2011 World Rally Championship

Posted: August 26, 2011 1:19 PM - 32051 Hits

Video: At Home With Jari-Matti Latvala (Includes Escort MkII!)

Posted: August 26, 2011 1:19 PM

Video: Interview with Ford's Gerard Quinn

Posted: August 4, 2011 9:29 PM

Martin McCormack tops VW Drive Poll

Posted: August 3, 2011 11:37 AM

"Martin McCormack is the driver that most users of Wrc.com believe deserves a chance to be assessed for a possible seat with Volkswagen Motorsport in the future.

The German manufacturer is running a brace of Skoda Fabia Super 2000s on selected World Rally Championship events this season to try out potential recruits and to give its technicians experience of working on WRC rounds ahead of its official entry in 2013 with a fleet of Polo R World Rally Cars.

Wrc.com enlisted the help of several leading journalists to create a shortlist of 10 drivers they considered worthy of an opportunity with VW. WRC fans were then invited to participate in an online poll.

McCormack, a 25-year-old from Northern Ireland, who drives a Citroen DS3 R3 in the British Rally Championship, was the most popular choice ahead of Thierry Neuville, from Belgium, and New Zealander Hayden Paddon, the current runaway leader of the Production Car World Rally Championship.

Neuville, who polled 11,173 votes - one less than McCormack, said: “I saw [the poll] on WRC.com and I have to say I was surprised there are so many people out there supporting me and believing in me. As a driver it feels good but it would not be possible for me to consider this opportunity because I have a contract with Peugeot for the IRC and I am completely focused on that.”

Volkswagen began its WRC initiation on Neste Oil Rally Finland last week. Despite neither Joonas Lindroos nor Andreas Mikkelsen making it to the finish in Jyvaskyla, the company’s motorsport chief, Kris Nissen, said the exercise had been a success and that valuable experienced had been gained.

Christian Riedemann and Hans Weijs will take over the VW-run Skodas on ADAC Rallye Deutschland later this month.

The full poll results are as follows:

www.wrc.com

Vote for Martin McCormack on WRC.COM's latest poll

Posted: July 23, 2011 8:42 PM

"Which young driver deserves a trial with Volkswagen?"
Vote at:

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Safety Plays a Major Role in Design of MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Posted: July 4, 2011 2:27 PM

The MINI WRC Team is setting new standards, and for its debut into world rallying has made an important step forward in the safety of its car by designing a ground breaking roll cage.

The MINI John Cooper Works WRC’s roll cage has a unique side-impact structure which the engineers from Prodrive believe make it the safest rally car ever. In any accident, be it on the public highway or on a rally stage, a side-impact is the most dangerous, as the distance between the occupants and the point of impact is the smallest. To overcome this, the car has innovative door beams which curve outwards, allowing them to withstand much greater impact forces and to begin the deceleration of the car sooner and over a longer period of time. This significantly reduces the G-forces experienced by the crew.

The MINI WRC Team’s Technical Director, Dave Wilcock, explained the simple but very important philosophy behind their work in this area: “The new generation of rally cars are more compact than before, however we wanted to ensure that the crew were safer than ever and also that the car felt as spacious as possible. This brought some unique challenges.”

It was in the early days of the project that this work started with the engineers doing an exhaustive study of crash data.
“The Eureka moment was the redesign of the side impact protection bars, routing them farther away from each crew member and subtly changing their shape,” explained Wilcock. “In an impact, this brings the structure into play much sooner, allowing softer materials to be specified to safely decelerate the crew over a much longer period of time.”

The convex curve shape of the door beams allows them to withstand much higher impact forces than traditional straight bars, as well as feeding the loads into nearby welds in a controlled direction, minimising the chance of failure by tearing. The beams are now so far outboard that they pass through the car’s B-pillars, to which they are welded, contributing further strength to the structure.

One important factor that helped this part of the project was the strength of the MINI Countryman bodyshell.
“For previous rally cars, we have effectively ignored the original road car bodyshell in calculating the design of the roll cage. However, the Countryman is such a strong and safe car that we very much used this to our advantage and integrated it into the roll cage design, reducing the material we needed to add and so saving weight,” said Wilcock.

To evaluate how different roll cage joints and welds performed, Prodrive specially prepared more than 50 roll cage joint samples and carried out physical tests on each one to see how each would fail. This led to the complete redesign of many of the joints and the use of a different welding process, as well as the application of a new grade of steel for the cage tubing.

The team is justifiably proud of its achievement which has come at no cost to the car’s performance. Also so safe is the new design that the FIA is now looking to make the unique side impact configuration mandatory in future designs of motorsport roll cages.

Ford Issues Design Challenge to Rally Fans

Posted: June 14, 2011 9:05 AM

Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team fans are being invited to choose unique roof artwork for works cars competing on next month’s Rally Finland.

The team is asking Facebook followers to vote for three designs that will grace the Fiesta RS WRCs driven by Jari-Matti Latvala, Mikko Hirvonen and Khalid Al Qassimi.

“Up until now the Ford Abu Dhabi Team Fiesta RS WRCs have simply featured the Ford logo,” said Will May, Motorsport Marketing Manager for Ford of Europe. “So we’re inviting our Facebook followers to vote for one of several designs we’ve developed under one theme – which is ‘the food that fuels you’.

“We asked Jari-Matti, Mikko and Khalid what is the first thing they have to eat or drink in the morning, the fuel that gets them up and running. Jari-Matti nominated coffee because he says he cannot function without coffee first thing! Mikko picked porridge because he loves to make it for his children when he’s not competing and Khalid chose his local mountain honey because it tastes delicious!”

The team has commissioned three designs for each driver which can be viewed now. The designs with the most “likes” will be applied to the Fiesta RS WRCs they drive in Finland only. Facebook followers have until the end of June to choose their favourite.

“We have a great number of Facebook followers and we’re delighted to give them the chance to directly influence how the Fiesta RS WRCs will appear in Finland,” added May. “The roof designs will be highly visible from overhead and because they will only feature on the Finland cars, they will appeal to model collectors too.”

The winning designs are guaranteed massive exposure. Rally Finland is one of the most popular events on the calendar and Ford’s Finnish duo enjoy huge support on this, their home round. Last year Jari-Matti Latvala triumphed in Finland in a Focus RS WRC. Team-mate Hirvonen topped the podium there in another Focus RS WRC in 2009.

This year’s Rally Finland runs from July 28-30, 2011. To vote for your favourite roof design, or to sign up to the Ford Abu Dhabi Team’s Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/FordWRC

FIA Vice President tests MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Posted: June 1, 2011 3:15 PM

One of the most influential men in motorsport and FIA Vice President for Sport, Mohammed Ben Sulayem (AE), has test driven the new MINI John Cooper Works WRC and declared the new generation of rally cars to be fun to drive.

The 14-time Middle East Rally champion, who has won more international rallies than any other driver in history, experienced the new generation of World Rally Car for the first time yesterday at Prodrive’s test track in Warwickshire. The Dubai resident, who turns 50 in November, is also President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates and is the official FIA and FIM representative overseeing all motorsport events in the UAE.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem spent 30 minutes familiarising himself with the MINI John Cooper Works WRC, but with his wealth of rallying experience was soon feeling at home driving around the 1.5 km adverse handling circuit.

“It’s the first time I have had a chance to drive a new World Rally Car. Now, without the clever diffs and with the smaller lower boosted engines, you have to work the cars much harder, making them much more fun to drive and more spectacular for the fans,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The MINI John Cooper Works WRC made its competitive debut in May at Rally Italy in Sardinia, where Dani Sordo (ES) brought the leading car home in a very respectable sixth place. Sordo and Kris Meeke (GB) will return to the World Rally Championship from 28 to 30July, at the MINI WRC Team’s next outing in Finland. The team is only competing in six WRC events in 2011 in readiness for a full season in 2012.

The MINI John Cooper Works WRC has been developed by Prodrive based on the MINI Countryman. It is equipped with a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder Di turbo engine, which is also available in the MINI production models. The production engine was further developed by BMW Motorsport for the use in various categories according to FIA Super 2000 regulations. The power transmission takes place via an Xtrac 6-speed, sequential gearbox. For its outings on the rally stages, the MINI Countryman chassis has been fitted with a roll cage developed by Prodrive, which exceeds the strict safety requirements of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

Video: MINI WRC Tarmac Test

Posted: June 1, 2011 10:42 AM

MINI returns to Monte Carlo with old and new models.

Posted: February 3, 2011 11:37 AM

MINI is back in Monte Carlo and this time it is the iconic version that won the famous rally in the sixties meeting up with the latest MINI WRC that sees the brand back on the world rally stage. Rauno Aaltonen (FI) was driving the 1960s version when he was greeted at the end of the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique in the early hours of the 2nd February by Kris Meeke (GB) and Dani Sordo (ES), the drivers who will revive the brand’s rallying tradition this year.

For Meeke and Sordo this is a stop on what is a busy schedule leading up to the first appearance of the MINI WRC on selected FIA World Rally Championship events in 2011, prior to a full assault on the championship in 2012. However, before that they will be heading from Monaco to Spain to put their brand new test car through its paces. Then on the 13th April comes the official launch of the MINI WRC Team at the plant in Cowley, Oxford (GB) where MINI models are produced.

Aaltonen, who won the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally in a works Mini, covered 4,101 kilometres on the rally that took him and his co-driver, Helmut Artacker, from the start in Marrakech on the 26th January to the principality’s harbour for the finish in the early hours of the 2nd February. His comments on the event were:
“It has taken us a long time to get here and it was a good trip. In the old days a Mini in rallying form was rather uncomfortable, but in this Mini we had modern shock absorbers and it was so comfortable that after over 4,000 kilometres I am not tired at all. There was snow in places, but we were not told about this so we did not have the appropriate tyres and so lost over a hundred places. It was really busy on this last leg, we were really fighting hard and it was a great atmosphere.”

Also in Monte Carlo to greet Aaltonen was another famous Mini driver, Paddy Hopkirk from Northern Ireland, who won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964. Remembering that time he said:
“It is very interesting to be here and I was delighted to see Rauno looking so well and the car looking so good. It is just great to see it all being revived. When we won it was not just motorsport news, but front page news and I even got a telegram from the Beatles and the Prime Minister and I was given the keys to Belfast. I do admire the talents of these guys. Kris took me around the Prodrive test track in the MINI WRC and it was absolutely fantastic.”

Meeke and Sordo are both keen to start their rally programme.
“It is great for Dani and me to be competing for MINI and taking up that legendary spirit . Everything is going extremely well and I think the fundamental DNA of the car is very, very good. At this early stage of the development everyone is really excited as it seems to be hitting all the targets that were set out in the development phase,” said Meeke.

Sordo was also relishing the task ahead of him:
“I have driven the car less than Kris but I have been on both tarmac and gravel. Honestly the feel of the car was really good. We still need to improve in certain areas, but this is normal because the car is new. Our MINI is new to rallying but in Prodrive we have a lot of experience and they have achieved many things in the sport. Kris and I will try to do the best we can. At the moment the car is really good and getting better and better.”

The MINI WRC is based on the MINI Countryman and is powered by a 1.6-litre turbo engine derived from the MINI production models that has been developed by BMW Motorsport for use in series running to the FIA Series2000 Regulations, which also includes the FIA World Touring Car Championship. The MINI WRC has been developed by Prodrive, one of the most experienced and respected operations in rallying. This UK based company from Banbury has no less than six World Rally Championship titles to its name.

CHRISTIAN LORIAUX – THE MAN BEHIND THE FORD FIESTA RS WRC

Posted: January 31, 2011 12:17 PM

Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team technical director Christian Loriaux headed the team which developed the all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car. Here the 44-year-old Belgian talks about some of the key issues surrounding the development of Ford's 2011 WRC challenger.

Q. Was it simply a matter of developing a new engine to turn the Ford Fiesta S2000 into the Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car?
A. No. The Fiesta S2000 rally car provided a great base with which our engineers could work, but there was more development to undertake than just the engine. We had to ensure we were happy with the suspension and chassis, as well as developing the transmission. Essentially we had to be confident that the carryover parts from the S2000 would be strong enough to cope with the extra speed and power of a new-generation World Rally Car.

Q. What were the biggest challenges in developing the Fiesta RS WRC?
A. Developing the 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost engine was a massive undertaking. Working with this engine and direct injection for the first time was complicated – it was a completely new animal for us. Other areas that were big tasks were the transmission, the gear ratios and fitting the cooling package around the engine. The new rules stipulate a 1200kg minimum weight limit and it has been difficult to get down to that figure. We received great support in the entire process from the product engineers at Ford of Europe and many of their suppliers.

Q. Was the development of the engine the biggest challenge of all?
A. Yes. Direct injection is a complex beast and we worked closely with Ford's road vehicle engineers and our engine tuner, Pipo Moteurs, in France, to make the best of their expertise. Because the new regulations demand forced injection for the first time, it was the first occasion that many of us had the opportunity to work with this in a competition engine.

Q. Are the engine regulations for 2011 taking the sport in the right direction?
A. Downsizing was most definitely the correct route to take, from both a manufacturer and a competition perspective. And retaining turbocharged units was also the way forward. These engines require drivers to use more revs and from a spectator's viewpoint they sound faster. Engine noise is an important part of the spectacle and these cars sound better.

Q. How many parts are common to both the S2000 and the RS WRC?
A. We obtained plenty of data from the S2000 which competed in the S-WRC and other championships last year. We re-evaluated every area and if we thought certain areas could be improved, we went ahead and did so. Apart from the roll cage and chassis there aren't too many parts that the Fiesta RS WRC shares with the S2000. Plenty of parts may look similar, but they have been modified to be lighter, stiffer or whatever we felt would bring an improvement.

Q. The Fiesta RS WRC is visibly different to the S2000. Why?
A. Together with Ford of Europe's design team, we carried out a full restyling of the car to incorporate as many aspects as we could of Ford's kinetic design styling cues that are an integral part of the company's road vehicles. There are some necessary compromises for aerodynamic reasons, but both Ford and M-Sport are delighted with the car's appearance.

Q. Is the Fiesta RS WRC more difficult to drive than the Focus RS WRC?
A. The new regulations require 'back to basics' rally cars. In terms of chassis they are similar, but some of the technology we used in the Focus RS WRC has been banned.
There is no active central differential, no launch control and no paddle shift gearchange. That demands more driver skills.

Q. So the car rewards the better drivers?
A. Previously at the start of a stage the driver pushed a button that operated the clutch and the launch control. Now it is down to the guy behind the wheel to judge traction, the operation of the clutch and the manual gearchange in order to leave the start. It means they have more to do. That's a good thing because if a driver wants to be world champion then he needs to be capable of moving the car from a standing start without technology doing it for him.

Q. Did the banning of certain items of technology mean less was required of your team's engineering skills?
A. Not really. When a high-tech piece of kit like the paddle shift gearchange was outlawed, then we turned our attentions and resources to development in other areas where we could use our skills and expertise.

Q. Was it annoying to effectively consign high-tech kit on which you have spent time and money to the rubbish bin?
A. It's a little frustrating not to be able to use technology that we previously developed for the Ford Focus RS WRC. But reduced technology brings down the cost of competition and this has generated interest from new manufacturers, so it was the right decision. The new era of WRC is a compromise between affordability and eliminating waste. High-tech kit will live on in the Focus RS WRC in different levels of rallying but not in WRC. The new Fiesta RS WRC is high-tech and affordable and we have sold several to customers already.

Q. How much testing have you completed with the Fiesta RS WRC?
A. We started by putting the 2.0-lite Focus RS WRC engine into the Fiesta S2000 in March. That was our first Fiesta RS WRC. We didn't do much more testing until August when we installed the 1.6-litre prototype (without direct injection) into the car. Since then we've tested on gravel in Britain, Portugal, France and Spain. We tested in Britain, Spain and France on asphalt and in Sweden on snow and ice. We have covered more than 11,000km in total.

Q. Which drivers have carried out the testing?
A. The early work was done by guys like Henning Solberg, Matthew Wilson, PG Andersson and Andreas Mikkelsen. Even Malcolm Wilson took the wheel briefly! All the recent work, which has concentrated more on perfecting the set-up, was done by Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala.

Q. Do you believe the Fiesta RS WRC will be fully competitive in the FIA World Rally Championship this season?
A. That's the target every person in the team has set themselves. We believe we have developed a great rally car, but we have no benchmark with which to compare it. Before, we were able to compare new versions of the Focus RS WRC with the previous car. Because the regulations are new we have nothing like-for-like with which to make a comparison. So we will only know how competitive we are at the end of the first proper stage in Sweden.

FORD FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR SET TO RECEIVE GREEN LIGHT FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT

Posted: January 31, 2011 12:14 PM

Ford's all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car is set to receive final clearance for its FIA World Rally Championship debut this week when motorsport's governing body gives it the seal of approval to compete in Rally Sweden next month.

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is ready to approve homologation of Ford's challenger for the 2011 championship after the car successfully cleared tough technical inspections to ensure it complies with the sport's new cost-effective regulations.

This means that Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila will put the Fiesta RS WRC through its paces for the first time in the WRC when the 13-round season begins in Sweden (10 February).

"We worked closely with the FIA throughout the development of the car to ensure our understanding of the regulations was aligned with that of the governing body," said Ford of Europe's motorsport chief, Gerard Quinn. "We expect the paperwork to be finalised this week, and everyone involved with the programme is looking forward to an exciting season ahead, with the action beginning over Sweden's frozen roads in 10 days."

Ford's road technology powers Fiesta RS WRC

Ford's four-wheel drive WRC challenger is derived from the best-selling Fiesta road car. It was developed from the 2010 Monte Carlo Rally-winning Fiesta S2000 rally car by the Blue Oval's long-term British-based partner M-Sport, with support from Ford of Europe. It forms part of a new era in the World Rally Championship, for which a revised cost-effective formula is introduced this season.

The WRC is acknowledged as the toughest form of motorsport for production-based cars, which battle for world titles in such diverse and demanding conditions as the barren, frozen countryside of Sweden and sweltering temperatures and boulder-strewn roads of Greece.

M-Sport, together with Ford's engineering team, undertook a varied and structured development programme with the Fiesta RS WRC in readiness for the 2011 season. Work will continue, with the car shortly due to be taken to the Environmental Testing Laboratory at Ford's Dunton Technical Centre in the UK to evaluate and optimise engine performance.

Ford Abu Dhabi technical director Christian Loriaux said the team had not compromised on anything.
"We obtained plenty of data from the standard Fiesta road car, and the S2000 which competed in the S-WRC and other championships last year. We re-evaluated every area and if we thought certain areas could be improved, we went ahead and did so," he said.

"Apart from the roll cage and chassis there aren't too many parts that the Fiesta RS WRC shares with the S2000. Plenty of parts may look similar, but they have been modified to be lighter, stiffer or whatever we felt would bring an improvement," added Loriaux.

Ford of Europe's design team played a key role in the look of the Fiesta RS WRC. Its input ensured that the car visually reflects the successful 'kinetic design' styling cues synonymous with Ford's line-up on the road.

"Together with Ford of Europe's design team, we carried out a full restyling of the car to incorporate as many aspects as we could of Ford's kinetic design styling cues that are an integral part of the company's road vehicles. There are some necessary modifications for aerodynamic reasons, but both Ford and M-Sport are delighted with the car's appearance," said Loriaux.

1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost technology

The 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection engine that powers the rally car draws on the knowledge of Ford's advanced EcoBoost technology, used in its latest production cars.

Quinn said:
"Ford's EcoBoost road engine represents a new generation of downsized, high-efficiency, petrol engines. Developed by Ford engineers in Europe, the four-cylinder EcoBoost production unit combines high-pressure direct injection, advanced turbocharging and twin variable valve timing to maximise combustion efficiency. Different displacements are already available in Ford road vehicles around the globe.

"The knowledge accumulated during the design of the EcoBoost road engine proved invaluable during development of the rally car unit. Technology transfer usually switches from rally cars to road vehicles, but in this situation we're delighted it has taken the opposite route," he added.

Engine tuner Pipo Moteurs took responsibility for the development of the Fiesta RS WRC's power plant. The French company, which has developed a strong relationship with M-Sport and Ford in motorsport in recent years, worked closely with engineers from both companies throughout the process of developing the competition unit.

Ford provided key support in this task via its global engineering facilities, including its Powertrain Research and Innovation Centre in the United States, its Engine Research Centre at Dunton in the UK and its Research & Advanced Engineering Centre in Aachen, Germany, to evaluate performance.

The most challenging task was to implement direct injection technology, which is relatively new in motorsport, and Loriaux admitted the engine development was a huge task.
"It was a massive undertaking. Direct injection was a complex beast and it was the first time many of us in the team had the opportunity to work with forced injection in a competition engine. The engine was the biggest challenge of the whole project," he said.

Under the skin of the Fiesta RS WRC

The Fiesta RS WRC's 1.6-litre EcoBoost power unit has turbocharging from a Garrett system, which is fitted with a 33mm inlet restrictor, as required by FIA regulations. The unit is managed by Cosworth's electronic engine system. Cosworth also provides chassis data acquisition.

The four-wheel drive transmission contains mechanical front and rear differentials, with a clutch disconnect system fitted to the handbrake. The M-Sport / X-Trac-built six-speed sequential gearbox is operated by a mechanical shift, using a twin disc clutch built by M-Sport and AP Racing.

Both front and rear suspension comprises MacPherson struts with Reiger external reservoir dampers, which are adjustable in bump and rebound. It contains fully adjustable steel links and the uprights are made from machined aluminium.

Brembo ventilated brake discs with four-piston monoblock calipers provide the stopping power on both loose and sealed surface roads, with the braking system adjustable to provide either front or rear bias.

Michelin's 650mm tyres will be used on all surfaces, allied with 7in x 15in aluminium wheels for gravel and snow and 8in x 18in wheels for asphalt.

Fiesta RS WRC racks up testing kilometres

The Fiesta RS WRC has covered more than 11,000 kilometres of testing on gravel, asphalt, snow and ice in preparation for its WRC debut – the equivalent of more than two full seasons of WRC competition.

The team began by installing a 2.0-litre engine from a 2010 Focus RS WRC into the Fiesta S2000 rally car in March last year.

Testing was stepped up significantly in August when a 1.6-litre prototype engine (without direct injection) was installed for the first time. Since then the car has been trialled on gravel roads in Britain, Portugal, France and Spain and on asphalt in Britain, France and Spain. Snow and ice tests have taken place in Sweden.

"We're encouraged by both the car's performance and its reliability over thousands of kilometres of testing, and we're confident we can transfer that into competition. But the true test will come during the opening round in Sweden next week," said Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson.

"It was a challenging test programme. Matching the car to the tyres of our new supplier, Michelin, was a demanding process. We've made excellent progress but I believe Mikko and Jari-Matti will learn more about the way the tyres behave as we encounter new conditions on different rallies," added Wilson.

ALL-NEW FORD FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR BREAKS COVER IN 2011 COLOUR SCHEME

Posted: January 13, 2011 11:47 AM

Ford's all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car was revealed in its 2011-specification today when the company unveiled the colour scheme that will adorn the car in the FIA World Rally Championship.

Team driver Mikko Hirvonen and Ford of Europe motorsport chief Gerard Quinn unveiled the livery for the eye-catching Fiesta RS WRC at the Autosport International Racing Car Show in Birmingham, motorsport's traditional start-of-season showcase event.

Ford's official WRC squad for 2011 also confirmed its new name and logo - it will compete as the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

Title partner Abu Dhabi will continue its support throughout 2011 and its distinctive branding will also feature strongly in the new-look livery. Abu Dhabi has been a team partner since 2007 and Emirati driver Khalid Al Qassimi will drive a third Fiesta RS WRC in support of team-mates Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala.

The team will also be sponsored by Castrol, the world's leading lubricants brand and a partner since 2005. Branding for Castrol EDGE, its global range of best-in-class motor oils, will feature prominently in the Fiesta RS WRC's livery.

BP, Castrol's parent company, plans to promote the Castrol EDGE range of advanced synthetic oils, and demonstrate their strength to perform in the demanding surroundings of the WRC.

"The preview version of the car we unveiled in September at the 2010 Paris Motor Show was dramatic in its blue and grey livery, developed specifically for the show by Ford of Europe's design team," said Quinn.

"But now we have a fully finished car in a really eye-catching new livery plus a new team name, and excitement is building throughout the squad as we prepare for the opening round in Sweden next month.

"Ford's designers and product development engineers have worked closely and efficiently alongside the expertise of our partners at M-Sport. The aim was, of course, to produce a car capable of challenging for world championship titles, but one which also reflects the much-admired 'kinetic design' styling cues synonymous with Ford's current road vehicles," added Quinn.

Ford's WRC challenger, derived from the best-selling Fiesta road car, has been developed by Ford of Europe and British-based rally partner M-Sport. It is based on the Fiesta S2000 rally car, which won the legendary Monte Carlo Rally in January 2010 and other international and national rallies during the season.

The Fiesta RS WRC will form part of a new era in the world championship, for which a revised cost-effective formula is introduced this season. It boasts four-wheel drive transmission and a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, based on the new Ford EcoBoost road vehicle power plant, to comply with the new regulations.

The full specification of the car will be available at the beginning of February. Testing will continue in Sweden next week ahead of the Fiesta RS WRC's championship debut in Rally Sweden, the opening round of the series, on 10 - 13 February.

Østberg to join M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team for 2011

Posted: January 12, 2011 10:44 AM

Next month’s Rally Sweden will mark Mads Østberg’s debut piloting the Ford Fiesta RS WRC in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

The 23-year-old Norwegian will be partnered with experienced Swedish co-driver Jonas Andersson and the pair will act as official nominated point scorers for the M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team.

Team-mates Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson will also remain in the Cumbrian-based squad.

Mads Østberg said:
“I’m really looking forward to this season and to start in Rally Sweden is ideal. Jonas is Swedish, and the country is my second homeland. We have our family summer house there, I did my first youth rally in Sweden, I won my first rally in Sweden, I did my first WRC rally in Sweden, I won my first special stage in WRC in Sweden - what can be better than starting my Ford career, and my first rally as a nominated team driver, in Sweden? I am delighted to be a part of the M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team and very happy to have Henning and Matthew as our team-mates.”

Jonas Andersson said:
“We are preparing well for Rally Sweden. There will be one test with the new car before the rally but we start winter testing with the similar Ford Fiesta S2000 this week and we will compete in rallies in the Norwegian Championship before Rally Sweden. I think we can gain important experience with the Fiesta S2000 that will be valuable. For me it is special to do my home rally as it will be the first WRC rally for Ford with Mads. I am sure that the spectators will support us as a home team, and with many fans coming over from Norway too we hope to have good support out in the forests.”

NEW TEAM ENTERS 2011 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted: January 10, 2011 9:06 AM

NEW TEAM ENTERS 2011 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP - FERM POWER

FERM Power Tools are proud to announce their entry as a new team in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and will make their debut at Rally Sweden next month.

FERM Power Tools World Rally Team will partner with Cumbrian-based M-Sport and will be headed by Dutchman Dennis Kuipers who will pilot the new Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

Kuipers made his debut in the WRC with M-Sport in 2010. The 25-year-old produced a series of strong results, finishing ninth at Rally of Turkey and the first Dutchman ever to score WRC driver points.

FERM Power Tools World Rally Team will register with the FIA as an official team in the WRC to compete in the FIA Manufacturers’ Championship. Kuipers will also compete in the 2011 FIA Drivers’ Championship.

FERM Power Tools is a global producer of electronic equipment and tools and they have embraced the WRC to help promote its brand and products worldwide.

There is a natural fit between the products and the WRC. The maintenance of the car during and before a WRC event is a vital part of the rally and provides FERM Power Tools with an exciting challenge. The Dutch-based company would like to share this challenge with WRC fans worldwide, their customers and staff.

FERM Power Tools World Rally Team 2011 Calendar
February 10 - 13: Rally Sweden
March 3 - 6: Rally Mexico
March 24 - 27: Rally Portugal
April 14 - 17: Jordan Rally
May 5 - 8: Rally d'Italia
June 16 - 19: Acropolis Rally
July 28 - 31: Rally Finland
August 18 - 21: Rallye Deutschland
September 29 - October 2: Rally of France
October 20 - 23: Catalunya Rally
November 10 – 13: Wales Rally GB

Dennis Kuipers said:
"I'm very happy to join the FERM Power Tools World Rally Team for 2011. 2010 was a very educational year and we had some good results with the Ford Fiesta S2000. I feel that the experience we gained with the Fiesta S2000 was excellent preparation for driving the new Ford Fiesta RS WRC. I'm really looking forward to next year.”

M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE said:
“It is a real pleasure to welcome FERM Power Tools World Rally Team into the M-Sport family and the WRC for 2011. Dennis produced a series of consistently strong results in the Ford Fiesta S2000 in 2010 and showed considerable progression throughout the year. Dennis was a joy to work with last year and I look forward to working with him and the new team for what promises to be a successful season.”

MINI WRC Team announce new driver Dani Sordo.

Posted: January 5, 2011 5:02 PM

Spanish driver Daniel “Dani” Sordo will strengthen the new MINI WRC Team in the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship. He will team up with Kris Meeke (GB) when MINI makes its return to rallying with the MINI WRC this coming season.

“There has been a great deal of excitement surrounding MINI’s return to the WRC, so to be part of this new team is a fantastic opportunity for me," says the 27-year-old Sordo. “I’m sure MINI has a big future in the sport. I’m looking forward to working with Kris Meeke, having completed a very successful test with him in Sardinia last November.”

Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht, Senior Vice President Brand Management MINI, says: “Both Dani and Kris fit well with the MINI brand, and can offer the MINI WRC programme not only experience and speed but also the right chemistry we need to build the team.”

“Dani may only be 27, but he is already one of the most experienced drivers in the WRC and has been competing at the very highest level for the last five years," says David Richards, Chairman of Prodrive. “I believe with the new MINI WRC and in the right environment, he can now take the next step and add to his 29 podiums with victories on WRC events and become a challenger for a WRC title.”

Dani Sordo is an experienced and successful WRC contender, having participated in the championship since 2003 and driving in the same team as Sébastien Loeb for several seasons. He is a former Junior World Rally Champion, and to date in the WRC has secured an impressive 29 podium finishes and 102 stage wins.

Sordo began his career in motocross when he was 12 years old, achieving success also in hillclimbing, karting and touring cars. He first drove in a WRC event at the Rally Catalunya, the Spanish round of the series, in 2003 in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII, finishing 18th overall. He won the Spanish Junior Rally Championship that year, and retained the title in 2004, while gaining further international experience at WRC rounds in Argentina, France and Spain.

After clinching the Junior World Rally Championship title in 2005, Sordo then joined the Kronos Total Citroën World Rally Team in 2006 when he was first paired with Loeb. Sordo finished the 2006 season with four podium places, 49 points and fifth overall in the Drivers’ Championship. He has driven for the Citroën Total World Rally Team since 2007, and while in the WRC has achieved a total of 17 second place finishes, taking the third step of the podium 12 times.

In 2007, Sordo finished fourth in the WRC Drivers’ Championship, was placed third in the standings in 2008 and 2009 and finished the 2010 season fifth overall. In 2011, the MINI WRC Team will enter at least six WRC events which will give Sordo and his co-driver Diego Vallejo the chance to work closely with the Banbury, UK-based, Prodrive outfit responsible for preparing the MINI WRC.

ŠKODA AND RED BULL TEAM UP TO APPEAR IN S-WRC / IRC champion Juho Hänninen top driver of Red Bull Škoda team in 2011 World Rally Championship

Posted: December 22, 2010 9:36 PM

Shortly after winning this year's IRC, Škoda has made another big step forward by becoming part of Red Bull Škoda, a new team based on the brand's partnership with the top-class company Red Bull and its liaison with the private team BRR. Both of the new team's crews, the IRC champions Juho Hänninen & Mikko Markkula of Finland and Germany's young hope Hermann Gassner jr. & Katharina Wüstenhagen, are going to appear in the 2011 S-WRC.

The Red Bull Škoda team is a result of joint efforts by Škoda Motorsport (factory team), Baumschlager Rally Racing (BRR) (private team) and Red Bull. Head of Škoda Motorsport Michal Hrabánek says:
“We are really pleased that we can contribute to further growth of the Fabia Super 2000 project as part of Red Bull and BRR. Red Bull is one of the strongest possible partners on today's sports scene. The BRR team led by Raimund Baumschlager, a nine-times Austrian Rally Champion and the buyer of the first Fabia Super 2000 vehicle we sold, is a guarantee of a highly professional approach and top-class background.“

Raimund Baumschlager has many years' experience in rallying. He is one of Austria's rallying icons. Under his leadership, the Red Bull Rally team has been using a Fabia Super 2000 in world-class competitions over the past two years and has made some great achievements with this car, including, in particular, several 2010/2011-season wins by Patrik Sandell who was supported by the Swedish importer of Škoda. Juho Hänninen, one of the new members of the squad, has great memories of Baumschlager's team, too – driving Baumschlager's Fabia Super 2000, he convincingly won last year's Finnish Rally in the S-WRC category.

Raimund Baumschlager is sure that the team with Hänninen has a great future:
“First of all, I wish to thank Škoda Motorsport and also Red Bull, our partner, for their support. We have only the best experience of cooperating with them, and they are both leaders in what they do. Juho has been one of the top drivers over the last few years, I remember him when he used to appear in PWRC - he was our toughest competitor in the battle for the championship title. At the same time, I know him as an excellent test driver and a great chap, too. I am sure that with him around we can think of the highest ranks. Hermann Gassner has a great opportunity to grow beside Juho and learn from him, in both tests and races. We are planning to appear in about seven Championships events.”

NGK SPARK PLUGS (UK) LTD CONTINUE PARTNERSHIP WITH M-SPORT

Posted: December 10, 2010 11:07 PM

M-Sport has today confirmed that they will continue their partnership with NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd for the fifth consecutive year.

NGK is the number one supplier of spark plugs to vehicle manufacturers worldwide as well as being the biggest global manufacturer of spark plugs for both OE and aftermarket applications.

NGK’s spark plugs, glow plugs and Lambda sensors share the same heritage, with the company’s expertise being proven by its OE successes with the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and also in the field of motorsport.

The contract will see M-Sport and NGK enter a partnership until the end of 2011 whereby the world leading supplier in spark plugs will continue to support Cumbrian based M-Sport and the new Ford Fiesta RS WRC with spark plugs.

More information about NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd can be found at: www.ngkntk.co.uk

Gerard Irving, Marketing Manager of NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd said:
“We are very pleased to be continuing our successful partnership with M-Sport. Both companies are renowned for their professionalism in their respective fields and we look forward to continuing our relationship over the next 12 months.”

Andrew Wheatley, M-Sport Business Development Manager said: “M-Sport are delighted to continue their partnership with NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd. The new engine regulations for 2011 pose a series of technical challenges and it is important for M-Sport to have knowledgeable partners to support the development programme. We are looking forward to working closely with them for the fifth consecutive year.”

KUIPERS TO DRIVE FORD FIESTA RS WRC FOR 2011

Posted: November 30, 2010 5:04 PM

Dutch rising star Dennis Kuipers will drive a Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car in next year’s FIA World Rally Championship. The newly-developed car will be run by Ipatec Racing in conjunction with Cumbria-based M-Sport.

The 25-year-old Dutch driver piloted the award-winning Ford Fiesta S2000 with M-Sport for this year’s championship and produced a series of strong results including a ninth-place finish at Rally Turkey.

Following his successful debut with M-Sport, Ipatec Racing have agreed terms for Kuipers to continue working with the UK based team next year.

More details of the final programme are still to be confirmed but Kuipers will contest 10 WRC rounds next year including the season’s opening rally in Sweden, 10 – 13 February.

Dennis Kuipers said:
“I’m very happy to continue in 2011 with the M-Sport family. For us this year was a very educational year and we had some good results with the Ford Fiesta S2000. We think that the experience we gained this year with the Fiesta S2000 is a good base for the new Ford Fiesta RS WRC. I’m really looking forward to next year to drive the Fiesta RS WRC and to see where we stand compared to the other WRC drivers. We are aiming for the best possible result in the WRC next year.”

M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson said:
“It is a real pleasure to welcome Dennis [Kuipers] back to the M-Sport family for 2011. He produced a series of consistently strong results in the Ford Fiesta S2000 this year and has shown progression throughout the year. Dennis was a joy to work with over the season and I look forward to welcoming him back into the team for next year.”

ADAPTA MOTORSPORT CONFIRMS FORD FIESTA RS WRC FOR 2011

Posted: November 15, 2010 9:05 PM

Adapta Motorsport have confirmed a collaboration with M-Sport to support Mads Østberg in a Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car for next year’s FIA World Rally Championship.

The 23-year-old Norwegian piloted the award-winning Ford Fiesta S2000 with the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team in France and Germany earlier this year and following his successful debut with M-Sport, Adapta have agreed terms to expand the link with the UK based team.

Sweden’s Jonas Andersson will join Mads Østberg as his co-driver.

More details of the final programme are still to be confirmed but Østberg and Andersson will contest the season’s opening rally in Sweden, 10 – 13 February.

Mads Østberg said:
“I enjoyed driving the Ford Fiesta S2000 in France and Germany and I’m very happy to have been given the opportunity to drive the new Fiesta next year. I know the competition is tough for next year’s championship so I feel really lucky to have sorted this deal between M-Sport and Adapta at this stage. I don’t have a lot of experience working with a big team like M-Sport but I found them to be very professional and welcoming. I’m really pleased about the deal and looking forward to next year.”

Adapta Motorsport Team Director, Morten Østberg said:
“This is a logical step for Mads to take in 2011 – we had a nice feeling in the Ford Fiesta S2000 after Rallye de France and we are looking to build a collaboration with M-Sport into the future to help develop our team in the Scandinavian market.”

M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson said:
“It is great to be able to welcome Mads, Jonas and the Adapta team into the M-Sport family for 2011. Mads and Jonas adapted well to the large team environment in Germany and with the new technical regulations coming, we feel the time is right for Mads to make the next step in his development as a driver.”

Photos - 2011 WRC Cars

Posted: October 1, 2010 9:19 AM

Clear the decks for the new MINI WRC / Kris Meeke Confirmed as Driver

Posted: October 1, 2010 8:47 AM

Visitors to the 2010 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris (FR) can look forward to a special treat: The new MINI WRC, which will contest the FIA World Rally Championship from 2011, will receive its world premiere at this international motor show. In addition, Kris Meeke (GB) has been confirmed as one of the drivers who will contest the championship with this brand new rally car.

The MINI WRC, powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder Di turbo-charged engine, recently received a baptism of fire, acquitting itself well during initial testing at Prodrive’s rally track. The company commenced development of the car in 2009, and a concept of the MINI WRC will be displayed in Paris.

“The Paris Motor Show is the perfect stage, on which to launch our MINI WRC,” says Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing. “The response to our announcement that MINI will return to the world of rallying next year was very positive. The FIA World Rally Championship is the pinnacle of rallying, making it the ideal platform for demonstrating the competitive spirit of our brand. The development of the car is running on schedule, and the preparations for the world championship are in full swing. The MINI Countryman production model provided the ideal basis for our new world championship challenger.”

The 2011 World Rally Championship will see the new MINI WRC contesting in six of 13 scheduled rounds, with MINI competing in the full 2012 season. In addition, Prodrive plans to make available customer versions to independent teams for use in the championship.

Rallying is hardly unchartered territory for MINI. In the past this popular motor sporting genre decisively shaped the image of the brand. The MINI Cooper S became a true legend through its numerous victories on Rally Monte Carlo. The European Rally Championship, too, saw MINI notch up serial successes.

“MINI can look back on a successful tradition in rallying,” says Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht, Senior Vice President Brand Management MINI. “The interest in motorsport among the present generation of MINI customers is massive. The WRC provides an excellent communications platform for the MINI Countryman, upon which the MINI WRC is based.”

Prodrive, an experienced motorsport operation, was chosen as the partner in the quest to continue MINI’s success story. The company, founded by David Richards, is viewed as one of the most respected and successful in rallying.

“This project is a truly passionate opportunity,” believes Richards. “MINI is a cult brand which left a lasting impression during its previous motorsport campaigns. We are both extremely happy and proud to be on board as a partner when MINI returns to rallying. We aim to use 2011 as a preparatory year, amassing experience in order to ensure we are fully competitive from the start of the following season. But let's not underestimate the task ahead of us nor the stiff competition we will face on the way, however our target is firmly set on winning the World Championship title again with MINI.”

Prodrive was founded in 1984, and has established itself as one of motorsport’s leading independent teams. Currently employing over 500 staff, the company is based in Banbury (GB). Among other successes, Prodrive has to date won six World Rally Championships, five British Touring Car titles, and scored three class victories in France’s classic Le Mans 24 Hours.

Kris Meeke has been confirmed as the first driver to compete for Prodrive in the MINI WRC. The rally ace from Dungannon (GB) first came to prominence when he won the British Junior Rally Championship in 2002. Numerous victories and titles were to follow. With support from his long-term mentor and former rally world champion, the late Colin McRae (GB), Meeke has been able to successfully establish himself on the rally scene. The Northern Irishman celebrated his most recent success last year, when he won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).

The MINI Countryman is the youngest MINI model and also the first to be equipped with an all-wheel-drive system. Therefore this model provided the logical basis for a competitive rally derivative. The flagship MINI Cooper S Countryman is powered by a 1,6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, supplemented not only by a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection, but also fully variable valve management – so offering by far the best relationship between engine power and fuel consumption in its class. The engine produces an impressive 135 kW / 184 bhp, and accelerates the MINI Cooper S Countryman from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds.

As part of the MINIMALISM concept, a range of fuel- and emission-reducing features are fitted as standard and/or in appropriate combinations, including Brake Energy Regeneration, the Auto Start/Stop function, Shift Point Display and the need-based operation of ancillary components.

All MINI Cooper S Countryman and MINI Cooper D Countryman are optionally available with permanent MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive, with an electro-hydraulic differential positioned directly on the final drive varying the distribution from front to rear in an infinite process. Under normal driving conditions up to 50 per cent of the engine’s power goes to the rear wheels; under extreme conditions up to 100 per cent, offering a new, high-traction rendition of the agile handling so typical of MINI.

The heart of the MINI WRC is the BMW Motorsport-developed 1.6 litre, four-cylinder Di turbo-charged engine which can be deployed not only in the WRC, but also in other championships running to the FIA’s Super2000 regulations. The power transmission takes place via an Xtrac 6-speed, sequential gearbox. For its outings on the rally stages, the MINI Countryman chassis has been fitted with a roll cage developed by Prodrive, which exceeds the strict safety requirements of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

Citroën Racing’s three DS!

Posted: October 1, 2010 8:44 AM

The Citroën DS3 Racing and Citroën DS3 WRC unveiled during the Paris Motorshow represent two incarnations of Citroën’s sporting prowess. With the Citroën DS3 R3, already presented this summer, Citroën Racing now has a range of three cars based on the flagship DS3.

Drawing on its expertise rewarded by five World Rally Championship Manufacturers’ titles, Citroën Racing has designed and developed three models that incarnate Creative Technology.

DS3 RACING
The Citroën DS3 Racing, that incorporates all the company’s sporting know-how, is the first series production car designed and developed by Citroën Racing. The engineers devoted all their attention to the 1.6- litre THP engine, whose power has been increased to 202 bhp while keeping the CO2 emissions down to 149 g/km. The lessons learned in competition have also been applied to the chassis. Thanks to the fact that the tracks have been enlarged by 30 mm, the ride lowered by 15 mm, specific dampers and its reinforced braking system, the road-going version of the Citroën DS3 Racing behaves like a true sports car. The DS3 Racing’s look has certain elements in carbon and specific equipment derived from motor sport. It has been on sale since 1st September 2010.

DS3 R3
The Citroën DS3 R3, which complies with the new FIA Group R regulations, continues the long tradition of rally cars destined for clients who want to go racing. It is closely derived from the series production model, and is on sale in kit form with a monocoque integrating the multi-point welded rollbar, the 1.6-litre THP 210 bhp engine and an automatic sequential gearbox - a first at this level. The suspension also developed by Citroën Racing provides a wide range of setups to adapt the car to all kinds of driving styles, both on gravel and on asphalt. The Citroën DS3 R3 combines first-class performance with a cost-capped running budget, and is already a yardstick in its category.

DS3 WRC
After the Xsara WRC and the C4 WRC, two cars that have won multiple World Rally Championship titles, Citroën Racing has unveiled the DS3 WRC. Citroën Racing has developed a completely new car that complies with the new regulations drawn up by the Fédération Internationale de l ‘Automobile (FIA). The 1.6-litre direct injection turbo engine has been designed and built in–house by the engineers in the Versailles-Satory factory. The Citroën DS3 WRC will make its competition debut during the 2011 season, and its aim will be to win more world titles for Citroën. Two crews have been confirmed: Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena and Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia.

Olivier Quesnel, Citroën Racing Team Director
“The DS3 is currently Citroën’s flagship model. For our engineers, it is also the ideal base on which to build a sports model and rally cars. The DS3 is compact, stylish and agile. Despite very different philosophies, the DS3 Racing, the DS3 R3 and the DS3 WRC share the same genes. They have been designed to become the yardsticks in their respective fields. With the DS3 WRC, Citroën is hoping to continue its on-going success, and is aiming for new world championship titles. The DS3 R3 is aimed at privateers who want a quick and reliable. The DS3 Racing is the road-going incarnation of our many world titles, and marks Citroën’s return to the segment of small high performance sports cars.”

PARIS SHOW PREVIEW FOR ALL-NEW FORD FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR

Posted: October 1, 2010 8:39 AM

Ford's new challenger for the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship, the all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car, made its first global public appearance at the Paris Motor Show.

The Fiesta RS WRC will make its competition debut in Rally Sweden, the opening round of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship, on 10 - 13 February.

For Paris, the preview model has been finished in a striking blue and grey livery, specially developed for the show by Ford of Europe's design team. The new World Rally Car, derived from the best-selling Fiesta road car, is being developed by Ford of Europe and its rally partner M-Sport.

Using as a base the Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car, which won the legendary Monte Carlo Rally on its debut last January and other international and national rallies in 2010, Ford of Europe's design team and M-Sport have worked together to fine-tune the styling of the bodywork and aerodynamic package of the new Fiesta to create an exciting replacement for the outgoing Focus RS WRC.

Although detailed changes may be made as the Fiesta RS WRC car continues its development programme through the balance of this year and in time for the commencement of the team's specialised pre-season testing, the final car will share the eye-catching appearance and acclaimed 'kinetic design' styling cues synonymous with Ford's latest road vehicles. The interior will also be instantly recognisable as a Fiesta RS WRC rally car as it contains a number of production parts.

A new era for the World Rally Championship
The Fiesta RS WRC competition car will form part of a new era for the world championship. The Fiesta rally car will boast four-wheel drive transmission and a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, based on the all-new Ford EcoBoost engine family, to comply with new regulations.
The new Ford EcoBoost engine family features direct petrol injection and turbocharging to maximise performance and efficiency. "The introduction of Ford's latest engine technology to its rally programme reinforces further our commitment to motorsport. It also demonstrates our continued support for affordable competition by using an off-the-shelf production engine on which to base our WRC power plant," said Mike Norton, Ford of Europe's Motorsport Manager.

Specialist engineers from Ford and M-Sport have co-operated closely in the development of this 1.6-litre engine, with highly-respected French tuner Pipo Moteur bringing additional expertise to the power plant.

The Fiesta RS WRC appearance at the Paris Motor Show precedes the car's first major test programme with the full 2011 engine specification on gravel roads in Spain next week. The car has already completed almost 3000 kilometres of testing in Britain and France, powered initially by the current WRC engine and more recently by a prototype 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost turbo unit.

The test will provide the first opportunity for BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila to drive the new Fiesta RS WRC. Gerard Quinn, Ford of Europe's Motorsport chief, has overseen the Ford development programme throughout 2010 and says:
"We're delighted to preview the Ford Fiesta RS WRC in such a prominent Motor Show as Paris. There are significant visual differences from the Fiesta S2000 base car as well as major changes under the skin. The biggest, of course, is the 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost turbo engine - the original version of which was developed by Ford's Powertrain Engineering team."

M-Sport managing director and BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team director Malcolm Wilson is equally enthusiastic about the new car.

"This is a thrilling time for everyone involved in the car's development," Wilson affirms. "Countless hours have gone into the Fiesta RS WRC to reach this point, and for the car to be unveiled in public for the first time is a proud moment for us. We are right on track with our development and the team is delighted with testing to date. Another major step forward will be taken at the start of October when the car tests in full 2011 technical specification for the first time.

"We will have a test car running under the guidance of our technical director, Christian Loriaux. Mikko and Jari-Matti lead our challenge with the new car in the 2011 WRC, so their feedback from the testing is critical, and will provide valuable data for our engineering team to work with," added Wilson.

The Fiesta RS WRC will replace the record-breaking Focus RS WRC as Ford's championship challenger. The Focus RS WRC won back-to-back manufacturers' world titles in 2006 and 2007, and its victory in New Zealand in May was the Blue Oval's 75th at WRC level, making Ford the most successful manufacturer in world championship history.

Ford has sold more than one million of the hugely-successful, latest generation Fiesta road cars around the world since it went on sale in October 2008. Fiesta, Ford's truly global car, is the No 2 best-selling car across Europe.

Also, the latest Fiesta has already proved its abilities in motorsport. The Fiesta SportTrophy International for Fiesta R2 cars is a successful support series to the FIA World Rally Championship and the Fiesta S2000 rally car currently leads the S-WRC support series within the WRC.

American sports icon Ken Block has campaigned a Fiesta rally car in the Rally America championship this season, and the car won gold and silver medals in both the Rally Car and Super Rally events at the X Games event in Los Angeles in July.

"The Ford Fiesta has already established itself as a serious contender in a range of global motorsport activities, and we can't wait to debut our official car in the hugely demanding World Rally Championship next year," said Gerard Quinn.

"We've worked hard to ensure the car is undoubtedly related to the best-selling Fiesta road car which itself is a global success story. Ford's design and product development teams have worked closely and efficiently with our partners at M-Sport whose enormous expertise is key to delivering not just a highly competitive rally car, but also a car that is both stylish and recognisably a Ford Fiesta," he added.

DMACK Completes Evaluation of Its World Rally Tyres on Gravel

Posted: October 1, 2010 7:08 AM

After announcing its authorisation by the FIA to supply tyres to the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship, DMACK Tyres carried out the first major evaluation of its WRC specification tyre during a two-day test session in Latvia last week. The test was conducted by DMACK’s official driver Mark Higgins to assess the tyres in terms of high and low speed handling and compound consistency and durability before deciding on the exact final specification.

DMACK’s world rally championship specification 205/65-R15 gravel tyre in G4 compound was used both days on the WRC and Group N rally cars supplied by its technical partner MML Sports. The test road on the first day had a soft surface with a mix of fast and slow corners while on the second day conditions were faster with a hard base and loose gravel surface. Performance and durability was found to be comparable with other motorsport brands.

The first batch of gravel tyres will be available for teams to test in October. Feedback will be collated and used to determine the final specification before full production gets underway in December. Tarmac tyres are currently undergoing evaluation and will be available for use by competitors in November.

Technical data on the range of DMACK WRC tyres will be available on the official website at www.dmacktyres.com in early October.

Dick Cormack, DMACK Tyres Motorsport Director, said:
“The test last week was very successful and met our expectations with regards to the performance of the new tyres. We still have a lot of further testing planned on a full range of surfaces and conditions but last week’s results really helped us evaluate some key aspects of the compound and the general handling characteristics. We want teams and competitors to start using the tyres soon so we can gather their feedback and confirm the final specification for the gravel tyres.’’

Mark Higgins, DMACK Tyres Test Driver, said:
“I was very impressed with not only the performance of the tyres but also the feeling they gave – which is very important from a driver’s point of view. The stability gave me confidence in the fast sections and through high speed corners. Generally it was an extremely positive test and we should have a very good product for competitors to try.”

John Easton, MML Sports Managing Director, said:
“The DMACK Tyres coped well with the conditions in Latvia and their durability during the test was very positive. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to any MML customers or teams after their performance on gravel last week.”

Dick Cormack (DMACK Tyres)

DMACK Tyres Becomes Authorised Tyre Supplier to FIA World Rally Championship

Posted: September 16, 2010 10:54 AM

DMACK Tyres, the exciting new Chinese motorsport tyre manufacturer, has been appointed as an authorised tyre supplier to the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

After technical scrutiny in front of the FIA, motorsport’s global governing body, DMACK Tyres was named as one of two tyre manufacturers sanctioned to supply next season’s world rally crews.

DMACK will join global tyre giant Michelin as an authorised supplier to the world’s top rally series. DMACK will aim its supply at privateer teams and support category competitors by offering strong, durable, high quality tyres at affordable prices. The pricing structure will allow drivers on a more limited budget to take advantage of a product offering high levels of performance and durability with the option of on-event expertise and technical support.

The FIA sporting regulations for 2011 encourage new tyre manufacturers to enter the WRC and DMACK Tyres has taken full advantage of this. The technical rule changes make it more achievable for a new tyre manufacturer to reach the required standards and enter the world rally championship market.

DMACK Tyres are manufactured by Shandong Yongtai Chemical Group in its state-of-the-art facility in Dongying, China where more than 22,000 tyres are produced every day for global distribution.

Ongoing evaluation of the WRC range is being conducted in China and DMACK WRC gravel tyres will be available for competitors and teams to test from the end of October onwards.

Dick Cormack, DMACK Tyres Motorsport Director, said:
“This is a golden opportunity for DMACK Tyres to enter the FIA World Rally Championship market and the supreme competitive challenges and excellent brand exposure it has to offer. We studied the FIA’s new tyre regulations for 2011 and decided to make a proposal. Technically the new regulations are very achievable for a new manufacturer and we based our proposal on bringing a very strong and durable product to the championship - we also wanted to help encourage more entries into the events by offering a two-tier pricing structure. Ongoing testing of the WRC tyres is taking place at our research facility in China and at the hands of our test driver Mark Higgins. As the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to enter the WRC, we see the opportunity to take the DMACK and Yongtai brands to a whole new level.’’

Technical data on the range of DMACK WRC tyres will be available on the official website at www.dmacktyres.com by 1 October 2010.

The 2011 FIA World Rally Championship will consist of 13 events starting on 11 February with Rally Sweden.

Meeke to Drive Mini WRC?

Posted: September 2, 2010 3:18 PM

According to Autosport, Kris Meeks has signed with Mini for 2011:

www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/86310

MINI set to join World Rally Championship from 2011.

Posted: July 27, 2010 11:00 PM

MINI is making a comeback on the international rally circuit. From 2011, the brand will compete at selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and will go on to contest the entire season from 2012 onwards. This involvement is planned for several years.

The car charged with this task is the MINI Countryman WRC, which is being developed by Prodrive, in close cooperation with MINI, and is based on the production model. The powerful heart of the racing car is a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport. The car complies with the new Super2000 regulations put in place by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), which stipulate the use of turbo engines with 1,600 cc displacement and four-wheel drive combined with an increased emphasis on road relevant technologies. The result is a significant 25 per cent reduction in overall costs. The first test drive for the MINI Countryman WRC, which will also be available to customer teams, is planned for autumn 2010.

This decision sees MINI continue its success story in the world of rallying. In the 1960s, the MINI Cooper S caused a sensation with victories at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. The company also tasted success on many occasions in the European Rally Championship. Having already demonstrated the sporty character of its models in many countries in the MINI CHALLENGE, the brand is now taking its presence in motorsport to a new level with the commitment to the WRC.

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing, says: “I am delighted MINI will be represented on one of the most popular stages in international motorsport. The success enjoyed on the rally circuit has made a vital contribution to the image of the brand. MINI customers have always shown great interest in motorsport. I am convinced we will add a few more chapters to our success story in rallying. The MINI Countryman provides an excellent basis, from which to create a competitive racing car for the world championship. In Prodrive, we have a strong and experienced partner. We will work hard together over the coming months to ensure we get the project on track right from the word go.”

“This is a very exciting new motorsport programme,” said Prodrive Chairman, David Richards.
“During the 1960s MINI captured the imagination of the world when the tiny car took on the might of V8 powered Fords and won what was then one of the toughest motorsport events, the 4000km Monte Carlo rally. I believe our new MINI will become a firm favourite of the latest generation of rally fans, just as it is adored by its millions of owners across the world. We already have a significant number of confirmed customer orders for the new MINI rally car with the first deliveries scheduled for the start of the 2011 season.”

Prodrive has been working on developing the MINI Countryman WRC since early 2009. The company was formed in 1984 by Richards, who won the World Rally Championship as co-driver to Ari Vatanen (FI) three years earlier. Based in Banbury (GB), Prodrive has developed into a leading independent company in the motorsport and automobile sector under Richards' guidance, and today employs over 500 staff. Prodrive's many successes currently include six overall victories in the World Rally Championship, five titles in the British Touring Car Championship and three class victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours (FR).

BMW was present when the World Rally Championship made its debut back in 1973. Achim Warmbold (DE) and Jean Todt (FR) tasted victory in their BMW 2002 at the Alpenfahrt Rally in Austria. However, MINI's tradition in this discipline stretches back even further: Pat Moss (GB) clinched the first victory with the MINI 850 at the 1959 Mini Miglia National Rally. MINI ultimately enjoyed its finest hours at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967: the MINI Cooper S celebrated three overall victories at the most iconic rallying event in the world. Paddy Hopkirk (IR, 1964), Timo Mäkinen (FI, 1965) and Rauno Aaltonen (FI, 1967) joined the list of winners at this prestigious event. In 1965, “Rally Professor” Aaltonen also won the European Rally Championship. Tony Ambrose (GB) and Mäkinen finished second and third to round off an excellent overall result for the MINI Cooper S. In addition, MINI drivers also enjoyed many individual wins at renowned rallies throughout Europe. The last BMW World Rally Championship victory was achieved in 1987 in Corsica by Bernard Béguin (FR) driving a BMW M3 which was built and run by Prodrive.

From 2011, over 40 years down the line, the MINI Countryman WRC will be charged with adding further chapters to this success story. It bridges the gap between the classic MINI concept and a contemporary Sports Activity Vehicle.

Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier with Citroën Racing in 2011

Posted: July 19, 2010 6:38 PM

Sébastien Loeb will again compete in the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship with Citroën Racing for which he has driven since 2001. The team has also renewed its confidence in Sébastien Ogier for the next three seasons.

The 2011 FIA World Rally Championship will mark a turning point in the history of the sport with the arrival of the new generation 4-wheel-drive 1600 cc turbo-powered cars. Having won five Manufacturers’ World Championship titles since 2003, Citroën has decided to stack all the odds in its favour by entering Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier.

Olivier Quesnel: (Citroen Racing Team Principal):
“Obviously, it’s a double dose of satisfaction for Citroën Racing. Not content to have the greatest set of results in the history of rallying, Sébastien Loeb is still as hungry as ever for more victories and titles. His experience, his race intelligence, and his capacity to get 100% out his cars, will be all the more crucial as we’ll have a new car next season. Citroën Racing has been preparing for the future with Sébastien Ogier for some time now. This is why we wanted to sign a contract with him for the next three seasons. Dani Sordo is still part of our plans for next year, but we have to finalise our budgets before announcing the full programme.”

Sébastien Loeb: “My contract with Citroën allowed me to stop at the end of this year. But my motivation and my will to win are still as strong as ever! The 2011 season will be my eleventh in the works Citroën colours. I think that the world championship will be a very interesting one, as the arrival of a new generation of cars will reshuffle the cards among the manufacturers. Of course, it’s no secret that we’re already working flat out on the new Citroën DS3, and I can’t wait to see where it stands in relation to its rivals. In the meantime, winning my seventh consecutive world title is my main objective.”

Sébastien Ogier:
“I’d like to thank Citroën for renewing its confidence in me, and what’s more, for three seasons! I made my world championship debut with this team, and I’ve always said that my priority was to stay with them. I’m thrilled at the idea of driving the new generation World Rally Cars, and of defending the colours of the make at the topmost level. Like Sébastien, I’m fully concentrated on the end of this season starting with the Finnish Rally, where I’ll be part of the Citroën Total World Rally Team for the first time!”

2011 WRC Calendar Announced

Posted: April 29, 2010 11:08 AM

The FIA World Motor Sport Council has announced a 13-round calendar for the 2011 World Rally Championship season, starting in Sweden and ending in Great Britain, following a fax vote of its members.

However, the door is open for a 14th event to join the 2011 series, which would be confirmed by the end of June. “A 14th event could be added to calendar,” stated a press release from the FIA: the governing body of world motor sport. “This would be approved by the WMSC on 23 June at the latest.” The 2011 calendar sees a number of familiar names return to the forefront after a year of absence, such as Italy, Argentina and Greece. So far, there are no brand new events on the 2011 calendar and the first and last rallies on the schedule are the same as this year.

In total, nine of the rallies will be held on gravel, three are on asphalt and one is on snow and ice. Unlike this year, where June is a quiet month, there is at least one rally every month from February through to November - meaning that it will be a busy time for the teams in the debut season of the all-new World Rally Car formula.

The rally dates below are listed by the Sunday of each event, although organisers will once more have the possibility to run outside of the established Friday-Saturday-Sunday format next year.

Sweden P 10 - 13 Feb 11
Mexico S 03 - 06 Mar 11
Portugal P 24 - 27 Mar 11
Jordan S 14 - 16 Apr 11
Italy S 05 - 08 May 11
Argentina P 26 - 29 May 11
Greece S 16 - 19 Jun 11
Finland S 28 - 31 Jul 11
Germany S 18 - 21 Aug 11
Australia P 08 - 11 Sep 11
France S 29 Sep - 02 Oct 11
Spain S,P 20 -23 Oct 11
Great Britain P 10 - 13 Nov 11

www.wrc.com

Statement regarding Rally New Zealand and the 2011 WRC calendar

Posted: February 26, 2010 2:27 PM

A proposed 2011 FIA World Rally Championship calendar was presented by the WRC promoter, North One Sport, to the WRC Commission on 17 February.

The proposed calendar of 14 events will then be put forward to the FIA World Motorsport Council in March, says Rally New Zealand chairman Chris Carr.

Carr says:
“What this means for Rally New Zealand in 2011 and beyond can not be known with certainty until the WRC Commission agrees the calendar with North One Sport and presents it for approval by the FIA World Motorsport Council in March. Remember, this is only a proposed calendar.

“Until we have the official FIA decision, we are not able to comment further about future dates for Rally New Zealand, although we would be disappointed if Rally New Zealand was not included.

“In the meantime, we are focused on running a fantastic event in 2010. Our base in Auckland is going to showcase New Zealand to the world, and we know Rally New Zealand 2010 will be another in a long line of quality WRC events.”

Statement from Motorsport Ireland: FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2011

Posted: February 25, 2010 12:17 PM

Motorsport Ireland have been advised by North One Sport, the global promoters of the WRC, that Rally Ireland has not been included in their 2011 calendar proposal to the FIA.

The proposal will be considered by the FIA World Council at their meeting in March.

Motorsport Ireland had presented North One Sport with a detailed plan for the 2011 event at a meeting in London in September 2009.

FIA president, Jean Todt, has made it clear that the FIA will control the calendar for each Championship but a strong geographical spread is necessary for world championships.

Rally Ireland will continue to participate as a partner in the World Rally Organisers Group with a view to capitalising on any opportunities that may arise.

Motorsport Ireland

Proposed 2011 Calendar
Rally Ireland NOT Included

Posted: February 25, 2010 12:15 PM

Monte Carlo (or Poland)
Sweden
Mexico
Portugal
Abu Dhabi
Argentina
Italy
Turkey
Finland
Germany
Australia
France
Spain
GB.

Autosport: 2011 WRC calendar plan revealed

Belfast Telegraph: Rally Ireland is at end of the road

Autosport: Rally Poland is first 2011 reserve

Crash.net: Ireland set to miss out on 2011 calendar slot

Topics: World Rally Championship

2011 World Rally Championship

Video: At Home With Jari-Matti Latvala (Includes Escort MkII!)

Video: Interview with Ford's Gerard Quinn

Martin McCormack tops VW Drive Poll

Vote for Martin McCormack on WRC.COM's latest poll

Safety Plays a Major Role in Design of MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Ford Issues Design Challenge to Rally Fans

FIA Vice President tests MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Video: MINI WRC Tarmac Test

MINI returns to Monte Carlo with old and new models.

CHRISTIAN LORIAUX – THE MAN BEHIND THE FORD FIESTA RS WRC

FORD FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR SET TO RECEIVE GREEN LIGHT FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT

ALL-NEW FORD FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR BREAKS COVER IN 2011 COLOUR SCHEME

Østberg to join M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team for 2011

NEW TEAM ENTERS 2011 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

MINI WRC Team announce new driver Dani Sordo.

ŠKODA AND RED BULL TEAM UP TO APPEAR IN S-WRC / IRC champion Juho Hänninen top driver of Red Bull Škoda team in 2011 World Rally Championship

NGK SPARK PLUGS (UK) LTD CONTINUE PARTNERSHIP WITH M-SPORT

KUIPERS TO DRIVE FORD FIESTA RS WRC FOR 2011

ADAPTA MOTORSPORT CONFIRMS FORD FIESTA RS WRC FOR 2011

Photos - 2011 WRC Cars

Clear the decks for the new MINI WRC / Kris Meeke Confirmed as Driver

Citroën Racing’s three DS!

PARIS SHOW PREVIEW FOR ALL-NEW FORD FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR

DMACK Completes Evaluation of Its World Rally Tyres on Gravel

DMACK Tyres Becomes Authorised Tyre Supplier to FIA World Rally Championship

Meeke to Drive Mini WRC?

MINI set to join World Rally Championship from 2011.

Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier with Citroën Racing in 2011

2011 WRC Calendar Announced

Statement regarding Rally New Zealand and the 2011 WRC calendar

Statement from Motorsport Ireland: FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2011

Proposed 2011 Calendar
Rally Ireland NOT Included

Upcoming Events

Past Events

Future Events

2011 World Rally Championship

Video: At Home With Jari-Matti Latvala (Includes Escort MkII!)

Video: Interview with Ford's Gerard Quinn

Martin McCormack tops VW Drive Poll

Vote for Martin McCormack on WRC.COM's latest poll

Safety Plays a Major Role in Design of MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Ford Issues Design Challenge to Rally Fans

FIA Vice President tests MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Video: MINI WRC Tarmac Test

MINI returns to Monte Carlo with old and new models.

CHRISTIAN LORIAUX – THE MAN BEHIND THE FORD FIESTA RS WRC

FORD FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR SET TO RECEIVE GREEN LIGHT FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT

ALL-NEW FORD FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR BREAKS COVER IN 2011 COLOUR SCHEME

Østberg to join M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team for 2011

NEW TEAM ENTERS 2011 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

MINI WRC Team announce new driver Dani Sordo.

ŠKODA AND RED BULL TEAM UP TO APPEAR IN S-WRC / IRC champion Juho Hänninen top driver of Red Bull Škoda team in 2011 World Rally Championship

NGK SPARK PLUGS (UK) LTD CONTINUE PARTNERSHIP WITH M-SPORT

KUIPERS TO DRIVE FORD FIESTA RS WRC FOR 2011

ADAPTA MOTORSPORT CONFIRMS FORD FIESTA RS WRC FOR 2011

Photos - 2011 WRC Cars

Clear the decks for the new MINI WRC / Kris Meeke Confirmed as Driver

Citroën Racing’s three DS!

PARIS SHOW PREVIEW FOR ALL-NEW FORD FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR

DMACK Completes Evaluation of Its World Rally Tyres on Gravel

DMACK Tyres Becomes Authorised Tyre Supplier to FIA World Rally Championship

Meeke to Drive Mini WRC?

MINI set to join World Rally Championship from 2011.

Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier with Citroën Racing in 2011

2011 WRC Calendar Announced

Statement regarding Rally New Zealand and the 2011 WRC calendar

Statement from Motorsport Ireland: FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2011

Proposed 2011 CalendarRally Ireland NOT Included

Upcoming Events

Past Events

Future Events

Proposed 2011 Calendar
Rally Ireland NOT Included