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Great-Britain (P) - 30 Nov-2 Dec 07Posted: December 5, 2007 9:18 AM - 10279 Hits
Round 16 - 2007 FIA World Rally Championship
Photo: Roy Dempster Posted: December 5, 2007 9:18 AM
WILKS IS 2007 BRC CHAMPION Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh are 2007 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Champions after scoring a straight pair of wins on Wales Rally GB. They took the win on the first day of the gruelling event which counted as round six of the Championship with chief rival Mark Higgins trailing in third after three frustrating punctures. This left the Mitsubishi Motors UK crew only needing third place themselves on round seven to secure the title. Saturday saw Wilks and Higgins battle it out while Gwyndaf Evans suffered transmission failure. But Wilks not only achieved sufficient points but eked a lead over Higgins, who had transmission troubles of his own on the last three stages of the event. “We knew what we had to do and it is a great result for the whole team,” said an exuberant Wilks at the end of the final stage, “We had a bit of a scare on the same stage Mark first had his gearbox troubles, but it all came good in the end.” As the crews arrived in Cardiff it was clear that Higgins involvement at the finish ceremony was by the skin of his teeth, "We've lost all but third gear," he explained, "Obviously I'm gutted about the championship - it's not been a good year." David Higgins took his Subaru to a creditable third place albeit disappointed about an early puncture. “The team have done a great job and I think if it weren't for the breakdowns early in the year we could have had a much better Championship position.” Wyn Humphreys overtook Rob Swann on the final pair of stages for fourth after Swann suffered two punctures. “We've completed 23 rallies with just one retirement,” said Humphreys, “so it is great to finish our first BRC season in fourth place; it’s a reward for the boys.” Swann was crestfallen to have dropped a place in the dying stages of the event. “I can't believe it.” He shrugged, “To have lost time when we were on a charge to catch David (Higgins). And then to lose a place to Wyn again!” Rob Gill used Super Rally to post fifth while David Meredith was sixth, both in Mitsubishis with Darren Gass the first of the two wheel drive finishers in his Citroën. Jonny Greer took ninth and rounding off the top ten was a relieved Hugh Evans. Mitsubishi - Double British Champions! It was a weekend to remember for the Mitsubishi Motors UK Rally Team, with Guy Wilks and co-driver Phil Pugh winning rounds six and seven of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship to take victory in both the British Team’s and Driver’s titles on this weekend’s Wales Rally of Great Britain. Driving their Group N Lancer Evolution IX, they also dominated the Production World Rally Championship category ahead of some of the best Group N teams in the world. Team-mates Gwyndaf Evans and Huw Lewis finished second in round six and, in doing so, helped secure the Team’s title, the result also seeing them claim third place in the BRC standings. And it would have surely been another one-two for Mitsubishi in round seven if it was not for impact damage following a hard landing causing their car’s transmission to expire on Saturday. As well as the final round of the UK series, the Rally GB also hosted the final round of the World Rally Championship and therefore represented the year’s biggest challenge for BRC crews. With a total of 224 miles, the event being over twice the distance of a domestic international rally, British Championship organisers had split the event into two rounds, the first concluding after Friday’s initial leg of six stages and the second at the end of the event, following a further seven stages on Saturday and another four on Sunday. As it has been all season, the battle for honours was between Wilks, Evans and their main championship rival Mark Higgins, the Rally GB set to decide the outcome of both the driver’s and team’s titles. After a spectacular ceremonial start in Cardiff on Thursday evening, the rally got underway from Swansea early on Friday, with three stages in the Neath and Rhonda Valleys run once in the morning and again in the afternoon. With fog and rain on the agenda conditions were exceptionally tricky and it was destined to be a mixture of caution and bravery that would prove to be the order of the day. At the service halt following the first trio of stages, the BRC leader-board showed Higgins six seconds ahead of Wilks, who was in-turn 10 seconds ahead of Evans. Both Mitsubishi drivers reported that despite the conditions all was going well except for experiencing a little too much oversteer. However, once the technicians had done their stuff, the two Lancers handled perfectly and Wilks emerged from SS4 just over a second ahead of Higgins. Evans was also quicker and, when Higgins succumbed to a puncture on SS6 his fate was sealed. But in true rallying tradition, things are never that easy, as half way through the last stage of the day Wilks’ light pod removed itself from the front of his Mitsubishi, leaving him with only dipped-beam to negotiate the remaining eight miles of Rheola Forest in the dark and foggy conditions. Although dropping time, Wilks returned to Swansea 3.2 seconds ahead of Evans, the team delighted to claim first and second in round six of the British Championship. The result meant that Mitsubishi had secured enough points to claim the British Team’s Championship and Wilks needing to finish third or higher in round seven to claim the Driver’s title. It also meant that for Evans a second British crown was now out of reach, but he was assured of third place, whatever happened during the next two days. Such was the pace of the two red Evos, Wilks and Evans started day-two an impressive first and second in the PWRC class, ahead of all the regular Production World Rally Championship runners! With the fog lifting, but the wind and rain increasing, conditions were little better for Saturday’s six stages in the forests on the Brecon Beacons. Needless to say, team tactics were to hold stations and for the initial loop of three stages that’s exactly what happened. At the service halt in Swansea Wilks’ only problem appeared to be a soft brake pedal, but for Evans things were not quite so straight-forward. Having taken a jump in SS8 at high-speed, the resulting heavy impact on landing had damaged a number of components, the most significant being the transmission casings. Although there appeared to be no change in his car’s handing, the mechanical injuries manifested themselves on stage 11, when Evans lost all gears on junction eight and frustratingly his car coasted to a halt. Thankfully for Wilks, all went according to plan and he made it through the forests unscathed to the final test of the day, the spectacular indoor stage in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. And he didn’t disappoint, with a near perfect display of car control in front of 1000s of spectators. Wilks finished the day 8.6 seconds ahead of Higgins in the British Championship standings (calculated from Saturday’s stage times only) and one-minute seven seconds ahead in the PWRC rankings, whilst holding a position of 14th overall. With two runs through Brechfa and Trawscoed Forests, split by a mid-morning service in Swansea, Wilks headed-off for the final push on Sunday morning. Aiming to keep out of trouble and perhaps driving a too-steady pace, he struggled to find a rhythm in the first stage, but did by the second. In doing so, he extended his lead over Higgins – even following a heart-stopping moment when his car’s ignition master-switch shut itself off for no reason one-mile from the end of SS15. With just routine checks at the service halt, the whole team held their breath whilst Wilks and Pugh negotiated a repeat of the morning’s two stages. But their fears were unfounded and following a trouble-free run they headed to Cardiff to win round seven of the British Championship by nearly a minute ahead of a troubled Higgins, where they received a Champion’s welcome on the WRC finishing ramp in front of hoards of spectators and the media. After passing post-event scrutineering, to check the car’s conformity to the technical regulations, with flying colours, it was confirmed that Mitsubishi were the 2007 British Teams Champions. Wilks and Pugh were crowned British Rally Champions, having scored a maximum of 100 points during the season, for winning five events out of the seven rounds and the team won the final round of the Production World Rally Championship and finished this WRC qualifying event an impressive 14th overall. Not bad for a weekend’s work. The Cirencester-based Mitsubishi Motors UK rally team is supported by HKS, Pirelli, Sparco, Speedline Corse, PIAA, Ricardo and Performance Friction Brakes. The team’s two Lancer Evolution IXs are built and run on events by ADR Motorsport of Chesterfield. Guy Wilks is supported by Mobil 1 and Sega Rally. Guy Wilks What a result! It really means a lot to me to become British Champion – and to do it with five wins this season, plus beat all other PWRC competitors on this event, is a real bonus. I joined the Mitsubishi team this year knowing that their commitment and attitude to winning the British title was second to none. So, together with Gwyndaf I am delighted to be able to win the double for the team. I have to thank everyone for their support and hard work this season to enable Phil and I to achieve what we have done this year.” Gwyndaf Evans We were fully on course to make it a one-two for Mitsubishi in the BRC and PWRC, so it was a great disappointment not to finish. But you have to look at the bigger picture and I’m delighted that the work we did on Friday helped secure the Team’s title and allow us to claim third in the British Championship. I know how much this has meant to the whole team. I really must thank Mitsubishi for a great year and there is no doubting the commitment of everyone involved. I’ve have to admit that I have been pleased to still be on the pace of the championship front-runners, which means I’m now considering my options for 2008! Paul Brigden – Team Principal & General Manager - Ralliart This has been a superb weekend for the team and I am absolutely delighted to have secured both the Driver’s and Team’s titles. We have worked for this result over the past four years and to eventually achieve it is a great feeling. Although it wasn’t our priority, it was also satisfying to dominate the PWRC category as well. We’ve had a dream-team this year in Guy and Gwyndaf - both of them capable of winning the British title. We’ve now set the bar very high for next season. My thanks go not only to Guy, Phil, Gwyndaf and Huw for the jobs they have done in the cars, but to ADR Motorsport, our sponsors and supporters for what has been a fantastic season. BRC Classes and Champions The classes and categories of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship have all been settled on the final two scoring rounds of Wales Rally GB this weekend. The fierce battle at the front was, of course won by Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh after Mark Higgins title defence was thwarted by punctures and gearbox dramas. Wilks also inevitably took victory in Rally 4, the category for turbocharged cars. The win means that it is Mitsubishi Motors UK that takes the Teams’ Championship from Stobart TEG Sport with TQ.com and Dealer Team Suzuki next. “The team had one objective at the start of the season,” said team boss Paul Brigden, “Guy, Gwyndaf, Phil, Huw and their crews have delivered – fantastic!” In Rally 3 the battle was down to the wire between Stefan Davis and Darren Gass, both in Super 1600 front wheel drive cars. The calculators were out after the first round on Friday when Davis had major problems with the starter motor and electrics on his Puma. Gass had problems too with a broken engine mount, but the young Northern Irish driver came out on top with 20 points. Even this result meant Davis merely had to finish round seven without resorting to Super Rally. He coaxed the car through Saturday and Sundays first pair of stages before problems on the penultimate stage put him OTL (over time limit). “This has been the worst rally of my life,” said the dejected Davis at Rally HQ. Meanwhile his retirement was more than enough to hand the Rally 3 title to a delighted Gass and co-driver Neil Shanks, Gass also pipping James Wozencroft to the prestigious title of MSA Junior Rally Champion. “The car was falling apart around me,” said Gass, “It has been a very hard rally but it’s great to win two titles.” Rally 2 was perhaps even more hotly contested with five drivers in with a chance before Rally GB. Leader Lorna Smith’s hopes were dashed when a rock holed the fuel tank, while her Suzuki team mate raged a fierce battle with Matt Beebe in his MG. While Smith had the consolation of the MSA British Ladies’ Championship title, the round six spoils went to Beebe; Wozencroft annoyed by time loss when he stopped to check another driver was OK. Despite this it was enough to propel “Woz” to the head of the points table and after Beebe’s gearbox cried enough, it seemed that he just needed to finish to secure the title. Beebe re-started using Super Rally rules, so keeping his time penalties to a minimum, but when he stopped again with alternator failure, the Suzuki team’s prospects seemed assured. Unfortunately Wozencroft also stopped on the penultimate stage when his suspension ball joint broke in the rough conditions. The consequent time difference meant the maximum points went to Beebe who takes Rally 2 by just a single point from a gutted Wozencroft. His only consolation was that the result was enough to make Chris Ridge the Rally 2 champion co-driver. “I can't believe it,” beamed Beebe, “I feel sorry for James of course, but the team has worked so hard for this on a tiny budget that I'll take the victory any way I can.” Beebe’s hard-charging approach also secured him the final Pirelli Star Driver nomination that will pit him (and four others) against Wozencroft in a shoot-out to win a funded drive in the 2008 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship. With Rally 1 already secured by Steve and Tony Graham, they switched to a Diesel Astra to vie for the Diesel Cup with Fin McCaul. The friendly rivalry even extended to McCaul recovering Graham after they both crashed in Yorkshire. The title, however, went to Fin McCaul despite retiring with complete engine oil loss in his BMW. Graham had done his best to capitalise but he too failed to reach the finish with oil loss, his from the gearbox. Brother Tony Graham was consoled with the co-driver’s title in both Diesels and Privateers Cup. “We knew it would be a difficult season learning the car,” explained McCaul, “So to win the Diesels in the first season is fantastic.” The amiable English domiciled Irishman also takes the Privateers Cup from Fin Vesa Mikkola. Martin Laverty & Andrew Roughead sealed the inaugural Citroën C2R2 Cup with a consistent approach, taking the title from season-long leader Jason Pritchard. His rally was punctuated by mechanical problems, dropping him behind Martin Roberts who took second. The final BRC category settled on Wales Rally GB was the Nations Cup, appropriately led by Wales going into the final two rounds. However by the finish back in Cardiff, England had come back, the winning margin just one point. With all the titles and categories settled (albeit provisional for a week) the only thing left for the 2007 season is to hand out the silverware. The “BRC Bash”, as it has become known, takes place on Friday 11th January at the Renaissance Hotel in Solihull. Final Pirelli Star Driver nomination announced The final round of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British MSA Championship, Rally GB, has seen the final nomination in the inaugural Pirelli Star Driver competition. Matt Beebe has impressed many observers all year with some cracking results in his family team run MGZR and his problems on Rally GB did not detract from the judges decision to include him. His stage times were good enough to put him in the frame but the usually reliable car suffered transmission problems on day one with alternator failure on Sunday forcing him to take the plaudits on the ramp without a car. His Super Rally result was, however, enough to give him the Championship Rally 2 class win by one point from James Wozencroft. The now familiar “yellow jersey” was duly donned, both he and Welsh co-driver Gareth Roberts beaming at the finish in Cardiff. The nomination will add his name to the final list of drivers who attend the showdown in the North of England in mid December. The contenders include newly crowned BRC Champion Guy Wilks, Citroën C2 driver George Thomas, British Junior and Rally 3 Champion Darren Gass, Mitsubishi Evo Challenge winner Philip Morrow and Dealer Team Suzuki driver Wozencroft.
Roy Dempster Photos PRE EVENT NEWS
25/11/07 MITSUBISHI TEAM READY FOR TITLE BATTLE The Mitsubishi Motors UK Works Rally Team’s drivers Guy Wilks and Gwyndaf Evans are poised for the final push in the chase for the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship driver’s and team’s titles, in the season’s grand finale – the Wales Rally GB, which takes place between 30th November and 2nd December. Following Wilks’ third win of the season last time out in Yorkshire he starts the rally with what appears to be a distant 16 points from his main rival for the title, Mark Higgins. But there’s 20 points on tap for a win and the rally is split into two rounds, the 88 miles of leg-one on Friday, after which the score-board is re-set for the 137 miles of leg-two on Saturday and Sunday. Added to this, drivers have to drop scores from two rounds, which means that Wilks currently only has to drop one-point, whilst Higgins has to drop 18. “I’m massively looking forward to the showdown”, said Wilks. “Following a good result in Ireland last week and my WRC campaign now finished for the year, I really want to win the British title. Because of the position I’m in there’s more pressure than there should be, but I can handle that. I’m going to watch what is happening with Mark and then react accordingly. Bring it on!” Evans has a harder task head of him, having had his fair share of bad luck during the season and subsequently, is four points behind Wilks and 20 points behind Higgins. However, the Welshman is no stranger to the event, having contested the RAC/Rally GB every year since 1987 – only missing it on two occasions during that time, one of which was due to an outbreak of foot and mouth. “I would love to win the British title again and mathematically it’s still possible, but because of problems during the season it’s going to be a tough call to get ahead of Guy and Mark”, explains Evans. “I’m just going to focus on the job and see where we go from there. I’ve been pleased that I am still on the front-running pace – but there’s no predictions.” It was muted earlier in the season that this could be Evans’ last ever Rally GB, but because of his performances this year the legendary Welshman is now considering his options for 2008. For the Mitsubishi team as a whole there is also the matter of the British Team’s title to settle, an accolade which is regarded as important - if not more so - by a manufacturer. Currently Mitsubishi Motors UK top the team’s table, seven points ahead of the Subarus of Stobart TEG Sport and strong performances by both MMUK drivers should be good enough to claim the award. Although not registered for the Production World Rally Championship, the Mitsubishi team has applied and been granted priority status, which moves them ahead of the BRC field in the starting order. They are therefore closer to Higgins, who is PWRC registered, the re-seeding providing a more level playing field. General Manager for Ralliart and Mitsubishi Team Principal Paul Brigden has his sights set on the team award: “For Mitsubishi the Team’s Title is the main focus. However, it goes without saying that I would be delighted to see either Guy or Gwyndaf take the driver’s title. Having scored three victories this season there’s no doubt that both our cars and drivers have the pace to win and we are 100% committed to achieving what we have set out to do since we began competing in the BRC in 2005 – and that’s to become British Champions for both teams and drivers in the same year!” The Wales Rally GB is not only the final event in the British Rally Championship calendar, but also hosts the climax of the World Rally Championship and therefore holds the biggest challenge of the season for BRC crews. The event begins with a ceremonial start in Cardiff on Thursday evening, before heading to the forests north of Swansea for six stages on Friday. Saturday sees a further six stages in the Brecon Beacons, plus the spectacular spectator stage in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium later that evening. Sunday hosts a final four stages in Brechfa and Trawscoed Forests, before the finish back in Cardiff that afternoon. Servicing throughout the event takes place in Swansea. Both drivers will be accompanied by their regular co-drivers: Wilks partnered by Phil Pugh and Evans by Huw Lewis. The Cirencester-based Mitsubishi Motors UK rally team is supported by HKS, Pirelli, Sparco, Speedline Corse, PIAA, Ricardo and Performance Friction Brakes. The team’s two Lancer Evolution IXs are built and run on events by ADR Motorsport of Chesterfield. Guy Wilks is supported by Mobil 1 and SEGA Rally. Burgess is Back in the WRC Neil Burgess who famously took Mildred the Mini Cooper to a class win in the 2003 WRC Rally GB is back in the same event. Burgess, who became the last ever driver to take the Mini to class wins in both the British and World Rally Championships is changing seats this year, codriving for British Championship driver Fin McCaul in his BMW 120D. The BMW 120D sounds an unusual choice for rallying but a good result in Rally GB will see Fin take home the first British Rally Championship Diesel Cup and also win the Privateers cup, hopefully beating Vesa Mikkola - son of the legendary Hannu Mikkola. Last weekend Fin became the first driver to with the Irish Rally Championship Diesel Cup and this weekend the pair will become the first crew to take a Rear Wheel Drive car on the rally since television presenter Penny Mallory in 1994. McCaul, originally from Northern Ireland said "Winning the Diesel Cup on Rally Ireland was a dream come true. Rally Ireland was the first time that the WRC had run in my home country, taking home a trophy was a fantastic way to celebrate that". Burgess, who finished 39th overall in 2003, said "I can't wait to get back into Rally GB. The atmosphere at the event is awesome and to be involved is amazing. I've been following Fin's progress all year and I think we have a great chance of an excellent result. It's just a shame we're not in a Mini!" Mildred, the 2003 Rally GB Mini said "I wish I was out there competing again, but I'll be following the teams progress on www.manicminis.com from a nice warm garage. I'm hoping to come out and play on an event or two sometime during 2008!" C2R2s mix it with the rest of the world The 2008 BRC Citroën C2R2 Cup, a feature series in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship, gets underway in Cardiff next week (30th Nov – 2nd Dec) when drivers and co-drivers will mix it with teams from the World Rally Championship. Britain’s inaugural Citroën C2R2 Cup will go right down to the wire where any one of five drivers still have a chance of winning the Championship title. The final round Wales Rally GB covers 230 stage miles in the mountainous forests of South Wales. The tough 3 day event will be split into two sections for point scoring purposes only, meaning there is a massive forty championship points still up for grabs. The favourite to take the title is Welsh youngster Jason Pritchard who leads the series despite not finishing the last round in Yorkshire. Next up is Irishman and the oldest competitor Martin Laverty, followed closely by Cannock based businessman Martin Roberts who missed the first round and Japanese youngster Kaz Kusama. Outsider, but mathematically in with a shout, is the young Pirelli Star Driver finalist George Thomas. George who has shown a blistering pace on occasions has struggled for consistency culminating in a zero-win-zero-win-zero across his score sheet. So all eyes will be on the timesheets and teams focusing on calculators trying to stay ahead of the latest state of play, it promises to be a real nail biter. Competitors in the BRC Citroën C2R2’s get two bites at the cherry as they will be also competing for honours in the hotly contested British Rally 2 class. The BRC offers prize money in every class and an opportunity to be selected as a finalist for the Pirelli Star Driver shootout competition to win a drive in the 2008 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship. For more information visit www.c2r2cup.com Ford's Finns strive for winning farewell in 150th start at Rally GB Newly-crowned world rally champion BP-Ford aims to add the drivers' title to its second- consecutive manufacturers' success in the FIA World Rally Championship in Wales next week. Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen have their sights set on celebrating their 150th WRC start by securing a third world title on Rally GB (29 November - 2 December) on their final event before retiring from the sport. The Finns stand second in the record books with 30 WRC victories, five of which have come this season in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car. They head into the final event of the 16-round series with everything to do after losing their long-time lead to arch-rival Sébastien Loeb in Ireland earlier this month. They lie six points behind the Frenchman and must win in Wales and hope that Loeb finishes sixth or lower to claim the title. Grönholm, who has been given a clean bill of health after crashing in Ireland, knows he faces a tough task but can draw on the unpredictability of Rally GB to aid his challenge. The hilly forests of south Wales, where the three-day rally is based, can be evil in late November as unpredictable wintry weather poses the biggest single challenge to competitors. All but one of the 17 speed tests are held on privately-owned gravel tracks. Most are in regular use, either by military vehicles on the most northerly special stages, or by lorries transporting logs to timber yards. Narrow tree-lined sections high in the Vale of Neath forests contrast with wide open sections, both on the military land and where forestry work has removed the trees. If the weather is gloomy, fog can hang between the trees in the forests while throwing a white blanket across the exposed areas on higher land. The roads are fast and flowing and invite drivers to attack but at this time of the year they can be treacherously slippery and even icy if true wintry weather sets in. And, in a return to the past, Friday and Saturday's legs will include tests in full darkness. Thirty-nine-year-old Grönholm has won twice from 10 previous starts, last year providing Ford with its first British win since 1979. Apart from the desire to end his career on a high, Grönholm has national pride on which to draw. "It will be difficult to win the title but I have a chance and have to make the most of that opportunity. What happened in Formula 1 is a good example. With two races left, Kimi Raikkonen had a big gap to make up to win the title – and succeeded. That's a big spur for me because for Finland to win both the Formula 1 and the WRC titles would be something special for my country," he said. "I don't feel under pressure because it is out of my hands now. All I can do is try to win the rally and hope Seb has problems. This is my 150th WRC start so it would be great to mark that and my last rally with a victory. But it's the title I'm thinking about. I would swap a win for a top three finish and the title if that was all that was required," he added. This will be the fifth Rally GB start for BP-Ford team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, who have only one aim. "All we can do is to try to finish in front of Loeb and do our best to help Marcus," said 27-year-old Hirvonen. "The roads in Wales will be fast and slippery and after my win in Japan last month, I feel confident in those conditions. The uncertain weather is the biggest concern on this rally. Some stages will be held entirely in the dark and if it rains or is foggy then it will be extremely tricky. "I've not driven proper stages in the dark since the Monte Carlo Rally in January but when I began my rallying career in Finland there were plenty of night stages so I'm used to it. Our pace notes will be more precise than usual in case it is foggy in the forests so that's also a benefit for the night stages," added Hirvonen. * Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA Loeb and Elena – four points from the world title… BRC v PWRC v WRC on Rally GB In the run up to Wales Rally GB there are several drivers in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship with experience of this round of the WRC. Both Higgins brothers are in the frame for good results in the Welsh forests having contested the event several times before, Mark taking fourth in 1996 when it was a 2 litre only rally and sixth in a WRC car in 2002. Guy Wilks should not be disadvantaged though, contesting the event every year since 2002 and winning his class in 2004. He also comes to Rally GB on a high after an excellent sixth place on last weekend's Rally Ireland. Wilks, team-mate Gwyndaf Evans and David Higgins have all been moved up the running order to join Mark as FIA seeded drivers, a gift of the organisers to “wild card” PWRC entrants. Higgins had problems in his PWRC campaign on Rally Ireland while on course for victory, but despite being unable to take that title he will still use his Production Championship Mitsubishi. This year will be Evans’ eighteenth Rally GB, equalling Mark’s sixth place back in 1995, while Rob Swann and Rob Gill’s joint total is into double figures. Most recently Rautenbach (who swaps his C2 for a WRC Xsara on this occasion), Beebe and Graham all have double Rally GB experience, so their respective classes should all take note. The stages of Wales Rally GB will no doubt resound to the bark of World Rally machinery and the fight for the PWRC, but the British Rally Championship has been a training ground for WRC Champions for many years. Vatanen, Mikkola and Blomqvist all took BRC wins in the 70’s & 80’s while sadly missed are two 90’s stars in the form of Richard Burns and Colin McRae. The winner of the 2007 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship may well appear on the WRC roll of honour in the future, but before that there is the small matter of some serious Welsh forest action…. Subaru Preview The event Two weeks after Rally Ireland, the last asphalt round of the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship, the Subaru World Rally team will head to Wales for the final rally of the season, and the team’s second ‘home’ event. Wales Rally Great Britain is one of the classic events of the WRC calendar, and the varied nature of the gravel roads, coupled with the traditionally unsettled Welsh weather, also make it one of the toughest. Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Wales Rally GB gets underway on Thursday 29 November with a ceremonial start in the capital city, Cardiff, before moving 65 kilometres west to a brand new rally base at the SA1 waterfront complex in Swansea. The undulating forest tracks of South Wales always provide a stern challenge for drivers, and December’s wintry weather is bound make conditions even more difficult. The first stage of the rally, Port Talbot, is a revised version of the former Margam stage. Together with Resolfen and Rheola it forms the opening loop of stages which are run twice on Friday. Resolfen features many surface changes and takes the crews 600m up Rhigos Mountain, so fog and ice could be a factor during the first run through the stage on Friday morning. Rheola is no place for a mistake: it is fast, but contains some huge, intimidating drops off the side of the road. The stage also includes the fan-friendly Walters Arena section near the end. While leg one takes place in the valleys of south Wales, the crews travel north to the fringes of the Brecon Beacons for leg two. It includes two runs through a trio of well-known tests: Crychan, Halfway and Epynt, before the day ends with the 1.1km Cardiff Super Special held inside the Millennium Stadium. In front of an expected sell-out crowd, the evening also hosts a Rally GB tribute show that will include the Championship winning 1995 Subaru Impreza WRC of Colin McRae and the 2001 variant in which Richard Burns clinched the 2001 Drivers’ Championship. The third and final leg comprises two runs through Brechfa and Trawscoed. These two long stages take place on a hard-packed surface, but while the former test is fast and features some long, cambered corners, the latter is much tighter and strewn with hairpins. The rally consists of 17 stages, which total 359.54 competitive kilometres. The longest stage is Sunday’s 28.89km test at Brechfa (SS14/16). The first car is due onto the finish ramp in Cardiff’s Cathays Park at 15.10 (local time) on Sunday 2 December. Entries The Subaru World Rally Team will enter three cars for Wales Rally GB. Petter Solberg and Phil Mills will drive Impreza WRC2007 number seven. Chris Atkinson and Stephane Prevot will drive Impreza WRC2007 number eight, and Xevi Pons and Xavier Amigo will be in number 17. Team quotes Richard Taylor, Subaru World Rally Team Managing Director: “Rally GB, the closest to the team’s Banbury base, has traditionally been a strong event for the team, and Petter has won on these stages three times in the last five years. The team is testing in Wales this week and we aim to achieve a set up which will be good in the tricky conditions and that will give all three of our drivers the opportunity for a good result.” Paul Howarth, Subaru World Rally Team Operations Director: “Although the route of Rally GB is familiar to all our drivers, it remains one of the toughest of the season, with plenty of opportunities to make mistakes. This year some of the high-speed stages will be run in the dark and it’s on those sections, and in any fog, that we’ll see the drivers who have confidence. That’s what this rally is all about, and when the going gets tough I expect one or two individuals to stand out. Mechanically, this rally requires a set-up that gives the driver maximum confidence, traction and high speed stability. It’s a tricky mix to get right, but we have a four day pre-event test to find the optimum set-up for our three entries.” Car number 7 Petter Solberg: “Rally GB is the final round of the championship and we have always gone well there, so we’ll be pushing as hard as ever for a good result. If it’s typical Rally GB weather, wet with lots of mud on the stages, then those are the conditions I think we can go well on. It’s the team’s home event so they have lots of experience of the tricky conditions, and we are testing this week to work on setup. Phil lives close by so we always get lots of support.” Car number 8 Chris Atkinson: “This year I have more experience of driving on slippery and icy surfaces going into Rally GB, whereas last year it was new and I had a lot to learn. Testing this week is going well and I hope to find a set-up that will work on the rally. It’s especially important to find good stability on the fast and slippery gravel. Rally GB is the last of the season so we will push for a good result and hope to finish the year strongly.” Car number 17 Xevi Pons: “I am looking forward to GB next week. Okay, like Ireland it will be difficult and slippery, but we have some testing planned and I have more experience of driving in Wales so I hope we will have a good weekend with no problems. I finished fifth in Wales last year, but this will be my first time with the Subaru World Rally Team. It is the team’s home rally, so I hope we can have a good finish to end the year.” Between the rallies Following Rally Ireland, the drivers returned home briefly before flying to the UK the week before the rally for testing in Wales. Petter Solberg and Phil Mills tested for two days, and the duos of Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prevot and Xevi Pons/Xavier Amigo tested for a day each on gravel roads in mid-Wales. 20/11/07 Subaru World Rally Team launches first satellite navigation guide to Wales Rally GB he Subaru World Rally Team has partnered with satellite navigation website www.pocketgpsworld.com to launch, for the first time ever, a free downloadable Global Positioning System (GPS) guide to Wales Rally GB. The guide is compatible with most satellite or personal navigation devices including popular brands like TomTom and Garmin, and installs key rally destinations as ‘points of interest’ (POI). The Wales Rally Great Britain POI set contains the start and finish locations of each rally stage, the ceremonial start, finish podium, the service park and public car parks for the event, which runs from 30 November to 2 December. Once loaded onto a personal device the POIs can be selected and navigated to in the normal way. The system cuts out the need for maps and can quickly and easily calculate alternative routes if required. Useful to those working on the rally as well as spectators, the downloadable file also includes the location of the media centre and Rally HQ. “This is the first time any GPS-based rally guide has been developed, and we’re very excited about its potential” said Andy Philpott, SWRT commercial director. “The mapping will be especially useful on the tricky roads of south Wales, and we hope that everyone from spectators to teams will benefit from this free offering. We’re using this as a test run with the aim of launching the service, via our website, to Subaru fans around the world in 2008, incorporating all 2008 WRC events.” To download the POI set and installation instructions, visit All eyes on the prize for thrilling final round This weekend's penultimate round of the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship, Rally Ireland, has confirmed that the Drivers' Championship will be decided in the 16th and final round on Welsh soil. Marcus Grönholm's early crash saw him leave the event early and Sébastien Loeb take the Rally Ireland win by 53.4 seconds over his team made Sordo, meaning that the this year's title race will go down to the wire at Wales Rally GB. Wales Rally GB, held from 29 November - 2 December, is set to provide rally fans with a thrilling experience across all four days. The last major sporting title of the year will be decided at the event and will be action packed from start to finish. The drivers found the damp weather conditions, mixed with the narrow roads and excess mud, difficult at Rally Ireland and Wales Rally GB is set to offer more of the same challenges. Don't miss out on the Wales Rally GB action Phil Mills' guide to the 2007 Wales Rally GB Subaru co-driver and Welsh countryman Phil Mills has penned his own guide to Wales Rally GB - where to watch, characteristics of the stages and just what he and Petter Solberg are looking forward to on this year's Wales Rally GB! See Rally Website: BRC - One rally – two points to prove The Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship approaches its final round, Wales Rally GB with an exciting climax in prospect. Any one of the top six drivers is still in with a chance of the title, as the final gruelling event has two opportunities for scoring points. Whilst the overall winner of the final round of both British and World Rally Championships will be the fastest over the 225 mile rally, the event is split for scoring purposes. At the end of Leg one’s 88 mile sprint, the fastest driver will take maximum points, then the clocks will be reset for the BRC runners. Legs two and three total 137 miles, a sting in the tail and another points tally for the crews, all of whom need a tactical approach to the series finale. The best five scores from seven will count towards the final Championship total, meaning the drivers can push certain unfortunate events from their minds, ditching their retirements and poor finishes from the score sheets. All but the Ladies title (won by Lorna Smith) and the Rally 1 class (won by Steve Graham) are still up for grabs as a result of the scoring system. So after the ceremonial start in Cardiff on Thursday 29th November, the excitement really begins around the forests of south Wales on Friday morning. The rally finishes back in Cardiff on Sunday where the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Champion will be crowned. The most likely candidates are, of course, Mark Higgins and Guy Wilks; the latter young pretender intent on preventing Higgins’ achieving the first BRC straight hat-trick, a battle well worth watching. Wales Rally GB hosts singing sensation Amy Macdonald Glasgow singing sensation Amy Macdonald is headlining the live music stage at Wales Rally GB, the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship, courtesy of 96.4 FM The Wave and 1170 AM Swansea Sound. Amy has added Friday 30 November to her sell-out UK tour and will take to the stage at the rally's Service Park at Swansea's SA1 Waterfront location. This year Wales Rally GB is celebrating its 75th anniversary and Amy's performance is just one part of the programme lined up to honour the event's rich history and give spectators a top-class entertainment experience. Highlights at the all-new Service Park include ViperJet boat demonstrations, a big screen with the latest rally news, stunt driving demonstrations and Amy Macdonald. The 20-year-old singer/songwriter is no stranger to a live audience - she first took to the stage at the age of 15. This year has seen the release of the young starlet's debut album 'This is the life' and debut single 'Poison Prince'. Amy is currently touring throughout the UK on her first tour. "We are delighted to confirm Amy has added Wales Rally GB to her sell-out UK tour," commented Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of Wales Rally GB. "This year is the first time that the Service Park will be at the spectacular SA1 Waterfront location. Here, spectators can soak up the World Rally 'circus' of over 100 rally teams that will be there to contest both the World and British Rally Championships, as well as enjoy the fantastic entertainment schedule we have planned, from the Sambe Tawe, the Swansea based percussion and dance outfit to a fantastic fireworks display on Friday evening (30 November)." Tickets for the SA1 Service Park, giving a full day's access to all the entertainment, can be bought on the gate and cost just £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. Rallying Legends come to Cardiff Rally legends and iconic rally cars spanning 70 years will take pride of place in the celebrations to mark the 75th Anniversary of Wales Rally GB which starts in Cardiff on the evening of Thursday 29th November. This is the first time such a remarkable gathering of "stars and cars" have been assembled. "We are privileged to bring together so many legendary names from the world of rallying. Our Guest list is a who's who of international rallying spanning 50 years, complimented by an amazing collection of cars dating back to the 1930's", commented Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of International Motor Sports, the event organisers. Amongst the former winners making guest appearances during the rally are a trio of Finnish drivers; Rauno Aaltonen (1965), Pentti Airikkala (1989) and Juha Kankkunen - triple Rally GB winner (1987,1991 and 1993) and four-times World Rally Champion (1986/7, 1991 and 1993). The Start ceremony will also include a tribute to the late Colin McRae, MBE, winner in 1994, 1995 and 1997 and World Rally Champion in 1995. Paddy Hopkirk, 1965 Monte Carlo Rally winner, will be a guest at the rally Start. Representing the winning co-drivers is Stuart Turner (1960 with Erik Carlsson), Tony Mason (1972 with Roger Clark), Scotland's Robert Reid (1998, 1999 and 2000 with Richard Burns), Derek Ringer (1994 and 1995 with Colin McRae) and Welshman Nicky Grist (1993 with Juha Kankkunen and 1997 with Colin McRae). The line-up of cars which will form a "Guard of Honour" at the Ceremonial Start adjacent to Cardiff's City Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 29th November includes an original 1932 Lanchester, identical to the car that won the inaugural "RAC International Rally", the actual Jaguar XK120 which won the rally in 1953, and exact replica's of the Ford Escort, Audi quattro and Lancia models which dominated the rally in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Autograph signing sessions with the rallying legends and current World and British Championship drivers will begin at 6.00pm adjacent to Cardiff City Hall Online rally planner goes live Wales Rally GB, being held this year from 29 November - 2 December, has launched its online rally planner. This exciting new initiative will transform the spectator experience, making itinerary planning much easier. This week organisers published enhanced mapping details online for rally fans to access in advance of the start of the event on 29 November. Traditionally this information has only been available in the printed rally planner, which spectators have to wait to receive with their tickets. The interactive online planning information will, for the first time, also include comprehensive stage descriptions and detailed viewing information. Fans are now able to access information in image and text format and will even be able to zoom in on the map. Being able to gain this information earlier and online will enhance the Wales Rally GB experience for every spectator. Not only will formulating an itinerary with routes to and from each stage become simpler, but the online resource will also be a great way to arrange the finer details like finding the best spot to watch the forest stage action! 07/11/07 List of Entries available 09/10/07 Wales Rally GB "blows the bloody doors off" Millennium Stadium entertainment World Rally Championship spectators will strap themselves in for a breathtaking action show with precision driving, spectacular stunts and high speed chases. And that's only the 'warm-up' before international rallying heroes enter Cardiff's Millennium Stadium to compete on Saturday 1 December, the penultimate day of the UK and final round of the Championship, Wales Rally GB. Billed by Wales Rally GB organisers as 'The Millennium Job,' visitors will enjoy a mouthwatering demonstration of bravery and skill on four wheels, performed by five-times British Auto Test champion, Paul Swift and his team, filling the stadium with cars, lights and action. 'The Millennium Job' is just one element of the entertainment programme planned to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Wales Rally GB, formerly the Rally of Great Britain. As rallying stars from across the globe gather beneath the stadium in preparation, spectators will also be taken on a high-speed ride through the event's history from the very first running in Torquay in 1932 to Cardiff in 2007. Amongst the iconic cars of the past there will even be a 1932 Lanchester identical to the car in which Colonel A H Loughborough won the very first running. "As the final round of both the World and British Rally Championships, this is one of the most exhilarating events in the UK sporting calendar," enthused Wales Rally GB's chief executive Andrew Coe. "This year will be particularly special with all the celebrations to mark the event's 75th anniversary, and we have gone all out to create a night to be remembered by every rally fan." "However, the focus of evening is still very much on the competitive challenge that this stage will present," continued Coe, "not least because the result of the last few World Rally Championship battles sees just 10 points separating current leader Marcus Grönholm and reigning champion Sébastien Loeb. On Saturday evening, all eyes will be on the Millennium Stadium for the penultimate day of what is increasingly looking like one of the closest World Championship finale in years." More Details on the Event Website: 20/09/07 Action all the way Strap yourself in for a breathtaking action show with precision driving, spectacular stunts and high speed chases. And that's only the 'warm-up' before international rallying heroes enter Cardiff's Millennium Stadium to compete on Saturday 1 December. Billed as 'The Millennium Job,' spectators will enjoy a mouthwatering demonstration of bravery and skill on four wheels, performed by five-times British Auto Test champion, Paul Swift and his team, filling the stadium with cars, lights and action. As rallying stars from across the globe gather beneath the stadium in preparation, spectators will also be taken on a high-speed ride through the event's history from the very first running in Torquay in 1932 to Cardiff in 2007. Amongst the iconic cars of the past there will even be a 1932 Lanchester identical to the car in which Colonel A H Loughborough won the very first running. The entertainment at Wales Rally GB's Millennium Stadium will start at 18.00 on Saturday 1 December, with the competitive stage commencing from 19.00. More Details: 10% off for Combe visitors, says Wales Rally GB Wales Rally GB will announce an exciting package of entertainment for its Millennium Stadium special stage at this weekend's Castle Combe Rally Day, where all visitors will be able to get 10% off adult bronze tickets to watch the stage. In addition to finding out more about exciting plans for the Millennium Stadium venue on the evening of Saturday 1 December, visitors will be able to pick up all the information they need about the 2007 route, including the event's 75th anniversary celebrations and book their tickets for all four days of Wales Rally GB from 29 November - 2 December. "The result of the last few World Rally Championship battles sees just 10 points separating current leader Marcus Grönholm and reigning champion Sébastien Loeb, meaning that come the beginning of December, all eyes will be on the stages of the final round, Wales Rally GB," said WRGB boss Andrew Coe. "Coupled with all the celebrations to mark the event's 75th anniversary, Wales Rally GB 2007 will be an important event in the calendar for every rally fan and we're delighted to be able to offer Castle Combe visitors great value tickets to watch what is increasingly looking like one of the closest World Championship finale in years." The Millennium Stadium stage in Cardiff's city centre first ran in 2005 when it was the first ever indoor World Rally Championship stage. The stadium is also home to major sporting events, including Six Nations rugby and the FA Cup so Wales Rally GB will transform the international landmark beyond all recognition with a purpose built track will replace the famous green playing field turf, turning the stadium into a unique challenge for world-class rally drivers. "There is a host of new and exciting entertainment planned for the Millennium Stadium stage," explained Coe, "but the focus of evening is very much on the competitive challenge that this stage will present. We have a few surprises up our sleeves that will turn the Millennium Stadium into a spectacular winter night stage that really captures the essence of what British rallying is all about." Swansea SA1 Waterfront brings motorsport to the masses Work is well underway on Wales Rally GB's service park location for 2007 - Swansea SA1's striking Waterfront complex. The relocation of the service park, which was originally located out of town, will bring the rally up close and personal to spectators, while offering them all the facilities of a city location. Traditionally, the service park is the competitive hub of Wales Rally GB, with all cars returning at designated times, in between the competitive stages of the rally, for team technicians to carry out that all-important fine tuning. Big screens will provide spectators with the chance to watch teams change tyres, wheels and refuel. Within comfortable walking distance from the city's many hotels, restaurants and shopping areas the waterfront complex is enormously spectator-friendly. Additionally, the move will bring rally teams closer to their accommodation and provide the media with permanent facilities. "The reason for the move is simple - the benefits of a city centre location are difficult to ignore," explained WRGB boss Andrew Coe. "Swansea Council is creating a stunning waterside development that will add a touch of glamour to the service park for 2007. Of course, enabling rally fans to take full advantage of all of Swansea's attractions will give the rally that extra bit of excitement and buzz. But the main driving force behind the move is to offer a service park that is more accessible to encourage those people who would perhaps not usually think about travelling out of town to watch a stage to come and see the stars of international motorsport right on their doorstep." The use of the waterfront complex as Wales Rally GB's service park location is expected to significantly boost Swansea's profile both nationally and internationally, establishing it as an important city location for future sporting events. The attractive Swansea SA1 Waterfront site, which is transforming the East docklands of Wales' second city, will be used for business, housing and leisure as well as attracting sport to the city and will require £200m of funding over the next 10-15 years. It is based on a 40 hectare prime waterfront site acquired from British ports. The waterfront's impressive architecture and innovative image demonstrates Swansea's position as a city of the 21st Century. Chris Holley, Leader of Swansea County Council, said: "There is growing confidence about Swansea and this really is Swansea's time to attract new investment." 07/09/08 Regulations and Entry Form for 2007 Wales Rally GB now available on line The Supplementary Regulations and an Entry Form for Wales Rally GB are now available to download from the 'Competitors' section of the event's official website. The first 40 eligible amateur entries received before the closing date will automatically be accepted on a first come first served basis. The closing date for all entries is Friday 26 October 2007. There are 120 places available with a maximum of 10 reserves. Amateur drivers with cars eligible for classes N1 or A5 (Groups N and A up to and including 1400ccc) qualify for a reduced entry fee of £1,500, inclusive of vat. A copy of the latest route is also available on the event website. 02/07/07 Rally Guide 1 available on event website 09/05/07 Latest News New, spectator friendly, Service Park in Swansea. No interruption of Cardiff ’s Millennium Stadium Stage Few changes to the route which ran successfully in 2006 Return of competitive driving in darkness Wales Rally GB celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year and while closely following the outline of last years proven route, the successful Service Park concept developed over the past six years at Felindre will see the competitive hub of the event move to a new site within SA1 Swansea Waterfront. “2007 will be the seventh year that the Rally Service Park has been located in Swansea and the Council is delighted to play host and support it once again this year. The new venue at SA1 Swansea Waterfront will add a new and exciting dimension to what is already a very successful event”, said Councillor Gerald Clement, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation & Tourism. The £400 million development – a joint venture between the Welsh Assembly Government and the private sector - is an extension of Swansea City Centre and will provide a more easily accessible location for spectators, bring rally teams closer to their accommodation and provide permanent facilities for working media. “SA1 is a benchmark for waterfront regeneration and everyone can benefit from the new social, leisure and business opportunities that it offers. Moving the Service Park – the competitive hub of Wales Rally GB - to this impressive waterfront setting will introduce SA1 to a world wide audience and should encourage even more visitors to the rally”, said Gareth Hall, Director, Welsh Assembly Government’s Department of Enterprise, Innovations and Networks (DEIN). Cardiff will continue as Host City, staging the Ceremonial Start on the evening of Thursday 29th November and the Finish in the afternoon of Sunday 2nd December. Both will be in a new location near City Hall. The Special Stage inside Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday 1st December will include motorsport-themed entertainment prior to the first rally car starting the one kilometre timed test at 7 pm, which will then run without interruption. The provisional three-day competitive route will feature three forest stages in the Vale of Neath on Friday, three stages on both Forestry Commission and Military roads north of Brecon on Saturday and two forest stages in Carmarthenshire on Sunday. With the exception of the Cardiff Special Stage inside the Millennium Stadium, all other timed stages will be run twice, on the same day. One of the original characteristics of World Championship rallies was competitive driving at night. Subject to FIA approval, this challenge could return to Wales Rally GB on both Friday and Saturday when the final special stage on each Leg will be run in darkness. “This would be fantastic” said Guy Wilks, runner up in the 2005 FIA Junior World Rally Championship and outright winner of the opening round of the 2007 Tesco 99 Octane British Rally Championship. “The organisers should be credited for reintroducing what was once a feature of World Championship Rallies. Competitive driving in darkness is a challenge for both the driver and co-driver and provides great atmosphere for spectators”, he added. The final route and timetable of this year’s Wales Rally GB, the final round of the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship, will be formally launched in June after consultation with the FIA and the registered manufacturer teams. For more information please contact John Horton, National Press Officer. Wales Rally GB is held annually and is the UK ’s biggest motor sport event. It is organised and promoted by
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