Rally – Page 32 – OpenPaddock.net

Vodafone Rally de Portugal – Preview

April 11, 2013 Mike Shaw

Beginning tomorrow is WRC event number two without Sebastien Loeb, however his legacy seems to live on with the success of the other French Sebastien. That of course would be VW Motorsports driver Sebastien Ogier, who has dominated the season so far. Of course Ogier hates being compared to Loeb but it is hard not to at least compare the results. It seems that the only thing that can slow down Ogier is illness. Ogier apparently caught a virus while down in Mexico (some bad tequila?), and missed out on the…

Episode 183 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

April 10, 2013 Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe review the amazing weekend of open-wheel racing at Barber Motorsports Park, Doug gives a quick recap of the KCRSCCA’s first event of the year, Mike Shaw previews Rally Portugal, and Mike Whitesell previews the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix. Open Paddock – Monday, April 8th, 2013 Preview IndyCar – Barber wrap up and all the indycar news MRTI – ? Rally – wrc protugal preview F1 – China preview, mocking Mr. E IndyCar Barber Quali Race Results – Standings Next race – Long…

WRC – Rallying’s Young Chargers Line Up in Ford’s Fiesta R2 Car

April 8, 2013 Shaun

DUNTON, England, April 8, 2013 – Ford’s Fiesta R2 rally car will provide the platform for the world’s best young drivers to showcase their skills when the 2013 FIA Junior WRC Championship begins at Rally de Portugal this week. Ten young hot-shots from eight different countries will compete in identical Fiesta R2 cars on gravel roads in southern Portugal’s Algarve region. It is the first of six rounds in the Junior WRC series, which supports the FIA World Rally Championship. It provides the first step on the ladder for potential…

Episode 182 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

April 3, 2013 Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOpen Paddock #182 – April 1st, 2013 All is quiet in motorsports we care about… Preview Indycar oval rookie testing & barber preview Loeb helping Kubica with WRC debut and Loeb takes on Pikes Peak Thailand for 2015 F1 date? Miscellaneous other stuff to keep us entertained…. Formula E says “a race in Monaco is going to happen” Michelin to supply Formula E LE MANS: Conway Lands WEC Drive With Delta-ADR GRAND-AM: Series Confirms DTM/ITR Agreement IndyCar Oval Rookies Turn Laps At Texas Daly…

Antoine L’Estage Brings WRC Spec Mitsubishi to Rally America

April 3, 2013 Mike Shaw

At the end of last year a YouTube clip emerged of Rockstar Energy’s Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard testing a British MML Sports prepared 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer WRC in the Czech Republic. L’Estage later confirmed that they were testing the car, but quickly downplayed any rumors that the car would ever come to North America due to the high cost to operate the machine. At that time L’Estage said that it was hard enough to find funding to compete in both Rally America and the Canadian Rally Championship with his…

Sebastien Loeb to Contest Pikes Peak

March 31, 2013 Mike Shaw

One of the most sought after achievements to add to any racing champion’s resume is to tackle one of its oldest and arguably most dangerous events. The famed “Race to the Clouds” at Pikes Peak begins at an altitude of 9,390 feet and finishes in the thin air at the 14,110 foot summit. First competed in 1916 this is the second oldest motor sport race in America and 2013 marks it’s 91st running. Last week we heard exciting news that 9 times World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb will be driving a…

OP-Ed Rallycross: Does it Help or Hurt Stage Rally?

March 30, 2013 Mike Shaw

This Sunday is the season opener of the FIA European Rallycross Championship (a.k.a. RallycrossRX), which will be followed in just a couple of weeks with the Global Rallycross Championship opener at X-Games Brazil. I began to ponder what other motorsports, and particularly rally fans, thought of the sport of Rallycross. Do you think it helps or hurts stage rally? A quick overview of Rallycross for those not in the know. Rallycross uses what at first appears to be typical 4wd WRC type hot-hatches like the Ford Fiesta and Citroen DS3.…

Episode 181 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

March 26, 2013 Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIt’s “We love Canada night” on Open Paddock! Hinch and Hargrove mount Canadian invasion in St. Pete. Kevin and Mike2 talk about the IndyCar season opener, the full gambit of Mazda Road to Indy races at St. Pete as well as the SCCA Pro Pirelli World Challenge. Mr. Whitesell leads us through the chaos that was the F1 Malasian GP, and Mr. Shaw closes out the show with all things rally. Sit back, crack open a ice cold Labatt Blue, and enjoy! Oh, and…

Episode 180 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

March 21, 2013 Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadMike Whitesell takes the reins as Kevin is swept off to Oz by the tornados and gives us a review of F1’s season opener in Melbourne and a preview of IndyCar’s opener at St. Pete. Doug reviews the USF2000 season opener at Sebring, and Mr. Shaw points and laughs at us for starting our seasons so darn late as he recaps the week’s news from the world of rally.

Episode 179 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

March 13, 2013 Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWith rednecks revving their engines outside Mr. Neely’s hotel room and the soft, but ominous, purring of what sounds like a velociraptor every now and then in the background, we present Episode 179 of the OpenPaddock.net Podcast! Kevin Neely and our photographer Brian McKay report from Day 1 of the IndyCar pre-season open test at a very wet and soggy Barber Motorsports Park. Mike Shaw gives us a recap of this weekend’s WRC Rally Mexico in which Ken Block put in a surprising performance.…