HHandbrakesandbrakes airpins HHairpins g he world of rallyin & yyourour insightinsight intointo thet world of

CCoverover SStobarttobart iinn ‘‘home’home’ ofof rallyingrallying PPLUS:LUS: NNewew WWRCRC CCompetition!ompetition! IIssuessue 114343 • 229/079/07 - 004/084/08 hhttp://handbrakeshairpins.wordpress.comttp://handbrakeshairpins.wordpress.com FFeatureseatures NNewsews Josefine Beinke EEventsvents Austria crowns in Finland, P7 SARC,SARCA P14 new champ Martin Brady Sara wins Sweet reports, P8 APRC,AP P16 Lamb Rally MINI back in WRC,W P18 EvEvansa aims for WRC in 2011, P11 wwini in IROQ Contents / Issue 143 04 News Welcome to H&H! 06 Features Welcome to issue 143 of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, your FREE weekly insight into 07 New rally a new chance the world of rallying! 08 A tale of two seats Another jam-packed issue for you, 10 All to fi ght another day dear readers, this week. We also have a 11 Back on the start lists new COMPETITION for you, dear readers, with the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team! 12 Events For details, click to Page 18. 13 Idaho Rally International REVIEW As always, I hope you enjoy this 14 Volkswagen Rally REVIEW week’s exciting edition! 16 Int’l Rally of Queensland PREVIEW 17 Lurgan Park Rally PREVIEW Yours in Rallying, 17 Donegal Forestry Rally REVIEW Evan Rothman 18 WRC Rally Finland PREVIEW

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THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF RALLYING Featuring European rally championships, British rally championships, Rally America events, international rally results and videos, as well as S2000 and WRC news. www.rallybuzz.com 6WLOR+HOPHW6DOH

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ATS Motorsport Telephone +27 11 6708400 E-mail – [email protected] Website: www.ats-motorsport.co.za

ws NNewse rally news tthehe wworld’sorld’s latestlatest rally news NEWS INTERACTIVE News: Stories posted DAILY UPDATES: H&H’s rally news on H&H’s website and Facebook Page For your convenience, here are the news items in this easy-to- click menu page: With the ever-increasing number of events and news items being published on a daily basis, HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS has published relevant news items to its website and Facebook Page, and we also feature breath-taking videos from YouTube! Three questions to : http://wp.me/ppkXc-1qh

On Facebook: Greatest ever fi reworks show to crown Jubilee Neste Oil Rally Finland: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1qw

MINI set to join WRC from 2011: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1qK

Neiksans brothers in rallying Mecca: Finland: http:// wp.me/ppkXc-1rv

EUROPEAN AND INTERCONTINENTAL RALLY CHALLENGE SERIES Luca Rossetti Passed Through Bosphorus: http://wp.me/ ppkXc-1q4

Schneebergland Rallye 2010: Baumschlager wins to secure Austrian title: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1qu

BRITISH AND IRISH RALLYING On Twitter: H&H’s Interviews: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1od

Pryce takes podium at Sweet Lamb: http://wp.me/ppkXc- 1pW

Sweet success for Sara: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1q0

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally 2010 – Preview: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1qs

UAC Circuit of Ireland Retrospective Trial: http://wp.me/ ppkXc-1qC

Co-driver Craig Parry splits from Leszek Kuzaj: http:// wp.me/ppkXc-1r9

Eugene Donnelly places last minute Lurgan Park entry: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1rt

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND RALLYING Simon Evans push for rally glory: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1rb

Rifat and Scott ready for Queensland: http://wp.me/ Download the iRally app for your ppkXc-1re iPhone here for FREE! Queensland set for scintillating rally action: http:// wp.me/ppkXc-1ri

AFRICAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN RALLYING AND OFF-ROAD RACING All to fi ght another day : http://wp.me/ppkXc-1qn

Basil Read/Bizhun Ford Rally Team back on track after Volkswagen Rally: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1pQ

A brief outing for Hutchison and Coetzee on VW Rally: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1pL

Full house for Team Total on VW Rally in Eastern Cape: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1pJ

Johnny Gemmell wins VW Rally thriller for Castrol Team Toyota: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1pI

Volkswagen Rally proves a big challenge for national rally fi eld: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1pB The iRally App is produced by Crown House Media, the BP Volkswagen rally team claims two podium fi nishes at well-known UK TV and radio agency which created, owns VW Rally: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1py and operates the popular World Rally Radio internet radio station. It is supported by Ford and is available to download FREE of charge via iTunes at http:// itunes.apple.com/gb/app/irally-2010-wrc-irc/ id347126364?mt=8 from the App Store on the iPhone by typing iRally into the Search window. atures g FFeaturese he world of rallyin yyourour insightinsight intointo thet world of rallying FEATURES

NEW RALLY A NEW CHANCE

Story: Josefi ne Corinn Beinke We have had a tarmac test recently, Pictures: M-Sport and we featured this in HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, to boost our confi dence on After a busy few weeks of regional tarmac for the future FSTi rounds. There and national rallying, Josefi ne we fi nished in a very strong position, Corinn Beinke, HANDBRAKES & which we felt restored our confi dence HAIRPINS “Ladies in Rallying” in the car after we experienced two campaigner, teams up with Christian retirements in it this season already. Reidemann and his Ford Fiesta RS “With backing from ADAC for their second outing in the FSTi at Stiftung Sport, we are looking forward to the WRC Rally Finland this weekend. this rally. We have never been to Finland With the bad luck of the before, but we know that it is a very fast Vodafone Rally Portugal behind them, and challenging rally. Our main goal is the young German duo of Reidemann to gain a lot of experience and, as it was and Beinke, who were forced to retire in Portugal as well, to fi nish the rally,” from the lead of the FSTi in their very concluded Josefi ne. fi rst outing, look to repeat their pace but A total of fourteen FSTi crews to also score maximum points. have entered this weekend’s rally. Seven “We are looking to get back of those entrants are Finnish drivers, and into the fi ght for the title of the FSTi at they will probably be very hard to beat the fastest rally on 2010’s calendar, the for the European crews. Neste Oil Rally Finland,” said Josefi ne.” FEATURES

A TALE OF TWO SEATS

Story: Martin Brady were brilliant and helpful. John Buffum, RedBull arch, plenty of places to spin or Pictures: Rally America the famous and much lauded US rally make a mistake under much spectator driver, was the man in charge of the scrutiny. Regardless, we cleared both Rallying is about the unexpected, recce convoy and he knew just how to runs clean again fi fth fastest, but Ken the challenging of man and machine keep it competitor-friendly. A one pass Block in the Ford Fiesta was blitzing a against the elements. Little did I recce of the supplied notes is all we were trail at the top of the fi eld now in a lead realise that in competing on the New allowed, but it was enough just to get of over 5sec. England Forest Rally in the American dialled in and familiar and make a few After service the real forest state of Maine that I would tackle small but necessary changes. From recce stages began, fast fl owing, rhythmical the rally with two different men in it was straight to shakedown where and challenging. However, our challenge two similar machines. the fi rst run in the car unfortunately ended almost two miles into the stage. My travel to the event itself underwhelmed me. Seamus’ car is The water temperature shot up to 120 was fraught: I left Ireland almost seven running to open spec with larger degrees and we limped to the end of the hours delayed due to bad weather restrictor and more Group A and WRC stage knowing that the end was nigh and in JFK airport in spec parts returned to service. Hopes were that a New York upsetting These Open Class than I would head gasket was the cause and solution, fl ight schedules. I be used to but the team found that the head was was travelling to cars have such sitting in badly warped and there was no way we join Irishman and Group N could continue even in the second leg of now Georgia native power that they spec Evos, the rally as a re-entry. Seamus Burke to and it was It was a disappointment to compete in his Open are a pleasure clear that travel so far and recce with no practical Class Mitsubishi to co-drive in; is something sleep after delayed fl ights and then for Lancer Evolution IX was wrong Seamus Burke and I to have the rally on what was to be the akin to a WRC car. with the end on the fi rst full stage, but that’s last round of the 2010 car. A quick rallying as they say and my year has Rally America series. It had been almost return to service diagnosed that the car been in a vein of mechanical troubles so two years since my last event in the had jumped its timing and that explained what can you do only enjoy it while it USA so I was looking forward to a return why it was performing below par. lasts. Tom Lawless is another Irishman visit. However, even my connecting Unfortunately by the time the mechanics living in New York and he was doing the fl ight to Boston was delayed and I sat had diagnosed and repaired the problem rally in an Evo IX also. I knew at the end frustrated by a further delay in JFK, the shakedown stage was over, but we of SS4 that Tom’s co-driver was unwell listening to rally podcasts on my iPhone retired to bed happy that the car was in and struggling to the point of being for fear I might fall asleep on the fl oor good health for the fi rst stage and that unable. When Tom came into service and miss this fl ight call. shakedown had proved its worth. and his man was unable to continue the When I got into Boston, The rally started with the notion of me sitting in just for SS6 was eventually, I had another member of customary pomp, ceremony and mooted and Tom asked the stewards the Irish/USA Rally Mafi a waiting right excitement amongst many spectators as and they agreed. I thought it was a long at the door to deliver me the fi nal four we left the parc expose at the Sunday shot, but I was happy that they gave me hour drive to the event HQ. That was River Ski resort and drove a short the opportunity. We never poured over Dan Brosnan, an accomplished 2WD distance to a similarly short but tricky rule books or gave it any consideration competitor in his own right. We both spectator stage of just under a half a other than well let’s ask the question rally gossiped our way up through mile. Fifth fastest was our reward, just and if the stewards approve it then why the journey and I grabbed just a few 1sec of the general pace so we drove not continue. Unlike our regulations minutes of sleep as recce started at on to the town of Mexico for another at home, in case of illness a co-driver 06:15 and I knew I wouldn’t have time spectator stage of just half a mile in the can be replaced so it opened up a new to do anything other than throw my bag Mexico Recreational Park. The stage was opportunity for both Tom and I. into the hotel room. No sleep just yet. interesting not least of all because it ran It worked well, still using Recce was good: we went around the perimeter of a baseball pitch Seamus’ notes in my own handwriting without incident and the organisers and over a crunching jump under the and style we clicked in right from the FEATURES

fi rst stage. Tom was not a stranger to So after the fi nal stage and me as I had stayed in his home in 2005 a conservative fi fth fastest time we while travelling to another Rally America reached the fi nish again at the Sunday event so right away the atmosphere in River Ski resort and although there the car was great and we got right down was an absence of snow there was to work on the famous Concord Pond much celebration and satisfaction not stage. The record for the stage stands only for ourselves after a fi ght back to at 4min 26sec set by Ken Block and fourth but for Antoine L’Estage/Nathalie we managed a respectable 4min 39sec Richard as they claimed their fi rst despite a stall on the start line and this Rally America championship to much was strong enough for third fastest; a applause. I quickly checked the results good debut. We gelled well and the pace and confi rmed us as fourth overall and increased so much so that we found I jumped right into a waiting truck for ourselves winners of the regional section an overnight lift back to New York for of the rally for that day, but more of that my return fl ight. Much to my surprise in a moment. I got a phone call to tell me that at Day Two dawned bright and prizegiving we had been announced as after working late into the night with winners of both regional rallies. This is Tom working on the recce video footage where the entry is divided into regional and adjusting the pacenotes, we began and national grade competitors and due Day Two in fi ghting form. We were 12th to Toms licence grade we were classed overall and set ourselves the goal of as regional grade and unknown to me getting to the top six by the end of the we featured on the results in this class day. It was a strong marker to put down, having won the title by 38sec on the fi rst but we felt confi dent. These Open Class day and a hefty 4min on Day Two out of cars have such power that they are a 40 fi nishers. A satisfying end to a great pleasure to co-drive in as it is something event which was very unique for me akin to a WRC car in performance terms. having managed to compete on one rally Tom’s car even has a 6-speed sequential in two different cars and in fact appear gearbox which further removes it from on the one set of results twice as both a the Grp N experience I am familiar retirement and a fi nisher! with. We opened with a ninth fastest I say without disrespect to any time and improved to a fourthd time other event in the championship but this fastest on the repeat of the stage and was the best event I have competed on by SS11 we had reached sixth overall in the USA so far. The organisers and and we began to think of holding station, workers added that extra something but a quick check of the times saw us of friendliness and welcome. The rally just 11sec behind Roman Pakos in a seemed to be there to do the best for . Good humouredly we joked the competitor to enjoy it, every thing at the stage start of the penultimate was simple and pragmatic from the stage that we were coming to get him recce then sign on for drivers briefi ng and the battle line was drawn. It was a and to the time controls. It was a very case of head down and push on and we enjoyable rally I could not fi nd fault with hoped we could break the Pakos speed the event even if I had to, and that is and spirit. Amazingly we did just that regardless of whether my rally ended taking 26,9sec from the Polish crew in after SS4 or continued with another the 13,6miles. The fi nal stage was to driver. The great thing is I was lucky be a reverse of the stage we had just enough to see all of the event and the completed so as we waited for the turn stages. around Pakos admitted to backing off in The New England Forest Rally the dust where we knew we had been was certainly a highlight because I brave and therein lay the reason for enjoyed it so much, I have travelled to the big gain in time. Not only had we many rallies outside of Ireland this year gained on Pakos to claim fi fth, but Travis in the IRC series and have not had much Pastrana was stopped in the stage with a luck or even fi nishes so it was nice to blown engine and his misfortune meant travel so far and to get to the end of a he lost the rally lead and a certain win as rally smiling. we moved into fourth overall. FEATURES

ALL TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

Story: Evan Rothman while waiting for their service crew to once again attack for the Class N3 title Picture: Motorpics collect them in-stage. in next month’s Osram Rally in and “It was an unfortunate and around Barkly East. The challenging Volkswagen Rally bittersweet end to our weekend, “Aduraghman was driving well in the Eastern Cape this weekend especially as the car was going so well in the stage in Longmore Forest, and we proved to be a bittersweet result in the stage,” said Megan. “We were obviously feel his frustration at exiting for rookie sister and brother pairing pumped up for this rally, and were the event prematurely,” said Megan. Megan and Oliver Verlaque. The aiming for a Class win here. This can “This does, however, allow us to fi ght Johannesburg-based crew, in their be a cruel sport, and this burst fuel line another day!” fi rst National proves it.” The Volkswagen Rally was Championship Megan and Fighting won by Johnny Gemmell/Drew Sturrock season, was forced for the Class N3 (Castrol Team Toyota Auris S2000) to retire their Class Oliver can once Championship title followed by two BP Volkswagen Polo N3 Toyota RunX RSi in only their fi rst S2000 crews of Enzo Kuun/Guy Hodgson near to the fi nish of again attack season, Megan and and Jan Habig/Ralph Pitchford. Of the SS1. Oliver were aiming original 40 entrants, only 25 crews made After for the title. to fi nish ahead of it to the fi nish line on Saturday afternoon powering through to the fi nish of the Championship leaders Abduraghman after 11 stages were completed. fi rst stage, driver Megan found the Amlay and Yusuf Ganief (in a similar RunX out of fuel: scarily, the fuel was Class N3 Toyota RunX) in order to edge Media Release prepared by: sloshing about their feet in the cockpit. closer to their title aspirations. Evan Rothman A burst fuel line was guilty, and the crew After the fi nal stage of the [email protected] who were fortunate to not have been opening day, SS6, Amlay and Ganief +2783 452 6892 poisoned from inhaling the fumes were retired from the event with mechanical able to safely park their pink-liveried problems too. This now means Megan Toyota rally machine out of harms way and Oliver will have an opportunity to FEATURES

BACK ON THE START LISTS

Story: Staff Writer says: “I am delighted MINI will be independent company in the motorsport Picture: Prodrive represented on one of the most popular and automobile sector under Richards’ stages in international motorsport. The guidance, and today employs over MINI is making a comeback on the success enjoyed on the rally circuit has 500 staff. Prodrive’s many successes international rally circuit. From made a vital contribution to the image of currently include six overall victories in 2011, the brand will compete at the brand. MINI customers have always the World Rally Championship, fi ve titles selected rounds of the FIA World shown great interest in motorsport. I in the British Touring Car Championship Rally Championship (WRC) and am convinced we will add a few more and three class victories at the Le Mans will go on to contest the entire chapters to our success story in rallying. 24 Hours. season from 2012 onwards. This The MINI Countryman provides an BMW was present when the involvement is planned for several excellent basis, from which to create World Rally Championship made its years. a competitive racing car for the world debut back in 1973. Achim Warmbold The car charged championship. (DE) and Jean Todt (FR) tasted victory in with this task is the In Prodrive, we their BMW 2002 at the Alpenfahrt Rally MINI Countryman WRC, The fi rst have a strong in Austria. However, MINI’s tradition which is being developed and experienced in this discipline stretches back even by Prodrive, in close test drive is partner. We will further: Pat Moss (GB) clinched the cooperation with MINI, planned for work hard together fi rst victory with the MINI 850 at the and is based on the over the coming 1959 Mini Miglia National Rally. MINI production model. The autumn 2010. months to ensure ultimately enjoyed its fi nest hours powerful heart of the we get the project at the in 1964, racing car is a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder on track right from the word go.” 1965 and 1967: the MINI Cooper S turbo-charged engine from BMW “This is a very exciting new celebrated three overall victories at Motorsport. The car complies with motorsport programme,” said Prodrive the most iconic rallying event in the the new Super2000 regulations put in Chairman, David Richards. “During the world. Paddy Hopkirk (IR, 1964), place by the International Automobile 1960s MINI captured the imagination Timo Mäkinen (FI, 1965) and Rauno Federation (FIA), which stipulate the of the world when the tiny car took on Aaltonen (FI, 1967) joined the list of use of turbo engines with 1,600cc the might of V8-powered Fords and winners at this prestigious event. In displacement and four-wheel drive won what was then one of the toughest 1965, “Rally Professor” Aaltonen also combined with an increased emphasis motorsport events, the 4000km Monte won the European Rally Championship. on road relevant technologies. The result Carlo Rally. I believe our new MINI will Tony Ambrose (GB) and Mäkinen is a signifi cant 25% reduction in overall become a fi rm favourite of the latest fi nished second and third to round off costs. The fi rst test drive for the MINI generation of rally fans, just as it is an excellent overall result for the MINI Countryman WRC, which will also be adored by its millions of owners across Cooper S. In addition, MINI drivers available to customer teams, is planned the world. We already have a signifi cant also enjoyed many individual wins at for autumn 2010. number of confi rmed customer orders renowned rallies throughout Europe. This decision sees MINI for the new MINI rally car with the fi rst The last BMW World Rally Championship continue its success story in the world of deliveries scheduled for the start of the victory was achieved in 1987 in Corsica rallying. In the 1960s, the MINI Cooper 2011 season.” by Bernard Béguin (FR) driving a BMW S caused a sensation with victories Prodrive has been working M3 which was built and run by Prodrive. at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. on developing the MINI Countryman From 2011, over 40 years down The company also tasted success on WRC since early 2009. The company the line, the MINI Countryman WRC will many occasions in the European Rally was formed in 1984 by Richards, who be charged with adding further chapters Championship. won the World Rally Championship to this success story. Ian Robertson, member of as co-driver to Ari Vatanen three the Board of Management of BMW AG, years earlier. Based in Banbury (GB), responsible for Sales and Marketing, Prodrive has developed into a leading ents EEventsv iews and reviews tthehe ffullull eventevent previewsprev and reviews FLAG TO FLAG WIN FOR HOECK USRC: IDAHO RALLY INTERNATIONAL 15 - 17 July 2010

Story: Staff Writer roads on Day Two were new to the rally, Pictures: Idaho Rally and on the fi rst stage of the day, the team of Dick Rockrohr pushed hard and The previous weekend’s Idaho Rally set the quickest time to earn their fi rst International set new standards stage win. in North American Rally Sport. A The battle for third evolved and total of 140 stage miles (224km) carried all through the day. While Hoeck and 2 Super Special Stages run had a comfortable lead over Jackson in side-by-side is the new gig in town. the fi rst two podium positions, Rockrohr Wolfgang Hoeck and Piers O’Hanlon and Schmidt drove it out to the bitter took fi rst overall in a dramatic run end with just a handful of seconds from SS1. separating them. The event At the started off on Hoeck and end of the day Thursday 15 July competitors with the O’Hanlon took returned to the Super Special at Expo Center to the Boise Expo their fi rst overall run the Red Bull Center in the in a dramatic Super Special evening. The next again. While fi rst day competitors run from SS1. and second pretty went out to battle much were set, the 80 stage miles (128km) around the third and fourth were up for a tight Trinity Mountains. Hoeck/O’Hanlon had fi nish. a comfortable lead and the battle for Schmidt beat Rockrohr by 8sec places two and three began. While Keith running side-by-side at the Red Bull Jackson and Marra Estep fought hard to Super Special, but that wasn’t enough stay with Hoeck, Dick Rockrohr and Erik to overcome the 16sec gap going in, so Schmidt fought back and forth for third Schmidt had to bow down losing third by position overall. only 8sec to claim fourth overall. Friday’s stages had it all. From The Idaho Rally International fast and fl owing to slow and tricky, has made its debut in 2007. Rallydrift competitors were forced to stay on top Inc has done a tremendous job of their game. Only two stages were run developing this event from the get twice on Day One, forcing everybody to go. You can clearly see the European give it all during the fi rst run. Several infl uence the organization has setting OVERALL CLASSIFICATION competitors lost grip and were forced to up the schedule and itinerary. The 01) W. Hoeck/P. O’Hanlon withdraw. event is the longest dirt stage rally in Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution - 02h 08m 05s 02) K. Jackson/M. Estep Idaho’s roads are fantastic but America, the only one with a side by Subaru - 02h 11m 07s very slippery. The smallest mistake can side super special and is run on what 03) D. Rockrohr/M. Jacobs swallow you up and throw you out. many consider to be the best rally - 02h 14m 05s 04) E. Schmidt/AJ. Hakala Day One ended with a few roads in North America. Many teams Subaru Impreza - 02h 14m 13s crashes and some mechanical DNF’s, but have expressed that these roads are 05) C. O’Driscoll/L. O’Driscoll of those that failed to fi nish Friday, four incomparable and should represent the Honda CRX - 02h 20m 09s 06) S. Greer/E. Greer teams were able to make the repairs USA on an international platform. We Subaru Impreza - 02h 23m 48s needed overnight and rejoined the rally would like to thank our Sponsors Eibach 07) A. Rademacher/J. Stewart for Saturday’s stages. Springs and Red Bull North America for Subaru Impreza - 02h 24m 07s 08) D. Rockrohr/E. Thomason Starting Day Two the fi rst four their support. Subaru Impreza - 02h 27m 35s teams were comfortably placed apart. All EVENTS

GEMMELL SCUPPERS VW 1-2 HOPES SARC: VOLKSWAGEN RALLY 2010 23 - 24 July 2010

Story: Staff Writer stage time through SS1, a blisteringly Pictures: Motorpics quick 12,3sec quicker than his rivals over the 19,25km-long gravel stage. The Of the previous 26 editions of this young Zimbabwean’s pace was visibly event, Toyota had notched up 13 quicker through the stage as the former victories in Volkswagen’s backyard. Citroen Junior Team driver tackled the Last year’s historic one-two-three Longmore Forest for the fi rst time. His podium sweep by the factory BP rivals were blowing off the cobwebs from Volkswagen Polo S2000s seemed their long break after Round Four of the to have righted this record. For this South African Rally Championship in year, all eyes were on the young May, but Rautenbach’s speed proved to charger Conrad be no fl ash-in- Rautenbach and Only 21 of the the-pan. his M-Sport Ford However, Fiesta S2000. original 40 things didn’t This go according to event, with six starters fi nished plan on SS2 for of the rally’s Rautenbach as he 11 stages run ploughed through in the fast yet the fi nal stage of a fence and lost treacherous 10sec getting Longmore this challenging his Fiesta S2000 Forest near Port back onto the OVERALL CLASSIFICATION Elizabeth, boasts event, the road. Through 01) J. Gemmell/D. Sturrock Toyota Auris S2000 - 01h 38m 45,8s of the best rally the remaining 02) E. Kuun/G. Hodgson roads in the Volkswagen Rally. four stages of Volkswagen Polo S2000 + 1,5s country. Uphills, the opening day 03) J. Habig/R. Pitchford Volkswagen Polo S2000 + 12,0s fast bends and slippery surfaces played of the Volkswagen Rally, the Ford Fiesta 04) C. Rautenbach/P. Marsh in the favour of Rautenbach, but with S2000 driver was more cautious but still Ford Fiesta S2000 + 30,1s years of experience from the chasing fast. A slow time through the fi nal stage 05) C. Wilken/G. Godrich Ford Fiesta S2000 + 01m 07,1s Toyota and Volkswagen crews a win here of the day at Scribante Raceway saw him 06) V. Du Plessis/G. Snyman would always be challenging. lose 20sec to his rivals. This resulted Toyota Auris S2000 + 02m 31,7s Speaking ahead of the rally, in him fi nishing the day in sixth place 07) J. Van Dyk/D. De Fortier Volkswagen Polo S2000 + 02m 31,7s Rautenbach was relaxed and calm, but overall and 32,5sec off the leaders. 08) M. Cronje/R. Paisley was focused on the task at hand. It Johnny Gemmell and Drew Toyota Auris S2000 + 02m 59,0s didn’t take the driver and his co-driver Sturrock (Castrol Toyota Auris S200) 09) N. Ryan/G. Tyrer Volkswagen Polo S2000 + 03m 37,4s Peter Marsh long to adjust to these fast found themselves with some breathing 10) M. Moosa/G. Martin conditions. Rautenbach set the fastest space at the head of the pack, but had Toyota RunX S2000 + 04m 35,1s EVENTS

two very quick BP Volkswagen Polo stage by some 45sec! Rautenbach was took to the tight and twisty parking lot S2000s fast gaining on them. Gemmell on a charge, and a podium place was stage looking to seal their fi rst win on attacked through SS2, 3 and 4, yet was now within his grasp as he closed to only this event. Kuun somehow managed to only able to eke out 5,3sec over Enzo 7,2sec behind the leader. Gemmell was pull out 4,2sec from Gemmell in this Kuun/Guy Hodgson (BP Volkswagen Polo the second quickest through the stage, short 1,73km stage to fi nish just 1,5sec S2000) after Day One’s 80-odd km of albeit it 13,9sec adrift. His lead of the behind the leader, but Gemmell/Sturrock rally action. This hard charge proved Volkswagen Rally looked shaky now, but popped the corks on the winners’ vital in the closing stages of the rally for the Castrol Team Toyota factory driver champagne after the rally fi nish. this crew. was still posting mighty impressive stage After a hard-fought rally win, Hein Lategan, in a Pirtek Toyota times in a bid to remain at the front of Gemmell and Sturrock celebrated their Auris S2000, was looking confi dent in the fi eld to the fi nish line. second win of the season. Gemmell third place throughout Day One but Gemmell dug deep in SS9 to is now equal with Kuun at the top of slowly dropped down the leaderboard. post the second quickest stage time in the Drivers’ Championship standings Unfortunately, he became stuck in the the fi nal Longmore Forest stage. Flying with 86 points and with three rallies forest in SS8 and that was the end of through the stage, the driver pinned remaining on the calendar will have the rally for him. his right foot to the fl oor to edge out all a great opportunity to claim his fi rst Day One’s three forest stages the time he could over his rivals. Behind South African Rally Championship title. were repeated on Saturday morning. Gemmell, the two BP Volkswagen Polo Toyota has now claimed 14 wins on the With the road’s lines swept clean, rally S2000 crews were both in maximum Volkswagen Rally, a statistic Volkswagen crews pushed harder through the second attack mode to reel in Gemmell, and will aim to remedy in 2011. run. SS7 was won by Rautenbach (who were in a ding-dong battle for second Class A7 saw no fi nishers reach managed to best his Day One time by and third place. Kuun claimed second the fi nal stage, but Leeroy Poulter/Henry 8sec) and this moved him into fi fth place place overall, demoting multiple South Dearlove (Toyota RunX A6) once again ahead of Mark Cronje/Robert Paisley African Rally Champion Jan Habig to proved quicker than their more powerful (Castrol Team Toyota Auris S2000), to third position (and this was the way the 2WD rivals in Class A7. Poulter, who be 27,3sec off the leaders Gemmell/ fi nal order remained to the fi nish). With has shone in Class A6 in his debut rally Sturrock. The BP Volkswagen Polo S2000 Rautenbach within reach of the winners’ season, won his class by a comfortable of Jan Habig/Ralph Pitchford, who had trophy, a puncture cost him over 30sec 02min 1,1sec over Tjaart Conradie/Riaan steadily climbed the leaderboard on Day in this fast stage to effectively rule Erasmus (Toyota Auris A6). One, moved into second place ahead of him out of the podium positions. He Ashley Haigh-Smith and Hilton teammates Kuun/Hodgson. now found himself in fourth place and Auffray (Team React Toyota Yaris A5) The defending Drivers’ 31,6sec adrift of Gemmell and enjoyed a dominated Class A5 with a brilliant Champion Hergen Fekken and co-driver gap of over 01min 35sec over the Basil performance on this gruelling event. He Pierre Arries unfortunately stopped in Read/bizhub Ford Fiesta S2000 of Charl beat off rivals Chad Lambert/Herman SS1 to retire their BP Volkswagen Polo Wilken/Greg Godrich. Groenewald (Toyota Yaris A5) by a S2000 in what is their third DNF in as Two stages remained for the whopping 10min 1,8sec. many rallies. Also ruled out on the fi rst competitors, a 9,84km blast around the Class N3 was claimed by stage was the BP Volkswagen Polo A7 PE Oval track and then a 1,73km stage Stefanie and Willem Hugo (Toyota RunX of Gugu Zulu/Cindi Harding, as well as at Kings Beach parking lot. All eyes N3), after a battle to reach the fi nish in the BP Volkswagen CitiGolf of Andre now shifted to Gemmell, as he deftly her new car. Cleenwerck who suffered a massive manoeuvred his Toyota Auris through Only 21 of the original 40 crash. Megan and Oliver Verlaque the fl icks of SS10. Rautenbach set the starters fi nished the fi nal stage. The (Toyota RunX N3) retired in SS1 after a quickest stage time, and should he have South African Rally Championship next fuel line burst. not suffered a puncture in SS9 he would moves to Barkly East next month for the SS8 proved another scratch have undoubtedly stolen the rally lead… Osram Mountain Trial. time from the young Zimbabwean, With a gap of 5,7sec over beating his Day One time of the same Kuun/Hodgson, Gegmmell and Sturrock EVANS TO DEFEND TITLE AT IROQ? INT’L RALLY OF QUEENSLAND 15 - 17 July 2010

Story: Staff Writer Sunshine Coast, with rally action taking Picture: Eva Kovkova place in the adjacent forest roads. The Sunshine Coast is about two hours north With a host of international rally of the city of Brisbane. crews contesting the International Competitors line up on Friday Rally of Queensland this weekend, to start the rally of 18 stages: all but Australia’s best will be looking to two are gravel, as the two tarmac tests outpace their rivals over the event’s will be run as Super Special Stages to 18 stages. attract the spectators to this popular At the event. This year top of this list is also marks the Simon Evans and Many drivers will 42nd running of co-driver wife Sue this prestigious Evans (Subaru be eager to score event with its Impreza WRX strong results and service park set STi) who are the for the town reigning Australia bags of points. of Imbil once Rally Champions. more as was in Last was twelve months ago that Evans 2009. powered their way to a storming win in In fact, the event route remains this event to take the overall honours largely unchanged from 2009 so all in the Asia Pacifi c Rally Championship drivers will be familiar with this fast rally. (APRC) category by one minute and the In the APRC fi ght, the two Australian Rally Championship (ARC) Rally Team cars of Chris category by two minutes! Atkinson and Alister McRae will be Having won the ARC three in fi ghting form and looking for their times in the last four years, and his elusive win. Expect Katushiko Taguchi, virtually unassailable lead in the ARC Guarave Gill, Hayden Paddon, and title race of 64 points over his nearest Hiroshi Yanagisawa to fi ght for podium rival Scott Pedder, Evans will be hard to positions too. beat this weekend. With this two-day event The nature of this event lends counting for both the ARC and APRC, itself well to his driving style: fl at- many drivers will be eager to score out! The rally is located in the popular strong results and bags of points. Queensland tourist destination of EVENTS IRELAND’S BEST HEAD FOR LURGAN PARK RALLY LURGAN PARK RALLY 2010 31 July 2010

Story: Staff Writer

This Saturday some of the best rally drivers and cars in Ireland will compete through the lanes of the beautiful Lurgan Park. The rally, which fi rst took place in 1980 and was won by the late Bertie Fisher, is a real showcase event featuring both exciting competition and a unique social atmosphere radiating from the central service paddock. Banbridgeman Kenny McKinstry has rightly been dubbed ‘King of the Park’. He drives one of his own Subaru World Rally Cars. Kenny will be doing his utmost to make it his 12th Lurgan Park win this weekend. He has maintained over the years, that to win in Lurgan Park, “you have to get the fi rst stage just right, as well as the fi nal one, plus all the stages in between, as the slightest slip can cost victory.” Kenny will, however, face strong opposition. Ironically, if Kenny doesn’t win, he could well be beaten by one of his own cars. He has hired to Darren Gass and Garry Jennings and also prepares Dubliner Kevin Barrett’s Triton Showers backed Impreza. Derek McGarrity, this year’s Circuit of Ireland winner and former multiple Tarmac Champion, could perhaps be McKinstry’s chief stumbling block for that 12th win. McGarrity has come close to winning Lurgan Park KELLY/McCAFFERTY WIN FORESTRY several times, but it has always slipped from the Glengormley man’s grasp. As ever, Lurgan Park has a DONEGAL FORESTRY RALLY 2010 select and very interesting entry. There 24 July 2010 are a couple of Metro 6R4’s to provide a contrast to the Subarus and there is a terrifi c line-up of Escorts, which should provide plenty of all sideways exciting Story: www.rallybuzz.com motoring. Several drivers are making Pictures: Jordan Murphy quite a trip to compete on the event. Callum Duffy and James MacGillivray Donagh Kelly and John McCafferty, are bringing their respective Escorts aboard their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution OVERALL CLASSIFICATION from the Isle of Mull. Ray Brammer is IX, won the 2010 Abbey Hotel Donegal 01) D. Kelly/J. McCafferty Forestry Stages Rally, which was was Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX - 41m 39s travelling from Kings Lynn in Norfolk to 02) M. Donnelly/A. Friel compete in his Subaru Impreza WRC. round four of the Petro Systems National Subaru Impreza N12 + 11s Just over forty cars will tackle Forestry Championship. 03) P. O’Connell/M. Wiley Mark Donnelly was a fi ne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX + 45s the eight special stages and an added 04) C. Britton/A. Kieran bonus this year will be a high quality second overall in a Robbie McGurk Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX + 01m 09s selection of rally cars from the GpB era prepared Subaru Impreza N12, while 05) F. Kelly/N. Connelly series leader Pat O’Connell fi nished third Ford Escort MkII + 01m 57s – a full house Audi Quattro, a Peugeot 06) A. Hetherington/G. Nolan 205T16, a Ford RS200 and several more in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX Ford Escort MkII + 02m 00s equally exciting cars. The start ramp after suffering from mechanical problems 07) J. Coleman/M. Haley early on in the event. Ford Escort MkII + 02m 49s will be in the park beside the paddock. 08) C. Harvey/H. Kelly The fi rst car goes over the ramp at Jordan Murphy runs the blog, Citroen C2R2 Max + 03m 28s 10.15, with the fi rst stage commencing http://globalrallynews.blogspot. 09) M. Cuddihy/D. Gibbs com. This Irishman has an eye for Toyota Starlet 1600 RWD + 03m 32s at 10.30. The champagne fi nish should 10) P. Keenan/M. Brady take place at 5pm. action pics! Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX + 03m 57s ALL SET FOR STOBART IN FINLAND WRC: RALLY FINLAND 29 - 31 July 2010

Story: Evan Rothman a shorter format than previous years HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS will Pictures: Eva Kovkova and most of the 19 stages covering be featuring the Stobart M-Sport 310km will be contested over two days. Ford Rally Team this weekend by The Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team A confi dent driving approach is essential posting news, pictures and stage will welcome four-time FIA World as Rally Finland will test WRC drivers times of their crews as they power Rally Champion to to the limit as they face extremely to the fi nish line on Saturday for the Cumbria-based squad at Neste fast tree-lined gravel stages combined the Neste Oil Rally Finland. You Oil Rally Finland this week. with blind crests and huge jumps. The can follow these updates from H&H To mark the event’s sixtieth smallest of mistakes can prove fatal so on TWITTER, FACEBOOK or via our jubilee, Kankkunen will contest the maximum concentration from the drivers WEBSITE. eighth round of the WRC in a Ford Focus is essential. RS WRC alongside long-time co-driver Rally HQ is based in Jyväskylä, COMPETITION: Read the article Juha Repo. The 51-year-old driver a bustling student city located in central alongside to stand a chance to win a started his professional rallying career Finland, 270km north of Helsinki and Stobart M-Sport Rally Team t-shirt! at Rally Finland in 1979, but the Finn located on the northern coast of the has not competed in the hugely popular beautiful lake Päijänne. The service park event since 2002. will be based at the Paviljonki Exhibition / Centre. will also be back behind the wheel of The shorter format for this a Ford Focus RS WRC after contesting year’s Rally Finland will kick off with the previous WRC round in a Ford a 4.19km forest stage based in the Fiesta Super 2000. Last year at Rally outskirts of Jyväskylä on the Thursday Finland Solberg sustained damage to evening. The fi rst full day of action on his front suspension, which dropped the Friday will consist of ten stages covering Norwegian from fi fth position and caused 143.8km and the opening loop consists Solberg to compete under SupeRally of four 70.08km stages located west of regulations on the fi nal day. the service park. Friday afternoon will WRC TEAM PRESS RELEASES Regular Stobart M-Sport drivers see the WRC drivers cover six 73km and Chris Patterson ready for Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin will stages based north of the service park, Rally Finland 2010: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1q8 lead the way for the Cumbria-based culminating with a repeat of the day’s Dani Sordo joins Kimi Räikkönen: http://wp.me/ team in Finland. This will be the British opening stage in Jyväskylä at the end of ppkXc-1qd duo’s fi fth outing at the event and they the day. Craig Breen Rallying Neste Oil Rally Finland will be looking to improve on their best The second full day is the Event Preview: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1qc result at Rally Finland when they fi nished longest of this year’s Rally Finland and The two Sébastiens ready to take up the Finnish eighth overall last year. will include two services. Saturday’s challenge: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1qj Also fl ying the fl ag for the opening loop consists of three stages Three questions to Sébastien Ogier: http://wp.me/ Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team is totalling 59.23km located south of the ppkXc-1qk another Finnish crew of Mattias Therman service park. Väärinmaja (SS13) is the Patrik Sandell gears up for Rally Finland!: http:// and co-driver Janne Perälä. The duo longest of the rally at 29.29km long wp.me/ppkXc-1qz contested last year’s Neste Oil Rally and the opening stage of the morning, Juha Kankkunen in a pre-Rally Finland test: http://wp.me/ppkXc-1qG Finland driving a Munchi’s Ford Focus Surkee (SS14 and SS17) is a new stage. RS WRC and fi nished fi fteenth overall. The fi nal fi ve stages of the day are Neither Kankkunen or Therman will be once again based south of the service nominated to score manufacturer points park and total 103.55km of competitive for the team. distance. Three stages (SS11, SS16 & Formerly known as the 1000 SS19) will all be fi lmed live along with Lakes Rally, Neste Oil Rally Finland the fi nish podium ceremony. The pre- is one of the most popular events on event FIA press conference will also be the WRC calendar and this year will fi lmed and broadcast live for the fi rst also commemorate the event’s 60th time. anniversary. The Scandinavian country HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS is regarded by many as the ‘the spiritual competition! The prize: one home of rally’ and this year’s rally has Stobart M-Sport Rally Team t-shirt. an impressive 30 of the 101 starting Question: How many WRC wins does entrants behind the wheel of a Ford. Kankkunen have to his name? Send This year’s Rally Finland will consist of answers to [email protected]! click>> read >> enjoy

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