H&H-199

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

Issue 199 • 04 September 2011

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Reshuffle at Ford WRC for 2012?

Start Ramp Service Park Parc Ferme

Pierre Campana repeats speed in Morzine Ashley Haigh-Smith joins the WRC Academy IRC heads to Hungary

“It was a very important for my sponsor and for me to continue competing in Dakar. But the relationship is very good with VW” - Nasser Al-Attiyah, page four.

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Contents Issue 199 • 04 September 2011 04 START RAMP 04 Start Ramp - News Shorts

06 SERVICE PARK 06 07 08 10 11

Haigh-Smith joins the WRC Academy In the media Hirvonen to remain at Ford in 2012?

The power of attraction Energetic Elena elated

12 PARC FERME 12 IRC Canon Merczek Rally preview 14 SAORRC Carnival City Race preview 15 WRC Rally Australia preview

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Editor Evan Rothman

Photojournalist Eva Kovkova

Contributors Liga Stirna, Patrick Vermaak, RallyBuzz, Motorpics, Newspress.

All content copyrighted property of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, 2007-11. 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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Start Ramp Its party time at H&H’s offices Words: Staff Writer Next week, Handbrakes & Hairpins will be distributing its 200th issue of its FREE eMagazine. That milestone will be available for download on Monday 12 September, and will feature the regular breaking news, feature and technical articles and action photographs.

What Handbrakes & Hairpins will showcase is a feature to the fans from the fans. As with issue 50, issue 100 and issue 150, if you would like to send a note to editor and creator of Handbrakes & Hairpins for publication in this special feature, please do so before Wednesday 7 September to the e-mail address evan.hhmag@gmail.com.

We look forward to your letters H&H and emails!

Al-Attiyah looks to the future of rallying Words: Staff Writer

Team News Videos

in Qatar is growing very fast and very high. There is no problem for the money but we need to do it in the right way.”

Al-Attiyah, who is currently contesting the Super 2000 World Rally Championship in an Autotek Motorspor Ford Fiesta under the Barwa World Rally Team banner, wouldn’t be able to commit to a full programme of WRC events next season: he is planning to defend his Dakar Rally title in January and is also in line to represent his country in the skeet shooting competition in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Earlier this season Al-Attiyah had been linked to a seat with the nascent factory Volkswagen Motorsport squad. Although those negotiations broke down following an impasse over Al-Attiyah’s Dakar ambitions, the 40-year-old insists he still has a strong relationship with the German manufacturer.

“It was very important for my sponsor and for me to continue competing in Dakar,” said Al-Attiyah.

“But the relationship is very good with VW.” H&H

Breen looks for more IRC rallies Words: www.wrc.com

Nasser Al-Attiyah wants to replicate Abu Dhabi’s successful junior driver programme by helping to launch the next generation of stars from his native Qatar, according to http://www.wrc.com.

The 2006 Production Car world champion has support from Qatari firm Barwa with a view to joining forces with Citroen. If negotiations progress then it could pave the way for Al-Attiyah to join the factory squad in a third car from 2012 with a programme created alongside to train young drivers from Qatar in a WRC support category.

“Last month I had a really good meeting with the government [of Qatar] and we are looking to do something like Abu Dhabi [has done with Ford],” said Al-Attiyah, who said there is support for a five-year programe. “It’s open but we will talk and we will see. This would be my dream to be the third driver, part of the same [Citroen] team and to find young drivers in Qatar to support. Sport

Barum Czech Rally Zlín sensation Craig Breen won’t rule out contesting more rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season – providing he can secure the necessary financial backing.

The 21-year-old from Ireland finished seventh overall in Czech Republic last weekend on his first appearance on the demanding Tarmac rally in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000.

“It’s the financial side of things that are difficult,” said Breen. “It would be foolish to get big headed. Okay it’s seventh overall in the IRC but there are still six guys in front of me that I need to beat and that is a long way down the road from happening. It’s only my third year of rallying.”

Finances permitting Breen is considering Rallye Sanremo and RACMSA Rally of Scotland as possible events. H&H

Event News Breaking News

Campana wins in Morzine Words: Staff Writer Pierre Campana continued his impressive debut with the MINI John Cooper Works WRC car and Team Drive-Pro by securing victory in the 63rd Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine this weekend.

The 26-year-old Corsican, with his long-time co-driver Sabrina de Castelli, can now boast two victories out of the three rallies he has contested in the MINI. The 12-stage Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine is one of the most prestigious events in the national championship.

Campana’s victory reinforces the outright competitiveness and reliability of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC, as well as the increasing confidence that he has with the car after just three events.

After a solid day of action on Friday, which saw Campana conclude the opening five stages in a close fourth place after a combined distance of 109.80km, the rising rally sensation made his way up the order on Saturday and, after an eventful end to the morning, he found himself leading overall at the start of the tenth special stage just after lunch. Campana got off to a tough start in the day’s first stage, the 22.30km Morzine-Montriand stage, which saw Campana suffer a slow puncture some 6km before the end and lose over one minute of time, but better fortunes were to follow.

Campana once again showed how quickly he can learn and adapt to new stages by posting the quickest time in SS9, the 21.21km Samoens-Morzine stage, and following that up with two further stage wins in SS10, a repeat of the morning’s 16.15km SamoensMarillon stage, and SS11, a repeat of SS9. Those performances cemented his position at the head of the classification and a second place in the rally’s twelfth and final stage was more than enough to guarantee Campana overall victory.

Campana’s participation in this event is all part of his continued learning curve with Drive-Pro and with the MINI John Cooper Works WRC, as he prepares for this second WRC event at Rallye de France Alsace later this month. H&H

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Service Park

Interviews Features

Profiles Technical

Haigh-Smith joins the WRC Academy Words: Staff Writer Picture: Evan Rothman The global appeal of the FIA WRC Academy has been further enhanced with the entry of the first African in the young driver-training series.

With Europe, South America, and Australasia already represented, the participation of South Africa’s very own Ashley HaighSmith brings the total number of continents represented to four.

Haigh-Smith, who competes in the South African Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta R2, will take ohn the world’s best in the final two WRC Academy events in France and Great Britain, albeit without being eligible to score points following his late addition to the line-up. He has never tackled an asphalt-based rally before.

“My main reason to be competing in the next two rounds of the WRC is to gain valuable experience in preparation for my future WRC goals and then use the knowledge I have gained to see where my weaknesses are and improve them in preparing myself for next year in the WRC Academy,” said Haigh-Smith. “I also need

to gain experience on Tarmac as I have never done an asphalt rally before, so I think it will be very interesting and a challenge.”

He continued: “I need to find out the WRC Academy pace and then I’ll know what to expect for next year. It won’t be easy though, because the current WRC Academy crews have already been fighting for four rallies, so they’ll be pushing to their limits.”

Haigh-Smith joins German Sepp Wiegand in committing to the one-make category for Ford Fiesta R2s.

The WRC Academy Cup resumes on Rallye de France Alsace from 29 September to 2 October. After four rounds, Egon Kaur, from Estonia heads Irishman Craig Breen in the standings having won the first three events of the season. Brendan Reeves, from Australia, is third overall. H&H

Issue 199 • 04 September 2011 • Page 07

In the media Words: Evan Rothman Picture: Citroën Racing YouTube is quite easily the single best invention for rallying. From just about any rally in the world, a quick search will turn up a few videos uploaded of sideways action for the world to see.

There have been a host of enthralling videos turning up recently, and none more so than the three in these links: • http://youtu.be/UOL0ZeH6Re0 • http://youtu.be/rxubS9xkspI • http://youtu.be/sWH22VtA19g

Let’s not forget the brilliant photo galleries posted to various websites: • http://bit.ly/oOpavx • http://bit.ly/na2OLz • http://on.fb.me/p4aE7Z • http://bit.ly/ph3GD4 • http://bit.ly/q8KYno As next week is Handbrakes & Hairpins’ 200th special issue, we invite you to send in your favourite image of 2011. Winning contribution will claim a small prize from our office. H&H

Issue 199 • 04 September 2011 • Page 08

Hirvonen to remain at Ford in 2012?

Words: Evan Rothman Pictures: WorldRallyPics Speculations by definition are forms of theories or conjectures about a subject without firm evidence. In the world of rallying, where decisions about the sport’s future are made not in service parks but in boardrooms, whispers and hushed conversations abound at this time of the year.

The “silly season” sees drivers, codrivers, teams, manufacturers and sponsors scrabbling to sign up the best of the best for the next season. As it stands this week, Sebastien Loeb has renewed his contract with the Citroën Total World Rally Team for another two season, his teammate Sebastien Ogier for 2012, both MINI WRC Team drivers Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke are allied to the new team for two seasons and Jari-Matti Latvala is signed with Ford until the end of 2012. That leaves Mikko Hirvonen looking to renew his contract with the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

The 31-year-old Finn recently spoke out about his current situation. “I’m still not sure what the situation is about Ford’s commitment at the moment, but I have always had a good time with the team so I’d certainly like to stay,” said Hirvonen during last month’s WRC ADAC Rallye Deutschland.

Hirvonen’s claimed a total of 13 WRC career wins and all behind the steering wheel of Fords. He’s finished twice as runner-up in the Drivers’ standings, and came one point away

from claiming the Drivers’ title in 2009. But, since the beginning of 2010, he’s only managed to record two wins. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride?

However, the most troubling aspect of it all is the rumoured hesitation from Ford on committing to the WRC for 2012 and beyond. As further evidence, Latvala had this to say: “If Ford is continuing, I will be here. The main focus is for Ford to get the contract to carry on [in the world championship].”

When looking objectively at the matter, Ford’s participation in the WRC is largely as a privateer when compared to rivals Citroën. It is no secret that Ford’s budget for WRC is between £5million and £10million per season, as well as marketing and hospitality.

Ford of Europe funds the WRC campaign for the Blue Oval and M-Sport manages the cars, development and structures within that. Ford is also heavily invested in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), but this programme is not funded by Ford of Europe.

Sponsorships play a pivotal role in the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team. M-Sport, which took over from Ford’s factory motorsport inititiaves in the 1980s when it pulled out as a full manufacturer entrant, has carried the Blue Oval through WRC and rallying ever since.

Through customer sales and support, from development of the Fiesta R2, the Fiesta S2000 and most recently the Fiesta RS WRC, M-Sport has been able to run Ford’s WRC campaigns.

Of course, M-Sport is a business and is run in that way: its first priority is to make money and

Issue 199 • 04 September 2011 • Page 09

this it does by supplying and providing and supporting privateers in national championships and in WRC programmes.

Winning, unlike Citroën’s aims, is secondary.

When assessed with the multitude of engineering problems on the Fiesta RS WRC thus far in the season, from differential problems, gearbox failtures to overheating braking systems, these could be attributed to lack of funding. Ford’s engines, built by Pipo Moteur, are underpowered when compared to the Citroën DS3 WRC, and upgrading the motor will require substantial capital that I fear M-Sport does not have at this stage.

This article is in no way a slight against M-Sport or their sponsors, for with the budget constraints and all told, the Blue Oval is doing an impressive duty for all in the WRC. It does, however, make one wonder as to whether Ford of Europe is hesitant about renewing its contract with M-Sport. Will this leave M-Sport to run their WRC campaigns without support from head office as they have in previous decades? Ford has said that should it not win a Championship title, it would seek new drivers. Is this the cause of the current hesitation?

It is not M-Sport who are seemingly indecisive, for they are pressing on with plans and development for the Fiesta rally cars for 2012. In fact, the Cumbria-based operation is forging ahead with plans with up and coming

rally aces...

What of Latvala and Hirovnen and the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team? It has emerged this week that Latvala, who is managed by Timo Jouhki, has an eye on a seat in the Volkswagen Polo R WRC in 2013.

Jouhki, one of the sport’s most connected managers, is akin to Bernie Ecclestone of Formula One. He’s managed Marcus Gronholm, Juha Kankkunen, Tommi Makinen, Harri Rovanpera and Toni Gardemeister, as well as Hirovnen, so Jouhki possesses that special ability to seek out and hone fast Finns.

The Finnish master manager stated that his goal is to get one of his drivers in one of the factory Volkswagen Polo R WRC seats. In an interview with a German motorsport amagazine, it was revealed he is working on getting Latvala into the German team for 2013 and Hirvonen in 2012 for two to three years.

He believes that both his Finnish stars are still in a strong position to claim Drivers’ Championship titles, as only two drivers in the history of the sport have claimed Championships when under the age of 30: Juha Kankkunen and Colin McRae. All of Sebastien Loeb’s Championship successes have been claimed when he was 30. That is Jouhki’s argument and sales pitch: it is interesting and insightful. Volkswagen has come knocking at Loeb’s door, but his refusal to compete for the manufacturer does leave that team in a

position to now look behind Loeb for a suitor.

Should Hirvonen leave the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, who will M-Sport and Ford sign to fill his seat?

M-Sport has an agreement of sorts with Ott Tanak, the sensation in the S2000 World Rally Cup. This future WRC star is mentored by the brilliant Markko Martin and is supported by the sport’s most influential business minds. His future is most certainly bright, and with his current progression on the charts his rise to a full WRC drive is within grasp.

A number of talented drivers are waiting in the wings for a factory seat too. Mads Ostberg would be at the very top of my draft list, as would Ott Tanak and Jari Ketomaa. Hermann Gassner Jr and Andreas Mikkelsen, along with Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah, have ties to Skoda and to Volkswagen Motorsport I feel they won’t break.

How the Ford and M-Sport situation will play out is anyone’s guess.

What it means for Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala will also only become apparent in the weeks to follow. This WRC malarkey is most certainly highly entertaining both on and off the gravel roads... H&H

Issue 199 • 04 September 2011 • Page 10

The power of attraction Words: Evan Rothman Pictures: Citroën Racing Rallying is a crowd-puller. Apart from the high-performance machines, the talented drivers and the jumps, rallying is a spectator-friendly form of motorsport.

Internationally, this is evidenced inthe thousands of fans lining the stages. In Europe, with the largest fan base, they have been spoilt with the number of rallies taking place over the past few months.

It was estimated that for the IRC Gecko Ypres Rally in June, 60,000 rally enthusiasts attended the first of the asll-asphalt events on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge’s 2011 calendar in Belgium. For the WRC Neste Oil Rally Finland, just a handful number of weeks later, some 300,000 people flocked to the stages over the course of the three-day rally.

The WRC ADAC Rallye Deutschland drew 190,000 spectators (but this was slightly down on 2010’s edition).

Another crowd-puller was last weekend’s IRC Barum Czech Rally that attracted 300,000 fans!

For the upcoming WRC Rallye De France, which brought in 200,000 fans when Sebastien Loeb claimed his seventh World Rally Championship title on his home event, is sure to increase with two Frenchmen aiming to outperform the other in a dramatic and intense battle. Sebastien Ogier is only 25 points behind his teammate, and organisers are expecting a ten percent increase in spectators later this month. H&H

Issue 199 • 04 September 2011 • Page 11

Energetic Elena elated Words: Evan Rothman Picture: Citroën Racing Career milestones are to be celebrated.

There are few milestones as distinguished as a 150th WRC start. That is what Daniel Elena, the world’s best co-driver will notching up on WRC Rally Australia next weekend.

The winner of seven WRC titles, Elena has taken on 148 events alongside Sebastien Loeb and has contested two Rallye Monte Carlo events as driver in 1997 and 1998. To date, he has claimed 66 wins and 102 podium results along with his seven WRC Co-Drivers’ Championship trophies.

According to BestofRallyLive.com, the Michelin WRC website, Elena’s WRC debut was not in 1998, but rather in 1997 when he partnered with Olivier Campana to compete in part in their first world championship round within the framework of the “Challenge Prince Albert de Monaco” which was run as part of the Rallye Monte-Carlo.

“It was my first rally, and my first off; on the penultimate stage when we were leading our class by 2½ minutes, a really stupid mistake,” said Elena. “I can easily remember the date of our first win on August 26, 2002, in Germany, because my daughter was born three days afterwards. I nearly missed her birth.”

The 2004 Tour de Corse handed Loeb and Elena their first world title: “If you’d told me I’d be world champion one day when I started out in this sport, I wouldn’t have believed you.

It’s a dream come true.”

But that memory reminds Elena of one of the more cruel moments of his career: “Michael Park’s fatal accident in September 2005.

We got to know each other in 2000 when I was competing with Seb in a Toyota Corolla. Michael was just starting out with Bakhashab. ‘Beef’ and I became close mates. I was profoundly marked by his death. It changed my life, but that’s part of our job.”

Daniel recalls making the odd mistake (including the ‘130++’ pacenote in Japan, and running out of fuel once in Turkey) before the subject switches to Rally Finland, an event which gives co-drivers an unforgettable buzz.

“This year, we had a perfect run on ‘Leustu’, the first stage of the last day. I’ll never forget one year on ‘Ouninpohja’, either, when Seb was in incredible form.”

Along with Loeb, Elena’s signed for two more years at Citroën: “I’m delighted.

Everything we have done, win or lose, we have done together. I couldn’t not carry on without him. I enjoy the sport as much as ever and I still have the winning instinct. On top of that, they speak French at Citroën, and the food is good, too!” H&H

Parc Ferme

Event Reports Results

IRC Canon Mecsek Rallye to wow fans Words: Staf Writer Pictures: IRC Media With the dust still settling on last week’s thrilling IRC Barum Czech Rally Zlin, where Jan Kopecky beat Freddy Loix in the closest finish in Intercontinental Rally Challenge history, the all-action series blasts back into life in Hungary this week when the Canon Mecsek Rallye joins the IRC schedule for the first time.

Based in the city of Pecs, the 2010 European Capital of Culture in the south-west of the country, the Mecsek Rallye has been a popular fixture on Hungary’s national calendar for 45 years and previously ran as an IRC Supporter Event.

The stages, located in spectacular forest areas north of Pecs close to the Mecsek mountains, are characterised by their highspeed nature with average speeds of 130km/h commonplace, although this will be tempered slightly with the use of artificial chicanes at certain points. Roads used are mainly flat, of medium width and with a good surface although there are some narrow sections that provide a challenging contrast.

With the shortest competitive stage measuring 12km in length and the longest totalling 28km crews are set for a tough test, particularly if ambient temperatures continue to hover around 30˚C, which they have done in recent weeks.

Huge numbers of fans typically

converge on the rally route and that will swell with the addition of the IRC regulars on the bulging entry.

Uniquely the event gets underway with a prologue stage on Friday 9 September following a ceremonial start in Pecs’ main square. The 1.2km course doesn’t form part of the competitive action, but serves as an introduction to the spectators of the competing drivers.

The first day of competition, Saturday 10 September, features four special stages run twice totalling 144.46km in length. The first stage goes live at 09h08 local time with the first car not due to tackle the day’s final stage until 20h39, making for a demanding day for the crews and teams alike. Fortunately, several visits to the permanent service park, which is housed adjacent to the Expo Center Pecs, provide some respite.

Sunday’s route consists of three repeated stages totalling 107.40km. The terrain will be familiar to the crews as the stages are the same as those used on Saturday, albeit run in the opposite direction and with a few changes to the distances. The first stage gets underway at 09h08 with the finishing ceremony taking place from 16h18.

As well as forming Round Eight of the 11-event IRC series, the Canon Mecsek Rallye counts as the final round of the Hungarian Rally Championship where several drivers will by vying for the title in addition to trying to make their mark against the IRC regulars. A national-level

Issue 199 • 04 September 2011 • Page 13

rally and an event for historic cars will run behind the main field.

Juho Hanninen heads the IRC Drivers’ standings after seven rounds, but with the Canon Mecsek Rallye not forming part of his schedule this season it will leave the Finn’s SKODA Motorsport team-mate Jan Kopecky in prime position to move to the top of the Drivers’ table.

Kopecky, fresh from his dramatic victory on the previous round in his native Czech Republic, is three points behind Hanninen in the title race and knows that a strong finish will move him to the top of the order at the wheel of his Fabia S2000.

Belgian Freddy Loix lost out on victory in Zlin by 1.2sec and will be determined to get revenge over his SKODA team-mate. Loix, who competes under the BFO-SKODA Rally Team banner, is 10 points behind Hanninen and a contender for victory in Hungary.

SKODA UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen has won more stages in the IRC than other driver this season and will be hoping to convert that pace into his maiden win in the series. Other SKODA drivers in action include Finn Toni Gardemeister, who competes in a Fabia run by his own TGS Worldwide operation, Estonian teenager Karl Kruuda, and Red Bull SKODA driver Hermann Gassner Jr, from Germany, who is switching from the S2000 world championship for a one-off appearance in the IRC.

The two-car team from SKODA Auto Deutschland will also be in contention in Hungary after drivers Matthias Kahle and Mark Wallenwein both impressed on the previous IRC round. Norbert Herczig is new to the IRC, but the former Mecsek winner could prove a surprise package in his SKODA Rally Team Hungaria entry.

Bryan Bouffier, currently fourth in the IRC standings, heads Peugeot’s challenge in his Peugeot France-backed 207 S2000. The Frenchman crashed out in Zlin and will be anxious to get his season back on track in Pecs.

Like Bouffier, Team Peugeot BelgiumLuxembourg’s Thierry Neuville is an IRC event-winner this season and will be a threat, as will Peugeot UK’s Guy Wilks.

Leading the M-Sport Ford Fiesta effort in Hungary are Germany’s Felix Herbold and local driver Frigyes Turan, a former Mecsek Rallye winner.

Toshi Arai will make his third start in the new-for-2011 IRC Production Cup aboard his Yokohama-backed R4specification Subaru Impreza. While the Japanese is regarded as a rapid performer, he will face strong opposition for category honours from several local drivers including Ralliart Lancer pair Gyorgy Aschenbrenner, who competes under the pseudonym ‘ASI’ and Miklos Kazar, currently second in the Hungarian championship chase. Andras Hadik will also be a front-runner in his Impreza, while Beppo Harrach, from Austria,

has previous Mecsek experience in his Lancer.

Estonian Martin Kangur and Hungarian Janos Puskadi front Honda’s push for IRC 2WD Cup honours, which will also be a target of Class leader Jean-Michael Raoux, Eric Mauffrey and Stefano Albertini, the category winner in Zlin late last month. Raoux holds a 24point advantage over Albertini following a strong start to his inaugural IRC campaign, despite being better known as a gravel specialist. H&H

Issue 199 • 04 September 2011 • Page 14

Technical route for Carnival City Race Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Motorpics Competitors on the 4x4 Mega World 400 at Carnival City on 9 and 10 September, Round Six of the Absa Off-Road Racing Championship, can start gearing up to tackle a technical route.

This is the message from race director Adri Roets who is putting the final touches to the course for an event that could have a major bearing on both the Production and Special Vehicle championships. Only 17,5 points separate the first seven crews in the Production Vehicle championship, while the Special Vehicle title chase has developed into a battle between two Sullwald teams.

With race headquarters situated at Carnival City in Boksburg, the event brings off-road racing into Gauteng’s backyard. The event takes in locations on the East Rand that are easily accessible from Carnival City and other centres, and provides enthusiasts in one of South Africa’s most densely populated areas with a close up look at the drama and excitement off road racing.

“The route follows much the same general contour as last year, but we have introduced a number of sections which have not been used before,” said Roets. “We have tried to make the

route a lot more technical than has been the case in previous years.

“With the introduction of the new sections I think we have succeeded. There is a little bit of everything, it is going to be an interesting test and because of the dry weather conditions at this time of year dust could be a problem.”

Roets added that about 15 percent of the route for Donaldson Prologue, which determines start positions for the race, was completely new. The prologue will be run over a distance of 57km with the race to be run over two loops of 180km.

Race headquarters, the start/finish and the designated service point will all be located at the Carnival City Casino complex, with public entry to these areas free of charge. On a spectator friendly event numerous viewing points will be easily accessible from race headquarters with public entry to these areas also free of charge.

The Donaldson Prologue on 9 September will start at 12h00 and the race on 10 September at 08h30. H&H

Issue 199 • 04 September 2011 • Page 15

Australian thriller on the cards Words: Evan Rothman Picture: Eva Kovkova As a South African, I carry on the sporting rivalry enjoyed between South Africa and Australia. Of course, South Africa are reigning Rugby World Cup Champions and former Cricket World Champions too.

However, for this coming weekend I wish to be an Australian citizen.

Returning to the WRC calendar after missing a year in 2010, WRC Rally Australia welcomes a new route and a new home for this year’s edition.

The organisers moved the event from the Northern Rivers area used in 2009 to the Coffs Coast region of New South Wales, 300km south.

For this all-gravel rally that has already seen rally action, the roads used are fast, wide and sweeping. Crews will tackle 26 stages over 369 competitive kilometres, and the event includes a superspecial stage in The Jetty precinct of Coffs Coast Harbour waterfront on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Day One’s stages take in the hinterland area around Coffs Harbour. Saturday’s route heads south before crews tackle stages north of the town on Sunday. The permanent service park will be housed at Coffs Harbour Regional Airport, 10km away from the event’s headquarters in the

Opal Cove Resort.

The WRC Entry List reads as folllows: 01) S. Loeb/D. Elena (Citroën) 02) S. Ogier/J. Ingrassia (Citroën) 03) M. Hirvonen/J. Lehtinen (Ford) 04) J-M. Latvala/M. Anttila (Ford) 05) M. Wilson/S. Martin (Ford) 06) E. Novikov/D. Giradet (Ford) 10) K. Al Qassimi/M. Orr (Ford) 11) P. Solberg/C. Patterson (Citroën) 12) D. Oliviera/C. Magalhaes (MINI) 14) P. Van Merksteijn/E. Mombaerts (Citroën) 43) K. Block/A. Gelsomino (Ford) To predict a winner here will be most difficult. An all-French battle for the overall win is likely, but which of the Sebs take the trophy is anyones guess. The Fords will need to push hard here to reel in the runaway success of the Citroën DS3 WRC, and Hirvonen and Latvala have both shown tremendous pace on gravel.

Will this be the win Ford WRC is seeking? H&H