NEWS: Road To Wales Rally GB Opens Up

Wales Rally GB chiefs have expanded their successful 'Road to Wales' initiative this year – offering FREE entries offered to all national rally champions, giving a great opportunity for Britain’s best to shine on the WRC stage, 13-16 November.
Introduced 12 months ago, the "innovative and far-reaching" Road to Wales scheme included a number of different programmes all of which combined to revitalise Britain’s concluding round of the FIA World Rally Championship in 2013.
Building on that success, which resulted in crowds returning to the legendary Welsh forest stages in record numbers, the top three finishers in the country’s premier 2014 MSA British Rally Championship (BRC) will again be rewarded with invitation entries into Wales Rally GB, as will the two crews that win the British Junior and RallyTwo categories within the BRC.
Adding to the incentive, both the 2014 BRC Challenge Trophy champion and winner of the BRC ‘Stars of the Future’ also will be offered free entries – this time into the three-day National Rally that runs alongside the star-studded international event and shares many of the same challenging special stages.
No cost entries into the National event will also be provided to the winner of each of the MSA English Rally Championship, the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship, the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship and McGrady Insurance MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship as well as the BTRDA Rally Series. This swells the number of prize entries to an impressive dozen.
“Wales Rally GB is the pinnacle of rallying in the UK and we are determined to maximise its preeminence to the full benefit of all those involved in the sport,” said Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of rally organiser International Motor Sports. “Whether it’s encouraging and rewarding those competing in our top national championships or providing those aspiring to be future world champions with vital WRC experience, the provision of these prize entries was extremely well received last year. That’s why we are delighted to be expanding the scheme to 12 by including both Scottish and Northern Irish Championships for the first time in 2014.”
Underlining the success of the scheme, the top three finishers in last year’s BRC all accepted their prize drives in 2013 and took full advantage of the opportunity to shine on the world stage. The newly crowned 2013 BRC Champion, Jukka Korhonen, underlined his talent by winning the competitive WRC3 class on Wales Rally GB while BRC runners-up Osian Pryce and Tom Cave further enhanced their reputations with outstanding achievements in the challenging Welsh forests. Another beneficiary, Euan Thorburn, won the three-day National event.
Four-day World Rally Passes for the 2014 Wales Rally GB – with prices held at £99 as in 2013 – are already on sale via the official www.walesrallygb.com website. Other passes will be available later in the Spring following final confirmation of this year’s Wales Rally GB route and a full review of spectator facilities to accommodate the event’s spiraling popularity.

Read our Wales Rally GB special here.
 

NEWS: Mikko Hirvonen's Free WRC App

WRC ace Mikko Hirvonen has launched a FREE App, for his rally fans to keep up to date with his 2014 WRC season in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

The App is called – you guessed it – Mikko Hirvonen and is available to download now. 

It includes: 

• 2014 World Rally Championship calendar with information and tips but also the possibility to comment and post pictures for each event.
• An interactive zone for the fans who wants to communicate with Mikko or leave a message.
• Links to Mikko's YouTube page and new videos for 2014!
• The possibility to post pictures on the App live.
• Direct access to Mikko’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
• Team and crew information.

You can download Mikko's new App at:
For Iphone and Ipad: On the App Store
For Android: On Google Play
& For all other devices here.
Or, you can also use the QR codes :

NEWS: Wales Rally GB Is Here!

At last: The new-look Wales Rally GB is go! We'll be there watching the final (and only UK-based) round of the WRC and we can't wait. Will you be getting involved in the gravel-spitting action?  

After months of planning and preparation, Wales Rally GB (14-17 November) is primed and ready for some spectacular action as the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) reaches its thrilling conclusion in the legendary Welsh forests.
The newly crowned 2013 WRC champion Sébastien Ogier heads the star-studded field which also includes two past Wales Rally GB winners from Scandinavia, Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala. The established rally aces will be joined by former F1 grand prix winner Robert Kubica in his first WRC car drive and Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams MBE.
The high-speed show blasts off in Snowdonia on Thursday evening (14 November) following a glittering Ceremonial Start in front of Conwy Castle. Conwy Quay from 18:30hrs will be lit up by fireworks, searchlights, flames and lasers while Conwy Castle's medieval fortifications will be transformed by some amazing digitally-created visuals.
In total the WRC competitors face 22 classic special stages, all run against the clock, before the winner is crowned back in Llandudno on Sunday afternoon. Adding to the sense of occasion, the Great Orme that overlooks both Conwy and Llandudno – and witnesses the rally's final competitive stage on Sunday – will be floodlit for the duration of the world championship event.
The event's move to north Wales not only features a new Headquarters and Service Park in Deeside but also the inclusion of three exciting new, family-friendly RallyFest Stages at Sweet Lamb (Friday), Chirk Castle (Saturday) and Kinmel Park (Sunday). Aimed at providing a full day's entertainment for all ages, these RallyFests include big screens, live music, car displays plus a host of other fun-filled attractions. There's also live music on offer at the Service Park on the Friday and Saturday evenings.
Various ticket options will be available to purchase 'on the day' from the official Wales Rally GB ticket offices at Venue Cymru (in Llandudno) and the Deeside Service Park. Alternatively, fans can take advantage of the revised ticket pricing 2013 with 'on the gate' adult entry to individual special stages just £15* on a first come first served basis.
For ticket office opening times, a full list of prices and the event timetable, visit:www.walesrallygb.com

* Limited tickets are available to purchase 'on the gate' for individual Forest and RallyFest Stages, subject to availability. World Rally Passes (providing access to all of the action over the four days), Day Passes and RallyFest tickets are on sale at the official Wales Rally GB ticket offices. Terms and conditions may apply.

NEWS: Hyundai WRC Sign Thierry Neuville

Cool specs, raw talent and a dude to boot, 25-year-old Belgian driver Thierry Neuville is now set to be Hyundai Motorsport’s No.1 driver for its inaugural 2014 WRC season in the new i20.

Ogier and VW may have dominated the 2013 WRC season, with their amazing, record breaking wins – but there can be no doubt that Neuville is the WRC's hottest property… and the move by Hyundai to sign him clearly states their ambition for WRC. And we salute them for that… and wish Neuville and the Hyundai Motorsport team the very best of luck. It's really great to have two new manufacturers in the sport. 

“I am thrilled to announce Thierry Neuville as the lead driver to our new WRC team,” says Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal, Michel Nandan. “Thierry is having a fantastic 2013 season and is proving himself to be one of the most exciting young drivers in WRC. His raw speed, driving skill and dynamic approach to rallying make him the ideal lead driver for Hyundai.”

“By signing a driver of Thierry’s talent, we can show that Hyundai’s WRC engagement is serious and focussed on long-term success after signing with the talented young driver, Thierry. It is also great recognition for the work that the entire team has carried out in such a short time. We both share similar values and objectives to win the championship in the long-term so we are proud to have Thierry in the team and as an ambassador for the Hyundai Motorsport brand.”
Neuville, along with his co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul, will join Hyundai Motorsport behind the wheel of the new i20 WRC rally car in all 13 WRC events in 2014, beginning with the team’s debut at the Monte-Carlo Rally in January, signalling the start of the Belgian driver’s third consecutive WRC season.
Neuville’s experience will be invaluable to Hyundai Motorsport as the manufacturer begins its first fully-fledged championship WRC campaign with a team and car that have been developed from scratch, impressively in under a year. Neuville’s eye-catching performances this season have challenged the established competitors in WRC and have resulted in his reputation as one of the most exciting, young and dynamic drivers coming up through the WRC ranks.
“I am pleased to be joining Hyundai Motorsport for the 2014 World Rally Championship,” comments Thierry Neuville. “I believe Hyundai Motorsport is the perfect fit for me because it is a young, emerging and ambitious manufacturer team with long-term objectives for championship success and I have long held aspirations of driving for a manufacturer team. I wasimpressed with the team’s facility, their approach to the rally programme and their clear potential. I hope my two years of experience in WRC will be beneficial to the team as we build a harmonious working partnership. We know we have a steep learning curve ahead of us in our first season but I am convinced we will have a successful future together.”
In two competing seasons in the World Rally Championship, Neuville has contested a total of 32 rallies. He finished seventh in the 2012 championship, which acted as a prelude to a championship challenging 2013 season in which he has so far claimed four consecutive runner-up results (Italy, Finland, Germany and Australia), in addition to two third-place finishes (Mexico, Greece), leaving him second in the WRC standings with one rally left to run.

Maybe a win in Wales Rally GB for Neuville will set the tone for next year… in the Hyundai which looks very quick indeed. See tarmac test below:

NEWS: Extensive Hyundai i20 WRC R&D Rolls On

Hyundai Motorsport are in the middle of a huge R&D session (and now homologation testing) on their forthcoming i20 WRC car – having just completed a gruelling 15 day, 1000Km gravel and tarmac rally test, with Juho Hänninen, Bryan Bouffier and Chris Atkinson alternating behind the wheel in both Spain and Germany.  The aim...? An inaugural season like VW have just had surely! . 

Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Michel Nandan, said: “This month was exceptionally busy for us. We were out testing the i20 WRC on both surfaces for more than half of the month, with our three test drivers swapping the seat on four separate test sessions. We now have two latest-spec i20 WRC cars, which allows us to further intensify the development schedule by alternating between the two chassis. Overall, it was a positive month as we managed to test new parts, try different set-up solutions and cover some good mileage with the car.”
October’s testing kicked off with a four-day gravel test in the south of Spain where the team continued to assess the behaviour of the i20 WRC in warm weather conditions with both Juho Hänninen and Chris Atkinson on duty. “During this test we took the opportunity to continue the development of the car on gravel conditions, similar to the ones we will find in Portugal and Sardinia next year. We tried several configurations for these kinds of terrains and evaluated some new components which we hadn’t tested before,” explained Nandan.
The Hyundai Motorsport team then moved from the south of Spain up to the Catalonia region for a five-day gravel test. This was followed by a tarmac test in Baumholder, Germany, home of the iconic Arena Panzerplatte, which forms part of Rallye Deutschland’s itinerary.
“After concentrating on loose surfaces in the first part of October, we took the i20 WRC to tarmac for a test on the same conditions of Rallye Deutschland. We had some new suspension parts to try as we hadn’t tested on tarmac since August,” Nandan continued.
In the final week of October, the team continues tarmac development in Catalonia on the roads of Rally de España, the penultimate round of the WRC, which was held last week. “Testing on the same roads as the rally allows us to start to have some references on the stages we will tackle next year,” concluded Nandan.
This month marked also the beginning of another important process for the Hyundai Motorsport team. The dossier for the homologation of the i20 WRC needs to be compiled and lodged by the FIA by the end of October.
We at Road wish them well on their WRC journey – bringing greater diversity and talent to the sport. 

See more test images (superb!) here. 

NEWS: Bentley On Ice Winter Driving Program Expansion

Bentley's surreal, unreal, superb Winter Driving Experience has been expanded – adding the superb Flying Spur to the high-adrenaline Finland ice driving shenanigans, with rallying God (four-times WRC title holder) and world ice speed driving record holder, Juha Kankkunen.
The amazing experiences, which have more dates added to meet demand for the 2014 programme (running from 6 February-6 March 2014) are designed to "give the Bentley luxury experience on and off the ice."
Bentley say: "Acclaimed for its exquisite levels of craftsmanship and luxury, the new Flying Spur effortlessly combines this refinement with all the potency of Bentley’s 6.0 litre W12 twin turbocharged engine delivering 616 bhp (625 PS) and a 200 mph (322 km/h) top speed that makes it the world’s fastest luxury four door production car.
"A state-of-the-art all-wheel drive system, constantly adjusting the levels of power to the front and rear wheels depending on available traction, ensures the Flying Spur delivers optimal grip regardless of road or weather conditions and is one of the very few ultra-luxury sedans capable of conquering this kind of ‘off-piste’ driving challenge."
Juha adds: "The Flying Spur is going to be an excellent addition to the Power on Ice experience and we’re looking forward to showing what it is capable of. There’s going to be something special about driving a luxury car you’d expect to see in Monte Carlo or London across the snow and frozen lakes."
The Flying Spur will join an array of Bentley Continental GT coupes in Finland (powered by the company’s 6.0 litre W12 and 4.0 litre V8 engines) and Kankkunen will work with Bentley’s own factory-trained driving experts who will offer in-depth tuition designed to allow drivers to broaden their range of driving skills when faced by testing road and weather conditions.
Away from the thrill of learning how to drive the Bentley of their choice at high-speed on ice, the four-day adventure in Finland offers guests the chance to unwind in the exclusive and luxurious surroundings of the Ruka Peak resort.
Situated just 60 km from the edge of the Arctic Circle, the resort offers a wide selection of hotel and private chalet accommodation options and the mountain resort is widely believed to offer some of the finest, unbroken views of Finland’s spectacular winter scenery. Open fires, saunas, first class local cuisine and flying to and from Helsinki by private jet help to complement the first class experience.
For full information on availability, pricing and accommodation options please visit www.bentleymotors.com and to see highlights from this year please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U32h094I8IQ

An experience certain to stay with you... don't you think?

See more images to entice here.

NEWS: Wales Rally GB Update

Excited! There's only 28 days to go until Wales Rally GB – the UK's only WRC round and the 2013 season finale. 

And the new-look WRC event looks set to be a classic, with a fresh base in North Wales proving popular with entrants and fans alike, the creation of new family friendly 'RallyFest' stages designed to give a full day's entertainment for less hardcore rally fans and now the news that ex-F1 star, Robert Kubica is set to enter the event in a Citroën DS3, in WRC spec. 

Kubica has been piloting a DS3 RRC in WRC2 this season, and will make the jump up to the full-on WRC car for the Welsh gravel classic, November 14-17th, Robert Kubica will step up to the DS3 WRC for the final round of the World Rally Championship (WRC), competing with co-driver Maciek Baran.

A Wales Rally GB spokesman said: "With four category wins from the six rallies in which he has competed, Robert Kubica can rightfully feel pleased with his debut season in the WRC. Currently leading the WRC2 championship standings, he will be trying to seal overall victory later this month at Rally RACC Catalunya, where second place would be enough for him to win his first world title. Wales Rally GB, which until now was not part of his programme for this year, will provide him with the perfect opportunity to put his skills to the test in rally's top-flight category."

Robert Kubica added: "This one-off outing for the works team is a great opportunity for me, but it's also a huge challenge. Wales Rally GB wasn't part of my original programme, so I'm very happy to be able to have this precious experience. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my partners, and especially the Lotos Group and Citroën Racing for having made this possible."
&
WRC 2013's freshly crowned champion, VW Motorsport's Sébastien Ogier, says he is hoping to end his title winning season in grand style with victory on Wales Rally GB, despite his lack of experience on the tricky, wet, muddy, foggy, gravely, classic forest stages of Wales. 

"It's not my favourite event - I have had a lot of accidents there!" admitted the man who has tackled Wales Rally GB on five occasions and is yet to post a top ten finish, let alone come close to winning. "The stages are really nice but very difficult to judge with varying grip levels, and then there's the weather. But now with more experience, I'm hoping to secure a good result this year."

And, on top of this, surely the all-conquering VW Polo R WRC – set-up by a Wales Rally GB master, Carols Sainz – will see him onto the podium, for a fab finish to an unreal season for him and the team.
We can't cover the whole event in person this year (although you will be able to get all the latest event news from us on Twitter & Facebook), but we're planning a road trip in a new Subaru Outback CVT to go to the new-look event this year – for a nice big article in Road Magazine. Instead of marching the gravel stages as per usual, we will be attending one of the new RallyFest, family friendly stages, with huge TV screens showing off all the rally action, bands playing live and twin passes of the WRC stars and cars. It sounds different and great fun. Can't wait! And neither can my three month old (Michelle Mouton in the making...!).

Get involved: Book your tickets here.

VIDEO: Colin McRae 'Pedal to the Metal' Documentary

NEWS: VW Motorsport & Sébastien Ogier Make WRC History En France

In what was surely one of the most thrilling and close-fought WRC events in recent years, WRC Rally France secured local heroes Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia their first WRC championship title and has surely crowned the most successful WRC debut car ever – VW's Polo R WRC as victor, with an 80 point lead in the manufacturers' championship, with seven wins under their belt. Amazing season debut I think you will agree...?
It was clear Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia would be crowned the new World Champions in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championships after the opening stage of the Rally France: Following the result of the Power Stage, in which bonus points are on offer to the first three cars, Ogier/Ingrassia could no longer be caught at the top of the overall standings by their last remaining rivals, Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Ford). As such, Ogier/Ingrassia dethroned record World Champions Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroën) at their home rally to claim the title for the first time in their careers – with Loeb adding further insult to injury, crashing out of the event... after recording his 900th special stage win, stamping his imortaility on the sport forever.
Then event also threw up another first: never in the history of the WRC had a driver/co-driver pairing won the World Championship at the first attempt with a manufacturer making its debut in the World Rally Championship. VW has made history.
Volkswagen Board Member for Technical Development, Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, and his predecessor Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, father of Volkswagen’s WRC project and Audi Board Member for Technical Development since July, were in Strasbourg to witness the moment the title was won. “This is an incredibly emotional moment for me,” said Dr. Neusser. “I am pleased to be here today to see Sébastien Ogier claim the first title for Volkswagen in our debut year in the World Rally Championship. I would like to thank the outstanding team, which has performed perfectly all year.”
“I am proud that our WRC project, which we launched over two years ago, has already yielded a title today,” said Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg. “I am particularly pleased that Volkswagen has become the first manufacturer in the history of the World Rally Championship to claim its maiden WRC title in its debut season. In my current role as Audi Board Member, I would also like to congratulate the entire Volkswagen team on behalf of Audi. With Audi winning the DTM on last weekend and the WRC title this weekend, this is the perfect end to what, for me personally, has been my most successful week in motorsport to date. I would like to thank the team behind this success from the bottom of my heart. They have done an outstanding job.”
With the Drivers’ Championship in the bag, Sébastien Ogier was given permission by Volkswagen to go all out to win his home rally. Day one as World Champions saw Ogier/Ingrassia take a cautious approach to the Rally France, coming home fifth overall at the end of the first 120.63 kilometres. However, Saturday was all about the World Champions: Ogier/Ingrassia won five of the seven special stages. In doing so, the Volkswagen pair climbed to within 1.5 seconds of their team-mates at the top of the overall standings, Latvala/Anttila. Going into the final day, four pairs – two for Volkswagen and two for Citroën – were separated by just five seconds. An ideal situation for both Volkswagen duos with regard to the Manufacturers’ Championship.
The big step towards the Manufacturers’ title followed on Sunday: first and third – Volkswagen scored 40 points towards the Manufacturers’ Championship, meaning they can now wrap up the title at the next round in Spain, regardless of what their opponents do.
Meanwhile, "Mr Reliable" Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila lined up at the eleventh WRC rally of the season charged with the task of securing as many points as possible towards the Manufacturers’ Championship. Right from the word go, the Finnish duo played their role perfectly: they led going into the final day of the rally, which had been made particularly difficult by heavy rain overnight. Steering clear of any risks, the pair went on to finish third overall. In total, Latvala/Anttila claimed top-three finishes on twelve of the 20 special stages.

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8 said: “That is definitely the most amazing rally weekend of my career: first the World Championship title and now victory at my home rally – absolutely fantastic! What an extremely difficult final day. This morning was so incredibly slippery, but my gravel crew did a fantastic job. I obviously feel for Sébastien Loeb, but he was going all out to win, and that sort of thing can happen in such difficult conditions. It could have happened to anyone today. Today is the highlight of our season, and I am absolutely overjoyed. I would like to thank my guys. We  have done a great job all season. I am really proud of what we have achieved.”

Victory at the Rally France saw Sébastien Ogier bring an end to Citroën’s long winning run on asphalt. Citroën’s asphalt era began 2,961 days ago with success for Loeb/Elena at the 2005 Rally Germany. Before today, the last non-Citroën driver to win a purely asphalt round of the World Rally Championship was Markko Märtin (Ford) at the 2004 Rally Spain. Volkswagen so far has eight wins to its name in 2013: seven for Ogier/Ingrassia, and one for Latvala/Anttila.

And talented WRC newcomer, Andreas Mikkelsen/Paul Nagle (N/IRL) ended their asphalt debut with the Polo R WRC in seventh place. The Rally France was a learning process for both driver and co-driver. After a strong start, a shower cost the pair a better position on Friday. On Saturday, Mikkelsen/Nagle struggled with the set-up of their 315-hp World Rally Car. In particularly difficult conditions on Sunday, Mikkelsen/Nagle improved to seventh place. The pair finished in the top five on four special stages.
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7 said: “Congratulations to Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia. They were the best this weekend and fully deserved both their win and the World Championship title. They have proven this season that they are outstanding in all conditions and on all surfaces. I am very happy with third place. We produced a flawless display and were consistently quick. That gives me a lot of confidence for the forthcoming rallies. We achieved our goal of scoring important points in the Manufacturers’ Championship. The title is now within touching distance for the team. The poor run over the last three rallies was difficult, and I am glad to have come out the other end. It is a shame for that Sébastien Loeb crashed out on his last rally. However, that in no way detracts from all his incredible performances in recent years.”
Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9 added: “The Rally France was my first asphalt rally with the Polo R WRC. We certainly could not assume that we would immediately be up there with the front-runners. However, I was expecting a little bit more. However, we now know what we have to work on in order to come back stronger in the future. I particularly learned a thing or two about the set-up of the car. We had to be patient, particularly on Saturday, in order to get the best of our material. In the end, it was all about gaining as much experience as possible in difficult conditions. Sunday was much better for us, when the road conditions were particularly hard to judge.”
Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director added: “The Rally France was a great success. On the one hand for rallying in general, and on the other hand for Volkswagen. It does not get any more exciting than the last four days. Ahead of the final day, any one of four drivers could have won. In the end, the new World Champions* – Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia – came out on top. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila scored valuable points towards the Manufacturers’ Championship.  Volkswagen now has every chance of winning this title too in Spain. As Volkswagen Motorsport Director, you cannot ask for more. This weekend we claimed the title in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championships, won the rally, and took a big step forward. There will be some celebrating this evening.”

As a foot note, to highlight the Polo R WRC's immense achievement in its innaugural season, after Rally France finished and 200 WRC special stages had passed in the 2013 season, the Volkswagen Polo R WRC had 119 stage wins to its name. In achieving this outstanding record, Volkswagen showed a love of milestones: Sébastien Ogier won the World Rally Car from Wolfsburg’s 50th (Mexico) and 100^th (Greece) special stages, while the 150th (Germany) went to Jari-Matti Latvala. And the Finn narrowly missed out on another stage win by just 0.6 seconds on the Polo R WRC’s 200^th stage.

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally France – final results
1. Sébastien Ogier/Julian Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen	2h 53m 07.6s
2. Daniel Sordo/Carlos del Barrio (E/E), Citroën	+ 12.2s
3. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Anttila (FIN/FIN), Volkswagen	+ 19.5s
4. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B), Ford	+ 1m 14.1s
5. Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor (RUS/A), Ford	+ 3m 10.9s
6. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN/FIN), Citroën	+ 3m 37.7s
7. Andreas Mikkelesen/Paul Nagle (N/IRL), Volkswagen	+ 4m 04.2s
8. Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S), Ford	+ 4m 35.2s
9. Robert Kubica/Maciej Baran (PL/PL), Citroën	+ 9m 31.4s
10. Romain Dumas/Denis Giraudet (F/F), Ford	+ 11m 55.8s
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally France – Power Stage results
1. Daniel Sordo/Carlos del Barrio (E/E), Citroën	3m 20.8s
2. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B), Ford	+ 0.7s
3. Sébastien Ogier/Julian Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen	+ 0.8s

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), points standings*
Drivers’ classification
1. Sébastien Ogier, 238 points; 2. Thierry Neuville, 143; 3. Jari-Matti Latvala, 125;
4. Daniel Sordo, 117; 5. Mikko Hirvonen, 111; 6. Mads Østberg, 81; 6. Sébastien Loeb, 68; 8. Evgeny Novikov, 57; 9. Martin Prokop, 49; 10. Andreas Mikkelsen, 40.

Manufacturers’ classification
1. Volkswagen Motorsport, 339 points, 2. Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT, 259 Punkte;
3. Qatar WRT, 157; 4. Qatar M-Sport WRT, 156; 5. Abu Dhabi Citroën Total WRT, 59;
6. Jipocar Czech National Team, 51; 7. Volkswagen Motorsport II, 40; 8. Lotos WRC Team, 20.

Roll on Wales Rally GB, where we will be reporting live from the event.

NEWS: Wales Rally GB Family Fun

Wales Rally GB is getting closer – November 14-17th – and the UK’s concluding round of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship not only features a new home in north Wales but also an exciting new competitive route, with plenty on offer for hardened rally fans naturally, but also lots of family-friendly fun too.
The family-friendly fun includes:
• Three new RallyFest Stages aimed at wowing wider audiences
• Special spectator experiences at Chirk Castle and Kinmel Park
• Discounted ticket offers for families booking in advance
The action-packed, four-day schedule includes 22 competitive special stages and features the re-introduction of some classic timed sections in the legendary Welsh forests and around the Great Orme. It will also see the inclusion of some exciting new venues aimed at taking what’s one of the world’s most thrilling and dramatic high speed sports to new audiences.
Stages at Sweet Lamb in Powys on Friday, Chirk Castle near Wrexham on Saturday and Kinmel Park in Conwy on Sunday have been designated as special RallyFest Stages. As well seeing all the top class rally cars in spectacular action twice during the day, all three RallyFests will provide a wide range of facilities and entertainment not traditionally found in the forests.
Setting out to appeal to those spectators either new to rallying or planning to attend with young children and looking to spend the entire day in one location, RallyFest Stages will include a big screen with live coverage, catering village, live commentary, on-stage and static displays of historic rally cars, a chance to win some great prizes plus a range of other attractions to entertain those of all ages. Visitors can also enjoy live music from bands, with The Establishment among those performing at Chirk Castle while The Gramotones will be keeping the crowds entertained at both Sweet Lamb and Kinmel Park.
Further enhancing the experience, significant discounts are available for families attending these RallyFests. Individual adult tickets are priced at just £25*, but the special family offer for two adults and two children, if booked in advance, is an even more affordable £42* with an extra £1* for each additional child. Every adult RallyFest ticket also includes a free programme normally priced at £7.50.
“The move to north Wales has not only allowed us to refresh the entire event but also to make the sport far more accessible to a totally new audience – these family-friendly RallyFest stages are designed to do just that,” said Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of event organisers International Motor Sports Ltd. “Sweet Lamb has always been a very popular viewing spot for rally enthusiasts but Chirk Castle and Kinmel Park are totally new venues.
“More importantly both are close to major road networks and thus just a short drive from large conurbations in Wales and the North West of England such as Manchester and Liverpool,” continued Coe. “Rallying has always had enormous appeal in the UK; it wasn’t so long ago that more than a million people would watch the RAC Rally. Now these new RallyFest Stages will help the sport to re-engage with some of those former fans as well as excite a whole new generation of avid followers.
“All-comers will be treated to some fast-moving, mind-blowing action in Kinmel Park while the more compact Chirk RallyFest is going to be a ‘must see’ family-friendly attraction. Not least as it’s set against the ancient 14th Century ramparts with day-long, high octane entertainment the likes of which the historic National Trust property will never have seen before in its 700year history!”

Discover more here.

NEWS: Wales Rally GB £5,000,000 Economy Boost

Organisers of the only UK WRC round – Wales Rally GB, 14-17th November – today say the stella event is set to boost the Welsh economy to the tune of £5,000,000.

They say there will be big benefits for hotels, companies and communities in Wales, a boost to the Welsh automotive sector and overall positive effect to the Welsh international profile and reputation.
The event organisers also claim the arrival of the prestigious FIA World Rally Championship in North Wales later this year is already delivering significant benefits to a wide range of different key sectors within the Welsh economy.
A spokesman said: "The final round of this year’s WRC will have its Headquarters and central Service Park based at a new site located alongside the Toyota Engine Plant at Deeside with a ceremonial start in Conwy and finish in Llandudno. The move not only highlights the automotive industry’s importance to the Welsh economy – more than 15,000 people are employed in automotive manufacturing in Wales generating an annual turnover of £3 billion – but it’s also benefiting local businesses. One obvious example is Mold-based civil engineering contractor FG Whitley which has been contracted by event organiser, International Motor Sports, to carry out major constructions preparing the new site in readiness for the arrival of the world’s top rally teams, much of this work is using Welsh stone, too.

"A large number of other Welsh companies also are profiting from the event. North Wales based graphic design agency View Creative has been engaged by IMS to provide Wales Rally GB with an exciting new look, which is being used on all communications and web-based materials throughout the world. Another beneficiary is Llandrindod Wells-based company Performance Clothing; it has been licensed to produce all the official Wales Rally GB clothing while the Orchard Media & Events Group in Cardiff has been engaged by IMS to produce TV and digital advertising materials.
"The media sector enjoys further benefits, too, with rounds of the WRC being aired on S4C, the Cardiff-based Welsh language TV broadcaster and IMS investing a considerable proportion of the high profile event’s advertising budget with Heart Radio in North Wales.
"With thousands of rally fans and teams members descending on Deeside as well as the legendary Welsh forest stages where the high-speed action takes place, hotels are also gaining from the World Championship’s presence in Wales at what’s a time of low occupancy. IMS alone has reserved more than 600 room nights for its organising team."
And Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of IMS added: "It has been calculated Wales Rally GB brings more than £5m to the Welsh economy – I think that figure is now somewhat conservative taking into account both the investment we are making in refreshing the event and the added interest that is generating in terms of an increase in advanced ticket sales. 

"There are, of course, many other equally important if less quantifiable benefits. The enormous international television coverage reminds global audiences of the spectacular scenery and landscapes of North Wales while, in the actual region, many local charities benefit from donations generated by spectator car parking."
Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart, added: "Our support for Wales Rally GB acts as a key driver in delivering the Welsh Government’s key commitment of strengthening the conditions that create jobs, wealth and sustainable growth. The Welsh economy receives an immediate benefit during Wales Rally GB with teams, marshals, businesses and spectators spending considerable amounts on accommodation, food and drink, hospitality – before, during and after the event.
"This world class sporting event is an ideal platform to show a global audience what Wales has to offer. In order to maximise the benefits of hosting the event in Wales, we will also organise events alongside the rally. An industry awareness event for students will be held alongside the new Wales Rally GB Service Park in Deeside and we will also work with Welsh Automotive Forum to plan an automotive conference at Venue Cymru."
For further updates follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter @walesrallygb, join the conversations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walesrallygb or visit the website www.walesrallygb.com

NEWS: Hyundai i20 WRC Testing Mission Is On

Hyundai Motorsport are contuining their development of their fabulous new 2014-spec i20 WRC over the Summer and into Autumn, with a monster series of tarmac tests in France and gravel blasts in Finland (pictured), just the tip of the iceberg of their assault on the WRC.
Test drivers Bryan Bouffier and Juho Hänninen were both in action over a total of ten days with both drivers sharing duties on tarmac before gravel specialist Hänninen assumed control on his home turf.
The latest iteration of the i20 WRC car hit tarmac roads for the first time in the Vosges region of France from August 12 to 16 with the main objective of gathering experience and data on this terrain.
“For our first time with the 2014-spec i20 WRC on tarmac, we adopted a deliberately broad test plan with the main goal of defining the base set-up for that surface,” explained Team Principal Michel Nandan. “We completed good mileage with no major issues, and obtained valuable feedback from both Bryan and Juho, which will allow us to concentrate next on fine-tuning the individual components. Overall, it was a very positive tarmac debut.”
Bryan Bouffier added: “I think this test has given us a very good base from which we can develop further. The roads in the Vosges region allowed us to assess some key components and to identify the characteristics of the i20 WRC on tarmac. I’m very pleased with the behaviour of the car in the fast sections and when the road is bumpy. Of course, we will continue working on some areas but overall I find the car very well balanced and easy to handle.”
From the tarmac test, the team moved to Finland last week to tackle the fast gravel roads and the well-known jumps, which characterise Rally Finland, one of the most technically demanding rallies of World Rally Championship. With local hero Juho Hänninen behind the wheel, the test featured an upgraded version of the 2014-spec of the i20 WRC.
“In Finland we used an evolution of the 2014-spec car, different from the one which we used in France,” added Nandan. “We applied some changes to the shape of the body and during the test we worked on the aerodynamics of the car. The i20 WRC was fitted with a new aerodynamics package and we focussed our efforts in finding a good balance. We wanted to check that all aspects of the car worked properly at high speed, as well as on the jumps, which are extremely demanding. The car can reach extreme acceleration through these jumps so it is essential to study the behaviour of the car and all of its components upon landing. We’ve also tried different suspension and differential solutions to develop the best set-up for next year’s rally.”
Juho Hänninen commented: “I was positively surprised with the handling of the i20 WRC after the first run. When you go to Finland for the first time you never know what to expect; sometimes, it can be really rough and there can be a lot of work required on the suspension. In this case, though, it was really easy from the first day and we were able to work making only minor adjustments. The car reacted very well to every change we made throughout the five days. I felt that I could trust the car immediately and the feeling got stronger day after day.”
With test sessions planned almost every two weeks, Hyundai Motorsport now faces the busiest time of the development phase ahead of its entry into next year’s FIA World Rally Championship.
“With new features on the car on every test session there’s a lot of work to be done not only on the ground but also back at the factory in order to get the car ready. There’s a great team effort and everyone is doing his best,” concluded Nandan.

Team Road wishes all the team at Hyundai the very best in tests and hope they bring as much to WRC as VW have this year. Great to see some great diversity entering the WRC. 

Now come on Subaru! Mitsubishi! Nissan! ;-) 

VIDEO: Hyundai i20 WRC Test

Can't wait for this little badboy to launch next year. Maybe Hyundai can have an unreal launch season like VW eh? Why the heck not! Good to see new blood in WRC. We'd like to see Mitsubishi, Subaru and Nissan back in rallying. Who'd you like to see there?

NEWS: Wales Rally GB Hospitality Packs Are Go!

Wales Rally GB hospitality packages are now on sale – offering four cool packages, at four sensational Wales Rally GB viewing points, with different hospitality locations for each day of the rally (14-17 November), priced from just £129 +VAT. See the only round of the WRC in the UK in style... 

With the event heading back to its roots and having been relocated to North Wales for this year, the hospitality on offer for 2013 is based at all-new in-stage viewing points. On each day of the rally, from the Thursday to the Sunday, the hospitality will be situated in a different stunning location along the rally route.
For qualifying on the Thursday in the middle of Coed Llandegla Forest, hospitality is based at the Llandegla Oneplanet Mountain Bike Centre where the thrilling forest qualifying stage will be watched from a VIP viewing point, before returning to the centre for a full hearty and traditional Welsh lunch.
On the Friday at Sweet Lamb, among some of the most magnificent scenery in the heart of mid-Wales, and with a 270° view, corporate guests will get to watch the WRC cars traverse a deep water splash, jumps and hairpin bends before competitors cross the River Wye and head over the valley. A three course meal is included, as well as access to the RallyFest entertainment area. Benefits also include live commentary and an exhilarating atmosphere from one of the largest crowds expected on any of the special stages of the rally.
Saturday’s hospitality location is the ultimate breathtaking venue – Chirk Castle – a 700-year-old fortress owned by the National Trust, and this has never previously featured as a stage on the event. Hospitality guests can take in castle views of the spectacular surrounding countryside, and after a fitting banquet lunch inside the magnificent castle, the afternoon stage will be used twice in quick succession by the WRC contenders, followed by one running of the National field.
On Sunday, true rally fans will be keen to head to Kinmel Park, which was last part of the Rally GB route in the 1970s. From here there are sensational views of the North Wales coastline, and it’s a fast stage using tracks around the old Victorian house and over rolling parkland. The in-stage experience starts with a champagne brunch at the Kinmel Arms, before guests access the VIP viewing area to see two runs of the WRC and National competitors.
Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of Wales Rally GB event organiser International Motor Sports, said: “Rallying is such an exciting product for client entertainment, and MatchPoint is the perfect partner to help us deliver the very best hospitality packages at Wales Rally GB, in four incredible North Wales forest and countryside locations.
“What’s more, Wales Rally GB hospitality offers not only great value for money, compared to other motor sport events in the UK, but also puts corporate clients right in the middle of the action with our unique ‘in-stage’ experiences at Llandegla Forest, Sweet Lamb, Chirk Castle and Kinmel Park. Being at the heart of it all is just one of the USPs of Wales Rally GB hospitality.
“Where else in the world could you imagine having lunch in a thirteenth century castle, with twenty-first century WRC cars thundering past outside! This is truly a ‘one of a kind’ experience.”
Neil Cunningham, Group Managing Director of MatchPoint, said: “We are delighted to be partnering again with Wales Rally GB. We have developed a range of options to allow our rally clientele to enjoy world class motor sport in a cost effective way. We are looking forward to working with the Wales Rally GB team again, as well as all the local suppliers, with whom we’ve built great relationships over the last three years.”
Prices for official 2013 Wales Rally GB hospitality, from MatchPoint, start at £129 + VAT per person. This is for qualifying hospitality at Llandegla Forest on the Thursday (14 November).
For further information on each of the four 2013 Wales Rally GB hospitality packages available, visitwww.walesrallygb.com/hospitality. To make a booking and secure your place at the heart of the rally, call MatchPoint directly on +44 (0)2920 022 838 or email walesrallygb@matchpoint.co.uk.

Alternatively, for general admittance, Wales Rally GB adult tickets to individual forest stages on the day have been reduced to £15* (from £20 in 2012) while Day Passes have been re-introduced providing multiple stage access for just £33* including the Qualifying Stage at Llandegla on Thursday morning. Moreover all adult tickets include a free programme priced at £7.50. The popular ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme has been extended providing those aged between 9-15 years old with a four-day ticket giving access to all 22 stages for just £1*. Those aged eight and under are admitted free. Though included in Day Passes, individual tickets for RallyFest Stages are also available priced at £25* with significant discounts available for families. The price for two adults and two children, for example, is £42* (when booked in advance) with an extra £1* for each additional child. The World Rally Pass is available for just £99 (down from £130 in 2012). Full details can be found on the official www.walesrallygb.com websites, now with a dedicated version optimised for mobile phones via www.walesrallygb.com/mobile/home.php.

And for further updates follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter @walesrallygb, join the conversations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walesrallygb or visit the website www.walesrallygb.com.

Action images - Les Kolczak - www.worldrallypics.com

NEWS: At Last: WRC Terrestrial ITV4 Deal & Extra Wales Rally GB Shows!

Thank God... TV media moguls have finally agreed to screen the FIA World Rally Championship to UK audiences on free-to-air terrestrial television – namely ITV4 and ITV4 HD – for the remainder of 2013! Hooray! Not only that... for our home event of Wales Rally GB two additional 30-minute highlight programmes will be broadcast on Friday and Saturday evenings during the event. Double hooray!
Naturally, the news has been enthusiastically welcomed by International Motor Sports Limited, organiser of Wales Rally GB (14-17 November), Britain’s concluding round of the 2013 WRC – with its new-look route, North Wales base and the welcome return of night stages for the hardcore rally fans and more family-friendly town spectator stages.
Following an agreement between WRC Promoter GmbH, the WRC’s new commercial rights holder, and leading UK television network ITV all remaining rounds of the globe-trotting WRC will be broadcast on both ITV4 and ITV4 HD channels. The coverage actually started several months ago but only now has the programming for the full season – including additional airtime for Wales Rally GB – been confirmed.
Highlights from all remaining rounds of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship will be featured in a series of action-packed, stand-alone, one-hour programmes and will be transmitted in the week following each WRC round. And these programmes also will be available for subsequent repeat viewing as well as for additional exposure on mobile devices via the ITV.com website and ITV Player.
"This is fantastic news for the vast numbers of hard-core rally fans here in the UK as well as for a much wider television audience seeking some truly breath-taking entertainment," enthused Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of IMS. "Top class rallying is one of the world’s most spectacular sports and now UK viewers can follow all the thrilling action as the WRC travels around the globe en route to what’s going to be a fitting finale right here in the legendary Welsh forests. With its strong reputation for screening world-class sports such as the Champions League and the Tour de France, ITV4 is the perfect broadcaster for WRC. More importantly perhaps, these very welcome programmes will not only provide UK rally enthusiasts with free-to-air WRC coverage for the first time in five years but also help to introduce an all-new generation of thrill-seeking fans to what’s possibly the most stunning form of motor sport."
Reverting its traditional end-of-season date, Wales Rally GB is the grand finale to this year’s 13-round WRC which commenced with the classic Monte Carlo Rally in January.
For the latest updates, directions and stage information, follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter @walesrallygb, join the conversations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walesrallygb  or visit the website www.walesrallygb.com

Photo credit: www.worldrallypics.com.

NEWS: Wales Rally GB Gets Better & Better

More great Rally GB news! First the exciting new North Wales route and now – after six front-runners from the MSA British Rally Championship already gained free entries into Wales Rally GB – a similar partnership has been launched with the British Trial and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA).
International Motor Sports – organiser of Wales Rally GB – announced the news this week of "an exciting new partnership with the prestigious BTRDA Rally Series as another key component to its far-reaching ‘Road to Wales’ initiative."
They say: "In IMS’s strenuous efforts to ensure the new-look Wales Rally GB (14-17 November) is a fitting finale to both the globe-trotting FIA World Rally Championship and to the busy UK rallying season, every effort is being made to encourage top local crews to maximise their end-of-season opportunity to compete on the illustrious world stage.
"The REIS-Get Connected BTRDA Rally Series is the most popular Championship in the UK with over 260 registered contenders this year, and incorporates selected rounds of the MSA English Rally Championship and Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship within its nine round Series. The crew that captures the premier Gold Star Championship will be rewarded with a free entry into the three-day National Rally (15-17 November) being run alongside Wales Rally GB. What’s more the winners of the BTRDA Rally First Championship – a class for lower cost two-wheel-drive production cars – will receive a free entry into the two-day version of the National Rally (16-17 November), once again running on exactly the same classic Welsh forest stages as Wales Rally GB."
"We are determined to ensure our round of the World Rally Championship sits at the pinnacle of a thriving UK rallying scene," said Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of IMS. "This is one of the few sports where enthusiastic amateurs, as well as budding young stars keen to make a name for themselves, can compete alongside world champions and it should be the one big end-of-season event on which everyone wants to compete. That’s why we are doing everything we can to encourage and assist the cream of UK rallying, whether competing in the BTRDA or British Rally Championships, to be a part of what’s going to be a massive and unmissable Wales Rally GB – hence the provision of these free entries. It will not only be a great experience for the winners but also provide spectators with even more top class action to follow."
BTRDA Championship Coordinator Steve Gregg is thrilled with IMS’s generous proposition. He said: "The British Trials and Rally Drivers Association is delighted to be offered these prizes by the Wales Rally GB organisers. As the largest rally championship in the country, this invitation gives our BTRDA competitors the opportunity and incentive to compete in the UK’s premier event. It will also ensure that the BTRDA maintains its long association with the event having provided a Team Entry for its members on previous rallies.
"The choice of the overall BTRDA Gold Star Champion and the Rally First Champion to receive these prizes also ensures that spectators will have the opportunity to see both the country’s top national driver as well as a Rally First driver from one of the most successful formulae introduced by the BTRDA to encourage and retain competitors into the sport,” continued Gregg.
"Wales Rally GB in all its previous guises was always an event that British competitors, including many who came from the BTRDA Rally Series, had on their ‘must do’ list and we hope this new partnership will encourage more to take up the challenge and support the excellent opportunity the event now provides for British competitors."
This new collaboration between the UK’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship and the BTRDA provides yet more impetus to the well-received ‘Road to Wales’ campaign – a targeted activity promoting Wales Rally GB with special displays at major events such as the renowned Cholmondeley Pageant of Power (14-16 June), Castle Combe’s popular Rallyday (21 September) and selected rounds of the MSA British Rally Championship.
For the latest updates, directions and stage information, follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter @walesrallygb, join the conversations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walesrallygb  or visit the website www.walesrallygb.com

VIDEO: WRC Argentina Water Splashes

Discover how the WRC teams get around the unique engineering problems faced by the multiple, deep water splashes in WRC Argentina, set to take place May 1st-4th this week. See WRC for more.

NEWS: VW Motorsport WRC Dominance In Portugal

VW Motorsport have done it again – continuing their incredible inaugural WRC season in the new (Carlos Sainz developed) VW Polo R WRC – with a win on the tricky gravel of Portugal (WRC round four and the second gravel event), thanks to Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia's dominant 58-second victory.
Team mates, Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila also got onto the podium, coming in third (behind Citroen's Mikko Hirvonen). And Andreas Mikkelsen and Mikko Markkula completed the awesome team performance for Volkswagen – with sixth place on their competitive debut in the Polo R WRC. Sébastien Ogier has now extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, courtesy of his third win of the season, by over 50 points. And VW Motorsport are top of the manufacturers standings: Dream stuff.
Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg (Member of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen brand), said: "It was great to be present at such a magnificent success. I was very impressed by the manner in which the team earned this success, and how delighted they were by it. It is just fantastic to see how well the entire team is working together. This provides great backing for our drivers, who did an extraordinary job."
The second gravel rally of the season really put man and machine to the test. The conditions, with narrow, winding passages on rough, stony surfaces alternating with fast sections taken at full throttle, were the toughest encountered so far this season. Illness meant Sébastien Ogier was below strength going into the fourth rally of the year, but the Frenchman still held a slender lead at the end of day one. He extended his advantage at the top of the standings with four stage wins on Saturday, and retained his grip on the lead right through to the finish. The World Championship leader did have a bit of a shock at the start of the final day: the connector between the front and rear axles, which allows the handbrake to be used in tight hairpins, temporarily refused to close, causing him to lose time. A short service later, however, the number 8 Polo R WRC was back to full strength as it set off on the remaining stages.
Jari-Matti Latvala also had a worrying moment on Sunday: the driveshaft on the front-right of the car broke, forcing Latvala to tackle the 52.30-kilometre Almodovar stage – the longest on the rally – with just rear-wheel drive. Latvala consequently had to surrender second place overall, but superbly overcame the hindrance to hold off Evgeny Novikov (Ford) and earn his place on the podium.
A test of strategy: tyre selection secures victory on “Power Stage”
Even early on in the rally, Volkswagen’s top two drivers were already looking to save their tyres for the closing “Power Stage”. Additional points towards the Drivers’ Championship were up for grabs for those crews finishing first, second and third on the 52.30 kilometre special stage. And it proved to be a good decision. Starting on fresh Michelin tyres, the Volkswagen drivers were able to launch one last attack at the end of the rally: Sébastien Ogier picked up the three bonus points for clocking the fastest time on the “Power Stage”, while team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala earned one extra point for his third place.
A test of teamwork: Volkswagen service ensures podium finishes
The service played a key role at the Rally Portugal. The Volkswagen mechanics in the Service Park at the “Estádio Algarve” had a total of five time slots – of 15, 30 or 45 minutes – in which to repair the three Polo R WRCs. Given the tough conditions in Portugal, this barely gave the mechanics and engineers sufficient time, in which to replace worn parts and check the technology, which really took some punishment over the course of the four days. The 58-man Volkswagen team did an outstanding job, consistently sending the 315 hp four-wheel drive powerhouse from Wolfsburg back onto the stages in perfect condition.
A test for the newcomers: impressive start for Mikkelsen and Markkula
Andreas Mikkelsen and his co-driver Mikko Markkula, made a great start at the wheel of the third Polo R WRC, which was making its first outing of the season. Mikkelsen did exactly what the team had asked of him, gaining valuable experience in the World Rally Car under competitive conditions and crowning his reliability with sixth place overall and eighth World Championship points.
Quotes on day three of the Rally Portugal
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7 said: "I am very happy and satisfied to stand on the podium for the first time for Volkswagen. We had a difficult start to the season, but our run of bad luck has finally come to an end. I feel really at home in the Polo R WRC now, and think that we will soon be able to do even better. The rally was a tough test for driver and car, as the route had suffered some serious erosion over the winter. The hard ground and many stones really put the car through its paces. Driver and co-driver had to be fully focussed and have perfect pace notes in order to get the car safely through the stages. Our mechanics did a perfect job of replacing the broken driveshaft on Sunday. As always, they were totally dependable – thank you. That all gives me a lot of encouragement ahead of the coming rallies, and I am already looking forward to Argentina in three weeks."
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8 said: "Unbelievable. What a rollercoaster ride here in Portugal! I am overjoyed with the win. First the illness, then the brutal stages, which really push a rally car to the very limit. When we had the problem with the power transmission on this morning’s opening stage, I thought: ‘That’s it Séb. The rally is over.’ Fortunately we made it to the service and the guys did a fantastic job there. I think we really deserved the win. The rally was extremely demanding and difficult, for the car, the entire team, and particularly for me. When I arrived in Portugal on Monday evening, I was not certain whether I would be able to start. I was always tired and my energy reserves were completely empty. I was largely able to blank it out whilst I was driving, as the body is running on adrenalin then – but I certainly did not feel top fit. Fortunately my condition improved considerably over the last two days. I will now try to get as much rest and regain as much strength as possible in time for Argentina."
And Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9 said: "I learned something on every single metre of my first rally with the Polo R WRC. My goal was to gain as much experience as possible. I have come away with a lot of ideas as to how we can improve in the future. With the Polo R WRC, everything is a lot quicker than I am used to in Super-2000 cars. My pace notes were too detailed, particularly on fast sections. It was too much for Mikko to read them out, and for me to process them. We will work on that. The aerodynamics on the Polo R WRC are especially impressive. The cornering speeds are extremely high. As such, I am not yet using the full potential of the car in those corners we take in fourth, fifth or sixth gear. I just didn’t want to take any risks. All in all, however, I am very happy with my debut for Volkswagen. I received great support from the team, and would like to thank them for that.”
Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“The Rally Portugal was a real test for the team, the Polo R WRC and the drivers. It was the first typical gravel rally of the season, and was also one of the most demanding on the calendar so far. We saw at the start of the rally that the Polo R WRC and its rivals at Ford and Citroën are on a par with each other. First, third and sixth is an outstanding team result, for which we have the class of our drivers to thank. A huge compliment goes to the engineers and mechanics, who did a magnificent job and secured our third victory, despite a few teething problems with this brand-new car. I am proud of the entire team. In terms of pace, we are among the front-runners and appear to be able to force our rivals to make mistakes, without making any ourselves. With that in mind, we might just have to change our goals for the season."
Quite an incredible, unstoppable start to the WRC season. Amazing stuff. We can't wait to see the VW fly at Wales Rally GB 14th November. You going?


Full results from Rally Portugal

1. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen	4:07:38.7 hrs.
2. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN/FIN), Citroën	+ 58.2 sec.
3. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), Volkswagen	+ 4:04.5 min.
4. Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor (RUS/A), Ford	+ 5:27.7 min.
5. Nasser Al-Attiyah/Giovanni Bernacchini (Q/I), Ford	+ 7:43.5 min.
6. Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN), Volkswagen	+ 9:39.8 min.
7. Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst (CZ/CZ), Ford	+ 15:04.2 min.
8. Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S), Ford	+ 15:43.6 min.
9. Khalid Al Qassimi/Scott Martin (UAE/GB), Citroën	+ 15:56.9 min.
10. Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN), Škoda	+ 16:21.0 min.

NEWS: Hyundai i20 WRC

Good on Hyundai! The i20 WRC is on its way – and looking awesome!
Hyundai say they been making "key appointments to consolidate the team in core areas" – including Frenchman Bertrand Vallat leading the design office and compatriot Stephane Girard taking the role of Engine Manager, Alain Penasse joining Hyundai Motorsport as Team Manager and Stefan Ph. Henrich heading the marketing & communications team.   

Since the appointment of Team Principal Michel Nandan in January, the team has focussed not only on building its bespoke facility in Alzenau and getting the i20 WRC ready for intensive testing later in the year but also on consolidating technical, sporting, and marketing sides the team. With new key appointments in all of these areas, the team is now operating at full speed while continuing to grow rapidly.
Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Michel Nandan commented: "We’ve been evolving rapidly since the beginning of the year and made great progress in filling all the main roles to establish our core team. We’re facing a big and exciting challenge, in building a team from scratch and we have now only nine months to prepare for next year. I’m now surrounded by the best people in the business and I’m confident we’ll be ready to meet our ambitious goal to be ready at the start of the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship. While we have a very busy year ahead of us, I believe that team-work together with shared commitment and passion for motorsport are the keys for success."
Can't wait to see and hear the first test later this year. See more images here. 

VIDEO: Sebastian Loeb: Rallying's finest. GT's finest next?

Congratulations to nine-times WRC winning driving God, Sebastian Loeb – who took his first victory, in his first 2013 FIA GT race this weekend at Nogaro.
Driving in his Sebastian Loeb Racing McLaren MP4-12C, with co-driver Alvaro Parente, the team took P1 in Sunday's qualifying race. Bravo Seb! Show these GT boys why rally drivers are the best in the world.

It's hard to believe this is Loeb's first full season in the GT car, watching his race craft on Sunday... as this overtake to take the lead over the No. 12 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS ultra of Niki Mayr-Melnhof (& Rene Rast) who lead from pole clearly shows.

Pure class... 

"It was a really good qualifying race," Loeb said. "Congratulations to Alvaro who had a great battle. He didn't have the opportunity as the Audi driver was really, really fast. We were still in contact after the pits. I struggled a bit with him but finally at the end, I could pass him. For sure it gives me great pleasure. It was a good fight."

Bring on the rest of the season. And follow Seb on Facebook.