Rally GB (P/S) - 10-14 Nov 10

Video Clip - Ken Block off in Testing

Posted: November 11, 2010 11:04 PM

Tom Cave visits local dealer on eve of Proton S2000 WRC debut

Posted: November 11, 2010 6:13 PM

Teenage rally driver Tom Cave visited Wales' newest Proton dealership, James & Jenkins in Cardiff today, in the run-up to the marque's debut in the FIA World Rally Championship with the Proton Satria Neo S2000. Cave will be using his works-specification Neo, bouyed by a win for the official team in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship on last weekend's China Rally.

Cave and co-driver Craig Parry visited James & Jenkins with their Satria just hours before the start of this year's Wales Rally GB, the finale of the 2010 WRC. Various customers and staff came along to speak to Tom and have a close-up look at the newest S2000 car as it prepared to make its debut in the WRC.

Commenting, Tom said;
"It was really nice to meet the people at James & Jenkins. They seemed very interested in the car and were very enthusiastic for this weekend's rally".

James & Jenkins Managing Director Mark James said:
"It was a pleasure to meet Tom, Craig and other members of the team. It was particularly good for our technicians to be able to have a close look at the car and appreciate the levels of technology and innovation that have gone into it. We wish Tom, Craig and the rest of the team the best of success for the weekend."

Tom was also interviewed by World Rally Radio, the global internet radio service, broadcasting on DAB for the first time this weekend. Tom's interview, as well as reports from the end of every stage and from each service, can be found through the service's website, rallyradio.com.

The event begins this evening with a superspecial stage run on the Cardiff Barrage, close to the event base in Cardiff Bay. However, the real action will get underway tomorrow morning, as the crews face six stages in the mid-Wales forests with just a 15 minute service halt at Builth Wells to separate the two loops of three stages.

VIDEO CLIP FROM REECE

Posted: November 11, 2010 11:38 AM

THE C4 WRC IN FIGURES - PRIOR TO WALES RALLY GB 2010

Posted: November 11, 2010 9:31 AM

4 seasons (2007 to 2010)
55 rallies
205 starts
3 Manufacturer titles*
4 Driver and Co-driver titles*
35 victories
12 one-two finishes
5 one-two-three finishes
1 one-two-three-four finish
85 podiums
139 points finishes
1325 Driver points scored
1218 Manufacturer points scored
35 retirements
1068 special stages contested
593 fastest stage times (56%) in 55 rallies
635 stages completed in the the rally lead - 59% - split over 45 rallies
14 rallies led from start to finish (25%)
4 rallies setting every fastest stage time (7%)

205 starts
Sébastien Loeb 55
Dani Sordo 55
Conrad Rautenbach 26
Sébastien Ogier 25
Petter Solberg 14
Kimi Räikkönen 10
Urmo Aava 10
Evgeny Novikov 8
Chris Atkinson 1
Aaron Burkart 1

35 victories
Sébastien Loeb 33
Sébastien Ogier 2

12 one-two finishes
Monte-Carlo 2007 Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
Spain 2007 Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
France 2007 Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
Ireland 2007 Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
Deutschland 2008 Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
New-Zealand 2008 Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
Spain 2008 Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
Ireland 2009 Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
Argentina 2009 Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
Spain 2009 Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
Turkey 2010 Sébastien Loeb and Petter Solberg
Japan 2010 Sébastien Ogier and Petter Solberg

5 one-two-three finishes

Mexico 2010 Sébastien Loeb Petter Solberg and Sébastien Ogier
Portugal 2010 Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo
Deutschland 2010 Sébastien Loeb Dani Sordo and Sébastien Ogier
France 2010 Sébastien Loeb Dani Sordo and Petter Solberg
Spain 2010 Sébastien Loeb Petter Solberg and Dani Sordo

1 one-two-three-four finish
Bulgaria 2010 Sébastien Loeb Dani Sordo Petter Solberg and Sébastien Ogier

85 podiums
Sébastien Loeb 46
Dani Sordo 25
Sébastien Ogier 7
Petter Solberg 7

139 points finishes
Sébastien Loeb 49
Dani Sordo 42
Sébastien Ogier 18
Petter Solberg 13
Conrad Rautenbach 6
Urmo Aava 5
Kimi Räikkönen 4
Chris Atkinson 1
Evgeny Novikov 1

1325 Driver points scored
Sébastien Loeb 582
Dani Sordo 334
Sébastien Ogier 191
Petter Solberg 161
Kimi Räikkönen 21
Conrad Rautenbach 15
Urmo Aava 13
Chris Atkinson 4
Evgeny Novikov 4

1218 Manufacturer points scored
Citroën Total World Rally Team 972
Citroën Junior Team 246

593 fastest stage times
Sébastien Loeb 390
Dani Sordo 93
Sébastien Ogier 52
Petter Solberg 51
Evgeny Novikov 4
Urmo Aava 2
Kimi Räikkönen 1

635 stages completed in the rally lead
Sébastien Loeb 507
Sébastien Ogier 56
Dani Sordo 40
Petter Solberg 32

14 rallies led from start to finish
Monte-Carlo 2007 Sébastien Loeb
Monte-Carlo 2008 Dani Sordo and Sébastien Loeb
Finland 2008 Sébastien Loeb
Deutschland 2008 Sébastien Loeb
Spain 2008 Sébastien Loeb
France 2008 Sébastien Loeb
Cyprus 2009 Sébastien Loeb
Spain 2009 Dani Sordo and Sébastien Loeb
Great-Britain 2009 Sébastien Loeb
Mexico 2010 Petter Solberg and Sébastien Loeb
Bulgaria 2010 Sébastien Loeb
Deutschland 2010 Sébastien Loeb
France 2010 Sébastien Loeb
Spain 2010 Sébastien Loeb

4 rallies setting every fastest stage time
Mexico 2010 Sébastien Loeb Dani Sordo and Petter Solberg
Bulgaria 2010 Sébastien Loeb Dani Sordo Sébastien Ogier and Petter Solberg
Deutschland 2010 Sébastien Loeb Dani Sordo Kimi Räikkönen and Petter Solberg
Spain 2010 Sébastien Loeb Dani Sordo Sébastien Ogier and Petter Solberg

*Subject to the publication of the official 2010 results by the FIA.

KIMI READY FOR WET AND WILD STAGES IN WALES

Posted: November 9, 2010 12:07 PM

Kimi Raikkonen, backed by Red Bull on the World Rally Championship this year, was exactly one month and four days old when the legendary Hannu Mikkola won what was then called the RAC Rally in 1979: a four-day marathon up and down the length of Great Britain in wet and wintry conditions, featuring 56 special stages and 687 competitive kilometres.

Kimi won't have noticed the first time that the Rally Great Britain came into his life as he could not even walk, let alone drive. But several years later this fact would go on to have an immense significance, as Mikkola is one of the many Finnish rally heroes who inspired Kimi to go beyond his comfort zone and step inside a rally car.

Mikkola was one of the flying Finns who made the specialised forests of Great Britain their own, along with Henri Toivonen, Markku Alen, Tommi Makinen and Marcus Gronholm; to name just a few examples. In fact, a Finn has won in Great Britain 21 times in the 65-year history of the event.

In his first year of the World Rally Championship Kimi certainly won't be challenging for victory in Wales, but nonetheless all these icons of the sport have made their mark on the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion.

"Rallying is like a national sport in Finland: since I was a kid I followed it and I grew up with all these big names who were right at the front," he said. "So rallying is something that I always wanted to try: it was not at all a sudden decision. At the end of last year the opportunity came up so I was very happy to take it. Our season has not gone entirely according to plan, but this is actually what I expected: it's completely normal when you are learning something so new. But I've really enjoyed it. Not so many people get the chance to compete at this level and I want to use all the lessons I have learned this year. I'm sure that Rally Great Britain is going to be a very tricky way to end the season because I hear that the grip is changing all the time and I know that the weather is going to be bad, but you learn more by pushing yourself to the limit. I'm looking forward to it a lot."

The limit is a place that Kimi has always been fascinated to explore, and in Rally Great Britain he will face the possibility of torrential rain, freezing fog and maybe even patches of ice. Or possibly all three at the same time. As always though, he is able to rely on co-driver Kaj Lindstrom to guide him through all the potential pitfalls. Kaj has plenty of experience of Great Britain, having even taken part in - and won - the British Rally Championship.

"A bit like Finland, rallying is really part of the local culture in Britain," added Kaj. "There's always a really enthusiastic crowd of spectators, and wherever we go we get massive support. We'll need it, as these are some of the most difficult stages of the year. If it rains the surfaces just turn into mud and it becomes almost impossibly slippery. Once more, the aim here is simply for us to get to the finish, so this will be the priority. We're here to learn and so we have to get through all the stages."

Kimi and Kaj will also have an opportunity to see some of the famed Welsh countryside this weekend as remote service is in Builth Wells, towards the middle of Wales. Rather than producing rally cars the little town is more famous for producing calves, as service is held inside one the biggest cattle markets in Wales: even bigger than the main street of Cardiff on a Saturday night.

PIRELLI READY FOR WRC SEASON FINALE

Posted: November 9, 2010 11:52 AM

Pirelli will complete its three-year tenure as the official tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship under an exclusive agreement with the FIA, motorsport's world governing body, on Wales Rally GB this week (November 11-14).

During that time Pirelli has won 40 events using its PZero, Scorpion and Sottozero tyres, celebrated three drivers' and manufacturers' champions, covered approximately 14,000 kilometres of special stages and supplied 26,960 tyres.

Under the terms of its agreement with the FIA, Pirelli was challenged to focus on durability rather than performance when developing its WRC tyre range, albeit without using run-flat mousse technology. It is therefore great testament to the advance design and meticulous production processes employed by Pirelli that of those 26960 tyres supplied, only 42 have suffered failures on the punishing terrain encountered on world championship rallies.

"Overall, the number of genuine punctures has been very small without compromising performance," said Pirelli's senior WRC tyre engineer Matteo Braga. "Together with the high level of customer service and equality we have strived to achieve, that has probably been our biggest achievement, and it's one that everyone has recognised."

Pirelli will continue its commitment to rallying in 2011 by supporting the new WRC Academy, which replaces the Junior World Rally Championship as the first port of call for drivers aspiring to one day become world champion. Pirelli will also provide the opportunity for six young drivers, Fredrik Ahlin (Sweden), Craig Breen (Ireland), Jan Cerny (Czech Republic), Andrea Crugnola (Italy), Brendan Reeves (Australia) and Molly Taylor (Australia), to contest the series as part of the Pirelli Star Driver programme, which enters its third season in 2011 and reinforces Pirelli's long-standing aim to unearth rallying's future talents.

The current intake of Star Drivers will be in action in Wales led by New Zealander Hayden Paddon and Estonian Ott Tanak who have impressed throughout the season. Paddon will be gunning for second place in the Production Car World Rally Championship standings, while Tanak will be bidding for his second PWRC victory of the year. Fellow Pirelli Star Drivers Nick Georgiou, Peter Horsey and Alex Raschi will continue to build their experience of competing at world level.

As well as a counting for overall WRC points, the gravel-based Rally GB is the last scoring opportunity of the season for competitors in the Production Car World Rally Championship, for two-litre turbocharged Group N cars, and the inaugural Super 2000 World Rally Championship for normally aspirated two-litre cars. Pirelli will supply its soft compound Scorpion tyres to both support championships, thereby underlining the performance and efficiency of the Italian rubber on a wide range of machinery.

Rally GB typically throws up wintry weather with rain, mud and even ice set to add to the challenge facing the crews. Pirelli will provide the soft compound version of its Scorpion gravel tyre to competitors in four-wheel drive machinery, which is designed to offer enhanced grip and stability in wet and cold conditions.

"We have to be prepared for all kinds of weather on this event, especially as it is quite late in the year, so it is classic territory for our soft compound Scorpion tyres," said Matteo Braga, Pirelli's senior WRC tyre engineer. "Rally GB is always a very tricky event, as the grip is inconsistent due to a number of different surface changes and the weather. If it is muddy, it will be extremely slippery and it's possible that we're even going to see some ice on the stages, as was the case a couple of years ago."

Rally GB, which is based in the Welsh capital Cardiff, gets underway with an all-asphalt stage in Cardiff Bay on the evening of Thursday November 11 with the first car due to cross the finishing ramp in Cardiff at 15:25hrs on Sunday November 14 following a total of 20 stages over a competitive distance of 359.44 kilometres.

GASSNER JR AIMS TO END THE YEAR ON A HIGH IN GREAT BRITAIN

Posted: November 9, 2010 11:51 AM

After winning the 'conventional' Group N category on his last outing in Spain, Hermann Gassner Jr aims to bring his season to a close with a strong finish on the Wales Rally Great Britain: the final round of the World Rally Championship this weekend.

Gassner Jr, co-driven by Kathi Wustenhagen, has contested selected events this year in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX backed by Red Bull, with the firm aim of building up experience for the future. So far it has been a very successful season, with the 21-year-old German showing both his speed and consistency. Throughout the year he has also modified his pace note system, concentrating on every aspect of his race craft as he takes some valuable lessons on board.

Rally Great Britain is one of the events that Gassner Jr knows best, as he has taken part in it twice previously. Held in Wales towards the end of the year, conditions are traditionally difficult. One of the biggest challenges is the constantly variable levels of grip, meaning that drivers have to be both committed and adaptable.

Visibility is frequently poor as well, due to fog and rain. If it is very wet, the stages can easily turn into a mudbath that offers practically zero levels of grip. Despite these extremely challenging conditions, Rally Great Britain is an event that Gassner loves.

"The stages are fantastic in my opinion, but you have to respect them," said Gassner. "We've made a lot of progress recently and we also benefited from having plenty of time in the car. We need to keep this momentum going and make sure that we are there at the finish this weekend. Some of our stage times recently have been really encouraging but we need to remember that we are here to learn, so we can't afford to do anything to compromise our learning strategy. I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun though - and I'm sure it's going to be raining too."

Hermann's car is run by the BRR team, headed up by multiple Austrian Champion Raimund Baumschlager - who has been able to pass onto Gassner Jr a few valuable tips of his own.

"Hermann is really on the right road now, so now he must continue this way," said Baumschlager. "I think this season has been very encouraging for him, so it's important for him to end it on a positive note. Rally Great Britain is a really hard event, one of the hardest all year I would say, so the main thing is that he must stay concentrated all the way to the finish. If he keeps making progress at the same rate, he has a bright future."

The Wales Rally Great Britain, based in the Welsh capital of Cardiff, features 359.44 competitive kilometres over 20 special stages. The action gets underway at 1830hrs local time on Thursday November 11 with the final podium at 1453hrs on Sunday November 14.

RED BULL AIMS FOR SUPER 2000 TITLE WITH SANDELL

Posted: November 9, 2010 11:48 AM

Red Bull's Patrik Sandell is aiming to add the Super 2000 World Rally Championship title to the Junior World Championship title that he won in 2006 when he contests the Rally Great Britain this weekend.

The Cardiff-based event is the final round of the Super 2000 World Rally Championship and three drivers come to Wales with a chance of lifting the title, including Patrik.

Currently the Red Bull-backed Swede is nine points behind the leader, which in some ways makes his life easier as he has no choice but to go flat out for victory. With 25 points on offer for a win, everything is possible.

Patrik has a lot of experience to fall back on as he has contested Rally Great Britain three times before, twice in a Super 2000 car. So far this year he has racked up two victories, in Germany and France, so he knows what to expect.

However, Patrik will also have to contend with the Welsh weather, which is a notoriously tricky variable. At this time of year, there is a remote chance of ice together with a much stronger likelihood of rain and fog. Past experience has shown though that difficult and variable conditions tend to bring out the best in Red Bull's amiable Swede.

"I'm just going to go into this with the aim of enjoying myself and getting the best result possible for myself and Red Bull," said Sandell, who is co-driven by Emil Axelsson.
"I don't really feel any pressure because a lot of what happens in the championship depends on other people, so it's out of my control to some extent now. All I can do is concentrate on doing the best job I can; then we will see what happens afterwards. Every rally is a sprint event these days and we cannot afford to give away time. So we'll be aiming to set a good pace from the beginning and hopefully that will be enough to deliver us the result that we need."

Sandell's car is run by Raimund Baumschlager, who recently secured his 10th Austrian championship with a Skoda Fabia S2000, so his team knows the car inside out. This will enable them to adapt the set-up to the specific demands of the gravel stages of Wales.

Baumschlager added:
"Patrik deserves his chance to win the Super 2000 title and naturally we are all right behind him. The situation is so closely balanced that it's hard to tell what is going to happen. We just have to concentrate on our own rally and ensure that we do not make any mistakes. He faces a tough task, but I have every faith in Patrik to show the best of himself."

The Rally Great Britain gets underway with an all-new spectator superspecial stage in Cardiff Bay on Thursday 11 November, just after the start at 1830. The rally takes in 20 stages and 359.44 competitive kilometres in total before the finish back in Cardiff on Sunday 14 November at 1453.

Craig Breen Rallying: World Rally GB Event Preview

Posted: November 7, 2010 9:35 PM

Craig can relax this weekend as he attends the prize giving of the Citroen Irish Tarmac Championship. Next week he will complete his 2010 season by competing in WRC Rally GB. It will be his third world event of the year and the second time we see the Kick Energy Ford Fiesta S2000 on the world stage. Craig debuted the car in World Rally Finland, where he recorded his best WRC result to date.

Rally GB will have a different feel this season as Craig as he has already netted a place in the inaugural running of the WRC Academy for the 2011 season. Last season Craig went into the event fighting for the FSTi title but this year he has no championship to worry about so he will be out to better his 19th overall position in Finland earlier this year.

When rally GB has been completed Craig begin work on his competition calendar for 2011. Six WRC event plus other academy duties will be the focal point but there will be an opportunity to take in other events.

STOBART FOCUS ON STRONG FINISH IN WALES

Posted: November 7, 2010 9:24 PM

BRITAIN’S leading FIA World Rally Championship pairing of Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin will be flying the flag for Great Britain at their home event of Wales Rally GB next week.

The iconic event will also be the last outing for the team’s Ford Focus RS World Rally Car that has racked up an impressive seven podium finishes for the Cumbrian-based squad since their entry into the WRC in 2006.

At just 23-years-old, Wilson will be taking part in the rally for the seventh time, and for the fifth time with co-driver Martin. So the pair have plenty experience of tackling the tricky Welsh stages.

With 68 points to his name already this season the young Briton has delivered a strong performance throughout the year but is keen to finish the year with a flourish and aims to match his best performance of the season - fifth place at Rally Jordan.

Wilson’s preparations ahead of his home event have included a trip to the inaugural Rallyfest North Wales. The festival, which was staged at Conwy and Llandudno, was organised to promote Wales Rally GB and gave motorsport fans a taster of what they can expect to see next week. Wilson performed live for fans in his Ford Focus RS WRC and an official reported the event was attended by over 14,000 people.

Henning Solberg and co-driver Stephane Prévot are the other nominated point-scorers for Stobart M-Sport Ford in Wales. The Norwegian pilot finished fifth at last year’s event and will be aiming for a similar performance at next week’s final round of the championship.

Joining the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team for the first time will be three-times Chinese National Rally Champion Liu Chao Dong and Australian co-driver Anthony McLoughlin.

Wales Rally GB will mark Dong’s fourth appearance in the WRC but will be the first time that a Chinese driver has driven a World Rally Car in the championship. Dong’s best result to date was at 2008’s Rally New Zealand when he finished 20th overall but the 25-year-old from Chongqing will be aiming to better this position for his Chinese fans next week.

Stobart M-Sport Ford driver Matthew Wilson said:
“I love to finish each WRC season on home territory - the British fans are fantastic and I always aim to go out there and produce a really good performance. I’ve really enjoyed this season and I’ve definitely learned a lot. It’s sad this Wales will be the last time I’ll be competing at a WRC event in the [Ford] Focus RS WRC – it’s like the end of an era. I remember some of the first Focus cars with Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae behind the wheel and it feels like I’ve grown up with the car. Next week I’ve just got to go there and enjoy myself as much as I can. I’d like to get as close to the podium as possible – whether that’s a fourth, fifth or sixth I don’t mind but it’d be good to finish the season and my last WRC event driving the Ford Focus RS WRC on a high.”

Stobart M-Sport Ford driver Henning Solberg said:
“I had my best ever finish in Wales last year so I’m hoping that this year will be just as good – it would be nice to finish in the top five again. It will be sad to say goodbye to the [Ford] Focus RS WRC – it’s been a great car and I’ve had four podium finishes whilst competing with it so, for sure, I’ve had some great memories. But next year is an interesting time for the WRC and I think the new cars will make it even more exciting for the spectators. We’ve had a really fantastic season, as has the team, and it’s important to finish well in Wales for my sponsors.”

Stobart M-Sport Ford driver Liu Chao Dong said:
“I’m very excited for next week’s rally. I was a bit unlucky on my last two WRC events but I am looking forward to Wales Rally GB as it is such an iconic event. I had a test at M-Sport in the Ford Focus RS WRC last month – it was very good but extremely different to a Group N car which is what I am used to driving. It had so much power but there is a lot I need to learn about the car - I am looking forward to getting to know more at Wales Rally GB. We did the recce for this rally in 2007 so I have some knowledge of the event and what to expect – it’s not completely unknown to me but I think it could be tricky because of the weather which will makes the roads very slippery.”

Ford Team Principal Malcolm Wilson said:
“It has been another successful season for the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team and we’ve had some fantastic highlights this year. It was a real joy to have the legendary Juha Kankkunen join Matthew and Henning for Rally Finland in July and it was fantastic to see François Duval back in the squad for Rallye Deutschland. The team strive to offer opportunities to drivers across the globe and we are delighted that China’s Liu Chao Dong will join us for this year’s Wales Rally GB. Liu Chao Dong visited M-Sport last month to test the[Ford] Focus RS WRC and the team were very impressed with the pace and times that he was setting whilst here. Wales Rally GB is going to be a huge challenge but Dong is a very focused individual with years of experience competing in the Chinese Rally Championship (CRC). I have little doubt that Henning, Matthew and Dong’s commitment and dedication will pay off when they tackle the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship next week.”

PONS AND KETOMAA SET FOR S-WRC SHOWDOWN IN WALES

Posted: November 7, 2010 9:20 PM

THE stage is set for a thrilling Super 2000 World Rally Championship (S-WRC) title fight between Jari Ketomaa and Xevi Pons at Wales Rally GB next week.

At the previous S-WRC round in France, Martin Prokop’s sixth-place finish dashed the Czech driver’s hopes for the championship title. However, Jari Ketomaa’s second-place finish launched him back into title contention and the Finn currently lies in third position - only seven points adrift of championship leader Xevi Pons.

Pons will be aiming for a victory at Wales Rally GB in a bid to win the series but with only nine points separating the Spaniard, Jari Ketomaa and Patrik Sandell competition is set to be fierce.

The award-winning Ford Fiesta S2000 has claimed podium finishes in eight of the nine rounds of the S-WRC so far, and M-Sport’s new generation rally car currently occupies the top three spots in the overall standings with only event remaining.

Ketomaa, Pons and Bernardo Sousa will all be competing for S-WRC honours next week but fellow Ford Fiesta S2000 drivers Craig Breen and Dennis Kuipers will also join the N4 class in Wales.

Xevi Pons got off to a flying start in 2010, taking victory at both Mexico and Jordan. The Spanish driver has continued to produce a series of strong results to maintain his position at the top of the leaderboard but with only nine points separating the top three S-WRC contenders, the Spaniard cannot afford to rest on his laurels and will be aiming to score a winning hat-trick in Wales to secure his hopes of championship glory.

A polished performance from Jari Ketomaa at Rally Japan meant the Finn was the first Ford Fiesta S2000 driver to claim three victories in the S-WRC. This was then followed by a strong second-place finish in France which launched Ketomaa back into podium position. The Finn is now ideally placed to steal the lead from Pons and is aiming for a victory in Wales to strengthen his chances of winning the title.

Bernardo Sousa had a troubled time at the previous two S-WRC rounds in Japan and France. However, after recently being crowned the youngest ever winner of the Portuguese Rally Championship (CPR) Sousa’s confidence is high and the young driver will be looking to top his fourth place on home soil at Rally de Portugal in May, which remains his best performance in the S-WRC to date.

M-Sport entry Dennis Kuipers is not registered to score points in the S-WRC but has used this season to further develop his understanding of M-Sport’s new generation rally car. This will be the second time that the 24-year-old Dutch driver has contested Wales Rally GB and Kuipers will be looking to improve on his 16th place finish from last year’s event.

Craig Breen is another M-Sport entry who has had a busy season contesting rounds of the British Rally Championship (BRC) in the award-winning Ford Fiesta S2000. The young Irish driver contested Neste Oil Rally Finland in July finishing 19th overall but will be looking to pick up the pace in Wales to challenge the other S2000 drivers for a podium position.

Xevi Pons said:
“I’ve not competed on gravel for nearly four months now – the last two S-WRC rounds were on asphalt so I had a test on Thursday to try and prepare myself for a return to gravel stages. I competed in Wales in 2007 and I remember the roads were very fast. It was a difficult event – the weather can also be very challenging on this rally. I’ve been training very hard recently and I really hope that the fitness training will pay off when I’m competing in Wales. I’m aiming to win - it would the perfect end to the season.”

Jari Ketomaa said:
“I’m very excited about going to Wales next week and I have a good feeling about this rally. My only target is to win and I plan to fight from the beginning to ensure this is possible. I competed in Wales two years ago and I liked the stages – it is a legendary event in the WRC calendar and the stages are very nice. I’ve got a test on Monday and I hope it will go well. This year’s Wales Rally GB could be one of the most important rallies of my career and I am desperate to win.”

Bernardo Sousa said:
“I’ve had a really good season this year and was very happy to become the youngest ever winner of the Portuguese Rally Championship last month. A good position in Wales could be the icing on the cake but we will just have to see how things go. I think the weather could make the stages in Wales very slippery and it will be a tricky event.”

Dennis Kuipers said:
“I am looking forward to Wales Rally GB. In 2009 I contested the rally for the first time and finished 16th overall. I found it a very nice, but difficult rally because of the changing weather conditions but I liked it because it is a real challenge. There is strong competition in Wales but I’m looking forward to competing against the other S2000 drivers. For me this season has been a very educational year – I’ve gained a lot of experience with the Fiesta S2000 and during our pre-event test sessions we learned a lot about set-up.”

Craig Breen said:
“We set some really good times in Finland and I think if we push from Day One then we could challenge the other S2000 drivers for a podium position. Wales Rally GB was a good rally for me last year – obviously this year is going to be different as we’re not in the [Fiesta] R2 but I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta S2000 for another WRC event. We actually did some of the stages as part of the Bulldog Rally back in March – some of the tests were run in opposite directions but it was all good preparation for next week.”

WALES RALLY FM

Posted: November 7, 2010 9:00 PM

Wales Rally FM is the event’s very own radio station, bringing fans all the rally news, up to the minute.

Main presenter Gary Champion, former rallies editor at Motoring News, is joined by a host of rally experts and enthusiasts. These include Motorsport News’ editor Matt Burt and Autosport columnist Henry Hope to name a few.

The Wales Rally FM team will provide listeners with stage guides, news bulletins, classic rally rewinds and all the latest information on its ‘Dirty Dozen’, the 12 ‘ones to watch’ the crew has selected for 2010’s event.

Tune in at 87.7FM.

Tom Cave heads for 2010 rally finale on home ground

Posted: November 5, 2010 12:31 PM

Teenage rally driver Tom Cave will tackle the last rally of his 2010 campaign next weekend, when he competes on the finale of the FIA World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB. The 18 year-old will again be at the wheel of his works-specification Proton Satria Neo S2000 as he tackles the event for the third time.

But before getting down to business, Tom was invited to take part in RallyFest, the event put on by the organisers of the event over the Halloween weekend, to promote the rally. As the Proton was being reassembled after its last outing on Rally of Scotland, Tom rented a Group N Honda Civic Type R for the day and gave passenger rides to VIPs attending the event.

"RallyFest was a great day," Tom said. "I was invited to take part by the media team of Rally GB and had a really good time. I even ended up in the commentary box on the microphone, which was interesting! There was a lot of interest for the rally and I think it's a great idea to build the excitement with events like this."

While RallyFest was all about fun and excitement, Tom and the rest of the team will be getting down to business next week, as they prepare for the rally itself. Tom is planning a short test to shake the Proton down after its rebuild but knows this may have little bearing on the event itself.

He and co-driver Craig Parry are currently seeded as the 49th car on the road, meaning that by the time they tackle the stages, particularly on the first day, they could well be in very rough conditions, after the passing of 48 cars ahead of them.

Because of this, and the nature of the stages on Friday, the first full day of the event, the approach will be a tactical one. Tom explains: "I'm not nervous as such but a little apprehensive of what the conditions will be like on the stages by the time we get there. We're 49th on the road, the stages on Friday tend to cut up and there's only a remote service halfway through the day. So the plan has to be take it steady, make sure we get back to Cardiff on Friday evening with no problems and see where we are."

Tom hopes that he might be in a better road position in Saturday if he can get through Friday's action with no problems. In addition, he knows the south Wales stages reasonably well and feels that the roads on Saturday and Sunday will give him the best opportunity to push for a solid result.

"The stages on Saturday, like Crychan and Halfway, are really nice - flowing and good to push on. So hopefully, if things are going well, we'll push a bit harder and see what we can do.

"The Davies Motorsport team has been working really hard since Scotland to get the car sorted and I really want a clean run and a solid finish. I'm definitely looking forward to getting out in the car again and really want to end this season with a good result. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster this year but I think that Wales Rally GB should give us a good chance to show what we can do."

The event begins with a superspecial stage in the area around the rally base at Cardiff Bay on the evening of Thursday 11 November, before three days of action in the Welsh countryside. Friday takes the crews to mid-Wales, north of the remote service at Built Wells for two loops of three stages.

Saturday sees nine stages, two loops of four and another run of the superspecial in Cardiff Bay while Sunday comprises two loops of two stages, run close to Cardiff. The first crews are expected to cross the finish ramp at 15.30.

J-WRC Rookie champion Hunts down FSTi title in Wales

Posted: November 5, 2010 12:19 PM

The Fiesta SportTrophy International (FSTi) championship will reach a thrilling climax next week as Ford Fiesta R2 crews travel to Wales for the final round of this year’s hotly contested one-make series.

Britain’s Harry Hunt looks set for championship glory with Team Abu Dhabi challenger Bader Al Jabri unable to attend the rally due to exam commitments. Majed Al Shamsi has a mathematical chance of winning the championship by six points providing that Hunt and FSTi rookie Pierre-Alexandre Perrin fail to score any points at all.

Wales Rally GB is the final event of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship and will begin with a brand new Super Special Stage on Thursday 11 November in Cardiff Bay. With 18 gravel stages, the two runs of the Cardiff Bay Super Special Stage will provide a great spectacle, but will be particularly tricky for drivers, as all cars will run a gravel set-up on the asphalt surface. The four-day event will feature a total distance of 1,612 km, comprising of 20 special stages covering 359 km.

73 - Harry Hunt (22) & Sebastian Marshall (22) – Fiesta R2
FSTi position: 1

The British pairing of Harry Hunt and Sebastian Marshall have secured two victories in the FSTi championship this year: the first at the Rally of Turkey in April and the second at the Rallye de France in October. With an impressive 38 point lead over Al Shamsi, the duo are aiming to score a winning hat-trick in Wales in order to finish their season on a high and to secure championship glory. Having competed at the final Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) round in Cyprus the weekend prior to Wales Rally GB, Hunt will be looking to build on the extensive experience he has gained from driving the Fiesta R2 this season in order to clinch his first championship title.

FSTi leader, Harry Hunt (22), said:
“I’m feeling really confident about winning the championship in Wales – we’ve got a comfortable lead over Majed [Al Shamsi] and if we manage a clear run next week then hopefully the title should be ours. I’m competing in my last IRC event in Cyprus this weekend – it’s similar to Spain and consists of mixed surfaces, but the gravel stages will be good preparation for competing at GB. I was disappointed to hear that Bader [Al Jabri] isn’t competing next week – it was going to be a very close battle. Even though I’m 38 points clear of Majed, there is still a possibility that I could lose the championship; a tiny slip-up could have irreparable consequences and I will be trying desperately hard not to let that happen. It’s been a fantastic year for us and to win the championship would just be the icing on the cake.”

74 - Majed Al Shamsi & Stephen McAuley – Fiesta R2
FSTi position: 4
Majed Al Shamsi has claimed two podium finishes in this year’s FSTi, finishing first at the Vodafone Rally de Portugal and second at ADAC Rallye Deutschland. A retirement on the Rallye de France and an incident on the opening day at Rally de España may have since knocked the Emirate driver’s confidence, but Al Shamsi successfully battled back in Spain to move into fourth position in the standings. The Team Abu Dhabi driver has recruited Bader Al Jabri’s co-driver Stephen McAuley for the rally instead of regular team-mate Alan Harryman. While this new pairing may take a little while for each to become familiar with the other, Al Shamsi has a strong advantage next week as he is the only FSTi entry who has previously contested Wales Rally GB. Despite having to retire on Day 2 last year when he hit a tree stump and rolled his car, the Emirate will be looking to take full advantage of his past experience in Wales in order to challenge Hunt for championship glory.

75 – Pierre-Alexandre Perrin (23) & Gaétan Houssin - Fiesta R2
FSTi position: N/A
WRC debutants Pierre-Alexandre Perrin & Gaétan Houssin will make up the final FSTi crew competing in Wales and marks the French pairing’s first outing in FSTi. With the Wales Rally GB Newcomer’s Award up for grabs, Perrin will be looking to impress as he tackles the challenging Welsh stages in his Fiesta R2. The 23-year-old was among six finalists at “Rallye Jenues” (a French national selection programme) and also finished second at last year’s Rallye de Touquet. Ahead of Wales Rally GB, Perrin will contest this weekend’s Condroz Rally, which marks the final round of this year’s FST Belgium championship. The Frenchman will be eligible for the Newcomers Award at Wales Rally GB where he and three other entries will battle it out for an International Drivers Members Club (IRDC) membership.

FST International Shootout
As in previous years, the series winner plus one 'wildcard' will be decided on Sunday 14 November. Both drivers will be put forward for the FST International Shootout on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 November at M-Sport in Cumbria. The overall winner will be awarded with a year's contract to work at M-Sport with the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

Prize Drives
FSTi drivers will be competing for the top spot to receive an all-expenses-paid test in M-Sport’s Ford Fiesta S2000 with BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team driver Mikko Hirvonen, with the chance to discuss the test with the flying Finn and M-Sport Managing Director Malcolm Wilson OBE. A prize fund is also available from which the winner of each rally will receive a €1,500 M-Sport voucher. FSTi competitors who have competed in five of more events this year are also eligible for a ‘taster’ test in the Fiesta S2000.

Ford's Finns bid to end Focus rally career on high note in Wales

Posted: November 5, 2010 11:50 AM

The record-breaking Ford Focus RS World Rally Car will end a memorable 12-year world rally career in Britain next week. BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila and team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen aim to provide a fitting farewell at Rally GB (11 - 14 November) for the car that has won two manufacturers' world titles and 44 rallies.

Latvala has set his sights on a podium position in the FIA World Rally Championship drivers' standings, while Hirvonen has nothing less than victory as his target on this 13th and final round of the 2010 season. Whatever the outcome, the rally will provide a fond farewell to the current generation of cars, as a new formula for 2011 means the Focus RS WRC will be replaced by the all-new Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

The Cardiff-based rally is one of the sport's classics. High-speed gravel forest roads in mid- and south Wales account for the bulk of the competitive distance. However, this year's event will also feature a challenging mixed asphalt and dirt speed test, which includes a sealed surface section across the dauntingly difficult Epynt military ranges.

Unpredictable weather is traditionally the rally's toughest challenge. Tree-lined sections high in the hilly forests contrast with wide-open stretches and while snow is unlikely, ice and fog could be threats. In gloomy conditions, fog hangs between the trees, while also throwing a white blanket across exposed areas on higher ground. Rain is also possible, and the gravel tracks can quickly turn to mud as grip becomes increasingly inconsistent.

Latvala is in the midst of a three-way battle for the runners-up position. The 25-year-old Finn is 11 points behind second-placed Sébastien Ogier and five clear of Petter Solberg, with a maximum 25 points available. He has more experience of this rally than his home event in Finland, having started his career in Britain in 2002, aged just 17. He has eight previous starts to his name, with a best finish of second in 2008.

"At the start of the season I privately set a target to finish in the top three of the championship," he explained. "I'm third and have a chance to take second, so I need a strong result in Wales. I started my career in Britain and my first world rally was here, so Rally GB is like a second home event for me.

"Conditions during the last three years were extreme with heavy rain in 2007 and 2009 and ice in 2008 that caused much of the opening leg to be cancelled. Ice is the worst. It can lurk on the surface under the trees, and if the car hits a patch of ice all a driver can do is hope the grip returns before it slides off the road. Confidence is important. When you start to be afraid of the weather and hesitate, you lose a lot of time. You need to be brave and put your trust in the pace notes," he added.

Hirvonen also has plenty of Rally GB experience, with seven starts to his name. He won in 2007 and, after a difficult season, wants to celebrate the final rally for the Focus RS WRC with victory.

"To end the car's career with a win and take the final victory of the World Rally Car era would be fantastic," said 30-year-old Hirvonen. "The problem is that every driver has the same thought! The championship titles are settled and so everyone can drive for victory. Even those contesting second and third in the drivers' points will have to drive hard, so I expect a good battle.

"The weather can make this a tricky rally, and it could be even more so this year with a long asphalt section on Epynt. If it's wet and muddy that road could be treacherous. The early cars will drag dirt onto the surface and make it even more slippery for those behind. In fact the driver that is first in the start order will do his best to pull as much gravel and mud onto the asphalt as he can. But the grip level is always inconsistent in Britain at this time of the year. It's another challenge," he added.

Khalid Al Qassimi and Michael Orr will drive the team's third car in Al Qassimi's third GB start.
"This weekend will be the biggest few days of motorsport ever for Abu Dhabi. Not only will I be competing in Wales, but the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be taking place over the same weekend. All Emirati eyes will be on the Welsh gravel and the Abu Dhabi tarmac and I am hoping for another strong performance. We go to Wales in high spirits after a great performance in Spain, and I hope to end the season with another strong performance and more points," he said.

Team News
* Tyre partner Pirelli will provide BP Ford Abu Dhabi with one regulation tyre pattern. The Scorpion gravel tyre will be available in soft compound only, one of just three rounds in which soft gravel rubber is used. Teams are not allowed to hand-carve additional cuts into the rubber and each car can carry two spare wheels.

* The team has a two-day test planned in preparation for the rally. Latvala will drive today (Friday) and Hirvonen will take to the wheel on Monday. Both days will take place in north-west England, close to M-Sport's Dovenby Hall base.

* Six other Focus RS WRCs are entered. Matthew Wilson / Scott Martin and Henning Solberg / Stéphane Prévot are nominated in the Stobart M-Sport Ford team, which has also entered Liu Chao Dong / Anthony McLoughlin. Monster World Rally Team's Ken Block / Alex Gelsomino and private entrants Rene Kuipers / Erwin Berkhof and Peter Stephenson / Dai Roberts make up the remainder. The S-WRC series also ends in Britain and there are six Fiesta S2000 cars entered, while the destination of the Fiesta SportTrophy International title will also be resolved.

Rally Route
Although the competition is again split between the forests of mid- and south Wales, there are significant changes to this year's route. A new asphalt special stage near the service park in Cardiff Bay launches the rally on Thursday evening and is repeated on Saturday night. Friday's leg again visits the classic Hafren and Myherin tests in mid-Wales, with a brief 15-minute service in Builth Wells splitting two loops of the same roads. Saturday is the longest leg with two new stages and an 11km asphalt section on the Epynt military ranges in mid-Wales as part of a 25.14km mixed surface stage, near Brecon. The final day in the south and includes a revised version of the famous Resolfen test in the Vale of Neath. Drivers tackle 20 stages covering 344.96km in a route of 1541.82km.

RBF RALLY RIDES UP FOR GRABS ON WALES RALLY GREAT BRITAIN

Posted: November 4, 2010 2:52 PM

Fancy riding in one of the most iconic rally cars in the history of world rallying?

Or how about being driven through the first ever World Rally Championship stage to run around the streets of the beautiful Cardiff Bay area by a triple British Rally Champion?

Your dreams can come true. And, by fulfilling your own ambitions, you can make the dreams of others come true too, thanks to the Richard Burns Foundation.

During next month’s Wales Rally Great Britain, the Richard Burns Foundation will be auctioning rides in a selection of the rally cars which Richard drove on his way to becoming World Rally Champion. This opportunity comes as the sport remembers Richard five years on from his death from cancer.

You can bid for a seat alongside one of our guest drivers on Rally Great Britain by clicking on the following link:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AWESOME-RIDE-RICHARD-BURNS-SUBARU-IMPREZA-WRC-/280583927557?pt=UK_Tickets_Tickets_LE&hash=item41541af705#ht_500wt_1156

As the rest of the spectating world arrives in Cardiff Bay to watch the stage on Saturday (November 13) night, you should strap yourself in to become part of the show. Richard’s cars will be driven through the stage as a demonstration rather than a competitive run.

This is a once in a lifetime chance. Keep checking www.richardburnsfoundation.com for the news of when the next auction will begin. But go direct to eBay right now to bid for a seat alongside British rallying superstar Mark Higgins in the very last rally car Richard ever drove, the toweringly successful Peugeot 206 WRC.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. And, remember, in having the time of your life – you’re also helping extend the lives of those affected by brain cancer and other neurological disorders in the memory of England’s first and only World Rally Champion.

Richard Burns Foundation

Q & A SESSION WITH STOBART’S LIU CHAO DONG

Posted: November 4, 2010 2:32 PM

HEAD of his debut for the Cumbria-based Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team at Wales Rally GB next week, China’s Liu Chao Dong (25) took time out of his busy schedule to speak about his chances at the event and to tell us a little bit about himself.

The three-time Chinese Rally Champion will contest the rally alongside co-driver Anthony McLoughlin in a Stobart branded Ford Focus RS WRC, but will not be nominated for points at the final round of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship. Regular team-mates Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin and Henning Solberg/Stephane Prévot will also drive under the Stobart M-Sport Ford banner in Wales and will be the team’s nominated point-scorers for the event.

Liu Chao Dong – welcome to the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team! Can you please tell us a bit about your rallying history and how you first got into motorsport?
I started when I was 15-years-old in Chongqing (China) driving a front wheel drive VW Jetta at a super special event. I began competing in the Chinese Rally Championship (CRC) in 2002 and was Chinese National Rally Champion for the first time in 2004.

You recently did some testing in the Ford Focus RS WRC at M-Sport – how did you like the car?
The car was very good but extremely different to a Group N car. There is a lot to learn about the [Ford] Focus RS WRC but I am looking forward to getting to know more at Wales Rally GB.

What are your thoughts about Wales Rally GB, do you think it will be a good rally for you?
I hope so! We did the recce for Wales Rally GB in 2007 so I have some knowledge of the event and what to expect - it is not completely unknown to me. But that was three years ago now and some of the stages have changed so I know I must concentrate hard when doing the recce again next week and not just rely on my memory. I think it will be a tricky rally because of the weather and it will be slippery everywhere.

What has been your best memory/highlight as a rally driver?
Being three-times Chinese Rally Champion and testing the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car. It was great to get behind the wheel of a car that has so much power.

What has been your worst moment?
In 2009 when we lost the championship. The start of year was good but we were unlucky at the end of the year when we just lost the championship by only a few points – it was very disappointing. I hope to make up for my bad luck last year and to win my fourth Chinese Rally Championship title this season.

What is your fitness regime like?
I like to do a lot of dirt bike riding in my home city of Chongqing and I play lots of golf. I like to keep fit and healthy – it’s important to maintain a high level of fitness to be a successful rally driver.

Who is your motorsport idol?
I like the Finnish drivers like Tommi Makinen and Marcus Grönholm. They were at their best and winning world titles when I first started taking an interest in rallying.

Tell us a bit about your home life?
My normal week usually consists of working in the family business and I try to play golf twice a week. Also on the weekend I like to practice in the rally car to make sure I am ready for the next event. I also like to spend time with my daughter and new son.

Favourite holiday destination?
Shanya which is an island close to Hong Kong in southern China. The weather is nice there all year round.

Favourite food?
I live in Chongqing in the centre of China and we eat very spicy food. The hotter, the better!

Where do you aim to be in three years time?
I want to ensure I remain the best driver in China and I’d love to get more experience driving in the WRC.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: November 2, 2010 8:24 PM

Rally GB (P/S) - 10-14 Nov 10 - ENTRY LIST

• Rally GB

Alternative shakedown stage for Wales Rally GB confirmed

Posted: October 21, 2010 5:08 PM

The shakedown stage for Wales Rally GB has been moved from Margam Park, near Port Talbot, to the Barrage in Cardiff Bay and will run from 19.00 until 22.00 on Wednesday 10th November.

Shakedown was originally scheduled to run from 08.00 to 12.00 on Thursday 11th.

The change of venue and time has been made by the rally organisers in a bid to further reduce the spread of the ongoing infection of trees in Margam Forest by ‘Phytophthora ramorum’ (P. ramorum).

Fans holding a World Rally Pass or Thursday Day Pass will be granted access to Shakedown in Cardiff Bay on the Wednesday evening.
Gates will open at 18:30 for a 19:00 start and Shakedown will finish at 22:00.
Please note there will be no access to the site from 21:30.

The location of spectator Car Park ‘L’ in Resolfen forest will also be moved as an additional bio-security measure.

Further information will released as soon as possible on the Wales Rally GB website

No other stages or venues on the rally are affected.

Rally Guide 2 available

Posted: October 21, 2010 2:45 PM

Under Competitors / Documents and Forms on:

• Rally GB

Wales Rally GB brings Rallyfest to North Wales

Posted: October 8, 2010 4:01 PM

This October, on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st, Wales Rally GB and the World Rally Championship (WRC) will take over Conwy and Llandudno for a two day rally festival. The final round of the FIA WRC – Wales Rally GB – is taking its all-new Rallyfest on tour, so motorsport fans and families alike can get a taster of the event in North Wales.

Supported by Conwy County Borough Council, Rallyfest North Wales will start in the historic coastal town of Conwy on Saturday 30th October. Here, on Conwy Quay, spectators will be able to get up close to a host of different specification rally cars, covering the range of vehicles competing in this year’s Wales Rally GB. The static display, set against the spectacular backdrop of Conwy Castle and the estuary, will be accompanied by driver question and answer sessions, competitions and a range of entertainment so that everyone can enjoy the fun.

On the following day, Sunday 31st October, Llandudno will be the setting for Rallyfest North Wales’ action display. Drivers will show off their world class capabilities as they perform live for fans on a closed off section of Gloddaeth Street – definitely an event not to be missed.

Cllr Graham Rees, Conwy cabinet member said: “I’m delighted to welcome Wales Rally GB to Conwy County Borough, we’re very pleased that Llandudno and Conwy have been selected to host this prestigious two day rally promotional event.

“Motorsport is very popular and can attract considerable economic benefits to an area, along with a large number of supporters. I’m sure it will be a great success.”

Andrew Coe, chief executive of Wales Rally GB, commented: “It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to work with Conwy County Borough Council to bring the excitement and thrill of Wales Rally GB to North Wales for two days this October. Rallyfest North Wales will not only provide motorsport fans with the opportunity to soak up the event, but it will also enable newcomers to the sport, and families, to experience rallying at the top of its game in the heart of two of North Wales’ finest towns.

“We’re looking forward to making a huge splash in North Wales on 30th and 31st October and setting the scene for the biggest and best Wales Rally GB from 11th – 14th November.”

Wales Rally GB takes place this year from 11th – 14th November. The final round of the FIA World Rally Championship offers the perfect mix of forest and city-based action, including a return to Radnor Forest after 11 years and an all-new stage in Cardiff Bay. Also new for 2010 is the Rallyfest zone which will take over Cardiff Bay for four days and will play host to the Service Park. Here fans will be able to see drivers and their engineers working in the service area, enjoy the trade stands, big screens showing rally action and a packed entertainment schedule.

Entries open for Wales Rally GB 2010

Posted: September 10, 2010 11:06 PM

The countdown to Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) gathers momentum as event organisers are now accepting entries for the 66th edition of Wales Rally GB.

This year’s event, which will run from 11th-14th November, has a new look and dimension with the introduction of a National Rally, the first-ever running of a timed special stage over the barrage in Cardiff Bay, plus the return – after 11 years – to the high-speed Radnor Forest stage near Presteigne in Powys.

2010 will mark the 38th year of Wales Rally GB’s unbroken inclusion as a qualifying round of the FIA World Rally Championship calendar. The organisers have invested both thought and effort into planning an event which offers both WRC and amateur rally drivers a challenging and thrilling competition on some of the most renowned special stages in the world. The National Rally is open to both modern and historic cars, and allows drivers with limited budgets to enjoy the privilege of competing in one of Britain’s biggest motorsport events.

Highlights of the 215 competitive miles over three days include a longer 25.1km Crychan stage – a combination of Forestry Commission and closed military roads on Mynydd Epynt – near Llandovery and nearby a new mixed-surface 10.14km special stage titled ‘Monument Hill’.* This special stage is named in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the very first timed special stage to be run in Britain on the 1960 RAC Rally – the forerunner of today’s Rally GB.

Also new for 2010 is the Cardiff Bay special stage, run twice – on the evenings of Thursday 11th and Saturday 13th November – over the coastal barrage, one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe during its construction in the 1990s which now links Queen Alexandra Dock and Penarth Head. This timed-test of speed and driver skill will allow fans and families to soak-up the rally action in this newly regenerated and vibrant part of Cardiff.

Andrew Coe, chief executive of event organiser International Motor Sports Ltd, commented:
“We’re proud to say that this year’s event offers something for everyone, from WRC star drivers through to historic rally enthusiasts looking to compete on world-class gravel stages. Classic stages such as Crychan, Resolfen and Radnor Forest, alongside the inaugural Cardiff Bay stage offer the perfect mix of old and new. Interest in the event has already exceeded expectations and we all look forward to seeing the entry list in full and waving off drivers in Cardiff on Thursday 11th November.”

Welsh-born Tom Cave (18) from Aberdovey, the youngest-ever entrant and class winner on WRGB, is about to embark on the rally for the third time. He commented:
“My plan is to be in Cardiff with a four-wheel drive car this year. I have been gaining all-wheel-drive experience in recent months and in July won the Bill Gwynne Coracle Stages Rally which was based in Sweet Lamb (Hafren) forest. This bodes well for November as we will be using these gravel roads again.

“I think the introduction of the National Rally is a great idea. It will intrigue both young drivers and many regular contenders in our national championships to compare their times against the world’s best professional drivers. And it’s a huge bonus for spectators too. There will be a lot more cars to see, many of them no longer eligible for international rallies but still very exciting to see in action – normally sideways! All in all it’s a plus point for everyone involved.”

• Rally GB

RALLYFEST!

Posted: August 26, 2010 12:50 PM

Cardiff Bay will be the hub of rally activity when Wales Rally GB returns this November from Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th.

New for 2010 is the Rallyfest zone which will take over the bay area for four days, play host to the Service Park and will be free of charge to visit.

Fans will be able to see drivers and their engineers working in the service area and enjoy the trade stands, big screens showing rally action and a packed entertainment schedule – all easily accessible from Cardiff city centre and surrounded by bars and restaurants, ideal for a afternoon, evening or day out!!

Then on Sunday 14th, the bay will erupt with the sound of horns and cheers as the winning team of Wales Rally GB 2010 is crowned at the official finish ceremony.

CARDIFF BAY STAGE
The inaugural Cardiff Bay special stage will run twice, on the evenings of Thursday 11th and Saturday 13th, allowing fans to get up close to the cars driving at competitive speed along the barrage.

Prior to the official start on Thursday, spectators with a special stage pass can witness entrants being flagged off at the event's ceremonial start celebrations.

RADNOR
For classic rally fans and those who want to soak up the history of the event, the rally will return to Radnor Forest for the first time in 11 years.

Radnor is a fast 15.1 km stage which will run twice on Saturday 13th.

• Rally GB

Rally Guide 1

Posted: August 13, 2010 11:17 AM

Rally Guide 1 is available on the competitors page of the event website:

• Rally GB

BACKBONE OF BRITISH RALLYING TO JOIN WRC STARS IN WALES

Posted: July 15, 2010 5:04 PM

Wales Rally GB has confirmed the format for an all-new National B status rally to run on the Saturday and Sunday alongside this year’s World Rally Championship (WRC) round, taking place on the 11th – 14th November.

‘Wales Rally GB National’ will offer Britain’s amateur rally drivers the rare opportunity to compare their times with the world’s best professional drivers over six timed special stages - normally the reserve of established WRC teams.

The 255 mile National rally includes 65 miles of competitive driving over classic Welsh forest stages and the challenge of a mixed-surface stage on the remote military roads of Mynydd Epynt, near Brecon.

The event will be open to a wide variety of historic and modern rally-prepared cars.

The National rally will include four timed special stages on the Saturday, including the ultra fast 13.8km Radnor Forest* stage and the mixed surfaces of the 25.1km Crychan test. On Sunday morning the crews will travel to the Vale of Neath in South Wales to face the daunting 30.7km Resolfen stage and the final timed special stage in the easily accessed and spectator friendly Margam Park, near Port Talbot.

The Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells will provide the location for the Saturday start, lunchtime servicing and overnight halt for the National event. This well-known mid-Wales venue will also host the remote service park for the International competitors on both Friday and Saturday.

The Wales Rally GB National ceremonial finish will take place in Cardiff Bay on the Wales Rally GB podium on the Sunday afternoon, prior to the return of the WRC cars for their champagne celebrations.

Further information regarding ‘Wales Rally GB National’ can be found in the spectator section of the official Wales Rally GB website

*The Radnor Forest stage is only 90 minutes and less than 60 miles from the Birmingham conurbation

• Rally GB

Wales Rally GB goes full throttle for 2010

Posted: May 12, 2010 11:02 PM

Today, Wednesday, 12th May 2010, Wales Rally GB, one of the UK's largest and most iconic motorsport events, launched its plans for the 2010 event which will run from 11th - 14th November.

Announcements included an all new special stage, which will run in Cardiff Bay and a welcome return to the classic stage in Radnor Forest, near Presteigne, Powys.* The event will be the 13th and final round of the World Rally Championship and a chance for British fans to get up close to the sport on their doorstep.

This year’s Wales Rally GB route provides fans, families and those who are new to the world of rallying with the perfect mix of old and new. For the first time, Cardiff Bay will play host to a special stage which will run twice, on the evenings of Thursday 11th and Saturday 13th November. The timed test of speed and driver skill will run on the Cardiff Bay barrage and into the dock area. It will be ideal for those who want to enjoy the event in Wales’ vibrant capital, particularly young families, as public transport and parking are easily accessible.

For fans who revel in soaking up the nostalgia of this event, the rally will return to Radnor Forest for the first time in 11 years. The ultra fast 15.1 km stage will run twice on Saturday the 13th and promises rally followers plenty of high speed entertainment.

Other highlights include a return to the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells for undercover remote service on the Friday and Saturday. Margam Park, near Port Talbot, will host the final two competitive stages on Sunday 14th.

For the second successive year, the main service park – the hub of the event – will be based in Cardiff Bay and access will be free of charge for everyone. It is here that fans will have a real opportunity to get up close to the drivers and teams as they race against the clock to service – and often repair – their rally cars.

Organisers have worked hard to keep ticket prices low and for the third year running, the popular ‘Kids for a quid’ offer will apply and has been extended further than ever to include all day passes, remote service and the Cardiff Bay special stage. Wales Rally GB is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a day of top class sporting fun together from as little as £42** for a family of four.

A World Rally Pass (WRP) still represents the best value for money for adults wanting to take in all four days of action. This pass gives access to all stages, including both runnings of the inaugural Cardiff Bay special stage, the spectator favourites of Hafren, Sweet Lamb and Myherin and the new Radnor stage. Also included is remote service, car parks and pre-event shakedown on Thursday. At just £99 the WRP is 34 per cent cheaper than it was in 2003 when the event became Wales Rally GB.

Andrew Coe, chief executive of event organiser, International Motor Sports Limited, commented:
“This year’s Wales Rally GB is bigger and better than ever and the whole organising team, myself included, is delighted to be launching the event. To bring a special stage to the Welsh capital, in the beautiful setting of Cardiff Bay, is really exciting and will be great for fans, families and those who are completely new to the world of rallying. Add to this our return to Radnor Forest and competitive ticket prices – there’s not many sports at World Championship level that children can enjoy for just £1 – and the ingredients are there for a fantastic world-class sporting event that will do Wales and the UK proud.”

Speaking about Wales Rally GB’s impact on the region, minister for heritage, Alun Ffred Jones, said:
"I hope the new elements in the event format will attract even more fans to the event this year. Wales Rally GB brings significant benefits to the local economy and it is fantastic news that the people within Wales will get to enjoy another world-class sporting event on their doorstep this year."

Cardiff Council’s executive member, for sport, culture and leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said:
“Cardiff prides itself on being a top sporting venue and Wales Rally GB is one of the sporting highlights we host in the city. Each year the event goes from strength to strength and it’s fantastic to hear about the new special stage, which will be based in the vibrant location of Cardiff Bay.”

Plans to run additional national events on Wales Rally GB are in place and organisers hope to announce these shortly.

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Posted: January 1, 2010 12:01 AM

• Rally GB