F1Zone

Bulgaria Rally: Stobart preview

Racing series WRC
Date 2010-07-02

Stobart Ready to Tackle Bulgaria's Tough Tarmac Tests

The Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team will welcome a new driver to the Cumbria-based squad as it prepares for Rally Bulgaria next week.

Per-Gunnar Andersson joins the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team as a guest driver for the seventh round of the FIA World Rally Championship along with co-driver Jonas Andersson. The 30-year-old Swede has tested the Ford Focus RS WRC twice over the past month as he bids to hit the ground running in a car and on a surface he is less than familiar with.

Bulgaria is the first asphalt WRC round since Stobart's Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin competed in Rally de Espana in 2009 and finished in seventh position, equalling their best ever result on tarmac. The young Cumbrian duo will be looking to improve their times at the new event as they tackle the first of four tarmac rounds this season in the Ford Focus RS WRC.

Regular Stobart M-Sport Ford driver crew Henning Solberg and Ilka Minor will also be competing in Bulgaria, but will swap their usual Ford Focus RS WRC for the new Ford Fiesta Super 2000. They will be entered in the Eastern European event under the Stobart M-Sport banner, but will not be nominated to score manufacturer points. Solberg will return to driving the Ford Focus RS WRC for the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team at Rally Finland in July.

Mechanics at M-Sport have made several changes to the Stobart team's Ford Focus RS WRCs ahead of the switch to Bulgaria's fast asphalt stages. The brake discs have been increased from 300mm to 370mm and, in order to accommodate the bigger brake discs, the wheels and durable Pirelli Scorpion tyres have also been extended from 15" to 18".

The springs, dampers and anti-roll bars have all been made stiffer and the suspension and steering components have changed to a tarmac spec which has helped alter the geometry of the car. As tarmac is smoother than the gravel stages of previous WRC rounds, the cars have been given approximately 30% stiffer suspension which lowers the general ride height of the car by up to 90mm. This will help to make the Ford Focus RS WRC more stable and reduce the centre of gravity on the car.

Event Summary

Despite being a country with a long rallying tradition, Bulgaria will make its debut as a World Rally Championship round for the first time next week. The new event is the first of four asphalt rallies this year and the combination of a challenging, compact route surrounded by stunning mountain scenery is sure to make it an exciting addition to the WRC calendar.

From 1970 -- 2001, Bulgaria was a round in the European Rally Championship and the event was held in the famous Black Sea resorts of Zlantini, Piasatzi and Albena. In 2002 the competition moved its base to the central part of South Bulgaria and now takes place in the picturesque ski resort of Borovets.

The three-day event will kick off with a ceremonial start at the Samokov Stadium on the Thursday evening. The stadium can seat a maximum capacity of 12,000 people and huge crowds are expected to attend the official opening ceremony.

The service park will be based at Dolna Banya, situated 25km from Rally HQ in Borovets. The rally comprises of 16 special stages covering 354.10km, with a spectacular selection of asphalt tests centred around the base of the Rila mountain.

Day one consists of four stages covering 118.68km based south of the service park at Dolna Banya. The opening Batak Lake stage (SS1 and SS3) is the longest of the rally at 31.77km and the last half of the tarmac stage winds round the picturesque Batak Lake. A twisty 27.57km stage beside the Belmeken Lake, rounds off the end of the morning and afternoon loop.

The second full day is the longest of the three day event at 140.90km. The opening 27.46km stage, Sestrimo, (SS5 and SS8) is based close to the Belmeken Lake that the teams had to visit on day one. Peshtera (SS6 and SS9) is a 18.13km stage based south east of the service park and Lyubnitsa (SS7 and SS10) is a stage based north, consisting of 24.86km competitive distance.

The final day of Rally Bulgaria will see WRC crews travel north to four stages covering 94.52km situated north east of Dolna Banya. The opening Muhovo stage (SS11 and SS13) is the second longest of the event at 29.53km and Slavovitsa (SS12 and SS14) is the shortest of the rally at 17.73km.

Stobart M-Sport Ford driver Matthew Wilson said:

"It's going to be tough doing a full tarmac rally after driving on gravel every WRC round of the season so far. It might take everyone a bit of time to adjust to the new surface but the fact it is a new rally means it will not give any WRC drivers an advantage. I'm keen to beat my personal best of seventh on tarmac whilst I'm out in Bulgaria so I'm going to give it my best shot and hope that I can produce some fast times."

Stobart M-Sport Ford driver P-G Andersson said:

"I've had little experience of driving on asphalt but my plan is to find a good rhythm. However, I managed to fit in some testing M-Sport earlier this month so I'm hoping this will pay off and I'll be able to drive well on the tarmac surfaces. I feel really lucky to have been given the opportunity to drive for the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team so I will definitely make the most of it and drive to the best of my ability."

Stobart M-Sport Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson said:

"I'm delighted that P-G will be joining the team in Bulgaria next week and it will be interesting to see how he performs in a different car at a new event. This will be a very challenging rally for our drivers - not only is Rally Bulgaria a new event where neither driver will be familiar with the stages, but this is also the first tarmac rally of the year so will provide an added difficulty for the crews. On the other hand, it will provide an excellent opportunity for Matthew to try out the Ford Focus RS WRC in the first of the four all tarmac rounds in the WRC calendar this year."

-source: stobart

Wolfie wrote:

Maria d wrote:thanks to all for the info, cant wait for the rally.

+1

It can't begin soon enough, we are already walking on the walls here

Three questions to Kimi Räikkönen ahead of WRC Rally Bulgaria.

Q: How did you get on with the Citroën C4 WRC on asphalt so far?

Kimi Raikkonen: “I was keen to drive on asphalt since the very start of the season. From the very first few kilometres in testing, I had a really good feeling with the car. That feeling was confirmed when we took part in a rally in Italy, which I enjoyed hugely. Even if we missed out on victory on the final special stage, we can only be pleased with our performance. The whole team helped us a lot on our asphalt debut. The experience that we’ve built up since the start of the season is beginning to pay off.”

Q: Is being on asphalt an advantage for you?

KR: “Even though I’ve spent several seasons in Formula One, the asphalt you find on circuits is not at all comparable to what we will encounter in rallying. Formula One and rally are two completely different disciplines. In the WRC, we will be competing on a number of different asphalt rallies with very diverse characteristics. You can’t compare the Rally Bulgaria with the Catalunya Rally, or with the roads in Germany or France. In just one stage you can go from wide and flowing roads to narrow or bumpy sections. The grip levels change from one corner to another too. It’s also vital to have a good feeling with your co-driver and the pace notes, as well as being able to make the most of a well-balanced car. ”

Q: What do you expect from the Rally Bulgaria?

KR: “It’s certainly going to be a very different type of playing field, and that is one of the things I like most about rallying. The flip side of this is that rallying is a very hard sport for anybody new to it. This first asphalt rally of the season will be a very important part of my learning process in the WRC. I’ve realised that it vital to pick things up as you go along and not try to run before you can walk. My objective is to get to the finish and completely understand my Citroën C4 WRC. We’ll see where we are at the end of the first day and then try to close the gap to our rivals.”

http://www.rallybuzz.com/kimiraikkonen- ... lgaria-qa/

The second part of the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship gets underway with the Rally Bulgaria. On its World Championship debut, the Balkan country hosts the crews in the town of Borovets, the oldest ski resort in Bulgaria. Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia and Kimi Räikkönen / Kaj Lindström will defend the colours of the Citroën Junior Team on the event.

Of the seven rallies still to come, four will be on asphalt. Two of them will be on known territory in Germany and Spain, while the other two are completely new events in Bulgaria and Alsace. In order to prepare for the second half of the season, with its strong asphalt bias, the Citroën Junior Team has been testing in France and also took part in the Rally della Lanterna in Italy.

“This has allowed our drivers to stay match fit so that they are in the best possible position heading into the second half of the season,” explained team manager Benoit Nogier. “We have been working on how to get the best use and performance out of Pirelli’s new tyres. This experience will be very useful for the rallies still to come.”

As the roads will be new for all the World Rally Championship competitors, the Citroën Junior Team crews will suffer less from their comparative lack of experience relative to the other crews. “It’s the first asphalt rally of the season,” added Nogier. “It’s not necessarily the surface that we’re going to be the most comfortable on. As has been the case since the start of the year, our objective is simply to take away as much experience as possible on the forthcoming rallies. That will be our watchword with Sébastien and Kimi.”

Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, the winners of the recent Rally of Portugal continued their winning streak on the Rally della Lanterna. “That was a different type of thing, but it’s all good for the confidence,” said Ogier, who is currently second in the World Championship standings. “Rally Bulgaria will be new for everyone so we are at less of a disadvantage even though we still lack experience. From what we know the roads will be fast and quite flowing with a lot vegetation at the side of the stages. A lot of the corners will be hidden so it will be extremely important to have good pace notes.”

Ogier continued: “The second half of the season might not be so easy for us. The goal for this first asphalt rally will be to make progress and again get closer to the frontrunners, while hoping that we can challenge for a podium.”

The best result for Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström so far has been fifth in Turkey, and now they get to discover a new surface. “Now we start a new chapter,” said the former F1 World Champion. “After snow and gravel, here we are on asphalt. It’s something that I’m really looking forward to. I had a really good feeling during the tests and I hope to be able to show that on the roads in Bulgaria.”

http://www.rallybuzz.com/raikkonenogier-bulg-preview/

Acropolis wrote:@ Arli Racegirl
Thanks!!!!!

Off-Topic: show

Arli, just read that you are in Finland with your Finnish boyfriend - great abd hope we will meet

Wolfie wrote:

Acropolis wrote:@ Arli Racegirl
Thanks!!!!!

+1

Arghhh, I don't want to read about them, I want to see them in action

Off-Topic: show

Arli, just read that you are in Finland with your Finnish boyfriend - great abd hope we will meet

Off-Topic: show

Yeah, I am very happy here, I love the Finland, it's amazing. I'd love meet you. Maybe we meet in Jyväskylä I am so excited about rally.

Wolfie wrote:Latvala: The weather in Bulgaria is a lottery

02.07.2010 15:23



- Earlier I sometimes felt that my tarmac driving was insecure. When testing I try first to focus on getting into the rhythm of driving on tarmac and after that on the even driving. I try to keep my driving clean and avoid big cuts in corners. I also continued the development work with Mikko in the team. Nothing bigger, but some small things to the car's setups. I was very satisfied with how a couple days went, Latvala said.

Weather conditions usually play a big role in tarmac rallies and Latvala emphasises that they have to get everything out of the weather conditions. The drivers have safety cars driving through the stages before the race in Bulgaria so that the drivers get as truthful information as possible about the weather and condition of the roads in the stages.

- For the first time this season the choice of tyres has a big impact. The weather conditions in the mountains can be unpredictable and the fast roads can dry up quickly. And the other way around, Latvala reminds.

- It can be challenging to get things right and reading the weather might become important. When it rains in the Service area it can be dry on the stages so the correct information is crucial. We have to prepare for everything possible and do our best even though we would find ourself racing with the wrong tyres.

(MTV3)

Arli Racegirl wrote:

Wolfie wrote:

Acropolis wrote:@ Arli Racegirl
Thanks!!!!!

+1

Arghhh, I don't want to read about them, I want to see them in action

Off-Topic: show

Arli, just read that you are in Finland with your Finnish boyfriend - great abd hope we will meet

You're welcome ! I want to see them in action +1

Off-Topic: show

Yeah, I am very happy here, I love the Finland, it's amazing. I'd love meet you. Maybe we meet in Jyväskylä I am so excited about rally.

Off-Topic: show

Oh no.... just as I thought I wasn't going to Jyskälä... will have to think it over - definitely! It would be great to meet you

Arli Racegirl wrote:Kimi Räikkönen Q&A prior to Rally Bulgaria

Three questions to Kimi Räikkönen ahead of WRC Rally Bulgaria.

Arli Racegirl wrote:Raikkonen and Ogier are well prepared for the Bulgarian asphalt
http://www.rallybuzz.com/raikkonenogier-bulg-preview/

Wolfie wrote:

Arli Racegirl wrote:

Wolfie wrote:

Acropolis wrote:@ Arli Racegirl
Thanks!!!!!

+1

Arghhh, I don't want to read about them, I want to see them in action

Off-Topic: show

Arli, just read that you are in Finland with your Finnish boyfriend - great abd hope we will meet

You're welcome ! I want to see them in action +1

Off-Topic: show

Yeah, I am very happy here, I love the Finland, it's amazing. I'd love meet you. Maybe we meet in Jyväskylä I am so excited about rally.

Off-Topic: show

Oh no.... just as I thought I wasn't going to Jyskälä... will have to think it over - definitely! It would be great to meet you

momo wrote:

Arli Racegirl wrote:Raikkonen and Ogier are well prepared for the Bulgarian asphalt
http://www.rallybuzz.com/raikkonenogier-bulg-preview/