SS8: Exhausted Ogier leads at Saturday midpoint

SS8, Loule (22.78 kilometres)

Stage description:

This stage runs in the opposite direction to previous years. The road is generally mid-to-wide but narrows in places. It's smooth, but with bed rock showing in some sections.

How the action unfolded:

Sebastien Ogier emerged from Saturday morning’s loop of stages with his lead of Rally de Portugal intact but feeling the effects of the virus that forced him out of the Fafe Rally Sprint last week.

The Frenchman, who leads the drivers’ championship, was quickest through the Loule test [SS8] and headed back to service with an advantage of 14.1sec over his Volkswagen Motorsport team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala.

Mikko Hirvonen is third, the Citroen DS3 driver 23.1sec further back in third.

Ogier began the day with his lead under threat from a hard-charging Dani Sordo. But after the Citroen driver crashed out on today’s opener, Ogier was left battling his team-mate Latvala and his own health.

“It’s been tough because after about 10km on each stage I get low on energy and I really have to fight. It’s not easy for me,” he said.

Latvala, in contrast, enjoyed an excellent morning in the second Polo R. The Finn won two stages and seemed happier behind the wheel than at any point so far this season.

On completing SS8 in the second quickest time, a confident Latvala said: “A pretty good stage, to be honest. The mid-section was really, really fast and I tried to push there. The fast stuff appears to suit us well. My tyres now are very on the limit, though.”

With Sordo out, Citroen’s hopes of victory this weekend ride with Hirvonen. The Finn was third quickest on all three of today’s stages, but wasn’t able to stop the lead Volkswagen drivers pulling further ahead in the overall standings with every stage.

“The first two stages were okay but both VWs were fast here and that’s not good,” Hirvonen explained after SS8. “I have to try and keep the pressure on Jari-Matti, that’s all I can do. My car feels really good, I just need to work on my driving rhythm.”

The pace of the leading trio, and the retirement of Thierry Neuville from fourth on SS6, has pulled them clear of the chasing pack and there is a 2m14s gap to the man in fourth place, Ford Fiesta RS driver Evgeny Novikov.

The Russian remained uncharacteristically downbeat this morning, and was unable to explain why his stage times were so far off those of the leaders.

Another 1m45s further back, fellow Fiesta RS driver Nasser Al-Attiyah is well cushioned in fifth. Martin Prokop is sixth in another Fiesta, more than 5min behind Ogier.

MINI JCW driver Michal Kosciusko is seventh, the Pole struggling with badly scrubbed and overheating DMACK tyres.

Kosciusko’s place is under threat from Andreas Mikkelsen who, after power-steering problems on day one, is making progress back up the standings and continuing to learn on his first rally with Volkwsagen’s Polo R.

“I have way too much information in my pace notes and because everything appears so fast in a World Rally Car I need to take some details out,” he said after SS8. “Some terrible driving from me too - I felt like a virgin out there!”

After a 30-minute service, crews will repeat the morning's three stages this afternoon. The second pass through the Santana da Serra test [SS9] gets underway at 1509hrs.

(13/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/ss8-exhausted-ogier-leads-at-saturday-midpoint/?fid=18471)

SS7: Two out of two for Latvala

SS7, Vascao 1 (25.37 kilometres)

Stage description:

The first section is technical but the second part becomes faster, with several long straights. The roads are mid-to-wide with a hard, rocky surface and there are also a couple of watersplashes to cross.

How the action unfolded:

Jari-Matti Latvala claimed his second consecutive stage win in a Volkswagen Polo R when he edged out team-mate and rally leader Sebastien Ogier by two-tenths of a second.

Latvala’s induction into the Polo R this season has not been easy and while the Finn sounds happier this morning, his comments at the finish were perhaps telling about his state of mind.

Asked if he was comparing his times with his French team-mate, Latvala revealed: “We’re concentrating on Mikko behind us at the moment. I’m not thinking about Ogier. It would be nice to fight against him but now is not the right time.”

Although Ogier looked cool, calm and collected, the virus which has made him feel so ill for the last two weeks is making life tough.

“I’m trying to drive fast but when the stages are long it’s not easy. I have to find the energy to drive. It’s not an easy rally for me,” said the 29-year-old, whose lead over his colleague stands at 10.1sec.

Mikko Hirvonen was fastest at the third split point after almost 15km in a Citroen DS3, but slipped back in the final 10km and completed 3.0sec slower than Ogier.

He was at a loss as to why he had dropped time but explained that he focused on keeping his driving neat. “If I pushed harder I would have become untidy and lost more time,” he said.

After his retirement yesterday Mads Ostberg is first on the road in his Ford Fiesta RS and fourth fastest amid the slippery loose gravel was impressive. The Norwegian joked that he cleared the perfect line for those behind to benefit.

Evgeny Novikov was fifth in another Fiesta RS, but the Russian continued to sound deflated. “I’m driving to the maximum but something is wrong because the times are not there,” he explained.

Robert Kubica continues to struggle in his Citroen DS3 RRC. A hydraulic issue means the paddle shift that he has dispensation to use because of his hand injury is not working. He is using the manual gear lever with his weaker right hand.

“The problem is that the gear stick in my car is much harder to shift than the normal one. We are also struggling because we have no handbrake. One more stage to go, so let’s hope we can get to service okay,” said the Pole.

In the WRC-3 category, both leader Keith Cronin and second-placed Alastair Fisher stopped in the stage. It is not yet known what problems the duo encountered in their Citroen DS3 R3Ts, but Fisher eventually finished the stage having lost more than 17 minutes.

(13/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/ss7-two-out-of-two-for-latvala/?fid=18470)

Q&A: Yves Matton

Dani Sordo was one of the star drivers of Rally de Portugal's opening day. And that's some turnaround from the situation five weeks ago in Mexico when he found his DS3 almost undriveable.

 

So what’s happened? Wrc.com asked Citroen Racing team principal Yves Matton:

So far in Portugal we’ve seen a different Dani to the one we saw in Mexico. What has changed?
“The car. Well, not only the car. Before Mexico we did a test and Dani was happy with what we had done to the DS3 but we were unable to give him the new parts before Mexico. For sure, the feeling he had with the car in Mexico was not good and maybe the fact that he knew he could have had a better car there was not easy for him.

“We did another test after Mexico and it went very well too. We saw that he was happy with the new set-up and now I think the car is what he wants and what he needs. It’s only now that he has the right feeling with the car and can drive it in his own style. His motivation is now very high.”

What exactly have you done to the car?
“I will say the most important point is the suspension. Dani’s main concern in Mexico was to have the car a little bit stiffer. More than a little bit, actually. That’s the main part we’ve changed. There are a couple of other things but all connected to giving him a car with less roll.”

Is this rally Dani’s best chance yet for a WRC win?
“Actually I think it’s his first chance. I am pretty sure that Dani also has potential to win some asphalt rallies. We know from experience that he’s very fast on that surface.”

What instructions will you give Dani for Saturday’s competition?
“Go like you did on Friday but maybe a few seconds faster!”

So you don’t mind risking the possibility of some useful manufacturers’ championship points?
“Sure the manufacturers’ championship is important but firstly we are in rallying to win rallies. When we are in a position that we are not able to win without taking a huge risk then we’ll take the points that we can for the manufacturers’. But when you are four seconds from the lead you have to try and go for the win.”

(13/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/qa-yves-matton/?fid=18468)

WRC Friday Wrap: Ogier holds slender lead in Portugal

Volkswagen's Sebastien Ogier holds a slim 4.4sec lead over Dani Sordo at the end of a thrilling opening day of Rally de Portugal, the fourth round of the World Rally Championship.

 

Friday’s competition comprised four gravel stages in the Algarve and a spectacular street-based Super Special in the Portuguese capital Lisbon – all run consecutively without any service breaks.

Ogier took the lead in his Polo R WRC on the first stage and was the only WRC driver to fit a full set of Michelin’s soft-compound tyres that especially suited the cooler, slightly damp early conditions.

Things changed on the next stage however, when the temperature started to rise, the surface dried and Mads Ostberg stormed ahead, his Ford Fiesta RS shod with the hard-compound rubber.

But Ostberg’s lead proved short-lived and he crashed on the third stage when he misheard a pace note and rolled into retirement.

Ostberg’s misfortune moved Ogier back into the lead and promoted Citroen DS3 driver Dani Sordo – also on the hard compound tyres - into second.

After struggling to find a comfortable chassis set-up on the most recent round in Mexico, suspension modifications to Sordo’s car in Portugal proved a revelation. The Spaniard went quickest on both repeated gravel stages and edged ever closer to Ogier’s lead.

Jari-Matti Latvala is third, 11.4sec behind his Volkswagen team-mate Ogier and feeling more at home with the handling of his car after a frustrating time in Mexico.

Mikko Hirvonen is fourth, 16.2sec off the lead in his Citroen DS3. The Finn found his car’s suspension too stiff for Friday’s stage conditions but with no service he was stuck with the set-up all day.

Thierry Neuville was similarly hamstrung with a less than ideal set-up on his Fiesta RS. The Belgian ended the day fifth, 14.5sec behind Hirvonen.

A 46sec gap separates the top five from Fiesta RS driver Evgeny Novikov in sixth. A further minute back Nasser Al-Attiyah is seventh in another Fiesta.

Martin Prokop is eighth, with Michal Kosciuszko bringing his MINI home ninth after a heroic performance on the Lisbon Super Special that he drove with limited visibility after his bonnet flew open.

Saturday’s leg of the Rally de Portugal kicks off at 0900hrs when crews leave the Service Park in Faro for the first of six stages. The opening Santana da Serra test gets underway at 1009hrs.

(13/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/wrc-friday-wrap-ogier-holds-slender-lead-in-portugal/?fid=18467)

Tyre troubles force Kubica retirement

Robert Kubica's impressive opening day performance on Rally de Portugal has come to an end on the long road section to Friday’s final stage in Lisbon.

 

The former Formula 1 driver is making his gravel rally debut this weekend, contesting the WRC-2 class at the wheel of a four-wheel drive Citroen DS3 RRC.

He was placed second in the WRC-2 standings but after one punctured and two damaged tyres on the first four stages, and with only one spare tyre in his car, the Pole wasn’t able to complete the 206-kilometre drive to the Super Special in the Portuguese capital.

Kubica was forced to admit defeat 50 kilometres into the journey and parked his car in a motorway service area. It is not yet known if he will restart on Saturday.

Punctures aside, Kubica’s debut had been an impressive one. He was fourth quickest though Friday's opening test and went third fastest on the next despite sliding wide into a ditch, damaging a front tyre and holing his car’s radiator on a branch.

Kubica and co-driver Maciek Baran were able to seal the leaking radiator using repair putty carried on board before topping up the system with water from their drinking bottles.

Kubica was second quickest on stage three and again on four, but at the expense of another two damaged tyres.

His performance on the four gravel stages drew praise from the head of Citroen Racing, Yves Matton.

“For me he did a great performance today,” said Matton. “Despite no experience on gravel apart from two test days he was placed between Esapekka Lappi and Elfyn Evans – two young drivers who are being followed by manufacturers for the future.”

Matton watched Kubica on all four gravel stages and was impressed with his approach. “His style is good – it’s very similar to the top drivers. He’s trying to drive where the grip is the best,” he said.

“Driving with a sideways style is a little bit easier on the gravel and would give him more security, but we explained that the best way to be fast is to keep on the line and try to keep the wheels where there is most traction. That’s what he’s doing and that’s very impressive.”

“For sure he had some punctures this morning but it’s something you have to learn,” he added.

(13/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/tyre-troubles-force-kubica-retirement/?fid=18457)

Ostberg: ‘I misheard pace note’

Mads Ostberg believes he misheard a pace note before crashing out of the lead of Rally de Portugal this afternoon.

 

The Norwegian held a 3.9sec advantage over championship leader Sebastien Ogier before rolling his Ford Fiesta RS into retirement on the third stage, a repeat of the Mu test which opened the event this morning.

Neither Ostberg nor co-driver Jonas Andersson were hurt and the Scandinavian duo hope to return tomorrow under Rally 2 rules if their car can be repaired. Crucially, Ostberg believes the car’s roll cage was not damaged.

“I think I misheard a pace note or Jonas made a mistake, but I think it was me that misheard the note,” explained Ostberg. “I thought it was a ‘5 left minus’ but it definitely wasn’t.

“I entered the corner far too quickly, hitting a bank on the outside. We rolled off the road on the inside and landed on the roof down on the next road. It was quite a hard crash. We landed on the roof but half a metre more and we would have continued further down, so it was good we stopped there,” he added.

Ostberg admitted the accident had brought further frustration after a troubled start to the season.

“Yes, it’s frustrating. At the beginning of the season we had technical problems and my frustration has been quite big. But this time I had a perfect car and I messed up.

“We pushed hard on SS2 and decided to back off a little bit on this stage to make sure we got through it. We knew we had an advantage so we tried to control it. It was just a communication problem. I did not push too hard and I wasn’t on the edge,” he added.

(13/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/ostberg-i-misheard-pace-note/?fid=18454)

Sordo picks 13th in Friday’s running order

Rally de Portugal qualifying stage winner Dani Sordo has opted to run as far down the start order as possible on Friday's opening day of the competition.

 

The Spaniard, pictured above going fastest in his Citroen DS3 this morning, unsurprisingly chose to start 13th and last of the top priority drivers to take advantage of the best available road conditions.

The weather is expected to remain dry and warm for Friday’s action, leaving the Algarve stages covered in slippery loose gravel for the early starters. As the stones are swept clear, the abrasive roads become cleaner and faster and those further back in the start order have a distinct advantage.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision,” explained Sordo, “the roads will be dry and 13th place is simply the best place to be.”

Behind Sordo it was a case of follow the leader as the drivers made their start order selections in front of fans in the service park.

Second quickest Sebastien Ogier chose to run 12th in his Volkswagen Polo R, with his team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala picking 11th.

All the remaining drivers chose the next lowest position available, meaning Ford Focus RS driver Dennis Kuipers has the dubious honour of running as first car through Friday’s stages.

Here is the list of today's running order selections:

1: Dennis Kuipers
2: Michael Kosciuszko
3: Martin Prokop
4: Khalid Al-Qassimi
5: Nasser Al-Attiyah
6: Andreas Mikkelsen
7: Thierry Neuville
8: Evgeny Novikov
9: Mikko Hirvonen
10: Mads Østberg
11: Jari-Matti Latvala
12: Sebastien Ogier
13: Dani Sordo

(11/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/sordo-picks-13th-in-fridays-running-order/?fid=18441)

Sordo fastest in Portugal qualifying

Dani Sordo was quickest in qualifying for Rally de Portugal this morning as the top four drivers were covered by less than a second.

 

The Spaniard was fastest in a Citroen DS3 over the 4.98km Vale do Judeu stage by 0.7sec from championship leader Sebastien Ogier’s Volkswagen Polo R.

Ogier’s team-mate, Jari-Matti Latvala, was just one-tenth of a second slower and Mads Ostberg completed the top four, another tenth of a second behind, in a Ford Fiesta RS.

Sordo’s qualifying win follows his victory in the Fafe Rally Sprint, a warm-up for this fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, in northern Portugal last weekend.

It represents a turnaround in form for the 29-year-old, who cut a forlorn figure on the gravel roads of Rally Mexico last month. Although he finished fourth, he was more than six minutes behind the winner.

Sordo will now have first choice of his starting position when the 13 drivers in WRC cars make their selections this afternoon.

With the stages dry and covered in loose gravel in places, it would be a major surprise if he opted for anywhere other than last of the top priority drivers to make the most of roads swept clean by those drivers ahead.

Mikko Hirvonen was fifth fastest in the Citroen team’s other nominated DS3, the Finn 1.3sec behind his colleague. Evgeny Novikov rounded off the top six in a Fiesta RS, 0.3sec behind the Finn.

(11/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/sordo-fastest-in-portugal-qualifying/?fid=18436)

Volkswagen concerns over Ogier fitness

Volkswagen Motorsport continues to be concerned over the fitness of championship leader Sebastien Ogier and has withdrawn him from several promotional activities ahead of tonight's Rally de Portugal start ceremony in Vilamoura.

 

The Frenchman pulled out of last weekend’s Fafe Rally Sprint through illness and although Ogier said earlier this week that he was feeling better, it seems his recovery is taking longer than doctors expected.

“I am far away from my top form,” he admitted at practice this morning, ahead of qualifying. “Portugal was my first victory in WRC in 2010 and I won again in 2011 so I know I can perform here, but it will be difficult this year because my health is not perfect,” he added.

“For more than two weeks now I have not been in good form, so we will see what happens during the rally,” said Ogier.

Volkswagen Motorsport boss Jost Capito said if the rally had been a week earlier then Ogier would not have been fit enough to start.

“We think it is a virus infection and it maybe something that he caught in Mexico. The doctors haven’t been able to identify it yet and earlier this week he was still having difficulty in talking and swallowing,” said Capito.

The team will restrict Ogier’s pre-event commitments for the rest of today in a bid to give him the maximum opportunity to recover before the competition starts tomorrow morning.

(11/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/volkswagen-concerns-over-ogier-fitness/?fid=18434)

Ostberg aiming for the Portugal double

Mads Ostberg has his sights set on repeating his 2012 Rally de Portugal victory this week in the Algarve.

 

Last year in Portugal Ostberg took his maiden WRC victory in a Ford Fiesta RS after the original winner, Mikko Hirvonen, was excluded when non-conforming parts were discovered on his Citroen DS3.

Portugal remains Ostberg’s only WRC victory to date, but after a strong start to the 2013 season, including leading the most recent round in Mexico, the Norwegian believes he can replicate the 2012 result.

“It’s certainly possible,” said Ostberg. “We’re hungry for victory and I want to win. We had a really good pre-event test and looking back at our performance in Mexico, I know we have the pace to fight for the top positions.”

“Of course Portugal is a little different to Mexico, but there are still a lot of experiences that we can carry forward and I am confident that we will cope well with the challenges ahead,” he added.

Ostberg’s confidence was given a further boost at last weekend's Fafe Rally Sprint, where he finished a close second to Citroen ace Dani Sordo.

(11/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/ostberg-aiming-for-the-portugal-double/?fid=18428)

Hyundai names more personnel for WRC return

Hyundai has strengthened its team as it continues to prepare for a return to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2014.

 

Hyundai has strengthened its team as it continues to prepare for a return to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2014.

Team principal Michel Nandan, who heads up the Korean manufacturer’s WRC programme at a new base in Alzenau in Germany, has filled several key positions as he continues to develop the i20 WRC ahead of testing later in the season.

Bertrand Vallat has been announced as chief designer, although the Frenchman has been working on the i20 since December. His most recent role was at Peugeot Sport where he was involved with the 207 S2000.

Stephane Girard has joined the squad as engine manager. He has extensive experience from previous roles at Peugeot Sport, Subaru World Rally Team and Citroen Sport.

Later this month Alain Penasse will take up the position of team manager. The 51-year-old Belgian has worked with Toyota Team Europe, Peugeot Sport and Michelin, as well as organising the Ypres Rally.

“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,” said Nandan.

“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,” he added.

(11/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/hyundai-names-more-personnel-for-wrc-return/?fid=18430)

Ogier back to full strength for Portugal

Sebastien Ogier says he is back to full fitness ahead of this week's fourth round of the World Rally Championship in Portugal.

 

The Frenchman, who leads the drivers’ championship, missed Saturday’s rally warm-up event, the Fafe Rally Sprint, because of a dose of the ‘flu.

“I'm feeling much better now,” said Ogier, “Withdrawing from the Fafe Rally Sprint was a very tough decision, especially given all the enthusiastic fans. However, it was the right decision in order to allow me to recover fully.”

The Volkswagen team-leader will start Rally de Portugal as one of the favourites to win it. He has done that with Citroen twice before and finished seventh in 2012 at the wheel of a Super 2000 specification Skoda Fabia.

This year he will drive a Polo R World Rally Car, along with team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala. For the first time, Volkswagen will also enter a third Polo R for new team member Andreas Mikkelsen.

As he makes final preparations ahead of Thursday’s start ceremony in the Algarve, Ogier explained that his past experience should help him in his quest for a hat trick.

“I am confident that we will follow on from our excellent recent performances in Portugal, as I really like the rally,” he said.

“It is one of my favourite rallies. In 2010 it was the scene of my first victory in the World Rally Championship, and I won again there in 2011. That makes it the only WRC rally that I have won twice in my career – so far.”

(09/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/ogier-back-to-full-strength-for-portugal/?fid=18420)

Sordo wins Fafe Rally Sprint

Dani Sordo will start Vodafone Rally de Portugal next week on a high following victory in the Fafe Rally Sprint today (Saturday).

 

Sordo, in a factory Citroen DS3 WRC, took the win by one second from Ford Fiesta RS pilot Mads Ostberg in a thrilling showdown on the 6.34-kilometre gravel stage, organised as a precursor for round four of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Based near Porto in the north of the country, the Rally Sprint took place over the iconic Fafe-Lameirinha stage and attracted an estimated 100,000 spectators.

“The atmosphere was amazing and the sensation in the car really good,” said Sordo. “On the first pass, I was not completely confident with the set-up but by the final the car was perfect.

“The jump was crazy and we were so happy when we saw that we had finished in front of Mads. After a difficult Sweden and Mexico, that's good for us. Now let's try to do the same in Portugal!”

Martin Prokop was third in his Ford Fiesta, with Volkswagen’s new works team driver Andreas Mikkelsen fourth after spinning his Polo R WRC in the final heat. As he prepares to make his WRC debut next week, former F1 driver Robert Kubica was fifth in a Citroen DS3 RRC.

“It was a unique experience and my hairs are still standing on end,” said Mikkelsen. “The spectators were incredible – they almost drowned out the noise of the engines. And at the jump, the crowds shout you into the air, just like in ski jumping – simply amazing.”

With the Rally de Portugal taster complete, attention now switches to the main event which starts from Vilamoura on Thursday 11 April.

Fafe Rally Sprint, top five results

1. Dani Sordo, Citroen DS3 WRC: 3m39.3s
2. Mads Østberg, Ford Fiesta RS WRC: + 1.0 sec
3. Martin Prokop, Ford Fiesta RS WRC: + 10.4 sec
4. Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC: + 17.0 sec
5. Robert Kubica Citroën DS3 RRC: + 17.9 sec

(08/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/sordo-wins-fafe-rally-sprint/?fid=18415)

Hirvonen: ‘I’ve not given upon the title’

Mikko Hirvonen insists that his chances of winning the 2013 drivers' title are very much alive.

 

After three rounds of this year’s World Rally Championship, the Finn, who drives for the Citroen Total Abu Dhabi squad, is third in the drivers’ standings, 44 points adrift of leader Sebastien Ogier.

But as he prepares for next week’s fourth round in Portugal, Hirvonen denied that he had given up on his title dream.

“No, of course not! It's true that Sébastien Ogier has made a perfect start to the season, but there are still ten rallies left,” he said.

“Although we haven't looked entirely convincing recently, we are going to do everything to improve our fortunes.”

Hirvonen struggled to get comfortable in his DS3 World Rally Car on the last round in Mexico, but is feeling more confident after the team’s pre-rally test in the Algarve. “I can’t go into details about what we worked on, but the fact is that we have improved the set-up. The car slides less and I felt more confident driving it,” he explained.

“As ever, we must be cautious, because the conditions of the rally won’t necessarily be the same as those we had in testing...”

Hirvonen’s pre-event preparations will continue on Saturday 6 April, when he takes part in the Fafe Rally Sprint.

Rally de Portugal gets underway on Thursday 11 April, with qualifying for the all-important day one road position scheduled to start at 1040hrs.

“To win this season, we’ll need to have a perfect rally, starting with the qualifying stage,” added Hirvonen. “I only have one target this weekend: I want to be fighting for the lead from the very start.”

(06/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/hirvonen-ive-not-given-up-on-the-title/?fid=18414)

‘Flu rules Ogier out of Fafe Rally Sprint

Volkswagen Motorsport driver Sebastien Ogier has been forced to withdraw from Saturday's Fafe Rally Sprint in Portugal on medical grounds.

 

The Frenchman had planned to take part in the show event near Porto with co-driver Julien Ingrassia in preparation for Portugal’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship that starts on 11 April.
“Unfortunately I have been laid low by an influenza infection, leading my doctor to insist that I withdraw,” Ogier explained.

“I would really have liked to participate in this unique event, but my World Rally Championship commitments must take precedence. I hope the fans understand that.”

With Ogier sidelined, VW will be represented at the Rally Sprint by Andreas Mikkelsen who will drive a Polo R WRC alongside co-driver Mikko Markkula as a warm-up before his World Rally Car debut with the team next week.
Volkswagen says the Nordic duo will give it their all in front of the 100,000 spectators who are expected to pack the 6,34 kilometre course on 6 April.

(04/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/flu-rules-ogier-out-of-fafe-rally-sprint/?fid=18409)

Kuipers gets Portugal entry after Hanninen confirms absence

After a 12-month absence, Dennis Kuipers will return to the World Rally Championship next week when he joins the Qatar World Rally Team for Rally de Portugal

 

Dutchman Kuipers will drive Juho Hanninen’s Ford Fiesta RS after the Finn confirmed he was unable to take part for personal reasons.

Kuipers drove a Ford Fiesta RS WRC for the FERM Power Tools World Rally Team in 2011. He finished 12th in the final standings on the back of a career-best fifth on Rallye de France Alsace.

He made only one WRC appearance in 2012, finishing sixth on Rally de Portugal, before a crash on the German Rallye Sulinger in May led to a lengthy recuperation from back injuries and a broken collarbone.

“Firstly I want to send my best wishes to Juho and his family and I am sure the team will agree that it won’t be quite the same without him and Tomi [Tuominen, Hänninen’s co-driver] in the service park,” said Kuipers.

“But I also need to say a big thank-you to Malcolm [Wilson] and Nasser [Al-Attiyah] for making it possible for me to compete in Juho’s absence. I really enjoy this event and it holds a lot of good memories for me. I can’t wait to get back to the WRC and I am really looking forward to working with M-Sport once again.”

Kuipers will be co-driven in Portugal by Robin Buysmans.

(04/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/kuipers-gets-portugal-entry-after-hanninen-confirms-absence/?fid=18408)

Injured Al Rajhi to miss Portugal and Greece

Yazeed Al-Rajhi will miss the next two rounds of his planned WRC-2 campaign while he recovers after a serious crash on a cross-country rally in Saudi Arabia.

 

The Saudi, who won the WRC-2 class on Rally Sweden, was leading the Ha’il International Rally when his MY Racing Hummer nosedived more than 20 feet from the top of a sand-dune.

Both Al-Rajhi and his co-driver, the Frenchman Alex Winocq, suffered broken vertebrae in the impact. Al Rajhi was transferred hospital in Riyadh, where he will undergo surgery this Friday. Winocq’s injures did not require surgery and he has since returned home to France.

Al Rajhi’s WRC co-driver Michael Orr was at the Ha’il Rally and explained what had happened.

“They approached a dune and thought there were tracks that led over it, but when they got the top it was a sheer drop,” Orr told wrc.com. “The car fell seven or eight metres before landing on its nose. Both Yazeed and Alex got out of the car but they were in some pain.”
Al Rajhi was assessed in Riyad’s intensive care unit on Thursday night and was then moved to another ward while he waits for specialist surgery.

“There’s no major rush on the operation. Everything stable. I last saw him on Friday but we’re in touch daily and he’s relaxed and in good spirits,” Orr said.

“Knowing Yazeed, he’ll push for the earliest comeback that’s physically possible but clearly he’ll be out of action for quite a while. At this stage three or four months seems the best guess, so I don’t expect we’ll be back until Rally Finland,” he added.

(04/004/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/injured-al-rajhi-to-miss-portugal-and-greece/?fid=18406)

FIA confirms Hankook for Junior WRC

The FIA has appointed South Korean tyre manufacturer, Hankook, to be the official tyre supplier for the 2013 Junior WRC Championship.

 

Hankook will take over from Pirelli, the sole supplier in 2011 and 2012 when the series was known as the WRC Academy.

Hankook will provide tyres from its Ventus Z range for tarmac rallies and Ventus R range for gravel events. Both types of tyres have tread patterns specially designed for front-wheel-drive cars.

As part of the deal, the Junior WRC crews will receive training sessions with Hankook engineers to learn about the tyres’ differing performances and handling characteristics, as well the importance of tyre management.

Jarmo Mahonen, FIA Rally Director, said: “Hankook Tire, with its history of supporting motor sport at all levels, will help the next generation of rally drivers to develop and progress through rallying’s ‘ladder of opportunity’. We look forward to working closely as we seek to further improve this already successful series.”

The 2013 FIA Junior WRC Championship takes in six European rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship, and starts with the Rally de Portugal in April.

(01/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/fia-confirms-hankook-for-junior-wrc/?fid=18402)

WRC stars to shine at Fafe Rally Sprint

Billed by Rally Portugal organisers as an 'appetiser' before next month's fourth round of the World Championship, the Fafe Rally Sprint boasts a 29-strong entry list including nine World Rally Cars.

 

More than 100,000 spectators are expected at the show event on Saturday 6 April, giving those living in northern Portugal the chance to experience the spectacle of World Rally Cars in action and offering drivers a last minute testing opportunity before the rally gets underway five days later.

The sprint takes place on a 6.34-kilometre section of the iconic Fafe-Lameirinha stage, no longer part of Rally Portugal, but made famous when the event was based in the north of the country prior to its move south in 2007.

Heading the World Rally Car entrants are championship leader Sebastien Ogier and his new teammate Andreas Mikkelsen, who will compete in their Volkswagen Motorsport Polo Rs. Ogier’s title rival Mikko Hirvonen and his Citroen teammate Dani Sordo will be in action in their DS3 World Rally Cars.

Last year’s Portugal winner Mads Ostberg and his Qatar M-Sport teammate Evgeny Novikov will drive Fiesta RS World Rally Cars. Also in Fiestas will be Thierry Neuville, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Martin Prokop.

Former F1 driver Robert Kubica is another highlight of the entry list and will pilot a Citroën DS3 RRC as a final test before tackling his first WRC event.

A popular feature of the sprint is one the most challenging jumps in rallying. The record for longest jump, which was set by Armin Schwarz in a Skoda Octavia WRC in 2000, stands at 73.5 metres.

Starting at 1420hrs, the crews will battle their way through two qualifying rounds on the way to the final at 1710hrs.

Rally Portugal gets underway with qualifying at 1015hrs on Thursday 11 April and ends with the podium ceremony at the Algarve Stadium in Faro on Sunday 14 April.

(01/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/wrc-stars-to-shine-at-fafe-rally-sprint/?fid=18398)

Mikkelsen: “Everybody in the world wants that VW seat”

Three weeks before he makes his World Rally Car debut with Volkswagen, Andreas Mikkelsen reckons he has landed the best career opportunity on the planet.

 

The Norwegian, 23, will join fellow Polo R drivers Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala when he makes his maiden appearance for the new Volkswagen Motorsport II team at next month’s Rally Portugal.

“I almost can’t explain how much I’m looking forward to it,” Mikkelsen told WRC live. “My last rally in the WRC in a proper World Rally Car was Poland in 2008, so many years ago. Since I lost my WRC drive I have been fighting so hard to get back to the place I was, doing the Norwegian Championship and two years of IRC with great results, and now finally I’m getting the opportunity to be back.

“I am very fortunate to be back with a World Rally Car and with a team like Volkswagen. Just look at what they have done so far this year! It’s a very big opportunity to show my potential as a driver. I think everybody in the world wants that VW seat!”

You can hear more from Andreas in an exclusive interview with WRC live. Follow this link to listen.

(01/04/2013 http://www.wrc.com/news/mikkelsen-ldquo%3Beverybody-in-the-world-wants-that-vw-seatrdquo%3B/?fid=18397)