FROM: ABU DHABI FORD After completing more than 12000km of testing, the all-new Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car will make its debut at Rally Sweden (10 – 13 February) next week. The opening round of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship will introduce a fresh era to the sport, and the renamed Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team has prepared meticulously in the development of its new-generation WRC challenger. Testing broke through the 12000km barrier last week – the equivalent of more than two seasons of WRC competition –…
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Rally – Loeb Wins Germany
Sebastian Loeb has won Rally Germany for the eighth time and has all but sured up the title with four events left. The Citroen ace was never in question of losing this event as he continues to destroy the competition on tarmac. The French ace now has 191 points to Sebastian Ogier’s 133. Ogier would finish on the final step of the podium while factory driver Dani Sordo would finish an impressive second. A result the Spaniard needed after coming back to the Total team after being demoted to the…
Read MoreRally – Saab to Join WRC??
Now that MINI has joined the small list of WRC manufacturers, there is rumor of another team that is not Toyota possibly joining as well. SAAB has expressed a strong interest in the WRC and may be willing to join with one of their vehicles. I will admit that this particular announcement has caught me off guard. If we think back to just a couple months ago, SAAB was in serious trouble and about to go out of existence. Now, it seems that everything is in line for a potential…
Read MoreRally – Rallycross Coming to NJ
Rally – Changes to Rally America Announced
The Rally America Series is set for a new look starting this weekend at the X-Games. As drivers prepare for all-star event of the championship in L.A., the series as a whole has announced a number of changes for the 2011 season. Let’s take a look and try to pick it apart. The series at large is no longer the Rally America Series to start with. Because of the addition of Rally Cross, the sanctioning body will now be known as Rally Car. The website is already reflecting this change…
Read MoreRally – Hirvonen’s Massive Crash
Rally – Prodrive MINI Preparing to Test
Just when you thought all hope was lost of seeing a Prodrive MINI next year, Rallybuzz.com has now posted a story that is the first sign of life we have had from the project in a couple months time. The silence then began to drive rumors that funding had been cut and that Prodrive was looking at teaming with Toyota for a WRC bid. That being the dumbest rumor I have ever heard has now brought us a proof of life that the MINI project is on track. Reports are…
Read MoreRally – Ford Getting Ambitious on Ogier
The Works Ford squad have gotten a little ambitious over the last couple days by announcing publicly their pursuit of Citroen ace Sebastian Ogier. The French driver who took his first WRC victory in Portugal by out gunning Citroen works phenom Sebastian Loeb, has announced that he is actually entertaining the idea. The driving slot that would become available would be at the the factory Ford outfit along side Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala. Reports indicate that Ford have been in touch with Ogier’s management team and that a formal…
Read MoreRally – Flash from the Past to Compete in Finland?? *UPDATE*
One of the great things the WRC has shown us the last few years is the ability for drivers to make returns for select events. For example, we had Marcus Gronholm make a cameo appearance at Rally Portugal last year and Rally Sweden this year. However not even that can top Juha Kankkunen and his attempt to run in the Rally Finland event that is coming up. The four times WRC champion is making waves in the rally world as he sits on the very edge of making a comeback…
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