Championship Rounds
Posted: January 24, 2008 2:09 PM
24/01/08Galli gives up name for charity
Newly named Stobart VK M-Sport Ford driver Gigi Galli has announced his 2008 charitable aspirations by auctioning the naming rights to his Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC07 for each individual round of the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship.
For decades the Eddie Stobart transport company has upheld an idiosyncratic tradition of identifying its many trucks by allowing their drivers to choose a female¡¯s name to brand it with. The fact that thousands of people are currently on the waiting list to name a Stobart truck demonstrates the popularity of the iconic UK-based logistics firm; now part of the newly-formed Stobart Group. This tradition has since been employed by its motorsport wing which has seen cars named by their drivers in the WRC, British Rally Championship, Production World Rally Championship and the Fiesta SportingTrophy.
Galli bounced on the idea of auctioning the naming rights to his car for charity after he heard the story of a Cumbrian businessman who paid a large sum of money to have the name of a loved one on one of the Eddie Stobart trucks; the amount then entirely donated to charity by Eddie Stobart Ltd.
Approximately one month before each event a new auction is opened online to the public and the highest donation receives the right to brand the Stobart Focus RS with their choice of female name. The beneficiary is an Italian skiing charity headed by former Olympic skier Deborah Compagnoni. Bids for Rallye Monte-Carlo have recently closed with the winner choosing Peppa as the name which will be emblazoned on Galli¡¯s car for the opening round of the 2008 season.
For more information and a chance to have your own choice of name on a Stobart World Rally Car please visit
http://www.airraidsiren.it/gigigalliweb1/stobart_gb.htm.
11/01/08New Year, new look for Abu Dhabi in the WRC
However, the 2008 program is far more than simply a continuation of these ground-breaking partnerships, formed when the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority took the unprecedented step of joining forces with BP-Ford and the WRC last year, to bring the Abu Dhabi name to millions of motorsport fans worldwide.
The emirate¡¯s activity in the WRC forms part of a more far-reaching program to develop awareness of Abu Dhabi as a world-class destination for leisure, culture and commerce. In addition to the WRC and the emirate¡¯s national team, Team Abu Dhabi competing in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, Abu Dhabi will also be hosting its first Formula One Grand Prix next year and is currently in the midst of the European Tour-backed Abu Dhabi Golf championship.
Abu Dhabi¡¯s partnership with the BP-Ford World Rally Team reaped huge rewards for the emirate in 2007, with success from the outset. Debuting in the WRC at August¡¯s Rally Finland, the team¡¯s two drivers, Marcus Grönholm and Mikko Hirvonen took a monumental one-two result on home soil to kick-start what was described by the ADTA as ¡®a perfect partnership¡¯. Incredibly consistent performances by the team for the rest of the year lead to BP-Ford claiming its second Manufacturers¡¯ title in as many years, a fitting result at the end of the first year of partnership with Abu Dhabi.
¡°For eight rallies last year our WRC partnership with reigning champions BP-Ford saw the Abu Dhabi name engage a worldwide television audience of more than 800 million,¡± said HH Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. ¡°This compelling mechanism will continue to demonstrate the appeal of Abu Dhabi and its evolution into one of the Middle East¡¯s fastest-growing business and leisure destinations.¡±
Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director of the ADTA, said; ¡°In the 2008 season Abu Dhabi¡¯s involvement in the newly-named BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team will come to the fore. Our first full season as partner will see optimum integration of Abu Dhabi¡¯s destination branding in all aspects of the team.¡±
¡°For the first time the new Abu Dhabi brand and logo will be revealed to the WRC¡¯s global fan-base. The BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team will communicate the UAE capital¡¯s unique tourism proposition to a worldwide audience of potential visitors.
¡°We wish everyone in the team, from engineers to drivers ¨C including Abu Dhabi¡¯s own Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi - all the best for the season ahead.¡±
With the retirement of Grönholm from the sport at the end of the 2007 season, Hirvonen was promoted to the team¡¯s lead driver, to be partnered by rising fellow Finn, Jari-Matti Latvala in 2008. Both Hirvonen and Latvala¡¯s cars, as well as the complete team operation, will feature a brand-new livery for the 2008 season, encompassing the new Abu Dhabi logo, proudly displayed against the burgundy background, giving the emirate a more integrated look and feel for this upcoming season. The new identity was unveiled at this year¡¯s Autosport International show in the UK by the drivers, Ford of Europe Motorsport Director Mark Deans and Team Director Malcolm Wilson.
"The Focus RS WRC has a new, contemporary livery which blends perfectly with the outlook of the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team," explained Deans. "This is our first full season in partnership with BP and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and their importance to our WRC programme is reflected in the team's new name and their prominence on the car."
In addition to Hirvonen and Latvala, the team will also welcome the return of Abu Dhabi¡¯s rally representative, Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi. Al Qassimi competed in both the WRC and the MERC in 2007 and lost out to the overall MERC title on a tie-break. However, for 2008, the Emirati is concentrating on representing Abu Dhabi at the highest level of the sport, with a ten-rally program that will allow him to personify the Abu Dhabi spirit and develop his skills and knowledge across all surfaces that make up the WRC.
¡°I can¡¯t wait to start my first full WRC season in the new Abu Dhabi¨Cbranded 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 ¨C both with plenty of snow and ice expected ¨C is obviously a little different to what I¡¯m used to in Abu Dhabi and the MERC!
¡°I¡¯m especially looking forward to Jordan ¨C which I won in the MERC last year ¨C 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. It¡¯s going to be a fantastic season and I have to again express my gratitude to Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and in particular, His Highness Sheikh Sultan, for giving me this unbelievable opportunity,¡± added Al Qassimi.
Aiding Al Qassimi in tackling more WRC events this year will be a new co-driver, Michael Orr. Orr is extremely experienced and should help the Emirati realise his potential on the WRC stages and demonstrate what Abu Dhabi stands for.
¡°With Michael ¨C a hugely experienced navigator ¨C 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.¡±
The 2008 season will also see a much greater presence for Abu Dhabi in the championship itself. The Abu Dhabi Oasis, which debuted in the WRC service park in Ireland in November 2007, will be present on 11 of the season¡¯s 15 rounds and will allow the emirate to communicate its key message to the media, WRC family and the world¡¯s motorsport fans directly. The Oasis will form the base for Abu Dhabi¡¯s expanding programme of promotion through a range of initiatives and the emirate will also have greater presence through the official radio service, World Rally Radio.
Abu Dhabi will also be clearly demonstrating its new brand mark in stages throughout the championship with the associated television coverage, ensuring that as many motorsport fans as possible are aware of the unique nature of Abu Dhabi as a world-class destination.
10/01/07FORD REVEALS NEW LOOK FOR 2008 FOCUS RS WORLD RALLY CAR
Ford of Europe today revealed the exciting new look for its 2008 FIA World Rally Championship campaign as the team was unveiled at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham.
The Focus RS World Rally Car, which powered Ford to the manufacturers' world title in both 2006 and 2007, sports a striking modern livery that took centre stage today at Europe's largest annual motorsport exhibition. It was also announced that the squad will be named the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team for 2008.
The team's new driver line-up of Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala were joined by Ford of Europe's new motorsport director, Mark Deans, and team director Malcolm Wilson as they revealed the Focus RS WRC's colour scheme for the first time.
"The Focus RS WRC has a new, contemporary livery which blends perfectly with the outlook of the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team," explained Deans. "This is our first full season in partnership with BP and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and their importance to our WRC programme is reflected in the team's new name and their prominence on the car.
"Of course, there is far more to a successful WRC campaign than the colour of the car and the name of the team. But in the few weeks since I took up my new role as motorsport director I have seen enough to convince me that we are again capable of being fully competitive in 2008. We have a dynamic, young driver line-up supported by one of the most enthusiastic and hard-working teams in motorsport at M-Sport and I look forward to a year that I'm confident will be a successful one," he added.
Deans also sprung a surprise on Wilson, presenting him with a replica of the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship's manufacturers' trophy on behalf of Ford of Europe. "That was a fantastic gesture and one that I really appreciated," said Wilson. "It brought back the memories of what a remarkable year 2007 was for Ford in the WRC.
"But that is history and we're now fully focused on the 2008 season. In Mikko and Jari-Matti we have two young drivers who are hungry for competition but also have experience that belies their years and I'm looking forward to watching them develop further during the season. Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qassimi has a comprehensive programme of 10 events in a third Focus RS WRC and I hope to see him gain further in both experience and confidence during the year," added Wilson.
08/01/07
The Official website of the World Rally Championship has been relaunched:
04/01/07Martin signs as test driver for the Subaru World Rally Team
Markko Martin has signed as the official test driver for the Subaru World Rally Team, as the team steps up its testing programme in preparation for the launch of its all-new Impreza World Rally Car.
The 32 year old Estonian, who won the Bettega Memorial Rally at the end of last year driving an SWRT entered Subaru Impreza WRC2007, has an agreement that will see him responsible for the ongoing testing and development of Subaru¡¯s new WRC contender throughout 2008.
Martin¡¯s first WRC event with the Subaru World Rally Team was Rally Australia in 2000, where he sat alongside co-driver Michael Park. The duo contested nine events with the team in 2001, with a best finish of fifth on Rally Finland. Martin has a wealth of experience on which to draw, having competed on the world stage for Subaru and several other top teams, and is excited about his return to a major role in the WRC with Subaru.
Markko Martin commented: ¡°For me it¡¯s a great challenge that I am really looking forward to. Having been with the team before, it¡¯s a privilege to come back and be able to help. I¡¯m sure the team has changed a lot since 2001, but the colour is still the same!
¡°It is crucial for me to understand what the car needs to be, and to find the common language with the engineers. The trickiest bit is that before I was used to setting the car up for myself, but now I also have to remember that the car has to work for other drivers. I think that my own preference is quite neutral though so I hope it will more or less work for everybody.
¡°For sure there is pressure in this role. It¡¯s clear that the new car has to be competitive, and I feel now a part of the team that has to perform. But that¡¯s what I¡¯m here for, and I¡¯m looking forward to the challenge.¡±
SWRT Managing Director, Richard Taylor, added: ¡°As a winner of five WRC events and having gained competitive experience in a wide range of World Rally Cars we are delighted to welcome Markko back to the Subaru World Rally Team and are confident that he will play a key role in the successful launch of the 2008 Impreza in a few months time. We look forward to working with Markko again and hope that this will be the beginning of a long term relationship.
29/12/07
Stobart gears up for another super season with a new face onboard
After a truly outstanding season in this year¡¯s FIA World Rally Championship, the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team will continue into 2008 with an exciting new force in the ranks. This season Jari-Matti Latvala caused shockwaves throughout the WRC paddock with his performances and, with his promotion to the BP-Ford team, the opportunity to fill some big shoes has been given to Italian superstar Gigi Galli.
Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson will continue with the team in 2008 on all 15 rounds after superb performances this year, especially during the final quarter where both drivers achieved their highest results. All three drivers will have upgraded artillery in the form of the Ford Focus RS WRC 07; an evolution model from the 06 specification used by the Stobart team in the 2007 championship.
M-Sport will again run the Stobart outfit after a successful venture which has seen increasingly positive performances and overall results over the past two years. Malcolm Wilson will again offer expert guidance and management as Team Principal in 2008.
Galli¡¯s addition to the team will see him compete on all 15 rounds in a Stobart liveried car as the team¡¯s permanent nominated points scoring driver. The second scoring driver position will be left open during the year as the team looks to battle for a place on the manufacturers¡¯ championship podium for the second year running.
Fulfilling this position in next season¡¯s opening round, Rally Monte-Carlo, will be a fourth Stobart entrant as Belgian François Duval jumps into a Stobart liveried car to score for the team. Duval is no stranger to the blue oval as he competed as a works driver in the Ford camp on various occasions from 2002 to 2004.
Stobart¡¯s fourth place finish in the manufacturers¡¯ championship this season will mean a numeral change for next year as the two points scoring Stobart Focus RS¡¯ pick up numbers seven and eight on the livery. Wilson will retain his number 16 tag next year for those events where he is not nominated to score for the team.
The 2008 WRC season will see a reduced 15-round championship taking competitors across the globe spanning five continents. Next year also marks a new era in WRC history as Jordan becomes the first Arab country to be introduced into the championship.
The final change for 2008 sees Rally Turkey back in the action after a year¡¯s break from the WRC. Rally Ireland and Norway are being rested for 2008 after both hosting their inaugural events in the world championship this year.
2008 is set to be another top year for the Stobart team which, in its short history, has helped develop some of world rallying¡¯s finest young talent.
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Principal Malcolm Wilson said:
¡°It's set to be another exciting year for the Stobart team after such a successful season this year. Jari-Matti's promotion to the BP-Ford Abu Dhabi team has left an opportunity for someone to join this very competitive squad and we are happy to announce that it will be Italian driver Gigi Galli. Gigi has a wealth of experience in the WRC and I'm sure will be a great asset for the team. Matthew and Henning will again be part of the Stobart team after some fantastic performances in the 2007 championship. The battle this year with Subaru came down to the final event in Wales and next year things are again looking strong for the Stobart squad.¡±
22/12/07
Gigi Galli joins Stobart
Gigi Galli joins the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team in place of Jari-Matti Latvala
Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson remain with the team.
16/12/07
Ford reveals WRC line-up for 2008
Ford of Europe plans to keep the WRC as its front line Motorsport activity from 2008. Today Ford announced some important developments designed, in the first instance, to maintain the competitiveness of the BP-Ford Team from the start of the coming championship season.
The retirement from the team of Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen, who have led its campaign in superb fashion over the past two seasons, has posed quite a challenge. However, Ford's WRC strategy has been based also on a programme to develop new, exciting talent. Fresh from their win in the final WRC event this month, in Rally GB, Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen now are stepping up into the role vacated by Marcus and Timo.
Further, Ford is pleased to confirm that Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila will also be promoted, as their team-mates, to complete Ford's official line-up for 2008.
Lewis Booth, Executive Vice Chairman for Ford of Europe and Premier Automotive Group, said: "The man who so convincingly kept the BP-Ford team at the top of the leader board throughout the year is Marcus Grönholm. We couldn't have won "two in a row" without Marcus and Timo delivering results so consistently. We're really fortunate to have had them both on the team, and we're proud of what they have achieved for Ford. Marcus and Timo have been one of the sport's most successful pairings of all time - in fact their 30 victories have earned Marcus second place on the list for all-time rally wins. Such is Marcus' standing in the sport that we did not want to lose him entirely from our team. We are asking Marcus to take an ambassadorial role for Ford of Europe next year."
Ian Slater, Vice President Communications of Ford of Europe and Premium Automotive Group, said the team's new driver line-up is a key aspect of Ford's strategy. "Ford of Europe is planning for a long-term success in the WRC. Our young but experienced team, with Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala, is a clear statement of intent. We believe these two young Finns will become stars of the sport and we're delighted to offer them the opportunity to grow and develop with Ford over the next few season, while providing all-important stability and consistency within the team."
"Jari-Matti is only 22, but already he has started more than 50 WRC events and his level of experience is higher than many older drivers. He has developed greatly under Malcolm's guidance in a privately-entered Focus RS World Rally Car during the past two seasons. Towards the end of the 2007 season Jari-Matti has shown he is ready to step up to a full works drive: witness his outstanding third place in Rally Ireland last month. They will debut for us in January's Monte Carlo Rally."
Malcolm Wilson, managing director at M-Sport, gave his views on the season just ended. "First of all I'd like to thank Ford for the trust and confidence. I also would like to thank Stobart for their commitment to run Jari-Matti this year. He has gained confidence by the day and has developed into the most promising driver in the WRC this season. His performances on the second half of the season put him in pole position for the drive. Knowing that he will now be doing a large part of the testing, gives me confidence that his performance will only improve."
"Marcus and Mikko have worked wonderfully together and I hope that Mikko will pass on to Jari-Matti the experience he has learned. If I look back, I'm proud to say that they both came to M-Sport for evaluation five years ago and now they are going to be partnered for the 2008 season," he added.
Mark Deans, Ford of Europe's new Motorsport director, who will head the company's programme from the start of next season, is not hiding his enthusiasm. "With this incredible car and team we look forward for a 2008 full of successes."
Suzuki announce drivers
Toni Gardemeister and Per-Gunnar Andersson will drive the Suzuki SX4 WRC cars for the 2008 Season
Championship Rounds
- Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo WRC - 24-27 Jan 08
- Swedish Rally WRC (P) - 08-10 Feb 08
- Rally Mexico WRC (J) - 29-02 Mar 08
- Rally Argentina WRC (P) - 28-30 Mar 08
- Jordan Rally WRC WRC (J) - 24-27 Apr 08
- Rallye d'Italia-Sardegna WRC (J) - 16-18 May 08
- Acropolis Rally WRC (P) - 29 May-01 Jun 08
- Rally of Turkey WRC (P) - 13-16 Jun 08
- Rally Finland WRC (P & J) - 31 Jul-03 Aug 08
- Rallye Deutschland WRC (J) - 15-17 Aug 08
- Rally of New Zealand WRC (P) - 28-31 Aug 08
- Rallye de España WRC (J) - 02-05 Oct 08
- Rallye de France Tour de Corse WRC (J) - 10-12 Oct 08
- Rally Japan WRC (P) - 24-26 Oct 08
- Wales Rally GB WRC (P) - 5-7 Dec 08
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