H&H-97

s e k a r b d Han s n i p r i a H & he world your insight into t

ber 2009 Edition 97 Septem

of rallying

Cover

Hirvonen opens 13-point Championship lead

inside this week:

Events

Features

Subaru and Pastrana Italy’s iconic Fiat Abarth 131 win again in 2009

Contents / Issue 97 Welcome to H&H! News • • • • • •

Petter Solberg to drive a Citroen C4 Abu Dhabi to join WRC calender David Higgins wins in China again Martin Prokop eyes win in Sanremo Mikko Hirvonen signs for ROC2009 BRC’s 2010 calender announced

Welcome to issue 97 of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, your FREE weekly insight into the world of rallying!

As always, I hope you enjoy this week’s exciting edition!

Yours in Rallying, Evan Rothman

Features • The Revolution of Rallying • Italy’s Fiat Abarth 131 • Subaru and Pastrana win in 2009

Event Reports • WRC Rally Australia review

Contact To receive your FREE weekly HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS e-magazine, or if you’d like to share this with a friend please send me your e-mail address to evan.hhmag@gmail.com.

HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS is not a SPAM e-mail: email addresses are added to the mailing list voluntarily.

All content copyrighted property of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, 2007-9.

Need a new competition seat?

Why not order a new seat and backets from us today Full range of Cobra, OMP & Sparco approved race seats and brackets in stock

To place your order contact us on the following numberTelephone +27 11 670 8400 E-mail - info@ats-motorsport.co.za Website : ats-motorsport.co.za

The world’s latest rally news SEND YOUR TEAM’S NEWS, PRESS RELEASES OR UPDATES TO EVAN.HHMAG@GMAIL.COM!

Petter Solberg has signed deal to drive a Citroen C4 WRC Petter Solberg has signed a deal to drive a Citroen C4 WRC on the final two rounds of the World Rally Championship in Spain and GB, according to pettersolberg.com.

A statement on Petter’s website said: After weeks of discussions and testing, Petter has now made his choice, and he will be driving a Citroen C4 in the two final events of the 2009 Championship.

“I have tested the C4 and I’m quite certain that this is the best car for me. Citroen gave me a good offer, and I do believe that driving this car gives me a proper chance to fight for podium.”

The car Petter will be driving is a Citroen C4 with 2008 spec, but with adjustments that makes it close to the 2009 spec that Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo is driving today.

“I got good offers from Citroen and Ford, but after evaluation I decided to go for Citroen and the C4 for the next two events.

This will also give me valuable information regarding my plans for next year.”

His first rally in a Citroen C4 will be on the tarmac in Spain, 2 4 October 2009.

- Credit: pettersolberg.no

Abu Dhabi to join the World Rally Championship by 2015 Abu Dhabi is in line to join the World Rally Championship within three years under plans to increase the number of global events to 16 by 2015, according to Motorsport News.

WRC promoter Simon Long said plans were already being drawn up to run an event on purpose-built stages by 2012.

Speaking back in 2007, during the BP Ford team sponsorship announcement, Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi tourism authority, said: “Our longterm ambition is to see Abu Dhabi host a WRC event.”

- Credit: Motorsport News and rallybuzz.com

David Higgins wins again at China’s Fogang Rally last weekend David Higgins and Ieuan Thomas have taken yet another win in the Chinese Rally Championship on this weekend’s Fogang Rally. The event took place in the Guangdong region where

David battled high temperatures and a few more familiar faces than usual as they were joined on the entry list by his brother Mark and Northern Ireland’s Niall McShea.

“We had a fantastic trouble free rally from start to finish,” said David. “We pushed really hard throughout the first day to build up a good lead, despite having to sweep the sandy roads for all of the following cars. We took some big risks, but ended the day with a lead of over a minute ahead of Mark.”

“On the second day we took it a bit easier, ensuring we kept our lead to take another win for the WY Rally Team. We actually backed off a bit because it would have been easy to get punctures on the type of roads we were competing on, and then it rained on the final stage which made it tricky for everyone. We all also battled the heat on this event, the temperature was in the mid 40s throughout which made it extremely hot and uncomfortable.”

Niall McShea was one of several visiting crews who suffered in the high temperatures when he was forced to retire on the first day due to problems with the heat. He had been lying second overall when he retired.

David’s brother Mark finished second, 36 seconds back, with round one winner Jussi Valimaki taking third.

- Credit: davidhigginsrally.co.uk

35 top flight crews already entered for IRC Rally Principe de Asturias The entry list for the 2009 running of Spain’s Rally Principe de Asturias has been published and features 35 crews entered for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and European Rally Chapionship round.

European championship leader Michal Solowow is the number one seed in his Peugeot 207 S2000. In second spot is last year’s winner, Abarth driver Giandomenico Basso. Toni Gardemeister, seeded in third, makes a return to the IRC series this time driving the Hankook MSD Opel Corsa S2000 after contesting the opening round, Rallye Monte Carlo, in a Punto.

ERC front runner Corrado Fontana starts at number four in his Peugeot 207 S2000.

IRC championship leader Kris Meeke is number five for Peugeot UK with title rival Jan Kopecky right behind at six, though Skoda Motorsport have yet to officially confirm their appearance.

Other notable entrants include Kronos drivers Loix and Vouilloz, Wilks in the Proton, Rallye de Ferrol winner Alberto Hevia in a Skoda, Julien Maurin also in a Fabia, and a factory Abarth entry for Spaniard Miguel Fuster in a Punto S2000.

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF RALLYING Featuring European rally championships, British rally championships, Rally America events, international rally results and videos, as well as S2000 and WRC news.

www.rallybuzz.com

Fuster was chosen by Abarth to partner Basso on the strength of his fifth place finish in the event last year.

- Credit: rallybuzz.com

A new Renault Clio Challenge set to be popular in 2010 The new Clio Challenge looks to be popular for 2010, with 12 drivers already committing to the series 8 months before it starts.

The 205/RWD Challenge co-ordinator Pat Flynn will run this championship too, he says: “The cars can be built for under £10,000 with nearly 190bhp from the Clio 172, they are fast light, plus handle brilliantly. The kit has Ohlins dampers amongst other spec, the series will run in the BRC Challenge rounds, plus 1 other round, providing a showcase for Britains hot young talent.”

With a potential 25 cars the series is a stepping stone for quick drivers from the 205s, the BTRDA 1400s etc, the cars power to weight ratio, sets it as the highest in British one make series.

Pat Flynn can be reached on 07870 590884.

- Credit: rallybuzz.com

Citroen will not be homologating the new DS3 model for rallying Citroen Racing boss Olivier Quesnel has stated to wrc.com that the French manufacturer will probably not be homologating the DS3 model as a Super 2000 car.

Quesnel stated that development on the car had been halted until the FIA make their decision, at the WMSC on September 9th, about what engines WRC cars will use from 2011.

The fourth port of call for the 2009 BFGoodrich Drivers Team operation will be the 51st Rallye Sanremo, round nine of this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which will take teams to the Italian casino resort at the end of September.

And it is Luca Cantamessa, 39, who has been chosen to drive the Kronos Racing-prepared Peugeot 207 S2000 on the Ligurian Mountains’ steep, twisty stages equipped with tyres from BFGoodrich’s customer competition range.

Luca Cantamessa was selected from a shortlist of five drivers produced by the Italian motor sport governing body which received no fewer than 31 applications for the drive. The 39year old was chosen by a jury comprising representatives of the Italian press, BFGoodrich and Kronos Racing at a special meeting in Udine by a score of eight votes, ahead of Elvis Chentre (seven votes) and Alessandro Bettega (five votes).

Jacques Morelli (BFGoodrich’s IRC Programme Manager): “The meeting to decide who will drive the BFGoodrich Drivers Team car on the Rallye Sanremo took place ahead of the Rally del Friuli e delle Alpi Orientali where Luca is making his return to the sport. He was very moved when he was told of the result.”

“It’s a dream come true for me,” said Luca Cantamessa. “I am making my return to rallying here after an eight-month absence, and now I have learnt that I have been chosen to drive the BFGoodrich Drivers Team Peugeot 207 S2000 on the Sanremo. I couldn’t be happier. The Rally delle Alpi Orientali will be an excellent way to get in some match practice. I can’t wait to work with Kronos Racing and get a chance to compete on BFGoodrich’s notoriously competitive tyres,” continued Luca who was 11th overall after the first day of the Rally delle Alpi Orientali.

- Credit: ircseries.com and rallybuzz.com

Molly Taylor wins British Ladies Rally Championship title for 2009

Quesnel said he was not expecting to homologate the DS3 as a two litre car to rival offerings from Ford and Abarth because in the Peugeot 207 the PSA group already had a model available for customers. “We still have 30 [Peugeot] cars to sell, so I don’t see who would be in the market for a Super 2000 DS3,” he said.

International rallying co-driver Moses Matovu narrowly missed out on a podium finish on last weekends Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally when he co-drove fellow Ugandan Emmanuel Katto to fifth overall and fourth registered driver in the three day long event.

“The way forward for Citroen is the WRC so I prefer to make only a 1,6 litre car and work well on it. Now we wait for the meeting on the 9 September. We are quite sure it will be a 1,6 engine, either a production engine or the FIA ‘global’ engine.

“The development of the car is about 90 per cent complete.

We have chosen the DS3 for marketing reasons because it will be the premium car for Citroen in this sector, but we are quite pleased to get it. It’s a nice car, and underneath the body it has the same floorpan as a C3, so everything is the same,” he added.

The lead up to this, the final round of the 2009 FIA African Rally Championship, was not ideal, with Moses having to lend a hand to ensure the Tommi Makinen Rallying prepared Subaru Impreza N14 was ready to rally, and thus the team missed out on the opportunity to recce the special stages.

This put Emmanuel and Moses on a back foot and when the car suffered with suspension problems the team focused on securing a finish, rather than challenging for the win.

On Sunday morning Moses even took the wheel of the 300 bhp Subaru for two stages and was pleased to set times comparable with rallying legend Katto on roads he had never seen before!

Quesnel said that most of the DS3 sub assemblies, including the suspension and gearbox, were complete, and some could be used as upgrade parts for the similar Peugeot 207. “What we have done so far with the S2000 [DS3] will be okay for the 1.6 version so nothing is lost and it will also assist the development of the Peugeot,” he said.

- Credit: wrc.com and rallybuzz.com

Martin Prokop eyes victory at IRC Rallye Sanremo later this month Just days after Martin Prokop’s excellent fifth place in the Czech Republic, the BFGoodrich Drivers Team 2009 has turned its attention to the forthcoming Rallye Sanremo (September 24-26) with the election of Luca Cantamessa to drive the BFGoodrich-liveried Peugeot on the Italian classic.

The Zimbabwe Challenge Rally certainly lives up to its name every year. And 2009 was no exception. We struggled with setup issues and weren’t helped by having to borrow pace notes which were in a different format to our own. The gesture by the other competitors for offering us their personal notes was fantastic and I thank everyone for all of their assistance.

We ended the rally tantalisingly close to securing our third podium finish of the season but at least we scored another finish which helped both Emmanuel and I take third in the title race.

Whilst the 2009 FIA African Rally Championship might now be over Moses still has a busy period ahead of him. The popular Ugandan will travel to Rwanda on 18 September to call notes for rising Kenyan driver Peter Horsey in a Mitsubishi Evo 9.

The KCB Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally sees the young talents from across Africa go head to head for the Pirelli Star Drive, a fully funded drive in six WRC rounds in 2010!

For more on the team please visit www.emkarally.com.

- Credit: rallybuzz.com

Another victory for MML Sports and Vasaraudzis in Latvia Latvian driver Ivars Vasaraudzis claimed another event victory last weekend, when he won the Kerzume Rally, the penultimate round of the Latvian Rally Championship, at the wheel of an MML Sports-run Mitsubishi Lancer World Rally Car. Ivars was standing-in for regular driver Raimonds Kisiels and won six of the ten stages and was second-fastest on the rest, to reach the finish with a healthy margin of 36 seconds.

Vasaraudzis and co-driver Peteris Spredzis are no strangers to either rallying or the MML Sports-run Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 World Rally Car; they won the Talsi Rally in May using the same car and therefore, were favourites for this event.

There was more competition this weekend though, since Georg Gross, a protégé of former World Rally Champion works driver Markko Martin was also competing on the event, in a Ford Focus World Rally Car. The scene was set for a first-class fight from the first pair of superspecial stages. Vasaraudzis and Gross took a stage win each on Saturday evening, their times separated by fractions of a second. Vasaraudzis and Spredzis went on to take a further five fastest stage times on the Sunday, dropping 11 seconds on the penultimate stage to Gross as they suffered a puncture and dropping a further two seconds on the last test of the event.

However, despite this, they reached the finish of the event with a convincing win, more than 36 seconds ahead of Gross after the ten stages.

Commenting on the weekend, MML Sports Managing Director John Easton said: “Of course, we are delighted that Ivars and Peteris were able to demonstrate their competitiveness and determination this weekend. We know that they are quick and consistent, as we saw on the Talsi Rally in May and this weekend’s result is nothing less than what we hoped for.

Osian Pryce impressed in Latvia’s Kurzeme Rally last weekend 16 year old student Osian Pryce impressed mightily on last weekends Kurzeme Rally in Latvia when he recovered from a time consuming puncture to fight back and finish inside the top 40 on only his fourth ever rally!

Osian and co-driver Craig Parry had the worst possible start to their rally when their Renault Clio slide wide on the very first corner, caught out by oil dropped by the previous car. Although Pryce did well to avoid an accident his confidence took a bit of a knock and he completed the test at a reduced pace.

With atrocious weather all weekend the stages very notoriously slippery and when Pryce picked up a puncture on one of the longest stages of the rally he opted to continue to the end without changing the flat tyre, loosing an estimated three minutes. A massive fight back ensured and by the end of the rally Pryce and Parry had clawed their way back inside the top forty. If you remove the estimated three minutes lost with the puncture the 16 year old would have scored yet another podium!

Craig and I had another testing rally, but to be honest, I really enjoyed the Sunday stages. My confidence took a real knock on the opening stage as there was oil on the road and our rally nearly ended right then. I’m getting a bit bored of always rallying in the rain but at least it’s all good experience. Pryce has one more rally to contest this year, the Latvia National Rally, which takes place in early October.

Junior Rallying is a revolutionary project which allows teenagers, too young to compete in the UK, to learn the ropes in forest rallies in Latvia as the search for the next British World Rally Champion heightens.

For more on Osian please visit www.osianprycerallying.webs.com. For more on Junior Rallying please visit www.juniorrallying.co.uk.

- Credit: rallybuzz.com

“They clearly have a taste for the MML Sports Lancer WRCar, as they will also be competing on the final round of the national championship, Rally Latvia, in October, alongside Raimonds. We will have at least two Mitsubishi Lancer World Rally Cars out on that event, so while that will be a busy weekend for us, it will also be a fantastic spectacle for rally fans in Latvia.”

BRC annouces 2010 rally calendar, dates for Rally Open Day confirmed

MML Sports’ next outing in Latvia will be Rally Latvia, over the weekend of 3 and 4 October.

- Credit: rallybuzz.com

The International status rallies, which form the six round season, have attracted other Championships too, underlining their quality and popularity by hosting rounds of the MSA British Historic, Scottish, Welsh and English Rally Championships.

In advance of the MSA British Rally Championship’s open day, taking place at the Sweetlamb Rally Complex on Friday 9th October, the British Isles’ premier Rally Championship can now confirm its 2010 calendar of events.

The British Rally Championship is still keeping an eye on other rallies too; looking for a seventh event, but in the current financial climate has opted to delay the inclusion of another event until at least 2011.

GBS/CIDP Foundation International

Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy Serving patients of GBS, CIDP and Variants with support, education and research PLEASE ADVISE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES THAT GBS/CIDP FOUNDATION OFFERS: *EMOTIONAL SUPPORT *INFORMATIONAL BOOKLETS *HOSPITAL/REHAB VISITS TO PATIENTS (when possible)

Your South African GBS/CIDP Foundation International Chapter Is Led By: Evan Rothman evanrothman@gmail.com 083 452 6892 GBS/CIDP Foundation International 104 1/2 Forest Avenue The Holly Building Narberth, PA 19072 www.gbsfi.com

2010 MSA British Rally Championship Calendar: 01) 27 Mar - International Rally North Wales (Welshpool) 02) 23/24 Apr - Pirelli International Rally (Carlisle) 03) 28/29 May - Jim Clark International Rally (Kelso) 04) 9/10 Jul - Isle of Man International Rally (Douglas) 05) 20/21 Aug - International Rally Northern Ireland (Antrim) 06) 25 Sep - International Rally Yorkshire (Pickering) 07) 30 Oct - BRC Bash

Mikko Hirvonen signed to compete in Race of Champions 2009 FIA World Rally Championship leader Mikko Hirvonen will join the biggest stars from world motorsport in Beijing this November, when The Race of Champions takes place in the Bird’s Nest Stadium on 3 and 4 November.

Hirvonen, who currently heads last year’s Race of Champions winner Sébastien Loeb in the WRC points after winning three consecutive rallies, is the first driver to be confirmed as racing for Team Finland in this year’s event. He and his yet-to-beannounced team-mate will compete for national pride in the ROC Nations Cup on Tuesday 3 November, before going for individual glory in The Race of Champions on Wednesday 4.

“It’s a pleasure to be invited to the Race of Champions in Beijing this year,” said Hirvonen. “I’ve never competed at the event before, only watched it as a spectator and so it will be interesting to see how it works and to drive the different cars.

I’m also looking forward to visiting the famous ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium; it looked like a spectacular venue when I watched the Olympics.

“I was in Beijing two years ago and I can’t wait to go back there. It’s a fantastic city and the Chinese people are really friendly and enthusiastic about the World Rally Championship so I’m sure they’ll all come and see us racing inside their stadium. It will be nice to do something fun at the end of the season too.”

Fredrik Johnsson, President of Event Organisers IMP, said of Hirvonen: “Mikko has been driving brilliantly this year, and he’s been having a fantastic battle with Loeb, who won The Race of Champions last year. I’m sure he’ll get used to the format very quickly and prove a tough man to beat, and his driving style will be a big hit with the crowds.”

The Race of Champions brings together the greatest drivers from the world of motorsport with stars of Formula 1, rallying, sports cars, touring cars and even NASCAR fighting against each other in identical machinery. A parallel asphalt track will be constructed inside the Bird’s Nest stadium, with drivers going head-to-head for the ultimate title of “Champion of Champions.”

- Credit: rallybuzz.com

Miguel Fuster to partner Basso in IRC Rally Principe de Asturias Spanish asphalt ace Miguel Fuster will partner Giandomenico Basso in the works Abarth line-up on Rally Principe de Asturias from 10 - 12 September.

Fuster, who finished fifth overall on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event last season at the wheel of a Fiat Auto Espana-run Grande Punto Super 2000, is a former Spanish champion. Jose Vincente Medina will co-drive.

- Credit: rallybuzz.com

McCormack is crowned British Junior Rally Champion for 2009 One young driver has dominated the MSA British Junior Rally Championship in 2009, twenty three year-old Northern Irishman Marty McCormack taking a hat-trick of asphalt victories to seal the title with one event in hand.

Young drivers are a feature across the board in this year’s BRC, but only the front wheel drive pilots are eligible for this, one of only three MSA British Rally titles. That said, the competition was fierce early on, three different winners in three different makes of car coming from the first half of the season.

Having been fourth Junior first time out, McCormack’s previous experience in his Citroën C2R2 showed as the season progressed, taking second on the Pirelli. But it was on tarmac that the car and driver combination shone, He took ninth place overall on the Jim Clark Rally, sixth on the Isle of Man and an amazing fourth place on his home Ulster Rally, missing the overall podium by just twelve seconds.

In addition, his stunning Ulster result was sufficient to seal him a place in the Pirelli Star Driver final at the end of the season, where he will vie for a fully funded drive in the 2010 British Rally Championship.

With such great pace, he and co-driver Phil Clarke can now afford to go to the final round of the UK’s Citroën Racing Trophy, Rallye le Touquet, needing just to finish the event to take the Citroën title too.

The amiable lad from Draperstown can even afford to switch back to his trusty Escort on the final round of the British Rally Championship, Rally Yorkshire, having auctioned the codriver’s place for charity.

Martin will collect the prestigious MSA British Junior Rally Championship award alongside the best of British in Motorsport at the glittering prize ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club’s Pall Mall headquarters in January.

- Credit: rallybrc.co.uk

xxess DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE

24/7 Call Centre: 0861 300 900

www.axxess.co.za

UNCAPPED INTERNET You wanted it all...

Then here it is!

• Non-Stop Internet.

• Non-Stop downloads.

• Fast ADSL. • No cap.

• No surprise bills.

• One fixed price!

Express R899.00 p/m

xxess DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE

24/7 Call Centre: 0861 300 900

www.axxess.co.za

THE REVOLUTION OF RALLYING THE VIDEO TAKING YOUTUBE BY STORM

A documentary about the history of rallying has been uploaded to popular video sharing website YouTube. Featuring the sport’s early years, the film retraces rallying’s roots from the road races of yesteryear to the gruelling marathon events of the early 1900s, right up to the evolution of the mighty Group B era, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN.

Uploaded by “amjayes” (a true rally enthusiast), the film boasts contributions from the likes of Fred Gallagher, Simo Lampinen, Nini Russo, Michele Mouton, Phil Short, David Richards, Malcolm Wilson, Armin Schwarz, George Donaldson, Bjorn Waldegard, Reinhard Klein and many more.

In a five-part series format, clicking on the following links will open the videos in YouTube

The Revolution of Rally: Part One - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVNYyWDAG40 Part Two - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHi3fLihWZI Part Three - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5GrL11LAec Part Four - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olD06qbwG1s Part Five - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3oSfn8HJN0 With a high-quality video, and interesting commentary, this video is one worth viewing on YouTube!

ITALY’S FIAT ABARTH 131 A WORLD RALLY ICON

Fiat has a long and illustrious history in world rallying. The most iconic of these Italian world rally machines must be the Fiat Abarth 131, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. The Fiat Abarth 131 was a highly successful rallying weapon for this Italian motor manufacturer, as the production model stormed off with no less than three World Rally Championship titles (in 1977, 1978 and 1980). Of the world’s greatest rally drivers queued up outside the factory gates for an opportunity to drive this machine, and drivers fortunate enough to steer these cars through the gruelling mountain passes of Europe and the rest of the world included Markku Alen, Timo Salonen and Walter Rohrl. The official factory-backed team was sponsored by Italian airline Alitalia, and bore their distinctive red, white and green livery.

Simplistic in its layout, the Fiat 131 Abarth belied its humble coverings and mechanicals by dominating rallying, outperforming their rivals the Ford Escort Mk IIs. According to reports I have read, the Fiat 131 Abarth’s construction did include carbon fibre parts, but even this weight-saving exercise did not make it lighter than the Ford Escort Mk II. In fact, the Escort was not only lighter, but also more powerful. So how did the Fiat 131 Abarth manage to win 18 WRC rallies and claim three WRC championship titles? I have no answer to that, but I assume that through dedication and fine-tuning the Italian engineers and mechanics were able to prepare an immaculate rally car for their talented drivers.

In terms of specifications, the Fiat 131 Abarth would today be found wanting. The motor pushed out 230bhp at 7 500rpm and 230Nm of torque from 5 750rpm. This translated into brisk acceleration, and great straight-line speeds.

This Fiat, however, seemed to be more stable and predictable in corners than its competitors, thus allowing drivers to stick to the accelerator pedal for that instant longer.

Did you know that Fiat stands for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino and was founded in 1899. The little company produced fantastic vehicles, and continues to do so today.

This, and the famous Italian competitiveness, spurred the company to become involved in motorsport.

It was not until 1970 that Fiat decided to enter the cutthroat world of rallying to take on the mighty Lancias who were highly successful at the time. It was highly odd for Fiat to do this, as the company owned Lancia... Fiat were dead set on beating Lancia, and this was no friendly inhouse competition. Fiat pulled out all the figurative stops in their bid to be named best.

Fiat’s first rally car was the Fiat 124, a direct competitor to Lancia’s Fulvia. The Fiat 124 rally car was a rear-wheel drive car based on the hardtop convertible model, while the Lancia Fulvia was a front-wheel drive coupe. Lancia did not take this lying down, and brought out the specialised rally car, the Lancia Stratos. Fiat made attempts at their own version, but proved unsuccessful. Fiat changed their attack to the Ford Escort RS with the mighty Fiat 131 Mirafiori.

During the time of the 131 Mirafiori (1976 - 1981), it achieved 18 WRC rally victories, while the Ford Escort RS and Lancia Stratos notched up 17 WRC wins each.

At the end of the Fiat 131 rally project did the powers that be at the company adopt new opinions regarding in-house competition. Fiat’s Abarth programme moved to Lancia hands, and Lancia received the full backing from the mother company from their on in their motorsport endeavours.

Have you got your HANS Device?

As per MSA regulation SSR 163 (viii)

Lightweight Pro version available in 10°° & 20º Medium & Large sizes Sport version available in 20º Medium & Large sizes The device can be used with most FIA approved 5 or 6point harnesses or with any HANS specific harnesses.

HANS “post anchor” helmet clips are FIA Approved and compatible with all HANS systems. Note that not all helmets are approved for HANS clips.

Breakthrough HANS vision advantage Plus tether system allows full side-to-side vision. Can be retrofitted to any HANS device ever made, included as standard on all pro models. Kit contains tether carriers, nutwashers, tether and full instructions.

To place your order contact us on the following numberTelephone +27 11 6708400 E-mail – info@ats-motorsport.co.za Website – ats-motorsport.co.za

SUBARU AND PASTRANA A WINNING COMBINATION IN 2009

Subaru Rally Team USA driver Travis Pastrana has mathematically secured his fourth consecutive Rally America National Championship with a dominating win at the Ojibwe Forest Rally in northern Minnesota last weekend. TEXT BY SUBARU RALLY TEAM USA. IMAGES BY MAX LAWTON. Pastrana and his co-driver Christian Edstrom cruised to victory in their 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI after several of their closest rivals hit trouble. The win, his fifth of the season, hauled in sufficient championship points to place Pastrana mathematically out of reach to his closest challengers and thus securing his fourth consecutive Rally America national title.

Pastrana has won each of his Rally America championships (2006-2009) behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car.

“It is game-on for the next two rallies,” said Pastrana at podium. “It’s great to drive without any pressure. A lot of the other drivers have had hard a season and bad luck, but things have just gone my way. My Subaru Impreza WRX STI has been perfect all year. It just works for me at every rally, it’s easy to drive and lets me focus on winning.”

“Travis really has transitioned into rally like fish to water ever since his first event with Subaru in 2004,” said James Han, motorsports marketing manager at Subaru of America, Inc. “To think that he has earned four consecutive national titles under Subaru Rally Team USA is all testament to Travis’ skills as a rally driver, thorough preparation by our team partner Vermont SportsCar, and consistent performance capability of the Impreza WRX STI regardless of terrain or driving condition.”

The Ojibwe Forests Rally featured over 200km of technical, sandy gravel, forest roads in northern Minnesota, around the town of Bemidji. The event is a favorite amongst rally drivers for its demanding fast and flowing roads and numerous stages run in darkness of night.

The rally began with a duel between Pastrana and his Subaru Rally Team USA teammate Ken Block. Entering the Ojibwe Forests Rally, only Block had a mathematical chance to catch Pastrana in the standings but needed to secure a win to keep his hopes alive. After the first two stages, the highly competitive friends and rivals were separated by just seconds.

The challenge however was cut short on stage three when Block impacted a large rock while cutting the inside of a corner that launched his Subaru off the road, hitting a tree and rolling to DNF. Both Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino were unharmed in the crash. With Block out of the picture and several of his closest challengers experiencing small problems of their own, Pastrana found himself with a healthy lead early in rally. The driver of the #199 SRT USA car backed off his pace but was still able to win all but three of the event’s fifteen competition stages.

In second place overall for the majority of the event was the third Subaru Rally Team USA entrant of Dave Mirra and co-driver Derek Ringer, driving a 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI in the Super Production class. Mirra drove one of his best events of his young rally career, consistently finishing each stage ahead of the rest of the field and chasing Pastrana while maintaining a healthy lead in the Super Production class.

However, on the penultimate stage Mirra’s car suffered an electrical issue that brought his car to halt, ending his run to the podium prematurely. “Everything was going our way and I was driving really well so it’s unfortunate not to finish and get the result on paper,” said Mirra. “My Subaru was running great until that [electrical] problem forced me out of the event. But that’s rally, anything can, and does, usually happen.”

FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR SETTLES AUSTRALIAN RESULT

Another thrilling instalment in the WRC 2009 season has been played out in Australia this past weekend. With only a handful of seconds separating the top three crews, a dramatic and surprise post-event scrutineeering decision, the WRC Rally Australia will go down in the WRC annals for its unpredictability WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. The final day of the rally was a close-run affair. The day started with the top three crews covered by only 0,1sec: Dani Sordo/Marc Marti (Citroen Total World Rally Team), teammates Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena and Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team).

Loeb, Sordo, Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala (BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team) were locked in battle for fractions of seconds. It was Loeb who stamped his five-times World Rally Championship authority on the rally’s lead. He managed to pull out an advantage of 12,5sec over Hirvonen and 17,1sec over his team-mates Sordo and Marti.

Following a post-event scrutineering, the sporting stewards received a report from the FIA Technical Delegate stating that the front anti-roll bar on Loeb’s Citroen C4 WRC did not match the car’s homologation form. Stewards penalised Loeb with a one-minute time penalty, and also extended this penalty to Sebastien Ogier/ Julien Ingrassi (Citroen Junior World Rally Team) and Sordo/Marti after Olivier Quesnel (Citroen Racing director) informed the sporting stewards that all Citroen Racing’ cars were fitted with the same anti-roll bar.

win in Spain…”

Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen were thereby named winners of the WRC Rally Australia, giving Hirvonen a 13point lead in the WRC Drivers’ Championship title fight going into the penultimate round of the 2009 WRC season.

“It’s a shame that after such a thrilling battle for three days the result of the rally is decided in the stewards’ room,” said 29-yearold Hirvonen. “I suffered a points loss in Portugal two years ago, so I know how Sebastien, in particular, must feel tonight. This decision has a major effect on the championship standings and we now go to Spain with a five point lead.”

“We accept the decision given that the photo on the homologation form does not match the part fitted to the car.

The difference had no effect on either the performance or reliability of the car; it was simply due to an administrative error and does not stem from any desire to cheat.

On behalf of the team, I would personally like to apologise to Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena who scored a superb victory on the stages this weekend.”

“I am obviously disappointed, but you’ve got to accept it when the regulations are applied. Instead of being just one point behind Mikko Hirvonen, I now have a five-point deficit to make up. That clearly complicates matters regarding our bid to win a sixth title, but this won’t have any effect on our determination to

The 2009 running of the WRC Rally Australia provided close rally action from SS1, with the rally lead changing no less than six times over the event’s 35 gruelling stages. This the tenth round of the season, Rally Australia kicked off with 13 stages (after two stages were called off for safety reasons).

WRC crews spent more than 14 hours behind the wheel on Day One alone.

Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala took charge at the front of the field, with Latvala moving into the lead after SS4 to open a lead of 2,2sec over

xxess DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE

24/7 Call Centre: 0861 300 900

www.axxess.co.za

the young Frenchman.

Loeb finished Day One some 20sec adrift of the fast chargers to take third place with his team-mate Sordo 0,1sec behind in fourth and the road sweeper Hirvonen only 0,9sec behind in fifth place at the overnight halt.

Hirvonen, starting Day Two in fifth place, showed the WRC world his sheer pace by moving swiftly up the leaderboard to end Day Two just 0,1sec behind Sordo and tied with Loeb. Incredibly, the WRC drivers spent 15 hours behind the wheel of their machines covering only 113,45km of competitive rallying. Tactics came into play on the final stage of the day, With Hirvonen already having completed the final stage, Loeb slowed his Citroen C4 WRC before the finish to promote the Flying Finn into the overnight rally lead. This meant that Hirvonen would have to serve as road sweeper once again on Day Three.

On Day Three Hirvonen could not prevent Loeb from edging out a 12,5sec advantage over the longest leg of the rally. Hirvonen became embroiled in a thrilling ding-dong battle with Sordo, trading places five times in ten stages, before Hirvonen was able to eke out a 2,1sec advantage over the Spaniard to secure second position overall.

Further down the WRC leaderboard, a fierce battle for fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth raged throughout the weekend.

Henning Solberg (Stobart Ford M-Sport World Rally Team) performed well on Day One, despite problems with his car’s setup. Team-mate Matthew Wilson finished Day One in seventh place overall, while Munchi’s Ford M-Sport Rally Ream driver Federico Villagra completed a trouble-free run on the opening leg of WRC Rally Australia.

Conrad Rautenbach (Citroen Junior Rally Team) was ninth on Day Two, but slipped off the road in SS19. Damage to his car’s front suspension and steering forced him to retire from the event prematurely.

The 2008 Junior World Rally Champions Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassi finished Day fifth overall on Day Two, pushing his Citroen C4 WRC to its limits to stay in touch with the likes of Latvala and Sordo.

Henning Solberg survived a high-speed crash on the second stage of Day Two, and managed to remain in sixth place at the overnight halt. Wilson and Villagra remained in seventh and eighth positions overall.

On Day Three, Wilson was able to move into sixth place, edging ahead of the struggling Henning Solberg. Solberg slowed his pace, and slipped to eighth olace with brake problems. He was able to claw his way back to seventh place ahead of VIllagra at the end of the rally. Ogier, who showed maturity the Citroen have long been expecting, finished in a strong fifth position overall.

And then, after the winners’ celebratory champagne had been sprayed at the podium ceremony, the sporting stewards named Hirvonen the rally winner. Not taking anything away from Hirvonen, who produced one of his best rally performances of his career, the WRC Rally Australia was, however, won via a technicality. Citroen Racing had outsmarted the M-Sport Ford team bosses, but Hirvonen bravely fought the Citroen C4 WRCs of Sordo and Loeb all weekend for a deserved podium result and an eventual victory. So close was the rally action this past weekend, and so incredible was the mightily impressive performance of the Flying Finn Mikko Hirvonen, he can now rest easier during this four-week break before heading to Spain for the Round Eleven of the WRC calendar. Placing his Ford Focus RS WRC at the top of the leaderboard for the sixth time this season, Hirvonen now holds a 13-point advantage over arch-rival Loeb. You can bet that the Citroen Racing boys will not make this mistake again, and Loeb, who has returned to the form that has brought him five World Rally Championship Drivers’ titles, will be going to Spain early next month with only one aim: to win!

Dani Sordo has proven to be a reliable team-mate and Sebastien Ogier has shown that he can mix stages times with the quickest, Citroen Racing will be aiming to place as many crews between Loeb and Hirvonen in the final two events of the WRC season. Rally Australia has provided the thrills, spills and drama that mark this sport as the world’s most exciting motorsport formula!

FINAL WRC Rally Australia CLASSIFICATION: 01) M. Hirvonen/J. Lehtinen (Ford Focus RS) - 02hr 53m 06,5s 02) S. Loeb/D. Elena (Citroen C4) + 47,5s 03) D. Sordo/M. Marti (Citroen C4) + 01m 04,6s 04) J-M. Latvala/M. Anttila (Ford Focus RS) + 01m 52s 05) S. Ogier/J. Ingrassia (Citroen C4) + 02m 23,2s 06) M. Wilson/S. Martin (Ford Focus RS) + 5m 26,3s 07) H. Solberg/C. Menkerud (Ford Focus RS) + 07m 17,8s 08) F. Villagra/J. Perez Companc (Ford Focus RS) + 07m 39,4s 09) H. Paddon/J. Kennard (Mitsubishi Lancer) + 15m 36,4s 10) M. Prokop/J. Tomanek (Mitsubishi Lancer) + 15m 46,7s