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Posted: January 25, 2011 9:41 AM
Ford switches Fiesta RS WRC test plans for Arctic Rally
Posted: January 24, 2011 11:56 AM
Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team has dropped plans to debut its all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car in Finland's Arctic Lapland Rally (28 - 29 January) next weekend.
Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila were scheduled to drive a leg each in the two-day snow and ice rally based in Rovaniemi. It was due to be the final part of the squad's pre-season test programme before next month's opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship in Sweden.
However, a heavy accident on the second day of the team's test in Sweden at the weekend forced the team to revise its plans and drop its appearance at the Arctic Rally. Latvala and Anttila were unhurt in the 150kph crash but the Fiesta RS WRC requires extensive repair work before the test can continue.
The same car was to be used in the Arctic Rally, but there is insufficient time to repair the damage and complete the Swedish test programme before travelling to Rovaniemi for the rally. The team has revised its schedule and the car will now remain at the test location to finalise preparations for next month's Rally Sweden (10 - 13 February).
"We will repair the damage to the car before continuing our testing in Sweden later this week," explained Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson. "We're confident we can complete all our scheduled test work this week, but unfortunately we need to sacrifice our appearance at the Arctic Lapland Rally to do that.
"I'm sorry for all the fans there who were looking forward to seeing Mikko and Jari-Matti in action in the Fiesta RS WRC, but completing our work in Sweden is the best option to ensure our preparations are completed for Rally Sweden," added Wilson.
Latvala explained the accident happened over a sixth gear crest.
"It was my error," he admitted. "I tried to use the snow banks to slow the car, but it rolled in the road before vaulting the snow banks and hitting some trees. The Fiesta RS WRC stood up to the impact remarkably well and Miikka and I escaped unhurt. The fact that the team can repair it and we can continue to test this week shows just how strong it is."
Reg Britton / Gerry Buckley to compete in Arctic Rally again.
Posted: January 18, 2011 11:13 AM
Reg Britton with Co-driver Gerry Buckley are to return to the Arctic Rally for the 3rd Time.
FORD FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR TO DEBUT IN TEST SESSION AT ARCTIC LAPLAND RALLY
Posted: January 18, 2011 11:01 AM
Ford's all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car will make its debut in Finland's Arctic Lapland Rally (28 - 29 January) next week.
Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila will drive a leg each in the two-day snow and ice rally based in Rovaniemi, as the final part of the squad's pre-season testing schedule.
Hirvonen will drive the Fiesta RS WRC on the opening leg of the rally before Latvala takes the wheel for the second day.
The Arctic Rally will conclude the Fiesta RS WRC's comprehensive test and development programme ahead of its FIA World Rally Championship debut at Rally Sweden (10 - 13 February) next month. It will be an extension of the team's four-day test in Sweden, which begins on Friday, and the Fiesta RS WRC will be seen in its usual white test livery.
The rally is the opening round of the Finnish Rally Championship. Friday's opening leg contains five special stages covering 98.47km, while Saturday's action comprises a further five speed tests covering 132.99km.
Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson emphasised that the car had been entered purely for testing purposes.
"The Fiesta RS WRC has covered thousands of kilometres in testing over the last four or five months. However, a traditional test cannot truly replicate genuine competition for learning about a car. We believe that going to the Arctic Rally will provide ideal preparation for both the team and the drivers ahead of Rally Sweden."
Hirvonen competed in the Arctic Rally in 2001 and 2002 and the 30-year-old Finn said:
"The rally has a fantastic Arctic atmosphere, which is difficult to explain until you have witnessed it. It has great winter conditions for driving and the stages are fast, but sometimes quite technical. It's an ideal location to test the new car in a competitive way ahead of Sweden, and I'm excited that the team is coming to my home country again."
Latvala, too, is looking forward to testing the Fiesta RS WRC in a rally environment.
"At a normal test a driver covers the same section of road continuously and quickly learns how to drive it. Almost all the roads in the Arctic Rally are used only once, so it gives the team the opportunity to see how the car performs in competitive surroundings. The stages will be a similar length to a WRC round so it really will be a perfect test opportunity," he said.
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Posted: December 30, 2010 5:29 PM
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