Rally Bulgaria 2010

[Wolfie]

thanks dracaena, that was a great blog from Kaitsu!

Pure gold

[momo]

Bulgaria rain threat leads to tyre rule change
News
7th July 2010
By Charlie Contadeli

Prioriy drivers contesting Rally Bulgaria this week will get an extra allocation of soft compound tyres to counter the threat of possible thunderstorms during the asphalt event, which is based in the Rila mountains.

Normally on Tarmac rallies, Priority 1 and Priority 2 drivers receive an allocation of 34 hard compound tyres for dry conditions and 18 soft compound tyres for wet weather usage, in addition to six hard compound tyres for pre-event shakedown.

However, because weather forecasters are reporting possible thunderstorms during the week of the rally, an agreement has been reached between the teams, the FIA and Pirelli for an extra six soft compound tyres for Bulgaria.

It still means crews are limited to 40 tyres in total between shakedown and the finish of the rally, but they have an increased amount of soft compound tyres to use if it rains. Tyre usage is tightly controlled by a marking process.

“It’s going to be very interesting with the possibility of wet and dry conditions due to the rally being based in the mountains,” said Pirelli’s senior WRC tyre engineer Matteo Braga, who visited Rally Bulgaria when it ran as a round of the European championship last July. “Both Citroën and Ford will be prepared for this because on the practice rallies they did in Italy and Serbia respectively, they both experienced wet and dry conditions. But it will still create some extra excitement.”

http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/bulg ... le_change/

[ReAlien]

Great news from Kai! :dance:

[Anelise]

Grazie momo!

[Acropolis]

Thanks Momo and Leijona!!

[Vida]

thank you all

[Ice-Ludy]

thanks dracaena, that was a great blog from Kaitsu!

indeed thanks a lot Dracaena
It seems Kimi on the right track, I can hardly wait

Thanks a lot Dacraena!!!

Wow, the best thing about this rally world is to have someone like Kaj as Kimi's co-driver. He's so sincere, he gives always such an amazing support, he says so many good things. His comments always makes me feel good because I can be sure Kimi is doing so well. I know we can see this by his performances but when Kaj speaks about Kimi's talent and improvements, I feel so happy and secure about his sucess in this world!!!

Kaj is the best co-driver Kimi could have!

[Ice-Ludy]

Thanks Momo and Leijona!!

+1

[luieluv]

thanks dracaena, that was a great blog from Kaitsu!

Pure gold

+1

[Ice-Ludy]

RALLY BULGARIA: ONES TO WATCH

The clean asphalt of Bulgaria is a clean slate, with this being the first WRC visit to the Central European country. Who will make the first mark in the rally this weekend?

Sébastien Ogier (FRA) – Citroën
Halfway through the season, and Frenchman Ogier is second only to legendary fellow countryman and namesake Sébastien Loeb in the standings, a truly stunning state of affairs for a man who didn’t even have a full rallying programme with the Citroën Junior Team planned at the beginning of the year. There’s little more to say except that we could be looking at a future world champion here. How far into the future? Loeb, champion six times in succession, says that Ogier’s the fastest man out there. Watch this space.

Sébastien Loeb (FRA) – Citroën
It’s worth remembering that Loeb has considerable track pedigree (like someone else we know – see below) with early days as a tintop racer and some Le Mans experience, so the gravel-free environment of Bulgaria is a prospect for Loeb to relish. Then again, this is a guy who’s finally proved this year that he can win on anything – snow, dust, gravel, asphalt and the rest. He could probably win if the route was laid with shagpile carpet. On a brand-new rally, this kind of adaptability could make the difference. And he’s won 56 rallies of the last 107 in which he’s competed, three from six this year, so with Ogier winning last time, it’s his turn again… right?

Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) – Citroën
Ironically, just as Räikkönen has mastered some of the techniques required for rallying, namely keeping it together on the rougher, looser stuff, now he’s presented with a chance to fly again on tarmac, something the Finn will no doubt do with the same verve that won him 18 Formula One grands prix. After a faltering start, Räikkönen has three top-10 finishes in his last three events. A valuable points-paying position is surely on the cards in Bulgaria

Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) – Ford
Spare a thought for Mikko Hirvonen. Achingly close to ending Loeb’s domination of the premier rally series last year, he began this year with a bang, winning Rally Sweden in the Focus, but since then it’s all gone awry, with just one more podium in Turkey, while Citroën’s Ogier has muscled his way past as Loeb’s chief challenger, and Hirvonen reaches the halfway point of the WRC season a massive 50pts – two whole rally victories – behind Loeb. His team-mate and fellow Finn Jari-Matti Latvala managed a first win in New Zealand only to retire in Portugal last time, so the Ford team have got plenty of asphalt practice in ahead of this rally to try to catch the Citroëns ahead. They need to, for the good of the championship as well as themselves.

Dani Sordo (SPA) – Citroën
The last WRC event in Portugal saw a first trip to the podium for Dani this season, but the Spaniard has work to do if he’s to repeat his own solid third-place finishes in the 2008 and 2009 championships, lying as he does just sixth in the standings at present. He’s finished on the podium in well over a third of the rallies he’s competed in since getting the full Citroën WRC drive in 2006 – 25 in 65, to be exact – but that first win still eludes him, and with that record it is sometimes hard to understand why, notwithstanding the selfless way in which he has supported team-mate Loeb in the past. Maybe Dani can use this brand-new event to break that duck and become the undisputed King of Bulgaria and get himself back up to where we would normally expect to find him in the title race.

http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_ ... fmodpos=A1

[luieluv]

Thanks a ton Ludy... The day is getting better for Raikkos

[Ice-Ludy]

Thanks a ton Ludy... The day is getting better for Raikkos

You're welcome Luie!!! Thanks for you too and all the info you always share with us here!!!

Now we are heading to brighter days!!!!

[Arli Racegirl]

Thanks a ton Ludy... The day is getting better for Raikkos

+1

[Kriss]

Small accident for Per-Gunnar Andersson

07 July 2010
Stobart M-Sport Ford driver Per-Gunnar Andersson got into a small accident some 4 km away from Rally Bulgaria Headquarter in Borovets. The Swedish was just coming from the Service Park in Dolna banya with the Volvo recce car when a lorry blocked in front of his way from his left side, apparently, driving the opposite lane. A small crash followed, although Andersson turned the wheel to the right and put on the brakes. The recce car’s front left side is damaged – the headlight and the fender next to the driver’s door. Just minutes later Ford’s car mechanics started working on the clashed car.The police came at the accident scene and gave the guilty driver a ticket.

http://www.rallybulgaria.com/cgi-bin/e- ... 47&n=18&g=

[momo]

RALLY BULGARIA: ONES TO WATCH

http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_ ... fmodpos=A1

Thank you Ice-Ludy!