UK Pirelli Star Driver Final - (Mon) 14 Nov 11

JUKKA KORHONEN ELECTED 2012 PIRELLI UK STAR DRIVER

Posted: December 17, 2011 1:02 PM

Up-and-coming Finnish rally driver Jukka Korhonen has been elected by a distinguished panel of judges as the Pirelli UK Star Driver for 2012.

Korhonen, the first driver not from Great Britain to win the award in its four-year history, will receive a fully-funded drive on next year’s British Rally Championship in a Skoda Fabia R2 run by TEG Sport. The car will run in a unique Pirelli Star Driver livery, highlighting the exceptional opportunity that Pirelli continues to give young rallying talent in Britain.

The 27-year-old Finn won the drive following a two-day selection process held earlier in the week, during which six drivers went head-to-head for the coveted prize. They were assessed by a team of judges that comprised Pirelli senior tyre engineer Matteo Braga, former British Rally Champions Gwyndaf Evans and Jim McRae, and World Rally Championship co-driver Chris Patterson. The tests included interview technique and pace-note preparation, as well as a driving assessment over a specially-created stage at Rowrah circuit in Cumbria with the Skoda Fabia R2, together with other practical exams such as a timed wheel change.

Korhonen, co-driven by his compatriot Marko Salminen, was announced as the winner at the British Rally Championship Awards in Manchester tonight, having impressed the judges in every area. The Finn won the Fiesta Trophy in Finland this year, taking five dominant victories, and also impressed with a stellar performance on the Pirelli International Rally in April, where he won the R2 class and finished sixth overall.

The other finalists for this year’s Pirelli Star Driver nomination were Tommy Doyle, Desi Henry, Osian Pryce, Siim Plangi and Peter Taylor – all of whom performed brilliantly during the selection process.

Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery commented:
“First and foremost, I’d like to say that all the drivers can feel proud of themselves for having got to the final selection. But we can only pick one winner, and all the judges thought that Jukka would make an excellent ambassador for Pirelli on the British Rally Championship as part of the prestigious Star Driver scheme, with the right performance and mental strength to really make a difference.”

Korhonen added:
“I’m very grateful to Pirelli for this fantastic opportunity – and I fully intend to make the most of it. I really enjoyed my first taste of the Skoda Fabia R2 during the shoot-out and I think that we can fight for overall wins with this car. Coming to compete in Britain with Pirelli is one of my dreams, and I am so happy to have achieved it.”

Korhonen follows in the footsteps of Darren Gass (2008), Adam Gould (2009), Keith Cronin (2010) and Elfyn Evans (2011): all of whom are previous winners of the Pirelli Star Driver prize. Next year’s British Rally Championship takes in six rounds on gravel and asphalt.

STAR DRIVES FROM DESI GIVE HIM A SHOT AT THE PIRELLI SHOOTOUT!

Posted: November 4, 2011 11:16 AM

Citroen Racing Trophy UK winner Desi Henry has received a shot at the shoot-out, the Pirelli Star Driver Shootout 2011. The 22 year old this season wrapped up the Citroen Racing Trophy UK series, with some great performances in the Dulux Trade British Rally Championship, where he also helped Team C2 R2 Max take third in the Team’s Cup. Now the young Portglenone man has been granted a place in the Pirelli Shootout, with the opportunity to win a Skoda R2 drive in the 2012 British Rally Championship. Understandably Desi is excited.
“I really want to progress more in the sport, and I would dearly love to win the Pirelli Star Driver Shootout. Ultimately I would like to progress to the WRC Academy and I have a year or two to progress to that. Certainly the Pirelli prize would help me immensely. We have plenty of R2 experience, and with the Skoda being a new R2, we would be prepared to work with the team and help develop the car. I am going to give the Pirelli Star Driver Shootout my best shot.”

This season Desi has once again shown his speed on tarmac, speed which emerged on the 2010 Cork 20 International when he recorded faster times than Martin McCormack and Robert Barrable. On the Jim Clark this year he finished a fine 10th overall, 3rd two wheel drive, and matched stage times with WRC Academy top runner Alastair Fisher. On the Ulster International Desi was leading the R2 class until a minor error forced his retirement on day two, but not before lying as high as 8th overall on day one. 2011 has been a season in which Desi has gained much experience on the gravel.
“The BRC has been a superb experience this season, and we are improving every on every rally on the gravel. We had a little bad fortune at the start of the season when the wheel studs sheared on the final stage of the Sunseeker, and the engine dropped a valve on the start line of the Bulldog, but we gained good mileage on the Pirelli and by finishing 3rd in R2 on the International Rally Yorkshire event.”

Certainly Desi is taking the Pirelli Star Driver Shootout seriously, and he realise the competition is equally as serious, with the competition taking place on the week of the 14th November. Jonny Greer, Peter Taylor, Tommy Doyle, Martin McCormack, Jukka Korhonen, Mark Donnelly, Osian Pryce and Siim Plangi will be the competition. The Shootout will be one aspect, but what the driver does with the prize is another.
“In these times when things are tight to win would be fabulous for us If we did win I think we would have to look at selling the C2 and purchasing a Skoda R2 for other events outside the BRC. It would make sense to work with the one make of car, and for me to try and widen my experience. I also like the Pirelli tyres. They have compounds that work in every condition that we experienced in this year’s BRC and I like the feeling they give with the car. For now though I’m just looking forward to competing in the Pirelli Shootout.”

Pirelli Star Driver shootout line-up announced

Posted: October 12, 2011 2:13 PM

David Bogie and Jonny Greer have been confirmed as the final nominees in the 2011 Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship’s Pirelli Star Driver competition. They take the two four-wheel-drive places for their performances on gravel and asphalt respectively.

They join the six two-wheel-drive nominations, who were awarded their places on each of the British Rally Championship’s six rounds and sees a potential of eight drivers set to contest the end of season shootout.

Whilst each of the nominees has already proved their pace on the stages, the final selection process will be tough, as the level of competition between the drivers will be as fierce in the final as it was in the rallies themselves.

The Pirelli Star Driver shootout will take place during the week of 14th November, with the winner announced at the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship awards night on Saturday 19th November.

The nominations for the 2011 Pirelli Star Driver shootout are:

Gravel 4WD: David Bogie (Scotland)
Asphalt 4WD: Jonny Greer (Northern Ireland)
Rally Yorkshire: Peter Taylor (England)
Todds Leap Rally NI: Tommy Doyle (Ireland)
Jim Clark Rally: Marty McCormack (Northern Ireland)
Pirelli Rally: Jukka Korhonen (Finland)
Bulldog Rally North Wales: Mark Donnelly (Northern Ireland)
Rallye Sunseeker: Siim Plangi (Estonia)

2011: Elfyn Evans (Wales)
2010: Keith Cronin (Ireland)
2009: Adam Gould (England)
2008: Darren Gass (Northern Ireland)