having to wait for another year if they are to win the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race. Toyota have not won their own race, the only marathon event on the Absa Off-Road Racing calendar, since 1999, and for the second year in a row finished with four cars in the top five in the Production Vehicle category – and missed out on first prize. Grobler’s legions of fans in Botswana went into ecstasies when he and Ter Stege brought the RFS BMW home with more than 09min to spare over championship leaders Chris Visser/Japie Badenhorst (RFS Toyota Hilux). At the start of this weekend’s racing section Toyota must have fancied their chances of ending the win drought, and any bookmaker would have given enticing odds against a BMW win. The two factory Castrol Toyota Hilux entries of Anthony Taylor/Robin Houghton and Duncan Vos/Rob Howie led Visser/ Badenhorst, and matters looked to be under control for the race sponsors. Grobler/Ter Stege were fourth,

but after more than 07hrs of racing only around 03min separated the four cars. There was a little added insurance for Toyota with George Barkhuizen/David van Wyck (AIM Toyota Hilux) lying in a handy fifth place. However, after an intriguing chase in sweltering conditions and a total race distance of 964km, Grobler/ Ter Stege finished 09min ahead of championship leaders Visser/Badenhorst. Vos, who was looking for a fourth successive win with all his previous successes coming with Nissan, was a further 08min adrift. It was Grobler’s fifth Desert Race win and by far his most dramatic. “I can’t believe it,” said Grobler. “We always felt the BMW had potential, but to win a race like this so early in its development is phenomenal. “This is always a tough race but the car was great and Hennie did a wonderful job of not getting us lost.” All the various race equations were thrown into disarray within 30km of the restart at Kumakwane, 25km west of Gaborone. Taylor/Houghton went out with a broken gearbox and midway through the first of the two loops that made up the final day Grobler/Ter Stege had moved into second and were chasing Vos/Howie. Midway through the final loop

Grobler/Ter Stege were ahead of Vos/ Howe by less than 10sec. However, the sting in the tail struck again when Vos/Howie ran into a steering problem 10km from the finish, Visser/Badenhorst sneaked through to consolidate their championship lead. There was a little extra consolation for Toyota with Barkhuizen/ Van Wyck edging out the Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux of Gary Bertholdt/Andre Vermeulen to complete the top five. A victory in Class D also helped sweeten bitter disappointment. With all the other Class D runners suffering weekends to forget Deon Venter/Ian Palmer (4×4 Mega World Toyota Hilux), cruised home to an impressive sixth overall. It was only the Toyota’s second competitive outing and lifts Venter/Palmer into championship contention. A little history was also made in Class E where teenager Lance Woolridge, in his first Desert Race, and Ward Huxtable won Class E in the Team Ford Ranger. Woolridge’s father Neil is a former winner of the Desert Race and his son’s performance was ample compensation for the former SA champion. Woolridge senior and Kenny Skjoldhammer dropped out of the race on Saturday in the factory Ford Ranger

News • • • • • • •

Features

EVENTS

Issue 152 • 30 Sept - 06 Oct 2010

Intense 1000 Desert Race: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ug Variawa/Rousseau mission done: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Ui Hat-trick for Variawa/Rousseau: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Uk Heartbreak for Castrol Team Toyota: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1Un Grandstand finish for offroad: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UM Pressure situation offroad leaders: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UO Barden Tyres’ Rundle/Mohr miss: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1UY

running in the SP Class. A proud father was full of smiles with young Woolridge and Huxtable tightening their hold on the Class E championship. SPECIAL VEHICLES: It was mission accomplished for Shameer Variawa/Siegfried Rousseau as they continued their love affair with the Toyota 1000 Desert Race with the Team Total pair scoring a hat-trick of wins in the Special Vehicle category. In a master class display, Variawa/Rousseau (Team Total Porter) finished a slender 01min 36sec advantage over Kallie and Quintin Sullwald (Elegant Fuel BAT). A second Sullwald father and son combination, Herman and Wichard Sullwald, completed the podium in the Sullwald Racing SVR. A third win this season for Variawa/Rousseau also moves them a further five points ahead of Kallie and Quintin Sullwald in the overall championship. For the Sullwald family an impressive performance for the second event in a row keeps the pressure on Variawa/Rousseau over the final two events of the year. The weekend, however, belonged to Variawa/Rousseau and after finishing fifth on the Donaldson Prologue on Friday to determine start positions, they completely dictated matters. The race was then effectively over when the pair opened up a lead of just over 04min on the first racing section on Saturday.

“It turned into a perfect weekend for us,” said Variawa. “We were happy to start in fifth on Friday and on the first racing section all we were aiming at was a clean run. We got what we wanted, and while we knew Kallie and Quintin would put in a big charge all we had to do was control the pace from the front. It would be nice if all races were as straightforward as this one turned out.” The top five in Class A were completed by another father and son combination in Nardus and Louis Alberts in the Wrapsa BAT. They had a bit to spare over local driver Keith du Toit/Ashley Thorn, who showed great patience to grab an impressive result in the White Star Racing BAT. Two other impressive displays saw fourth and fifth overall go to a pair of Class P crews with Johan and Deon Bezuidenhout (Adenco BAT) edging out championship leaders Johan van Staden/ James Rossouw in the Atlas Copco BAT. The brothers reported a clean run, and it was a fine recovery for van Staden/ Rossouw who started ninth in class after problems on the Donaldson Prologue. Third in Class P went to John Thompson/Zelda Niemandt in a Zarco. The battle of the veterans in Class B finally went the way of Coetzee Labuscagne and daughter Sandra, in the Raysonics Zarco, who outlasted former champion Giel Nel/Jaco Jonck in the Zarco Truggy. In an ironic twist it is Nel who prepares the Labuscagne car with

the two Zarcos the only finishers in the H&H class.

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION Production Vehicles Category: 01) H. Grobler/H. ter Stege BMW - 14hr 24m 09s 02) C. Visser/J. Badenhorst Toyota Hilux + 09m 06s 03) D. Vos/R. Howie Toyota Hilux + 17m 33s 04) G. Barkhuizen/D. van Wyck Toyota Hilux + 43m 01s 05) G. Bertholdt/A. Vermeulen Toyota Hilux + 01hr 02m 22s 06) D. Venter/I. Palmer Toyota Hilux + 01hr 16m 26s 07) P. Ruthven/R. Britz Toyota Hilux + 01hr 56m 43s 08) T. Marsh/B. Carolin Nissan Navara + 03hr 18m 01s 09) L. Woolridge/W. Huxtable Ford Ranger + 03hr 20m 36s 10) J. Steyn/P. Jonker Land Rover + 04hr 43m 51s Special Vehicles Category 01) S. Variawa/S. Rousseau Porter - 14hr 37m 54s 02) K-H. Sullwald/Q. Sullwald BAT + 01m 56s 03) H. Sullwald/W. Sullwald SVR + 24m 31s 04) J. Bezuidenhout/D. Bezuidenhout BAT + 30m 32s 05) J. van Staden/J. Rossouw BAT + 34m 26s 06) N. Alberts/L. Alberts BAT + 48m 41s 07) J. Thompson/Z. Niemandt Zarco + 55m 20s 08) B. Bertholdt/P. Herselman BAT + 01hr 07m 26s 09) M. Fourie/A. Fourie BAT + 01hr 18m 25s 10) K. du Toit/A. Thorn BAT + 01hr 34m 20s

Issue 152 • 30 Sept - 06 Oct 2010

News

Features

EVENTS

Here’s the official BRC video of the International Rally Another exciting video clip capturing the thrills of this Yorkshire held this past weekend. the final round of the BRC 2010 season in Yorkshire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRXc-VtlWS0&feature=sub http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEge09PyBJ0

EVANS WINS RALLY, CRONIN RETAINS BRC TITLE FOR 2010 Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Jakob Ebrey Photography There were two winners from this weekend’s International Rally Yorkshire: Gwyndaf Evans/Claire Mole took overall honours on the Scarborough-based gravel event, but Keith Cronin took his second straight victory in the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship, the first for his co-driver Barry McNulty. Evans’ win was a relatively easy one, but only after Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts rolled their Fiesta following a frustrating mechanical gremlin, which had already dropped the Irishman behind the 1996 British Rally Champion. At the finish on Scarborough seafront Evans commented, “It was a difficult rally for everyone, it was so easy to make a mistake, but I’ll treasure this win with the others this year. I’m delighted for the JRM team who have all worked really hard all season.” The victory was Evans’ first on Rally Yorkshire, which has only been part of the championship in its present guise for less than ten years. But it was extra special for BRC returnee and Evan’s third co-driver this season Claire Mole, who chalked up her first ever British Rally Championship event win. Dulux Trade MSA British Teams Rally Championship/Pirelli Star Driver Second place went to a delighted Alastair

Fisher/Rory Kennedy, who completed a JR Motorsports one-two as team-mates to Evans for the first time. The result was enough to secure the Dulux Trade MSA British Teams Rally Championship title for the Chesterfield based rally team. Fisher’s fast but mature drive also netted him the Rally Yorkshire Pirelli Star Driver (PSD) nomination, adding his name to the list of six event finalists who will battle it out for a funded drive in the 2011 Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship. As an added bonus, Fisher took top honours in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge on the event. 2010 Dulux Trade MSA British Teams Rally Champion Third place was more than enough for Cronin to seal his second BRC title. “It has been a difficult event, but I’m not sure the Championship win has sunk in yet,” said Cronin. Cronin’s path to victory has seen the 24-year old from West Cork take wins on just two events this season, Rally North Wales and Rally Isle of Man. This coupled with a second and two thirds meant that his retirement from the lead of the Pirelli Rally within sight of the finish, will no longer haunt the 2009 Pirelli Star Driver winner. He becomes he first ever Irishman to take two British Rally titles, having broken a 35 year drought last year, Billy Coleman being

the only other Irishman to take the title in 1974. Cronin is also the second youngest driver to take and retain the title in consecutive years, beaten by mere months to the accolade by BRC star and 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae. Top ten Finishing well in fourth was the Rally Northern Ireland Pirelli Star Driver nominee Daniel McKenna with co-driver, Andrew Grennan, the pair delighted to have clicked so quickly on their first gravel event in a four wheel drive car. Their hired Mitsubishi was not only new to them, but the Irishman chose to use a left hand drive model in preparation for the PSD shootout next month. Another mature drive came from Welsh youngster Jason Pritchard with experienced Robbie Durant alongside. The pair had plenty of hairy moments on the incredibly slippery North Yorkshire forest tracks, but managed to reach the finish with only cosmetic damage to the Impreza’s bumper. The result not only means they are one of just three crews to finish all six Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship events this year, but a podium finish on the Isle of Man and string of top five finishes leaves Pritchard third in the overall tables and Durant runner up to McNulty. Certainly worthy of note in sixth and seventh place were Daniel

News

Features

EVENTS

Issue 152 • 30 Sept - 06 Oct 2010

Watch Peter Horsey in action on the BRC International Rally Yorkshire stages in preparation for his Pirelli Star Driver campaign events on the WRC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVTS4sSQ7Sc

Sigurðarson/Ásta Sigurðardóttir and Alan Cookson/Julian Wilkinson respectively. The Icelandic brother and sister pairing survived a big spin in the dark of Friday night, smashing off their all-important lamp pod, then losing power steering for several stages on Saturday. Their recovery to the top six is testament to the crew’s persistence and joy at a return to gravel and leaves Sigurðardóttir top Evo Challenge codriver. After Cookson’s monumental crash on the Isle of Man, Rally Yorkshire saw the welcome return of “Mooriel”, the Friesian cow liveried Impreza. The event’s eight stages witnessed crew and cow/car quickly rebuild their confidence throughout the rally for a solid finish. Craig Breen’s eventual recovery to eighth place in the BRC standings was certainly not how the youngster wanted to end his season, a series of non finishes wrecking any chance of championship glory almost from the opening stage back in Wales in March. Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Retiring from the rally was the championship leader Jonny Greer with co-driver Dai Roberts. Their season had been the model of consistency, finishing every event despite the usual minor rally glitches. But the conditions caught out the Ulsterman and he rolled off the road, his event ending with the car pinned on its side against a tree. Despite the retirement Greer wins the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evo Challenge and with it a place in the PSD shootout. Also exiting the fray were frontrunning Subaru crew Adam Gould and Craig Drew who pushed hard early on, only to have a suspension arm sideline them on Saturday lunchtime.

Jason Pritchard has finished on the podium, and it was a hard-fought season for the youngster. Watch him fly through the BRC’s International Rally Yorkshire stages this past weekend in this video clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW67QQWLRrk

Rally 2 The battle for two wheel drive honours went to Mikko Pajunen and Janne Perälä, the Finns also placing ninth of the championship registered finishers. Their change to a Fiesta R2 car did mean they couldn’t seal the Swift Sport Cup, but the move to a more powerful car obviously suited them, overcoming a lack of grip in the mud and continuing to impress.

seventeen and the youngest driver in the championship should not be a hindrance. Despite an indiscretion with the scenery re-arranging the front of his Suzuki, he and new co-driver Alistair Wyllie did exactly what was required of them. Merely getting to the end of the tricky event has secured not only the Swift Sport Cup title, but as the Junior onemake Champion too, Clark becomes the final PSD shootout finalist.

Citroën Racing Trophy Rounding off the top ten were Robbie Barrable and Damien Connolly in their Citroën C2R2 Max. After the retirement of Citroën Racing Trophy rival Mark Donnelly with transmission problems, the Irishman was able to cruise to the finish without incident. The win secures both the overall one-make series title and by virtue of being top Junior driver, also puts him in the PSD shootout in October.

Rally 3 Brothers Steve and Tony Graham already have a title from the 2010 season, that of Diesel Rally Cup Champions. But despite being the final classified finishers on Rally Yorkshire, that was enough to secure the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship Rally 3 class win after a slippery but trouble free run in their diesel Astra. Although another British Rally Championship season is now over, the action continues behind closed doors next month for the Pirelli Star Driver shootout, followed by the end of year H&H awards ceremony.

Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy / BRC Juniors Top placed Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy crew yet again were Elfyn Evans and Andrew Edwards. The astonishing duo’s astounding record of seven FST victories from seven events helps prove why the Welsh pair are worthy winners of both the onemake series and the hotly contested Dulux Trade MSA British Junior Rally Championship. Whilst Evans junior admitted it was amongst the worst day’s rallying he had experienced, with mistakes and time-loss, news of the Junior award more than made up for it at the finish. Swift Sport Cup Having only joined the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship on round three, Tom Clark has proved that being

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) G. Evans/C. Mole Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X - 01h 18m 27.6s 02) A. Fisher/R. Kennedy Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X + 41.5s 03) K. Cronin/B. McNulty Subaru Impreza + 01m 10.4s 04) D. McKenna/A. Grennan Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX + 02m 27.3s 05) J. Pritchard/R. Durant Subaru Impreza + 03m 16.0s 06) D. Sigurdarson/A. Sigurdardottir Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX + 03m 45.1s 07) A. Cookson/J. Wilkinson Subaru Impreza + 06m 42.5s 08) W. Uttig/B. Spokoe Subaru Impreza + 07m 45.9s 09) C. Breen/G. Roberts Ford Fiesta S2000 + 08m 52.5s 10) M. Pajunen/J. Perala Ford Fiesta R2 + 09m 11.9s

Issue 152 • 30 Sept - 06 Oct 2010

News

On board with Bruno Magalhaes in the IRC’s Rallye Sanremo 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjWU5ODMXS8

Features

EVENTS

This video was created by Peugeot UK for their IRC Rallye Sanremo 2010 Day One highlights. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvXu0UChjAQ

SANREMO GLORY FOR ITALIAN ACE ANDREUCCI Words: Staff Writer Pictures: IRC Series Paolo Andreucci has claimed his first victory in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) after defeating fellow Italian Giandomenico Basso in a close fight on Rallye Sanremo, which took place on the testing mountain roads of northern Italy’s Imperia province this past weekend. Driving a Peugeot Italia-backed 207 S2000, the 45-year-old took a lead he would never relinquish on Saturday’s opening stage. Basso, at the wheel of a factory Abarth Grande Punto, had put Andreucci under intense pressure and began the final loop of three stages 0.9s behind his countryman. However, a differential fault on SS10 dropped Basso to an eventual seventh place and allowed Andreucci to cruise home in first place. The result also

enabled Andreucci to strengthen his grip on the Italian championship, which he is on course to win for a third time. After Luca Rossetti, in the second works Grande Punto, lost time with a slow front-right puncture on the penultimate stage and fell to fifth overall, Juho Hanninen inherited second place in his Skoda Motorsport Fabia S2000. It was the ninth time this season that the 29-year-old Finn had finished on the podium although the result wasn’t quite enough for Hanninen to be crowned the 2010 IRC drivers’ champion. With two events left in Scotland and Cyprus, Hanninen’s Skoda teammate Jan Kopecky can still theoretically snatch the crown if he wins the last two rallies and Hanninen doesn’t finish second in either of them under the dropped-score system. However, Skoda’s plans for the remaining two rounds of

the series have yet to be finalised. Hanninen’s drive to second place meant he was chosen as the latest recipient of the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy by a judging panel consisting of Colin’s father Jim McRae, Eurosport’s Gilbert Roy and Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager. They agreed Hanninen’s spectacular performance, which included two outright stage victories, had best embodied the spirit of the rallying legend, who was victorious in Sanremo on two occasions during his career. Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke, the outgoing IRC champion and last year’s Sanremo winner, thought he’d done enough for third place only for Freddy Loix, in the third factory Fabia, to beat his time on the final stage and take third place by 4.2sec. Bryan Bouffier dropped out of fifth place when he picked up a front-

News

Features

EVENTS

Issue 152 • 30 Sept - 06 Oct 2010

Here is Peugeot UK’s Day Two highlights from the IRC Rallye Sanremo 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S39xh8umx-E

left puncture on stage eight and lost more than three minutes after initially attempting to drive through the test with the flat tyre before stopping to change. He eventually made it home in 12th. Guy Wilks started day two in 12th overall after losing time on Friday’s final test by selecting a wet weather tyre in the mistaken belief that the road would be damper than it was. However, the Skoda UK Motorsport driver’s challenge ended after seven kilometres of Saturday’s first stage when he slid into a low wall and damaged the leftrear corner of his Fabia S2000 to the extent he was unable to continue. Behind the unfortunate Basso, Thierry Neuville landed the final IRC drivers’ point in his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 following a mature drive, which culminated in him demoting Italian veteran Gianfranco Cunico on the final stage. Cunico won in Sanremo in 1993 and admitted he is still acclimatising to his 207, which he was using for a second time. Peugeot Sport Portugal’s Bruno Magalahes completed the top ten on his return to the IRC after missing

Click to view this video of great action from the IRC Rallye Sanremo 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK6OPWFIwVs

the last round in Czech Republic. With limited experience of the various tyre compounds available to him, it was a strong performance by the 30-year-old. Local hero Sandro Sottile won the IRC 2WD Cup in his Honda Civic Type-R, while Briton Harry Hunt bagged his second points of the season in seventh place in his Fiesta R2. Paolo Andreucci (Italy), Peugeot 207 S2000, first overall, said: “This is a great result for me and I am very happy. The most important thing this weekend was the Italian championship but to win overall and claim top points in the IRC is a very special feeling. The car and my Pirelli tyres have been perfect all rally.” Said Juho Hanninen (Finland), Skoda Fabia S2000, second overall: “I have to say this was probably my best drive on Tarmac. I pushed really hard without taking any big risks and my times were very good. The conditions were not easy at times but maybe they suited me.” Belgium’s Freddy Loix, Skoda Fabia S2000, third overall, said: “I did not have the best feeling with my car like I had on the other rallies and the

poor road position I was given for the first five stages made it very difficult. To H&H take third is a good achievement.”

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) P. Andreucci/A. Andreussi Peugeot 207 S2000 - 02h 35m 32.7s 02) J. Hanninen/M. Markkula Skoda Fabia S2000 + 04.4s 03) F. Loix/F. Miclotte Skoda Fabia S2000 + 34.1s 04) K. Meeke/P. Nagle Peugeot 207 S2000 + 38.3s 05) L. Rossetti/M. Chiarcossi Abarth Grande Punto S2000 + 01m 21.0s 06) J. Kopecky/P. Stary Skoda Fabia S2000 + 01m 59.9s 07) G. Basso/M. Dotta Abarth Grande Punto S2000 + 02m 17.9s 08) T. Neuville/N. Klinger Peugeot 207 S2000 + 02m 35.0s 09) G. Cunico/R. Pollet Peugeot 207 S2000 + 02m 42.8s 10) B. Magalhaes/C. Magalhaes Peugeot 207 S2000 + 02m 43.9s

Issue 152 • 30 Sept - 06 Oct 2010

News

One hot lap of the NJMP during the first RallyCar Rallycross in August: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRhXuoWjQb8

Features

EVENTS

On board with John Tancredi at the Rallycross #1 of the RallyCars first event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fenbdqlzNfI

SECOND RALLYCROSS SHOW FOR RALLYCAR SERIES Words: Staff Writer Pictures: SRTUSA and RallyCars Top action sports stars including Travis Pastrana, Dave Mirra and Tanner Foust plus some new international stars will be at the New Jersey Motorsports Park this weekend for Round Two of the U.S. Rallycross Championship. Rhys Millen, the Californiabased stunt, drift and racing driver, is an exciting new addition to the field. Formerly a factory backed U.S. rally competitor, Millen is a regular at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, is the 2005 Formula DRIFT champion, and works as a stunt driver in movies including “Fast and Furious 3: Tokyo Drift.” He will debut in a 2002 Hyundai WRC car and with his rare combination of rally and drifting skills, Millen is expected be an instant threat. Top European Rallycross Championship driver Liam Doran is travelling from London, U.K., to attend the U.S. event in the 2009 Citroen C4 rallycross car that he uses in European competition. Joining Doran from overseas is Finland’s Jussi Pinomaki, a seasoned ERC competitor who will compete in an Oslberg MSE Ford Fiesta. Travis Pastrana and Dave Mirra will return to fly the Subaru flag after taking second and third place for Subaru Rally Team USA in the first U.S. Rallycross Championship event in late August. Pastrana staged a massive comeback in the first U.S. Rallycross event when he hit a barrier on the first lap and had to restart the race in the back of the pack. He charged hard to take second place in the Main event final. Rockstar Energy Drink driver

Tanner Foust will return to defend his Round One victory. Foust, a double X Games Rally gold medal winner this year, has the most experience against the new entrants having competed against Rhys Millen in the Formula Drift Series and against Liam Doran in five rounds of the European Rallycross Championship this season. Foust will be driving an Olsberg MSE prepared 2010 Ford Fiesta rallycross car. NOS Energy Drink’s Andrew “ACP” Comrie-Picard will also return, hoping to improve his position in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. The 2009 North American Rally Champion, ACP has competed against Millen and Foust in the Formula DRIFT Series this season and took on a two-wheel drive class in the European Rally Championship event earlier this year. The two-wheel drive class features the return of Josh Wimpey, who is looking to defend his dominating August win. He will need to ward off hard-charging 18-year-old Dillon Van Way who wants to prove he has what it takes in rallycross since winning RallyCar’s 2009 Rally America Two-Wheel Drive Championship and “Rookie of the Year” honours. Josh will also face third place overall Two-Wheel Drive finisher, Randy Zimmer. Americans have seldom seen the speed, power, intensity and overall competition of a Rallycross event. New to America in 2010, the sport sits at the intersection of rally, drifting, and road racing disciplines and features stars from each respective autosport. Five drivers line up to start at once, piloting high-horsepower compact cars through race traffic over a challenging short course that features jumps, unbanked turns, hills

and transitions between pavement and gravel. Each car must also take a “Joker” lap at some point during their heat. A Joker Lap is a small detour – normally over a jump – that adds a level of unpredictability to the heat’s outcome by changing a driver’s strategy in an instant. Fans get close to the action with trackside viewing of aggressive door-todoor action and the sliding and jumping that makes rally car events unique among motorsport. The sport is debuting this year in the US with a three-event series at the New Jersey Motorsports Park. For 2011, the calendar will feature a full, US championship series with events held nationwide. RallyCar is proudly supported by Subaru of America, Inc., BFGoodrich Tires, the Team O’Neil Rally School, Able Planet, Hawk Performance Brakes, Rally-Tire.com, RaceWatches.com, Exedy Racing Clutches, RECARO, Mazda and the Danza del Sol Winery. Based in Golden Valley, Minnesota, RallyCar sanctions the premier performance rally series in the United States, the Rally America National Championship Series. In 2010, RallyCar is conducting six National Championship events at venues across the country, from Olympia, Washington to Newry, Maine. RallyCar competitors reach speeds of well over 100mph in modified street cars on natural-terrain courses consisting of gravel, dirt or snow. Additionally, through a partnership with ESPN, qualifying RallyCar drivers are invited to compete in ESPN’s Summer X Games 16, the annual leading actionsports event that’s broadcast live on H&H ESPN.

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