Rally Vogelsberg (DE) - 18-19 Apr 08

Euro Rally Challenge - Erik Wevers scores equal in overtime

Posted: April 22, 2008 7:58 PM

What an excitement in the second round of the Euro Rally Challenge, the new international rally competition! On the fast stages in the vicinity of the German Schlitz, Mark van Eldik and Erik Wevers fought until the very last meters for the victory. The decision came only… in overtime. Twenty seconds penalty for using extra service time by Mark van Eldik brought the victory to Erik Wevers with 16,3 seconds advantage over his great title concurrent.

One of the top drivers in group A had to cancel just before the start. During an ultimate test in Belgium, Leszek Kuzaj crashed his rented Skoda Fabia WRC. This meant a front battle between van Eldik, Kleinjan and Wevers. On Friday night, the Subaru Impreza WRC S12 started quickest with a scratch on the super special “Willofs”. Wevers lost almost 15 seconds because of the dust in the dark, but began to decrease his disadvantage on Saturday. Mark van Eldik continued the fight and seemed to win by 3,7 seconds, but that was without the time penalty. Replacing the turbo took the Subaru team 2 minutes too many service time, which resulted in a time penalty of 20 seconds. Therefore, the victory went to Erik Wevers and Jalmar van Weeren.
Harry Kleinjan could well follow the pace up front with his Skoda Fabia WRC and noticed even a scratch on the famous stage "Niederaula", but a flat tire on SS “Schotten” resulted in a permanent set back. René Kuipers benefited from the misfortune of Kleinjan and claimed the third place in group A. John Temmink never saw the finish in Schlitz. The Skoda driver went off road on SS “Schlitz” and was irrevocably fixed on a bump sand. The Hungarian Mihali Hodula had to throw the towel in the ring because of a broken drive shaft.

In Group N, Janina Depping wasn’t very lucky in her home rally. The German Amazon, as a participant in the German championship could start in daylight on Friday, immediately had problems with the differential. Saturday she appeared on her way to the third place after two flat tires, but unfortunately she went off on the last stage. On front, Dennis Kuipers found a lot of resistance of the Dane Michael Pedersen. He became second after the fast Danish driver with his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9. After his retirement in Emmeloord, Pedersen seems to have found his way and Kuipers should get ready for a new duel in the Belgian Bocholt.

In Group H there was no competition for Hans-Ole Funch. Tim Stebani had to park his Skoda Octavia kit car on the way to the second stage with a broken transmission. Funch therefore was almost certain for victory and scored maximum points.

The next round of the Euro Challenge Rally will be held in Belgium. On Saturday the 17th of May awaits the Sezoens Rally in Bocholt, a rally with 12 special stages. Typical for this rally are the fast stages with long parts of red gravel, a surface which undoubtedly will provide for spectacle in the third round of the Euro Rally Challenge.

Wevers Sport - Second round Euro Rally Challenge goes to Wevers

Posted: April 22, 2008 8:59 AM

• Download Wevers Sport - Second round Euro Rally Challenge goes to Wevers

Euro Rally Challenge Preview

Posted: April 11, 2008 3:45 PM

After the spectacular opening match in the Netherlands, the Euro Rally Challenge moves to Germany on April 18 and 19. The participants of this new international championship are favorite for the victory at the Vogelsberg Rally.

Bart Hissink, coordinator of the Euro Rally Challenge, drove the Vogelsberg Rally last year as Jan Nijhof’s co-pilot in a BMW M3 Compact. He is enthusiastic about the trail and the atmosphere: "The rally starts at Friday with a super special for a lot of enthusiastic spectators. On Saturday 8 special stages are still to be driven. The longest one is “Schotten” with 27 km , but the stage where the rally will be decided is “Niederaula”, 16 km long. That stage is very challenging and technical, narrow and fast bumpy roads through the woods and most curves are blind. A real Special Stage.”

For two participants of the Euro Challenge Rally the Vogelsberg is their home-rally. Tim Stebani has entered with a Skoda Octavia kit car. In Group H Stebani will compete against the unique Subaru Legacy of Joost Kusters, a car that is powered by a real-Prodrive ex-boxer from Colin McRae 1994, and the fast Opel Kadett from Hans Ole Funch. Both pilots from Ireland, Paddy White and Gerard Sharkey, are not starting due to problems finding time.

Janina Depping focuses primarily on the catfight with Ellen Lohr, the former DTM pilot. Janina proves her luck with her trusted Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7 Gr.N, while Ellen Lohr will drive a Subaru Impreza WRX STi N12. But Janina will certainly look out for Dennis Kuipers, who has won the first rally of the ERC with his Peugeot 207 Super 2000 in group N. They should both look out for the Dane Pedersen, who didn’t finish in the Tank S Rally and for Edwin Schilt with his Subaru Impreza WRX STi N14. In Group R, Jan de Winkel unfortunately cannot start because his Renault Clio is not yet complete.

The WRC boys will battle for the overall victory. Erik Wevers already has a victory with his Ford Focus WRC06 in the Belgian Hannut, but in the Tank S Rally he had to bow for the Subaru Impreza WRC S12 from Mark van Eldik. The duel could be thoroughly disturbed by the Polish Leszek Kuzaj, with a Skoda Fabia WRC. Other Skoda WRC's are there for Harry Kleinjan, John Temmink and Ger Haverkate, only the last one is an Octavia Evo3. After a short test, René Kuipers makes his big debut with his brand new Ford Focus WRC06. Serious opponents for Mihali Hodula with his Mitsubishi GrA, but the Hungarian knows like no other in the Euro Rally Challenge that it’s not all about the result. Fighting for seconds on the stages, but especially enjoy and party with rally friends after, that’s the spirit of the Euro Rally Challenge!

Rallye Vogelsberg