|
|
| RallyeNewsletter 2009 Rally Great Britain : WRC Round 12 of 12 : 23rd - 25th October In this issue: 1. Event Preview 3. Other News 4. Team by Team Preview 5. Event statistics 6. Event Schedule 7. Championship Points 1. Event Preview All 16 special stages are held on narrow but fast privately-owned gravel tracks, more commonly used by lorries transporting timber. The rally is six weeks earlier than last year and a continuation of the dry and warm autumn in Britain could remove the event's traditionally most difficult challenge – unpredictable weather. Tree-! lined sections high in the hilly forests contrast with wide-open stretches and while ice and snow is highly unlikely in October, fog could be present if the weather worsens. In gloomy conditions it hangs between the trees, while also throwing a white blanket across exposed areas on higher ground. 3. Other News * 2010 IRC Calendar confirmed * Monte Carlo 2010 - Entire rally live on TV! 4. Team by Team Preview BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team http://ford.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=2 After 11 rounds, 219 speed tests and 3774.37km of competition, Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen's challenge for the FIA World Rally Championship drivers' title will be decided at the final fixture in Wales next weekend. The BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team duo start Rally of Great Britain (22 - 25 October) with a single point advantage in their Focus RS World Rally Car, as the series readies itself for its most exciting finale for several years. The Finns face a head-to-head showdown with season-long rival Sébastien Loeb. Irrespective of where they finish, whichever driver is t! he highest on the leaderboard when the rally returns to Cardiff after three days of flat-out driving on gravel tracks in mid- and south Wales will lift the crown. Team-mates and fellow countrymen Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila will provide crucial support in another Focus RS WRC and both pairings have a good record over the Welsh forest roads. Hirvonen won in 2007 while Latvala secured second last season. #3 : Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen: "Although I've won there before, this rally hasn't always been kind to me, but I do enjoy the roads in Wales and know them well. They're fast and flowing, even quicker than my home event in Finland in places. If I had to choose a rally on which to fight for the title then Finland would be my first choice. But Britain would be second on the list. I love driving there and the roads really suit me. At this time of year they won't be covered in ice or snow, so they should be perfect," #4 : Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila: "There are straights of up to 2km, but they often end with a hairpin bend and that's difficult if it's foggy. In those situations a driver must have perfect pace notes, because it's impossible to see into the distance and you rely on the notes to pinpoint corners and braking points. A good set of pace notes in the fog can earn a lot of time, but poor notes can be very costly. I will have yellow tinted glasses with me that I also use in the snow. They provide extra definition, so if the weather is bad then they will help me pick out the bends through the fog. Citroen Total World Rally Team http://citroen.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=1 After wrapping up Citroën's fifth Manufacturers' world title in Spain, the Citroën Total World Rally Team heads for the R! ally of Great Britain looking to pull off yet another feat. This time, its mission will be to give Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena the means to secure a sixth consecutive Drivers' crown. For the Franco-Monegasque pair, the arithmetics couldn't be simpler: they must necessarily finish in the points ahead of Mikko Hirvonen. Meanwhile, Dani Sordo and Marc Marti will be given a free rein to target victory in the 12th round of the season. #1 : Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena: "We will need to finish ahead of Mikko Hirvonen, and in the points. The two of us will obviously be under a great deal of pressure, and even a small mistake could put either one of us out of the running for the title. I don't want to dwell too much on the stakes, however, otherwise we run the risk of not being able to put one foot in front of the other! As far as possible, I will try to put all that to the back of my mind and simply get on the fight. Mikko and I have enjoyed some particularly close scraps this year already – in Norway, Finland and Australia – and I hope we will see another exciting battle in Wales." #2 : Daniel Sordo/Marc Marti: I have every intention of being part of the fight. Had that not been the case, then I might as well stay at home! I won't be under any pressure, so I will be able to drive with a freer mind. Last year, I finished on the podium in Wales to help clinch the Manufacturers' title. Our pre-event testing went well; I enjoyed driving the car and I feel confident. You want me to predict the result? OK: Sordo ahead of Loeb. Then we will be able to have a huge party on Sunday evening!" Stobart Ford World Rally Team http://ford.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=2 A successful season for the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team comes to an exciting climax ne! xt week as the team prepares to celebrate its best year ever at its home event, the thrilling final round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Rally GB. Matthew Wilson is already assured of his best ever points total for a WRC season, but is aiming to put on a sensational show for his home crowd. Meanwhile, team mate Henning Solberg needs to earn five points to equal his best ever finish to a season, and will be gunning for a podium spot. #5: Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin: “It is such a great opportunity that we get to finish each WRC season on home territory in front of British fans and I hope that I can go out there and produce a really good performance. We’ve had a great season and made a lot of progress so it would be fantastic to underline that with a strong performance at home. All of the top eight drivers have got something to play for really so we’ll just be going flat out to get the best result that we can to give the fans a great result to cheer about.” #6 : Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud: “I am really looking forward to this rally. I struggled on the Tarmac in Spain despite making some improvements and I can’t wait to get back on a surface that I love. I have never finished in the points at Rally GB, but I came so close to getting an excellent result there last year until the last day when I suffered a suspension breakage after hitting a rock. That was so disappointing and I would like to make up for it this year. We have had a really fantastic season, as has the team, and it’s important to finish well for all my sponsors.” Citroen Junior Team http://citroen.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=1 For the first time the Citroën Junior Team will enter four Citroën C4 WRCs on the Rally Great Britain: the final round of this year’s FIA World Rally Champi! onship. The regular Citroën Junior Team crews of Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia and Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barritt will be joined on this occasion by Petter Solberg/Phil Mills and Aaron Burkart/Michael Kölbach. Three weeks after a first-rate performance on the rapid asphalt of Catalunya, the Citroën Junior Team will field four C4 WRCs on the all-gravel Rally Great Britain. Petter Solberg, who was fourth in Spain on his debut with the C4 WRC, joins the Citroën Junior Team and is nominated to score points in the manufacturers’ championship. #8: Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barritt: “I feel at home here and I’ve got loads of supporters. The stages are fantastic, especially those run on the first day. It’s going to be a very nice rally. I hope I get a good feeling with the car and finish in the points.” #11: Petter Solberg/Phil Mill! s: “My goal is obviously to be fighting at the front. I’ve already been extremely impressed with the performance of the C4 WRC and I hope to be able to seize every opportunity that comes my way on these stages that I really love.” 5. Event Statistics Surface : gravel Host town : Cardiff Tyres Competitors may carry two spares, but the 're-cutting' of tread patterns is not authorised. Each crew will have 42 soft compound Pirelli Scorpion WRC tyres (205/65R15) for the event. Route length : 1,466.27km, including 348.30km divided into 16 stages (8 different). 6. Event Schedule Thursday 22 October: Ceremonial start Start Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff 19.00 Friday 23 October: Day 1 Cardiff - Cardiff Start Cardiff 06.00 SS1 Hafren 1 32.14km 09.23 SS2 Sweet Lamb 1 5.13km 10.04 SS3 Myherin 1 27.88km 10.22 RSZ A Builth Wells (15 mins) 12.05 SS4 Hafren 2 32.14km 13.31 SS5 Sweet Lamb 2 5.13km 14.12 SS6 Myherin 2 27.88km 14.30 Serv B Cardiff (45 mins) 18.16 Finish Cardiff 19.01 Total 130.30km Saturday 24 October: Day 2 Cardiff - Cardiff Serv C Cardiff (15 mins) 07.10 SS7 Rhondda 1 35.72km 08.35 SS8 Crychan 1 14.99km 10.26 SS9 Halfway 1 18.37km 10.54 Serv D Cardiff (30 mins) 13.18 SS10 Rhondda 2 35.72km 14.58 SS11 Crychan 2 14.99km 16.49 SS12 Halfway 2 18.37km 17.17 ! Serv E Cardiff (45 mins) 19.33 Finish Cardiff 20.18 Total 138.16km Sunday 25 October: Day 3 Cardiff - Cardiff Serv F Cardiff (15 mins) ! 07.10 SS13 Port Talbot 1 17.41km 08.28 SS14 Rheola 1 22.51km 09.27 SS15 Port Talbot 2 17.41km 10.56 SS16 Rheola 2 22.51km 11.55 Serv G Cardiff (10 mins) 13.53 Finish Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff 14.35 Total 79.84km Rally total 348.30km 7. Points Full standings http://www.rallye-info.com/points.asp |