S E K A R B D N A H S N I P R I & HA
week! e - every in z a g a y eM ated rall ST dedic R I F ’s .me/pkXc d http://wp The worl • 3 1 0 2 r mbe • 27 Septe Issue 295
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Your insight into the world of rally! Issue 295 • 27 Sept 2013
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INSIDE THIS WEEK 05 • Hayden Paddon steps up to the WRC 06 • BRC reveals 2014 calendar 07 • Ogier in “Historic” run in RallyDay 2013 09 • ERC Croatia Rally preview 10 • BRC Rally Yorkshire preview
Editor Evan Rothman Favourite rally car? Audi Quattro S2 Current favourite WRC driver? Mads Østberg Favourite WRC rally? WRC Rallye Deutschland Favourite rally? Total Rally, South Africa Tweets too much about rallying, loves nothing more than spectating on a forest rally, and has aspirations of being the world’s greatest rally journalist. He’s also oftentimes seen with a camera in one hand and his mobile phone in the other.
Photojournalist Eva Kovkova Favourite rally car? Citroën C4 WRC Current favourite WRC driver? Mads Østberg Favourite WRC rally? Vodafone Rally de Portugal Favourite rally? White Nights Rally, Lahdenpohja, Russia Likes to walk in the Swedish snow forests or on Portuguese dusty hills, likes to freeze, to get wet in the rain or to melt from the heat during photo hunts for flying cars and smiling faces. Also is known as a press ice bear working for South Africa :)
Handbrakes & Hairpins has created this rally-powered wallpaper for the Apple iPhone 5. To download, simply save the image to your Camera Roll, or click on this link to download: http://wp.me/apkXc-4xU.
OPENING SHOT Mikko Hirvonen and the Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally Team are rumoured to be in talks for the 2014 WRC season. Apparently, the Finn’s fighting for his seat in the French team... Picture: Citroën Racing
EVENT
PADDON STEPS UP THE WRC LADDER Words by H&H • Picture by M-Sport
Hayden Paddon and John Kennard will step up to the Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team for next month’s Rally de España as New Zealand’s finest make their competitive debut at the FIA World Rally Championship’s (WRC) highest level. Piloting a Ford Fiesta RS WRC in Qatar M-Sport colours, the pairing’s World Rally Car debut will also mark a first for New Zealand as they become the first of their countrymen to pilot a new-generation, top-specification rally car. M-Sport are well known for fostering young talent, and Paddon’s impressive performances of late meant the Cumbrian firm were keen to see him progress. Despite contesting just three events so far in 2013, the Kiwi has been a regular on the WRC2 podium and has become accustomed to over-shadowing those in more powerful machinery. Nowhere was that more apparent than at this month’s Rally Australia. Although a technical issue put paid to a strong result, Paddon posted a top-ten time on all but one stage contested and was continuously faster than numerous WRC contenders. As he makes the move to rallying’s most
prestigious league, the New Zealander is keeping his feet firmly on the ground with his main goal a simple one: to finish all of the stages in search of maximum experience. That said, the youngster’s ambition is high and his hopes of setting some top-five times are well within reach. Those ambitions will be aided by a pre-event test with M-Sport in the lead up to Rally de España, on which he is no novice. Having driven the mixed-surface event in anger for the past two years, Paddon will be hoping his experience pays dividends. “To say I’m excited is an understatement, but I am also focused on ensuring that we make the most of this opportunity,” said Paddon. “Naturally I want to be competitive and we will be giving it our utmost to set some good stage times, but it is also important to finish the rally and gain as much experience as possible. After some discussions, we were offered this great opportunity and it’s amazing to finally get our chance in a top-specification car. While it has been a lot of hard work to get to this point, we are conscious that the level of hard work will only increase as this is very much our chance to showcase what we can do. Ultimately, I don’t want to be in a world rally car for just one event. This is what I want to make my career
out of and we are trying to market ourselves for 2014. This amazing opportunity with such a respected team as M-Sport gives us that chance. I cannot thank everyone in New Zealand enough. From our partners and shareholders, who are behind me all the way, to my family, friends and fellow competitors; everyone has had such a big part to play and now we have our chance.” Team Principal, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Hayden [Paddon] into the Qatar M-Sport team for Rally de España. His speed in Australia was impressive, and this is his opportunity to prove what he can do behind the wheel of a world rally car. He is in the best possible place to learn with Thierry [Neuville], Mads [Østberg] and Evgeny [Novikov] all there to offer advice and experience on how to tackle a world rally car debut. There is no doubt that Hayden is an extremely fast driver, and I am looking forward to seeing how he progresses through the weekend. Needless to say, I am delighted that we have been able to offer him this opportunity.”
EVENT
BRC’S AIMING HIGH FOR 2014 Words by H&H • Picture by Jakob Ebrey Photography/Pirelli/BRC The 55th running of the MSA British Rally Championship will see seven events in its 2014 calendar, with just one significant change: following a two-year break, Rally Isle of Man returns to Britain’s premier rally series. Providing a balanced split between gravel and asphalt, the 2014 series will now field three closed road and four classic forest events in its calendar, with the best five results deciding the overall champions. Also a new joint initiative with the MSA and BHRC will see the events run a National A Rally for both modern and historic two-wheel drive cars. BRC crews will benefit from this National A rally’s full mileage and will be seeded at the front, continuing to enjoy gravel reconnaissance. This group will be followed closely by two further BRC categories and the field of thoroughbred Historic cars which will complete around 75% of the full route. Of significance, entries will be open to both non-championship registered competitors and non-homologated two-wheel drive cars. Mark Taylor, Managing Director of UK Rally Ltd: “I
must thank the organising committee of the MSA British Historic Rally Championship who have been supportive in returning the BRC to the front of the field, in recognition that the Championship is the pinnacle of the sport in the UK and that our medium powered two-wheel drive cars on uncut gravel control tyres, create very little damage to the road surface. This initiative will provide a National A rally that is traditionally seeded with the head of the snake doing the full route, allowing the tail to break away for their relevant podiums and finish ceremonies, rather than the other way around which has been heavily criticised over the years. What is also important to note is that this move will provide non-homologated cars and nonregistered competitors to take part in these longer classic and iconic events.” The return of the Microgaming Rally Isle of Man brings with it the ultra-challenging closed roads stages made famous down the event’s 50 year history, bringing the cream of Britain’s rally crews as well as those from further afield to the island next September. Speaking about the return of Rally Isle of Man,
Taylor said: “Rally Isle of Man has never really fallen off our radar and now with a rejuvenated team at the helm, it has all the ingredients to become an epic event again. New initiatives have reduced the costs, provided direct sailings from Belfast, a Douglas promenade ceremonial start and spectator stage have created something new, enhancing the classic Manx stages that competitor’s love so much. I am looking forward to working with the new organising team, its partners and the Isle of Man Government in creating a festival of four wheeled motorsport.” 2014 MSA British Rally Championship Calendar: 5/6 April - Rally North Wales 3/4 May - Pirelli Rally 30/31 May - Jim Clark Rally 27/28 June - Scottish Rally 15/16 August - Ulster Rally 11-13 September - Rally Isle of Man 17/18 October - Rallye Sunseeker H&H
EVENT
OGIER’S ‘HISTORIC’ RUN AT RALLYDAY Words by H&H • Pictures by www.rallygallery.com Sébastien Ogier led another star-studded line-up at Rallyday 2013 on Saturday 21 September 21 as Castle Combe Circuit played host to the UK’s premier rally car show for the thirteenth year in succession. Ogier has all but won the 2013 WRC Drivers’ title following his sixth win of the season on WRC Rally Australia, and the Volkswagen Motorsport driver was in demand on his debut at Rallyday by taking time out to chat to the large crowd on the main Rallyday interview stage as well as signing hundreds and hundreds of autographs. The Frenchman, who is normally used to driving a Volkswagen Polo R WRC, got the chance to sample a
genuine ex-works Group B Audi Quattro A2 originally driven by 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist who was also attending the annual rally extravaganza. It was Ogier’s first-ever drive in an historic rally car and that made the day extra-special for the 29-year-old. “It was my first time at Rallyday, and it was fun to drive the Audi Quattro A2. I have never driven an historic car in my life until today,” said Ogier. “So it was a nice opportunity. It is very different to the Polo R WRC I drive normally. But it was a good experience and it is nice to feel the evolution, between 30 years. It is funny because the car is the same age as me. I am born in 1983. I want to thank the owner of the car for the chance to drive it. It
was very kind of him.” “It has been busy,” Ogier added, “There has been a lot of pictures and a lot of autographs, but it is a pleasure to do it. The event had also given me an opportunity to meet a lot of fans and see a lot of different cars from every generation. I had a great time.” Elfyn Evans was another of the current WRC crop in attendance to drive the Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team’s Ford Fiesta RS WRC car, the same car that he took to sixth place overall on WRC Rallye Italia d’Sardegna back in June when he made his World Rally Car debut. “There were a lot of exciting cars here and a lot of people,” said Evans. “It was good fun to go out in the
H&H
Feature Stage and give the Fiesta RS WRC car a quick outing. It has been a really good day and I hope to see everyone again now on Wales Rally GB when we will be back out in the Fiesta R5. In addition, Guy Wilks, the 2007 and 2008 British Rally Champion, also drove a World Rally Car, putting the MML Sports Mitsubishi WRC05 – Mitsubishi’s last WRC car – through its paces, while Prodrive brought along the MINI John Cooper Works WRC, a real contrast to the ex-works Mini Coopers, Lancia Fulvias and Hillman Imps that were celebrating their 50th Anniversary at this year’s show. Paddy Hopkirk, Mini Cooper driving legend and winner of the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally, was on hand to help
mark the anniversary for Mini: “What a wonderful event,” said Hopkirk. “My goodness, if only there was the support for the WRC out there in the world that this day is getting then the WRC would be back on track. The enthusiasm here is brilliant. I last came about 5 - 6 years ago and I am glad they have kept it going. I had no idea how big the event had got – it is huge. I don’t know how many people are here and I haven’t been all around. But it is terrific.” Other stars in attendance included 1989 and 1990 British Rally Champion David Llewllin, 1977 British Rally Champion Russell Brookes, as well as youngsters from the current MSA British Rally Championship which had an official presence at the event with current championship
leader Jukka Korhonen and his closest rival Tom Cave joining some of the names of yesteryear in action on the headline Feature Stage. They were not the only famous faces as Nicky Grist, Colin McRae’s former co-driver and Prodrive’s David Lapworth, both took time out to help Colin McMaster publicly launch ‘McRae, just Colin’ – the new book on the 1995 World Rally Champion, while Tony Jardine (Sky Sports News’ Formula One analyst) and Olympic Skeleton Gold Medallist Amy Williams MBE were on hand as they gear up to compete on Wales Rally GB in November.
EVENT
NON-STOP ACTION IN CROATIA RALLY Words by H&H • Picture by ERC Media
With the dust still settling following Poland’s actionpacked FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) counter last weekend, the focus switches to Croatia as ERC Super September concludes on the country’s spectacular Adriatic coast. A regular fixture on the ERC roster since the championship’s restructuring in 2004, the 40th anniversary Croatia Rally marks a return to asphalt for the ERC regulars following the gravel-based LOTOS 70 Rally Poland. Such has been the popularity of the ERC in 2013, local organisers have attracted a packed entry for the championship’s first visit to the seaside town of Poreč, a new venue for the Croatia Rally. It’s not just the overall title that will be a talking point in Croatia. The chase for success in the ERC Production Car Cup, ERC 2WD Championship and ERC Ladies’ Trophy continues when the action got underway last night with SS1. Jaroslav Orsák holds an 18-point lead over Subaru Impreza R4 STI ace Andreas Aigner in the ERC Production Car Cup stakes with young star Germain Bonnefis (Renault Mégane RS N4) four points behind Aigner. But with Orsák unable to take part due to illness,
Aigner and Bonnefis are in prime position to capitalise on the Czech driver’s absence. The ERC 2WD Championship is more straightforward with Zoltán Bessenyey more than 50 points ahead of his closest challenger Kornél Lukács. But with two rounds left after Croatia, there’s plenty of points up for grabs. In the ERC Ladies’ Trophy, Ekaterina Stratieva must take maximum points to prevent Molly Taylor from clinching the inaugural crown. Among the packed entry, several leading Croatian drivers will be taking part in Round ten of the 12-event ERC season. Juraj Šebalj, a three-time winner of the Croatia Rally, is the leading local seed in his Skoda Fabia S2000, while Daniel Šaškin, who has experience of competing on the Dakar Rally, has a new-generation Ford Fiesta R5 at his disposal. Šebalj currently tops the Croatia and Serbian championship standings. Niko Pulić has won the Croatia Rally on two previous occasions and will be out to impress. Two drivers have travelled great distances to compete in Croatia. Henk Lategan is jetting in from South Africa to take part on his first asphalt rally, while Arian Coppin will be making his ERC debut in a Citroën DS3
R3T as team-mate to fellow Australian Molly Taylor. Unlike Coppin, Taylor will make a somewhat shorter journey from her current base in Italy. With a switch to new host venue Poreč, several changes have been made to the route of the Croatia Rally. The Butoniga and Buzet stages, run twice on leg two, are completely new, while Salteria, the longest of the rally at 29.88km, features elements of previously used stages but has never been run in this layout before. The Poreč SSS, run last night and set for Saturday afternoon, is also new for 2013, while tweaks have been made to a number of other stages. The Croatia Rally is well known for its fast and mountainous roads, which are characterised by a slippery asphalt surface. Although warm and dry conditions are expected, rain can also be a factor in the Istria peninsular where the event is based. Huge numbers of fans follow the action and as well as hosting the ERC, the Croatia Rally will also be staging a beauty pageant, preand post-rally parties, plus a number of sets by leading Croatian DJs. Therre will be 14 stages in total over three days and 414.81km of timed action. H&H
EVENT
YORKSHIRE PUDDING, ANYONE?
Words by H&H • Pictures by Jakob Ebrey Photography/Pirelli/BRC As Rally Yorkshire kicked off in 2012, who knew that the classic North Yorkshire Forest stages would witness the closest finish in the MSA British Rally Championship’s history? Certainly not eventual winner Tom Cave; certainly not runner-up Osian Pryce. But there it was: a dead heat, ultimately decided by the driver who was fastest on the opening stage by a tenth of a second. Although the 2013 event will be the last as part of the MSA British Rally Championship, the chances of a repeat of such a nail-biting finish at its swansong are not that distant. The front-runners’ Citroën DS3s are identical, their Pirelli tyres are identical, their Sunoco fuel is identical and the level of commitment is – well let’s say on a par, to avoid repetition. Two events this year have been decided by a handful of seconds - the closest the Jim Clark Rally where
a missed gear-change separated the top pair: just two seconds after 01hr 30min of flat out rallying. Proof, as if proof were needed, that the series is more competitive than it has ever been. And proof that watching these cars driven flat-out through the darkness of Dalby Forest will be a sight to behold. After two gravel events and two on asphalt, the championship advantage is with the 2011 Pirelli Star Driver Jukka Korhonen. After vowing to win the title at the end of last year, the Finn opened his account with two wins on the trot. But, had it not been for Pirelli Rally punctures (the irony is not lost on us either!) it could have been a very different story. Despite favouring gravel, he and Marko Salminen were on top form on the Jim Clark Rally, pipping Tom Cave/ Ieuan Thomas by 02sec for win number two.
When the crews moved from Scottish tarmac to Scottish gravel, he was bested by young Ulsterman Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble. They climbed a place from third, but were clearly disappointed not to win, the Finnish desire for victory still very evident. Sadly for Fisher, his chances of repeating his first ever BRC win were dashed with a crash on the event’s second stage. Gutted, he re-started to uphold local honours, but would finish fifteenth – surely a dropped score at the end of the season. The ding-dong battle that could have formed between Korhonen and Osian Pryce/Dale Furniss never really materialised. Pryce was on top form and coupled with the Finns’ desire to grab valuable points after Cave too left the fray, the Welshman grabbed the victory that eluded him in Yorkshire last year.
The battle for the overall honours has not been the only story of the Championship. The BRC RallyTwo title is also hotly contested. All cars outside the top R3 class are eligible, and it looked like it could go any way early on. Norwegian Steve Røkland with English co-driver James Aldridge set the early pace with a win in Kielder. But, Scots Garry Pearson and Tom Hynd second would be followed by two retirements. Third on that occasion were Irish duo Daniel McKenna and Arthur Kierans. But, despite problems on each subsequent event they have been successful pulling out a seven-point lead in the title fight. Chris Ingram, Ruary MacLeod and Røkland have taken the runners-up spots when McKenna took the spoils, with Røkland, Timmy Cathcart and Alex Parpottas taking the final podium steps on rounds two, three and four respectively. With so many podium-sitters, it makes for a real page-turner on each event and no doubt Rally Yorkshire will be no different. The 2012 Pirelli Star Driver winner Mark Donnelly
is driving a Citroën DS3 R3T as his prize for impressing at last year’s shootout – a dream result for a youngster who has ticked all the right boxes in the BRC over the last few years. Still just 22, he and Dai Roberts have taken a little time to adjust to the flappy paddle gearbox and 1600cc turbo car. But they seem to have found a sweet spot with third on home asphalt last time out. The nominations for this year’s coveted Pirelli-funded prize have been awarded thus: Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally Steve Røkland, Jim Clark Rally - Daniel McKenna, RSAC Scottish Rally - Ruary MacLeod, Todds Leap Rally NI - Jon Armstrong. Who next? The MSA British Junior Rally Championship and Twingo Renaultsport R1 Trophy UK points tables are identical - a fight between Ben Mckay and Harry Threlfall. Mckay has three wins on the trot to his and co-driving dad Jason’s credit. However all the events are new to both crews this year, so it the prestigious titles are still all to play for. Despite a crash while holding an awe inspiring
third overall on Todds Leap Rally NI, local lad Jon Armstrong maintains a six point lead over southern counterpart David Carney in the RAVENOL Oils Newcomers Trophy. Carney’s win in Ulster now moves him into a clear second, albeit only two points ahead of Mckay. The event will be based at the newly refurbished Pickering Showground. The rally begins with cars on display, autographs and a ceremonial start in Pickering Market Place from 17h30 on Friday 27th September. First away at 18h30 will be the Trackrod Historic Cup, followed by the BRC Challenge and finally the main BRC Rally Yorkshire competitors departing Pickering from 20h30. The first special stage will take place in Dalby Forest including the famous Dalby Woodyard, which will not be floodlit to give that real night-stage feel, with spectators able to view the action from 20h30. The Trackrod Challenge Rally finishes back at Pickering Showground on Saturday at lunchtime, with the BRC running another two stages to finish just before 5pm.
CLOSING SHOT
Rallye Deutschland and Rallye de France-Alsace. Momentous celebrations in the air for the Volkswagen Motorsport team, but it was disappoint for the German squad at their home event. Will the French round see them crack open the victory champagne? Picture: Eva Kovkova