Category: WRC

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Volkswagen WRC

Volkswagen signs Jari-Matti Latvala

Jari-Matti Latvala

While we were away at the motor show in Sydney one of the WRC’s worst kept secrets was confirmed. That is, Volkswagen officially announced the signing of current Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala.

The 27-year-old Finn, winner of seven WRC events, will join 28-year-old Frenchman Sébastien Ogier. During 2012 Ogier has been impressive in the Skoda Fabia S2000, while the team’s Polo R WRC continues its development. Volkswagen has done well to secure what will be one of the WRC’s strongest driver pairings in 2013.

Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito is certainly pretty happy with himself: “The fact that another top-flight driver believes in our success and is switching to our team gives each member of our team an additional motivation boost. In Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala we’ve got an excellent driver line-up for the debut of the Polo R WRC in the 2013 World Rally Championship.”

Meanwhile, Latvala is already towing the party line: “I’m very happy to be driving the Polo R WRC in the World Rally Championship in future. The determined approach of the Volkswagen team convinced me to accept this challenge,”

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Ford WRC

Ford also withdraws factory support from WRC

Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford Fiesta RS WRC

First MINI, now Ford. In a matter of days two manufacturers have withdrawn their factory support from the world’s premier rally category. Ford has offered factory support to the M-Sport team since 1997. That support will cease at the end of the 2012 season.

Ford of Europe confirmed their exit on Monday with Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, stating this via an official press release: “Ford has a long and proud history in the WRC and this was not an easy decision. At this time, however we determined that it was better for the company and the Ford brand to reduce our commitment to the WRC and deploy our resources in other areas.”

The M-Sport team plans to continue in 2013 with their Fiesta RS WRC cars. In his response to Ford’s announcement team boss Malcolm Wilson said: “I would like to thank Ford of Europe for their enthusiastic support and the faith shown in the team over the past 16 seasons.

“We understand that tough decisions have had to be made to safeguard Ford jobs, we accept the commercial reality of the situation and look forward to continuing our strong technical partnership into the future.

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MINI WRC

MINI abandons WRC, Prodrive to carry on

Chris Atkinson, WRC Team MINI Portugal, 2012 Rallye Deutschland

MINI has announced it will abandon its factory support for WRC Team MINI Portugal at the end of the current season. That means Australia’s Chris Atkinson , contracted only for the final five races of the 2012 season, will enter another WRC off-season in limbo.

BMW Motorsport has left the explanation to Dr Kay Segler, Senior Vice President MINI Business Coordination and Brand Management: “MINI will abandon its works involvement in the WRC at the end of the 2012 season. By the end of the season WRC Team MINI Portugal will have competed in every rally in 2012. As such, in accordance with FIA regulations, we will have achieved the WRC homologation for the MINI John Cooper Works.

“In doing so, we would have achieved the prerequisites to allow those interested to continue to run the car in the WRC on a customer rallying basis. BMW Motorsport will continue to further develop the 1.6-litre turbo engine in conjunction with Prodrive.”

Thankfully, then, Prodrive will continue to carry the MINI flag until at least 2018, as outlined in an official team statement: “Prodrive’s existing long term contract with MINI remains unchanged. This ensures the sales, support and development of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC and S2000 cars, as well as the supply of engines and parts from BMW Motorsport for use by all teams in the WRC, regional and national rallies throughout the full homologation period of the car to 2018.”

For their part, Motorsport Italia (aka WRC Team MINI Portugal) has acknowledged the news by saying “thanks” but not much else.

[Source: BMW Motorsport & Prodrive | Pic: Photo4]

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Citroen WRC

Sebastien Loeb wins 2012 Rallye de France

Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena, 2012 Rallye de France

Today the sporting world is rightly in awe at the achievements of Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena, who are now nine time world rally champions. Remarkably, they’ve reached their insurmountable tally in an unbroken sequence which began in 2004. Simply, it is a remarkable effort that, at this point in time, seems impossible to repeat, let alone better.

With two rallies still to race, it is fitting that title number nine was secured thanks to a 15.5 second win over Ford’s Jari-Matti Latvala in Loeb’s home event, the Rallye de Francc Alsace.

Helping to claim Citroën’s highly impressive eighth manufacturer’s title was Mikko Hirvonen coming home in third place. With Loeb set to take on a reduced program in 2013, Hirvonen will be looking forward to spearheading Citroën’s defence. Although, what chance of Loeb defending his own title while completing only three quarters of the events?

After the break we have a short video from Citroën Racing. It sets the tone really well, and never mind if you can’t speak French, we reckon you’ll appreciate the enormity of what has been achieved.

WRC’s own Sunday wrap video can be seen HERE and we should also point out that Chris Atkinson was the first MINI home, finishing in eighth place.

[Source: Citroën Racing]

UPDATE 9 October: Four new pics added below.

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Ford WRC

Petter Solberg recommends the pinot gris

Petter Solberg, Ford Fiesta RS

While Sebastien Loeb was busy showing off by winning another world championship, Petter Solberg admitted defeat early and used the stunning scenery of Rallye de France to do a spot of impromptu wine tasting.

We have video of that for you here, and you can see that Petter needed two bites at the, err, grape in the Alsace region, before doing as all good drunks do and finding relief in the form of a telegraph pole.

Seriously, for a moment, this bizarre incident held some rather frightening potential, which you’ll see when the sparks start to fly. We’re thankful that nobody was injured and we can make light of the situation and hope that Solberg enjoys better luck next time around.

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Citroen WRC

Sebastien Loeb claims 9th world championship

Sebastien Loeb, Citroen WRT

Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena have just claimed victory in Rallye de France and in doing so have collected their ninth World Rally Championship title. It’s a quite an astonishing record, really. Loeb’s win today also wraps up the 2012 constructors’ title for Citroën, their eighth world title.

We’ll be back later today when Citroën updates us with their official post-race update. In the meantime ponder this question: is Loeb the best racer ever, in any discipline?

That’s what Prodrive claimed when they tweeted their congratulations to Loeb: “Well done to Seb Loeb, amazing achievement, which will never be repeated. Arguably now the greatest driver of all time in any discipline.”

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WRC

2013 WRC calendar confirmed

Sebastien Loeb, Citroen DS3 WRC, 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo

As well as next year’s F1 calendar the World Motor Sport Council signed off on the 2013 WRC calendar when they met yesterday. Rally Australia takes its turn in the rotation with Rally New Zealand and will be held on 15 September. There will be 13 WRC events next year.

The WMSC also ratified the Red Bull Media House deal which will see them take on the role of WRC promoter from next year onwards.

Also approved were a number of regulations designed to reduce costs and make competition more attractive to a wider range of competitors. You can read about that in the FIA’s official press release after the break.

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Citroen WRC

Reduced WRC program for Loeb in 2013

Sebastien Loeb, 2012 Rally Germany

The world’s best rally combination of Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena will be running a partial WRC program in 2013, Citroën announced at the Paris Motor Show overnight. Loeb is fast heading towards his ninth WRC title and at 38 years of age is hoping to exit the world stage while he is on top.

It’s important to note that Citroën will be continuing with a three car team in 2013, with Mikko Hirvonen as the lead driver. However it won’t be a fully factory-backed effort.

An official statement from the Citroën World Rally Team reads: “In these tough economic times, Citroën has taken the view that it is essential for it to remain involved in motorsport in order to support its determined and energetic commercial approach. At the same time, it was equally important to find a way of reducing the Brand’s financial commitment to the team’s operating costs.”

Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal explains the team has secured a new major sponsor: “In this context, we are particularly proud to welcome Abu Dhabi on board. This partnership will provide us with the means of continuing our programme and entering three DS3 WRCs in 2013.”

Citroën also said they are considering entering the World Touring Car Championship in 2014, with Sebastien Loeb as the headline act.

[Source: citroen-wrc.com]

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Hyundai Motor Shows WRC

Paris 2012: Hyundai WRC i20

Hyundai WRC i20

Hyundai has used the bright lights of the Paris Motor Show to announce they will be returning to the World Rally Championship. Their weapon of choice is this “rally-ready” WRC i20.

The term “rally-ready” is important insofar as Hyundai hasn’t nominated a firm date for their return. Although, wrc.com is claiming Hyundai could be racing as early as next year.

Speaking in Paris, Mark Hall, Marketing Director at Hyundai Motor Europe, said: “The World Rally Championship is recognised as one of the most dramatic sporting series on Earth. It’s a spectacle filled with excitement and dynamism—the perfect embodiment of the Hyundai brand.

“The WRC also offers the most technologically-diverse challenge for an automotive manufacturer. Our participation will demonstrate Hyundai’s engineering excellence and durability, and will also help to enhance our road-going vehicles in future.”

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Ford WRC

Jari-Matti Latvala wins 2012 Wales Rally GB

Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford Fiesta RS WRC

Ford’s Jari-Matti Latvala defended his 2011 victory by going back-to-back at the Wales Rally GB on the weekend. In doing so, he finally ended the sequence of five consecutive wins by Sebastien Loeb. Latvala set up his victory on the opening day, guiding his Fiesta RS WRC to a healthy lead of more than 20 seconds.

Over the next two days of competition Latvala’s lead remained above that 20 second barrier. However, the final day saw an epic fight between fellow Ford driver Petter Solberg and the irrepressible Sebastien Loeb.

In the end, Loeb just edged out Solberg by a slender 0.9 second margin to ensure the damage done to his title lead was minimal.

Australia’s Chris Atkinson just missed out on the final championship point offered for 10th place after he broke a left-rear toe-link on his MINI JCW WRC.

Loeb continues to lead the championship by an impossible 61 points over his Citroën teammate Mikko Hirvonen, while a tight battle is on for third place. Petter Solberg, Mads Ostberg and Jari-Matti Latvala are separated by just six points with three rallies to go. In the constructors’ title race not even daylight is close to Citroën. And Ford is behind daylight.

The WRC teams hit the French tarmac for Rally de France early next month.

Until then you can enjoy Ford’s great highlights package from the Welsh roads after the break.

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MINI WRC

MINI Motorsport at 2012 Rally Deutschland

Chris Atkinson, WRC Team MINI Portugal

You have to go out of your way these days to find race footage and highlights from the WRC. Hopefully all that will change with the might of Red Bull behind the category. Until then here’s a brief package from Rally Deutschland with thanks to MINI Motorsport, featuring, of course, Australia’s Chris Atkinson.

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MINI WRC

Atkinson happy with MINI WRC debut

Chris Atkinson, WRC Team MINI Portugal, 2012 Rallye Deutschland

Following his credible fifth place in Rallye Deutschland, Chris Atkinson is looking forward to even better things.

During the first day of competition in Germany Atkinson told Autosport: “I said that, at the end of the event, I wanted to be around 0.5 seconds per kilometre off Dani [Sordo’s] pace and we’re there now, so that’s good.

“I haven’t driven on asphalt for three and a half years, so this event is really about focusing on me and my driving—we know the car is up to the job. Finishing between sixth and 10th is my target and we’re on for that right now.”

Great to see Chris managed to better his pre-race expectations, even if it may have been due the misfortune of others.

Using horse racing parlance Atko will be better for the run. “This result has given us a good base to work from so big thanks to the team who have done a fantastic job all weekend,” said Atkinson.

“Our strategy was to get through a tricky rally without making any mistakes and it paid off. We can start fighting a bit higher up now and start moving forward.”

The next event on the WRC calendar is the Wales Rally GB in mid-September.

[Source: Autosport & wrc.com | Pic: Photo4]