H&H-98

IRC Rally Principe de Asturias action

Events Features

insidethis week:

CoverSainz wins first Silk Way Rallye!

HandbrakesHairpins

Edition 98 September 2009

your insight into the world of rallying&

The Interview:Burcu Cetinkaya

News• Campana test drives Renault Clio R3• Change to Toyota Dealer 400 route• WRC Rally Australia impact reports• Loeb admits to talks for F1• Graham brothers win Diesel Cup

Features• Interview with Burcu Cetinkaya• Petter Solberg’s new rally livery

Event Reports

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Contents / Issue 98Welcome to issue 98 of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, your FREE weekly insight into the world of rallying!

As always, I hope you enjoy this week’s exciting edition!

Yours in Rallying,

Evan Rothman

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A community effort is ready to swing into action at the Toyota Dealer 400 in Mpumalanga on 2 and 3 October.

Based once again in Lydenburg the event is the penultimate round of the Absa Off Road Championship. Although the overall championships in both the Production and Special Vehicle categories have been settled a number of classes are still in limbo, and the race is an important outing for those with title aspirations.

First run in 2003, the Toyota Dealer 400 has rapidly grown into a blue chip race, and in 2005 was the candidate event that saw South Africa win a place on the FIA Cross Country World Cup calendar in 2006 and 2007. Much of the success of the event can be attributed to a community effort from, authorities, land owners, businesses and residents in Lydenburg and surrounding areas.

“Fanie Erasmus, the dealer principal at Lydenburg Toyota, has done a fantastic job of marketing the event to the people of Lydenburg and surrounding areas,” said Richard Schilling, president of the MSA Off Road Car Racing Commission. “Fanie and his team at Lydenburg Toyota have engendered a family spirit that is a feature of the event.”

Schilling added that this family spirit was illustrated by the role played in the event by Hoerskool Lydenburg pupils. The events prize giving catering is undertaken by pupils with the proceeds going towards school funds.

Race director Willie du Plessis, from the South African Motor Sport Club (SAM), also had high praise for the co-operation from local authorities. SAM has been associated with the event since its inception.

“With Fanie Erasmus playing a facilitating role we have always enjoyed a happy relationship with the Thaba Chweu local authority, and with Mpumalanga local government offi cials,” said du Plessis. “We work closely with municipal authorities and with police and traffi c departments and have always enjoyed tremendous support.

“We also have a good working relationship with landowners and farmers in the region, and their co-operation has been a major factor in the success of the event over the years.”

The prologue to determine start positions for the race will start from the Lydenburg Rugby Club at 12h30 on October 2. It will fi nish at the Toyota spectator point on the outskirts of Lydenburg on the R540 main road to Dullstroom.

The race will start at 08h00 at Lydenburg Toyota on October 3 and will fi nish at the Toyota spectator point. The designated service point will also be located at the Toyota spectator point.

Community effort at Toyota Dealer 400 race for next month

French rally ace Pierre Campana has tested the Renault Clio R3 that he will use on the Sanremo Rally, the penultimate round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, from 25 - 26 September.

The 24-year-old tested the car, run by well-known Italian team Munaretto, on asphalt mountain roads in Tuscany that are similar to those he will encounter near Sanremo. With Campana and Munaretto working together for the fi rst time, the test was a valuable opportunity for the team and driver to get to know each other before facing the challenge of Sanremo.

The Clio R3 - built to the latest FIA regulations - proved to be completely reliable throughout the one-day test, allowing Campana and Munaretto to work through a comprehensive test programme. The work concentrated on establishing a good base set-up for Sanremo, optimising the driveability of the car as well as its traction and tyre wear.

Having achieved all his objectives during the test, Campana was delighted by the start of his collaboration with Munaretto. “The team needs no introduction, but I am really pleased by the feeling that I have with Munaretto and the car,” he said. “We had no problems at all during the test, and I was able to get comfortable with the Clio R3 straight away. Sanremo is going to be an extremely signifi cant event for me, so it will be important that I feel confi dent from the very beginning. As well as being a challenging rally, the competition is likely to be huge. But this is what I like, so I cannot wait to get started.”

As well as the elite of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, a global series backed by Eurosport, Campana will also face competitors from both the West European Clio Trophy and the Italian Clio Trophy. With these drivers all having more familiarity with the car and the terrain than Campana, the Frenchman has his work cut out.

The Sanremo Rally formed part of the World Rally Championship for several years and contains several classic stages. These stages are characterised by their variable levels of grip, due to frequent surface changes, and uncertain weather. Campana and Munaretto were able to successfully

Pierre Campana tests Renault Clio R3 ahead of IRC Rally Sanremo

Du Plessis added that, as in the past, the event would be spectator friendly. Numerous spectator points along the route are within easy reach of the start, and are accessible via major roads.

Access to all spectator points as well as the Toyota spectator area is free of charge.- Credit: MSA Off Road Racing Commission

MML Sports pulled out all the stops for a new customer at the weekend, with less than 48 hours between the fi rst test drive in the United Kingdom for Dutch driver Mark van Eldik and his fi rst stage win on the Amsterdam RallySprint. The Dutchman was immediately at home in the MML Sports-run Mitsubishi Lancer World Rally Car, taking three wins from the six stages just two days after driving it for the very fi rst time.

Van Eldik was in the UK on Friday to test the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 with a view to competing on the car in Holland later this year and into next season. MML Sports had arranged an early test for the Dutchman at the MIRA test-track close to its Rugby headquarters and van Eldik drove the car for the fi rst time at around noon on Friday.

He was impressed with the car immediately yet wasn’t sure that it would prove competitive against other World Rally Cars running in Holland. He was keen to fi nd out just how competitive the Lancer WRC05 could be, so asked MML Sports Managing Director John Easton if it would be possible to contest the Amsterdam RallySprint, a 60Km one-day single venue event, on the Sunday.

Easton takes up the story; “I was quite surprised when Mark asked if we could get a car and the support team and equipment to Holland for an event on the Sunday. However, as we consider ourselves a works team, it was just another challenge. Having agreed the deal at 5.30pm on Friday, I arranged for a car and lorry to travel to Holland over Friday night and through Saturday to ensure that we had the hardware in place. It was then a case of getting a couple of additional mechanics to staff the event and we were ready to go.”

Van Eldik was understandably apprehensive on the start line of the fi rst stage, with no less than 12 World Rally Cars, including a 2007 Ford Focus WRC and an S14 Subaru Impreza forming his competition for the day. However, he threw down the gauntlet by setting the fastest stage time on the opening test of the event, the fi rst time he had ever driven the car in anger.

He went on to take the fastest time on two more stages of the six-test event. His chances of an outright win on his fi rst rally were cut short when he stalled on the start line of a later stage though. A lack of time in the car meant that he lost 20 seconds as he went about restarting it to continue. He also hit a kerb on another stage, causing a puncture which then caused the tyre to come off the wheel rim.

However, despite these problems, van Eldik was clearly impressed with the MML Sports Lancer WRC05 and is now looking into further events for the remainder of the 2009 season and beyond.

Commenting on the weekend, Easton said; “I couldn’t be happier for Mark. I think to achieve what he did this weekend with almost no experience of the car is fantastic and demonstrates that not only is he clearly a talented driver, the MML Sports Lancer WRC05 is a very easy car to drive quickly. And as I have said before, it shows clearly that we, as an organisation, can react very quickly to changing or new situations to get the maximum return for everyone.

First test for MML Sports’ Lancer WRC05 for Mark van Eldik

replicate some of the conditions they expect to fi nd in Sanremo during the Tuscany test, and work on getting the best out of the BFGoodrich tyres they will use on the event.

Campana’s next taste of the Clio R3 will come at the Sanremo Rally shakedown stage at San Romolo on Friday 25 September prior to the start of the event in the afternoon. Before then, he and co-driver Sabrina de Castelli will get their fi rst sight of the twisty Ligurian roads whilst making their pace notes during the recce.- Credit: QuadraSports

Steve Graham and brother Tony will be delighted and relieved to have taken victory in the 2009 MSA British Rally Championship’s Diesel Rally Cup. Not only because they have been runners up for two years, but because business commitments mean they cannot contest the fi nal round, Rally Yorkshire later this month. The SPG Rally Team began the new season with reigning champion Fin McCaul threatening to take a hat-trick of victories in the category specifi cally designed for “oil-burners”. But propshaft failure on his BMW handed victory to the brothers Graham, opening their account with maximum points. The Pirelli saw the brothers lead from the start, but after missing the recce, the daylight of Saturday allowed McCaul and Huw Mathias to push, eventually passing the Vauxhall Astra D to take victory by just less than fi fteen seconds. With neither crew fi nishing the Jim Clark Rally, McCaul succumbing to gearbox problems while Graham went off on stage fourteen, the battle was rejoined on the Isle of Man. Here Graham took victory after McCaul struggled again with gearbox selector problems, but with the Irishman unable to contest the Ulster, it was down to the Grahams to get their distinctive Eco liveried car to the fi nish on the Northern Irish lanes. It was therefore on Irish tarmac that the brothers cruised to their fi rst Diesel Cup title, delighted to also take third in the BRC’s Rally 3 class on the event. The easy going team will be missed on the fast gravel roads of the North Yorkshire forests, not least because in their efforts to make themselves heard, they have been entertaining competitors and spectators alike with a choice of music. Steve explains, “We love rallying this car. It is very quick for a diesel and ultra economical; we nearly completed a full day on the Ulster on one tank of fuel! But it’s too quiet, so we’ve fi tted a loudspeaker under the bonnet. Tony has his MP3 player plugged in and we play loud music on the stages, our favourite on the Ulster was “Road to Hell” by Chris Rea.” The MSA British Rally Championship’s Diesel Rally Cup is open to any homologated diesel car and while the 2009 championship is sewn up, Steve and Tony will be looking for more opposition when they defend their title next year.- Credit: rallybrc.co.uk

Graham brothers claim BRC’s Diesel Cup Championship honours

“After such a successful fi rst run, Mark is now looking at various options for the rest of this season and I hope that we won’t have to wait too long until he claims his fi rst outright win.”- Credit: rallybuzz.com

The International Rally Drivers’ Club continues to monitor the improvement of drivers within the MSA British Rally Championship and the results from the recent Toddsleap.com Ulster International Rally have now been calculated. Newcomer to rallying and contesting the Fiesta SportTrophy in his debut season, Londoner Harry Hunt is the latest driver to top the IRDC’s Most Improved table.The table is calculated using a unique algorithm which has been employed since the 1980s, taking a representative

Harry Hunt named IRDC’s Most Improved on Ulster Rally

The start of the race will again be at Lydenburg Toyota in the town centre with the opening loop a short 110 kilometre section that takes in the Kwena Dam area. The second loop will be 180 kilometres in length with about 80 percent of the route taking in new territory in the Sterkspruit, Rhenosterhoek and Kalmoesfontein areas.

“The mountain sections of the route will be particularly taxing,” said du Plessis. “The course is a scenic one but crews will be too busy to enjoy the views.”

Du Plessis added that the route was again user friendly with easy access to good viewing locations from major roads. With Mpumalanga within easy reach of Gauteng and Limpopo it is expected that the event will again draw large crowds of off road enthusiasts.

Documentation will be at Lydenburg Toyota with the prologue scheduled to start at 12:30 on 2 October. The race will start at 08:00 on 3 October.- Credit: MSA Off Road Racing Commission

Organisers of Repco Rally Australia have announced an attendance total of more than 70 000 over the four days of round 10 of the FIA World Rally Championship staged in the New South Wales Northern Rivers.

Chairman of the Rally Australia Board Alan Evans said last week that attendance of ticket buyers and pass holders exceeded 50 000 – with tallies from Day Three of the event still to be fi nalised – and topped 70 000 when visitors to the free venues at the opening-night rally show, Kingscliff Service Park and yesterday’s Kyogle remote service were included.

“It was an extremely successful weekend. The overwhelming support of the community was extremely gratifying and we have been getting excellent reports from local businesses about how well they did,” Mr Evans said.

“We wanted the people of Tweed and Kyogle, plus visitors from elsewhere in New South Wales, interstate and overseas to see the World Rally cars and they turned out in big numbers. There were well over 4 000 people in the CTEK West Special Stage on Saturday and the atmosphere was fantastic.

“It was also amazing how many private residences along the rally route were having front-yard parties to watch the cars go by. We have no way of knowing what those numbers were, but they would certainly add signifi cantly to the total and from what we understand in many cases the visitors came from outside the region.”

Mr Evans congratulated the teams and drivers from more than 15 countries and the more than 1 000 volunteer offi cials plus staff for staging the biggest sports event the region has seen.“It’s been a magnifi cent event. Rally Australia will be back in 2011 and it will be an even better event,” he said.- Credit: rallybuzz.com

Organisers of WRC Rally Australia announce attendance of 70 000

sample of stage times from each event and comparing them. In this case the sample was taken before Hunt’s retirement from the Ulster Rally which is therefore not taken into account. But the 20 year-old, whose fi rst ever rally was the Fiesta Sport Trophy opener in early March, has improved in speed and confi dence in the 24 weeks since he began. By stage fi ve of the 127 mile tarmac rally he had moved into 15th place in the BRC, surely a sign of things to come. The IRDC scheme operates on an event-by-event basis, but the boffi ns who make the sums work also have a calculation for the most improved throughout the season, the eventual winner taking a cash prize at the British Rally Championship awards ceremony on October 31st. Most improved drivers round-by-round:Round 1-2 Kyle OrrRound 2-3 Fin McCaulRound 3-4 Mark HigginsRound 4-5 Harry Hunt How it works: A raw score for each competitor is calculated on stage times for (usually) four stages chosen across the event. The four stages are chosen to ensure most (if not all) competitors passed through the stage. Their personal raw score is then compared with the last event and a difference in the two fi gures is established. The person with the highest difference is shown at the top of the table.- Credit: irdc.org.uk and rallybrc.co.uk

Changes to Toyota Dealer 400 Race’s route for next monthThe route for the Toyota Dealer 400, the penultimate round of the Absa Off Road Championship in Mpumalanga, Lydenburg on 2 and 3 October, has been completed and shows signifi cant changes from previous year.

The event is again being organised by the South African Motor Sport Club (SAM) under race director Willie du Plessis. Signifi cant changes to the route include shifting the designated service point from the Lydenburg Rugby Club and the elimination of the Long Tom Pass section run in previous years.

“The route has undergone something of a revamp,” said du Plessis. “This follows feedback from competitors over recent years, and our desire to come up with fresh ideas.

“We felt the Long Tom section had reached its sell by date, and the changes again make for a highly interesting route that has a little of everything. It will be a challenge.”

A 70 kilometre prologue to determine start positions for the race will start at the rugby club and will pass the Lydenburg airfi eld and the Lydenburg Toyota spectator point on the R540. The designated service area will also be located at the Lydenburg Toyota spectator point.

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A team of scientists investigating the environmental impact of Repco Rally Australia have reported that the event made no signifi cant impact on the wildlife living in the rally region.

In particular, the scientists concluded that no koalas or other threatened species were killed or injured during the rally.Dr Stephen Phillips, who led the research project on behalf of rally organisers, said the investigation had started months before the actual event, with a thorough inspection of the route to note all potential habitats for koalas, lyrebirds and any other threatened species.

Based on his fi ndings, more than seven kilometres of temporary animal fencing were placed alongside stages, and pollution booms and sediment traps were installed at all key water crossings. During the rally, dozens of environmental ‘guardians’ were placed at strategic locations along each stage and beside trees in which koalas were sighted during the pre-rally survey.

Following the passage of the last car in the rally, the environmental teams again inspected the stage and recorded any injured or killed animals that had not been present in the pre-event inspection.

“This was one of the most thorough operations that has been undertaken anywhere in the world,” said Dr Phillips. “The most pleasing aspect was the results were far better than anyone would have expected.

“We only found a small number of killed animals which, quite frankly, is arguably less than you would normally expect to fi nd on these roads. We put this down to the gradual build-up of rally activity over the morning of each day of the event. Importantly, there was no evidence of any animal having been killed in the small areas of National Park traversed by the rally.

“All-up for the 344kms of rally activity we recorded a total of two lizards, four snakes, nine birds and a single mammal, which was much less than expected for this number of competing vehicles. Most importantly, no threatened fauna, including koalas, were killed or injured.

“Despite claims made to the contrary in the weeks leading up to the rally, the results validate the conclusions reached in our July reports that the rally would have no signifi cant impact on threatened species.”- Credit: wrc.com

Positive environmental report for WRC Rally Australia released

Sebastien Loeb has admitted that talks with Red Bull about a one-off formula one appearance in Abu Dhabi this year have taken place. In an earlier report, the multiple champion of world rallying admitted discussions with the energy drink company about his interest in grand prix racing but said a possible location for a drive had not been raised.

Loeb admits to talks with F1 team to drive in upcoming Abu Dhabi GP

Veteran Multiple South African Off-Road and rally Champion, Hannes Grobler, will bid Nissan Motorsport farewell at the end of the season bringing to an end a partnership that started in 1977. Grobler, the only South African motorsport competitor to have won both the South African National Rally Driver’s Championship and the South African Off-Road Racing Championship, will be joining the RFS Group of companies from January.

Grobler will launch the RFS Group’s 4x4 Mega world Shop in Zambezi Road, Montana, Pretoria soon. He will also become a full-time member of the RFS Motorsport team in the SA Off-Road Racing championship as from next year competing in the SP Class in the Production Vehicle Class of the Off-Road Championship. Grobler won both the National Rally Driver’s Championship and the SA Off-Road Championship in the same year in 1986. A feat that nobody else has been able to repeat to date.

The very popular and affable Grobler said that the offer the RFS Group has made him is a once in a lifetime opportunity. “I will be Manager/ director of the 4x4 Mega world Zambezi shop and as such I will be able to apply the knowledge that I have gained over the past 33 years in the development of the new business venture. I am really looking forward to the new challenge as it comes at a time when I have had to start planning my future.

RFS Motorsport builds and prepares two class SP Production cars the company run in the off-road championship. RFS also sponsors the last round of the SA Off-Road Racing Championship, the Magalies Off-Road Race.- Credit: MSA Off Road Racing Commission

Partnership of 33 years ends between Grobler and Nissan

But the 35-year-old Frenchman is now quoted by RTL as saying: “It is true that there were contacts with Red Bull about the possibility to do Abu Dhabi, but for the moment there is nothing more.”

It is rumoured that Loeb would be drafted in for the 2009 season fi nale to replace either Sebastien Buemi or Jamie Alguersuari, the full-time race drivers for Red Bull’s second team Toro Rosso.

“I would be happy to be able to confi rm it but it is not the case,” he responded. “But it is the sort of opportunity that you cannot refuse. So, tomorrow, if someone gives me the opportunity to do a race, it would be diffi cult to say no.

“On the other side it’s not as if you wake up one morning and make a F1 race. It requires a kind of preparation completely different from rallying and I have not done that.

“I think, to give up the rallying for F1, it would be a quite complicated adventure,” said Loeb.- Credit: rallybuzz.com

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Featuresyour insight into the world of rallying

INTERVIEW: BURCU CETINKAYAInternational Driver

TURKISH RALLY STAR ON THE RISE!Contesting no less than three high-profi le rally championships in 2009, Burcu Cetinkaya’s rally star is most certainly on the rise. Competing in the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy International in four rounds of the 2009 World Rally Championship (WRC Rally Poland, WRC Rally Finland, WRC Rally Catalunya and WRC Rally GB), as well as all six rounds of the Turkish Rlaly Championship and two legs of the Italian Gravel Rally Championship, she is aiming for a World Rally Championship seat in the near future. With her determination, talent and ambition, Burcu Cetinkaya will emulate the success of her role model Michele Mouton, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN.

Burcu Cetinkaya recently tested for the prestigious Red Bull Rallye team in Austria for a seat in their Skoda Fabia S2000 rally machine to contest the 2010 Production World Rally Championship. With no further details released about the test, and her 2010 season commitments, the rally world will have to be patient to see what this talented lady’s next career move will be!

In 2009 she is driving a Ford Fiesta ST (165hp, front-wheel drive, Group N3) as well as a Fiat Grande Punto S2000 (270hp, four-wheel drive, Class N4). Handbrakes & Hairpins will closely follow her performance on the fi nal two rounds of the World Rally Championship...

H&H: Driving in the world’s most prestigious rallies and competing with the world’s best rally drivers and co-drivers in Europe must be your dream come true. What are your thoughts and feelings whenever you climb into your rally car?BC: First of all, everytime I get in the rally car I pray to God for making my dreams come true and to protect us. I am very happy to be racing in the World Championship, with all the world class drivers. I am, however, now focusing on getting into a faster car and being successful. I think that when that happens I will be the happiest person on earth. H&H: What are your memorable rallying moments so far this year?BC: I can’t forget one moment in the WRC Rally Poland, which is famous for its fast and tight stages. We were jumping at full gas from a jump at maximum speed in fi fth gear, and when we didn’t land quite perfectly. The right-hand wheels were off the road, but luckily we were pointing straight ahead. After my co-driver’s swearing and me having a high heart rate, nothing happened to us but it could have been a disaster. Once you overcome such dangerous moments, more confi dence kicks in and you start going faster. So, I enjoyed it afterwards. H&H: How do you see your season pan out?Unfortunately, it is not my dream season. Because of the economic crises, all the plans had to be reshaped in the beginning of the season. I was about to sign to compete in the Turkish Rally Championship in an S1600 and the Italian Rally Championship with an S2000, but this had to be changed to a Ford Fiesta S1600. And we cannot push for the championship win in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy International because our budget only meant we could enter four of the six legs of the championship. On the other hand, I am happy to be able to be still racing after all the big budget reductions in motorsport. So, the season I must say is okay. We are now in second place in Group A in the Turkish Rally Championship and we have already wrapped up the Ladies Championship, so I am happy for that as well. H&H: Do you interact with the drivers often? Do you have any friends in rallying, or is it as competitive as Formula One?BC: I do interact with drivers. I have a lot of friends from rallying. It is competitive and when it comes to fi ghting for a rally or fi ghting for sponsorship, things can get tough. But, usually I believe in keeping friendship and work separate. So,

once we are out of the rallying scene I have lot of friends from rallying, but in the rally itself I try to stay positively ambitious. Please don’t get me wrong on this: I love competition and the only way I love competition is when it is fair. So I don’t enjoy winning at all when my competitor has failed due to a fl at tyre or a mechanical problem or an accident; I enjoy winning only when we are going head-to-head, and we win like that.

H&H: It must be a great feeling to beat men in this male-dominated sport. Being one of a very few female rally drivers, how do the other drivers and teams treat you? BC: They treat us very positively. I think male drivers also enjoy having females drivers around. Only some male drivers can’t accept being passed by female drivers, and then sometimes they behave in a less friendly way. But overall, we have a lot of support and friendship from them.

H&H: Who do you respect in rallying?BC: I respect Michele Mouton the most. Because she has done all my dreams in the past. Besides her, I respect Sebastian Loeb, Peter Solberg and Gigi Galli a lot. Loeb for his success and positive attitude, Solberg and Galli for their characters and style. I think in rallying it is very important to get the support of the public and also to entertain the public as well. These two drivers are very good at doing that. H&H: The pressures and expectations on you must be enormous…BC: The pressure is okay. The bad thing about being a female driver is until you have shown with all the facts that you can go fast, people tend to fi nd excuses to prove that you are not fast. But, the good part is once you have proven to go fast, even at the times you fail people tend to support you and give you more credit because you are female. The expectations are increasing with the rising level of competition, and I think that is normal. It has been a long time now where there has not been a lady team rallying in a strong car, and I think people are expecting to see someone soon. I hope it will be us. H&H: There is great talent rising up through the ranks in world rallying. Who do you think will be the next star rallying fans and competitors should look out for?BC: I think so far [Evgeniy] Novikov from Russia has shown great talent and has had some amazing stage times. For me, he could be the next star.

H&H: What makes a rally driver a rally driver? What characteristics do rally drivers possess that other motor sport competitors don’t?BC: High concentration capacity, courage (and a lot of it), ability to be a team, harmony with the co-driver, good ability to memorise the road with little passes, loads of motivation and, of course, a good physical condition. H&H: It must be a busy offi ce to sit in, the driver’s seat of your rally car. Can you tell us about your rally car?BC: It is 165hp, front-wheel drive Group N car. So you don’t have a lot of buttons and control units; it is fairly simple. We have a main electrical switch, a fan control button and the fi re extinguisher control button. When we look at the Fiat Grande Punto S2000, things change a little bit. We have on the middle between me and my co-driver, a lot of control buttons such as fan, windscreen wipers, lights, extra fuel pump, electrical switch, stage mode/road mode switch, the computer scroll switch, etc. So it can get quite confusing the fi rst time you upgrade to such a car. H&H: What tips can you offer young rallying drivers in terms of setting quick and consistent stage times?BC: Concentrating on all the aspects: notes, physical stability, a lot of kms. I think notes are very important at the level where you are lacking experience, because they can lead to a lot of mistakes or very impressive stage times. H&H: What was your main motivation in entering rallying? What are your career aspirations?BC: My main motivation is my dream to be a World Championship driver. Also, the success of Michele Mouton has driven me a lot. My father was CEO of Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen and Seat for many years in Turkey, and I have been surrounded by rallying and racing and the story of Michele Mouton from a very young age and started dreaming about rallying ever since. H&H: What is the next step for Burcu Cetinkaya?BC: It is to race in an S2000 or a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X in the WRC. I hope we can sort out a good program with my sponsors. Redbull, Ansell, Beta utensili, Yokohama Italy, Mak Wheels, OMP and United Business are all supporting me a lot at the moment.

H&H: What is your favourite event on the calendar? And, why? BC: It is by far the Rally Finland for a gravel race. I love the stages, and so does my co-driver, Cicek Guney. She adores the fast and jumpy stages. This rally is like a fun rollercoaster ride. I loved it the fi rst time we did it in 2008 and loved it more in 2009 and would love to do it in a S2000 in 2010. H&H: The glory days of the current WRC cars are numbered. From 2010, they will be running S2000+ rally cars. What are your views on this?BC: Actually, I am happy about this. It is very sad that at the moment only two manufacturers are supporting the WRC. I hope that with the S2000 cars being less costly and already increasing in the number of championships around the world that we will get more competitive and attractive cars for the near future.

RA: RALLY COLORADO19 - 20 September 2009

PETTER SOLBERG’S NEW RALLY LIVERYAfter test driving a Ford Focus RS WRC and a Citroen C4 WRC over the last few months, the 2003 World Rally Champion Petter Solberg signed a deal last week to contest the remaining two rounds of the 2009 World Rally Championship in a privateer Citroen C4 WRC, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. IMAGES BY PETTERSOLBERG.COM.

The much-acclaimed Citroen C4 WRC is a four-wheel drive machine powered by a two-litre turbo-charged engine mated to a cross-mounted six-speed gearbox.

With a length of 4,2 metres, the C4 is slightly longer than Solberg’s older Xsara WRC car, and at 1,8m wide it is also 100mm wider too. The increase in dimensions translate into improved stability while cornering.

Its two-litre powerplant develops 320BHP at 5 500rpm and a massive 580Nm of torque from 2 750rpm. Weighing in at 1 230kg, acceleration and cornering is lightning fast! The front transversely-mounted engine has been equipped with a Garrett turbocharger.

In the hands of Sebastien Loeb, Dani Sordo, Evgeniy Novikov, Sebastien Ogier and Conrad Rautenbach, the 2009 specifi cation of the Citroen C4 WRC has proven to be a rally winner. In the hands of Petter Solberg, who dragged his old generation Citroen Xsara to the podium earlier this season, will be able to more easily fi ght for podium positions in the WRC Rally Spain and fi nal rally of the 2009 WRC season the WRC Rally Great Britain.

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Last year’s Rally Colorado overall win went to Subaru Rally Team USA’s driver, Travis Pastrana, who will be looking for a repeat and says he’s planning to “go all out for the fi nal two events of the season,” despite already securing his fourth Rally America Championship. Pastrana has had mixed results at this event over the years, with his most spectacular rally career crash occurring here during the 2005 event when he rolled seven and three-quarter times and walked away unhurt.

He can expect a challenge for the overall win from his teammate Ken Block, who’s had a tough season in 2009. Pastrana already has the top spot in the Series’ rankings – with just two events left, nobody can catch him – however, Block will be looking to secure the runner-up overall position and needs a strong fi nish at Rally Colorado to help insure his chances of success.

Currently in the second spot in the overall standings is Polish newcomer Andi Mancin, who is running his fi rst full Rally America Championship season this year in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Mancin is still looking for his fi rst overall U.S. win and will mix it up at the front of the pack at this event.

Also returning to the series after a two-round break is NOS Energy Drink’s Andrew Comrie-Picard with his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Just two points behind Ken Block in the overall standings, there is no doubt he will seriously challenge Block for the runner’s up position in the Championship point standings.

Super Production class leader Piotr Wiktorczyk and local challenger Jimmy Keeney will put up a fi ght, though, in what is expected to be an exciting class battle right up until the fi nal round of the season. Subaru Rally Team USA’s Super Production Class entry, Dave Mirra, will not be present at the last two rounds of the Championship due to confl icts with his busy BMX schedule.

In the 2-Wheel Drive Class, expect another reliable performance by newcomer Dillon Van Way from Carencro, LA. The youngster has posted consistent results this season to take the class lead over Monument, Colorado’s John Conley.

The Rally Colorado event poses unique challenges to rally teams. The high altitude and subsequent lack of oxygen at this event saps the rally cars’ power. Despite this drain, the event has a reputation of being a one of the fastest in the Series featuring many high-speed sections on fl owing roads. Expect variable weather and some dust if it is dry. The high altitude, coupled with fast straights places the high horsepower Open class cars at a distinct advantage.

The rally is headquartered in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, known as “Ski Town”, USA. The small mountain community that’s home to numerous world-class ski and snowboarding events is also home to the largest ski jumping complex in America -- used for training by the US Olympic Ski Jumping Team.- Credit: rally-america.com and Subaru Rally Team USA

RA: RALLY COLORADO19 - 20 September 2009

TOP RALLY TEAMS TO IMPRESS IN COLORADO“Ski Town USA” is the next stop on the calendar for the top teams in the Rally America Championship when they hit Steamboat Springs on September 19-20 for Rally Colorado – Round eight of the 9-event Rally America National Championship.

TITLE CHASE HOTS UP IN WESTERN CAPE

The title is delicately poised after what looked like a runaway second title for the defending champions Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries and their BP Ultimate Volkswagen Polo S2000. That was until the Osram Rally last month when lady luck fi nally waved goodbye to the Pretoria engineer and turned her favour on Castrol Toyota’s Johnny Gemmell/Peter Marsh.

The pressure was fi rmly on the Castrol Toyota Auris pair, who had everything to do. Such is the competitiveness of the S2000 factory Volkswagens and Toyotas that a mere puncture can spell the difference between victory and defeat.

It is fi tting that the 2009 title is fought out between these two works teams – they have dominated the season with three wins apiece and the points gap is down to luck – good or bad.

The Osram Rally shook up the order. While Gemmell streaked to his third win of the year, Fekken was a lowly tenth after a double puncture in the opening stage, but managed to claw back a few extra points with a fi nal seventh place fi nish.

Add Jan Habig and Douglas Judd, in another BP Ultimate Volkswagen Polo S2000 into the mix, as well as hometown hero Jean-Pierre Damseaux/Andre Vermeulen (Team Total Evolution Toyota S2000), and the BP Ultimate Rally winner is anything but obvious.

This is the scenario heading back to the Western Cape for the second time this year. Fekken and Gemmell have to drive fl at out, everywhere, all the time and hope that their bad luck has been used up. A straight fi ght is in prospect, but rallying has more than these two major stars.

Talented youngster Mark Cronje and mentor Robert Paisley (Castrol Toyota Auris S2000) are expected to ride shotgun for Gemmell, and did so brilliantly on the Osram Rally to take a strong second place, something they will have to repeat in the Western Cape. Cronje is undoubtedly quick and a committed Castrol Toyota team player so will happily slot in behind the team’s title challenger.

Remarkable considering the frenetic pace set by the fi ve factory cars is that they have recorded just two non-fi nishes between them from a combined 30 starts (Cronje and Kuun both retired from the opening round).

Team Total’s Damseaux and Vermeulen combination, victorious in their Toyota RunX on this event last year, would enjoy raining on BP’s parade and cannot be discounted from the podium permutation, in spite of enduring a hellish season with just two fi nishes from six starts.

Fernando Rueda and co-driver Cobus Vrey, in another Team Total Toyota RunX S2000 should be much quicker on territory familiar to the Cape Town-based Spaniard and good for a top six fi nish. Japie van Niekerk/Robin Houghton (New Africa Developments Toyota RunX S2000) claimed their best fi nish of the season last time out and will be expected by Toyota to up the ante and run interference against the Volkswagen trio.

Not to be outdone in the privateer wars, Volkswagen can count on Theuns Joubert/Hennie Botes (Salom Group Volkswagen Polo S2000) and the Rally Chicks Volkswagen Polo S2000 of Lola/Megan Verlaque. Mokopane-based Joubert, in his fi rst season of S2000 competition, has performed well fi nishing every round bar one inside the top 10 while the Verlaque sisters have split their attention between the domestic and African Continent championships.

Class A7, the top two-wheel drive arena has seen a dramatic turnaround in fortunes with a new championship log leader. Evan Hutchinson/Elvene Coetzee powered their Motorite Toyota RunX A7 into a four-point lead after round six, having taken their maiden class win on round fi ve. The early season pacesetter, Stevan Wilken/Greg Gericke (Pannar Seeds/Triton Express Volkswagen Polo A7) have seen their once dominant position eroded after a shakedown crash the day before the Sasol Rally eliminated them from that event and the car caught fi re on the Osram Rally. This fi ght is one to watch, for Wilken is a hungry young man, while Hutchinson would love to add a rally title to his many off road championships.

SANRC: BP ULTIMATE RALLY18 - 19 September 2009

Three points is all that separates the two Sasol SA Rally Championship title protagonists going into the seventh and penultimate round, the BP Ultimate Rally, which runs in Cape Town and the Moorreesburg area of the Western Cape.

The defending class A7 champions, Chris de Wit/Dean Redelinghuys (Team Total Toyota RunX S2000) put their awful start to the season behind them and claimed their fi rst victory of the season on their last outing. Although outdated, the De Wit RunX A7 has matched both Wilken and Hutchinson’s pace on the stages but has suffered woeful reliability

Mohammed Moosa and Grant Martin (Team Total Toyota Auris A6) regained the class A6 lead - by two points - with their third win of the year, ahead of Team Total teammates Rodney Visagie/Carolyn Swan (Team Total Evolution Toyota RunX A6). The reigning class champion Craig Trott and co-driver Robbie Coetzee (Team Total Toyota RunX A6) had their best outing of the year and thoroughly outclassed Visagie to take the runner-up spot on the Osram but remains seven points adrift of Visagie.

While Moosa and Visagie can be expected to tough it out for the class win, Trott will have to repeat his Eastern Cape performance if he is to fend off the local A6 runners in the shape of Etienne du Toit/Patrick Vermaak (Toyota Corolla A6), Charl Strydom/Sakkie Bosman (Sabre Paints Volkswagen Polo A6) and Andy Haigh Smith/Stephen White in their Team React Toyota Corolla A6.

Class A5 may be the smallest engined class in South African rallying, but the action is as wild as the Super 2000 machinery. Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin are clinging on to a tenuous three point lead over BP Ultimate Volkswagen CitiGolf A5 teammates Andre Cleenwerck/Des de Fortier, the current class champions.

Zulu started the season with a bang with three wins in four events, but has since lost momentum to Cleenwerck, who racked up two consecutive wins in the last two events. This fi ght amongst equals is usually decided by split seconds and a thrilling fi ght to follow.

Both BP Volkswagen crews had to play second fi ddle to Vusi Mabanga/Shaun Visser and their Team Total Toyota Yaris A5 on the Sasol Rally. Mabanga is having his best ever season, progressing well beyond ‘development driver’ status to hold third in the class title chase with three additional podium places to his credit.

Morne Janse van Rensburg/Dewald Hattingh (GC Diesel Volkswagen CitiGolf A5) and Ashley Haigh Smith/Hilton Auffrey (Team React Toyota Yaris A5) presents a battle of the teens with van Rensburg fresh out of matric and Haigh Smith still in school and armed with just a learner’s license. Both youngsters show a lot of potential and are learning their craft at a rapid rate of knots.

Piet Bakkes/Johan Aucamp (Sasol Komatipoort Volkswagen CitiGolf A5) occasionally scares the frontrunners, but seldom have so many cars been rolled so often by so few! If he keeps it on the wheels, he should be amongst the leaders.

The overall Production Car and Class N4 championships are fi rmly locked away in the Sasol/Konica Minolta Subaru team’s trophy cabinet for the second time in two years. Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich have had a fl awless year, taking six wins and lie fourth on the overall Sasol Rally Championship points

ranking.

The Impreza is running an increased 33mm restrictor on the turbo (up from 32mm) which has allowed the champion pairing to edge closer to the S2000 machinery. The car’s Achilles’ heel has been shock absorbers, but the Cape roads are relatively smooth and shouldn’t present too much of a pounding for the car’s underpinnings.

The next quickest car should be the Mike Nathan/Derek Jacobs AWI Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX; Nathan has been absent most of the season but as the BP Ultimate Rally is his home event, he knows the terrain well and will likely fi nish behind the Konica Minolta Subaru. The rally is the sixth round of the Western Cape Regional Championship, and in this series he just needs to fi nish taking the title, so no heroics can be expected from this gentleman gravel racer.

Tjaart Coetzee and former rally winner turned navigator Etienne Lourens will challenge Nathan hard in their Diesel Technic Subaru Impreza STi. Coetzee, in his second year of rallying, is progressing well and can boast his maiden overall win on the HMC Regional Rally in August. If the car’s preparation is up to scratch, Coetzee could well end up as the runner-up production car fi nisher.

John Peiser/Brian Hoskins (Speed Cycling Components Subaru Impreza GT), while running in class N4, will be focussed on taking regional championship points and not on overall national championship positions.

Another production car title already wrapped up for the year is class N3 which went to Dave Compton and Pierre Jordaan in their Sasol Toyota RunX. Five wins from six starts was enough to give the former circuit racer his fi rst rally title. Freed from the pressure of securing the title, Compton can be expected to harass the modifi ed Class A6 runners on sheer speed and see how far up the order he can fi nish.

Additional interest to local spectators in class N3 comes from the similar Toyota RunXs of Abduraghman Amlay/Yusuf Ganief and Duncan English/Rob Williams. Both are regional contenders but would earn great kudos if they can match or beat Compton so a fi erce fi ght can be expected.

Starting at Burchmore’s in Montague Gardens at 15h00, competitors travel to a gravel stage alongside the N7/Potsdam interchange. Spectators will be treated to gravel racing action like never before so close to the Cape Town metropole. Two full tarmac stages inside the Killarney complex, starting at 17h00 complete the day’s activities.

Day two kicks off at 07h45 and takes competitors to Malmesbury for a 28km stage with three spectator points to choose from. Stages fi ve and six are identical and run back-to-back in the Moorreesburg area and again, spectators will have three spots to choose from. Teams head back to Malmesbury for SS7, a repeat of SS4 but in the opposite direction. The fi nal gravel stage is a re-run of the Potsdam stage, before the fi nal stage at Killarney ends proceedings.- Credit: TEXT BY SASOL OILS SOUTH AFRICA

CROSS COUNTRY: SILK WAY RALLYE05 - 13 September 2009

After nine legs and a total of 4 896 kilometres the Spanish pairing in their Volkswagen Race Touareg reached the fi nish in Ashgabat ahead of their team-mates Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford and the “Dakar” winners Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz in places two and three.

For the two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz, this marks the fourth victory with Volkswagen, for his navigator Lucas Cruz, it is the second after their joint exploit at the Rallye dos Sertoes in Brazil as well as the twelfth victory in total of the 300hp Race Touareg with a TDI engine. With the one-two-three win on the tracks of the legendary Silk Road Volkswagen successfully completed its preparations for the 2010 Dakar Rally.

The Silk Way Rally primarily served as a test in competitive conditions. The fourth Volkswagen pairing, Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk, had been fi ghting a close duel with Sainz/Cruz and was leading the rally up to the eighth leg. After a roll-over, which both survived unharmed, they did not start to the ninth leg any more. The fi nal leg, which was not held as a special stage, was opened by the presidents of the three

hosting countries, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the President of Turkmenistan, Dmitri Medvedev, the President of Russia, and Nursultan Nasarbajew, the President of Kazakhstan.

Kris Nissen (Volkswagen Motorsport Director) said: “The ‘Dakar’ dress rehearsal was successful: The Race Touareg vehicles were running with absolute reliability, our drivers and co-drivers delivered a close competition and the service crew did a perfect job. Long stages, dust and heat put the entire team to a tough test. There’s no better way to prepare. My thanks also go to the organisers and the hosts who created a competition that was well-organised and marked by a high sporting level. Volkswagen is perfectly prepared to tackle the ‘title defence project’ at the Dakar Rally in January 2010.”

Giniel de Villiers, 3rd place overall, said: “We had a good rally week. For Dirk and me, it was particularly important to get used to working in the cockpit after such a long break – the ‘Dakar’ in January was our last competition. At the beginning we had a bit of a problem getting back into the swing ofthings, but during the second half of the rally we found the right pace. I’m very optimistic as far as the ‘Dakar’ is

ONE-TWO-THREE VICTORY FOR VOLKSWAGENVolkswagen driver Carlos Sainz and his co-driver Lucas Cruz won the inaugural round of the Silk Way Rally through Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

concerned, we’re well prepared. I enjoyed the Silk Way Rally, it was well organised and a real change.”

Dirk von Zitzewitz, co-driver, 3rd place overall, said: “The rally was a great experience and a very good test for the whole team. I’m very confi dent for the ‘Dakar’. I really respect the organisers; they did a good job with this rally that was a nice as well as a diffi cult event. We received a very warm welcome in Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and I would be happy if this rally were staged again next year.”

Carlos Sainz, 1st place overall, said: “My assessment of this rally is completely positive. Our car was running perfectly, the whole squad did an outstanding job, and it was also a long and tough event. The pace was very high throughout and the duel with Nasser and Timo was really good fun. It’s a shame that they were unlucky in the end and had to retire; they would have deserved victory as well. Our prospects of again competing for victory at the Dakar Rally in January are good.”

Lucas Cruz, co-driver, 1st place overall, said: “The navigators had a diffi cult job at the Silk Way Rally: Unlike at the ‘Dakar’ where the motorcycles start in front of us, we often had no orientation at all as the fi rst vehicle out on the course. What’s more, the pace was very high and there was very little time to make decisions on the special stages with the many small branch-offs. Of course I’m happy about our victory, but the fact that the whole squad was able to get attuned to the ‘Dakar’ in an optimal manner is a lot more important.”

Mark Miller, 2nd place overall, commented: “The rally really helped us to prepare for the ‘Dakar’. Ralph and I learned a lot about good teamwork in diffi cult situations. On three or four days, a lot more would probably have been possible for us, we’ll refl ect on that again afterwards. In addition, for me as an American, it was a very special experience being able to explore these countries that were a taboo just a few years ago.”

Ralph Pitchford, co-driver, second place overall, said: “Driving the Silk Way Rally was absolutely the right thing to do. There’s no better way to prepare for the ‘Dakar’ than in a competition in unknown territory. We can defi nitely be pleased with our result. Mark did a very good job of driving; the navigation problems were a bit frustrating at times. Nevertheless, ‘well done’ to the organisers; it was a very good rally.”

Nasser Al-Attiyah, who retired from the rally, said: “Of course we’re disappointed about retiring so close to the fi nish, but these things can happen in rally racing. I was impressed with how positively the squad received us afterwards. I really feel at home with Volkswagen, Timo and I grew together as a team. That was our major goal and we achieved it. We’re ready for the ‘Dakar.’”

Timo Gottschalk, co-driver with Al-Attiyah, said: “We fought a great duel with Carlos and Lucas and led the rally for a long time. I feel particularly sorry for the team, which did a great job day by day, that we didn’t quite make it in the end. But we proved that we’re serious contenders. Our time will come.”Provisional fi nal standings Silk Way Rally

FINAL Silk Way Rallye CLASSIFICATION:01) C. Sainz/L. Cruz (Volkswagen Race Touareg 2) - 24h 12m 21s02) M. Miller/R. Pitchford (Volkswagen Race Touareg 2) + 21m 52s03) G. de Villiers/D. von Zitzewitz (Volkswagen Race Touareg 2) + 28m 09s04) R. Misikov/K. Zhiltsov (Nissan) + 04h 44m 04s05) I. Kuznetsov/A. Neshin (Mitsubishi) + 05h 23m 30s06) M. Saukans/D. Zarnis (OSC) + 06h 06m 56s07) A. Berkut/K. Meshcheryakov (Mitsubishi) + 06h 12m 25s08) B. Vanagas/S. Jurgelenas (OSC) + 06h 26m 11s09) R. Heymann/H. Segal (Mitsubishi) + 08h 17m3 5s10) B. Novytskyi/I. Kondratiiev (Mitsubishi) + 10h 20m 01s- Credit: volkswagen-motorsport.info

In a fast and furious two days on the roads around host city Oviedo, Kopecky maintained a consistent pace while other leading contenders endured drama upon drama to claim a hugely popular win and close to within one point of championship leader Kris Meeke.

Peugeot UK ace Meeke suffered a puncture on the fi rst day which, in a hugely competitive fi eld, plunged him down to 16th place overall. Despite fi ghting back into the points positions, it took similar misfortunes to befall several rivals to get him back into contention. Finally, Peugeot Benelux driver and defending IRC champion Nicolas Vouilloz incurred a time penalty after the fi nal stage – allowing Meeke through to claim second place and thereby retain his series lead by a single point.

Vouilloz, one of the star performers of the rally, won six of the 15 stages across the two days of the event, but was another

driver whose push for victory was blunted by a puncture. Similarly affl icted was the home town hero Alberto Hevia, returning to top-fl ight competition after an enforced break through lack of funds, who led the opening stages of the event at the wheel of his privately-entered Skoda Fabia.

There was disappointment for Abarth on the IRC’s Spanish outing. Local man Miguel Fuster, drafted in to the squad for this event, crashed out on SS4 while the fi rst day’s action the fi eld was led by the Grande Punto of team leader Giandomenico Basso.

Basso, who won the event in 2008, held a commanding lead until SS12 when he spun off the road and his reverse gear failed. With no spectators in that section of the stage to help him, the Italian dropped out of contention and surrendered any mathematical chance of a shot at the IRC title.

IRC: RALLY PRINCIPE DE ASTUARIAS10 - 12 September 2009

KOPECKY TAKES VICTORY IN SPAINSkoda Motorsport’s Czech star Jan Kopecky took victory with a measured performance on the Rally Principe de Asturias, his second consecutive win on the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge trail. TEXT AND IMAGES BY IRCSERIES.COM

Thus the championship battle rests between Meeke and Kopecky, who head towards the fi nal two events separated by just one point. On the basis of their performances this weekend it would in fact be Kopecky leading the way towards the Rally Sanremo later this month, as Meeke fi nished the fi nal stage in Asturias in third place on the road.

Nevertheless when second-place driver Vouilloz was hit with a time penalty for leaving the fi nal service after his allotted time, Meeke was elevated to the runner-up position, claiming two extra points with the result that he keeps his place at the top of the points table.

“At the start of Day 2 we were in seventh and, with everyone running at the same pace, it looked like that would be the maximum we could score,” Meeke said. “But today’s been incredible – so many of the guys have had the same sort of problem that we had and in the end we’ve come through.”

Rally winner Kopecky clearly took all the goings-on in his stride, and counted his blessings not to have suffered any of the incidents that befell so many of his rivals. “Winning last time on the Barum Czech Rally Zlin was important because it was my home event, but winning here on my fi rst visit is just as special,” he said.

“I always planned to take it steady on this event, to get to the fi nish without a problem, because it’s really hard to make the time back if you get a puncture or anything. We didn’t make any mistakes and that’s got a lot to do with the quality of the pacenotes.”

Peugeot has completed its 100 percent record of manufacturers’ championship wins on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Its total of 109 points after the Rally Principe Asturias puts the French giant out of reach of its rivals with two rounds remaining.

Peugeot has claimed both the drivers’ and the manufacturers’ titles every year since 2007. Despite increased competition from new cars such as the Skoda Fabia S2000 and Proton Satria Neo S2000 - as well as the pace of longtime rivals Abarth and Ralliart - the 207 S2000 cars have triumphed once again.

“It’s fantastic for Peugeot Sport to be rewarded again for its commitment,” said IRC drivers’ championship leader, Peugeot UK driver Kris Meeke. “It’s doubly important from my perspective because with the manufacturers’ championship in the bag we can focus everything on winning the drivers’ title.”

While there were no challengers from Honda, Skoda or Volkswagen in Asturias, the battle for honours in the 2WD Cup proved tense and extremely competitive between the two men at the top of the points table.

Ultimately Frenchman Denis Millet prevailed at the helm of his unique turbocharged Peugeot 207 RC, increasing his lead over Abarth-mounted Italian Manuel Villa. Villa, with two victories to his credit this season, pushed hard to regain ground lost to Millet in recent rounds. In the opening stages the lead passed between the pair like a pendulum but Millet built a 30-second cushion to end the opening day.

At the start of Day 2, Villa pressed hard to eat into that advantage, but then lost time with an incident with two stages left to run, allowing Millet to take his second win of the season.

FINAL IRC Rally Principe de Asturias CLASSIFICATION:01) J. Kopecky (Skoda Fabia S2000) – 02hr 41m 51,3s02) K. Meeke (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 02m 46,9s03) N. Vouilloz (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 02m 49,5s04) F. Loix (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 02m 58,9s05) C. Fontana (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 03m 45s06) A. Hevia (Skoda Fabia S2000) + 04m 27,2s07) M. Solowow (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 05m 50s08) G. Basso (Abarth Grande Punto S2000) + 07m 3,8s