H&H-18

Handbrakes & Hairpins Issue 18

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WRC 2008 is here!

In this week’s Issue:

Issue

18

Behind the Scenes

Jean-Luc Therier

Profile: Richard Vaughn

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WRC Rally Monte Carlo Preview

The 2008 World Rally Championship kicks off with the world’s most famous rally, the WRC Rally Monte Carlo. With a long and illustrious history this event promises high-speed rallying action set in the scenic French mountains. This will be a great start to the world of rallying this year!

Cutting its way through the mountainous setting with numerous high mountain passes, narrow roads, slippery asphalt roads, all taken at high speed, the drivers will be attacking the event with controlled aggression as the road surface, which varies from dry to wet, snow and ice-covered, makes for tricky progress through the stages. Reintroduced into the route this year is the famous Col du Turini stage, a breathtaking and challenging speed test loved by all competitors.

With the varying asphalt stages, tyre choice will once more play a decisive role, especially as all teams are now competing with the same controlled Pirelli tyre.

Run over a total distance of 1 481,25 km, and with 365,09 km of special stages, the route has been broken into 19 stages with 11 being different. Last year Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena proved the quickest over the weekend in their Citroen Total C4 WRC machine.

This, the 76th running of the event, should hold a few surprises for all. The newly named BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team has two young and talented chargers aiming to give the team a one-two finish on this event, as will Loeb and Dani Sordo. And, let’s not forget the mighty drivers Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson from the Subaru World Rally Team…

Driver Quotes: Sebastien Loeb: “I’m obviously dreaming of a white Monte Carlo, with real wintry conditions. The route focuses on three different regions, so the stages will be very varied. Thursday evening’s tests are wide, fast and smooth. Those in the Ardèche are more technical, narrower and occasionally bumpy. Last year, the conditions were particularly dry but it should be fun if we get snow and ice this time round! I am delighted to see that the Col du Turini and some other classic stages in the southeast corner of France are back. That said, the challenge of having to contest the final day’s four stages with the same tyres could well turn out to be quite delicate. As is often the case at the start of a new season, there are a lot of unknown factors,” explains Sébastien. “We will need to find the best match between the tyres we have and the stage conditions, but our aim is to try to win and get the year off to a positive start.” (Should Seb and Daniel succeed in adding a fifth Monte Carlo victory to their record, they will become the most successful crew in the winter classic’s history).

Dani Sordo: “I’m very much looking forward to the start of the Monte Carlo Rally, although we will probably need time to adapt to our new tyres,” echoes Dani. “We have prepared thoroughly for this event but nothing can replace actually being on the rally.

The Monte’s stages are fantastic but we will need to stay focused from start to finish if we want to achieve our objective which is a

top-three finish with a view to scoring as many points as possible for Citroën.”

Petter Solberg: “It is important to get into a rhythm straight away and settle into a pace you feel comfortable with. With no antideflation mousse you can’t take risks in the stages as a puncture could finish your rally. There will be a lot of snow I think and Monte is always tricky anyway so it won’t be easy, that’s for sure. It will be about who can make the most of their tyres and adapt to the conditions fastest, but if someone manages something special with them people will follow quickly.”

Chris Atkinson: “It’s going to be an interesting event for sure. It’s raining here in Monaco so I’m sure it’s snowing in the stages already. I’ve never done this event with a lot of snow so it’s new for me. Both times I’ve run this rally we’ve had good results, but I don’t underestimate how much of a challenge it is. Although the tyre choices aren’t wide because we only have one slick and a winter tyre, it’s going to be important when we choose to take each one, and we have to watch out for punctures. I’m definitely looking forward to starting the season again now though.”

Mikko Hirvonen: “Monte Carlo is all about the weather. If it is dry and mild then it is like any other asphalt event. If there is snow and ice then conditions can change quickly and nobody can predict what might happen. In such conditions the only safe thing to predict is that the stages will be unpredictable. It’s the biggest challenge in the championship. I can’t wait to get started again. I will begin every rally thinking about winning, but if I can’t do that then second place is where I need to be. It will be difficult for me to take on Marcus Grönholm’s role in the team, but I feel ready for it. I learned much from him during the last two seasons and now it is time for me to move on and show that I too can fight for the drivers’ title.”

Jari-Matti Latvala: “The new tyre regulations mean I have to get used to Pirelli’s rubber, driving without the puncture-resistant mousse and not having the same options as we have had in the past. I’ve used the new tyres during testing and I could feel they were harder. The ban on mousse means drivers can’t cut corners as much as before for fear of puncturing so I will need to be careful going into bends. I learned how to drive like that in the Production WRC so I hope that experience will be useful.”

Images: RallyStuff.Net

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Fuel Stop: News Briefs Al Qassimi to contest 10 WRC events in 2008

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi participated in four WRC events in 2007, while contesting the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) as well. For 2008 the driver will compete in ten WRC rallies this season with the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

“I can’t wait to start my first full WRC season in the new Abu Dhabi-branded car,” said Al Qassimi. “It looks fantastic and is faster and lighter than the model I drove last year.

“There are a lot of tarmac events on the calendar this year, and starting the season with Monte Carlo and then Sweden - both with plenty of snow and ice expected - is obviously a little different to what I’m used to in Abu Dhabi and the MERC. “I’m especially looking forward to Jordan - which I won in the MERC last year - as I’ll be able to test myself against the

world’s best drivers on familiar terrain. Then we move to Sardinia and Greece, where better weather will hopefully help me maintain high speeds.”

Michael Orr, who partnered Matthew Wilson in 2006 and 2007, will be assisting Al Qassimi get to better grips with WRC this year.

“With Michael - a hugely experienced navigator - in the cockpit with me, I’m really optimistic about the season ahead. His knowledge will be vital in helping me approach new rallies and surfaces with the confidence to go all out, said Al Qassimi.

Handbrakes and Hairpins wishes Khalid Al Qassimi and Micheal Orr the best of luck in the upcoming WRC championship.

Hirvonen aims for 2008 title

BP Ford Abu Dhabi’s 2008 lead driver, Mikko Hirvonen, is hoping to kick off this year’s WRC season where his predecessor Marcus Gronholm left off, reported www.wrc.com last week.

Hirvonen, the 25-year-old rally star, finished third overall in 2006 and 2007, and also played a pivotal role in securing the Manufacturers’ title for Ford in both seasons. Hirvonen believes he is now ready to “take the lead role and push for his own championship win,” said www.wrc.com.

“I’m definitely going to think about the drivers’ title,” said Hirvonen. “That’s my main aim and, of course, I know its going to be very difficult, and the season needs to be perfect if I’m going to do it, but I think its possible, so I’m going to go for it.

It’s going to be difficult to fill Marcus’ shoes, but there’s been a very good two years behind me now where I learnt quite a lot,

so now we are moving on. I’m sure I can hopefully, take some wins and carry on where Marcus finished.

“If I’m going to take the title I have to go to all the rallies and think about the win. Monte Carlo is a difficult start to the season. Sebastian [Loeb] has been very strong over there, but if I can’t win rallies I need to be second and that’s going to be my approach.”

As for consistency, Hirvonen has an immaculate record. He has contested 32 rallies for Ford, and has only failed to finish two events. More impressive is that in 2007 he was the only works driver to finish every rally, and with the exception of Corsica, he scored championship points on every round.

The young driver expects the most challenges to come from Loeb. Loeb, who is the most successful driver in the history of this great sport, is aiming for his fifth consecutive drivers’ title.

Subaru WRT focusing on developing new car

According to www.wrc.com, the Subaru World Rally Team has stopped developing the Impreza WRC2007 and will be making a low-key start to the 2008 season so that the team can focus their energies on their new car, the WRC2008. Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson will start the new season using the Impreza WRC2007 and the team’s managing director, Richard Taylor, is down-playing his team’s chances of success with the existing machinery.

“We accept that we’re not going to develop the WRC2007 much further and that we won’t be anywhere near as competitive as we hope to be with the new car,” said Taylor. “We homologated a couple of bits for the beginning of the year but that’s about it. Basically, we’re really freezing the WRC2007 now at that, and just carrying on putting all the effort into its successor. In the early part of the season our main objective is to get the new car out as quickly as we can - subject to the

performance and durability being right.”

Taylor also gave details of management changes in the team, designed to speed the introduction of the WRC2008. “David [Richards] is going to add to what he was doing last year. He will be going to all the events as team principal while I will certainly not be at the first few events as I’ll be focused on getting the new car ready. We’re also shrinking the on-event team to maximise the resource for the new car.”

Despite a low profile start to the year, and no firm date for the introduction of the new car, Taylor remains optimistic that Subaru will turn its recent disappointing form around in 2008.

“At this stage we can’t say when the car will make its debut, but it definitely won’t be in time for Jordan. Our aim is that the new car is competitive at the outset. We want to win at least a couple of rallies with it before the end of the year,” he said.

- Credit: www.wrc.com

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Stobart unveils new livery for 2008

The Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team will sport a fresh new livery for the 2008 season in the FIA World Rally Championship. The revolutionary new look will carry the team into the ‘08 season as they look to improve on their fantastic result from 2007.

The manifold shades of blue now present on one side of the Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC07 represent the multimodal services offered by the newly-formed Stobart Group; the traditional

Stobart Motorsport green remaining on the other side.

This year the cars will be crewed by some new faces along with some familiar ones from 2007. The 2008 line-up to tackle the WRC season includes Italians Gigi Galli/Giovanni Bernacchini, Norwegians Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud and Brit Matthew Wilson who will be reunited with co-driver, and fellow Cumbrian, Scott Martin for his ‘08 challenge.

Images: Stobart Motorsport

With the likes of Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin, Gigi Galli/Giovanni Bernacchini and Henning Solberg/Cato Menkereud, the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team will aiming to once again attack the works teams for podium places. Piloting last year’s winning car, the Ford Focus RS Rally Car WRC07, the Stobart drivers will be a formidable force.

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Behind the scenes:

Q & A with Paul Howarth Operations Director for SWRT

This year there is a revised calendar and 15 rallies, rather than last year’s 16 events. How will that affect the way the team approaches the year?

Jordan is new for this year, but the rest are the normal classic events on which all the teams have a great deal of experience.

There are some very key events for us in the latter half of the year, which in itself will be quite demanding. The calendar is a little closer this year with a smaller gap in the middle of the year.

Generally a smaller summer break is better for the team, if it works logistically. It depends on when the first rally of 2009 is held, but it’s preferable to finish slightly earlier in November to have a longer period at the end of the year. It’s always a balance with organisers though to ensure that they have their infrastructure in place, and sometimes that does more to dictate dates.

Jordan will be tricky this year as it doesn’t work with the freight like a traditional long-haul rally. Due to the timing, all of the long-haul freight will still be in Argentina so we’d ideally operate the team with two lots of kit.

This year the WRC makes the change to Pirelli control tyres.

How different are these to the versions the team used in 2006 when last with Pirelli?

In Monte Carlo we’ll be using three tyres – the new tarmac soft tyre which has a new tread pattern we haven’t used before. We

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also use a Pirelli WX tyre which we have used before, both with and without studs, as Monte Carlo is a specialist event.

For the rest of the events it’s more straightforward as you just have the one tyre which we’re not allowed to cut.

The biggest factor to be aware of on tarmac is punctures because we are not using anti-deflation mousse, but that can be avoided by changing driving style and not going quite so tight into cuts. It’s a stylistic thing and those who adapt faster will gain an early advantage.

How much are punctures likely to influence rally results in 2008, with the use of anti-deflation mousse banned?

First of all, cars are allowed to carry two spare wheels if teams wish so crews will have sufficient to cope with two punctures in a loop of stages. The tyre has been designed with the lack of anti-deflation mousse in mind, so it has a thicker carcass and sidewalls than previously. We’ve seen testing on really rough gravel where there have been no punctures, so they are tough, but a lot will depend on tyre wear. We’re only allowed one compound, so dependent on how rough the surface is and the rate of tyre wear, you may pick up punctures where rocks actually cut through the tread, if it is sufficiently worn. It’s important to remember though that it’s the same for everybody, and it is a new challenge as everyone has to start from scratch.

Do you think the control tyre situation will make competition closer throughout the year?

Everyone was on BFGoodrich tyres last year, and for the most part everyone used the same compounds and tread at each event, so a control tyre will not necessarily bunch everyone together. It will however take away any debate about weather and compound, so in times of uncertainty everyone will be in the same situation which will make it closer. What will make the difference is which driver is able to make the most of those tyres when conditions change and it rains or when temperatures fall.

How much testing will there be with the current car, the WRC2007, in the first part of the season?

There were four days of testing for Rallye Monte Carlo and there will be two days in Sweden and four days on gravel. For the most part, these will concentrate on testing the car on the new championship control tyre, as of course we have tested the car on many surfaces all last year too. The Monte Carlo test was positive and has allowed us to establish a good setup for this season’s opening event.

What is the expectation of the WRC2007 at the start of the season?

We’ve worked on the WRC2007 over the winter and have made some steps forward with it for the beginning of the season, but we have to remember that Ford and Citroen are locked in a close battle and won’t have been sleeping on their own development. I think everyone has the chance to benefit from tyres though, as punctures will be far more costly this year than last. Mexico in particular is a very tough event on which we have lots of experience, and the car worked well there last year.

There is certainly the chance that results could be decided by

punctures, especially early on when drivers are caught out by cuts.

With a new car being introduced part-way through the year, how will that influence the team’s focus during the season?

For the start of the year we’ve made some changes to the Impreza WRC2007 and we’ll focus on achieving the best results we can. We’ll also use as much resource as we can to get the new car ready. The technicians and engineers will become acquainted with it through a training programme, rotating them between the current and new variations so that they are well practiced with it. The objective of the development programme is to hand over a car which is operationally effective and can replace the WRC2007 as smoothly as possible, allowing the team to keep absolute focus and not lose ground in the championship.

How is testing of the new car going ahead of its introduction later this year?

We’ve been conducting rigorous systems tests so far to determine that every aspect of the car works as it should and is up to the required standard of endurance. We’ve conducted many kilometres of testing so far and everything is functioning correctly – we’ve had no significant problems and all the signs are good. Markko Martin commences testing within the next month, which will signal a move to setup and endurance-orientated work, rather than just shakedown runs.

The current systems tests are essential in the overall test schedule, as we know from past experience that if we spend the time getting each system right in one hit, when we come to do the later tests at speed we know we have it sorted and can focus on performance aspects. Once testing has been completed to a sufficient degree of performance, the car will be launched.

Images: RallyStuff.Net

Past WRC Master: Jean-Luc Therier

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Jean-Luc Therier was born in Hodeng-au-Bosc, France, on 7 October 1945, and took the rally world by storm in 1973 by winning in the inaugural World Rally Championship.

Only in 1977 was the WRC formally contested by Manufacturers, not individuals, making his success in 1973 all the more impressive.

This quiet Frenchman competed many rallies in an Alpine-Renault A110 1800cc, but also drove for Toyota Team Europe later in his career.

For his first ever rally, at the age of 21, Therier borrowed pace notes from a friendly competitor, not knowing whether the notes were at all reliable. Therier pushed on to win the event!

His most memorable rally was the 1973 WRC Rally Sweden. This is because it took place on the day after his wedding... Once again the Frenchman borrowed pace notes from a fellow competitor, Jean-Pierre Nicolas. These notes proved not to be as reliable as Therier would have liked. Driving at over 180km/h on snow he crashed his Apline-Renault A110 in a thicket of trees, and miraculously only damaged a wheel that he quickly changed before continuing on his way to finish the rally third overall.

Like many motorsport stars, Therier started off his career in karting at a young age. His interest in rallying grew each year, and when he was old enough (and had enough money saved) he asked his mother to buy a Renault R8 Gordini for him to rally. His father would not support him, as he owned the local Citroen dealership...

Career in numbers: Nationality: French Active WRC years: 1973 - 1984 Teams: Alpine-Renault, Toyota Europe and Porsche.

World Rallies: 46 Championships: 0 Wins: 5 Podium finishes: 10 Stage wins: 61 Points: 42 First world rally: 1973 Monte Carlo First rally win: 1973 Portugal Last win: 1980 Tour de Corse Last world rally: 1984 Monte Carlo

1973: The first WRC season

In 1973 the World Rally Championship was created for the Federation Internationale de l’ Automobile (FIA). This inaugural season consisted of 13 rounds, each held in a different country around the world.

Many of the 13 events are still staples of today’s championship, namely Rally Monte Carlo, Rally Sweden, Rally Portugal, Rally Acropolis, Rally Germany, Rally Finland, Rally San Remo, Rally RAC (the Rally GB today) and Rally Tour de Corse, while others would soon be replaced in the calendar. Rally Poland was once on the calendar, as was the Safari Rally, the USA Rally and Rally de Maroc.

Gravel events formed the majority of the calendar, with two pure tarmac, one snow and ice rally and three mixed surface rallies (soft and hard surface rallies - gravel and tarmac).

With manufacturers not formally contesting the WRC, it was up to the drivers to make the WRC stand out from the other motorsport events of the time.

The competitors list reads like a rallying Hall of Fame winners: Ove Andersson (who piloted an Alpine-Renault), Stig Blomqvist (Saab 96 V4), Jean-Luc Therier (Alpine-Renault) and Timo Makinen. The cars were as varied as the drivers’ nationalities: Ford Escort RS1600, Fiat Abarth 124 and the Alpine-Renault A110 1800cc, not to mention the Saabs, Lancias and Volvos.

In terms of points, the team title went to Apline-Renault, second went to Fiat and third to Ford. Jean-Luc Therier, according to records I was able to get my grubby paws on, was crowned the inaugural WRC champion.

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South African Rally Profile: Richard Vaughn Team Info: Driver: Richard Vaughn Navigator: Both Natasha and Laura have navigated for me to date. For 2008 I am looking for a new navigator with experience in at least Class A7. Hopefully an experienced navigator who will stetch me to perform.

Car: Group N4 Mitsubishi Evolution VI Team Manager: Natasha Vaughn Crew: Bryan (son), Darren and Gareth.

Sponsors: Waiting for confirmation, but at this stage it looks good that Mitsubishi SA and EAL Oils will support the team.

Objective for 2008: To be crowned N4 National Champions.

Interview with Richard Vaughn 1) H&H: Firstly, congratulations on being crowned the 2007 KZN Regional Rally Drivers’ Champion. How did you see your season pan out? Were you always confident of winning the championship title?

RV: No, not at all. We started the year in a Tazz, which was not competitive with the top KwaZulu-Natal cars. Once we moved to the Mitsubishi, we needed to learn to drive it. After an event or two we had come to terms with the basics, but the car is still far quicker than I am. Towards the end of the year, Chris de Wit unfortunately had some problems and made it much easier for us.

But, right up to the last event a wrong slot or a puncture could have handed the Championship to another crew.

2) H&H: Who did you see as your strongest competitor in 2007?

RV: Chris de Wit and Tony Ball. Chris is a National Competitor as well as Natal Champion, and Tony is a very capable navigator too. Plus they have a great car. If they had better reliability, the season may have ended very differently.

3) H&H: What were your memorable moments of 2007?

RV: Your first overall rally win is something you never forget, so that’s a biggie. Breaking a drive shaft at the start of stage one of the Hi-Q RallySprint will be remembered for a while too. But most importantly enjoying the entire experience with my daughter, Laura.

4) H&H: There is great talent rising up through the ranks in South African rallying. Who do you think is the next rallying star in South Africa fans should look out for?

RV: I have watched Mark Cronje start in A6 and win, then move to A7 and win. Now he is in S2000 and I reckon the VW boys Jannie, Enzo and Hergen had better watch out. I`d say Mark will be winning rallies before mid-season. I also think that if Stevan Wilken backed off a little he would enjoy far more success. Sometimes its better to lose a couple of seconds and live to fight back over the rest of the rally.

5) H&H: What makes a rally driver a rally driver? What characteristics do rally drivers possess that other motor sport competitors don’t?

RV: A cool head is very important. Even top drivers sometimes take knee jerk decisions that cost them events. Also very important is knowing when to push and when to be cautious. The ability to read roads and conditions. Oh yes, and a bit of natural talent doesn`t hurt either.

6) H&H: It must be a busy office to sit in, the driver’s seat of your rally car. Can you tell us about your Group N4 Mitsubishi

Lancer?

RV: The Lancer Evo VI has been called the best production rally car ever built. Over Christmas, I stripped my car almost to shell and I now understand why she is so good.

Every weld is perfect, every component designed with rally in mind with little or no compromise. Traction is obviously excellent with four-wheel drive and despite the 32mm turbo restrictor the power is incredible. Gear changes happen around 4 800 rpm. Power dies at 5 000 because of the restrictor, but the close ratios in the gearbox takes her from 0 to 100 in 5 seconds, even on gravel. She turns well and the brakes are phenomenal, even though they are standard Brembos with 276mm gravel discs.

She is perfectly balanced and jumps fantastically. When she lands, its almost as if you had never left the ground.

She just lands and starts accelerating again. In short, its my dream come true. I cannot imagine any rally car being more capable than the Evo VI. 7) H&H: What are your predictions for the 2008 season?

RV: S2000: Mark Cronje.

A7: Chris de Wit, or Rodney Visagie?

A6: Stevan Wilken.

A5: Not sure who will be there yet.

N4: Hmmm, probably Charl Wilken.

N3: Kosta K, if he races.

8) H&H: What is your favourite event on the calendar?

And, why?

RV: By far the best roads are on the Hitachi Tour Natal, but the Sasol is probably my favourite because its incredibly well organised. Also my wife Natasha and I were married there some years ago. I also enjoy the tar stages on the VW Port Elizabeth event.

Laura Vaughn Profile: Laura, 2007 KZN Regional Rally Navigators’ Champion, is 15 years old and has been competing in rallies 9) H&H: The glory days of the current WRC cars are numbered. From for a little over a year now.

2010, they will be running S2000-spec rally cars. What are your views Her first rally was in October 2006, in which we ended on this?

RV: I`m a fan of the old Group B monsters when cars were said to be too second last due to an “off”. To date she has entered 11 events, including one National Rally. fast to race. I understand the reasons for the change, reduce costs and increase the number of teams etc. which is good for the sport. But I doubt Impressive career records: youngsters will grow up idolising a particular driver or dream of driving *Youngest winner of a regional rally in South Africa. a cult car like the Audi Quattro or Lancia Integrale, which is sad. *Youngest national licensed competitor in S.A. 10) H&H: Rallying attracts thousands of spectators to events around the world, and hundreds of thousands attend WRC rallies. This popularity, however, does not seem to apply to our rallying. What can be done to improve rallying in South Africa?

RV: I have helped organise many events and the easiest mistake to make, having made it myself, is to organise a great event and not tell the public what, when, where, etc. Publicity is what attracts sponsors and the public, yet we do so little of it in SA Rallying. People in SA have so many choices on how to spend their free time. If we don’t encourage them to go to a rally, how will they ever know what they are missing.

*11 rallies started and 11 rallies completed. *In those 11 rallies, she has not incurred a single point.

This talented lady won’t be competing in any National events this year, as her school work takes priority. If the opportunity arises, she may compete in regional rallies though. Once matriculated, her father Richard, believes she will go on to win many navigator’s championships, regionally and nationally. I have no doubt that Laura will be a bright rallying star in the future!