2022 World Rally Championship

Posted: October 5, 2022 3:34 AM - 6790 Hits

Paul Nagle to retire after Rally Spain

Posted: October 5, 2022 3:34 AM

kerrymotorsportnews.com/2022/10/05/breaking-paul-nagle-has-called-time-on-his-wrc-career-spain-will-be-his-last-event/

Josh McErlean announced as one of Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Junior Drivers for 2022 season

Posted: March 7, 2022 3:03 AM

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing has named the six drivers to be part of the Customer Racing Junior Driver program for 2022. The group features four of those running the i20 N Rally2, and two who will spend the year competing in the TCR category in Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing-built cars.

The program works to nurture young, talented drivers in both disciplines – helping them build their professional careers in motorsport on, and away from, the race circuit. Each was selected based on a combination of their performances in competition, and their professional approach to motorsport during a rally or race weekend, but also away from these events. The ultimate aim is that, with the support of the Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing department, the drivers can progress to compete at the highest levels, running in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup, or the premier class of the FIA World Rally Championship.

WRC experience leads i20 N Rally2 Juniors

All four of the i20 N Rally2 drivers selected for this season’s Junior Driver program have experience at the world level in RC2-spec cars, having contested a combination of WRC2 and WRC3 events in the past.

Both Josh McErlean and Grégoire Munster have run in the WRC3 class with the i20 R5. For 2022 the pair step into the i20 N Rally2 for the full season. After strong results in national and international events over the past two seasons Irishman McErlean will focus on a full seven-event season in WRC2, once more with the PCRS team. Munster, too, will focus on the WRC2 season alongside a partial schedule in the Belgian championship. This follows his strong 2021 in the national category where he finished as runner-up after claiming his first overall win in the series – breaking the record for youngest winner in the process.

After finishing the 2021 campaign in the new car, he will drive a BMA-prepared i20 N Rally2 for the full season this year, having started 2022 with a podium finish in the WRC2 Junior class at Rallye Monte-Carlo.

National glory is the aim for Frenchman Nicolas Ciamin. Combining with the 2C Competition team he will drive an i20 N Rally in pursuit of the French Tarmac Rally Championship with support of Hyundai France. Ciamin has a wealth of experience in both the series and in Rally2-spec cars having driven many of the eligible models to considerable success, including the i20 R5 which he took a WRC2 podium in 2018 in Sardinia.

The rallying quartet are rounded out by Paraguayan Fabrizio Zaldivar, who combined a first WRC3 season with a domestic season as part of the Hyundai Paraguay-supported Automotor Rally Team he lifted the Super Prime championship – a series consisting of short events – in 2021, as well as scoring a first overall victory in the main national championship. This season he competes in both the Paraguayan championships, as well as events in the continental CODASUR series with an i20 N Rally2.

The selected drivers will be able to call on the support of the Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing’s support engineers, while their teams can rely on the same efficient spare parts service given to all Hyundai Motorsport customers. In addition, they will be invited to take part in tests with Hyundai Motorsport, where they will be able to work directly with the teams’ engineers, but also benefit from the mentoring from, and experience of, Hyundai Motorsports’ roster of WRC and WTCR stars.

Hyundai Motorsport Deputy Team Principal Julien Moncet:
“Supporting young drivers coming through the ranks is a crucial part of the role of the Customer Racing department within Hyundai Motorsport. We aim to nurture our Junior Drivers as they build their careers in motorsport. The Rally2 and TCR categories present the perfect opportunity for this, with drivers able to remain with the same Hyundai cars as they progress from national to international competition – and then hopefully to either WRC events or WTCR with our teams. All of the individuals we have selected for the Junior Driver program this year have already shown they are very capable behind the wheel, with strings of successes already behind them. With the support we can offer them as Customer Racing Junior Drivers I am certain they will be able to continue to progress towards their ultimate goal and forge a career in professional motorsport.”

PAJARI HEADLINES 2022 JUNIOR WRC DRIVER LINEUP - Armstrong & Creighton Return

Posted: February 1, 2022 3:25 PM

The driver lineup for the 2022 FIA Junior WRC Championship has been finalised ahead of Rally Sweden which includes the return of reigning FIA Junior WRC Champion, Sami Pajari.

Eight crews will line up for Rally Sweden in identical M-Sport Poland-built Fiesta Rally3 cars, with two rookies joining the ultra competitive lineup.

Pajari is the first driver to enter Junior WRC as the reigning champion since Patrick Sandell in 2007 with Per Gunnar Andersson being the only driver to win more than one Junior WRC title after winning the championship in 2004 and 2007.

Pajari will be set to resume battle with 2021 Championship runner-up Jon Armstrong with both drivers electing to bring new co-drivers with them for 2022 with Enni Malkonen sitting in with Pajari and Brian Hoy for Armstrong.

2018 Tour de Corse winner Jean-Baptiste Franceschi returns to the field in what is set to be a hotly contested championship after he beat Pajari to the ERC3 Junior crown in 2021. Franceschi’s entry is courtesy of M-Sport’s ‘Ladder of Opportunity’ prize package for winning the ERC3 Junior Championship in partnership with M-Sport Poland, Pirelli and ERC Promoter.

There are six crews with previous Junior WRC experience heading to Sweden and they have each demonstrated their speed with Junior WRC stage wins to their name sharing over 100 Junior WRC stage wins between them.

A pair of rookie crews are joining the field in 2022 with Kenyan McRae Kimathi making his Junior WRC debut following his successful WRC debut on 2021’s Safari Rally Kenya in an M-Sport Poland Fiesta Rally3. After making his WRC debut on his home event on Acropolis Rally Greece in 2021, Panagiotis Roustemis is embarking upon his first full season of international rallying in Junior WRC.

Maciek Woda, Junior WRC Championship Manager, said:
“We have got such a talented lineup once again for Junior WRC in 2022, which is even more exciting when you consider we are entering our first season of four-wheel drive competition. The stand out news is Sami re-entering the championship after winning in 2021 but it’s actually a route of natural progression going from the Fiesta Rally4 to the Fiesta Rally3. It makes Junior WRC a totally new challenge for Sami and everyone else returning, now that it is a four-wheel drive championship. It is going to be a very interesting year and almost a continuation from last year too with Sami and Jon both returning with the likes of William Creighton, Lauri Joona and Robert Virves who we all know are very competitive drivers. I am hugely happy to see J-B Franceschi’s name on the entry list too, he has had a huge fight to get to the point where he is now and I know he is a very talented driver who I am sure is going to make the championship fight even more interesting. McRae Kimathi is the first of our two new crews I’d like to talk about, he was very impressive on Safari Rally Kenya in a Fiesta Rally3 last year and is showing a good attitude heading into the championship. It’s a similar story for Panagiotis too who I know has worked incredibly hard to enter the championship this year so it will be interesting to follow his progress throughout the season.”

Sami Pajari
Enni Malkonen
“I am really excited, for me it’s a new challenge with four-wheel drive which is the same for everyone. Sweden is the first round which I should be familiar with as it is on snow and ice, it’s not only me with this kind of experience. I think Lauri will be really good and I think there is a bunch of other guys who will be really fast so we should have a good competition throughout the year. I am just really looking forward to starting the new season, ok we have already done Rallye Monte Carlo, it isn’t part of Junior WRC but it is good in terms of our WRC 3 experience.”

Lauri Joona
Mikael Korhonen
“I think the Fiesta Rally3 car is a competitive car, I have driven two rallies with the car and it felt good. It’s really nice to drive four-wheel drive too which is a big upgrade coming from Rally4 cars. I am looking forward to some good competition this year and for me the target is to win which I am fully focussed on.”

Jon Armstrong
Brian Hoy
“I am thrilled to be back in the Junior WRC with all of M-Sport Poland who I really like working with, Junior WRC has a special place in my heart, having watched it for many years and then be able to compete in the championship. This year is going to be even more of a challenge as we are using the Fiesta Rally3 which is four-wheel drive and different to the Rally4 car. I have already driven the and that gives me some confidence.”

Robert Virves
Aleks Lesk
“It’s great to be able to be on the start line of Rally Sweden and start in Junior WRC again. I have been working very hard since last year, to make it to this point. Managing the budget is really stressful and everything is possible only thanks to my great sponsors who I am very thankful to. I am looking forward to the start of the season and hopefully it will be much better than the last one.”

William Creighton
Liam Regan
“I am really excited to be part of Junior WRC again for 2022, last year was an amazing experience, I learned a lot competing on world championship events with M-Sport Poland. It gives me more confidence heading into this year with the new Fiesta Rally3, it’s great to make the jump to four-wheel drive which I am really looking forward to.”

Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
Anthony Gorguilo
“It’s a big pleasure for me to be able to do Junior WRC again after winning the ERC3 Junior Championship. It’s going to be a crazy season but I want to say a huge thanks to ERC and M-Sport Poland for this opportunity.”

McRae Kimathi
Kioni Mwangi
“I am very excited to be doing the FIA Junior WRC Championship for 2022, it’s the first time for me, a new experience and adventure. I hope I can get as much mileage as I can in the WRC to learn the stages and continue from there in the hope of becoming the first African to becoming junior world champion.”

Panagiotis Roustemis
Christos Bakloris
“The FIA Junior WRC Championship is a dream for me and I believe it is the best opportunity for me to participate this year because I have experience of four-wheel drive rally cars. My big advantage as a Greek driver is the last rally in championship which is Acropolis Rally Greece with double points on offer. I want to thanks my sponsors until now Seajets, Athens Medical Group, Rent a Car Roustemis, Roustemis Motorsport, 4troxoi, ikteo kiatou, Mayoralty of Korinthos Greece and Tikun.”

Creighton/Regan return to Junior World Rally Championship in 2022

Posted: February 1, 2022 3:20 PM

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver William Creighton will return to the coveted FIA Junior World Rally Championship in 2022 as the series launches into a new era of the Ford Fiesta Rally3.

Creighton, 24 from Moira in Co. Down will aim to capitalise on an impressive debut season in the championship in 2021, securing a wealth of fastest stage times and confidence-boosting results on his way to sixth in the standings. Along with co-driver Liam Regan, Creighton will contest the new-look championship which switches to the four-wheel-drive category for the very first time.

The exciting five-round calendar launches with the iconic ice-laden and snow banked stages of Rally Sweden at the end of February with each driver in the series piloting identical Rally3 machinery, making it one of the closest-fought championships in the world.

On offer is a four-round prize drive in the 2023 WRC2 Championship – the feeder category to the Rally1 top-flight, in an M-Sport Fiesta Rally2 coupled with a test programme, tyre package and free entries, arguably the biggest prize in the sport.

Creighton is looking forward to the challenge of adapting to new machinery on the world’s stage whilst vying for the coveted title.

“I'm delighted to be making a return to the Junior World Rally Championship this year and to be part of the new era,” he says.

“We have been working extremely hard behind the scenes to be able to contest a second season and whilst we still have work to do, I`m thrilled to be heading back to the JWRC to have a chance to prove myself against some of the best junior drivers, on some of the toughest events in the world. There is no other championship like it and it’s a real privilege to be representing the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy on the world’s stage.”

After honing his skills as a junior driver aged just fourteen, Creighton’s career has flourished and last season would prove a successful one, contesting both the British and World Junior Championships in a bumper year behind the wheel.

Driving a Fiesta Rally4 in both series’, Creighton would undertake two vastly different championship goals, looking to gain experience of the world tour whilst battling at the front of the British Championship.

Despite his lack of experience in World Championship events, Creighton would return an impressive performance across the five-round series, with top times and podium positions mixed with mechanical misfortune, seeing him finish the championship in sixth spot.

However, a stellar performance in the Junior BRC saw Creighton take the coveted title on his home event, the Ulster Rally in November, securing a 2022 WRC prize drive with Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing in the process.

Now, Creighton will return to the Junior WRC after his debut season, armed with a wealth of knowledge about the championship but is eager to acknowledge the 2022 season could be like starting again for the rapid pacesetter.

“It’s one of the closest fought rally championships in the world and there is no substitute for experience really,” says Creighton.

“Last year was all about learning and gaining knowledge of world events, how they work, how to tackle them and how I can get up to speed against the other contenders. But this year will be very much like pressing the reset switch, as we step into the new Rally3 Fiesta’s. Most of the drivers will not have had the benefit of extensive competitive mileage in the cars and this will level the playing field”.

And that is an exciting prospect for Creighton.

“I’m certainly heading into this season with much more confidence than last year, however I am aware of the challenges that lie ahead. Rally Sweden is a huge leap into the unknown for me as I've never done any snow events, but we will head to the LBC – Ruschen Rally in Lima in early February to get some practice before the opening round.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to a season so much as this one. It is undoubtedly the biggest test of my career but I’m ready to grab the opportunity and work tirelessly to achieve the goals I set for myself”.

“It will be great to get started in the new Fiesta and battle for the Junior WRC title this season but I really could not have started this journey without the help and support of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and my backers. I hope I can do them proud on the stages in 2022”.

McErlean steps up to a seven-round World Rally Championship programme in 2022

Posted: January 27, 2022 2:07 PM

Josh McErlean will embark on an FIA World Rally Championship programme in 2022, tackling seven events in the WRC2 category behind the wheel of a Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy supported Hyundai i20 N Rally2.

The 22-year-old will be co-driven by James Fulton in the PCRS Rallysport run machine and the duo will take the next step of their dynamic careers by mounting an assault on the prestigious WRC2 championship, starting on the snow and ice-covered forest roads of Rally Sweden at the end of February.

The 2019 Billy Coleman Award winner has enjoyed an impressive rise towards the top echelons of the sport with McErlean’s 2021 season returning a rewarding set of results to vault him towards a career-defining 2022 campaign. A successful venture in the older generation Hyundai i20 R5 and debut in the newer i20 N Rally2, saw him make significant strides forward in his pace.

Overall podium finishes in the Olympus Rally in the USA and Rally Alba in Italy were bolstered by contesting selected events in the WRC, with McErlean netting a sixth place, two fifths and a third in the WRC3 category.

Now McErlean and Fulton will aim to continue building their experience by contesting the full WRC2 championship in 2022, the principal support category of the World Rally Championship and McErlean is understandably delighted at the prospect of the forthcoming season.

“I am truly privileged to be in this position and announcing a WRC2 campaign for 2022,” he says.

“I’ve dreamt of this moment from a very young age and to see it actually happening is such an incredible feeling. Since winning the coveted Billy Coleman Award in 2019 I have focused fully on the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy program and I hugely appreciate the guidance and support I have received from the Academy, PCRS Rallysport and Hyundai Motorsport.”

“Their logical step by step approach to increasing my knowledge, experience, and pace over the last two years has been invaluable. I’m eagerly looking forward to taking this next step in my career on the path towards the top level of the World Rally Championship.”

“We have a very strong team around us going into 2022, and I feel everything has come together just at the right time” continues McErlean.

“James and I have a huge year ahead and of course, it's undoubtedly our biggest challenge to date. I am fully aware that this campaign will be a tough one and I`ll be going up against the best in the business so it will take hard work and dedication to excel at this level. I’ve put my whole life into getting this far and I am fully prepared for the exciting challenge that lies ahead.”

Quotes

Sean McHugh, Motorsport Ireland coordinator for the Billy Coleman Award and the Rally Academy said:
“We are delighted to see Josh and James move forward to a full WRC2 campaign this year. The Academy programmes are designed to identify and nurture outstanding talent and reward the kind of work ethic which Josh and James have demonstrated in their approach to developing themselves and taking advantage of everything the Academy has to offer. We look forward to facilitating the continued development of their abilities and talents in 2022 and beyond.”

Philip Case, Team Principal of PCRS Rallysport said:
“Providing the platform for Josh and James to develop as rally stars of the future has been extremely rewarding for myself and the team. Their level of maturity and willingness to work hard at understanding the car and how to extract the best from it and themselves has been exemplary. The team is looking forward to continuing to work with them in this full season in WRC2 and the PCRS Hyundai i20 N Rally2.”

Video: 2022 WRC Season Launch - World Premiere of ground-breaking new Hybrid era WRC Rally Cars

Posted: January 15, 2022 12:07 PM

FIA World Rally Championship’s new hybrid era hits top gear

Posted: January 15, 2022 12:04 PM

Star drivers and pioneering new hybrid cars delivered a high-voltage introduction to the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship in Austria on Saturday evening.

The WRC’s ground-breaking new-generation of Rally1 cars from the three manufacturers gathered for the first time in Salzburg’s landmark Hangar-7 as the 2022 season was launched five days before the opening round at Rallye Monte-Carlo (20 - 23 January).

In the presence of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, reigning champions Toyota Gazoo Racing, Hyundai Motorsport and M-Sport Ford revealed their stunning all-new cars which will compete across 13 rounds on four continents.

Among those attending were Toyota’s 2021 championship runner-up Elfyn Evans and team-mate Kalle Rovanperä, who became the youngest WRC rally winner in history last season.

Also present were Hyundai lead drivers Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak. New M-Sport Ford signing Craig Breen appeared alongside the team’s hotly-tipped youngster, Adrien Fourmaux.

In the championship’s 50th season, the WRC will undergo major environmental changes as new FIA technical regulations drive the series towards a more sustainable future.

Plug-in hybrid-powered cars built around an upgraded safety cell chassis, 100 per cent fossil-free fuel and sustainable energy supplies are key to the sport’s commitment to a greener future.

The new hybrid challengers blend a 100kW electric motor with a competition-proven 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which has powered the sport’s top-tier cars since 2011.

The package raises peak performance levels to more than 500hp whilst also reducing harmful emissions.

President Ben Sulayem, a former WRC competitor himself, said:
“Today’s launch of the new Rally1 era is a very proud and significant moment for the FIA and entire rally family and I would like to congratulate WRC Promoter for delivering a great show at the start of the championship’s 50th anniversary season.

“The enthusiasm for the FIA’s new technical regulations has been very much in evidence in recent months and the event further underlined the momentum coming from the teams and manufacturers, with Rallye Monte-Carlo just a few days away.

“Beside the hybrid technology adding a new dynamic layer of performance combined with safety improvements, Rally1 cars will be using 100 per cent sustainable fuel and work is also ongoing to achieve greater sustainability in the organisation of each round of the series. I look forward to an exciting season!”

WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel welcomed the start of a ‘landmark period’ for the championship.

“Tonight we’ve seen what the future of the WRC looks like,” he added. “I applaud the manufacturers’ hard work and commitment in readying these amazing and innovative Rally1 cars for the WRC’s new era.

“This evening was a marvellous opportunity to showcase the WRC and exhibit the strong desire to create an environment where both fiercely competitive motorsport and the planet can thrive together.”

ELECTRIFYING LIVERY REVEALED FOR PUMA HYBRID RALLY1

Posted: January 15, 2022 11:33 AM

M-Sport Ford World Rally Team has unveiled its all-new Puma Hybrid Rally1 and its electric-inspired livery at a WRC launch event in Salzburg.

Ahead of a history-making season for the World Rally Championship with the introduction of plug-in hybrid Rally1 cars at the top level of the sport, M-Sport shows off an electrifying new look that encapsulates the energy of the team as it heads into the first round in Monte Carlo next week.

At the beginning of this new hybrid era for the World Rally Championship, which will also see Rally1 cars make the switch to sustainable fuels, M-Sport also celebrates 25 years of competing with Ford in the championship. During this period the iconic pairing have claimed a total of seven world titles, 61 overall victories and 239 podiums.

M-Sport’s striking new livery, which combines vibrant shades of purple with the team’s traditional blue palette, marks the change to hybrid with glowing bolts of colour over the body of the car. As the World Rally Championship enters this radical period of change and M-Sport celebrates its landmark anniversary, the team is taking the opportunity to signify the importance of the direction the sport is taking in the 2022 season.

World première of ground-breaking new-era WRC in Austria

Posted: January 11, 2022 4:14 PM

The superstars of the FIA World Rally Championship’s ground-breaking new hybrid era will rip the wrapping from the 2022 season at a spectacular year launch in Austria next week.

For the first time, the WRC’s dramatic new-generation Rally1 cars from the three manufacturer teams will be together in Salzburg’s innovative Hangar-7 museum as the series’ new-look sustainable future is unveiled on Saturday 15 January.

Newly-elected FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem will attend the early-evening event.

New liveries will be revealed, big-name drivers and co-drivers from reigning champions Toyota Gazoo Racing, Hyundai Motorsport and M-Sport Ford will talk about their hopes for 2022 and team management will discuss season strategies.

The hour-long event, hosted by familiar faces Kiri Bloore, Becs Williams and Julian Porter, will be streamed live at 18.00 CET on WRC Promoter’s WRC+ platform (http://wrcplus.com/), on Facebook and YouTube. It will also be screened by some WRC television partners (check local listings).

The WRC will undergo major environmental changes this year when new technical regulations drive the series towards a more sustainable future.

Plug-in hybrid-powered Rally1 cars designed around an upgraded safety cell chassis, 100 per cent fossil-free fuel and sustainable energy supplies are key to a commitment to a greener future from the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, and WRC Promoter.

Manufacturers have been racing against the clock for months to develop and test their new hybrid challengers, in which a 100kW electric motor coupled to a 3.9kWh battery complements a competition-proven 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

The package raises peak performance levels to more than 500hp whilst also reducing harmful emissions.

FIA deputy secretary general sport Bruno Famin said:
“Adopting hybrid power and fossil-free bio-fuel are two of the biggest advances in the sport’s history and a huge step towards achieving our overriding sustainability goals. The FIA has been working very hard on these developments, while also introducing significant safety innovations.”

WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel said the new era underlined the commitment to a more environmentally-friendly future.

“It’s fitting these ground-breaking changes should be incorporated for the WRC’s 50th season,” he enthused.

“The new Rally1 cars look fantastic. After so much preparation and hard work across the sport, we’re just days away from the start of the new era – it’s hard to contain the excitement! I can’t wait to see the cars together in Salzburg to mark the start of what will be a thrilling year.”

The launch takes place five days before cars roar into competitive action at the famous Rallye Monte-Carlo (20 - 23 January). The Monaco-based fixture features inhospitable roads in the French Alps where winter weather can be expected to deliver the unexpected.

Fast Frenchmen Complete M-Sport’s 2022 Monte Carlo Line-Up

Posted: December 29, 2021 3:26 PM

M-Sport is thrilled to announce that Adrien Fourmaux and Sébastien Loeb will join Craig Breen and Gus Greensmith in Monte Carlo, in a fleet of all-new Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 cars.

Frenchman Fourmaux joins Breen and Greensmith to form M-Sport’s trio of drivers for a full 2022 World Rally Championship campaign as the sport enters its new and excitng hybrid era.

Fourmaux began his rally career a mere five years ago, making a meteoric rise through the WRC ranks since his debut in 2019. His first season in WRC2, behind the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2, brought him two podium finishes at Rallye Monte Carlo (third) and Rally GB (second).

The 2021 season saw Fourmaux graduate into the Ford Fiesta WRC on Croatia Rally, where he achieved a career best of fifth overall. There was also cause for celebration at Safari Rally Kenya when Fourmaux claimed his first WRC stage win by a very comfortable 4.1 seconds. Consistently setting competitive times throughout the season, the young driver has been dubbed a rising star and on track to follow in the footsteps of his fellow successful countrymen.

Having been heavily involved in the testing programme for the all new Puma Hybrid Rally1 from the beginning, Fourmaux is in a perfect position to start his debut full WRC programme in the best possible form.

Sébastien Loeb makes WRC return

Nine-time FIA World Rally Champion, Sébastien Loeb, will also join the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team to compete on the opening round of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship. The legendary French driver will be behind the wheel of the new Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 car for the 2022 Rallye Monte-Carlo, an event he has won seven times previously.

Loeb rewrote the FIA World Rally Championship’s record books as a full-time competitor with dominant performances across every surface type. Since his last WRC title, Loeb embarked upon a variety of motorsport programmes across an array of disciplines, succeeding in every single one.

Loeb's latest WRC adventure sees him join forces with co-driver Isabelle Galmiche, a long time member of Loeb’s gravel crew.

Fourmaux, Loeb, Breen and Greensmith, along with the rest of the team at M-Sport will be working tirelessly between now and the start date of next year’s Rallye Monte-Carlo, January 20, to prepare for a high-excitement debut of the all new Hybrid Rally1 cars.

M-Sport has a rich history of success in the WRC with a total of seven World Rally Championship titles, 61 overall victories, 239 podiums and a record breaking 268 consecutive points finishes. M-Sport is thrilled to be fielding a line up of drivers who can certainly continue and build on this legacy during 2022.

Malcolm Wilson, Managing Director, M-Sport, said:
“I am really happy to announce the remaining drivers in our Monte Carlo line up. Starting the new WRC regulations with such a strong lineup is something I am very proud of and goes to show the faith that these guys have in the new Puma Rally1.

"Seeing Adrien given the opportunity to compete in a full season with us is something I am very proud of. M-Sport has a long history of developing young drivers and Adrien is no exception, 2022 gives him the chance to show what he can really do. I am sure he will deliver some impressive performances over the course of the season.

“In relation to Seb, I came close to securing a deal with him back in 2005 but unfortunately at that time we were not able to make it happen. However, with the introduction of the new 2022 Rally1 regulations and following discussions with Red Bull, we both reached out to Seb to see if he might be interested to come and try the new cars - he was, he did and now we find ourselves in a position to say that he will join the team next year! It is fantastic to be able to bring such an accomplished driver to M-Sport and I have no doubt he is still capable of a fantastic result as well as being a mentor to our other drivers. It might have taken over 16 years to get this deal to come to reality, but it is great to see it finally happen!”

Richard Millener, Team Principal, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, said:
“I am still quite early in my rallying career, but I have been incredibly lucky to work with some incredible drivers in the last years, having the chance to work with Séb Loeb is something I never really thought would happen. I know myself and the team will give everything we can to welcome him to the team and give him the best possible chance to get the best results.

"Also, finally confirming that Adrien will run with us for a full season is another piece of fantastic news. Adrien is such a motivated and exciting driver, and I am really pleased he now has a full season to be able to prove to us what he is capable of and demonstrate further development of what has so far been a very short career at the top level.

"Even though my job is to look after the rally team on a day to day basis, deep down I am just a huge rally fan and this news is genuinely exciting for me. It has taken lots of work to make this happen, and now I just cannot wait for the start of the Monte-Carlo. I know completing our line up with these two guys will motivate me and the team so much!”

Adrien Fourmaux, said:
“I am very happy to announce I will continue my journey with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team in 2022! An entire season is waiting for me with the M-Sport Ford Puma Hybrid Rally 1 which is a pleasure to drive. I am so proud of this, it is a very significant moment for me when I remember that I discovered rallying with the M-Sport Fiesta R2J back in 2017.

"For my sixth season in rallying I am really looking forward to competing at the highest level in M-Sport Ford and Red Bull Motorsport colours, and make all the people who believed in me and still believe in me proud. See you in Monte Carlo next month!”

Sébastien Loeb, said:
“It’s nice to work with M-Sport, it is a very professional team and one that knows how to build good cars. I am happy to work with M-Sport now, since the beginning of my career I was fighting against Ford but I have always known Malcolm to be somebody very involved in the team and passionate about rally, we have always had a good relationship. I am really excited for Monte Carlo, it is really an exciting challenge.

“It was a pleasure to discover the new technology found in the Puma Rally1 cars, I think it is quite similar to the 2017 cars but with a hybrid system added on it. It makes it a bit more challenging to use and it is exciting to have something new to manage in the car. When I tested the car I was really impressed by how well balanced it is and how powerful it is with the hybrid, I really enjoyed it.

“I like what I do, I always enjoying driving, but when I do a WRC event it is just an amazing feeling. It is something I enjoy a lot, I think I can still be competitive, ok Monte-Carlo is maybe not the easiest event to start with a team as there can be some tricky conditions. I have some good memories from this rally and it is always an incredible atmosphere around the rally.”

WRC roars into hybrid era with expanded 2022 calendar

Posted: December 29, 2021 3:24 PM

New Zealand will make an exciting return to an enlarged FIA World Rally Championship in 2022 after the sport’s first hybrid-era calendar was unveiled on Friday (15 October).

The country’s flowing North Island gravel roads near Auckland will feature for the first time since 2009 as the WRC celebrates its 50th season. The Land of the Long White Cloud’s 32nd WRC appearance, round 11 of the year, will take place on 29 September - 2 October.

Croatia’s asphalt is retained in an expanded 13-round schedule after the central European country hosted a widely-praised debut in April.

With Kenya’s iconic Safari Rally and Japan also listed, the season covers four continents – Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia – as the pandemic eases and commercial rights owner WRC Promoter rebuilds towards its target of a 50-50 split between European and long-haul rounds.

Next year brings some of the biggest and most far-reaching changes in the sport’s history as the WRC enters a more sustainable age.

Exciting top-tier hybrid Rally1 cars will blend 100kW electric motors and the existing combustion engine, while a hydrocarbon-based fossil-free fuel will be 100 percent sustainable.

The calendar was approved at the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council in Paris and WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel said the mix of classic fixtures and newer events would provide a mouth-watering schedule in a landmark season.

“Next year will be a momentous and thrilling one for the FIA World Rally Championship as we welcome the new hybrid era Rally1 cars, part of a portfolio of regulations to drive the series towards a greener and more sustainable future,” he added.

“Next year also marks the WRC’s 50th season and we have a calendar to match. We’re delighted to welcome back New Zealand, a rally which first appeared in 1977. Its gravel roads are a drivers’ delight and although our plans to return in 2020 were unfortunately derailed by Covid-19, it’s fantastic we can now push through with those.

“The pandemic sadly brought the globe to its knees but as the world recovers so, too, does the WRC. We previously outlined our strategy for an equal spread of rallies between Europe and long-haul destinations and the 2022 calendar is a significant step towards that goal.”

The 2022 championship in detail

The season kicks-off with January’s fiendishly difficult Rallye Monte-Carlo in the French Alps, which is based solely in Monaco for the first time since 2006.

It is followed by the spectacular snow and ice of Rally Sweden, the series’ only pure winter fixture, which also has a new home as it relocates north to the east coast city of Umeå. Croatia is the opening pure asphalt encounter and will again be based in Zagreb in late April.

The gravel fixtures begin in Portugal in late-May, the first of a string of gruelling hot weather dirt road rounds. It is followed in June by Italy and Kenya, one of global motorsport’s legendary contests which made a stunning return to the WRC this year.

Blisteringly fast roads in Estonia, which marks the midpoint of the championship, and Finland precede round nine in mid-August at a venue to be confirmed.

Greece, another championship stalwart, returns in September after its successful WRC comeback last month, before the final gravel encounter in New Zealand.

The closing two rounds take place on asphalt. Spain’s late October fixture leads into the finale in Japan, mainstream Asia’s first appearance in the WRC since it last visited the country in 2010.

Championship Rounds

Posted: December 29, 2021 3:23 PM

Monte Carlo (WRC) - 20-23 Jan 22
Sweden (WRC) - 24-27 Feb 22
Croatia (WRC) - 21-24 Apr 22
Portugal (WRC) - 19-22 May 22
Italy (WRC) - 2-5 Jun 22
Kenya Safari Rally (WRC) - 23-26 Jun 22
Estonia (WRC) - 14-17 Jul 22
Finland (WRC) - 4-7 Aug 22
TDC (WRC) - 18-21 Aug 22
Greece (WRC) - 8-11 Sep 22
New Zealand (WRC) - 29 Sep-2 Oct 22
Spain (WRC) - 20-23 Oct 22
Japan (WRC) - 10-13 Nov 22

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing counts on proven winners for a new WRC era - Lappi joins Ogier, Evans and Rovanperä to form 2022 line-up

Posted: October 7, 2021 3:09 AM

The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team will enter a new era of the FIA World Rally Championship relying on a strong driver line-up of proven winners across its three full-season manufacturer entries in 2022.

Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä will contest every event in the new hybrid Rally1 car after signing new contracts with the team, while multiple world champion Sébastien Ogier will also continue to compete for Toyota in selected rounds even as he steps back from full-time rallying. To complete the high-calibre line-up, Esapekka Lappi makes a welcome return to the team to share a car with Ogier during the season.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing now heads into a crucial phase of development and competition with the new-for-2022 technical regulations knowing it can count on four drivers who have all previously won rallies for the team and helped it towards championship success.

Evans joined the team at the beginning of 2020 and soon proved himself to be a championship contender, claiming wins in Sweden and Turkey and ultimately finishing runner-up to Ogier in a contest that went right down to the final round. After also winning in Portugal earlier this season and then at Rally Finland last weekend, the 32-year-old Welshman and his co-driver Scott Martin remain in contention for this year’s title with two rounds remaining.

Rovanperä has adapted impressively since stepping up to rallying’s highest level with the team last season. The 21-year-old from Finland, co-driven by Jonne Halttunen, recently became the youngest ever winner in the history of the WRC when he claimed a dominant victory at Rally Estonia, and followed that up with an impressive triumph on the Acropolis Rally in Greece, cementing his reputation as the sport’s most exciting young prospect.

Ogier claimed his seventh world championship title in 2020 in his first season driving the Toyota Yaris WRC. Having decided to extend his full-time WRC career for one more year into 2021, the Frenchman, 37, currently leads the standings by 24 points with two rounds remaining after taking victories in Monte Carlo, Croatia, Sardinia and Kenya so far. As he looks to make time for other activities outside of rallying, the exact events that Ogier will contest next season will be determined at a later date.

Julien Ingrassia, who has been alongside Ogier as his co-driver for all of his victories and championships, will bring the curtain down on his hugely-successful career at the end of 2021. Taking his place will be Benjamin Veillas, who has already worked closely with Ogier for several years in tests and as part of his gravel crew on events.

Lappi was part of the team’s line-up in its inaugural season in 2017, and claimed a memorable maiden victory on home soil at Rally Finland in just his fourth start at the highest level. In 2018 his three podium finishes helped Toyota to win the manufacturers’ championship before he moved on to other challenges. Together with co-driver Janne Ferm, the 30-year-old returned behind the wheel of a Toyota Yaris WRC last week with a privateer entry on Rally Finland, finishing a strong fourth overall, and now rejoins the team on a permanent basis for the WRC’s new era.

Quotes:

Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)
“I am very happy to have such a strong line-up of drivers heading into 2022 and an exciting new era for the WRC. It’s very nice to have Elfyn and Kalle continuing with us as drivers who can fight for the championship. Elfyn is a really consistent driver, always helping to get the points for the team towards the championship, but as he proved with his victory on Rally Finland, he’s also absolutely one of the fastest drivers and definitely one of the contenders to win the title. We have seen really great performances from Kalle this year. He is developing all the time and as he gains more and more experience, he can also become a strong contender for championships. Seb is a great champion and he will be really valuable for us again next season, even though he will no longer be targeting the drivers’ title for himself. Finally, I’m delighted to bring Esapekka back into the team. He proved with us before that he can win, and since then I think he has been growing a lot. His motivation is very high, and he showed his speed on his return last weekend. I believe he is the perfect driver to share the seat with Seb, to help us in the championship but also be there to fight for victories himself.”

Elfyn Evans
“I’m really pleased to continue driving with the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team. I have very much enjoyed my time here so far over the past two years, and to win for the team on its home rally in Finland last weekend was an extra-special feeling for me. Now we are getting ready to enter a new phase with new regulations, and I’m excited to work with everyone in the team to do the best job we can in developing the Rally1 car and trying to achieve the best results possible next season. Before then, I’m keen to round off this year on a strong note and help to secure the championship for the team.”

Kalle Rovanperä
“I’m very happy to be staying with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. My first two years with the team have been really good. I have been learning a lot, and the team has given me the chance to learn and to drive in my own way without big pressure. We have a really major change coming for next year with a totally new car, and it’s going to be a big challenge for the whole team. But it’s really positive to already be familiar with the team when we’re developing the car together and to be able to provide our own ideas as drivers. The team is putting a lot of work into it and I’m excited to help them in the best way possible.”

Sébastien Ogier
“I’m looking forward to having more time with my family after this year, but at the same time I’m very happy to remain with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and having the chance to compete in some rallies next year. I’m very thankful to the team for giving me this opportunity to keep doing on a partial basis what I love to do. The schedule of events is not clear yet, but I will do my best to help the team in the manufacturers’ championship and to develop the car. I’m excited to see what this new generation of cars bring to the sport and I know the team is putting a lot of effort into it.”

Esapekka Lappi
“I am very, very happy to be returning to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team. It feels like I’m coming home. I have some great memories from the past and it was really nice to work with people from the team again at Rally Finland. As soon as I got back into the Yaris WRC, it felt again like this was my car. Of course, for next year we will have a new car and although I have not driven it yet, it seems like it will be very different with the new regulations. But it will be interesting to be a part of it and I’m very excited about the future.”

BREEN/NAGLE TO SPEARHEAD M-SPORT CHARGE FOR THE FUTURE

Posted: October 6, 2021 2:12 AM

It’s the news we have all been waiting for, and M-Sport Ford are proud to announce that Craig Breen and Paul Nagle will spearhead the M-Sport Ford World Rally team’s attack on the 2022 and 2023 FIA World Rally Championship. The multi-year agreement will see their recent impressive performances rewarded with a full WRC campaign behind the wheel of the all-new M-Sport Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 car.

In what is the most exciting development in the 31 year old’s WRC career, Breen will receive the full commitment and expertise of the Cumbrian squad as they aim to replicate their successes in 2017 and 2018, the last time there was such a radical overhaul of the sporting and technical regulations.

Having sampled the Puma Hybrid Rally1 car on gravel in Cumbria a few weeks ago, Breen was more than impressed and excited by the team’s latest creation and is now fully focussed on delivering the results and success that both he and the squad know is possible.

2022 will see all-new technical regulations, with the WRC moving to a new and exciting era of competition. Space frame chassis coupled with 100kw Hybrid Motors delivering additional 130hp bursts of power throughout the special stages and 100% sustainable fuel moves the sport into a more environmentally conscious direction, whilst still retaining the core DNA of the world’s most exciting off-road motorsport series.

Despite only ever having partial WRC campaigns to date, recent results have seen Breen and Nagle become the talk of the service park. A third placed finish on last weekend’s Rally Finland has meant the Irishman has achieved four podiums in his last seven events, and he currently lies 6th in the drivers’ championship despite only competing in half of the season’s events!

Breen and Nagle have long been in the sights of M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson. Having won the 2011 FIA WRC Academy in an M-Sport-built Fiesta R2, this championship title would deliver Breen a career-transforming prize package allowing him to step up to the wheel of a Ford Fiesta S2000. The following season Breen would win four S-WRC events seeing him take another outright championship title.

Thanks to M-Sport’s ‘Ladder of Opportunity,’ Breen was then able to kick-start his career at the top level, competing up until now partial season programmes with a number of other WRC teams, but in 2022 he will return to where it all began, with the 2017 Manufacturers and Drivers’, and 2018 Drivers’ WRC Champions.

M-Sport and Breen now have the chance to add to Breen’s impressive recent statistics, and are more determined than ever to help him succeed in what looks to be one of the most exciting seasons in decades.

Breen’s full-time career as an M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 driver will start in October with a multi-surface test in Spain. With just over 100 days before the team lines up for the start of the iconic Monte-Carlo Rally, the team cannot wait to start this new chapter and bring success to him, the team and his global fan base.

News of other crews in M-Sport’s driving team will be announced in due course.

Malcolm Wilson OBE, Managing Director, M-Sport:
“I have known and followed Craig’s progress for over ten years now, his father was a great customer of M-Sport and I have watched Craig develop in a number of different M-Sport cars, using our ladder of opportunity to get him to where he is today. His performances this season have not gone unnoticed, delivering fantastic consistent results whilst only having a partial WRC programme.

"We started discussions about the possibility of joining forces a number of months ago and I am very excited to be able to now officially announce that he will lead the team for the next two seasons. We have a fantastic car in the Puma and I have no doubt that Craig and the Puma will deliver success for the team in the coming seasons.

"I also know how important rallying is to the Irish fans, and these fans have always supported M-Sport, so I cannot wait to see everything come together with the release of this news.”

Richard Millener, Team Principal, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team:
“I have known Craig since his first ever rally in an M-Sport car and got to know him more and more when he was competing in the ST championship and I was championship co-ordinator. We often joke about how we have both progressed our careers and where we find ourselves now, but it will be a pleasure and an honour to link up with him again to see what we can achieve at the highest level of the sport, for the next two seasons, in the most exciting era for WRC in a long time.

"I am very confident Craig and Paul can deliver the very best results for the team and I cannot wait to see them lining up for the start of the Monte Carlo Rally in only a few months’ time. Our goal now is to get both the lads comfortable in the team and give them all they need to help deliver the results with the new Puma. I cannot wait to get started, it is genuinely a really exciting time for not only me personally, but everyone involved in this adventure.”

Craig Breen, Driver, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team:
"I am so happy and proud to be joining the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team with Paul by my side. It has been a long road for us in the World Rally Championship with many twists and turns but we have now been given a golden ticket to drive for the most prestigious marque in motorsport and fight for the World Rally Championship.

“Ford has always been very close to my heart as my career started in the Ford Fiesta R2 winning the Junior World Rally Championship, before winning the S2000 World Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta S2000. I love rallying, every nuance of the sport, but especially the history. To add my name to the list of drivers that have driven for Ford is a bit surreal, drivers like Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola, Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz. To have my name etched in the history books besides these greats is a huge privilege.

“Being a very proud Irish man, to drive for Ford is something even more special to me as Henry Ford’s father was born in Ireland before emigrating to America. The love and passion for the brand in Ireland is still huge to this day.

“I am humbled by the faith that Malcolm, Rich and everyone in the M-Sport team has shown in us. Now I really can’t wait to get to Casino Square, Monte Carlo for the opening round of the championship and do the blue oval proud!”

Paul Nagle, Co-Driver, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team:
"I’m really excited to be involved with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team as we enter the new Hybrid era of the World Rally Championship. I have worked with many teams in my time in the WRC but always wanted to join the Ford family.

“The team at M-Sport has a track record of producing some of the best rally cars and I’m sure 2022 will be no exception. Both Craig and I are hungry for victories and to fight for the World Rally Championship title, we will be giving it our very best.”

Hyundai Motorsport confirms 2022 WRC driver line-up

Posted: October 6, 2021 2:11 AM

Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed its crew line-up for the new era of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with Dani Sordo and Oliver Solberg sharing the team’s third Rally1 car.

The team had already confirmed Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak as full-time drivers for the start of WRC’s hybrid regulations, but the addition of Sordo and Solberg will bring an ideal mix of experience and youth in its ninth season.

Sordo has been part of the Hyundai Motosport squad since its debut in 2014, and has played an integral role in some of its most memorable moments. The Spaniard contributed to a famous 1-2 result in Rallye Deutschland in the first year of competition, and has gone on to be a consistent performer in each season since. He has claimed two victories in Hyundai Motorsport colours, both at Rally Italia Sardegna in 2019 and 2020, and a total of 13 podium finishes to date.

Solberg, meanwhile, joined the team at the end of 2020 ahead of his first season in 2021. The Swedish youngster, who has recently turned 20-years-old, has participated in nine events with and on behalf of Hyundai Motorsport this season, driving three different cars – the Hyundai i20 R5, Hyundai i20 N Rally2 and the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC – with encouraging performances. An exciting talent, Solberg will share the third Rally1 car with Sordo on selected events, and will be a critical component as the team embarks on a new chapter in its WRC history.

Sordo said:
“I have said many times before that Hyundai Motorsport is like a family to me, so I am pleased to continue my career with them into the new hybrid era of WRC. We have been working together for many years and we have shared some important moments. I am looking forward to even more to come as we prepare for fresh challenges. It is important to have consistency as we face new regulations, but we are also fortunate to have new talent like Oliver with us on this new adventure. I am excited.”

Solberg said:
“It’s a dream come true to be able to climb into the third WRC car to do selected events together with Dani Sordo. It is really cool. I also have the other team-mates, Thierry and Ott, who are great people to learn from and who have great experience. I’m only just 20, so it’s a huge step so early in my career. I am really looking forward to it, and finding out what events I will do. I am excited to drive the new era of car, the Rally1; it’s definitely a special time to be involved in WRC.”

Team Principal Andrea Adamo said:
“We are pleased to confirm Dani and Oliver in our third car for next season, alongside Thierry and Ott. We think it’s the best compromise between experience and youth, and the ideal mix for a new era of WRC. Not only will Dani drive a selected number of events, but he will also be working with us on events when Oliver steps in. His approach to racing and his extensive experience will be a great asset to our team when our learning curve with new regulations will be high. We will have important continuity and mutual trust; it is also good to have new blood like Oliver, alongside the experience that our existing crews will bring. We will undoubtedly have a very strong line-up as we embark on a fresh chapter for Hyundai Motorsport.”

Hyundai Motorsport bids farewell to Craig Breen and Paul Nagle

Posted: October 6, 2021 2:09 AM

Hyundai Motorsport bids a fond farewell to Craig Breen and Paul Nagle as the Irish duo will move to M-Sport for the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season.

Breen and Nagle joined Hyundai Motorsport in the summer of 2019 making their debut with the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC on the fast roads of Rally Estonia – which was run as a WRC candidate event and as part of their preparation for Rally Finland. The Finnish event marked their first WRC round with the team. After competing at Wales Rally GB, they were part of the team’s celebrations in Australia where Hyundai Motorsport secured its first manufacturers’ title.

The Irish duo’s 2020 season started at Rally Sweden where they finished seventh. When the WRC calendar resumed at Rally Estonia in July, after a six-month hiatus due to the ongoing global pandemic, they clinched their first podium with the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC. The result played an essential role in Hyundai Motorsport’s quest for the manufacturers’ championship. The Irish pair also scored their first win with the team at the Aarova Rally Oudenaarde, a national tarmac event in Belgium, in which they competed to prepare for Ypres Rally – before the event was cancelled due to COVID-19.

In addition to being part of the Hyundai Motorsport’s WRC operations, Breen and Nagle were big assets for the company’s Customer Racing department. In 2019, the Irish duo dominated the Ulster Rally with the Hyundai i20 R5, their first outing with the car, and were crowned Irish Tarmac Champions. Last year, they participated in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) with the Hyundai i20 R5 with the aim of helping the development of Indian tyre manufacturer MRF and they were also involved in the testing phase of the Hyundai i20 N Rally2. The pair brought the i20 R5 to victory at Rally di Alba, part of the Italian WRC Championship.

In 2021, they started several events with the Hyundai i20 R5 and clinched the win in the iconic Rallye Sanremo, the first round of the Italian Rally Championship. They brought home a fantastic second place at the Rally Liep?ja in the FIA ERC and Breen was also second at the legendary Targa Florio with Belgian Louis Louka alongside him.

With Nagle in the co-driver’s seat, Breen has put in some impressive performances in WRC this season. The pair claimed back-to-back second place finishes in Rally Estonia and Ypres Rally Belgium, the latter supporting a Hyundai Motorsport 1-2, before adding a third consecutive podium result in Rally Finland.

Team Principal Andrea Adamo said:
“I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Craig and Paul for their hard work and dedication since joining us in 2019. Across three seasons, they have proven to be valuable team players and have contributed to our recent manufacturers’ title successes. The results that they have secured - especially consecutive podium finishes in Rally Estonia, a fantastic second place in Ypres Rally, and most recently in Rally Finland - have shown they have the pace to be among WRC’s finest. They have also played a key role in the further development of our Customer Racing department, competing in the FIA European Rally Championship with the Hyundai i20 R5 and also taking part in the testing phase of the Hyundai i20 N Rally2. They are two fully focused individuals and form a potent, professional partnership; they have always been there for us when we needed them, and we wish them all the best for the future.”

Craig Breen said:
“I have been working towards achieving a full-time seat in the World Rally Championship since I was a little boy, so this was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down. It is with great sadness that we can’t continue with Hyundai Motorsport but what an amazing story it has been; coming from nowhere, competing back at home in our regional Irish championship and flung back into the WRC. Hyundai gave us our lifeline, a platform on which we could perform and show what we could do. We’ve had a few rollercoaster moments along the way, as well as many highlights, including our consecutive podiums in Estonia, Ypres and Finland. We have also been part of the Customer Racing program, and enjoyed many victories, not least at Sanremo and the rallies we won in the Irish tarmac championship. We part ways on the best of terms, having had an amazing experience and making lots of friends along the way. We now look forward to the future with gratitude and excitement.”

Craig Breen / Paul Nagle Highlights with Hyundai Motorsport

WRC pinpoints exciting new details for sustainable future

Posted: October 5, 2021 1:27 PM

Wide-ranging details about the FIA World Rally Championship’s commitment to an exciting new sustainable future have been provided by series officials at a seminar in Munich on Monday (6 September).

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), motorsport’s governing body, and WRC Promoter, which owns the championship’s commercial rights, revealed new information about the series’ previously-announced hybrid Rally1 cars, 100 per cent sustainable fuel and enhanced safety measures to be introduced in 2022.

FIA rally director Yves Matton, FIA technical director Xavier Mestelan Pinon, WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel and senior management from Hyundai Motorsport, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team and Toyota Gazoo Racing attended the event held around the IAA Mobility show in the German city.

Other guest speakers included FIA marketing director Alexandre Gueschir, as well as Martin Popilka, CEO at P1 Racing Fuels and Pierre-Olivier Calendini, Fuel Research Centre Director at Aramco, which announced their development partnership to supply a low carbon synthetic liquid fuel for competition cars in WRC.

Gueschir outlined the FIA’s responsibility in leading motorsport into a low carbon future to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to a greener planet.

Under its PurposeDriven movement, the FIA is taking an innovation-led approach to deliver sustainable motorsport. One goal is to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

Siebel highlighted WRC Promoter’s commitment to support a sustainable future in both the world championship and the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), for which it was recently awarded the commercial rights in a multi-year agreement beginning in 2022.

The WRC has fundamentally revised its technical regulations from next season. The top-tier Rally1 class for manufacturer teams will bring a substantial gain in crew safety, as well as more equality between competitors, due to a new design approach.

An even bigger revolution concerns the drivetrain, with hybrid technology mandatory for Rally1 cars. The plug-in hybrid unit including all necessary components and software will be common, with the potential for more freedom of development in 2024.

In the WRC’s first-ever hybrid powered cars, an electric motor works together with the proven 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Rally1 cars will have up to 100kW (134hp) of additional power available in certain situations.

The system also provides the opportunity to reduce emissions locally via full electric driving on road sections in built-up areas.

The unique Rally1 hybrid system has three principal modes: Full Electric Mode in which cars will have full electric range, Stage Start Mode when the system’s full power will be available, and Stage Mode in which teams and drivers will be able to create up to three personalised ‘maps’ to decide how to deploy the hybrid power.

Introducing hybrid has been a key part in ensuring Toyota, Hyundai and M-Sport Ford are fully committed to the WRC from 2022 to 2024.

All three teams are already testing their new cars, which will debut in competition at Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the 2022 season on 20 - 23 January.

Another milestone is the introduction of 100 per cent sustainable fuel, a first for any FIA World Championship. Part of the FIA’s race-to-road strategy is to implement sustainable energy sources across its motorsport disciplines to reduce CO? emissions.

The renewable fuel from P1 Racing Fuels is a blend of synthetic and bio-derived components. This green fuel will be mandatory to all top-tier competitors at WRC events. In its development, P1 Racing Fuels will collaborate with global energy and chemical experts Aramco on the formulation of advanced-generation biofuels and sustainable synthetic fuels derived from captured CO2 and low-carbon hydrogen.

Matton commented: “The Rally1 hybrid project is a major landmark in the development of rallying and underlines the FIA’s commitment to sustainability and technology laboratory.

“Next year’s Rally1 cars with hybrid plus sustainable fuel will make the FIA World Rally Championship more relevant and more attractive to car makers than ever before.”

Siebel said: “Rallying is one of the harshest environments a production-based car can experience. The WRC is a tremendous platform to develop and validate hybrid technology and renewable fuel for mass-produced vehicles, on real roads and under all circumstances.

“We are raising the bar to play our part in developing sustainable mobility. Road car users all over the world will ultimately benefit from what we learn by using both on rally stages.”

Championship Website

Posted: October 5, 2021 1:25 PM

www.wrc.com

Topics: World Rally Championship