H&H-201

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Issue 201 • 18 September 2011

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Who will win in the Western Cape?

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Hunt wins 2WD PWRC Class title for 2011 East African Safari Classic Rally 2011 heats up IRC Rallye Sanremo preview

“It’s been a fantastic event and to win another FIA title at the end of it really is the icing on the cake” - Harry Hunt, PWRC Rally Australia, pg 4.

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Contents Issue 201 • 18 September 2011 04 START RAMP 04 Start Ramp - News Shorts

06 SERVICE PARK 06 07 07 08 09

Unfamiliar tunes for Idols finalists Hunting for trophies in Africa BRC’s “Open Day” praised Half a baker’s dozen 92,000 fans were at Coffs Coast

10 PARC FERME 10 SARC Toyota Cape Dealer Rally preview 12 IRC Rallye Sanremo 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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Team News Videos

Volkswagen Mikkelsen adds more tests praised in IRC Words: Staff Writer

Words: Staff Writer

At the Rally of Spain, the penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship (20 - 23 October 2011), the factory team will again field two Škoda Fabia S2000 cars. At the wheel: the German duo Christian Riedemann/Michael Wenzel and the Spanish pairing Yeray Lemes/Rogelio Peñate.

The team headed by Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen is pursuing two aims at this run: firstly the careful preparation for the entry of the Polo R WRC from 2013 on, and secondly the evaluation of young drivers who would like to recommend themselves for the climb up into the top class of rally racing.

“Our trial runs in Finland and the German Rally have already provided us with important findings with respect to the fielding of the vehicles, the organisation of the teams and the related logistics. Every WRC round has its own characteristics though – this makes it particularly important to gather specific experiences,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “In Spain we will again be running with two young driver pairings: Christian Riedemann and Michael Wenzel did a good job at their home round and now have the chance to show their potential on gravel. Yeray Lemes and his codriver Rogelio Peñate on the other hand are hopefuls and highly motivated to compete in front of a home audience.

For our team the main focus is not so much on the sporting result but on finishing the entire rally in order to gather as much experience as possible.”

For the 23-year-old Christian Riedemann this will be the second run in the Volkswagen factory team. Together with his co-driver Michael Wenzel he took third place at the German Rally in the Super 2000 category and was also the best German in the large field. The duo has to “switch gears” for its run in Spain. Whereas the German rally around Trier was held mostly on tarmac the Catalonian WRC event around the small coastal town Salou additionally features several gravel tracks. This is the type of terrain on which Riedemann’s team colleague Yeray Lemes feels particularly comfortable. The 24-year-old from Lanzarote won the 2009 Spanish Rally Championship on gravel and in addition the JWRC junior class at last year’s WRC round. Lemes, whose enthusiasm for the sport was inspired by Carlos Sainz’ WRC exploits, is currently competing in the so called WRC Academy with his co-driver Rogelio Peñate and is ranking in fourth place overall. H&H

Andreas Mikkelsen has been praised following his standout performance on last week’s Canon Mecsek Rallye, despite crashing out of the lead of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) round.

The Skoda UK-backed driver was two stages from the finish when he skated off the road on a patch of loose gravel. He had led from the opening stage of the event and set a number of impressive stage times in the Fabia Super 2000 he shares with fellow Norwegian Ola Floene.

Skoda Motorsport boss Michal Hrabanek, whose driver Jan Kopecky took victory in Hungary following Mikkelsen’s crash, said: “This event was very dramatic until the end. We are very sorry for Andreas because he was so near achieving a great result.”

Kopecky added: “Andreas certainly deserved to win here, because he was fastest of all of us. On the other hand, we had good luck, one of the things you need in rallying.”

Speaking about his crash, Mikkelsen said: “We had the perfect weekend up until stage 13. We had led from the start but when we hit the gravel there was no grip at all and we slid off the road in sixth gear and hit a tree.” H&H

Colin McRae Vision partners with IRC Rally of Scotland Words: Staff Writer The Colin McRae Vision charity’s association with the Intercontinental Rally Challenge will be widened on RACMSA Rally of Scotland in October after the two organisations joined forces for the penultimate event of the 2011 IRC season.

Colin McRae Vision, a charity created to support underprivileged children around the world, has worked in partnership with the IRC since June 2010. In addition to several fundraising initiatives, the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy is presented on all rounds of the series to the driver whose performance best embodies the spirit of the rallying legend.

Several activities are planned during the rally to raise awareness of Colin McRae Vision: Jimmy McRae, Colin’s father, will drive his son’s famous Subaru Legacy as a course-opening

Event News Breaking News

‘zero’ car, while donations will be made to worthy causes nominated by Perthshire and Stirlingshire councils.

“It’s quite appropriate that I’ll be driving the Legacy as it is 20 years since Colin won his first British title and 30 years since I won my first British title,” said Jimmy McRae. “The Legacy was a big car to throw around the forests but the memories that people will have of it with Colin at the wheel, sideways, and that very distinctive engine note should hopefully put a smile on quite a few faces.”

Rally of Scotland is based in Perth from 7 - 9 October. H&H

Hunt is PWRC 2WD Champion Words: Staff Writer Briton Harry Hunt has won the FIA Production Car Cup for Drivers of 2WD Cars following his run to 20th overall on Rally Australia.

London-based Harry, who won three international rally titles in 2010, captured the 2WD award on the back of victories in Portugal, Argentina and now Australia.

“It’s been a fantastic event and to win another FIA title at the end of it really is the icing on the cake,” said Harry. “Okay, the competition might not have been so fierce throughout the season, but it’s another championship for me and for the team.”

Harry, 23, put in a stellar effort behind the wheel of his Citroen DS3 R3 to finish ninth overall in the Production Car World Rally Championship (PWRC) section of the New South Wales event, which handed him his first points in the main PWRC division. It represented a gritty comeback after he lost 12min when his car’s engine ingested too much water on a crossing and faltered on Friday’s opening leg.

Hunt will be back in action on Rallye Sanremo, in Italy, from 22 - 24 September, Round Nine of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. H&H

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Interviews Features

Profiles Technical

Unfamiliar tunes for Idols finalists Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Brett Lefrere They are masters when it comes to making music, but the crisp sound of a Fiesta S2000 rallycar’s engine at full tilt was an unfamiliar tune for SA’s remaining Idols finalists.

The last six standing were recently treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity when they were strapped into the passenger seat of the Basil Read bizhub Ford Fiesta S2000 rallycar with top South African rallydriver Charl Wilken behind the wheel. The venue was the dynamic handling track at the world renowned Gerotek vehicle testing facility just west of Pretoria.

“It’s not nearly as scary as a proper rally stage on dirt,” commented Wilken before his first passenger was strapped in. “The tar is a lot more predictable, but if you are not used to it, it will still be a scary ride.”

Wilken’s words proved to be true when his first passenger, Lefa Pike emerged with his hands shaking. The usually vocal musician could only utter: “This is insane!” Dave van Vuuren was a lot more enthusiastic, adding that he loves cars just about as much as music, but

after completing a few flying laps with Wilken, he admitted that music will remain his chosen career. “I don’t know how he does it,” was his summary of the adrenaline filled minute.

Freddy Van’Dango was less enthusiastic.

“How fast is this thing?” he wanted to know.

The answer is that a top S2000 rallycar such as the Basil Read bizhub Fiesta is only geared for around 170km/h, so it doesn’t have the top speed of a supercar, but the secret lies in the car’s ability to put its 200kW down on the road through its very advanced four wheel drive system, resulting in blistering acceleration.

On the short handling track of the Gerotek vehicle testing facility, it easily reaches its top speed, and the cornering speeds are simply breathtaking. Freddy’s reaction after surviving the run was testimony of this. He got down on his knees and kissed the ground!

Wilken, who is currently still in contention for the 2011 South African Rally Championship was full of praise for the bunch of singers. “Sure they were scared and nervous, but I’d be nervous too if someone stuck a microphone in my face and told me to sing, so it’s better that we all stick to what we do! I wish them all the best of luck.” H&H

Issue 201 • 18 September 2011 • Page 07

Hunting for trophies in Africa for 2011 Words: Staff Writer Picture: Handbrakes & Hairpins To take up a challenge is to not only an attempt to win a contest but to also face a daunting situation that tests one’s abilities. Motorsport enthusiasts regard classic rallying as a form of the sport as exciting and dramatic as its modern day counterparts, where the classic machines are pitted against man and nature in marathon-like events.

The jewel in this sport’s crown is the East African Safari Classic Rally, a staggering nine-day event that winds and snakes its way through Kenya’s most scenic landscapes and over the gravel roads that marked this event as the most trying in the 2002 World Rally Championship season.

Running from 9 to 28 November, crews will face 10-hour days strapped inside their rally weapons as they take on three long special stages each day. These timed sections are linked with open road liaison routes that together will test these purpose-built cars to the limits of their endurance.

As if the conditions and route officials have mapped out in Kenya are not enough of a challenge, former WRC Champions Bjorn Waldegard and Stig Blomqvist have entered in Ford Escorts. With extensive experience not only in rallying in East Africa, but with tried and tested Fords, these two drivers offer the stiffest competition for their rivals. Also on the entry list are Steve Perez (leading British Historic Rally Championship competitor, Dakar legend Gregoire de Mevius, Ian Duncan, the brilliant Porsche 911s from Tuthill Porsche in the UK and USA’s action sports star Travis Pastrana.

However, like the current season of WRC in which Sebastien Loeb and Citroën are dominating once more Mikko Hirvonen and Ford have highlighted that underdogs are never to be discounted. In this regard, two teams from South Africa have entered Volkswagen Golf Mk Is to take on the East African Safari Classic Rally.

Sisters Lola and Megan Verlaque, popular rallying figures in Africa, will crew one of the cars with the second machine piloted

by Steve Attwell (father of Zimbabwean rally ace Chase) and Eddie Verlaque (father of the “rally chicks” who is himself a highly acclaimed personality in African rallying circles). The team is preparing the Golfs to 1970s specification to meet the requirements of the rally, and with their extensive competition experience in Kenya their cars are sure to be amongst the favourite for overall honours come 28 November’s Podium Cerermony.

The Verlaques invite businesses, brands and individuals to show their support in this prestigious event by offering sponsorship opportunities.

Contact Evan Rothman at evanrothman@gmail.com or via +2783456892.

BRC’s “Open Day” praised Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Jakob Ebrey Photography The Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship’s annual Open day signed on over eighty people for demonstration runs in the assembled cars from an excellent array of teams large and small.

There was a real buzz at the cosy Curborough Sprint circuit near Lichfield, as Citroën Racing, M-Sport. Peugeot Sport, Renault Sport Technologies, Autosport Technology, Monster Sport Europe, CA1 Sport, 586 Sport, Eurorallye, RPM Performance, JAM Motorsport, Pirelli UK, Revolution Wheels plus representatives from the BRC events all turned out to support the event.

Potential customers from all corners of Great Britain and Ireland attended, along with interested crews from Switzerland, Italy, France and Holland, all keen to sample the cars and see what the 2012 MSA British Rally Championship has to offer.

Mark Taylor, BRC Manager: “I would like to personally thank to all those who attended, teams, competitors, events and suppliers. Without support from everyone involved we could not have put on such a great event. It really bodes well for the future of the British Rally Championship and BRC Challenge.”

Andrew Coley, competitor and Eurosport IRC commentator: “The open day was fantastic. Well organised, friendly, and as title, open! All the teams/manufacturers very happy to discuss plans and offer runs out in the cars. I had a run in Twingo R1 and R2, Fiesta MS1 and R2, Clio R3, DS3 R3 and 207RC R3, which Peugeot also kindly allowed me to drive.”

Andrew Wheatley, M-Sport Business Development Manager: “Thanks for the huge effort that the BRC team put into making the Open Day on Friday a success. It was professionally run – with a strong turn-out of both teams and potential drivers and was a credit to the BRC.” Carl Naylor, Pirelli Motorsport Manager UK: “The day was hugely successful, I think all that attended have a much better understanding of H&H what to expect in 2012.”

Issue 201 • 18 September 2011 • Page 08

Half a baker’s dozen for BRC in 2012 Words: Staff Writer Picture: Jakob Ebrey Photography

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The 2012 MSA British Rally Championship will feature six classic events in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland These will include a mix of one and two-day events on asphalt and on gravel.

Rallye Sunseeker International will once again host the opening round of the MSA British Rally Championship. Based in Bournemouth and Poole, this well-organised gravel event features a high profile promotional start and a compact one-day route and therefore, provides an excellent way to kick-start to the new season.

A visit to the forests of North Wales and Cumbria takes up the next two rounds. Both the Bulldog International Rally North Wales and the Pirelli International Rally will run two-day, 100mile gravel surface formats that provide a real test for competitors.

The surface then changes to asphalt, with a visit to Duns and the Scottish Borders for the Jim Clark International Rally. The BRC then heads across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland for Todds Leap International Rally NI. The season finale, International Rally Yorkshire, will return to a two-day format in 2012 and will again be based in the seaside town of Scarborough. It will use the classic North Yorkshire Moors forests of Dalby, Cropton and Langdale, therefore providing the perfect showdown to decide the 2012 MSA British Rally Champions.

With six rather than seven events, the biggest change to the calendar is the resting of International Rally Isle of Man, formerly the Manx Rally, for next year.

Championship Manger Mark Taylor said: “We are keen for Rally Isle of Man to plug the gap in the summer calendar which left the championship feeling fractured this year.

However, despite the event being currently unable to commit to its return in 2012, we have

agreed with the organising committee to leave the summer date available for a potential return in 2013.”

“Mindful of the ongoing economic situation, we believe that a six-round championship is a good short-term move. Along with the switch to two-wheel-drive, this will further help reduce costs towards participating in the 2012 British Rally Championship.”

So that competitors and teams can give something back to their sponsors, BRC organisers have decided to use the summer slot to run a dedicated promotional event. Further details will be announced before the start of the season.

2012 MSA BRC Calendar: 24/25 Feb – Rallye Sunseeker Int’l – (Gravel) 30/31 Mar – Bulldog Int’l Rally (Gravel) 27/28 Apr – Pirelli Int’l Rally (Gravel) 1/2 Jun – Jim Clark Int’l Rally (Asphalt) 17/18 Aug – Int’l Todds Leap Rally NI (Asphalt) 28/29 Sept – Int’l Rally Yorkshire (Gravel) New for 2012: 9 Feb – Media Day 22 Jul – Sponsors Live Day Hosted by the British Rally Championship, these promotional days are designed to provide the opportunity for teams and competitors to launch their championship campaigns to the UK and foreign media. The events can also be used to entertain sponsors and partners, providing teams with the opportunity to entertain their guests with a once in a lifetime ride in a rally car.

For more information on the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship visit http://www.rallybrc.co.uk. H&H

Issue 201 • 18 September 2011 • Page 09

92,000 fans were at Coffs Coast Words: Staff Writer Picture: Handbrakes & Hairpins

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The Coffs Coast of New South Wales hosted the most successful round of Rally Australia in the event’s 21-year history, according to the final attendance total announced this week.

The World Rally Championship event, which finished last Sunday, attracted 92,223 people over three days and three nights to ticketed and non-ticketed venues, surpassing the crowds at previous events in Western Australia and the NSW Northern Rivers.

Rally Australia General Manager Michael Masi said this week the event’s success had provided strong momentum to negotiate for a return in 2013 and beyond.

“Now that we’ve had a few days to catch up on the final attendance figures and the general reaction, it’s clear we are in a great position to secure a longer-term place in the FIA World Rally Championship,” Mr Masi said.

“The final attendance total of 92,223 – including repeat visits by multiple-day pass holders - is significantly beyond the initial figure of 86,000 we disclosed on the morning after the rally. It’s also well above our expectations for this first event on the Coffs Coast, but we need to do still more analysis and planning and there are quite a few steps ahead before we could possibly announce further dates. Rally Australia will put together a business plan and discuss the options

with our partners in State and local government and the Championship organisers. We would like to be back here in 2013, which is the first available opportunity, and then annually in order to maximise the potential of our supporters and partners and of our organising team.”

Mr Masi said the strongest factor influencing Rally Australia’s future had been the quality of the welcome from the Coffs Coast community.

“Everywhere the teams and other visiting internationals went they were overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome.

There is clearly a great rally heritage in this region, with memories of the legendary Southern Cross International rally still fresh and the roads were described by drivers such as Mikko Hirvonen as among the best in the rally world.”

Mr Masi said he was grateful for the comments of World Rally Championship Manager Michelle Mouton, a legendary figure in world rallying, reported on http://www.wrc.com She was reported saying during her visit from France: “I have been happily surprised by the number of people attending the ceremonial start and the people at the autograph session before the rally was incredible. The organisation has been good on this event and they have a good base for the event here. For me, this event was very positive - the promotion has been very good. In the newspapers, all they talk about is the rally.” H&H

Parc Ferme

Event Reports Results

To the Cape of Storms Words: Staff Writer Pictures: Evan Rothman/Handbrakes & Hairpins

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Can anyone beat Cronje and Houghton to the title of South African Rally Champions in 2011? That’s the question being asked by the fans as the high-speed world of gravel special stage rallying focuses on the Western Cape this weekend, 23 and 24 September, for the penultimate round of what has been a tightly contested competition.

The answer is a definite “Yes!”, but their rivals are going to have to raise their game considerably in the Toyota Cape Dealer Rally, which starts at McCarthy Toyota in Table View at 13h00.

Although Pretoria residents Cronje and Houghton have won the last three rounds of the Championship in their Sasol Ford Fiesta and racked up more stage wins than any other combination – 24 so far, 14 in the last three events – Cronje leads the Drivers’ Championship by a slim four points from Zimbabwe’s Conrad Rautenbach (Green Fuel Ford Fiesta S2000) while just 11 points cover the top four drivers.

Cronje has 104 points, Rautenbach 100, defending champion Enzo Kuun (BP Volkswagen

Polo S2000) 95 and 2010 runner-up Johnny Gemmell (Castrol Toyota Auris S2000) 93.

Houghton leads the Co-Drivers’ Championship with 106 points as Rautenbach’s team-mate Nicolas Klinger competes on a French license. The South African has a seven-point lead over fellow countryman and defending codrivers’ champion Guy Hodgson, with Gemmell’s Scottish co-driver Drew Sturrock third on 96 points.

Any one of the top four contenders, as well as at least another four, all competing in the premier S2000 Class for four-wheel drive cars, are capable of winning one of the season’s most popular and enjoyable events run in the picturesque wheat and canola fields around Malmesbury and Hopefield.

Gemmell, a former kart champion, and Sturrock, have proved to be Cronje and Houghton’s strongest rivals and have three second places and a third to their credit together with seven stage wins. A maiden win for the factory pair is very much on the cards.

Castrol Toyota team-mates Leeroy Poulter/Elvéne Coetzee have already scored a win, in the Sasol Rally in April, in their first season together in the premier Class. The rookie driver has eight stage wins to his credit to date,

Issue 201 • 18 September 2011 • Page 11

but will be looking for a lot more and consistent results in the last two rounds to improve his current ninth place in the points standings.

Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich (Basil Read/bizhub Ford Fiesta S2000) are also potential winners after two second place finishes and 13 stage wins, but two successive non-finishes have hurt their championship chances and they are down in eighth place.

Kuun leads a strong four-car factory BP Volkswagen challenge that includes former champions Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries, currently sixth and fourth in the championship, who rather surprisingly have not finished higher than fourth to date, but who should not be discounted. Former champions Jan Habig/Robert Paisley in the third BP Volkswagen Polo are out of contention for the Championship in an unfamiliar 13th place after failing to finish three of the events. They, too, are capable of pulling off an upset victory.

Former national circuit and off-road champion and 2009 Dakar Rally winner Giniel de Villiers, in his first season of national championship rallying and co-driven by fellow Dakar veteran and former off-road champion Ralph

Pitchford, are tenth in the fourth BP Volkswagen Polo S2000.

Making up the top ten among the drivers are Nicholas Ryan (GrandMark International Volkswagen Polo S2000) in fifth place and Jon Williams (Sasol Ford Fiesta S2000) with four stage wins in seventh place.

The Two Wheel Drive Championship for the S1600 and S1400 Classes is building up to an equally exciting climax with 19 points covering the top four drivers. Topping the log are brother and sister Christoff and Celeste Snyders (S1600 Sabertek Volkswagen Polo), who enjoy a slim six-point lead over former champions Craig Trott/ Robbie Coetzee (Total Toyota RunX S1600).

Both these crews can expect strong competition from Guy Botterill/ Schalk van Heerden (S1600 Yato Tools Toyota RunX) and Ashley Haigh-Smith and non-scoring British co-driver James Aldridge (S1600 React Ford Fiesta).

Botterill and Haigh-Smith are joint fourth in the Championship on 84 points and are not yet out of contention.

The battle for Class S1400 honours is expected to be between championship leader Megan Verlaque

and new co-driver Hilton Auffray (BP Volkswagen Polo S1400) and Henk Lategan (Q8 Oils Volkswagen Polo S1400), who is just two points in arrears.

Lategan’s co-driver, Pierre Jordaan, leads the Co-Drivers’ Championship by a single point from Verlaque’s original co-driver, Lirene du Plessis, who is not competing this weekend. In another change, Lategan will this weekend be partnered by Barry White.

The Toyota Cape Dealer Rally will cover a route of some 198km of special stages over the two days. There will be two gravel stages in the Hopefield area on Friday 23 September covering about 50km and two tar stages at Killarney (14km and 5km). The event restarts on Saturday 24 September at 08h00 and there will be four gravel stages in the Malmesbury area plus a final 14km tar stage at Killarney. H&H

Issue 201 • 18 September 2011 • Page 12

Sanremo calls IRC regulars to action Words: Staff Writer Pictures: IRC Media

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A thrilling contest is in store when Rallye Sanremo hosts the final all-asphalt event of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) season this weekend.

Based in the Italian Riviera town on the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea, the event is a modern-day classic with the dramatic action contained within a 29-hour window on the tricky and narrow mountain roads of Italy’s Liguria province overlooking Sanremo.

Friday’s (23 September) itinerary features seven stages over a competitive distance of 116.09km with the first stage, Coldirodi, getting underway shortly before 14h00 local time. Following two more stages crews return to Sanremo for the seafront service before tackling a further three runs, including repeats of Coldirodi and Bignone.

After a three-hour regroup and service in Sanremo – famed for its casino, delightful bars and tempting restaurants – the challenge intensifies with the Ronde stage, a 44km ultimate test of car and crew, which is effectively an amalgamation of the Coldirodi, Apricale and Bignone tests. Run at night, the route is often subjected to changeable weather conditions with rain a constant menace, meaning tyre choice is crucial for recording a top stage time.

The action resumes on Saturday morning (24 September) with two loops of three stages in the hills of Langan, Teglio and D’oggia totalling 109.68 competitive kilometres and split by a service halt in Sanremo. The first crew is due to reach final service and the finish in Sanremo at 18h13 local time on Saturday.

The Rallye Sanremo stages are

characterised by fast and flowing sections, frequent changes of rhythm, and blind and open corners with rapid climbs and descents commonplace. The ability to find the optimum ‘racing’ line and maintain a high level of speed are essential for recording competitive stage times.

Road surfaces are predominantly smooth, albeit with some sections of broken asphalt. The tests on Day Two are known for providing better grip than on Day One. The undulating nature of the roads places a great strain on the cars with the engine, transmission and brakes all being subjected to heavy punishment.

In addition to the main IRC, Rallye Sanremo forms the ninth rounds of the IRC Production Cup and the IRC 2WD Cup. However, the event no longer forms part of the Italian Rally Championship schedule as part of a rotation system.

Sixteen S2000 cars will do battle on Rallye Sanremo with title chasers Bryan Bouffier, Juho Hanninen, Jan Kopecky, Freddy Loix, Andreas Mikkelsen and Thierry Neuville all appearing on the entry list. However, Hanninen’s participation has still to be confirmed by his Skoda Motorsport team due to his other commitments with the Czech manufacturer.

If the Finn, the defending IRC Champion, does skip the event then teammates Kopecky and Loix are likely to capitalise.

Kopecky opened up a 17-point lead in the IRC standings with victory on the last round, the Canon Mecsek Rallye in Hungary, while Loix is well-placed in the title reckoning when dropped scores are considered.

IRC rules allow drivers to count their best seven scores only. Having finished in

Issue 201 • 18 September 2011 • Page 13

the points on seven events this year, Kopecky will have to begin dropping scores from now on. Loix, meanwhile, has only scored on six rounds so far.

Thierry Neuville heads the Peugeot challenge in his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 and is full of confidence following his second place finish in Hungary earlier this month.

With previous Sanremo experience – plus a test near the rally route last Monday – to count on, Neuville has high hopes of claiming his second win of the season.

Bryan Bouffier will be one of several Peugeot runners determined to do likewise. The Peugeot France ace won January’s Rallye Monte-Carlo and has the ability to replicate that form in Italy. Peugeot UK triumphed in Sanremo with Kris Meeke in 2009 and would relish a repeat success with Guy Wilks, who replaced Meeke in the squad for the 2011 season. Peugeot Sport Portugal’s Bruno Magalhaes will also be a contender.

Pierre Campana will make his IRC return in Sanremo at the wheel of the Munaretto-run Peugeot 207 he took to fourth overall on May’s Tour de Corse-E.Leclerc. The French ace has a strong record in Sanremo having won the IRC 2WD Cup class there in 2009.

Max Settembrini is also back on IRC duty for the first time since Corsica.

Like Campana, the Italian veteran will be at the wheel of a 207, which is also the car of choice of Swiss Gregoire Hotz, a newcomer to the IRC in 2011, and Italian Alessandro Perico, a former Sanremo winner.

Proton Motorsports has made

a tweak to its line-up with Australian Chris Atkinson being drafted in to replace Swede PG Andersson. Atkinson, who is based over the border in nearby Monte Carlo, took part on the IRC season-opener in the principality with Proton and has achieved considerable success this season with the Malaysian manufacturer in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship. Italian Giandomenico Basso, another former Sanremo winner, pilots the team’s second Satria Neo S2000 and will be out to impress.

TGS Worldwide’s Toni Gardemeister has been a model of consistency this season, scoring points on all seven rounds he’s contested so far in his Fabia S2000. The Finn has a prior knowledge of the Sanremo stages and plenty of speed to match. Rising Italian star Umberto Scandola was quick in Sanremo last season and will be a threat again this year in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000.

Swiss Florian Gonon returns to IRC Production Cup action bidding for his third win in his Subaru Impreza.

With a 25-point margin over his closest rivals, Gonon could strengthen his grip on the inaugural IRC Production Cup title with a strong result in Sanremo. Italian Marco Cavigioli will have other ideas in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer as he looks to make the most of the momentum generated by contesting the last two events. Johan Heloise, from France, will pilot an Impreza for Top Run Motorsport of Italy, while Irishman Eamonn Boland and Italian Corrado Perino complete the competitive entry in their Lancers.

The big guns of the IRC 2WD Cup will be out in force on Rallye

Sanremo with defending champion Harry Hunt, current title leader Jean-Michel Raoux, and Sandro Sottile, who won the IRC 2WD Cup section in Sanremo last season in his Honda Civic Type R, all competing. Stefano Albertini, the category winner on the last two rounds in Czech Republic and Hungary, will be capable of running at the front, as will Honda driver Martin Kangur and Italian Elwis Chentre, who switches to a SKODA Fabia R2. Belgian Cedric Cherain and Frenchman Mathieu Arzeno will also be quick as will Pierre-Antoine Guglielmi, who won the IRC 2WD Cup section in H&H Corsica back in May. EVENT ESSENTIALS Event: Rallye Sanremo Base: Sanremo, Italy Starts: Friday 23 September Finishes: Saturday 24 September Entries received: 59 IRC appearances: Four 2010 winners: Paolo Andreucci/Anna Andreussi (Peugeot 207 S2000) Surface: Asphalt Number of stages: 13 Special stage distance: 225.77km Liaison distance: 298.33km Total distance: 524.10km