H&H-158

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

Solberg to win 2010 season finale?

Issue 158 • 11 - 17 Nov 2010

Features

http://handbrakeshairpins.wordpress.com

Citroen C4 WRC in figures, P6 IIconic conic i FFordd on show at NEC, P8 Tough 2010 finale, P8

News

Events IIRC, RC PP10 RRC,

BRC and Irish rally news USA rallying news and updates

WRC and IRC WRC, P15 WR W new news updates

Contents / Issue 158 Editorial Information

04

News

Editor Evan Rothman Photojournalist Eva Kovkova Contributors RallyBuzz, Motorpics, Liga Stirna.

06

Features

06 06 07 07 08 08

Q & A with Liu Chao Dong Walker Motorsport at Targa Citroen C4 WRC in figures Glenn Inkster at Targa Tough 2010 off-road finale Iconic Ford Escort on show at NEC

10

Events

10 12 13 14 14 15

IRC Rally Cyprus REVIEW Golden Stage Rally REVIEW S-WRC Wales Rally GB PREVIEW RallyCars Rallycross #4 REVIEW ARC Rally Victoria PREVIEW WRC Wales Rally GB 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.

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Welcome to issue 158 of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, your FREE weekly insight into the world of rallying.

As always, I hope you enjoy this week’s exciting edition.

Yours in Rallying, Evan Rothman

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

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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 Q & A with Stobart’s Liu Chao Dong: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2ae Hunt aims for FSTi title in Wales: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2ah Ford bids for strong Focus rally end: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2ao World Rally Radio at Rally: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aq Pons vs Ketomaa in S-WRC: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2as Stobart focus on strong finish: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2au WRC Wales Rally GB preparations: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bC Video tribute to Skoda Fabia S2000: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aC Sandell aims for S2000 title: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2by Gassner Jr aims in Great Britain: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bw Heikkinen celebrates first U.S. win: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bt C4 WRC to go out on a high note!: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2b6 The end of an era!: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2b4 History of WRC - 1950s to 1980s: http://wp.me/ppkXc-29U Mikko Hirvonen in Ford Anglia: http://wp.me/ppkXc-29b EUROPEAN AND INTERCONTINENTAL RALLY CHALLENGE Al-Attiyah claims IRC win in Cyprus: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aE Pirelli on top in Cyprus: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aK Golden Stage triumph for Mikkelsen: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aW IRC stars at Awards Ceremony: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aZ Wildcards for FSTI Shootout: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2al IRC stars at Awards Ceremony: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aZ Thrills from IRC Rally of Scotland: http://wp.me/ppkXc-29E

Breen readies for final 2010 event: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aQ Hunt takes IRC 2WD Championship: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aT Harris ready for Wales Rally GB: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bl Williams wins Easson award: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bi Pryce read for international debut: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bf Pritchard takes podium on test: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bb Horsey ready to kick up a gear: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2b8 1970 London-Mexico Ford Escort: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2b2 INTERNATIONAL RALLYING AND OFF-ROAD RACING Int’l Rally of Queensland news: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aj Inkster ecstatic with Targa debut: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2ax PROTON takes one-two in APRC: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aN Villagra snatches championship lead: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bE Walker Motorsport at the Targa: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bG Hyundai i30 rallies to Victoria: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bK USA AND RALLYCAR RALLY NEWS AND EVENTS First female Rallycross drivers: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2a9 New track layout for NJMP: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2a5 Isachsen takes Rallycross win: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aH

BRITISH AND IRISH RALLYING

THIS WEEK’S BEST VIDEOS << With the World Rally Championship fast heading towards its exciting 2010 climxax in Wales, this video preview of the 2010 event will help you in making up your mind as to whether you are in doubts about travelling to this unique event: http://wp.me/ppkXc-21J 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

NEWS

Features

Issue 158 • 11 - 17 Nov

Events

WRC Wales Rally GB preparations: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bC

Video tribute to Skoda Fabia S2000: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2aC

Download the iRally app for your iPhone here for FREE!

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.

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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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e world of rallying

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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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Features

Interviews Exclusive columnists In-depth articles

Q&A SESSION WITH STOBART’S LIU CHAO DONG FROM CHINA Words: Staff Writer Ahead of his debut for the Cumbriabased Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team at Wales Rally GB next week, China’s Liu Chao Dong (25) took time out of his busy schedule to speak about his chances at the event and to tell us a little bit about himself.

The three-time Chinese Rally Champion will contest the rally alongside co-driver Anthony McLoughlin in a Stobart-branded Ford Focus RS WRC, but will not be nominated for points at the final round of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship. Regular teammates Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin and Henning Solberg/Stephane Prévot will also drive under the Stobart M-Sport Ford banner in Wales and will be the team’s nominated point-scorers for the event.

Q: Liu Chao Dong – welcome to the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team!

Can you please tell us a bit about your rallying history and how you first got into motorsport?

A: I started when I was 15-years-old in Chongqing (China) driving a front wheel drive VW Jetta at a super special event.

I began competing in the Chinese Rally Championship (CRC) in 2002 and was Chinese National Rally Champion for the first time in 2004.

Q: You recently did some testing in the Ford Focus RS WRC at M-Sport – how did you like the car?

A: The car was very good but extremely different to a Group N car. There is a lot to learn about the [Ford] Focus RS WRC but I am looking forward to getting to know more at Wales Rally GB. Q: What are your thoughts about Wales Rally GB, do you think it will be a good rally for you?

A: I hope so! We did the recce for Wales Rally GB in 2007 so I have some knowledge of the event and what to expect – it is not completely unknown to me. But that was three years ago now and some of the stages have changed so I know I must concentrate hard when doing the recce again next week and not just rely on my memory. I think it will be a tricky rally because of the weather and it will be slippery everywhere.

Q: What has been your best memory/highlight as a rally driver?

A: Being three-times Chinese Rally Champion and testing the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car. It was great to get behind the wheel of a car that has so much power.

Q: What has been your worst moment?

A: In 2009 when we lost the championship. The start of year was good but we were unlucky at the end of the year when we lost the championship by only a few points – it was very disappointing. I hope to make up for my bad luck last year and to win my fourth Chinese Rally Championship title this season.

Q: What is your fitness regime like?

A: I like to do a lot of dirt bike riding in my home city of Chongqing and I play lots of golf. I like to keep fit and healthy – it’s important to maintain a high level of fitness to be a successful rally driver.

Q: Who is your motorsport idol?

A: I like the Finnish drivers like Tommi Makinen and Marcus Grönholm. They were at their best and winning world titles when I first started taking an interest in rallying.

Q: Tell us a bit about your home life?

A: My normal week usually consists of working in the family business and I try to play golf twice a week. Also on the weekend I like to practice in the rally car to make sure I am ready for the next event. I also like to spend time with my daughter and new son.

Q: Favourite holiday destination?

A: Shanya which is an island close to Hong Kong in southern China. The weather is nice there all year round.

Q: Favourite food?

A: I live in Chongqing in the centre of China and we eat very spicy food. The hotter, the better!

Q: Where do you aim to be in three years time?

A: I want to ensure I remain the best driver in China and I’d love to get more experience driving in the WRC. H&H

WALKER MOTORSPORT AT TARGA Words: Staff Writer Picture: Walker Motorsport A fantastic result for the Ambulance Private pairing of David Watson and Stewart Lister in their Volkswagen R32 with a third place podium finish in the TMR Performance 4WD Showroom Competition at this past weekend’s Targa High Country rally which was the first round of the 2010/2011 Australian Targa Championship.

With the Volkswagen R32 battling against the Mitsubishi Evos all day, Watson and Lister kept it on the road and finished the 7 stages of Day Two with a final push up Mt Buller to grab the podium and an outstanding result for themselves and the team.

“It is great to see the Volkswagen R32 get such a strong result in what is essentially a class dominated by the Mitsubishi cars, and this result should really stir the pot leading into Targa Wrest Point,” said David.

In the RDA Brakes Modern Competition Al & Marti Walker had a good result in their VW R32 with 34th outright in Modern, Fourth in their category and First in their class beating home the Volkspower VW MkV GTI of Dean Coutts and Darran Horrobin who had a tough weekend with Horrobin getting incredibly sick on Day One leaving Coutts to drive with virtually no pace notes all day. Luckily for Coutts an alternate navigastor in Brett Portbury was made available to take over the calls for Day Two allowing him to have a real push at catching the R32, but they fell just short in what was a great battle that was thoroughly enjoyed by both drivers.

The cars are now back in Hobart and already are being stripped down and prepared for the next round of the championship Targa Wrest Point in late January. H&H

News

FEATURES

Issue 158 • 11 - 17 Nov

Events

History of WRC - 1950s to 1980s: http://wp.me/ppkXc-29U

Mikko Hirvonen in Ford Anglia: http://wp.me/ppkXc-29b

INKSTER ECSTATIC WITH TARGA DEBUT Words: Staff Writer Picture: Ground-Sky Photography

THE CITROEN C4 WRC IN FIGURES Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Citroen Racing Ahead of the Citroen C4 WRC’s final outing, HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS will celebrate the car that dominated the WRC landscape in the past several years.

In Numbers: • 4 seasons (2007 to 2010) • 55 rallies • 205 starts • 3 Manufacturer titles • 4 Driver and Co-Driver titles • 35 victories • 12 one-two finishes • 5 one-two-three finishes • 1 one-two-three-four finish • 85 podiums • 139 points finishes • 1,325 Driver points scored

• 1,218 Manufacturer points scored • 35 retirements • 1,068 special stages contested • 593 fastest stage times (56%) in 55 rallies • 635 stages completed in the the rally lead - 59% - split over 45 rallies • 14 rallies led from start to finish (25%) • 4 rallies setting every fastest stage time (7%) This weekend’s rally in Wales will be the last outing for the Citroen C4 WRC in the World Rally Championship by the factory team, and Citroen will be aiming for a clean sweep of the podium in its swansong. H&H

Team TransNet Extreme driver Glenn Inkster has come away from his first attempt at the week-long Targa rally with a strong second place to his name.

Inkster and co-driver Spencer Winn entered the event looking to finish in the top five in a field that included four state-of-the-art Nissan R35 GT-Rs. In the TransNet Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.5, the pair set their own pace on the opening day and finished up fourth, one second behind New Zealand motor racing legend Steve Millen, a battle that would not be settled until the final day.

On the second day, Inkster turned the deficit into a 14sec advantage to hold third place, which became second place early on Day Three when Clark Proctor experienced rally-ending engine problems. By day’s end Inkster still held second place from Millen, but the gap was back to a solitary second.

Day Four was when Inkster started to make his move. After two stage wins in the morning, the gap grew by 10sec, but the afternoon’s damp conditions saw Inkster show his skill, and he pulled 37sec out of Millen in one stage to hold a 39sec lead into the final day, which was by no means a safe margin.

Needing to press on to secure his second spot, Inkster won four of the day’s eight stages and extended the gap to 01min 02sec to take the runner up spot.

“We started the week hoping for a top five,” said Inkster. “After Day One we were pleasantly surprised to be where we were. Those GT-R’s are incredible cars and I’m stoked to have fought it out with them. Hopefully next year we can come back with a few tweaks and take it to the leaders.” H&H

Issue 158 • 11 - 17 Nov

News

Thrills from IRC Rally of Scotland: http://wp.me/ppkXc-29E

FEATURES

Events

How NOT to drive a rally car: even the co-driver laughs at driver! (VIDEO): http://wp.me/ppkXc-2bU

ICONIC FORD ESCORT ON SHOW AT NEC TOUGH FINAL OUTING FOR OFF-ROADERS FOR 2010 Words: Staff Writer Picture: Motorpics New sections on the route will provide competitors with a tough challenge on the final Absa Off-Road Championship event of the year on November 19 and 20.

The RFS Magalies 400 will bring the curtain down on this year’s Absa championship, with the Special Vehicle title still up for grabs. The Production Vehicle championship has already been settled with privateers Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst (RFS Toyota Hilux), clinching the title last time out on the Human Auto 400 in the Free State.

Race director Adri Roets said new sections of route would make this year’s event more interesting – and more of a challenge. New territory in the Blaauwbank area will provide competitors with a fresh challenge.

“The new sections of the route bring a new dimension to the race,” said Roets. “It is going to be a tough end to the season for crews.”

The Donaldson Prologue to determine race grid positions will start at 12:00 on Friday, 19 November. The 60 kilometre route will take competitors along the R24 Krugersdorp/Magalies road through Maloney’s Eye into a new section in the Blaauwbank area.

The race will start at 08:30 on Saturday, November 20 with the prologue route once again coming into play. The 180 kilometre route will be run

twice and also takes in the Syferbuilt, Carletonville and Ventersdorp areas before heading back to Tarlton.

As in previous years the route will be spectator friendly and there are excellent spectator points along the R509 Magalies/Koster Road. There are also good vantage points where the route crosses over the R500.

The main race will start at 08:30 with race headquarters, the start/ finish and designated service point all situated at the Tarlton International Raceway complex on the outskirts of Krugersdorp. Public access to Tarlton and spectator points along the route is free of charge.

“Tarlton and vantage points along the route are easily accessible from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Krugersdorp, Rustenburg and surrounding areas and we expect a huge turnout of race enthusiasts,” said Roets. “There is also the small matter of national championships to be decided, and that adds to the attraction.”

Spectator guides and maps will also be available at race H.Q. H&H

Words: Staff Writer Picture: Ford of Europe Ford’s 1970 London-Mexico winning Escort is making a rare public appearance at the Classic Car Show in November.

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of its famous victory, the Ford Escort, which was driven by Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm, will be on display from 12 – 14 November at the NEC, Birmingham, as the showpiece of a stand celebrating the gruelling 16,000mile rally.

In 1970 Ford Escorts secured one of the most spectacular results in rallying by taking 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 8th places in the six-week event. Ford celebrated this success by launching the iconic Ford Escort Mexico. The original winning Ford Escort, registration FEV 1H, is retained by the company as part of the Ford Heritage Collection.

Forty years after the Ford Escort proved so unbeatable, the Ford Focus is continuing the legacy. Earlier this year the Focus WRC of Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila won Rally New Zealand, providing the company with its 75th win and making Ford the most successful manufacturer in the history of the FIA World Rally Championship.

John Nevill, heritage fleet administrator, said: “There are few endurance events that compare with the 1970 London-Mexico, which was held to mark England’s 1966 football World Cup victory and the start of the following World Cup in Mexico. During this anniversary year our most famous Escort has been in great demand and we are pleased to end the year with an opportunity to display this great car to so many fans.” H&H

Events

Interviews Exclusive columnists In-depth articles

AL-ATTIYAH CLAIMS IRC WIN IN CYPRUS FINALE Words: Staff Writer Pictures: IRC Series Nasser Al-Attiyah has become the eighth different winner in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) this year after claiming victory on the mixed-surface FxPro Cyprus Rally, the 12th and final round of the all-action 2010 IRC season, which finished in Limassol on Saturday.

Al-Attiyah, from Qatar, moved in front when rival and fellow M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 driver Martin Prokop was slowed after his car suffered a broken driveshaft on SS10. Despite the close attentions of Roger Feghali, at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia S2000, Al-Attiyah was able to hold on for his maiden IRC win following 236km of gruelling competition on the sun-baked stages through the spectacular Cypriot

landscape.

The result means that M-Sport, which represents Ford in the IRC, secures third overall in the final IRC manufacturers’ standings behind champion Skoda and runner-up Peugeot.

Juho Hanninen (Skoda Fabia S2000) was confirmed as IRC drivers’ champion following his victory on RACMSA Rally of Scotland last month. His team-mate, Jan Kopecky, was second with Kris Meeke, the 2009 IRC champion, third for Peugeot UK. In the IRC 2WD Cup, 22-yearold Briton Harry Hunt secured the points he needed to move ahead of Kevin Abbring and Rafael Tulio to win the title.

Driving an M-Sport Ford Fiesta R2, Hunt survived a trip into a ditch on Friday, a puncture on the penultimate stage and a spin on the last test to land his second victory in the category this season ahead

of the Honda Civic driver Laszlo Vizin.

Al-Attiyah, a multiple Middle East Rally Champion, was always in contention on the Cyprus Rally and made the most of his experience of competing on the island to race into an early lead. However, the combination of two punctures and a 10sec time penalty for a reported jumped start on Friday let Prokop move into the lead on Day One’s penultimate stage.

But Prokop’s challenge went awry when his Fiesta faltered early on SS10 and he lost more than 3min, not long after he had extended his advantage over Al-Attiyah, who lost time in the dust clouds created by the slowing Prokop. Al-Attiyah’s other cause for concern occurred when a minor transmission glitch occurred on Saturday morning, albeit without any serious consequences.

News

Features

EVENTS

Issue 158 • 11 - 17 Nov

Stig Blomqvist + Aidi Quattro S1 = This Video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9yJ0YU2sps

Feghali, making his IRC debut, impressed throughout the event despite nursing a bent rear suspension arm, the legacy of nudging a concrete retaining wall on Thursday night’s Lemesos Super Special Stage. With no spare available, Feghali was forced to complete the remainder of the event with an illhandling car but still managed to claim second overall.

Prokop had to make do with third although his capture of the final podium spot was briefly in doubt when he spun on the final Galataria stage.

Czech Ford National Team team-mate Jaromir Tarabus finished fourth with Nicos Thomas, the top Cypriot driver in fifth, after overcoming gearchange and brake woes on Friday.

Thomas’ drive in a Peugeot 207 S2000 was the result of the close collaboration between IRC promoter Eurosport Events and rally organiser Cyprus Automobile Association.

Roman Kresta’s low-risk strategy earned the Czech driver sixth overall in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Kresta was the highestplaced driver in a traditional two-litre turbocharged Group N car.

Charalambos Timotheou took seventh from fellow Cypriot Constantinos Tingirides, who was slowed on the final day by a right-rear puncture, an anti-lag glitch and a minor off on the penultimate stage in his Ralliart Lancer.

Bryan Bouffier’s bid to make up for the 25min delay he suffered on Friday morning ended when he broke his Peugeot’s left-rear suspension on the first Galataria stage on Saturday morning, shortly after claiming his fourth stage victory of the rally. His efforts to complete SS2 and the pace he showed thereafter earned him the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy, which is handed

Petter Solberg in WRC Rally Argentina 2009 - in-car! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEQBr2vrWmc

to the driver who produces the most spectacular performance and best embodies the spirit of the rallying legend on rounds of the IRC. Qatar’s Misfer Almari won the Subaru Individual Award as the highest Subaru finisher in ninth overall to maintain his lead of the Middle East Rally Championship, which ran in conjunction with the main IRC event.

Panikos Polykarpou completed the top ten in a Lancer. Burcu Cetinkaya limped to the finish in 14th overall with broken steering following a final stage failure on her Peugeot Sport Turkey 207 S2000.

Daniel Oliveira restarted on Saturday morning but went no further than SS11 after damaging his 207′s steering. Like Oliveira, Franz Wittmann also retired on Friday but elected not to restart on Saturday.

Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar), M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000, first overall, said: “It’s been a very hard rally but I’m very happy to have won my first IRC event. We had some problems but I never gave up. It was not easy against Martin [Prokop] because he was very fast so to have won is really fantastic.”

Roger Feghali (Lebanon), Skoda Fabia S2000, second overall said in the post-event press conference: “After the troubles yesterday I’m very satisfied with second place and have to thank my team, my sponsors and my co-driver for everything they have done to help me.”

Said Martin Prokop (Czech Republic), M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000, third overall: “I think without the problems I could have won and it was disappointing that I didn’t. But I always knew Nasser would be difficult to beat.

Now I look forward to the Golden Stage Rally.” H&H

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) N. Al-Attiyah/G. Bernacchini M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 02) R. Feghali/J. Matar Skoda Fabia S2000 + 57.4s 03) M. Prokop/J. Tomanek M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 + 4m 42.0s 04) J. Tarabus/D. Trunkat M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 + 5m 40.5s 05) N. Thomas/A. Loizides Peugeot 207 S2000 + 6m 45.5s 06) R. Kresta/P. Gross Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX + 7m 16.6s 07) C. Timotheou/P. Laos Ralliart Lancer Evolution X + 12m 44.0s 08) C. Tingirides/P. Shialos Ralliart Lancer Evolution IX + 13m 20.6s 09) M. Almari/N. Arena Subaru Impreza N16 + 14m 50.3s 10) P. Polykarpou/S. Laos Ralliart Lancer Evolution IX + 19m 15.8s DRIVERS’ STANDINGS 01) Juho Hanninen (Finland) - 62pts 02) Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic) - 47pts 03) Kris Meeke (United Kingdom) - 39pts 04) Freddy Loix (Belgium) - 36pts 05) Bruno Magalhaes (Portugal) - 30pts 06) Guy Wilks (United Kingdom) - 27pts 07) Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway) - 21pts 08) Paolo Andreucci (Italy) - 18pts 09) Thierry Neuville (Belgium) - 12pts 10) Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) - 10pts = Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) - 10pts MANUFACTURERS’ STANDINGS 01) Skoda - 120pts 02) Peugeot - 87pts 03) M-Sport - 55pts 04) Ralliart - 33pts 05) Subaru - 11pts 06) Abarth - 6pts 2WD DRIVERS’ STANDINGS 01) Harry Hunt - 30pts 02) Kevin Abbring - 20pts = Rafael Tulio - 20pts 04) Pierre Campana - 16pts 05) Yeray Lemes - 10pts = Siim Plangi - 10pts = Kris Princen - 10pts = Duarte Ramos - 10pts = Sandro Sottile - 10pts = Marcos Tokarski - 10pts 2WD MANUFACTURERS’ STANDINGS 01) Peugeot - 94pts 02) M-Sport - 86pts 03) Honda - 61pts 04) Abarth - 38pts 05) Skoda - 5pts

Issue 158 • 11 - 17 Nov

News

IRC Belgium Ypres Rally 2009 highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jsrdn9_7QA

Features

EVENTS

In-Car on Rally Talsi 2010: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDYZLEndUs4

MIKKELSEN WINS LOVE CYPRUS GOLDEN STAGE RALLY Words: Staff Writer Andreas Mikkelsen has won the inaugural Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally, which was shown live on Eurosport and Cypriot channel LumiereTV and carried a prize fund of 150,000 Euros.

Co-driven by fellow Norwegian Ola Floene, Mikkelsen set a scorching pace over the opening 25km mixedsurface run to establish an interim lead of 10.3sec. And he maintained his advantage over the second test to eventually beat Nasser Al-Attiyah by 8.2sec in a tense finish, despite going slower than the Qatari driver on the final run.

As well as winning 30,000 Euros for his overall victory, the 21-yearold bagged 10,000 Euros for topping Category A for Super 2000 cars. Roman Kresta earned 10,000 Euros for winning Category B in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, while Karl Kruuda received a cheque for 10,000 Euros for finishing as the leading Category C contender in his two-wheel drive Suzuki Swift.

Both runs over the stage were held in baking sunshine against the backdrop of the Mediterranean island’s spectacular landscape. Mikkelsen put his victory down to his “full attack” approach on the first run and a slightly more controlled effort on run two when he was able to preserve his lead.

“It was definitely full attack for the first stage but I could drive a little more in the middle of the road on the second run and avoid some of the rocks,” said Mikkelsen. “It was quite nerve-wracking because in the middle of the stage I thought we had a problem with the powersteering but in the end it was okay.”

Mikkelsen’s victory made up for the disappointment of retiring on the opening day of the FxPro Cyprus Rally,

the 12th and final round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which ran from 04 - 06 November. “I really should have won that too so this does make up for it in some way,” he said.

Behind Mikkelsen, Cyprus Rally winner and second-placed Al-Attiyah said he had not been able to live with his rival’s pace: “I am quite happy because it has been a good weekend for us but maybe Andreas had an advantage. He had a new exhaust on his car, which gave him an extra 13bhp.”

Frenchman Bryan Bouffier felt that the extensive amount of asphalt on the stage, which covered approximately 15km of the run, had held him back in his Peugeot 207 S2000.

Martin Prokop said a lack of traction on the gravel sections prevented a bid for victory in his Fiesta.

Nicos Thomas was the leading Cypriot driver in fifth overall on only his second outing in his Peugeot 207, which he was driving thanks to the close collaboration between Golden Stage Rally promoter Eurosport Events and organiser Cyprus Automobile Association.

Jaromir Tarabus completed run two with a punctured right-rear tyre but still managed to take sixth overall ahead of Group N winner Kresta and Cypriot Constantinos Tingirides, who said that his Ralliart Lancer lacked power on the first run. Two-wheel drive victor Karl Kruuda and Panikos Polykarpou completed the top ten.

A broken left-rear suspension arm caused multiple Lebanese champion Roger Feghali’s retirement 13km into the final test, after he had completed the first run in fifth overall. Daniel Oliveira crashed out on the first corner of the second run. Both incidents were shown live on Eurosport and Cypriot channel LumiereTV. Burcu Cetinkaya’s Golden Stage Rally ended on run two when she rolled

her Peugeot Sport Turkey 207, thankfully without injury. Franz Wittmann suffered a front-right puncture on the first run and elected not to take the start of the second stage in his Interwetten Racing 207.

All competitors carried Colin McRae Vision windscreen strips in support of the charity established in memory of the 1995 world rally champion. The charity supports initiatives and good causes aimed at improving health and education for young children around the world. At the IRC Awards Ceremony in Limassol tonight (Sunday), Colin McRae Vision will make a substantial donation to ELPIDA, a charitable foundation for children with leukaemia and other cancers living in Cyprus. H&H

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) A. Mikkelsen/O. Floene M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 - 37m 14.3s 02) N. Al-Attiyah/G. Bernacchini M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 + 8.2s 03) B. Bouffier/X. Panseri Peugeot 207 S2000 + 13.8s 04) M. Prokop/J. Tomanek M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 + 24.6s 05) N. Thomas/A. Loizides Peugeot 207 S2000 + 1m 25.5s 06) J. Tarabus/D. Trunkat M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 + 2m 07.2s 07) R. Kresta/P. Gross Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX + 2m 37.8s 08) C. Tingirides/P. Shialos Ralliart Lancer Evolution IX + 3m 12.6s 09) K. Kruuda/M. Jarveoja Suzuki Swift S1600 + 3m 26.6s 10) P. Polykarpou/S. Laos Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX + 3m 32.1s Golden Stage Rally prize fund allocation: Andreas Mikkelsen: 40,000 Euros Nasser Al-Attiyah: 28,000 Euros Bryan Bouffier: 16,000 Euros Martin Prokop: 10,000 Euros Roman Kresta: 10,000 Euros Karl Kruuds: 10,000 Euros Constantinos Tingirides: 8,000 Euros Nicoas Thomas: 6,000 Euros Panikos Polykarpou: 6,000 Euros Savvas Savva: 5,000 Euros Laszlo Vizin: 5,000 Euros Paraskevas Paraskeva: 3,000 Euros Janos Puskardi: 3,000 Euros

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Features

EVENTS

Issue 158 • 11 - 17 Nov

Best of WRC 2008 highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mThzqHaU2s

Petter Solberg on WRC Wales Rally GB 2009 shakedown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhWElXmqRtw

PONS AND KETOMAA SET FOR WELSH S-WRC SHOWDOWN Words: Staff Writer Pictures: M-Sport The stage is set for a thrilling Super 2000 World Rally Championship (S-WRC) title fight between Jari Ketomaa and Xevi Pons at Wales Rally GB this weekend.

At the previous S-WRC round in France, Martin Prokop’s sixth-place finish dashed the Czech driver’s hopes for the championship title. However, Jari Ketomaa’s second-place finish launched him back into title contention and the Finn currently lies in third position – only seven points adrift of championship leader Xevi Pons.

Pons will be aiming for a victory at Wales Rally GB in a bid to win the series but with only nine points separating the Spaniard, Jari Ketomaa and Patrik Sandell competition is set to be fierce.

The award-winning Ford Fiesta S2000 has claimed podium finishes in eight of the nine rounds of the S-WRC so far, and M-Sport’s new generation rally car currently occupies the top three spots in the overall standings with only event remaining.

Ketomaa, Pons and Bernardo Sousa will all be competing for S-WRC honours next week but fellow Ford Fiesta S2000 drivers Craig Breen and Dennis Kuipers will also join the N4 class in Wales.

Xevi Pons got off to a flying start in 2010, taking victory at both Mexico and Jordan. The Spanish driver has continued to produce a series of strong results to maintain his position at the top of the leaderboard but with only nine points separating the top three S-WRC contenders, the Spaniard cannot afford to rest on his laurels and will be aiming to score a winning hattrick in Wales to secure his hopes of championship glory.

A polished performance from Jari Ketomaa at Rally Japan meant the Finn was the first Ford Fiesta S2000 driver to claim three victories in the S-WRC. This was then followed by a

strong second-place finish in France which launched Ketomaa back into podium position. The Finn is now ideally placed to steal the lead from Pons and is aiming for a victory in Wales to strengthen his chances of winning the title.

Bernardo Sousa had a troubled time at the previous two S-WRC rounds in Japan and France. However, after recently being crowned the youngest ever winner of the Portuguese Rally Championship (CPR) Sousa’s confidence is high and the young driver will be looking to top his fourth place on home soil at Rally de Portugal in May, which remains his best performance in the S-WRC to date.

M-Sport entry Dennis Kuipers is not registered to score points in the S-WRC but has used this season to further develop his understanding of M-Sport’s new generation rally car. This will be the second time that the 24-yearold Dutch driver has contested Wales Rally GB and Kuipers will be looking to improve on his 16th place finish from last year’s event.

Craig Breen is another M-Sport entry who has had a busy season contesting rounds of the British Rally Championship (BRC) in the awardwinning Ford Fiesta S2000. The young Irish driver contested Neste Oil Rally Finland in July finishing 19th overall but will be looking to pick up the pace in Wales to challenge the other S2000 drivers for a podium position.

“I’ve not competed on gravel for nearly four months now – the last two S-WRC rounds were on asphalt so I had a test on Thursday to try and prepare myself for a return to gravel stages,” said Xevi Pons. “I competed in Wales in 2007 and I remember the roads were very fast. It was a difficult event – the weather can also be very challenging on this rally. I’ve been training very hard recently and I really hope that the fitness training will pay off when I’m competing in Wales. I’m aiming to win – it would the perfect end to the season.”

Jari Ketomaa said: “I’m very

excited about going to Wales next week and I have a good feeling about this rally. My only target is to win and I plan to fight from the beginning to ensure this is possible. I competed in Wales two years ago and I liked the stages – it is a legendary event in the WRC calendar and the stages are very nice. I’ve got a test on Monday and I hope it will go well. This year’s Wales Rally GB could be one of the most important rallies of my career and I am desperate to win.”

Bernardo Sousa said: “I’ve had a really good season this year and was very happy to become the youngest ever winner of the Portuguese Rally Championship last month. A good position in Wales could be the icing on the cake but we will just have to see how things go. I think the weather could make the stages in Wales very slippery and it will be a tricky event.”

“I am looking forward to Wales Rally GB,” said Dennis Kuipers. “In 2009 I contested the rally for the first time and finished 16th overall. I found it a very nice, but difficult rally because of the changing weather conditions but I liked it because it is a real challenge.

There is strong competition in Wales but I’m looking forward to competing against the other S2000 drivers. For me this season has been a very educational year – I’ve gained a lot of experience with the Fiesta S2000 and during our pre-event test sessions we learned a lot about setup.”

Craig Breen said: “We set some really good times in Finland and I think if we push from Day One then we could challenge the other S2000 drivers for a podium position. Wales Rally GB was a good rally for me last year – obviously this year is going to be different as we’re not in the [Fiesta] R2 but I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta S2000 for another WRC event.

We actually did some of the stages as part of the Bulldog Rally back in March – some of the tests were run in opposite directions but it was all good preparation for next week.” H&H

Issue 158 • 11 - 17 Nov

News

WRC Rally Germany action highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x0MqqNuWJg

Toomas Heikkinen won the fourth and final Round of the 2010 RallyCar U.S. Rallycross Championship in the Per Eklund Motorsport-supported 2010 SAAB 93 ASS. The 19-year-old Finnish prodigy had an impressive showing in his U.S. debut after placing second overall on Saturday and winning Sunday’s AWD A Main final outright with a time of 3min 15.5sec.

Following the young Finn was Ford Fiesta driver Tanner Foust, the only American to stand on the All-WheelDrive podiums this past weekend. Foust, who dominated the first two Rounds of the new U.S. Series, turned in a time of 3min 17.2sec on the A Main and was amongst the fastest in Heats 1 and 2. Citroen driver Liam Doran overcame mechanical issues he faced on Saturday’s event to place the fastest Qualifying and Heat times on Sunday, eventually taking 3rd place with a time of 3min 19.2sec in the A Main.

This weekend’s double-header was a successful finale to RallyCar’s inaugural wheel-to-wheel season, boasting record entries and spectator attendance. Hosted at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, the Rallycross was an international affair with five top overseas competitors challenging America’s best.

The AWD A-Final saw four Americans up against three proven European drivers and was preceded by an intensely fought B Main race. In the B Main, Rhys Millen took the lead from the start, but eventually lost his advantage after he took the Joker lap. Subaru Rally Team USA’s Travis Pastrana battled FIA European Rallycross Champion Sverre Isachsen before Isachsen had a violent crash into a tirewall, making way for Pastrana to advance to the final. In addition to Sverre’s retirement, both

Handbrakes Hairpins

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llying

world of ra your insight into the

EVENTS

Lancia Stratos in WRC Rally Portugal 2010: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quPkO5OarzU

TOOMAS HEIKKINEN WINS 2010 RALLYCROSS FINALE Words: Staff Writer

Features

Andrew Comrie-Picard and Andi Mancin DNF’d as well.

In Two-Wheel-Drive competition, Matthew Johnson drove his Ford Fairmont to the top of the podium in the A Main, placing a time of 3min 53.1sec. Despite Johnson’s car being disadvantaged in the dirt sections of the NJMP course, he placed second in 2WD on Saturday to cement a strong finish to his debut Rallycross season. Volkswagen GTI driver Josh Wimpey took 2nd place in the 2WD A Main, securing his place in U.S. Rallycross history as the very first 2WD Class Champion. Wimpey chased Johnson in the final to finish with a time of 3min 54.2sec.

Mazda Speed 3 driver Wyatt Knox made his return to U.S. Rallycross since his podium finish at the first NJMP event, placing 3rd overall with a time of 3min 59.3sec. Drivers Jordan Guitar and Satruday’s 2WD winner John Tancredi finished the event in fourth and fifth places respectively. John Hall DNF’d in the 2WD final after breaking the front suspension in his Nissan 240SX. H&H

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION Standings AWD A Main: 01) Toomas Heikkinen (SAAB 93 ASS) - 3m 15.5s 02) Tanner Foust (Ford Fiesta) - 3m 17.2s 03) Liam Doran (Citroen C4) - 3m 19.2s 04) Travis Pastrana (Subaru Impreza STi) - 3m 22.4s 05) Rhys Millen* (Hyundai Accent) - 3m 25.8s 06) Dave Mirra (Subaru Impreza STi) - 3m 27.2s DNF - Jussi Pinomaki (Ford Fiesta) * ‘Promoter’s Option’ placed 7th on the A-Final Grid Standings 2WD A Main: 01) Matthew Johnson (Ford Fairmont) - 3m 53.1s 02) Josh Wimpey (Volkswagen GTI) - 3m 54.2s 03) Wyatt Knox (Mazda Speed 3) - 3m 59.3s 04) Jordan Guitar (Honda Civic Si) - 4m 07.3s 05) John Tancredi (Mazda MX5) - 4m 12.2s DNF - John Hall (Nissan 240SX)

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HYUNDAI i30 RALLIES TO VICTORIA Words: Staff Writer Picture: Team Hyundai Rallye The Hyundai Genuine Parts and Accessories sponsored Team Hyundai Rallye is keen to cement the ARC ‘Showroom / Eco Challenge’ title as it takes the i30 CRDi turbo diesel to the final round of the 2010 series, Rally Victoria.

The Hyundai i30 rally car, fresh from an appearance at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, and has been fully prepared and is ready for the event. “We had a little bit of maintenance work to do on the car before we sent it to the motor show, and of course we had to give it a wash!” laughed driver Mick Gillett. “We had a fantastic response to the i30 at the Motor Show, the public loved it and I got a tired hand signing all the posters!”

It’s time now for the team to focus on the competition. “I’m itching to get back in the car,” said navigator Harvey Smith. “This is the longest gap we’ve had between events since we started the i30 rally program, so we’re really looking forward to competing again.”

“Our aim is to maintain our 100% finish record. We are one of only a few cars in the series to finish every event we have started in, and we are very proud of this record,” said Gillett.

“It’s a true testament to the durability and reliability of the i30. It’s been a fantastic year for us, and we are really hoping to finish it off in style.”

Team Hyundai Rallye is excited to be able to introduce the sport of rallying to some new faces. “We have had such a great bunch of apprentices with us this year through the program,” said Rally Service Crew manager Wayne Luxford. “We really aim to show the apprentices the fast paced environment of rallying, and hope it brings them new and improved techniques to take back to their dealerships, and add to their service skill set.”

The final round of the 2010 Australian Rally Championship commences on Friday 12th November, with two stages in the afternoon after a display at Lardner Park, before moving to the ‘Forest’ stages in the Baw Baw Shire on Saturday 13th November in the West Gippsland in the Neerim district of Victoria.

For more information about the event visit http://www.rallyvictoria.com. au/ H&H

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Features

EVENTS

Issue 158 • 11 - 17 Nov

WATCH: 2008 WRC Rally GB highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1DNtQYtoyE

Mikko Hirvonen’s bonnet problems in WRC Wales Rally GB 2009 (VIDEO): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4splgHUve8

WELSH FORESTS SET FOR WRC SEASON FINALE Words: Evan Rothman Pictures: Citroen Racing, Tony Whelan, WorldRallyPics.

The World Rally Championship has already crowned its Champions of 2010, but with the final round to run this weekend rally fans expect an all-out battle in the Welsh forest stages.

Wales Rally GB is the highlight for many rally crews and fans as the rally often adds its unique challenges and weather conditions to the regular high-speed, always sideways and sometimes-airborne antics of the WRC cars. Starting tonight with its all-asphalt Spectator Super Special Stage in Cardiff Bay, competitors in the WRC and S-WRC (Super 2000 World Rally Championship) categories will need to push their machines to their limits (and beyond) in all of the event’s 20 testing stages.

Petter Solberg and Chris Patterson (Petter Solberg World Rally Team) have been knocking on the door for a win throughout 2010, but it is this event that Petter “Hollywood” Solberg has been eyeing to leave his mark on in 2010. The rally’s 344.96km of

competition also suit the sweeping and attacking style of up-and-coming rally aces Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassi (Citroen Total World Rally Team). A strong performance in 2009 from this young duo put them on the map, and they will be looking to add his third win of the season to the Championship scoreboard. With team-mates Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena already having wrapped up the WRC title, rally fans would like to see the seven-times Champion give it his all in this the final encounter of the year.

Adding to the mix this weekend is the fact this event is the last outing for the current WRC crop of cars. New regulations for 2011 see a new breed of World Rally Car debuting with a 1.6-litre turbocharged motor coupled to a 4WD transmission. Both Citroen and Ford are hoping to claim the final win for the WRC history books.

Ford’s mighty Focus RS WRC cars will close their glorious WRC chapter here too, with Mikko Hirvonen/ Jarmo Lehtinen and Jari-Matti Latvala/ Miika Anttila leading the Blue Oval charge. With the weather ahead of the rally looking to bring wet and muddy

conditions to the this weekend’s stages, the Ford crews feel they will be on equal footing to fight for the overall rally win.

It will be a tough challenge to outpace the experienced Norwegian Solberg and the flying Frenchman Ogier, but Hirvonen and Latvala both are unafraid of rolling up their sleeves for a hammer-and-tongs fight to the finish.

Friday’s leg of the rally visits the classic Hafren and Myherin tests in mid-Wales, with a brief 15min service in Builth Wells splitting two loops of the same stages. Saturday is the longest leg of the event with two new stages and an 11km asphalt section on the Epynt military ranges in mid-Wales as part of a 25.14km mixed surface stage near Brecon. The final day in the south includes a revised version of the famous Resolfen test in the Vale of Neath. Enjoy every moment of this final 2010 WRC event!

• This article has also been published on: http://www.girlracer.co.uk. Visit GirlRacer for motoring and motorsport news, as well as rally articles by HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS editor Evan Rothman. H&H

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