H&H-172

s e k a r b Hand s n i p r i a H & of rallying ld r o w e h t o t in t h your insig

Cover

BOGIE WINS RALLYE SUNSEEKER IN STYLE

ISSUE 172 • 03 MAR 2011

Service Park

MINI unveils S2000, P6 Molly Taylor at Sunseeker, P8 Hanson still leads, P10

Team Total revealed, P7

Novikov joins Stobart, P11

http://wp.me/pkXc

Start Ramp

Parc Ferme

BRC and Irish rally news

r BRC, B RC RC, R P12 USA rallying snippets snipp

RA, R A P14 Barrable plans IRC action, P10

WRC and IRC news updates new Pitchford wins award, P5

DOCUMENTATION 04

Editorial Information

Editor Evan Rothman

Photojournalist Eva Kovkova

Contributors RallyBuzz, Motorpics, Newspress.

All content copyrighted property of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, 200711. This publication is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the editor.

While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of information from sources and given to readers, the editor cannot accept responsibility for any inconvenience or damage that may arise therefrom.

News

04 04 05

Start Ramp - News Shorts Pitchford wins media award Fan Foto Framed

06

Features

06 07 08 09 09 10 10 11

MINI unveils S2000 and WRC schedule Team Total reveals plans for 2011 Taylor and Smart retire from Sunseeker Solberg ready for Mexico BRC Rallye Sunseeker report by H&H Hanson still in charge Barrable plans for IRC campaign Novikov joins Stobart for Mexico

12

Events

12 14 16

BRC Rallye Sunseeker review RA Rally in the 100 Acre Wood review WRC Rally Mexico preview

Contact E-mail us evan.hhmag@gmail.com Call us +27 83 452 6892 Surf us http://wp.me/pkXc

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Welcome to issue 172 of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, your FREE weekly insight into the world of rallying.

As always, I hope you enjoy this week’s exciting edition packed with news on Craig Breen’s growing CV, news from the USA, the UK and of course the rallying mecca that is Europe. To top it all, as crews ready for the respective South African Off-Road and Rally Championships, we bring you a big read once more this week.

Yours in Rallying, Evan Rothman

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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.

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Telephone +27 11 6708400 E-mail: info@ats-motorsport.co.za Website: ats-motorsport.co.za

START RAMP Team & Event News

Videos

Fan Foto Framed

45 ENTRIES PLUS FOR CANARIAS

KOPECKY WINS CZECH MEDIA PRIZE

HUNT FINALISES 2011 IRC

Words: Staff Writer

Words: Staff Writer

Words: Staff Writer

Interest in Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés continues to grow after organisers revealed that 45 crews have registered for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge round.

And with entries for the island event not closing until 1 April, there is a strong possibility that even more competitors will sign-up for the Gran Canaria-based rally.

One of the latest names to enter is Spaniard Ruben Gracia who will be a contender for IRC Production Cup honours in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X after finishing seventh overall on the event last season.

Gracia will be looking to make up for his disappointing exit on Rallye Monte-Carlo in January when he was challenging for a place in the top 30 only to go off the road and retire on the eighth stage of the event.

Rally Islas Canarias takes place from 14-16 April and counts as the second round of the 12-event IRC series.

The event made its first appearance on the IRC schedule in 2010 and was won

by Czech crew Jan Kopecký and Petr Starý in a Škoda Fabia Super 2000. H&H

Jan Kopecký has received a boost as he prepares for Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, round two of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

The 29-year-old from Czech Republic was chosen by members of his country’s motoring media as the recipient of a Golden Steering Wheel, which go to the best performers in a variety of motorsport disciplines, including rallying, each year.

Kopecký, who has finished runner-up in the IRC standings for the past two seasons alongside co-driver Petr Starý, received the award recently following his exploits in last season’s IRC in a Škoda Motorsport Fabia Super 2000.

He said: “I really appreciate this award from the media. It honours the results of my job although I was making some mistakes last year in the IRC and I hope these will not be repeated [this year].”

Kopecký has received the award on three previous occasions in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Rally Islas Canarias is based in Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria. It runs from 14-16 April. H&H

Reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) 2WD Cup champion Harry Hunt has confirmed the remainder of his IRC plan for 2011.

The London-based Briton, who beat Kevin Abbring and Rafael Tulio to the IRC 2WD Cup title in 2010, will contest Tour de Corse, Geko Ypres Rally, Sata Rallye Acores, Barum Czech Rally Zlin, Rallye Sanremo, RACMSA Rally of Scotland and the Cyprus Rally.

“After winning the IRC 2WD Cup last year I’m really excited about the challenge I’ll face trying to defend my title,” said Hunt. “Obviously it’s going to be more difficult this year because I’m stepping up in terms of car performance and I’m going to face even more rivals.

But I’m doing a good spread of events and I’ve got a good chance to learn even more. I’ll certainly be doing my best to get some good results and build my experience.”

All drivers in any two-wheeldrive car built to Grp A, Grp N and Gr R regulations are eligible for the IRC 2WD Cup drivers’ title. Only those car makes registered as an IRC manufacturer are permitted to score IRC 2WD Cup manufacturers’ points. H&H

THIS WEEK’S BEST VIDEO << Tim Williams represented HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS at the opening round of the 2011 Rally America season. This talented photographer also filmed the cars in action, and here is his series of video clips: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2uq At the top of each page, a tabbed section contains video clicks we recommend viewing. In other tabbed sections, we have linked articles posted on our website that will add more perspective and insight into the article it accompanies. Together with the videos, HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS aims to offer readers a fully-interactive reading experience.

Send evanrothman@gmail.com your favourite rally-related videos to to be featured in this section. Or, send us a twitter to @Evan_Rothman or a message on Facebook.

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF RALLYING

RallyBuzz.com features European rally championships, British rallying, RallyCar events, international rally results and videos, as well as S2000 and WRC news.

www.RallyBuzz.com

Issue 172 • 03 Mar 2011

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Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo test the MINI Countryman WRC: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2CX

FAN FOTO FRAMED

Got a great shot from a rally? Send your favourite rally photograph to evan.hhmag@gmail.com to be featured here!

Picture by Bill Holmes.

PITCHFORD NAMED MOTOR SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR 2010 Words: Staff Writer Picture: Motorpics Ralph Pitchford, who was the highest-placed South African in last year’s Dakar Rally when he navigated American Mark Miller to third place in a factory Volkswagen Race Touareg, is the 2010 Bridgestone/Guild of Motoring Journalists Motor Sportsman of the Year.

The 49-year-old former national off road motorcycle and production car co-driver champion was competing in his fourth Dakar Rally and is regarded as one of the world’s best ultra-marathon off road navigators.

Winner of the Colin Watling Award for special achievement in motor sport by someone other than a competitor was Adrian Pheiffer, for his lifelong dedication to motor sport as a competitor, club official and motorsport journalist and, most recently, as the author of a significant book which chronicles the history of early Cape motorsport and specifically the half decade of the Killarney motor racing circuit, an institution with which he has been associated since its birth more than 50 years ago.

Also nominated for the Colin Watling Award was Ian Schofield, for his long-time support and sponsorship of Formula Ford in South Africa, which has seen the category grow into one of the most competitive in the country. H&H

Download H&H’s FREE January Rally Calendar: http://bit.ly/hdWp0A

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SERVICE PARK Interviews

Exclusive columnists

In-depth articles

MINI UNVEILS S2000 MACHINE, WRC SCHEDULE Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Newspress The opening of the 81st International Geneva Motor Show provided the stage for MINI to unveil the MINI John Cooper Works S2000 – the latest milestone on the road to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). This is the forerunner to the MINI John Cooper Works WRC, which the MINI WRC Team will entrust to drivers Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke for its debut in the premier category of rallying in the WRC Rally Italy from 05 – 08 May 2011. Further entries are planned in the WRC events in Finland, Germany, France, Spain and Great Britain. Private teams will line up with the S2000 version of the car at the end of March in WRC Rally Portugal.

“We are delighted to present the MINI John Cooper Works S2000 here in Geneva,” said Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht, Senior Vice President Brand Management MINI. “MINI has joined forces with a highly experienced partner in Prodrive, and our colleagues in England continue to oversee the development of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC. When you add the turbocharged MINI engine and the BMW Group’s expertise in the world of

motorsport to the mix, you can see we have an exceptional blend of attributes which will take us quickly to the next stage. The car’s technical make-up and driving characteristics make it the perfect fit for rallying. Entering the WRC takes MINI back to its rally roots and brings this heritage right up to date.”

Versatility lies at the heart of the new rule book drawn up by the sport’s world governing body, the FIA. The 2011 regulations put private teams in a position to line up with the same cars as the factory team – and thus raise excitement levels another notch. In Portugal, for example, the Brazil World Rally Team will be sending the Brazilian Daniel Oliveira into action in a MINI John Cooper Works S2000, and reigning PWRC champion Armindo Araujo will line up in a MINI for the Motorsport Italia outfit. Oliveira and Araujo will then swap over to the MINI John Cooper Works WRC for Rally Italy. Prodrive is currently working on 12 MINI rally cars for delivery to customers across Europe.

Three key areas set the WRC car apart from its S2000 sibling. The MINI John Cooper Works WRC will gain a larger rear wing and its front end will boast greater aerodynamic efficiency. On asphalt rallies the WRC machine will be fitted with water-cooled brakes on the front axle, while the side windows of the

MINI John Cooper Works WRC will be made from ultra-lightweight plastic.

The powerful heartbeat of both cars will be generated by the turbocharged 1.6-litre engine used in standard MINI production cars, but optimised by BMW Motorsport for use in numerous race series. Indeed, this engine also powers the BMW 320 TC run by privately-entered teams in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The diameter of the air intake restrictor is also identical, although Prodrive also offers a variant with a smaller restrictor for championships where WRC cars are not permitted.

Customer teams can order both the MINI John Cooper Works WRC and the S2000specification car from Prodrive as part of an extensive service package.

The MINI WRC Team has further tests lined up over the coming weeks, before the MINI John Cooper Works WRC is presented to the public at the MINI plant in Oxford on 11 April 2011.

The FIA WRC calendar 2011 at a glance: Rally Italy (5-8 May 2011) Rally Finland (28-31 Jul 2011) Rally Germany (18-21 Aug 2011) Rally France (29 Sep – 2 Oct 2011) Rally Spain (20-23 Oct 2011) Rally GB (10-13 Nov 2011) H&H

Issue 172 • 03 Mar 2011

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Are these rally rookies? http://wp.me/ppkXc-2za

TOTAL TOUR NATAL RALLY ALL SET AS SEASON OPENER Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Motorpics The third Total Tour Natal Rally marks the official start of the 2011 South African Rally Championship and takes place in the Amanzimtoti and Scottburgh areas of the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on 25 26 March.

The Total-sponsored round of the national championship has been a highpoint of every season for many years and this year sees Total South Africa backing the opening round of the eight-round championship for the third year in succession.

“We’re delighted to be sponsoring the opening round of the new season in the 55th year of our company’s involvement as a sponsor, supporter and beneficiary to the growth and development of this popular sport in South Africa,” said Total South Africa brand and communications manager Nadia Vosloo. “2011 also marks the 16th year of Team Total and once again we will field the biggest privateer rally team in the championship.”

Organised by the Natal Motorcycle and Car Club, the Total Tour Natal will comprise 14 special stages over a total distance of some 161km over the two days. It will start at 13h30 on Friday (25 March) from the Arbour Crossing Shopping Centre in Amanzimtoti, 30km south of Durban.

The first day will consist of four short South Coast gravel stages followed buy a tarmac stage in the Arbour Crossing Shopping Centre car park.

The action gets underway again at 06h00 on Saturday with four gravel stages on the South Coast, all of which will be repeated before the day ends with a second run through the Arbour Crossing tarmac stage. The rally is expected to finish at around 16h00 and the podium ceremony and prize-giving

will take place at 17h30.

Chairman of the organising committee and Clerk of the Course Richard Vaughan promises a testing event for the opening round of what promises to be an exciting season. “This is the 53rd Tour Natal Rally and, together with Total, we have stepped up the standards of promotion, professionalism and safety to bring the event closer to World Rally Championship standards.”

Heading the entries in the premier S2000 Class are the factory BP Volkswagen Polos of defending champions Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson (who also won in 2006), 2008 and 2009 champions Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries, 2005 and 2007 champions Jan Habig and new co-driver Robert Paisley, who is also a former champion, and new members of the team Giniel de Villiers and Ralph Pitchford. De Villiers, a former South African off road champion and winner of the 2009 Dakar Rally in a Volkswagen Race Touareg, is making his rally debut, while Pitchford returns for a second year after navigating for Habig last year.

The Castrol Toyota factory team will again be their fiercest competition and will be looking to regain the championship they last won in 2004 with the now retired Serge Damseaux.

Carrying Toyota’s hopes are Jonny Gemmell and Scotsman Drew Sturrock (Auris) and Leeroy Poulter and new navigator Elvene Coetzee (Auris).

Also in Toyotas are Team Total privateers Jean-Pierre Damseaux and Carolyn Swan (RunX) and Mohammed Moosa and Grant Martin (RunX). Strong competition for the Privateers’ Championship will also come from four Ford Fiestas and two Peugeot 207s together with several privateer Volkswagen Polos.

Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich, winners of the final round of the 2010 championship, are back in their Basil

Read/Bizhub Ford Fiesta and will be doing battle for top Ford honours with Zimbabwe’s Conrad Rautenbach and Peter Marsh, the new pairing of former Toyota factory rallyists Mark Cronje and Robin Houghton and Jon Williams and Cobus Vrey.

Making their debut appearance in the championship will be the Pirtek Peugeots of Hein Lategan/Johan van der Merwe and Visser du Plessis/Gerhard Snyman. Nicholas Ryan and Geoff Tyrer will be in an RCF VW Polo as will the New Africa Developments pairing of Japie van Niekerk and Dave Lewkowicz.

This year sees the phasing out of Classes A7 and N3 as a result of rising costs and falling entries, while the popular Class A6 will become Super 1600 and incorporate N3 entries for 2011 only.

Class A6 promises to be a closely-fought battle ground with former champion Craig Trott (Team Total Toyota RunX), back with co-driver Robbie Coetzee, reigning class A7 champion Gugu Zulu and co-driver Carl Peskin (BP Volkswagen Polo) and Ashley Haigh Smith/Hilton Auffray (React Ford Fiesta) likely to be strong contenders.

Also worth keeping an eye on will be Tjaart Conradie/Kes Naidoo (Silverton Engineering Toyota Auris), Guy Botterill/Pierre Jordaan (Yato Tools Toyota RunX) and the new all-woman team of Stefanie Hugo and Angela Shields in a Team Total Toyota RunX. Adding considerable interest to the class is the possibility of three Citroen C2s making their South African debut.

Class A5, now called Super 1400, will feature another all-woman team of Megan Verlaque/Lirene du Plessis in a BP Volkswagen Polo Vivo as well as Henk Lategan/Barry White in a similar car backed by Pirtek and Ian Young/Herman Groenewald in a Toyota Yaris. H&H

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Issue 172 • 03 Mar 2011

Watch the MINI WRC Evolution: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2AG

FRUSTRATION FOR TAYLOR AND SMART AT SUNSEEKER Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Jakob Ebrey Photography Overheating problems put an early and disappointing end to Australian rally driver Molly Taylor’s first event for the 2011 season in Europe.

The Sydneysider and her Queensland-born co-driver Rebecca Smart had entered the Rallye Sunseeker this past weekend, the first round of the British Rally Championship.

While they had hoped for as high a placing as possible, the main aim was to bed down the brand-new partnership between the two Australians, to fine-tune their pace noting system and the processes they will need to tackle the first event of the WRC Academy sub-series at the World Rally Championship in Portugal next month.

“It was so frustrating,” says Molly. “We were just starting to find our feet and things were falling into place when the temperature warning light came on during the last stage (SS4) of the first loop.

“The problem is, the [Ford] Fiesta R2 has no temperature gauge, so I had no idea how hot it was – whether

it was just a warning or if the engine was really hot and we were in danger of cooking it. All I could tell was that we were dropping power and going into limp mode.

“So we replaced the fan during service straight after that stage and went back out again. But we were only about a mile into stage five when the light came on again, so rather than risk damaging the engine, I made the call to pull out.

“We won’t really know what the problem is until the guys strip down the car this week, but for sure it was frustrating. Apart from that, the only real issue I had was that I was rusty, because I haven’t done an event since September.”

Aside from the drama and the disappointment, Molly says she and Rebecca were reasonably comfortable in the car on their first outing together, although they hadn’t had enough time to build up to full commitment. That, they hope, will come next weekend.

“We’ve entered the Malcolm Wilson Rally which we will use as a test session and try to pick up where we left off this weekend. I just want a

good solid day’s run to work out what I can get out of the car, because the next event we do is the WRC round in Portugal, and we want everything to be going as smoothly as possible for that.”

The 36th annual Malcolm Wilson Rally, created by the former world championship driver and current Ford WRC team manager, is a one-day event that is 306km long, of which 73km is timed against the clock, in seven special stages.

Taylor began rallying in 2005 and moved to the UK two years ago (she has dual citizenship) to be closer to the top levels of the sport with the aim of making a career as a professional driver, and began posting solid results immediately.

Smart started watching rallying at the age of 12 with her brother before the pair launched into the sport in 2007. They were second outright in the Australian Rally Championship last year.

The pair will contest six rounds of this year’s WRC in the junior Academy series as well as selected rounds of the British and European championships. H&H

Issue 172 • 03 Mar 2011

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Ken Block jumps over Colin’s Crest Arena jump at WRC Rally Sweden 2011: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2zc

BRC RALLYE SUNSEEKER H&H RALLY REPORT PETTER SOLBERG READY FOR MEXICAN HEAT AND GRAVEL Words: Staff Writer Picture: Eva Kovkova From the snow and ice in Sweden, the WRC has travelled to sunny and warm Mexico; the Petter Solberg World Rally Team is ready for the second round of the 2011 WRC season.

The Petter Solberg World Rally Team is on location in León, inside the Poliforum, where the Service Park for this high-altitude event is based.

All equipment travelled in a container cia ship, and Solberg and Patterson’s rally machine arrived by airfreight last weekend.

The WRC Rally Mexico is based in the city of León, the fifth biggest city in Mexico with 1,3million people. A total of 22 stages await competitors of this gravel-surfaced rally. León is 1,800m above sea level, and the speed tests are all from run 1,800m to 2,700m above

sea level.

Rally Mexico is the first event for the PSWRT as a WRC Team, meaning they are able to score points in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

“Im really looking forward to compete with the DS3 for the first time on gravel,” says Petter Solberg. “We had one test day in France last week, where we focused on finding the best set-up for the Mexican stages, and I’m confident we now have the best one. Starting as the fifth car on the first day is also good, and I think start position will be the key factor for this rally.”

Petter Solberg finished second overall in the Rally Mexico in 2010 after a close fight with Sebastien Ogier on the final day. WRC Rally Mexico gets underway with a super special stage in the city of Guanajuato on Thursday evening. Mexico time is GMT – 6hrs. H&H

Words: Staff Writer Picture: Evan Rothman The 2011 season-opening BRC event the Rallye Sunseeker was as thrilling as expected, and provided many thrills and spills for the rally enthusiasts to soak up.

Video clips are used courtesy of “almostmarvellous”, audio clips are from www.rallybrc.co.uk and pictures are from Jakob Ebrey Photography for www.rallybrc.co.uk.

HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS is a free weekly eMagazine available for download from http://wp.me/pkXc. H&H

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Issue 172 • 03 Mar 2011

Watch the mighty Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5 and Tommi Mäkinen in-car on the WRC Rally Finland 2001: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2D4

HANSON WINS SUPER PRODUCTION, STILL IN LEAD Words: Staff Writer Picture: Tim Williams Travis and Terry Hanson claimed the Super Production Class win at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood with their 2007 Subaru Impreza STi, finishing in fourth place overall.

Combined with the team’s historic overall victory at the season opener, Sno*Drift Rally, they remain the overall leaders of the 2011 Rally America championship.

“The goal for this race was to stay focused and clean,” said Travis. “We had to be sure we finished well to score overall points against the faster Open Class competitors.”

“We really tried to race our own rally this weekend. We couldn’t allow the pressure of being the leader effect us,” explained Travis’ father and navigator Terry Hanson.

Day One of the race saw the team solidly in contention for Class honors, finishing in second place, just 20 seconds behind former Subaru factory driver Ramana Lagemann. In addition to Lagemann, Lauchlin O’Sullivan was also competing in the SP Class with another professional background previously driving for Mitsubishi USA Rally Team.

With such a competitive field, Hanson was pleased with the day’s result and planned to push harder on the fast stages the following day, hoping to gain the Class victory.

Sadly, that battle became moot early on Day Two when Lagemann was involved in a huge accident ending his rally on the day’s second stage.

“It’s a shame that Ramana crashed. Competition that close is what makes this Class so great. I hope he can make it back for the rest of the season,” stated Travis.

The team performed extremely well together and by the end of the rally they had gained a lead of almost two minutes over the next Super Production competitor, claiming their second win of the year.

T. Hanson Motorsports has seen such amazing success in the first two events of the season becoming the most known and followed privateer team competing in the series. “After two great events its hard to believe that we are still making history,” said Hanson. No other Super Production driver has ever held the overall points lead in the National series. The Rally America Championship continues on 30 April in Ocean Shores, Washington for the Olympus Rally.

T. Hanson Motorsports is proudly supported by Team O’Neil Rally School, OSLV, Olson’s Auto Body and Big Boulder Park. H&H

BARRABLE PLANS IRC CAMPAIGN IN SKODA FABIA Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Jakob Ebrey Photography Irish driver Robert Barrable is planning to contest selected rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) this season.

The 23-year-old from Swords, near Dublin, is a one-make rally champion in the UK and Ireland. He has bought a Škoda Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 used by Jan Kopecký on selected rounds of the IRC in 2010 and is planning to enter the Geko Ypres Rally in June and October’s RACMSA Rally of Scotland.

Barrable, who completed a short systems check in the Fabia in Czech Republic recently, only took delivery of the car last Wednesday, but used it in competition for the first time on the opening round of the British Rally Championship yesterday (Saturday).

He told Motorsport News in the UK: “I’ve bought this car as part of a two-year plan. This year we’re going to run in the BRC as well as doing Ypres and Rally of Scotland and then we’ll do some more events abroad next year.

I feel going to S2000 now is the way forward for the future.” H&H

Issue 172 • 03 Mar 2011

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BRC Rallye Sunseeker - Review by HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usY9NHtRayY

NOVIKOV JOINS STOBART FOR MEXICAN FIESTA Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Eva Kovkova The M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team will welcome Russia’s Evgeny Novikov, the youngest ever driver to set a fastest WRC stage time, into their Cumbrian-based squad for this week’s Rally Mexico.

The 20-year-old made his debut in the FIA World Rally Championship at 2007’s Wales Rally GB, but was absent from the series last year after spending the season competing at home events in Russia. Novikov originally planned to embark on his 2011 campaign in the new Ford Fiesta RS WRC at Rally Portugal, but has since moved this forward in order to build up his experience of competing on gravel.

Novikov, whose best WRC result is fifth from 2009’s Rally d’Italia Sardegna, will be co-driven by experienced Belgian Stéphane Prévot and the pair will be looking to make a good impression on their first outing in Ford’s new challenger.

Rally Sweden runner-up, Mads Østberg and co-driver Jonas Andersson will also be competing under the M-Sport Stobart banner in Mexico and will be the team’s nominated point-scorers. Østberg’s 2010 WRC campaign got off to a flying start earlier last month with the 23-year-old finishing second overall – the best ever result for the Stobart team in their six year history.

Regular team-mates Henning Solberg and Ilka Minor have been nominated as the team’s other pointscorers this week. The Norwegian has a

strong track record in Mexico – it will be Solberg’s fifth outing at the Leon-based gravel rally and he has finished inside the top five twice. Last year, Solberg finished sixth overall.

Britain’s Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin finished sixth at 2008’s Rally Mexico and 24-year-old Wilson will be looking to take advantage of the extensive testing he has undertaken in the Fiesta RS WRC on gravel so far in order to finish in a strong position.

Evgeny Novikov said: “For obvious reasons, I am not planning to fight for a high result in Mexico and I am not planning to drive to the limit.

It is a wonderful opportunity to try out the new Fiesta RS WRC and I will have a first chance to try the new car at Rally Mexico’s shakedown which I consider as an ideal place to get acquainted with the car. As for the car itself, I feel that it will be better in handling compared to the cars from the previous generations – the results that the car achieved from Sweden were very impressive. The new class is a novelty for everyone and everyone needs some time to adapt and get used to the new cars. I have never competed in Mexico, but my co-driver has recommended it to me – fast stages should suit my driving style.”

Mads Østberg said: “Sweden was a really good event for me but I don’t think it is realistic to expect the same sort of result in Mexico. It’s the first time there for us and it’s all about learning how the car handles on gravel at this event. It’s very important that we have a good recce and after that, I just want to just concentrate on getting

through the rally in one piece. I’ve got absolutely no idea what to expect from the stages – I haven’t even seen any onboard footage yet so it’s a real leap into the unknown. I’ll be content if I’m fighting in the top five at this event and if I finish in the top five or six, then I will leave a happy man.”

Henning Solberg said: “I really enjoy this event – for sure, Mexico is a great place to go and the atmosphere of the fans is incredible. The organisers have made some changes to the itinerary this year including the Guanajuato Street Stage which looks like it will be a lot of fun. I also think it will help make the event even more exciting for both the drivers and the fans. I’ve had some good results in Mexico in the past so hopefully I can put my accident from Sweden at the back of my mind in order to produce a strong points finish this week.”

Matthew Wilson said: “We’re moving from a rally where the conditions helped the car run at optimum levels to one where the air is less dense because of the altitude. This means the engine produces about 20% less power which is quite noticeable when driving – you really have to take the reduction in power into account when tackling the stages. It’ll be good to get used to the new Michelin tyres on gravel over there but sometimes the stages can be really rough and there could be a risk of punctures. Like every rally I set a pace on the first stage, see where we are and then develop the speed and feeling from there.” H&H

Event Reports & Results

Action Photography

DAVID BOGIE WINS RALLYE SUNSEEKER Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Jakob Ebrey Photography Reigning Scottish Rally Champions David Bogie and Kevin Rae took their first ever event victory in the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship as they won Rallye Sunseeker International, the new opening round of the British Isles premier rally series.

The win is extra special for the pair, as it is the first for a Scot in the British Rally Championship since Alister McRae took a win on the Scottish Rally in June 1997.

As points follow places on the first round, their lead in the championship puts them in the enviable position of leading both British and Scottish series, having won the first round north of the border last weekend.

“It’s been a dream of mine to win a round of the BRC for ages,” he said at the finish on Bournemouth promenade; it means a huge amount to me. We had a great day but had a big scare three stages from home when we got mud on the screen. By the time it cleared we were flat out in fifth half way across a field!”

They ended the eleven-stage rally, based in Hampshire and Dorset, twenty two seconds clear of nearest rivals Tom Cave and Craig Parry, having been less than three seconds ahead early in the day.

Despite the ding-dong battle at the front going Bogie’s way, Cave was pleased with his debut in the British Rally Championship.

The Welsh youngster took three fastest stages times in his Mitsubishi and led the event after the second stage.

But with just one event in the car before tackling the tricky south of England stages, he reckoned there was much more to come.

“The rhythm was good but in the end David (Bogie) was just too quick. We enjoyed the rally and I think we’ll have a good result if we take the same approach in Wales.”

It was the Welsh who took the final podium step; Pirelli Star Driver winners Elfyn Evans and Andrew Edwards making their competitive debut in their prize drive Subaru.

The pair set some excellent stages times throughout the day, stopping the clocks ahead of everybody on stage ten, but his sensible approach

to this fantastic prize opportunity meant a finish was his priority – job done.

Estonians Siim Plangi defeated the odds and competition to take his maiden victory in the Dulux Trade British Rally Championship Formula Two category at his first attempt.

The Estonian is no stranger to the British Isles having competed in Scotland, but the young Renault driver took to the forest tracks of the southcoast like a duck to water.

Plangi was pushed hard from the off by his Renault team-mate Mikko Pajunen, but showed his maturity by not buckling under the mounting pressure.

The Finn had to settle for second best at the Bournemouth podium and was left thinking what might have been had he not picked up a 30 second road penalty. The late check in to TC3 left him with an uphill task to try to rain in his Baltic teammate but it wasn’t to be.

But with Renault Twingos dominating the top two steps on the podium, it proved a vital days rallying for the Autosport Technology run team which took maximum Championship points.

Another BRC debutant also

Issue 172 • 03 Mar 2011

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How the studded WRC car’s studded tyres work: http://wp.me/ppkXc-2z8

made the podium in the form of 586 Sports’ Callum Black. Black and co-driver Paul Wakely made an impressive step up from the Dulux Trade British Rally Championship support series on their first outing.

The reigning BRC Challenge champions had a difficult rally in their S1600 Swift, suffering from tyre choice problems early on: “We should have put the narrower tyres on this morning and we needed more time in the car in the build up to the event,” said Black.

But the Northamptonshire local held his nerve to finish on the podium ahead of some more experienced crews.

However it is the well deserving crew of Siim Plangi and Marek Sarapuu that took the Dulux Trade MSA British Formula 2 Rally Championship spoils in Bournemouth, and head to the gravel of North Wales as the ones to beat.

The Teams championship got underway with a bang with the Autosport Technology Renaults taking a clean sweep of maximum points. 586 Sports’ single car entry was less of a disadvantage than lone driver Callum Black might at first have thought.

His third place in the two wheel drive category was enough to place the

team second ahead of the M-Sport Ford Rally Team.

M-Sport’s two car team was halved when Craig Breen’s team-mate John MacCrone suffered electrical failure.

Sadly for Breen his Fiesta R2 also had problems, a cracked water pump costing him several minutes.

The Cumbrian outfit had more luck than Team C2R2 Max, both Citroëns retiring before the finish ramp on Saturday evening. Mark Donnelly broke a driveshaft early-on while Desi Henry’s wheel studs sheared on the final stage.

The first nomination for this, the richest prize in British rallying, went to newcomer to the series Siim Plangi.

The Estonian youngster was a revelation on the stages in his Renault Twingo, eventually beating his Autosport Technology team mate Mikko Pajunen.

The PSD selection from each of this year’s seven events come from BRC Formula 2 runners and judging by the level of competition on the new opening round, the judges will have plenty to choose from to put forward to the end of season shoot-out.

Reigning PSD champion Elfyn Evans had an excellent start to his 2011 campaign, gelling quickly with the Pirelli

TEG Sport-run Impreza.

H&H

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) D. Bogie/K. Rae Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX R4 – 01h 00m 44.4s 02) T. Cave/C. Parry Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4 – 1:01:06.2 03) E. Evans/A. Edwards Subaru Impreza R4 – 1:01:11.8 04) A. Gould/S. Marshall Subaru Impreza R4 – 1:01:18.7 05) D. Barry/R. Kennedy Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4 – 1:01:49.8 06) J. Greer/D. Roberts Skoda Fabia S2000 R4 – 1:02:12.7 07) R. Barrable/D. Connolly Skoda Fabia S2000 R4 – 1:02:30.7 08) T. Clark/A. Wyllie Subaru Impreza N15 R4 – 1:04:25.1 09) A. Carmichael/P. Clarke Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX R4 – 1:05:16.3 10) S. Plangi/M. Sarapuu Renault Twingo R2 – 1:06:31.0 DRIVERS’ STANDINGS 01) David Bogie - 20 pts 02) Tom Cave - 18 pts 03) Elfyn Evans - 16 pts 04) Adam Gould - 15 pts 05) Daniel Barry - 14 pts 06) Jonny Greer - 13 pts 07) Robert Barrable - 12 pts 08) Tom Clark - 11 pts 09) Alan Carmichael - 10 pts 10) Siim Plangi - 9 pts TEAMS STANDINGS 01) Autosport Technology - 38 pts 02) 586 Sports - 16 pts 03) M-Sport Ford - 15 pts 04) Team C2R2 Max - 0 pts

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Issue 172 • 03 Mar 2011

BRC Rallye Sunseeker - Review by HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usY9NHtRayY

L’ESTAGE WINS 100 ACRE WOOD RALLY Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Tim Williams Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard have won the 2011 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood after a flawless drive from start to end. L’Estage set a blistering pace early on, winning ten of the event’s fifteen special stages and finishing 17.7 seconds ahead of international rally ace David Higgins. This victory was a particularly sweet one for L’Estage, who celebrated his birthday on

Saturday, the second and final day of the rally.

Subaru Rally Team USA’s David Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew placed second overall, netting their first points of the season and keeping pressure on L’Estage as they gave chase for the duration of rally. Higgins’ Subaru teammate Dave Mirra rounded out the podium by maintaining third overall through most of the event with a solid drive. This is the second consecutive podium finish of the season for Mirra and co-driver Marshall Clarke, who are

coming into their own after only two events together.

A surprise last-minute entry from former SRT USA driver Travis Pastrana was short lived when Pastrana and co-driver Jeremy Wimpey crashed and rolled their 2007 ex-Colin McRae WRX STI on a left-hand corner on the second stage of the rally.

The Rally in the 100 Acre Wood is based in Salem, Missouri and is well known for its fast and flowing stage roads. The best teams from all over North America and beyond gathered

Issue 172 • 03 Mar 2011

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BRC Rallye Sunseeker - Review by HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usY9NHtRayY

to contest over 120 competitive miles spread throughout the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. This year crews were challenged with unusually damp conditions after heavy rainfall on the Thursday before the rally began. The 100 Acre Wood Rally is the second of six rounds in the Rally America National Championship and has traditionally been won by Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino since 2006.

Privateers Travis and Terry Hanson maintain their lead of the overall Championship before the Series heads West for rounds three and fiur. The Hansons inherited fourth overall after ex-factory driver Ramana Lagemann and co-driver Chrissie Beavis had a big crash on SS8, putting them out of the rally. The Hansons had another smooth, trouble-free event, winning Super Production in their Subaru and extending their points lead over top runners David Higgins and Antoine L’Estage.

Lauchlin O’Sullivan and codriver Scott Putnam overcame various mechanical issues this weekend to place

second in Super Production by only 0.6 seconds on Roman Pakos. O’Sullivan spent his day closing the gap between himself and Pakos after losing time to him on the second loop of stages.

O’Sullivan placed sixth overall. Pakos and guest co-driver Bartosz Sawicki finished third in class and seventh overall.

In two-wheel drive competition, Wyatt Knox charged to a commanding first place finish with co-driver Ole Holter, finishing nearly three minutes ahead of Chris Greenhouse and Brian Johnson. Greenhouse claimed second in the 2-Wheel Drive (2WD) National, but was concentrating on his Group 2 Regional effort, which he won on Friday and placed second on Saturday. Ford Racing driver Dillon Van Way claimed third place in 2WD after dealing with electrical issues on the opening day of the rally. Van Way was unable to make up time on Greenhouse on Saturday’s stages and finished 19th overall.

The next event in the 2011 Rally America Championship is the

Olympus Rally in Ocean Shores, Washington from 30 April to 1 May.

H&H

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 01) A. L’Estage/N. Richard Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X – 1hr 24min 41.5sec 02) D. Higgins/C. Drew Subaru Impreza WRX STI + 17.7s 03) D. Mirra/M. Clarke Subaru Impreza WRX STI + 05m 02.4s 04) T. Hanson/T. Hanson Subaru Impreza WRX STI + 08m 21.7s 05) H. Nunnemacher/M. Rossey Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5 MR + 09m 10.4s 06) L. O’Sullivan/S. Putnam Subaru WRX-STI + 10m 01.6s 07) R. Pakos/B. Sawicki Subaru Impreza STI + 10m 02.2s 08) A. Yeoman/J. Schulze Subaru Impreza + 11m 23.4s 09) M. Marker/C. Gordon Subaru WRX + 12m 52.3s 10) M. Moyle/G. Barton Subaru Impreza + 13m 03.1s DRIVERS’ STANDINGS 01) Travis Hanson - 34 pts 02) Dave Mirra - 31 pts 03) Antoine L’Estage - 23 pts 04) David Higgins - 18 pts 05) Roman Pakos - 18 pts 06) Joseph Burke - 15 pts 07) Jimmy Keeney - 13 pts 08) Heath Nunnemacher - 11 pts 09) Mason Moyle - 11 pts 10) Lauchlin O’Sullivan - 11 pts

Page • 16

Issue 172 • 03 Mar 2011

BRC Rallye Sunseeker - Review by HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usY9NHtRayY

WRC RALLY MEXICO: HEAT, DUST AND ALTITUDE Words: Evan Rothman Picture: Eva Kovkova Ford made a clean sweep of the podium Sweden last month, and the Blue Oval boys will have to once again drive at maximum attack pace to keep ahead of the Citroen crews in Rally Mexico.

I predicted in on Twitter ahead of thje Rally Sweden that Mads Ostberg will be the man to watch, having won two rounds of the Norwegian Rally Championship and extensively tested in the snow and ice climes for the Rally Sweden.

And, did Mads upset the factory drivers in his privateer M-Sport Stobart Ford Fiesta RS WRC. For this the second round of the 2011 World Rally Championship in Mexico, the terrain is in direct contrast to that the drivers had to contend with last time out in Sweden.

In looking at the event preview, it is interesting to note that this will be the seventh year Rally Mexico has been included on the World Rally Championship calendar. Once again based in León, the fifth largest city in México, the event remains one of the most compact on the calendar, and is unique in that the elevation of the stages takes the crews to 2,737metres above sea level, providing additional challenges for man and machinery. The event is also the opening round of the Super 2000 World Rally Championship.

For crews, they will need to brace temperatures expected to reach

32˚C. According to the teams, the higher than average mercury level will bring new demands, imposing stresses on engines and transmissions as well as on drivers and co-drivers, who will endure higher temperatures in the cockpit.

Adding to that is the fact that the gravel roads are made up of hardpacked tracks that will become rougher and broken as the cars pass over the tests. Suspension setup is all important, as cars will need to absorb the punishment from the terrain and yet aslo provide enough stiffness to provide the four wheels with the optimum amount of traction.

The Rally Mexico is also the first of seven consecutive dirt rallies on the calendar and this is also the highest event in the 13-round season.

The effect of the altitude brings its own challenges: thinner air meaning engines ‘run out of breath’ and power levels fall by about 20 percent.

WRC Rally Mexico 2011’s rally route is virtually identical to that of last year’s edition, covering familiar roads in the Sierra de Lobos mountains north and east of León. Aside from minor revisions to two Sunday stages, the major change is the introduction of a short test through the streets of Guanajuato immediately after Thursday’s start ceremony. The town is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, famed for rich veins of silver and gold discovered centuries ago, and the stage will wind along wall-lined cobbled

roads and through floodlit tunnels which once formed mine shafts. Friday and Saturday’s legs again include a short street stage next to the service park at León Poliforum midway through the day. Both also close with two tests at the town’s race circuit, which will be run in darkness for the first time. The competition ends with an 8.28km Power Stage, broadcast live on television and offering bonus points to the fastest drivers. Competitors tackle 22 stages covering 364.87km in a route of 1031.30km. H&H