Sat May 18, 2013

 Bouffier wins thrilling Tour de Corse Bryan Bouffier has ended Jan Kopecký’s run of success in the FIA European Rally Championship with his maiden victory on Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse, which reached a thrilling climax live on Eurosport and France 3 Corsica earlier today. ...

 Skoda's Kopecky extends ERC lead ŠKODA and driving duo Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ/CZ) finished runner-up at the iconic Corsica Rally to extend their overall lead in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC). The 56th staging of the tarmac rally on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, which is one of the absol...

NEWS JUST IN

 F end - Still problems for some @ 05:50 PM - Bouffier wins, while Kopecky's engine runs on 3 cylinders. Let's hope he manages the final road section. Breen misses 3rd by just 3.2s. Leandri passes Bonnefis. Oliveira crashes out from 9th. Final results (after SS11)(subject to last road section and scrutineering):
1st= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, 2h41m58s2;
2nd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +39s8;
3rd= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +1m37s6;
4th= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, +1m40s8;
5th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +3m25s;
6th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +3m27s6;
7th= Aigner/Heigl, Subaru, +7m53s9;
8th= Leandri/Jamoul, Peugeot, +8m47s8;
9th= Bonnefis/Fournier, Renault, +9m16s8;
10th= Raoux/Mazotti, Peugeot, +13m54s3

 F SS10 - Close battles before last stage @ 04:30 PM - Bouffier extends lead slightly. But Breen drops behind Sarrazin again. Leandri has a puncture, which means Bonnefis in the FWD gN Renault is now 8th, but only 6s ahead of 2 S2000 cars! Results after SS10:
1st= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, 2h24m18s4;
2nd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +13s;
3rd= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +1m25s3;
4th= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, +1m33s2;
5th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +2m58s7;
6th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +3m20s9;
7th= Aigner/Heigl, Subaru, +6m48s;
8th= Bonnefis/Fournier, Renault, +7m55s;
9th= Oliveira/Magalhaes, Ford, +8m00s9;
10th= Leandri/Jamoul, Peugeot, +8m01s3

 F SS9 - More position changes @ 01:10 PM - Breen passes Sarrazin for 3rd. Kopecky moves closer to the lead again. Manzagol retired from 7th. Results after SS9:
1st= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, 2h12m23s3;
2nd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +10s7;
3rd= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, +1m22s2;
4th= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +1m22s8;
5th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +2m45s4;
6th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +3m07s6;
7th= Leandri/Jamoul, Peugeot, +5m58s8;
8th= Aigner/Heigl, Subaru, +6m21s1;
9th= Bonnefis/Fournier, Renault, +7m15s4;
10th= Oliveira/Magalhaes, Ford, +7m30s3

 F SS8 - Another fastest for Bouffier @ 11:56 AM - Vera drama free stage, even though the end part is part of the former longest and most classic Corsica stage. Breen attacks for 3rd, Aigner attacks for 8th. Results after SS8:
1st= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, 1h58m46s3;
2nd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +19s5;
3rd= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +1m15s4;
4th= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, +1m18s8;
5th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +2m31s8;
6th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +2m58s1;
7th= Manzagol/Patrone, Peugeot, +5m11s8;
8th= Leandri/Jamoul, Peugeot, +5m36s7;
9th= Augner/Heigl, Subaru, +5m39s6;
10th= Bonnefis/Fournier, Renault, +6m12s2

 F SS7 - Dramatic first stage @ 10:20 AM - It's wet this morning. And it's the former WRC last stage, where i.e. in 2000 Delecour dropped behind Panizzi by team orders. This time Delecour likes the stage, strong time. Kopecky did not like the stage and loses lead. Breen spins into a rock face and drops 40s. So top4 places all change. Results after SS7:
1st= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, 1h40m56s3;
2nd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +12s3;
3rd= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +59s5;
4th= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, +1m14s5;
5th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +2m07s2;
6th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +2m30s9;
7th= Manzagol/Patrone, Peugeot, +4m39s1;
8th= Leandri/Jamoul, Peugeot, +4m48s1;
9th= Augner/Heigl, Subaru, +4m55s;
10th= Bonnefis/Fournier, Renault, +5m10s4

Fri May 17, 2013

 Corsica set for thrilling showdown There will be serious competition ahead when round five of the FIA European Rally Championship concludes on Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse tomorrow. At the completion of Friday’s opening leg, which featured four different leaders, ERC title pacesetter Jan Kopecký tops the lege...

 Kopecky in the lead in Corsica Half way through the Corsica Rally, ŠKODA’s driver duo Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ/CZ) is in the lead, despite the sometimes slippery asphalt making the driving conditions challenging. The pair clinched the top spot by winning the last special stage....

 Delecour delighted to be back in ERC François Delecour has revealed his delight after securing a late deal to contest round five of the FIA European Rally Championship this week. ...

 Sarrazin braced for serious competition Stéphane Sarrazin is expecting serious competition ahead when the FIA European Rally Championship resumes on the legendary Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse from 16-18 May. ...

NEWS JUST IN

 F leg1 - 4 leaders in 4 stages @ 07:53 PM - Kopecky takes Bouffier. So Breen-Kubica-Bouffier-Kopecky, 4 different leaders. Delecour has a broken exhaust and can't hear his navigator as well as losing power. Aigner takes Production lead on last stage. Results after leg1 (SS6):
1st= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, 1h28m49s;
2nd= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +3s6;
3rd= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, +39s8;
4th= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +54s;
5th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +1m59s;
6th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +2m08s6;
7th= Manzagol/Patrone, Peugeot, +3m42s6;
8th= Leandri/Jamoul, Peugeot, +4m20s6;
9th= Augner/Heigl, Subaru, +4m30s4;
10th= Bonnefis/Fournier, Renault, +4m34s9

 F SS5 - Kubica retires @ 05:42 PM - Kubica dropped 6 minutes with an electrical problem. Unable to find the problem Kubica retires after the stage. So Bouffier now leads. Next Bertelli's Fiesta is on fire, stage cancelled. Results after SS5:
1st= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, 1h13m12s5;
2nd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +3s8;
3rd= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, +43s5;
4th= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +49s;
5th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +1m36s3;
6th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +1m51s9;
7th= Manzagol/Patrone, Peugeot, +2m55s4;
8th= Leandri/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m28s9;
9th= Bonnefis/Fournier, Renault, +3m49s;
10th= Aigner/Heigl, Subaru, +3m51s9

 F SS4 - Puncture for Breen @ 02:55 PM - The stage of the Henri Toivonen scene, though opposite direction and stopping before the Henri corner. Breen went off and collected a puncture, dropping from a convincing lead to 5th. Results after SS4:
1st= Kubica/Baran, Citroen, 57m09s3;
2nd= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +7s5;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +8s8;
4th= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +38s9;
5th= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, +56s7;
6th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +1m18s1;
7th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +1m25s;
8th= Manzagol/Patrone, Peugeot, +2m17s;
9th= Leandri/Jamoul, Peugeot, +2m40s1;
10th= Bertelli/Dotta, Ford, +2m49s4

 F SS3 - First drivers in troubles @ 02:08 PM - Jérémi Ancien goes off and Germain Bonnefis loses several places with an ill tyre choice. Breen wins the stage. Maurin moves narrowly ahead of Delecour. Results after SS3:
1st= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, 47m28s2;
2nd= Kubica/Baran, Citroen, +26s4;
3rd= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +31s7;
4th= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +35s4;
5th= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +56s;
6th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +1m29s7;
7th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +1m30s3;
8th= Manzagol/Patrone, Peugeot, +2m24s3;
9th= Leandri/Jamoul, Peugeot, +2m34s1;
10th= Bertelli/Dotta, Ford, +2m46s8

 F SS2 - Another fastest for Breen @ 10:46 AM - Stage is near all dry, 2nd time for Kopecky, places 2-3-4 move closer together. We are already centre of the island. Results after SS2:
1st= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, 31m52s;
2nd= Kubica/Baran, Citroen, +19s5;
3rd= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +25s3;
4th= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +25s6;
5th= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +36s8;
6th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +56s;
7th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +56s6;
8th= Bonnefis/Fournier, Renault, +1m38s4;
9th= Leandri/Jamoul, Peugeot, +1m39s;
10th= Manzagol/Patrone, Peugeot, +1m39s6

 F SS1 - Strong start for Breen @ 08:06 AM - Breen with superb time. Puncture for Ancian. Stage is 50% wet and a north-west coastal road near Calvi. Results after SS1:
1st= Breen/Nagle, Peugeot, 16m29s;
2nd= Kubica/Baran, Citroen, +11s5;
3rd= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +17s8;
4th= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +22s2;
5th= Sarrazin/Renucci, Mini, +23s7;
6th= Delecour/Savignoni, Peugeot, +28s;
7th= Maurin/Klinger, Ford, +29s4;
8th= Manzagol/Patrone, Peugeot, +50s4;
9th= Marchi/Nanni, Peugeot, +50s6;
10th= Bonnefis/Fournier, Renault, +52s1

Wed May 15, 2013

 Skoda also wishes to succeed in Corsica Three appearances, three victories – ŠKODA´s performances in the ERC have been perfect so far, and the brand´s factory crew, Jan Kopecký & Pavel Dresler in a ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000, wish to succeed also in Corsica. The fifth event of this year´s ERC takes place in Corsica over 16...

 Skoda APRC debut in NZ ŠKODA is getting ready for a very special motorsport premiere: the Rally of Whangarei in New Zealand (May 17 – 19) will see the ŠKODA MRF team make its debut in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). Having received full-fledged factory support, the team will field two crews...

 Loeb with 208 on Mont Ventoux Peugeot Sport chose Mont Ventoux, one of the most legendary stages of the famous Tour de France cycle race, as the setting for its final full-scale dress rehearsal in France before its fast-approaching journey to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. ...

 Bessenyey looking to defend 2WD top spot After visiting the Gran Canarias and Azores earlier in the year, the FIA European Rally Championship travels to another island this weekend: Corsica. With its twisty and narrow tarmac mountain roads, the 56th "Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse" will test drivers to the limit. However...

Tue May 14, 2013

 Loeb's 208 now in colours Sébastien Loeb has had his first opportunity to sample the 208 T16 Pikes Peak he is poised to drive in Colorado on June 30. The nine-time world rally champion believes he has the ultimate machine to help him win the famous Race to the Clouds. The next step will be to fully tame t...

Mon May 13, 2013

 Qatar M-Sport wins Jordan Rally Qatar M-Sport's Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini continued their dominant campaign in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) last weekend as they piloted their Ford Fiesta RRC to a convincing victory at the 2013 Jordan Rally. ...

 3rd MERC podium in 3 rallies After finishing as runners-up in Qatar and Kuwait, Khalid Al-Qassimi and Scott Martin (Citroën DS3 RRC) took third overall in the Jordan Rally, which concluded the first half of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship. The Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally Team also won the '...

Fri May 10, 2013

 Q&A Stéphane Sarrazin Six questions to Stéphane Sarrazin, top circuit racer on his rallying return and for the first time in ages not around in a Peugeot, but adding to car variety driving the very BMW Mini in which Daniel Sordo won Tour de Corse last year. Last year Tour de Corse Sarrazin drove the 2...

 Tour de Corse full preview EVENT PREVIEW: 2013 FIA European Rally Championship, round five of 12 Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse (France), 16-18 May   FORMULA ONE RACERS IN THE MIX FOR TOUR DE CORSE ERC GLORY  ...

 Stunning TdCorse entry shows ERC rise The FIA European Rally Championship continues to go from strength to strength with a star-studded entry list for round five, Tour de Corse.     Fifty-eight registrations have been accepted for the island classic from 16-18 May, with rally crews from 18 different countries and 3...

 Even more way to follow ERC action The FIA European Rally Championship resumes on the legendary Tour de Corse next week. And thanks to ERC promoter Eurosport Events, there are now even more ways to follow the action....

Thu May 9, 2013

 Meeke: Fron zero to hero for Peugeot Leading international rally driver Kris Meeke will be in action on Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse next week – at the wheel of a Peugeot 208 R2 zero car....

 Molly Taylor around the World Molly Taylor won’t be hanging around at the finish of Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse next Saturday (18 May). Instead of the traditional post-event celebrations, Taylor and co-driver Seb Marshall will be packing their bags and jetting to Adelaide for the Scouts Rally South Australi...

 Molly Taylor will start Tour de Corse The French rally will see, for their second race of the season, Molly Taylor and Seb Marshall with the Citroen DS3 R3 with which they took part in the Rally of the Azores....

Sun May 5, 2013

 M-Sport & Seashore Qatar dominate WRC 2 M-Sport supported driver Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari dominated the WRC 2 category at Rally Argentina this weekend. Piloting their Seashore Qatar Rally Team Ford Fiesta RRC, the Qatari and co-driver Killian Duffy were in a class of their own – taking victory by an impressive 13 minutes....

 Novikov narrowly misses podium Qatar M-Sport’s Evgeny Novikov narrowly missed out on a podium at Rally Argentina today. In a day-long battle, the Russian emerged in fourth place overall – his best result from the event and equalling a season-best finish in this year’s FIA World Rally Championship....

 Loeb & Citroen unbeaten in Argentina Clear leaders going into the final day, Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena controlled proceedings from the fro nt to grab their eighth win in Argentina. It was also Citroën’s ninth consecutive WRC win in South America! Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen finished sixth in the second D...

 Two podium places for VW in Argentina Volkswagen has celebrated another successful weekend in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), extended its lead in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ championship, and retained its position as the number one manufacturer. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) took second place behin...