Posts Tagged ‘rally of portugal’

Ken Block’s WRC calendar 2010

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

Ken Block revealed a little bit more than a week ago that he would drive parts of the World Rally Championship 2010 in a campaign spanning over at least 3 years with the ambition to do full seasons in 2011-2012. However, little has been known about Block’s calendar more than that he would skip Sweden and go straight on to start his season in Rally Mexico. Now, it seems like Block’s calendar is more finalised – and it will include the following rounds: Rally Mexico, Rally of Turkey, Rally of Portugal, Rally of France, Rally Germany, Rally Catalunya (Spain) and Wales Rally GB. Besides that, it seems like one European event may be added later on.

At the same time, more info has came about Chris Atkinson – who was rumoured to be included in a 2 car Monster World Rally Team before the announcement came. Paul Turner, manager of Atkinson, confirms that discussions with the Monster team have been held for a long time, but he also says that it’s unlikely for Atko to show up as a driver in the team before 2011. However, he and Atkinson seems to be working hard to get Atko in the ultimate position for next year by placing Atkinson as an advisor and gravel notes crewmember this year. If that is just their hopes or a completed deal is not known though.

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Posted in Silly season, WRC | 2 Comments »

Admindo Araujo looks set to drive PWRC 2010

Saturday, January 9th, 2010

The Portugese PWRC winner of 2009, Armindo Araujo, looks set to do the PWRC in 2010 – probably in his Mitubishi Lancer from last year. His participation was unclear for a long time because of financial troubles. Armindo is believed to do six rounds, namely Sweden, Mexico, Jordan, Germany, France and GB – and potentially even Portugal in a S2000 car if he can manage to get the extra money needed for his home round.

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Posted in S-WRC / WRC Cup, Silly season, WRC | No Comments »

Video: Latvala rolling in Portugal

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

After having mentioned it in the last post I just had to add the video of Latvala crashing in Portugal here. Probably most of you have already seen it, but do it once again. It’s really, really frightening – and the guys should be really lucky to be able to walk away from it…

YouTube Preview Image

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Posted in Video, WRC | No Comments »

Catch-up: Rally of Portugal, Sandell making PWRC interesting, Latvala’s future and Petter’s legionella disease…

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

So, after the long time off, here comes a catch up of what I haven’t mentioned:

  • Rally of Portugal ended quite as expected. Loeb first, Hirvonen next, the Sordo and then finally something unexpected: Petter Solberg. I’m really impressed by seeing him so high up in the standings. The car went well in Cyprus, but that’s a much slower and way different rally. I’m really impressed and I must admit I was wrong regarding Portugal, but I still think Petter shouldn’t expect very much of the Xsara later on in the faster rallies of the season. Anyway, Portugal was a real Norweigan party with Petter 4th, Henning 5th and Östberg 6th!
  • Patrik Sandell made the PWRC season much more interesting when he went off the road early in Portugal, allowing for Armindo Araujo to win the group N class. This means a huge change in the standings where Araujo now leads with 23 points, before Sandell on 20 and both Brynhildsen and Prokop on 14. Now we just need a Brynhildsen and Prokop to take one step up – then the PWRC is a real nest. In fact, I consider PWRC at least as interesting this season as the WRC.
  • Added to Petter’s impressive performance in Portugal, one should take into account that he was ill. On the run-up to the rally he was diagnosed with legionella, an evil disease that can be really bad. Petter is still suffering from the bacteria, but doctors have this week made sure that there will be no permanent harm to Petter’s lungs. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Petter has bronchitis and will have to take medicins for a while – medicins that interfere with the doping rules of the WRC. Petter has discussed the issue with the WRC doctors, and he will now have to stop eating the medicines before starting in Argentina next weekend.
  • A lot about Petter, but it should also be added that he have tested the Abarth Grande Punto Super2000 – and Abarth immediately sent out a press release that Petter was looking to do a few IRC events in the car this year. I don’t know if that’s true, but didn’t Petter say something about a focus on the WRC? Well, I don’t know, I just know that I probably wouldn’t choose the Abarth…
  • Conrad Rautenbach will go to Azores in a PH Sport backed Peugeot 207 Super2000. I guess his competitive impression will be quite weak, as usual, but it still annoys me considering the doubtful source of his money. When will somebody ask this guy where he get all his cash? Considering that he now adds an IRC drive on top of his current Citroen drive in WRC, war and crimes(?) seems to be really a good affair.
  • Jari-Matti Latvala immediately got speculated to leave the team after his frightening crash in Portugal. After 20 rolls, voices were raised everywhere that he should be thrown out of the Ford team. I think that Latvala’s team-mate, Mikko Hirvonen, has proven quite the opposite. Hirvonen’s career in Subaru in 2004 was disastrous, but exactly that kind of learning period that a young drivers needs – and to stop investing in Latvala now would be totally stupid, since he has shown numerous times that he has got the speed. Just wait and see, if Latvala get’s the time he will show everyone… (and at the moment he seems to have gotten a little bit more time)
  • That’s it – keep coming here, because Rally Argentina is coming up – and I’ll try to be a little bit more regular in my posting again!

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Posted in IRC, Rally testing, WRC | No Comments »

Interview: Patrik Sandell goes for Portugal win

Monday, March 30th, 2009
Patrik Sandell/Skoda Fabia Super2000 in Cyprus Rally 2009, Photo: Red Bull Rally

Patrik Sandell/Emil Axelsson in Skoda Fabia Super2000 in Cyprus Rally 2009, Photo: Red Bull Rally

Rally of Portugal is getting closer, and Swedish Red Bull Skoda driver Patrik Sandell arrived in Algarve on Sunday evening. He spent the Monday just chilling in the sun to gain energy and focus for the event:

- I always try to get one extra day before the recce and other preparations begin. With my full-speed lifestyle it’s important to get some time off to focus. We’re back in Portugal after quite a disappointment in 2007 when I ended up retiring from all three days. However, I liked the event very much and it fits both me, Emil and the car perfectly, I think so I think it will be just fine.

Looking back on the close fight with Araujo in Cyprus, how different are the circumstances here in Portugal?

- Considering Araujos car, I think it will be harder for him, at least as far as it’s dry. We know that the Super2000 cars have a little bit of a problem when it’s wet, since we lose some traction – while group N cars can rely on low revs and still go very fast. Besides that, Araujo also have the advantage of being in his home roads. At least, the weather forecast is for nice weather…

Besides Araujo, for the first time this season there’s some real opposition with a number of drivers in Super2000 cars. What’s your view on that?

- It’s only fun! Looking at last years IRC result in Portugal, Magalhaes led after three stages, and even though he rolled on the 4th stage he has proven himself to be fast. I’ll look out for him. Of course also Flodin is in place and he is always good on finding the throttle, so it’ll certainly be a tough weekend!

Have there been any technical changes to the car since Cyprus?

- No, not really. We’ve made some small adjustments to the suspension, but since we haven’t had time to do any tests after Cyprus, most of the fine-tuning will have to be done on shakedown. I’ve got some small ideas…

So, do you have any worries for the event?

- Actually no, none at all. The roads are nice, the car is 100%, Emil is in good shape and I’m in an unusually good shape too! We can’t change what the others are doing, we can just go out and drive the car to 100% – and that’s what we’re gonna do. Of course I’m here to win – but at the same time I’m not prepared to take too big risks this time. If I’ve got 8 points easily in my hand and the chance for 10 points with high risks, then I’ll probaby just settle for the second position. However, the goal is to never get into that situation at all, instead we’ll try to get the speed high from the beginning and see how far we get… I think it will be enough for quite much!

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Posted in Swedish Rallying, WRC | No Comments »

Video: Grönholm pre-Portugal test in Spain

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Marcus Grönholm and the Prodrive team tested in Spain before Rally de Portugal earlier this week. Marcus told that the feeling of the driving was good, but Grönholm admitted having problems with making accurate notes and told that the problem could slow his driving. He also told that no explicit goals for his rally were set, but he would be disappointed if he didn’t found the speed he expected. I just hope he doesn’t expect too much, since he must know he’s not in the best of cars. (See my previous post)

Here is the video:
YouTube Preview Image

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Posted in Video, WRC | No Comments »

Marcus Grönholm’s car livery for Portugal

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009

Marcus Grönholm and Mads Östberg have been doing tests for the upcoming Rally of Portugal. The tests were based in the Sweet Lamb complex in Wales and is reported to have went well. More tests are scheduled during the upcoming week in Spain, before the rally gets going.

Besides the test, Marcus car livery for Rally of Portugal has now been revealed – and discussions are already running high on the Internet about it being ugly. In my opinion, it’s not a really beutiful one – but still not ugly. Just a little bit boring, but probably doing it’s job to show off the sponsor logotypes quite well. Regarding the sponsors, it seems like the previously tipped sponsor Vodafone is not involved – instead the national tourist authority, Tourismo de Portugal, is main sponsor along with ACP, the Portugese motorsport organisation.

Here’s the livery:

Marcus Grönholm's Subaru Impreza WRC for Rally of Portugal

Marcus Grönholm's Subaru Impreza WRC for Rally of Portugal

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Marcus start in Portugal – a one time outing or a stupid comeback?

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

As most people know, Marcus Grönholm will return to World Rally Championship rallying in Portugal this year driving a Subaru Impreza WRC S14 (the “new” Impreza) for Prodrive. However, don’t expect too much. Everyone knows that the Subaru is a car lacking some speed and a lot in reliability – even Grönholm himself. He says he just want to have fun and compare his speed to the young guns…

So, when comparing speeds, Grönholm will probably keep that in mind. In fact – that’s probably why Marcus chose the Impreza. He can make his comeback in a safe way where he can’t lose, making a half bad result and then blaming the car. I think he realises that it wouldn’t be very smart to get into the Focus, a car that today is the back pocket of Hirvonen, Latvala and to a large extent even Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson. In the same manner it would be stupid to get into the Citroen of Loeb and Sordo. He would risk getting crushed – without anything to blame.

Probably the most interesting question is wether this is a one time outing, or if Grönholm will try to make a true comeback to a full (or close to) season in the WRC? Grönholm himself says it’s a single event and nothing more. But he fills in that after this he will analyse his feelings and decide on the future – indicating that he may do a larger scale comeback…

Imagine that larger comeback, what would it mean? I’m well aware Grönholm negotiated a full season for Subaru before the marque retired from the WRC in December but I can’t think of a full comeback in the Subaru Impreza. Why would Marcus get back to rallying full-time without the real chance of winning? That’s not really a former WRC champion’s style… No, it would probably be in another car – but who would be interested? Marcus is good for sure, but not an upcoming name. So, given the fact that WRC works teams doesn’t really grow on trees – I don’t know, actually…

Anyway, let’s assume Marcus did get a good car, perhaps a Ford. Would he win? And would it be good? Honestly, maybe he’d get few podiums, but in the big picture I don’t think it would be so good. He is getting older and all careers have their end. Running in the Peugeot 307, Marcus made himself an even larger WRC profile than before by being bitter of the car. It worked out really well and was entertaining, but to do that without being considered a boring person requires quite big – and fresh – star quality. It also requires reasonably recent good results – and Marcus doesn’t have all this anymore. People would no longer consider him a genious in a bad position – just a bitter old man not knowing when to end his career.

Counting all those parts together, I really hope that Marcus enjoys his one time comeback in Portugal – and maybe a few more guest entires. But I hope it ends there. Not that I don’t wanna see Marcus drive, I would love it. But I don’t wanna see a good star and a fantastic WRC profile fall off his heights and become a struggler that just didn’t know where to stop. Marcus has proven what he can do – and I think he knows himself that a full time comeback would just be stupid. So, that gives you my bet; don’t expect a full scale comeback.

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Posted in Silly season, WRC | 5 Comments »

Mikkelsen close to deal with Skoda for Portugal

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Norweigan youngster Andreas Mikkelsen is close to sealing a deal with the Red Bull Skoda team for Rally of Portugal. For a while it was belived that the deal was already complete, since Mikkelsen’s co-driver Ola Floene confirmed the drive in a local newspaper – a confirmation that Mikkelsen has now said is wrong. However, according to him nothing is signed, but a deal may be close – even though he underlines that he has other choices too.

Seeing Mikkelsen in the Fabia would be really interesting. After Mikkelsens extremely good times in his group N Subaru in Norway fighting with Sandell, he seems to me like the optimal opponent to measure Sandell.

The question now is just what the deal depends on, more than the traditional show-stopper: money. I know that Skoda have had problems to deliver enough Fabia Super2000s to meet all requests – but I think Mr. Baumschlager (Red Bull team boss) have the best possible priority there. Let’s just hope to see Mikkelsen/Floene in the Fabia – that would be awesome!

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Posted in Silly season, WRC | No Comments »

The rally rotation system – a result of organisers “buying” WRC events

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

As I wrote yesterday, the rotation system of the WRC calendar may be one of the reasons why the Swedish Rally have to cut down and in worst case risk bankruptcy. But why was the system introduced? FIAs reasons for introducing the system was to get more events into the championship, but they made a mistake. The events that has gotten into the calendar in recent years, like Norway, Portugal, Jordan and others have all ran candidate events and paid big money to be allowed to do so. So one day FIA realised that they had practically sold out places in the WRC, because the organisers really expected to get a place in the championship. That’s where the rotation system started…

In my opinion the WRC needs high quality events, not a big number of events. We all know that the quality of the current events differ much. I wont name good or bad – since I don’t always agree with the measures used. Driver bash some events, FIA bash others. The drivers most often want perfect conditions, while FIA want strange things such as media stands fitted exactly – on the centimeter – right according to their rules. Sponsors and spectators want events with spectacular conditions and big drama. This doesn’t always match the will of FIA, ISC or drivers. The ranking system needs to be improved – and then maybe the two worst events in years calendar can placed on a special list for a few years, with the potential of replacing it (after a few years) if it doesn’t get better. Potential new events could still be ran as candidate events, but never with a guarantee of getting into the championship. That would give organisers continuity but still keep a good opening of getting in new events.

I don’t have the perfect answer to this, but I know that selling out events in the championship to anyone willing to pay is stupid. Really stupid.

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Posted in Rally promotion and media coverage, WRC | 1 Comment »