Rally News

[Claudie_Schnaudie]

I like it

[sleenster]

What what what?? Kris and Dani are in Portugal? Why didn't anyone see them? No pics??

Double practice run on the Algarve

24 MARCH 2011

Long-term preparation in the run-up to the Rally de Portugal: Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo are already preparing for the 2012 season. Two private MINI teams are making their WRC debut.

Although Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo must wait until 5th May to join the current FIA WRC season, the two MINI WRC Team drivers are both on the Algarve for the Rally de Portugal, which takes place this weekend. For Kris and Dani, this is part of the long-term preparation for the 2012 season, when the MINI WRC Team will compete at every round of the World Championship.

Dani and Kris took part in the so-called "Recce", which allowed them to drive the course on the Algarve twice in order to familiarise themselves with the features of the track. In just over a year's time they will finally get to take on the course under race conditions. "We are gaining experience wherever we can," says Kris. "Our goal is to close the gap to the other teams as quickly as possible."

Whilst on the Algarve, Kris and Dani made a point of meeting the two private teams lining up in the WRC this year. Dani stayed on an extra day to wish drivers Armindo Araujo and Daniel Oliveira all the best.

Araujo, who joins rallying's elite class as the reigning P-WRC champion and will drive a MINI John Cooper Works S2000 for Motorsport Italia in Portugal, is primarily looking to gain experience in his first WRC season. "I'm not nervous," says the Portuguese driver ahead of his home debut. "However, everything is faster and, therefore, a bit more difficult in the WRC."

Araujo has tested his car both on tarmac and on gravel. His summary: "I am very happy with the MINI S2000. The engine feels great and the chassis set-up is excellent. We just need a little more fine-tuning."

Daniel Oliveira lines up for the Brazil World Rally Team as the second MINI privateer in Portugal. The Brazilian is only in his second season behind the wheel of a rally car, having competed in the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC). For his WRC debut, Oliveira has local support on his side in the form of co-driver Carlos Magalhaes. Oliveira: "Carlos comes from this region and knows the course inside out. That helps me a lot and gives me confidence."

Equipped with high-performance cars and the backing of the entire MINI WRC Team , Araujo and Oliveira are hoping for a great WRC debut. Should the private teams taste success in Portugal, you can be certain that Kris and Dani will be among the first in a long line of people offering their congratulations.

http://www.minimotorsport.com/en/news/d ... he_algarve

[Mar]

What what what?? Kris and Dani are in Portugal? Why didn't anyone see them? No pics??

I knew Dani was there
I think, I read it in Forocoches. I have too much work and I forgot to tell. Sorry!

[Sébastien Loeb]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90208

Syria unrest threatens Jordan Rally

[Kriss]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90208

Syria unrest threatens Jordan Rally

bad news

[icemaid]

I think for the safety of all personnel they should cancel
or move to a later date, end of the season.

[luieluv]

Monte tipped for WRC return

The Monte Carlo Rally has been tipped for a World Rally Championship return next season following a meeting between the Automobile Club de Monaco and high-ranking WRC officials.

The Monte Carlo Rally opted out of the WRC calendar in 2009, when it ran as a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge for the first time. The Valence-based event has remained an IRC event for the last three years, but next January’s rally could run as a round of both WRC and IRC.

A source said: “Possibly, there would be some issues over the television rights: IRC is run on Eurosport and the WRC is not and both championships have their own promoters, but at the end of the day there’s a bigger picture here; the WRC needs the Monte Carlo Rally.”

The Monte walked away from the WRC after it became tired of the strict regulations surrounding the way rallies were run; the French Alpine classic wanted to return to a longer, more touring-style of rally. Now, however, the WRC is looking for more diversity in the organisation of rallies and would welcome the itinerary for the current Monte Carlo Rally.

“That’s the point,” added the source, “the Monte really would work in the new age of the WRC. It makes sense for the two to come together again. What we have to do now, is make the commercial side of the arrangement work.”

link:
http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/mont ... rc_return/

[sleenster]

Please let it happen, loved the live eurosport coverage
Thanks luie

[Lucke]

Please let it happen, loved the live eurosport coverage
Thanks luie

Couldn't agree more

[sleenster]

I know UK viewers need to pay something like £9 a month for ESPN WRC coverage but

Just had another #WRC rant in the office. Viewing figures on #ESPN are shocking - averaging around 11,000 viewers per show. BBC had 1.5m...

Channel 4 managed about 500,000 - Dave saw a slump to 150,000 and now a five-figure audience. Numbers do not do the sport justice. #WRC

http://twitter.com/RobPunshon

[phil1993]

Thats because average fans in the UK don't really care if its not on
Devoted fans can easily download clips on the internet.

[luieluv]

Twelve rallies for WRC 2012 calendar

News7th April 2011
By Giles Wade

A 12-round calendar for next year’s World Rally Championship is expected to be announced next week.

The schedule has been voted on by members of the World Rally Commission and will be put forward for ratification by the World Motor Sport Council in June. The Monte Carlo Rally will not be on the schedule as agreement could not be reached with the Automobile Club de Monaco in time, but the French Alpine classic is tipped for a WRC return in 2013.

The rallies in Argentina and Abu Dhabi have been linked with longer events. Argentina is tipped to run into Uruguay, while Abu Dhabi is believed to be working on a route through Oman and Dubai.

The 2011 events missing next year are the Rally d’Italia Sardegna and Rally Australia. Italy’s Olbia-based WRC qualifier had been expected to move off Sardinia and back to northern Italy, but the lack of plans to do this has made it difficult for the WRC promoter North One Sport to accommodate them.

A source at North One said: “For a long time now, we have been talking about the importance of taking the sport to major centres of population. The mainstay of the population is, obviously, on the mainland. Look at France last year, the organisers there had to bite the bullet and accept that the roads around Alsace wouldn’t be at the same level as Corsica, but the spectator numbers were unbelieavable. Staying on Sardinia is not what was needed from Italy.”

Australia has been replaced by New Zealand and, depending on how this September’s Coffs Harbour-based Rally Australia runs, the two are expected to rotate.

Rally Japan had been on an original schedule for next season, but this has been removed – reportedly at the request of the manufacturers.

The 12 countries to be included in WRC 2012 are: Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/twel ... _calendar/

[luieluv]

sad that monte did not happen and i am really pissed that the number of rallies keep on decreasing. What a shame.

[sleenster]

Wow luie you are fast! was just about to post that too
No Monte for WRC next year


From Autosport:



From Mini WRC's website:


http://www.minimotorsport.com/en/wrc/rallies

[luieluv]

WRC teams call for online streaming

By David Evans Thursday, April 7th 2011, 07:44 GMT

The manufacturers involved in the World Rally Championship have called on the series promoter to crank up its efforts to launch live coverage on the internet.

Live internet coverage of the WRC was one of North One Sport's stated aims three years ago, but the London-based firm has yet to deliver - and Ford and Citroen are becoming increasingly restless over the lack of web-based coverage.

"There's a great opportunity for North One Sport to be at the leading edge of technology in bringing rallying to the people through internet television," said Ford's Gerard Quinn.

"It's great that we are seeing stages in the cities in places like Lisbon and Guanajuato, but we need to focus on the internet television, that's the future and there's a mass appeal for this. The sport has to go this way soon, the people are waiting for this."

Citroen's team principal Olivier Quesnel added: "We hear the talk about this, but there is nothing to see. It is very important, but there are many things which are important for the future of the sport."

North One Sport took over as the promoter of the WRC at the start of last season and was, last month, taken over by Convers Sports Initiatives.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90479