Sat March 6, 2010

 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

 IRC Curitiba TV 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

 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....

 Wilks expects close battle in Brazil Škoda UK Motorsport driver Guy Wilks says the high-speed nature of Friday’s stages will make for a thrilling battle for victory on Rally Internacional de Curitiba. The Intercontinental Rally Challenge counter is famed for its blind crests and hard road surface, which Wilks be...

 Rain expected in Brazil Jan Kopecký says the continued threat of intermittent rain showers will add to the challenge facing the crews on Rally Internacional de Curitiba this week. Speaking after completing the reconnaissance of the 15 special stages on Wednesday evening, factory Škoda Motorsport d...

 Nagle: Courage will be rewarded in Curitiba Co-driver Paul Nagle says courage will be rewarded on Rally Internacional de Curitiba this week. Nagle and driver Kris Meeke won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier last season aboard a Peugeot UK-backed 207 Super 2000. They will start among the favourites to wi...

 Innovative running order system for Brazil Organisers of Rally Internacional de Curitiba have revealed an exciting plan to spice up Thursday’s prologue stage. The 3.38-kilometre course will determine the running order for the opening day of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event....

Tue March 2, 2010

 Meeke set for IRC win record Kris Meeke will start Rally Internacional de Curitiba on Thursday in the knowledge that a second successive victory on the event will put him top of the all-time Intercontinental Rally Challenge winners’ list. Meeke, from Northern Ireland, has won four IRC events, a record ...

 Wilks looks for strong performance in Brazil Guy Wilks will swap the wintry north east of England for the hot and humid interior of Brazil, when the Škoda UK Motorsport driver contests Round 2 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the Rally International de Curitiba (4-6 March), in his Fabia S2000. In preparation f...

Mon March 1, 2010

 Rally Internacional de Curitiba: Preview After the snow and ice coated asphalt roads of Rallye Monte-Carlo in January, the Intercontinental Rally Challenge resumes in the Brazilian city of Curitiba from 4-6 March where the conditions could not be more contrasting. The slippery mountainous lanes and sub-zero tempe...

Fri February 26, 2010

 Peugeot stars head south for Temporada For several decades rallying's European winter break gave South American organisers a chance to run an event that would go on to become one of the sport's classics: the Temporada. This March sees the Intercontinental Rally Challenge revive that legend from its ashes, and ...

 Peugeot prepares for Curitiba After an early January’s Rallye Monte Carlo, the Brazilian round (March 4-6) will be the second fixture of the 2010 IRC. This year, however, it will be followed just two weeks later by the Rally Argentina, which is still based in the Cordoba region but which will be taking pla...

Thu February 25, 2010

 Magalhaes switches to old 207 for Brazil Bruno Magalhães will revert back to the Peugeot 207 Super 2000 he drove for the first time three years ago when he resumes his Intercontinental Rally Challenge bid in Brazil next week. The three-time Portuguese champion, 29, will drive Peugeot Portugal’s gravel-spec 207 on...

Tue February 23, 2010

 Wilks tests in ideal conditions Škoda UK Motorsport driver Guy Wilks prepared for Rally Internacional de Curitiba in Brazil next week with a two-day test on the island of Sardinia last weekend. Wilks covered 180 kilometres in a Fabia S2000, which marked the first time he had driven the car on gravel sinc...

Wed February 10, 2010

 Magalhaes prepares for Brazil Bruno Magalhães will begin his preparations for Rally Internacional de Curitiba with a two-day test in France from this Thursday (11 February). The test, which is due to finish the following day, is being held on gravel roads and will give the Peugeot Portugal driver a valu...

Tue February 9, 2010

 Hanninen looking forward to Brazil Juho Hänninen has high hopes for a strong result on Rally Internacional de Curitiba after watching Eurosport’s onboard footage from last year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier. The Škoda Motorsport factory driver says the high-speed gravel stages are similar to t...

Sun February 7, 2010

 Four day Peugeot Sport test for Meeke Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Kris Meeke will prepare for the second round of the series in Brazil next month with a four-day test in France from 8-11 February....