Central European Rally (WRC) - 26-29 Oct 23

M-SPORT TRIO TAKE TO TARMAC ACROSS THREE NATIONS

Posted: October 25, 2023 3:45 AM

After their impressive victory at Rally Chile last month, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team is set to take on the all-new Central European Rally, a brand-new addition to the World Rally Championship calendar.

Bringing the championship back to Tarmac for the penultimate round of the 2023 season, this unique event promises new challenges for all crews, leveling the playing field for both seasoned and up-and-coming rally talents alike.

If good things come in threes, then M-Sport’s triumvirate of Puma Rally1 cars are in good stead to take on the new event, traversing the borders of three countries from Thursday to Sunday. Based in the German city of Passau (also known as the City of Three Rivers), the crews will navigate a staggering total distance of 1690 km across the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany.

The event begins in the historic setting of Prague Castle, where the crews will be flagged off on Thursday before completing two super-special stages as they work their way back to Passau. Three full-days of action will follow; Friday presenting an immediate challenge with no midday service and only a remote tyre-fitting zone to get the crews through the day.

Tight and technical, smooth and fast and everything in between, the Central European Rally brings a much-anticipated new challenge to the calendar and new fans to the stages as the WRC’s top drivers fight for the glory of the event’s first podium on Sunday.

Fresh from his spectacular victory in Rally Chile last month, Ott Tänak is ready to take on the new event. With three wins at Rally Germany already under his belt, and victory at last weekend’s test event, the Herbst Rallye, this part of the world is not unfamiliar to the 2019 World Champion. Tänak’s experience, expertise and unwavering determination make him a strong contender on the brand-new asphalt event.

Pierre-Louis Loubet is eager to leverage the new event to his advantage and will look to use his Tarmac experience in Germany and elsewhere to bring in good results towards the end of the season. M-Sport will also welcome co-driver Benjamin Veillas back to the team for the first time since 2019, who will be debuting a new partnership with Loubet at the event.

After his Rally1 debut in Chile, Grégoire Munster returns to the Puma in Germany, determined to further his skills in top-level machinery on his preferred surface. With strong results on asphalt in the WRC2 category, the event will present another excellent learning opportunity for the Luxembourg driver.

Adrien Fourmaux will also make a reappearance in the WRC2 category after strong results throughout the season. The newly crowned British Rally Champion also secured class victory and second overall behind Tänak at last weekend’s Herbst Rallye – showcasing the EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta Rally2 and its new cooling package update amongst a highly competitive field – and will hope to continue his impressive form this week.

Richard Millener, WRC Team Principal, said:
“It’s always exciting to take-on a new event, it’s a huge challenge for teams and organisers alike but it’s also crucial to keep our sport evolving and to bring in new fans. I’m looking forward to seeing some new stages and it’ll certainly be interesting to see who ends up on that top step!

“Off the back of the win in Chile, the team feel renewed and we’re now fully focused on keeping these great results up as we finish off the season. Ott is still pushing us hard and we know he wants to do well in Central Europe and Japan. We keep seeing what the Puma is capable of and to finish the season off with some highs would mean a lot to the whole team.

“Even though we’re most of the way through the season now, we’ve still got a new(ish) face joining the team in the form of Benjamin Veillas. It’s a pleasure to have him back working in a new partnership with Pierre-Louis, and his experience and expertise is well-suited to supporting him in Central Europe.

“I’m also looking forward to seeing what Grégoire and Adrien will achieve on this event. Grégoire has some strong experience on Tarmac which will help him when learning to manage the Puma on a very different surface to what he experienced in Chile. Adrien has had a good season so far and we’ve been very impressed with him, the WRC2 category is very competitive but he repeatedly holds his own and there’s no reason he can’t do that here too.”

Ott Tänak said:
“It's been a while since we were on Tarmac and this event will be a new one in the calendar. It’s going to be a great challenge for us and our clear aim is to take the maximum from these last two events.

“It is very hard to expect anything from this rally as everything is going to be new and I’m pretty sure that the weather will play a major role as well – so we really need to be on it to hit all the targets.

“Chile was the last event on gravel this season and we were able to celebrate success together with the team which felt good. But the job is not done yet – we have two more to go, and we will keep pushing.”

Pierre-Louis Loubet said:
“I’m happy to do my first rally with Benjamin. After the accident in Chile I need to get some confidence back and have a clean rally. I want to enjoy the driving in Germany for sure.

“It’s been a nice feeling to be back on Tarmac in the Puma during the test this week so I’m looking forward to seeing what the event brings.”

Grégoire Munster said:
“The main thing we were learning in Chile is the hybrid features in the car; when to use it and in which situations. We were also understanding the aero and also getting used to the road position, as we start earlier on the road than in the Rally2. I’m not sure I will be able to carry that experience onto this Tarmac event, because the road position will be different again.

“Everything feels different on Tarmac because you have more traction, but on the test we tried to get used to the car on the surface and tried to do some different things with the set-up. The car obviously has a great base and gives you a lot of confidence to start with, but it’s helpful to get some more ideas in case the conditions change on the rally, then we know what direction we can go in with the set-up.”

Adrien Fourmaux said:
“It’s a new event for everyone so it’s a bit of a zero-point, which is a positive. We have to keep challenging and developing our pacenotes throughout the weekend. It’s nice to have a new Tarmac WRC event, covering three countries, and the roads look to be very different each day.

“It’s nice to be back on Tarmac after so many gravel events, and we completed a preparation rally in Austria this weekend to get ready for Central Europe – fine-tuning the set-up and learning as much as we can which should help us this weekend.”

Hyundai Motorsport Preview: Round 12 – Central European Rally

Posted: October 22, 2023 3:31 AM

Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team is returning to tarmac for the first time since Croatia at the inaugural Central European Rally, with hopes of adding another mark to its podium tally. The unique, border-crossing rally is the second pure tarmac event of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and will take place during October 26-29.

As a brand-new event, Central European Rally presents a number of unknowns. The recce will be the first time the crews will have the opportunity to grace the stages, leaving little time for them to get to grips with the profile and characteristics of the roads. Furthermore, the contrast in surfaces across the three countries is striking; the rougher tarmac and narrow forest passes seen in Czech Republic could prove the toughest challenge of the weekend for all competitors, including those behind the wheel of the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid.

The event will see WRC return to Germany for the first time since the 2019 edition of Rallye Deutschland. As Hyundai Motorsport’s factory is based in Alzenau, Germany, Central European Rally will feel somewhat like a home event for the manufacturer. The team also claimed its first WRC victory on German soil back in 2014. A repeat of this success will be the goal for all Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team three crews: Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe, Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm and Teemu Suninen/Mikko Markkula.

Central European Rally will be the first event in WRC history to cross borders into three countries. The 18-stage itinerary covers a total competitive distance of 310.01km alongside the longest liaison distance of the season so far – a huge 1380.69km. The rally begins in Czech Republic on Thursday and remains in the country throughout Friday, before heading to both Austria and Germany on Saturday morning. This sees all three nations host stages in less than 48 hours.

Crucial co-driver
Preparing for a rally that has never been run before is as much of a challenge for co-drivers as it is for drivers. Markkula accounts how he prepares to tackle the tarmac of central Europe:

“A new rally requires spending extra care and time on maps and our other documents to ensure the pace notes are perfect. The pace note process itself isn’t too different, mainly because there are always some new sections or completely new stages at events that we have already done before. I think this rally will be somewhat similar to Rallye Deutschland, an event we have experience at in the past. I expect the Czech roads to be narrow, bumpy and fast with the Austrian roads contrasting that – smoother and wider – but just as fast. Tarmac and grip levels will vary country to country, which will be a big challenge.”

Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said: “The introduction of a brand-new rally to the calendar, and one as remarkable as this, always presents a challenge to teams and crews. Bringing a WRC event back to Germany is special for us as a homecoming round, and also for the German fans that have not seen top-flight rallying action in their country since 2019. Uniting three countries in one round is something the WRC has never done before, for three countries with such a huge rallying heritage to play host is exceptional. Podium finishes in our two previous tarmac rallies this season means that we are confident we can replicate, if not better, Thierry and Esapekka’s third places at Monte and Croatia.”

Crew Notes: Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (#11 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)
Belgian crew going for top step glory following second place in Chile
Neuville claimed victory on German soil for Hyundai Motorsport in 2014

Neuville said: “It’s the new event on the calendar and it’s always exciting when you get the chance to discover new roads. It is a tarmac event; I always like to drive on tarmac so I am looking forward to it. It’s going to be a long event between Passau, Prague and also with stages in Austria. It has the furthest liaison distance of the calendar so far, so it will be long distances to travel between stages but I’m sure it’s going to be exciting. Usually we get some footage from the organiser which shows the stages, so we can try to have a look and see what we have to prepare for, especially ahead of the pre-event test – which is going to be crucial on a rally where you could have three different days with three different types of road. We need to be well prepared and that’s the main thing you can do. Like every other rally, the goal is victory.”

Crew Notes: Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (#4 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)
Finnish crew will push for the podium on the European stages
Searching for redemption after an early exit in Chile

Lappi said: “It’s an interesting concept that I like a lot; it’s the first time we have seen this happen in the top-flight of rally. Friday is going to be demanding as I know what the Czech roads are like from past experiences. I do not know Austria so much, but Germany we have experience on thanks to Rallye Deutschland. It’s the time of year where there’s going to be a lot of rain, as well as leaves from the trees, so it will be a challenge managing the different natural elements. I strongly believe that there will be three different sets of characteristics across the weekend, as it’s going to be three different countries. I don’t think we have had these kinds of changes on tarmac before, so it will be a unique event to prepare for. The goal is to push, if we do that then I am sure the end result will be good.”

Crew Notes: Teemu Suninen/Mikko Markkula (#3 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)
Finns looking for first overall WRC podium of the season
Fourth and final 2023 appearance in the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid for the crew

Teemu said: “Central European Rally will be really demanding. It’s going to be in three different countries so we can expect to have very different types of roads, different tarmac and a lot of changes, so it will be a big challenge for me – especially when it will be my first rally with the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid at a tarmac round. We had a really good test in Austria and got some good experience in the car, but Central European Rally is going to be a lot later in the year, making it the most difficult tarmac rally on the calendar. The conditions will be a lot trickier and that’s something new we are facing in the rally. It starts to become autumn time with colder conditions, trees starting to lose leaves, meaning dirt on the tarmac. The goal is to bring the car home and learn as much as we can from our time on the stages. The fact that Hyundai want to see my pace on the tarmac means a lot, so I want to end the weekend with a good result for the whole team.”

WRC2 Overview
Back-to-back WRC2 events for Hyundai Motorsport’s entries means a return to action on European stages for the Hyundai i20 N Rally2.

The Finnish crew of Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen were running high up the order before an unlucky end to their outing in Chile: an error on SS15 Las Pataguas 2 meant the car rolled and was damaged beyond repair. This will be the crew’s first tarmac rally in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 – a challenge the duo is ready to take on.

Lindholm said: “This is the second event in a row that is completely new to me, and since it’s taking place across three countries it requires us to think carefully on car set up on different stages. The stages will differ much more than in other rallies because of the change in countries, and the October weather could offer some surprises. In testing, the car has been feeling great so I’m capitalising on that and aim for a podium finish.”

Fabrizio Zaldivar and Marcelo Der Ohannesian travel to Central European Rally following their best WRC2 finish of the season at Rally Chile: fifth place in class.

Zaldivar said: “Coming off the back of a successful rally in Chile, we are confident that our good performance will continue. It will be our first tarmac rally of the year in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 as part of WRC2 and it is a very different style of event. The changes of surface from stage to stage will mean we have to have precise pace notes, as we want to maximise pace without putting a foot wrong. Our goal is to continue our momentum from Chile and try to score another top five result.”

Weekend at a Glance
After shakedown on Wednesday, Thursday afternoon will see two Super Special Stages: SSS1 Velká Chuchle (2.55km) and SSS2 Circuit of Klatovy (8.92km)
Friday begins in the German ‘Messepark Passau’ service park, before heading back to Czech Republic for SS3 Vlachovo Br?ezí 1 (13.66km)
Crews head to the first German stage of the rally on Saturday morning, SS9 Schärdinger Innviertel 1, 15.72km of rural roads
The final stage of the rally is SS18 Powerstage Passauer Land 2 (16.37km), wrapping up Sunday’s 67.24km competitive distance.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing contenders tackle new cross-border challenge

Posted: October 22, 2023 3:29 AM

Fresh from its latest manufacturers’ championship success, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team will face an all-new challenge at the penultimate round of the 2023 season: the Central European Rally (October 26-29) in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria.

After TGR-WRT secured its third consecutive manufacturers’ title on the previous rally in Chile, attention now turns to which of Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans will win this year’s drivers’ title – the team’s fifth in succession – with their respective navigators Jonne Halttunen and Scott Martin in contention for the co-drivers’ crown.

There are 31 points between Rovanperä and Evans with a maximum of 60 available from the final two rounds, meaning Rovanperä could clinch his second consecutive championship in Central Europe if Evans does not outscore him. An Evans victory, on the other hand, would guarantee that their battle goes down to the wire at the final round at Rally Japan in November.

Joining them in the line-up for the Central European Rally will be eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier, with Takamoto Katsuta to drive a fourth GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID through the TGR WRC Challenge Program.

Following seven consecutive events on gravel on a wide variety of different roads across the globe, this will be the first round to be held on asphalt since the Croatia Rally in April. It will be the first modern FIA World Rally Championship round to feature stages driven in three different countries, marking a return to Germany for the first time since 2019 as well as a debut on Czech roads and Austria’s first appearance since the inaugural season in 1973.

The service park will be located in the German city of Passau with shakedown to take place in nearby Tittling on Wednesday afternoon. The rally will start from the Czech capital city Prague and its famous castle on Thursday lunchtime, before an opening super special stage at the Velká Chuchle horse racing course on the outskirts of the city. A further circuit stage around Klatovy follows in the evening before crews return to Passau.

Friday’s action also takes place solely on Czech roads, with a trio of stages to be run twice either side of a tyre-fitting zone in Prachatice. Saturday’s route features two tests in Austria and another in Germany, all to be repeated after mid-day service in Passau, while one stage on either side of the German-Austrian border will be run twice to form Sunday’s finale.

Quotes:
Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)
“To have secured the manufacturers’ championship before we enter these final two events is fantastic and a lot of the focus will now be on the fight for the drivers’ title between Kalle and Elfyn. We will be giving them both our full support, so that they can have a free and fair fight and the best driver wins. We will also have Sébastien back in our line-up and his passion to win will be huge as always, and now that Taka has no pressure in terms of the championship, I hope to see him able to fight for another podium in these next events. The Central European Rally is going to be new for everyone, and we expect that the roads could be very demanding at this time of year: it could be wet or muddy, or there could be a lot of leaves on the road. It won’t be easy for the drivers but I know that our car has been very strong in these kinds of conditions and I will be encouraging them to push.”

Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen
Kalle Rovanperä (Driver car 69)
“The manufacturers’ championship is a great achievement for the whole team, and now we will be pushing hard to battle for the drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles in these last events of the season. When the fight is between team-mates it’s always quite friendly and fair with the same cars, so it should be a good one. It’s nice to be back on asphalt with a rally car; in our test I was feeling comfortable in the car straight away and hopefully it will be the same in the rally. I’m quite confident that it can be a good event for us: this type of asphalt rally normally suits me best and I have had some good results on these kinds of roads.”

Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin
Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)
“With two rounds to go, there’s still quite a big gap to Kalle in front of us in the championship but it’s not over yet, and we know how quickly things can change in this game. We’ll be trying everything we can to have two strong rallies to end the season and we’ll try to put the pressure on. This is going to be a new rally for everybody and with stages in three different countries, we need to try and have a setup that can work everywhere. With any new rally, it’s difficult to gauge from videos alone just what the stages will be like, but the weather is sure to play a massive part in how dirty the roads get and how much grip will be available.”

Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais
Sébastien Ogier (Driver car 17)
“I’m really happy that the team are manufacturers’ champions again; it’s very well deserved after a great job this season. Even though it’s hard to know what to expect for this rally, I’m always excited to go into a new challenge. It’s also close to home for me nowadays, and I’m sure there will be a lot of rally fans there watching and supporting us. I’m not sure that my starting position will be optimal but it will probably depend on the weather: if it’s dry we can probably fight for the top places, and if it’s wet it might be more tricky for us after a few cars have been through the stages. But I always start every rally aiming as high as possible and it should be fun.”

Entry List

Posted: October 14, 2023 5:30 PM

Central European Rally (WRC) - 26-29 Oct 23 - ENTRY LIST

Rally Guide / Details / Event Website

Posted: October 14, 2023 4:28 PM

Central European Rally (WRC)