Tue March 9, 2010

 Magalhaes experiments for Argentina Bruno Magalhães has already begun his preparations for the next round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in Argentina. With a fifth place finish on Rally Internacional de Curitiba all but secure, the Peugeot Portugal driver spent the closing stages of last week’s event...

 Peugeot to upgrade Meeke's 207 Peugeot Sport boss Olivier Quesnel has promised Kris Meeke that development of the 207 S2000 will not stand still in order to keep the Northern Irishman ahead of new opposition from Ford and the second generation Skoda Fabia S2000. Meeke, who dominated the Rally Internacion...

Sun March 7, 2010

 Ogier makes it a Citroen 1-2-3 Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia have climbed onto the podium of a World Championship rally for the second time in their careers. The Citroën Junior Team crew shared the podium with two World Champions in Mexico: rally winner Sébastien Loeb and Petter Solberg in second, bot...

 Loeb scores 4th consecutive Mexican win Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena started the final day of Rally Mexico with a comfortable lead over their pursuers. All they had to do was to control the gap to score their fourth consecutive victory in Mexico. The Franco-Monegasque duo fulfilled their mission. This win puts the...

 Stobart complete Mexican marathon The Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team collected a double points finish in the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship after an all-action weekend at Rally Mexico. Henning Solberg led the way for the Cumbrian squad as he and co-driver Ilka Minor sailed to a sixth plac...

 Ford maintain championship lead after Mexico BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team retained the lead of the FIA World Rally Championship after a double points haul in Rally Mexico today. Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen finished fourth on the demanding dirt roads in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, with team-mates Jari-Matti...

Sat March 6, 2010

 Ogier well placed for final sprint Demonstrating their ability to combine both speed and maturity, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia continued their exceptional progress on the second day of the Rally Mexico. Driving their Citroën Junior Team C4 WRC, the French crew will start the final day in third place – j...

 Loeb opens up comfortable lead on leg 2 After an exceptional display, Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena lead Rally Mexico at the end of the second day. The six-time world champions put on a stunning show winning eight of the nine stages,and have opened up a comfortable lead of almost a minute over Petter Solberg and S...

 Solberg shines for Stobart Henning Solberg flew the flag for the Stobart M-Sport Ford rally team on day two of Rally Mexico as he found fine form on the dusty stages around León. Despite having to drive around problems with the brakes on his Ford Focus RS WRC throughout, the Norwegian performed stron...

 Ford target strong points finish in Mexico BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team climbed the leaderboard during today's second leg of Rally Mexico to put itself on course for a valuable points finish in this second round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila lie fourth in their Ford ...

 Wilks stars on Rally Brazil debut Guy Wilks has jumped to second in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, after finishing runner-up on the Rally International de Curitiba in his Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000. On his first event in Brazil, Guy drove brilliantly to hold second position throughout the challe...

 Double podium for Skoda in Brazil Reliable performances of Škoda Fabias Super 2000 at the Brazilian Rally near Curitiba earned the brand second, third and fourth places in the final standings. Guy Wilks of Škoda UK Motorsport came second, Juho Hänninen of Škoda Motorsport third and his team Jan Kopecký fourth. <...

 Meeke heads British 1-2 in Brazil Kris Meeke has become the most successful driver in the short history of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge by winning Rally Internacional de Curitiba for a second successive time. Co-driven by Irishman Paul Nagle, the defending IRC champion beat fellow Briton Guy Wilks to vict...

 IRC Curitiba TV Times Although Eurosport are not covering any live stages from Brazil, there will be daily 30 minute highlights programmes from Brazil plus a magazine roundup show repeated several times after the rally. Read on for full tv times (times are CET, deduct one hour for UK times)...

NEWS JUST IN

 BR end - Meeke wins Brazil @ 06:17 PM - Kris Meeke wins his 2nd Rally Curitiba and togethwe with Guy Wilks he orms a British 1-2. Last moment drama, Bolivia's Eduardo Peredo loses 6th overall and groupN victory with a blown engine 500metres from the finish line! Results after (SS14):
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 1h42m45s4;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +46s7;
3rd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m20s2;
4th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m49s3;
5th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +4m05s5;
6th= Scheer/Pavinatto, Mitsubishi, +14m00s4;

 BR SS13 - Reaching the finale @ 05:21 PM - Meeke extends his lead slightly, Hänninen wins sateg, positions look settled. This was a re-run of SS10. The last stage will be an interesting mix with start identical to SS11, finish identical to SS8&11, but the 13km middle section is all new! Results after SS13:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 1h27m56s3;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +39s9;
3rd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m30s3;
4th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m48s7;
5th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +3m43s8;
6th= Peredo/Bustos, Mitsubishi, +12m05s9;

 BR SS12 - Cancelled! @ 04:36 PM - SS12 cancelled again for floodings, see SS9. This means we are left with only 2 shortish stages. The expensive, man made superspecial will also not run as part of the competition for deep mud.

 BR SS11 - Another Hänninen stage win @ 02:13 PM - Shortest stage, using the closing section of this morning's SS8. Clear stage win for Hänninen. Peredo broke radiator, but tries to reach service. Results after SS11:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 1h20m57s;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +35s4;
3rd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m31s9;
4th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m44s3;
5th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +3m31s5;
6th= Peredo/Bustos, Mitsubishi, +11m13s7;

 BR SS10 - Hänninen takes Kopecky @ 01:16 PM - Another stage win for Hänninen, but making no real impression on Meeke. This is the furthest south stage today and has been shortened by 7km already before the event, losing out on the most twisty but potentially most flooded part. There still was a huge water splash. Results after SS10:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 1h14m19s3;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +35s7;
3rd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m35s5;
4th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m40s2;
5th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +3m21s9;
6th= Peredo/Bustos, Mitsubishi, +10m26s7;

 BR SS9 - Cancelled! @ 01:00 PM - I like mud, there should be more in rallying. But it seems the organisers want to avoid what happened to the WRC Rally do Brazil in 1982. There were overnight thunderstorms, and while SS8 went smoothly, SS9 is considered way too flooded. It is not sure yet if SS12, repeat of 9 in the afternoon, will be affected too.

 BR SS8 - Dramatic start to the day @ 00:52 AM - We kick the day off with the rally's longest stage, all in fresh mud. Oliviera has to change puncture, drops 4min, Kopecky also puncture towards the end, combined with Hänninen's stage win his 3rd place is under thread. Results after SS8:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 1h07m12s8;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +32s;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m33s2;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m36s9;
5th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +2m59s2;
6th= Peredo/Bustos, Mitsubishi, +9m30s2;

Fri March 5, 2010

 Ogier up there with the best on day one The Citroën Junior Team showed impressive form on the first day of the Rally Mexico, round two of the FIA World Rally Championship. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia occupy an excellent second place thanks to four fastest times in nine stages. Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindströ...

 Loeb & Sordo waiting to pounce! On the first day of Rally Mexico, four CitroënC4 WRCs fill the first four places in the provisional classification. Petter Solberg and Sébastien Ogier made the most of their advantageous starting positions in the stages, while behind, Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo are waiting t...

 Stobart march on in Mexico Day one of Rally Mexico saw the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team claim top ten positions in the overall standings after a tough test in the dusty Central American stages....

 Ford endure tough opening day in Mexico BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team endured a predictably tough opening to Rally Mexico today as dry and dirty conditions hampered their challenge on this second round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila are fifth in a Ford Focus RS World Ra...

 Meeke dominates leg one Kris Meeke is on course to repeat his Rally Internacional de Curitiba victory of last year after winning six of the seven special stages on the first leg of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier in Brazil today (Friday 5 March). The defending IRC champion holds a ...

 Meeke dominates first morning in Brazil Kris Meeke rounded out a perfect morning with his fourth stage victory on Rally Internacional de Curitiba. The Peugeot 207 driver’s dominance of the event, which he won in 2009, means he has increased his lead over Škoda Fabia runner Guy Wilks to 23.1 seconds....

NEWS JUST IN

 BR leg1 - Meeke in command @ 07:31 PM - Repeat of superfast SS2. Another stage win for Meeke. However tomorrow on the much more twisty and technical stages Meeke will be 1st on the road. Results after leg1 (SS7):
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 49m17s2;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +32s7;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m00s1;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m42s7;
5th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +2m07s9;
6th= Oliveira/Giraudet, Peugeot, +5m58s7;

 BR SS6 - Hänninen past Magalhaes @ 06:50 PM - 3rd and last time through the longest and most technical stage of the day (repeat of SS1 & 4). Another stage win for Meeke, but Hänninen passes Magalhaes for 4th. Results after SS6:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 44m38s8;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +27s8;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +52s5;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m37s7;
5th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +1m52s8;
6th= Oliveira/Giraudet, Peugeot, +5m22s5;

 BR SS5 - 1st stage win or Hänninen @ 06:22 PM - Repeat of SS3 and such the 2nd stage that is repeated. But it is the 1st stage not won by Meeke. Hänninen beats Meeke by just 1.1s, but Hänninen put's Magalhaes under pressure. Results after SS5:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 34m40s5;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +26s6;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +47s1;
4th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +1m32s8;
5th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m35s7;
6th= Oliveira/Giraudet, Peugeot, +4m11s8;

 BR SS4 - Brits strong in Brazil @ 02:41 PM - Second run over the twistiest and longest stage of the day. No more road position advantage and it is Wilks who is 2nd fastest to Meeke here. Results after SS4:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 29m56s1;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +23s1;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +42s3;
4th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +1m20s9;
5th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m36s8;
6th= Oliveira/Giraudet, Peugeot, +3m37s3;

 BR SS3 - Meeke again @ 02:06 PM - Slightly longer and twistier, still fast stage, closest stage to Curitiba, but there is a repeat of SS1 yet to come before mid day service. Meeke again very fast, 2nd fastest Hänninen, but still down from his puncture. Order looks sorted, main attention if Hänninen can get into top4. Results after SS3:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 19m50s6;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +18s9;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +33s8;
4th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +59s8;
5th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m31s9;
6th= Oliveira/Giraudet, Peugeot, +2m32s2;

 BR SS2 - Meeke fastest again @ 01:57 PM - Short but superfast stage, average nearing 130km/h, especially last third is all flat out. Unlike previous stage Meeke wins stage only just. Hänninen passes Oliveira. Results after SS2:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 14m59s;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +13s;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +25s;
4th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +44s6;
5th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m27s6;
6th= Oliveira/Giraudet, Peugeot, +1m56s3;

 BR SS1 - Hänninen starts with puncture @ 00:41 AM - The rally starts with the longest stage of the day, which is also the only stage run 3 times. The conditions are muddy, but Hänninen cannot take his 1st on the road to advantage as he looses 90s with a puncture. Results after SS1:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 10m17s;
2nd= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +11s4;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +18s3;
4th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +30s8;
5th= Oliveira/Giraudet, Peugeot, +1m23s2;
6th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +1m26s2;
7th= Scheer/Pavinatto, Mitsubishi, +1m56s1;

Thu March 4, 2010

 Prologue cancelled, starting order announced The Super Prime Pinhais prologue stage, which had been due to run this afternoon (Thursday), has been cancelled due to heavy rain and following earlier delays to the Rally Internacional de Curitiba timetable....