Rally – Monte Will Open IRC
The FiA has done the WRC in yet again as it was announced that the Monte Carlo Rally will again open the 2011 IRC championship. There was much speculation that the event would move back to the World Rally Championship for 2011 but the FiA has stood by its rally rotation theory and that has seen the event turn down the invite from Jean Todt and the boys. The event which will be run for the 100th time next season has seen a number of WRC drivers participate.... [Read More...]
Rally – MINI WRC News
As was mentioned a few months ago, MINI was looking to jump into the WRC arena with Prodrive given the S2000T regulations. MINI who was once involved with rally’s top flight looks to return on the wings of the Countryman crossover. Yesterday I had mentioned that with the news coming out of the Czech Republic on Skoda’s decision to develop the 1.6T and further its development its S2000 chassis, little had been heard from Prodrive or... [Read More...]
Rally – Skoda 1.6T in WRC
There are now reports surfacing out of the Czech Republic that home automaker Skoda will now develop a 1.6T engine and continue development on the Fabia S2000 chassis. While the details are a little thin at the moment, it would appear that the WRC will have at least the four manufacturers it was hoping for. There is currently no news on whether this will be a supply to privateers or a factory effort, but the Czech team has shown itself very well in... [Read More...]
Rally – Skoda Dominates Argentina
The third round of the IRC championship was held this weekend in the beautiful settings of Argentina. The stages that usually play host to the WRC would be ran with names like Meeke, Hanninen, and al-Attiyah and cars like Peugeot and Skoda. All eyes would be on Kris Meeke after a dominant win in Brazil a couple weeks ago, but it was not to be for the British star. Skoda, who has put together a very formidable effort would take a dominating 1-2-3 in... [Read More...]
Rally – Skoda Sending Cars to South America
The factory Skoda team has decided to send two cars to South America for the next events on the IRC calendar. This shows an increase in Skoda’s rally program for 2010 and its intentions to push for the manufacturers title. The Czech team currently has the lead by four points over the M-Sport Fiesta team and more importantly a seven point advantage over Peugeot. Both Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecký will contest both South American gravel events... [Read More...]
Rally – Target of 4
The promotional body of the WRC has stated they would like to have four manufacturers in the pinnacle of rally racing for 2011. Unless something drastic happens, I believe it is safe for us to assume that Ford and Citroen will make up half of the quota. The question is who else is willing to make a program in the series now that the rules have been cast in stone? There are rumored teams out there and we are going to break a couple of them down now... [Read More...]
Duval Looking to IRC for Ride
Francois Duval has stated that he would like to drive in the IRC and he may have his chance in the Skoda Super 2000. Duval drove in the IRC in Portugal last year piloting a Abarth Grande Punto. That performance is one that he would choose to forget after losing a wheel bearing and retiring. Duval who drove for the Stobart Ford WRC team is looking into the Ypres Westhoek Rally from June 20-22. Duval stated that the IRC interests him more than the WRC... [Read More...]
