Episode 81 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin the crew for the 81st episode of the show! We are honoured to have Martin Plowman on the show to talk about his 2011 plans and also gives an inside look into the processes involved when hunting sponsorship. Brilliant interview and we want to thank plowey for his time! We also have the latest in INDYCAR, ALMS, Rally and F1! Sit back with your favorite beverage and enjoy the show!

Read More

MSP – Once Upon a Time in Mexico

So it is all over. The first gravel test of 2011 and an all too familiar ending for fans of the WRC. Sebastien Loeb claimed victory south of the border and in pretty dominant fashion. The weekend was not without its issues however. Here are a few points I was able to take away from Round 2. Tires Michelin had a rough showing this weekend. While the brand has been away from rally’s top flight for sometime, there were a number of punctures on the hard rocks of Mexico. The…

Read More

Episode 76 – Openpaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin the Paddock crew as they discuss Rally Sweden. An exciting weekend in the WRC and we do the best we can to break down all the madness. We also hit F1, Le Mans, MRTI, and the IZOD IndyCar Series. So sit back and enjoy the rants and debates. Should also throw out that we don’t hate NASCAR fans…just the series. Enjoy!

Read More

MSP – Sweden, Mikkleson, VP Fuel, and SPEED Center

The WRC season has arrived and because of that, we will now move the Service Park column to Monday to accommodate. What a show the WRC put on in Sweden to usher in its new era of car and talent. This rally had absolutely everything and will go down as one of the most exciting rallies we have seen in a long time. Final Thoughts on Sweden Are you serious!?! This has been one of the best overall rallies we have seen in sometime. New Zealand was amazing due to…

Read More

Rally – Ford Fiesta RS WRC claims podium clean sweep on rally debut

FROM ABU DHABI FORD WORLD RALLY: Ford’s all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car made a dream debut by powering to a 1-2-3 finish in Rally Sweden today. Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team’s Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen won a thrilling opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship by just 6.5sec from Mads Østberg and Jonas Andersson. Hirvonen’s team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila were third. It was Ford’s first podium clean sweep since Rally Sweden in 2008, when Latvala claimed his maiden WRC win and was followed home…

Read More

Rally – Hirvonen Takes Back to Back Sweden Victories

The 2011 season got started with one of the craziest rallies in recent memory! Way to usher in a new era for the Fiesta and DS3. The previous two days of the rally were unpredictable except for one point. Whoever was first on the road usually lost time due to fresh snow. Mikko Hirvonen was to be first on the road this morning and he would prove that to be false as he set some blistering times in the mornings stages on what was really nothing more than fresh ice.…

Read More

Rally – Sweden Day 2 Review

While the 1st leg of Rally Sweden had all the excitement of the new cars and teams taking to the stages proper for the first time, the second leg would be business as usual. Mads Ostberg was the surprise of the first day, how much time would he lose and how far could Mikko stretch the lead? We found out the answer to those questions in what was one amazing day on the stages. Mikko Hirvonen would move quickly to take the lead from Day 1 leader Mads Ostberg. As…

Read More

Rally – New Ford Fiesta RS WRC dominates opening day at Rally Sweden

FROM: ABU DHABI FORD WORLD RALLY TEAM: Ford’s all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car made a perfect debut at Rally Sweden today to hold first and second places after the opening leg. Four of the top five positions in this opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship were owned by the car after an unpredictable start to the 2011 season in the blizzard-hit forests of central Sweden. Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen are second, just 14.8sec from the lead, with team-mates Jari-Matti…

Read More