Rally News

[Mar]

Loeb misses Sordo

Now seriously, I have heard they really have a good relationship

[sleenster]

Solberg: it's flat-out from now on

Petter Solberg will start next week's Rally d'Italia Sardegna with a new strategy for the rest of the season: he's going flat-out for wins.

Solberg’s fifth place on the season-opening Rally Sweden left him with a favourable position on the road on the ensuing gravel rallies, but a mix of mechanical problems in Mexico, punctures in Portugal and a crash in Jordan have forced a change of approach from the 2003 world champion.

Solberg, who is fifth in the standings and 43 points adrift of championship leader Sebastien Loeb, said: “It’s flat-out everywhere from now on. It’s got to be. It’s frustrating that we’ve had such a tough start to the year. In Portugal, we were in a good place without strategy and then we got the puncture, the same with Mexico, everything was looking good. Now the strategy is to be fast, that’s it.”

Solberg admits he is excited about the WRC’s return to Sardinia after it missed out on a slot on last year’s schedule. He won the first ever Rally d’Italia on the island in 2004 in a factory Subaru Impreza WRC.

“I like the event,” said Solberg, who will be co-driven by Northern Irishman Chris Patterson. “It’s always a tough rally, but the roads are good. It’s going to be an exciting one and we have always gone well there in the past. I want some results from these rallies now.”

Solberg is driving a Citroen DS3 WRC run by his own Petter Solberg World Rally Team in conjunction with Citroen Racing Technologies.

Prior to resuming his bid for world championship glory in Sardinia, Solberg’s next focus will be on how Simon Jean-Joseph performs in his PS Engineering-run Citroen Xsara WRC on a French gravel championship event in Auxerre this weekend.

http://www.wrc.com/news/solberg-its-fla ... ?fid=14596

[sleenster]

Dani has a new website!
http://www.danielsordo.com/

Oops, seems to have crashed from too many visitors...

[Anelise]

http://youtu.be/h8H8ZwyBYwE
is Kimi?

[Mar]

I don't think so. That's not a DS3, the rear windows go upwards, in DS3 they're much more square-like.
I think that's a Fiesta.

Solberg and van Merkstejn have been testing, but they were in France
http://www.autohebdo.fr/rallye/wrc/brev ... -en-essais

[Anelise]

I don't think so. That's not a DS3, the rear windows go upwards, in DS3 they're much more square-like.
I think that's a Fiesta.

Solberg and van Merkstejn have been testing, but they were in France
http://www.autohebdo.fr/rallye/wrc/brev ... -en-essais

Thanks Mar!

[Arli Racegirl]

I don't think so. That's not a DS3, the rear windows go upwards, in DS3 they're much more square-like.
I think that's a Fiesta.

Solberg and van Merkstejn have been testing, but they were in France
http://www.autohebdo.fr/rallye/wrc/brev ... -en-essais

Yeah look like Ford Fiesta and Mikko e Jari-matti was testing too on this week
http://www.rallybuzz.com/mini-wrc-team- ... a-preview/

I saw videos too ...

[sleenster]

Very interesting blog to read!
http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.com/

[Kriss]

Very interesting blog to read!
http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.com/

indeed, thanks sleen

planetemarcus tweted:

Breaking News !! FIA decides not change about opener start rally car in 2011 - Rules still the same with leader open the road !

[luieluv]

A tweet from planetemarcus

#WRC Breaking News !! Official ! Volkswagen will enter to WRC in 2013 with Polo WRC ! No names drivers announced !

[luieluv]

Premiere des Polo R WRC

[sleenster]

A real manufacturer entry, that doesn't need to sell cars to stay in business... Citroen, be very afraid

Volkswagen confirms WRC move



Volkswagen has ended months of speculation by confirming its participation in the World Rally Championship at a press conference in Sardinia this afternoon.

As expected, Volkswagen will base its first ever World Rally Car on the Polo, with the car competing for the first time in 2013. The car was revealed at a packed harbourside launch in Olbia.

Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg (member of the board of management of Volkswagen brand) said: "In the past, we celebrated our sporting success in the desert, in 2009 first manufacturer to win [Dakar]with diesel engine.

"But to the future, we have invited you to entry into the World Rally Championship in 2013. The Polo WRC will compete for the first time in 2013 and we look forward to competing again WRC competitors Citroen, Mini and Ford."

There was no news on drivers at the launch.

Hackenberg continued: "There is almost 20 months between now and our first competition and we will find the drivers who can be in contention for first place.

"Now we must prepare for the task ahead. There is a lot to be done. We look forward to racing on four continents."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91126

Polo WRC will run this year

VW Motorsport director Kris Nissen has confirmed the Polo WRC will be running before the end of this season.

The car will compete for the first time in 2013 and Nissen confirmed it will remain in the World Rally Championship until at least the end of 2015.

Nissen also confirmed Rally Dakar winner Carlos Sainz would remain with the team next season.

"We will be able to run with the car by the end of the year," said Nissen. "We will start testing the car. We have an excellent team [in motorsport]. I am very proud of the team. We will run some events with Skoda [Fabia S2000] to train the team on events and to meet the people.

"This is a five-year programme for Volkswagen. The next two years will be to develop the car and the engine, we will then enter the WRC in 2013, 14 and 15."

Nissen added that he was delighted to retain the services of double world champion Sainz, saying: "When Carlos came to us, the team was not on the level we are now - thank you Carlos. But thank you to all the other drivers as well.

"I spent some time convincing Carlos to stay in the team, it was the easiest 10 seconds ever! He [Sainz] will be my right hand and involved in many things. Carlos promised me not for racing, but for sure we need him for some tests."

Volkswagen confirmed it would be contesting the WRC on the same budget as it had for its Dakar programme. After winning Dakar for three years, Volkswagen will not contest the South American event in 2012 officially, but it is likely the Race Touareg 3 will run in private hands.

Nissen added: "I believe those teams can be competitive in 2012, we won't be there as an official team, but we would like to be there with private teams.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91128

[sleenster]

Umm......why is there a mini Darth Vader in the photos?





http://www.rally-mania.cz/news.php?id=11026
http://www.rallybuzz.com/vw-polo-r-wrc-photos/

[miezicat]

maybe because of Star Wars Day yesterday?

but very good to have another manufacturer in WRC

[f194girl]

Darth Vader is there because of the tv ad of vw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0
I like it that vw will start in the wrc in 2013. Good for the competition.