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Post by Hurricane on Dec 13, 2009 17:21:55 GMT
Confirmations
WRC: Ford Focus RS WRC BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT: Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latvala, Khalid Al Qassimi Stobart Ford WRT: Matthew Wilson, Henning Solberg
Munchi's Ford WRT: Frederico Villagra (Mexico, Jordan, NZ, Portugal, Spain, Japan, France) Monster WRT: Ken Block (Mexico, Turkey, Portugal, France, Germany, Spain, GB) Therminator RT: Marcus Grönholm, Matthias Therman (Sweden)
Citroën C4 WRC Citroën Red-Bull WRT: Sebastien Loeb, Daniel Sordo Citroën Junior Team: Sebastien Ogier, Kimi Raikkonen Petter Solberg WRT: Petter Solberg
S-WRC: Ford Fiësta S2000 Martin Prokop Xavier Pons Janne Tuohino Bernardo Sousa Nasser Al-Attiyah Michal Kosciuszko
Skoda Fabia S2000 Eyvind Brynildsen Patrick Sandell
P-WRC: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Armindo Araujo Nicholai Georgiou Peter Horsey Hayden Paddon Alex Raschi Ott Tanak Fabio Frisiero Roman Kresta?
Subaru Impreza STi Toshi Arai Gabor Mayer Gianluca Linari
J-WRC: Citroën C2 S1600 Thierry Neuville
Citroën C2 R2 Max
Renault Clio R3 Todor Slavov
Suzuki Swift S1600
Unknown Egoi Eder Valdes Lopez Loïc Mattei Team Sab Motorsport
That's about all I know by heart, feel free to add.
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Post by Nick McRae on Dec 16, 2009 19:12:25 GMT
Sorry for not keeping this as up to date as I could - I'm a bit behind on my Motorsport News, Rally of Scotland hasn't happened yet! But anyway: - Abarth will not enter the WRC. They have opted not to make a new Grande Punto for next year. The works back Abarth team will contine in the Italian Championship.
- Monte Carlo has been told it can run the event it wants in the 2011 WRC...
- Munchi's Ford World Rally Team will return for 8 rounds starting in Mexico...
That's all for now!
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Post by Roo on Dec 17, 2009 5:16:23 GMT
- Abarth will not enter the WRC. They have opted not to make a new Grande Punto for next year. The works back Abarth team will contine in the Italian Championship.
So hang on. Abarth won't enter the WRC... as in the FIA's S2000-WRC competition? Will they still be competing in the IRC as a works team?
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Post by Nick McRae on Dec 17, 2009 11:45:23 GMT
Well they were gonna become a full WRC team from 2011 with the new rules etc.
From the news article I can tell you that a works-backed Abarth team in next year's Italian championship will be run by Grifone.
They seem to be focusing on the 500R3T for customer use and a one-make championship in Italy, as well as the 500 Trofeo race series around Europe.
Basso is set to focus on the Italian Championship and there are no plans for Alen, Rossetti or Scandola. Alen's contract expires at the end of 2010 and includes a clause specifying a WRC programme in 2010. Abarth's general manager Nic Gullino will also not have his contract renewed and will leave at the end of 2009.
As for the IRC - it merely says it is "scaling back it's IRC campaigns". Which could mean anything but I guess they are not competing in it next year.
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Post by Hurricane on Dec 17, 2009 15:46:44 GMT
That's right Nick. There are strong doubts around several internet sources that Abarth will pull out of IRC next year. They will change their focus to the Italian Championship with Giandomenico Basso.
It seems that the S-WRC doesn't receive that many interest (yet?). However more and more drivers/teams are signing up for the IRC, with Skoda having the most customers I think.
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Post by Hurricane on Dec 18, 2009 14:25:18 GMT
Aha! A non-Ford competitor for the S-WRC: Eyvind Brynildsen will drive a Skoda Fabia S2000 of Belgian team Rene Georges RallySport. It is said that he will drive Sweden, Mexico, Jordan, Portugal, Germany, France and Wales, however I don't have confirmation for this. EDIT: confirmed now on wrc.com
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Post by Hurricane on Dec 21, 2009 17:47:40 GMT
Petter Solberg is very likely too contest all 13 championship rounds in 2010. He has found a new partner in the Norwegian Automobile Club NAF, after losing his main sponsor John Lunde Marine Group. Here's the article translated with Google
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Post by Hurricane on Dec 31, 2009 11:48:02 GMT
Patrick Sandell is very likely to compete in the S-WRC with his Red-Bull backed Skoda Fabia S2000.
Also Michal Kosciuzco (or something like that) will compete in the S-WRC. Which car is not known yet. He tested several S2000 machinery and he's due to test the Ford Fiësta S2000.
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 4, 2010 15:19:25 GMT
Rumours are that Gigi Galli is trying to compete under the Stobart Ford banner again in 2010. He's still looking for budget though.
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Post by Roo on Jan 6, 2010 12:03:18 GMT
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 6, 2010 14:31:55 GMT
Not really the driver I like to see, but if he signs Chris Atkinson that is just fine ;D
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Post by tfliprex on Jan 6, 2010 19:18:05 GMT
Hurricane, I agree with you. Ken is not whom I would consider a world class driver. Ken and Pastrana have a long way to go, they both are still stuck in the X-games mentality. I don't see the Monster World Rally Team lasting for a long time, maybe 6 runs in all of 2010 and not close to the top 10 spots. It would be nice for Atkinson to return to the WRC, but not in this team team.
Flip
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Post by Mixa on Jan 6, 2010 19:24:01 GMT
I think Ken Block is a great addition for the WRC and by his site , he will campaign in Rally America aswell and X-Games with the Fiesta so its also a big deal for Ford. Then again Block in WRC wont be the fastest guy for sure but his personality is really nice and Im sure he is there to learn with the Focus and do some selected events. Im also somehow sure that 2010 for Block will be a learning year and then for 2011 he will take a bigger campaing with the Fiesta at WRC.
Im happy!
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Post by Roo on Jan 7, 2010 0:56:57 GMT
Then again Block in WRC wont be the fastest guy for sure but his personality is really nice and Im sure he is there to learn with the Focus and do some selected events. Exactly. And his enthusiasm for the sport of rallying is fantastic. The amount of exposure he will bring the WRC and rallying in general to the US will be boosted substantially. I'm just trying to get my head around the Pikes Peak Olsberg Fiestas competing in the American Rally Series! Wooot! That would be a spectacle!
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Post by Roo on Jan 7, 2010 1:03:57 GMT
After winning three consecutive Australian Rally Championships, and four consecutive Asia-Pacific Rally Titles, Cody Crocker is aiming for the PWRC. He did look at the PWRC at the end of 2008, but sponsorship funding was the biggest issue. We should find out in the next few weeks as to whether Cody's PWRC dream will become a reality. RallySport Magazine
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