HHandbrakesandbrakes &HHairpinsairpins IIssuessue 251251 • 2288 SSeptembereptember • hhttp://wp.me/pkXcttp://wp.me/pkXc TThehe wworld’sorld’s onlyonly ffreeree ddedicatededicated rallyrally eeMagazineMagazine - eeveryvery wweek!eek! Issue 251 • 28 September 2012 EDITORIAL INFORMATION Editor Evan Rothman CONTACT INFORMATION Favourite rally car? Audi Quattro S2 E-mail us [email protected] Current favourite WRC driver? Mads Østberg Call us +27 83 452 6892 Favourite WRC rally? WRC Rallye Deutschland Surf us http://wp.me/pkXc Favourite rally? Total Rally, South Africa To receive your FREE weekly HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS Tweets too much about rallying, loves nothing eMagazine, or if you’d like to share this with a friend please more than spectating on a forest rally, and has send your e-mail address to [email protected]. aspirations of being the world’s greatest rally HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS is not a SPAM e-mail: email journalist. He’s also oftentimes seen with a addresses are added to the mailing list voluntarily. camera in his one hand and his mobile phone ringing in his pocket at the most inopportune ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION times. Contributors Liga Stirna, Patrick Vermaak, Motorpics, Newspress. All content copyrighted property of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, 2007-12. This publication is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the editor. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of information from sources and given to readers, the editor cannot accept responsibility for any inconvenience or damage that may arise therefrom. Photojournalist Eva Kovkova FOLLOW US! Favourite rally car? Citroën C4 WRC Current favourite WRC driver? Mads Østberg Favourite WRC rally? Vodafone Rally de Portugal Favourite rally? White Nights Rally, Lahdenpohja, Russia Likes to walk in the Swedish snow forests or on Portuguese dusty hills, likes to freeze, to get wet in the rain or to melt from the heat during photo hunts for fl ying cars and smiling faces. Also is knowing as a press ice bear working for South Africa :) START RAMP 07 Hyundai announces return to WRC 08 Loeb to have shortened 2013 WRC campaign CONTENTS SERVICE PARK 12 BRC int’l Rally Yorkshire preview 14 IRC Mabanol Sliven Rally preview 15 SARC Podiums and Points for 2012 PARC FERME 18 Champion Chats: Antoine L’Estage 21 Matteo Gamba hangs up helmet for 2012 OOPENINGPENING SSHOTHOT MMatthewatthew WWilsonilson aandnd SScottcott MMartin:artin: WWelcomeelcome bbackack ttoo tthehe WWRC!RC! PPicture:icture: WWorldRallyPicsorldRallyPics START RAMP WWRRCC’S’S NNEWEEWESTT:: HHYUNDAIYUNDAI TTOO RRETURNETURN Words: Handbrakes & Hairpins resulting in the WRC i20’s debut in Paris. passenger vehicles in future,” concluded Hall. Picture: Newspress Mark Hall, Marketing Director at Hyundai Motor The company’s involvement in the sport began in Europe, commented: “The World Rally Championship is 1998, when it competed in the F2 class of the WRC for two Hyundai is poised to return to the FIA World Rally recognised as one of the most dramatic sporting series on seasons. In 1999 the team announced it would step up to Championship (WRC) and has this week unveiled a Earth. It’s a spectacle fi lled with excitement and dynamism − the top class in 2000, rallying a fully-developed WRC car rally-ready version based on the new i20 at the Paris the perfect embodiment of the Hyundai brand. based on the three-door Accent, which competed until 2003. Motor Show. “The WRC also offers the most technologically- No further information on the manufacturer’s plans Following its withdrawal from motorsport in diverse challenge for an automotive manufacturer. Our to enter the sport or their team structure was announced at 2003, Hyundai’s long-term goal was to set up an in-house participation will demonstrate Hyundai’s engineering the unveiling in Paris this week, but further details have been WRC team in Europe and develop a performance rally car, excellence and durability, and will also help to enhance our promised in the coming weeks. H&H WWRCRC AANDND CCITROËNITROËN RRACING:ACING: MMAJORAJOR CCHANGESHANGES FFOROR 22013013 Words: Handbrakes & Hairpins in motorsport in an announcement at the 2012 Paris Motor and upgrade the Brand’s product line-up, this period has Pictures: Citroën Racing Show. Thanks to the partnership agreed with Abu Dhabi, the contributed to the development of Citroën’s image and the seven-time World Championship-winning team will continue commercial success it has enjoyed throughout the world. The leading team in the World Rally Championship to compete in rallying, entering three Citroën DS3 WRCs in “In these tough economic times, Citroën has has dropped an amazing bombshell at the Paris Motor 2013. The works team will feature the Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo taken the view that it is essential for it to remain involved Show this week, with a somewhat telling yet vague Lehtinen crew for the entire season. As passionate and quick in motorsport in order to support its determined and press release. With changes to the Citroën Total World as ever, Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena will join them in a energetic commercial approach. At the same time, it was Rally Team’s sponsorship and structure for 2013 and partial racing programme which is due to start at the Rallye equally important to fi nd a way of reducing the Brand’s beyond, rally fans are left to decipher the news. Fear Monte-Carlo. fi nancial commitment to the team’s operating costs. “In this not, we still have The Loeb Show in action on a rally “Having competed as a works team in the FIA context, we are particularly proud to welcome Abu Dhabi stage for a few more events yet! World Rally Championship since 2001, Citroën Racing has on board,” commented Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team amassed one of the sport’s greatest competitive records, Principal. “This partnership will provide us with the means of Here’s the press release in its unedited form: with seven Manufacturers‘ titles and eight Drivers’ titles for continuing our programme and entering three DS3 WRCs in “Citroën Racing has outlined plans for its future involvement Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena. Combined with the renewal 2013.” “After eight – possibly soon to be nine – consecutive announcement in due course about the second crew that will such as China and Brazil,” explained Yves Matton. “The fi nal world titles, Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena will not be compete in the absence of Seb and Daniel. A Citroën DS3 decision regarding this programme is linked to the changes defending their title in 2013. As quick as ever, as proven WRC will also be entrusted to the United Arab Emirates driver in the FIA regulations and, obviously, the determination of by the seven wins already racked up this year, the most Khaleed Al-Qassimi.” our current and future partners to support us in this project.” successful duo in the history of the WRC still love competing, “In addition to a partial WRC season in 2013, “Before leaping ahead to this very exciting future, despite now taking this step back. They will therefore be Citroën and Sébastien Loeb continue to consider how they Citroën Racing is now going to focus on the Rallye de France- taking part in a partial racing programme next year, starting will work together in the future. Always on the lookout for Alsace (4-7 October), round 11 of the 2012 World Rally at the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo, which opens the 2013 new challenges, the Brand and its emblematic driver are Championship. The Citroën Total World Rally Team can secure season between 15th and 20th January. weighing up the possibility of entering the FIA World Touring its eighth title in Strasbourg, whilst Sébastien Loeb and “The team will be spearheaded next year by Mikko Car Championship (FIA WTCC) in 2014/2015. “The role of Daniel Elena have a chance to take their ninth consecutive Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, who are currently second brand ambassador for Citroën cannot be a passive one for title. The only crew that can stop them from doing so is no in the WRC standings. “Mikko and Jarmo have now been someone as driven as Sébastien. This project would give him other than Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen!” totally incorporated into the team,” continued Yves Matton. the opportunity to pursue his career in track racing with the “They have shown they have the level of performance and support of the manufacturer with which he has worked since This press release raises more questions than it offers experience needed to take this fi nal step and become the his competitive debut. For Citroën, the WTCC would enable answers... Stay tuned for more information in coming articles natural leaders of our outfi t. We will be making another us to showcase Créative Technologie in major markets, right here in Handbrakes & Hairpins! H&H IINN FFOCUSOCUS CCraigraig BBreenreen aandnd PPaulaul NNagleagle mmadeade a ssplashplash ((andand aapologiespologies fforor tthehe ppun)un) aatt tthehe WWRCRC WWalesales RRallyally GGB,B, rrunningunning iimpressivempressive sstagetage ttimesimes ttoo iinn ttheirheir FFordord FFiestaiesta SS2000.2000. WWatchatch tthishis IIrishmanrishman iinn 22013!013! PPicture:icture: RRallyPrint.comallyPrint.com SERVICE PARK BBRCRC IINT’LNT’L RRALLYALLY YYORKSHIRE:ORKSHIRE: CCRONINRONIN AAIMSIMS FFOROR TTITLEITLE GGLORYLORY Words: Handbrakes & Hairpins for the BRC. It is one that has generated some of the closest six scores and the Irishman recording a DNF on Round One – Pictures: Jakob Ebrey Photography competition and most committed driving for many years and, plus BRC organisers allocating 50 percent more points for the most importantly, allowed talent to shine through. fi nal round - it means the three-times winner this year will The scene is set for a spectacular showdown at this One such rising star is Welshman Elfyn Evans, who need to fi nish in the top eight or higher if he is to be assured weekend’s International Rally Yorkshire, when 2009 has had so much success this season he won’t be appearing his third BRC title.