Mon July 13, 2009

 Skoda Motorsport celebrate Russian 1-2 Dominating this weekend's IRC event in Russia from the start to the finish, Škoda Auto's factory team Škoda Motorsport made up of two crews driving the Fabia S 2000 coped excellently with the challenging gravel track - Juho Hänninen with Mikko Markkula won, Jan Kopecký with...

Sat July 11, 2009

 Skoda take first IRC win in Russia With three days and 13 stages behind them, the Skoda men can reflect on a dominant performance in which Hanninen was only beaten to one fastest stage time through the course of the entire event....

NEWS JUST IN

 RUS end - Skoda 1-2 in Russia @ 11:17 AM - Final results after SS15 = subject to last road section and scrutineering:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h45m15s2;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m20s9;
3rd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +4m06s;
4th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +5m09s9;
5th= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +6m33s;
6th= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +7m30s8;
7th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +9m07s1;
8th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +15m53s9;
9th= Katkov/Chaykovskiy, Subaru, +19m51s2;
10th= Koiytla/Heiskonen, Honda, +20m04s9

 RUS SS14 - one stage remaining @ 11:06 AM - Only 15km left and gaps are quite large for IRC standards. Today Alen is much better, Hänninen won all bar one stage, but Alen won one and this is the 2nd stage where Alen was less than half a sec from the winning time. Results after SS14:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h38m29s9;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m15s5;
3rd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +3m44s5;
4th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +4m57s8;
5th= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +6m17s1;
6th= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +7m07s6;
7th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +8m39s5;
8th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +15m;
9th= Katkov/Chaykovskiy, Subaru, +18m29s8;
10th= Koiytla/Heiskonen, Honda, +19m09s7

 RUS SS13 - Top10 now pretty settled @ 09:56 AM - Hänninen wins stage ahead of Alen, but with the Peugeot out (ahead of Wilks) and Alen pulling away from Wittmann, last close gaps have opened up. Results after SS13:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h34m12s7;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m14s7;
3rd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +3m36s7;
4th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +4m51s;
5th= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +5m32s5;
6th= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +7m07s2;
7th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +8m21s2;
8th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +14m32s7;
9th= Katkov/Chaykovskiy, Subaru, +17m47s2;
10th= Koiytla/Heiskonen, Honda, +18m41s8

 RUS SS12 - Peugeot out! @ 09:50 AM - Alen takes Wittmann, and he gains even 2 places as the sole Peugeot of Russian champ Zheludov blew its engine. Results after SS12:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h23m12s1;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m00s8;
3rd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +3m02s6;
4th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +4m32s1;
5th= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +5m12s7;
6th= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +6m55s4;
7th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +7m19s7;
8th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +12m52s8;
9th= Katkov/Chaykovskiy, Subaru, +15m30s5;
10th= Koiytla/Heiskonen, Honda, +17m01s6

 RUS SS11 - Alen breaks Hänninen record @ 09:42 AM - Alen wins stage, Hänninen won all stages so far but here he is only 6th. Truth is, Hänninen is easing and Alen starts under souprally and has nothing to lose, attacking Wittmann. 2WD leader Koiytla also has souprally penalties, breaking suspension on last leg2 road section. Results after SS11:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h16m21s9;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +57s2;
3rd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +2m50s4;
4th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +4m29s2;
5th= Zheludov/Kolomeyseva, Peugeot, +5m02s3;
6th= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +5m08s9;
7th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +6m52s3;
8th= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +6m55s1;
9th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +11m59s8;
10th= Katkov/Chaykovskiy, Subaru, +11m29s8

Fri July 10, 2009

 Wittmann on course to equal best result The Interwetten Racing Team is on its way to at least equalize their best IRC result (Rally Azores) so far. For Franz Wittmann and Bernhard Ettel lie in sixth overall place after day two of the “Rally Russia”, the sixth run to the IRC series. Especially in the afternoon, on the l...

 Hanninen maintains clean sweep on leg 2 With one day remaining the 2009 Rally Russia has so far been an extraordinary success for one man - Skoda Motorsport´s Finnish star, Juho Hanninen. While he races serenely on through the forests around the Baltic city of Vyborg, the rest of the field have been providing drama, in...

NEWS JUST IN

 RUS leg2 - cancellations @ 02:12 PM - Last stage of the day (SS10) has been cancelled, like the first stage of the day (SS5). In SS5 it was a heavy crash of the course opening car. SS10 curiously had to be cancelled when the 2nd course opening car broke its gearbox and there was no spectator safety guaranteed without any zero car left! Please refer to the SS9 update for leg2 results.

 RUS SS9 - Alen out!! @ 01:38 PM - Alen retired SS9! Abarth not running out of bad luck. Have to wait however if it was driving error or mechanical problem. But why him, he won here in 2007, 2nd to Hänninen 2008, this should have been his rally! Watch the Proton getting close to 5th! Results after SS9:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h11m55s6;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +59s8;
3rd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +2m47s4;
4th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +4m30s;
5th= Zheludov/Kolomeyseva, Peugeot, +5m03s7;
6th= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +5m10s2;
7th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +6m35s1;
8th= Koiytla/Heiskonen, Honda, +10m51s;
9th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +11m09s9;
10th= Katlov/Chaykovskiy, Subaru, +13m50s8

 RUS SS8 - No changes @ 01:19 PM - Strong time for Alen, but the gaps to the top are quite big. Results after SS8
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h00m27s7;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +56s4;
3rd= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +1m59s2;
4th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +2m27s8;
5th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +4m14s9;
6th= Zheludov/Kolomeyseva, Peugeot, +4m28s3;
7th= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +4m57s1;
8th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +5m38s;
9th= Koiytla/Heiskonen, Honda, +9m06s4;
10th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +9m45s1

 RUS SS7 - Wilks punctures @ 10:15 AM - Argh, and he does so early in the longest stage of the rally, dropping the Proton from 3rd to 7th. A decent stage time for Alen has him pass team mate Basso. Results after SS7
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 56m11s9;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +49s9;
3rd= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +1m53s6;
4th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +2m19s6;
5th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +4m08s2;
6th= Zheludov/Kolomeyseva, Peugeot, +4m15s4;
7th= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +4m43s4;
8th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +6m10s3;
9th= Koiytla/Heiskonen, Honda, +8m16s8;
10th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +9m18s4

 RUS SS6 - SS5 was cancelled @ 09:42 AM - Hänninen continues where he left last night, winning this 20km stage 12s faster than anyone. Wilks in the Proton surprises with 2nd fastest stage time. Results after SS6
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 39m59s5;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +40s6;
3rd= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +59s;
4th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +1m37s3;
5th= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +1m42s;
6th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +2m28s5;
7th= Zheludov/Kolomeyseva, Peugeot, +2m51s1;
8th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +3m41s3;
9th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +5m03s;
10th= Koiytla/Shvecov, Lada, +6m00s3

Thu July 9, 2009

 Wittmann 7th after leg one At the “Rally Russia” around Vyborg (approx. 150 kilometres west of St. Petersburg) everything is almost going to plan for Franz Wittmann and Bernhard Ettel. After the first day (four special stages) the Interwetten Racing Team established itself soundly within points range. Seve...

 Hanninen leads after leg one in Russia Juho Hanninen holds the overnight lead for Skoda after flying through the first four stages of the Rally Russia, as many of the big names are caught out by treacherous conditions....

 Hanninen tops Russia shakedown The entrants preparing to start this weekend´s Rally Russia, round 6 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, have had a busy first day....

NEWS JUST IN

 RUS leg1 - Hänninen wins all stages @ 08:01 PM - And Flodin in his Subaru drops down the order. Results after leg1 (SS4)
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 28m28s5;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +27s5;
3rd= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +46s5;
4th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +1m21s1;
5th= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +1m25s;
6th= Zheludov/Kolomeyseva, Peugeot, +2m03s9;
7th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +2m13s6;
8th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +2m45s;
9th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +3m52s7;
10th= Koiytla/Shvecov, Lada, +4m37s6

 RUS SS3 - Even Proton ahead of Abarth @ 07:49 PM - Slow stage times for both Abarth now move Proton into provisional podium place. Results after SS3
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 22m56s5;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +24s7;
3rd= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +36s9;
4th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +1m01s7;
5th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +1m09s9;
6th= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +1m16s;
7th= Zheludov/Kolomeyseva, Peugeot, +1m49s6;
8th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +2m02s1;
9th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +3m14s;
10th= Koiytla/Shvecov, Lada, +3m46s6

 RUS SS2 - Skoda 1-2 @ 06:14 PM - Kopecky 2nd fastest behind Hänninen and passes Basso overall. Results after SS2
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 14m19s5;
2nd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +10s;
3rd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +14s2;
4th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +14s5;
5th= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +19s3;
6th= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +21s6;
7th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +1m02s8;
8th= Zheludov/Kolomeyseva, Peugeot, +1m20s4;
9th= Koiytla/Shvecov, Lada, +2m06s4;
10th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +2m11s3

 RUS SS1 - Strong start for Hänninen @ 06:06 PM - Dominant 1st stage time for Hänninen, Alen struggles with ancient Grifone car. Results after SS1
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 8m42s1;
2nd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +7s7;
3rd= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +8s9;
4th= Flodin/Andersson, Subaru, +9s4;
5th= Wilks/Pugh, Proton, +11s2;
6th= Alen/Alanne, Fiat Abarth, +11s5;
7th= Wittmann/Ettel, Mitsubishi, +39s6;
8th= Zheludov/Kolomeyseva, Peugeot, +41s2;
9th= Zimin/Zhivoglazov, Mitsubishi, +1m16s1;
10th= Koiytla/Shvecov, Lada, +1m20s5

Tue July 7, 2009

 IRC Rally Russia - Preview The Intercontinental Rally Challenge takes its third trip to Russia from July 9-11 for round six of the series, the Rally Russia....

 Wittmann aims for top ten in Russia With the “Rally Russia” from July 9 to 11, 2009 in the Vyborg area (approx. 150 kilometres west of St. Petersburg), the “International Rally Challenge (IRC)” will have reached halftime. It will be the second run on gravel for Franz Wittmann/Bernhard Ettel. This fact makes the Int...

Mon July 6, 2009

 Alen positive after pre-Russia test Abarth factory driver Anton Alen has vowed to bounce back from his torrid first half of the season – and he’s aiming for a win on the next IRC round, next weekend’s Rally Russia....

 Wilks looking forward to Russia Guy Wilks has said he will be able to take many positives away from his retirement on the Belgium Ypres Rally recently....

Sat July 4, 2009

 Hänninen believes in Russian Skoda win Juho Hanninen believes he can secure Skoda’s first win in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge when the series resumes on Rally Russia. Finn Hanninen, who won the event last season driving a Kronos Racing Peugeot 207 Super 2000, believes he will be able to make the most of his re...

 Abarth and Alen, high hopes for Russia The factory Abarth team is hoping the luck that has deserted it so far this year will return on Rally Russia, round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, later this month. Abarth’s lead drivers Anton Alen and Giandomenico Basso are both experts on gravel and are looking...

Sun April 19, 2009

 Rally Russia details revealed Outline details of Rally Russia, which forms round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge from July 9-11, have been announced....