SKODA Sweden’s Patrik Sandell has declared himself satisfied with his run to fifth overall on Sata Rallye Acores despite admitting he expected to finish higher up the leaderboard on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.
Sandell, who claimed his first stage victory in the IRC on the gravel event, had hoped his greater knowledge of competing on loose-surface stages would have enabled him to challenge for a podium finish on the event. However, a number of factors held him back.
“I wasn’t always trusting the pacenotes in the conditions because I was missing the experience of this event,” said Sandell. “The set-up wasn’t always right, I had a one-minute penalty and I was first on the road on day two so when you look at those things fifth is okay. For sure I would have liked to have been higher up but it’s not easy for a small team like us to be on the same level as the others so soon.”
Arai expects more pace from R4 Impreza
Posted: August 7, 2011 5:20 PM
Toshi Arai has said that Subaru’s R4-specification Impreza can only get better following its first appearance on gravel on last week’s Sata Rallye Acores, round six of the 11-event Intercontinental Rally Challenge season.
Although Arai dropped out of the running when his Yokohama-supported car suffered an electrical failure on day two, team-mate Fumio Nutahara claimed the final IRC drivers’ championship point in his Impreza STI R4.
“It was quite a difficult rally with the weather and with some small problems but generally we didn’t have any big problems,” said Arai. “I think we can make more improvements before my next rally in Hungary where I will try even harder.”
Arai’s fellow Japanese Nutahara said: “I like the car a lot. It feels more lightweight than the Mitsubishi [I used to drive] with very good handling and fast cornering speed.”
Subaru Technica International chief engineer Makoto Shimanura said the car’s development was ahead of schedule, adding: “The target is to make the R4 closer to Super 2000 but not as expensive. We do this through weight reduction, suspension design and cooling performance. We want to make the car 50 kilograms lighter and within 1.0s per kilometre closer to the Super 2000 cars. We are achieving this.”
Nutahara will back in action on Barum Czech Rally Zlin at the end of August. Arai’s next event is the Mecesk Rallye in Hungary in mid-September.
ANDREAS SECURES HIS BEST IRC RESULT FOR ŠKODA UK
Posted: August 7, 2011 5:10 PM
Andreas Mikkelsen scored his best result for ŠKODA UK Motorsport in the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), after finishing 2nd on Rally Azores in his Fabia S2000.
Co-driven by Ola Fløene, the 22-year old FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy pilot mastered the wet and slippery gravel roads of the mid-Atlantic volcanic island to twice lead the event. He set six fastest and five second fastest stage times, as he battled for victory with ŠKODA Motorsport’s Juho Hänninen. Equally matched throughout the three day event, Andreas led after SS1, before a power steering problem dropped him temporarily to 3rd after SS3, before he fought back magnificently to retake the lead after SS13 – as he and Hänninen established a minute gap to their nearest rival.
The deciding moment came on SS14, which at 13.63 miles (21.94kms) was the longest stage of the event. In heavy rain and poor visibility, Andreas carefully negotiated the twisty test while Hänninen threw caution to the wind. The reigning IRC champion completed the stage 13.9 seconds quicker than Andreas, turning a 2.7sec deficit into a 11.2 second lead at a crucial part of the event. It was the largest margin that had separated Andreas and Hänninen all rally, and with just three stages remaining the top two positions were assured.
Andreas cruised through the final two stages to ensure his fantastic performance was rewarded with 2nd position – and his first podium for the ŠKODA UK Motorsport team. It was also a magnificent result for ŠKODA, as Jan Kopecký made it a 1-2-3 finish by claiming the final podium spot.
The result puts Hänninen back in the lead of the IRC Drivers’ standings, moves Andreas up to 6th in the order and increases ŠKODA’s advantage at the top of the Manufacturers’ table.
Andreas: “I’m pleased with our performance during Rally Azores, because we’ve been fast all weekend and able to challenge for victory with good pace and rhythm. I could have gone faster towards the end, but it would have meant taking risks and finishing on the podium was more important. The rain has made the stages very slippery and the visibility has been very poor at times. Conditions were tricky, but we had good pace notes, made very few mistakes and showed that we can challenge for rally wins.
“The ŠKODA UK Motorsport team has done a fantastic job this weekend, Ola and I have done well and it’s been a great result for ŠKODA, with three cars on the podium – and congratulations to Juho on a good win.”
The next round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge is the Czech Rally Zlin (26-28 August).
IRC AZORES GLORY FOR FLYING FINN HANNINEN
Posted: August 7, 2011 4:59 PM
Juho Hanninen has made it three wins from four starts in this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge to move back into the lead of the all-action series with a dramatic victory on Sata Rallye Acores. Driving a SKODA Motorsport Fabia Super 2000, the defending IRC champion was embroiled in a close battle with rising star Andreas Mikkelsen starting the final day of the gravel event. But a courageous run through Saturday’s second stage handed him a slender advantage over the Norwegian that he maintained to the finish.
A hat trick of stage wins on Friday afternoon had propelled Mikkelsen to within 1.3s of Hanninen starting day three. And the fight for glory took another dramatic twist when Mikkelsen went faster than Hanninen on Saturday’s opening run to snatch the lead by 2.7s, despite bashing his Fabia’s left-rear wheel on an earth bank in thick fog.
With fog still proving a nuisance on stage 14, Mikkelsen admitted he was too cautious through the run and slipped back as Hanninen threw caution to the wind to regain the lead with a blistering drive. Mikkelsen won the Grupo Marques superspecial to narrow the Finn’s margin to 10.9s with two stages remaining when a decision was made for both drivers to hold station to ensure a dominant finish for the Czech manufacturer, which now heads Peugeot in the makes’ standings by 48 points.
The result also means Hanninen, who was using Michelin tyres and has won more IRC rounds than any other driver with eight victories, secured the prestigious Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy, which is presented on all rounds of the IRC to the driver best embodying the spirit of the rallying legend.
Although he ultimately had to settle for second place, the 22-year-old Mikkelsen can take plenty of positives from his mature performance in the Azores after he recorded a total of six stage wins and his first podium since RACMSA Rally of Scotland last season.
Bruno Magalhaes, the winner in the Azores in 2010, was in third place at the start of day three when the rear differential support on his Peugeot Sport Portugal 207 broke, forcing the 31-year-old’s retirement following Saturday’s first stage. “The support was almost on the ground and there was nothing we could do,” he said. “One more time it is bad luck when we are fighting for the podium. I’m very disappointed.”
Magalhaes’ misfortune enabled Kopecky to claim a comfortable third place despite the onset of a powersteering problem on Saturday morning, which proved a particular hindrance to the Czech driver on the very narrow and twisty stage 14. With a clear margin over Bryan Bouffier in fourth, the mechanical failure went unpunished and Kopecky took his fourth podium finish of the season.
Bouffier was the highest-placed event newcomer at the wheel of his Peugeot France 207. The Rallye Monte-Carlo winner ran first on the road on the final day and his capture of fourth overall means he remains firmly in contention for the IRC drivers’ crown.
Patrik Sandell said he lacked the confidence to attack on Saturday’s opening fog-hit stage and adopted a cautious approach to finish fifth in his SKODA Sweden-entered Fabia, his best result in the IRC to date. He rounded out a solid performance by winning the last stage.
Ricardo Moura dominated the IRC Production Cup category in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer and finished sixth overall in the process. Little troubled the local hero who resisted the temptation to try to replicate the fifth place he achieved in the Azores in 2010 in order to secure maximum points in the Azorean and Portuguese championships. Vitor Lopes finished seventh in a Subaru Impreza with Vitor Pascoal eighth at the wheel of another Lancer.
Behind Sergio Silva in ninth, Yokohama-backed Fumio Nutahara claimed his maiden IRC drivers’ championship point on his first appearance in Subaru’s R4-specification Impreza. The Japanese thought his challenge was over when his car’s engine cut following a water splash on stage 14 but he fought back to clinch 10th overall.
Jean-Michel Raoux extended his lead of the IRC 2WD Cup by finishing an impressive second in class to Paulo Maciel. Defending champion Harry Hunt’s challenge ended on Saturday’s opening stage when he got beached on an earth bank.
After retiring when he broke his suspension nudging an earth bank on Friday morning, Guy Wilks elected not to restart on Saturday under SupeRally regulations in his Peugeot UK 207. Nutahara’s Subaru team-mate Toshi Arai did restart under SupeRally following his exit on Friday with an electrical fault but he suffered further delay when he had to stop to change a tyre on stage 14.
Rally Azores (14-16 July) offers a unique challenge to drivers, as the first gravel event in the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) takes place on the volcanic island of São Miguel. It’s the type of long and challenging event that Andreas Mikkelsen enjoys, and he’ll be aiming for a good finish when he competes on the mid-Atlantic archipelago in his ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia S2000.
Even in rallying terms, the Azores is a spectacular venue. São Miguel, nicknamed ‘the Green Island’ is a picturesque island located 930 miles (1500kms) west of Portugal and 2400 miles (3900kms) east of North America, with a dramatic coastline, high mountains and an average daytime temperature of 24°C in the driest month of July. The stages are 95% gravel, with a stunning signature stage running around a volcanic crater.
There are also cattle on the island, as Andreas discovered last year when he came over a blind crest at almost 100mph and was met by a herd of cows crossing the road in front of him. He had to take to a ditch to avoid them, and it’s not something he wishes to repeat this year in his Fabia S2000.
Andreas is well respected for his skill on asphalt, yet the 22-year old FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy driver is a little more familiar with rallying on gravel. The challenging loose-surface stages of the Azores suit his driving style well, leaving him and co-driver Ola Fløene confident of scoring a good result.
As always on an IRC event, Andreas will be facing tough competition – not least from ŠKODA Motorsport drivers Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecký and ŠKODA Sweden’s Patrik Sandell, all of whom also drive Fabia S2000s.
Andreas: “I really enjoy rallying in the Azores because the stages are really nice, especially the volcano stage Sete Cidades, which is a beautiful stage with big drops. The rest of the rally has beautiful landscape too, very green, nice and warm and really challenging for a driver, so I’m looking forward to it.
“It will be interesting to see the level of the drivers on gravel this year after five rallies on asphalt. I feel very comfortable on asphalt, but I always consider myself a little bit more of a gravel driver, so this rally certainly shouldn’t put me at a disadvantage. For sure we want to be on the podium at the finish – and that’s the aim in the Azores.”
Based in Ponta Delgada, this year’s Sata Rallye Açores (to give it its correct Portuguese title) contains three legs and 17 stages totalling 129.63 mile (208.63kms). The event starts with a shakedown on Thursday 14 July (09.00-13.00) before the official start at 16.00. Three stages follow, one of which is the Grupo Marques super special, before the finish at 19.35.
Leg 2 begins at 09.30 the following day and contains nine stages totalling 60.26 miles (96.99kms) before the finish at 18.50.
The third and final leg takes place on Saturday 16 July. Starting at 09.00, it contains five stages totalling 54.2 miles (87.24kms), including the Tronqueira test which, at 13.63 miles (21.94kms), is the longest of the event and is attempted once in the morning and repeated as the final stage in the afternoon. The finish ceremony will be in Ponta Delgada at 18.55.
Video: Colin's iRally Guide to the Azores
Posted: July 14, 2011 8:47 PM
Posted: July 14, 2011 3:47 PM
Posted: July 14, 2011 3:47 PM
TV Times
Posted: July 14, 2011 3:22 PM
Irish/UK TIme
Friday 15 July
22:00-22:30: Day one highlights (Eurosport)
22:00-22:30: Day one highlights (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Saturday 16 July
22:00-22:30: Day two highlights (Eurosport)
22:00-22:30: Day two highlights (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Sunday 17 July
23:00-23:30: Rally Review (Eurosport)*
*This programme will be shown at 23:30-24:00 on Eurosport France
Monday 18 July
06:00-06:30: Rally Review replayed (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
High hopes for Peugeot runners in Azores
Posted: July 14, 2011 3:21 PM
Frederic Bertrand, the boss of Peugeot Sport’s customer competition department, has backed his trio of drivers Bryan Bouffier, Bruno Magalhaes and Guy Wilks, to run at the front on Sata Rallye Acores, round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Peugeot has won both editions of the gravel event since it joined the IRC two years ago with Kris Meeke taking victory in 2009 before Magalhaes triumphed last season in a thrilling finish.
“It promises to be a very competitive weekend and I have every confidence in the ability of the three Peugeot drivers to clock up top results,” said Bertrand.
Three of the eight Super 2000 cars in action in the Azores are Peugeot 207s, but Bertrand is unconcerned by the numerical disadvantage. “That won’t prevent the Peugeot runners from setting their sights high,” he said. “They tend to be the outsiders, but that’s a role that actually suits them.”
Subaru enters two R4 Imprezas in Azores
Posted: July 14, 2011 3:20 PM
Two R4-specification Subaru Imprezas will contest Sata Rallye Acores this week as the Japanese manufacturer increases its commitment to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in conjunction with tyre partner Yokohama.
Experienced drivers Toshi Arai and Fumio Nutahara will pilot the two Imprezas run by Manfred Stohl’s Austria-based team, Stohl Racing.
The veteran Japanese duo are expected to head the challenge for IRC Production Cup honours in what will be the first competitive appearance on an international gravel event for the R4 Imprezas. The R4 regulations were introduced for this season to bridge the performance gap between traditional Group N cars and the pacesetting Super 2000 machines.
Japanese tyre firm Yokohama is supporting Subaru’s IRC campaign and has brought three compound options to the Azores based on its A053 pattern.
But while the Yokohama-supported Imprezas are lighter and more technically advanced than their standard Group N counterparts, few drivers get close to Azores resident and multiple regional champion Ricardo Moura when it comes to experience of the demanding gravel stages.
The Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer pilot finished a fine fifth overall last season and is more than capable of achieving a similar result this year. Other contenders include Group N Impreza driver Vitor Lopes and Vitor Pascoal, who switches from the Peugeot 207 he took to sixth overall in 2010 to a Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.
Subaru will host a presentation of its Impreza R4 at 14:00hrs local time on Thursday 14 July in the Sata Rallye Acores service park in Ponta Delgada prior to the start of the event. Visit the Media section of www.rally-irc.com for more details.
Stary returns from injury for Azores start
Posted: July 14, 2011 3:19 PM
Co-driver Petr Stary will make his comeback from injury on Sata Rallye Acores, the sixth round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which starts in Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel this afternoon (14 July).
Stary, who partners Jan Kopecky in the factory SKODA Motorsport team, injured his right collarbone during a crash in shakedown for the previous IRC round in Belgium, the GEKO Ypres Rally. He has since made a recovery and will team-up with his fellow Czech on the first gravel event of the IRC season.
“I am pleased that my co-driver has recovered from his injury and that we can take part in this rally,” said Kopecky, 29. “We achieved excellent times in the Azores last year and we want to make use of the experience we've gained here, although this will be our first appearance on gravel after a whole year.”
Kopecky and Stary will be anxious to avoid a repeat of last year’s Sata Rallye Acores when they crashed out of the lead on the final stage of the event.
THE CHALLENGE
With the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge reaching its halfway point the focus switches to gravel for Sata Rallye Acores, round six of the 11-event all-action series.
Based on Sao Miguel, the largest of nine islands that make up the Portuguese-speaking archipelago, the rally marks the first loose-surface round of the season. Just like last year, the organisers have resisted the temptation to make major changes to the route that will take in 17 stages over a competitive distance of 205 kilometres.
The Azores, which was formed through a series of volcanic eruptions, is located equidistant between London and New York in the Atlantic Ocean and enjoys a variable climate with warm sunshine that can be replaced moments later by rain.
A new addition to the IRC schedule in 2009, the event is centred on Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel’s largest town, in the south-west of the island where the rally headquarters and harbourside permanent service park are housed.
The rally’s medium-speed stages use narrow gravel tracks lined by stone walls or, in some places, huge drops, meaning there is little margin for error. Small sections of asphalt increase the challenge facing the crews due to the reduced grip levels they will encounter running with gravel set-ups and tyres on Tarmac.
Despite a consistent sandy gravel surface, stage layouts could not be more contrasting. The Grupo Marques spectator superspecial, which runs on Thursday evening and again on Saturday afternoon and requires drivers to compete against each other in pairs, is a purpose-built facility located in a quarry. However, the Sete Cidades stage in the far west of the island runs around the rim of a non-active volcano. The lush landscape and scenery is dramatic but the stage represents a huge test for the drivers who charge through narrow tracks above huge drops.
Starting position will be a major factor on the event due to the effect of road cleaning. Bryan Bouffier is the highest-seeded driver on the entry so will start first on day one. He will therefore be tasked with forging a clean line for the drivers behind through the loose-surface gravel, which reduces traction and braking performance and benefits those running further down the order.
For day two’s nine stages, the top five runners after Thursday’s second stage will start in reverse order, meaning some drivers might opt to drop a few places on the Coroa Da Mata stage to gain a more advantageous road position for Friday. The same procedure will apply for Saturday when the rally draws to a close following a further five stages.
Crews will run in minimum intervals of two minutes to negate any potential hindrance caused by hanging dust clouds, which are another feature of gravel rallies.
All drivers competing in the Azores will be in contention for the prestigious Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy, which is awarded on all rounds of the IRC to the driver whose performance best embodies the spirit of the rally legend.
THE COMPETITORS
Six drivers remain locked in battle for the coveted IRC title. But with Freddy Loix, who moved to the top of the standings with victory on the previous round in Belgium, not including Sata Rallye Acores on his schedule, French ace Bryan Bouffier is the driver best placed to be leading the table following the island contest.
The Peugeot 207 Super 2000 driver is three points behind Loix and nine points clear of defending IRC champion Juho Hanninen. However, the talented 32-year-old has never competed in the Azores before and admits that his running on gravel is limited compared to asphalt.
Hanninen is second on the 42-strong entry in his SKODA Motorsport Fabia S2000. The Finn, 29, is only contesting a selected programme of IRC rallies this season but has won on two of his three starts this term. Renowned as a master on gravel, Hanninen is a firm favourite for victory.
Jan Kopecky completes the factory SKODA line-up and will be anxious to make up lost ground after failing to start the previous round in Ypres when his co-driver Petr Stary broke his right collarbone in an accident during shakedown. Stary has since recovered, while Kopecky, who crashed out of the lead on the final stage in the Azores last season, will be out for revenge as he bids to narrow his 15-point deficit to Loix.
Like Bouffier, Guy Wilks is another Azores newcomer in his Peugeot UK 207. But the Briton learned his trade driving on gravel and showed a strong upturn of form in Ypres only to lose out on a seemingly certain podium finish with a spate of punctures.
SKODA UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen makes his second visit to the Azores on a high following his victory on Rally di San Marino, a round of the Italian Gravel Trophy last weekend. The Norwegian was fourth overall last year and could have finished higher up the order had he not encountered a herd of cows standing on a stage.
Patrik Sandell is back on IRC duty after skipping the previous round in Belgium. The SKODA Sweden star rates gravel as his preferred surface having amassed significant experience driving on the loose. Following a lacklustre showing on his previous two IRC appearances on asphalt the Swede has promised to show his true pace in the Azores, despite never having competed there.
Bruno Magalhaes claimed his maiden IRC success in the Azores last season and will be determined to emulate that performance this year at the wheel of his Peugeot Sport Portugal 207. The rapid Lisbon resident, who turns 31 on Sunday, has vast knowledge of the island roads and a determination to boost his current points’ tally following a handful of retirements this season.
Julien Maurin, from France, completes the list of Super 2000 runners in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta. The Frenchman says he relishes any chance he can get to drive on gravel and was in action when Sata Rallye Acores appeared on the IRC calendar for the first time in 2009.
IRC Production Cup
Toshi Arai and Fumio Nutahara will be hard to beat in the battle for IRC Production Cup honours in their R4-specification Subaru Imprezas, which were designed to bridge the performance gap between traditional Group N cars and the pacesetting Super 2000 machines.
The Yokohama-shod Imprezas are lighter and more technically advanced than their standard Group N counterparts, which is set to hand the Japanese veterans the edge. However, few drivers get close to Azores resident and multiple regional champion Ricardo Moura when it comes to experience of the demanding gravel stages.
The Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer pilot finished a fine fifth overall last season and is more than capable of achieving a similar result this year. Other contenders include Impreza driver Vitor Lopes and Vitor Pascoal, who switches from the Peugeot 207 he took to sixth overall in 2010 to a Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.
IRC 2WD Cup
The IRC 2WD Cup is set to produce a close fight between current leader Jean-Michel Raoux and defending class champion Harry Hunt. But with both drivers competing in the Azores for the first time, local aces such as Paulo Antunes and Carlos Costa will prove hard to beat.
All drivers and co-drivers will take part in the official crew presentation in Ponta Delgada at 21:00hrs on Wednesday 13 July. Shakedown takes place in Remedios-Lagoa from 09:00hrs to 13:0hrs on Thursday 14 July.
THE EXPECTATIONS
Bryan Bouffier (France), Peugeot 207 S2000: “I don’t have massive experience on gravel and I have no experience of the Azores at all. I am very motivated because I know my position in the championship is good but the competition will be very high with some tough drivers to beat.”
Bruno Magalhaes (Portugal), Peugeot 207 S2000: “It’s very important to do a good result on this rally for the championship. I know the stages well, I have a very good car and team but I know winning will not be easy because a lot of the other drivers have learned the roads as well.”
Patrik Sandell (Sweden), SKODA Fabia S2000: “The rallies on Tarmac have not been good but on gravel it will be a different story. I have no knowledge of the stages but I have a good starting position for the first day and that could really help me.”
SATA Rallye Açores, Round 6 of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, gets under way on Thursday July 14, and Rally Radio by iRally will be broadcasting from the Azores throughout the event, bringing live reports and interviews from the Stage Ends and Service Park.
The Entry List features top stars from Peugeot including Guy Wilks, Bryan Bouffier and Bruno Magalhães, while the
Škoda line-up is headed by Juho Hänninen, Jan Kopecky
and Andreas Mikkelsen.
Julian "The Guru" Porter anchors the programme, and Colin Clark will be out and about reporting from the stages.
You can listen to Rally Radio by iRally on the free iRally App for the iPhone and iPad, available from the App Store. It also brings you timings, text, video and audio.
On your computer, the station can be heard through www.rallyradio.com.
Bruno Magalhaes has vowed to hit back from the disappointment of retiring from the GEKO Ypres Rally last week by winning his home event, Sata Rallye Acores next month.
The Peugeot Sport Portugal ace was fourth overall after the opening stage in Belgium only for engine failure to force his retirement on the very next stage. The Lisbon-based Portuguese driver’s retirement means he slips to 10th position in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers’ standings after five rounds.
Magalhaes claimed a dramatic final-stage win on Sata Rallye Acores last season aboard his 207 Super 2000. He hopes to banish the memories of Ypres by emulating his victory of one year ago when the IRC resumes on the Atlantic archipelago from 14-16 July.
“For sure we will be strong in the Azores and I really want to do a good result after Ypres,” said the 30-year-old. “I know it will be difficult to win again because the pace in the IRC is fantastic and many drivers have good experience of the roads there now. But I have good confidence, I am very motivated, I won there last year and I know I can win again.”
News Stories
Classifieds
Shop
TV Guide
Links
Upcoming 
Most