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- WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLDR RALLYCROSSall ycWORLD RALLYCROSSros sWORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY #89 JUNE 2011 CROSSWORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSMONSTER SELECTS WORLD LIAM RALLYCROSS DORAN FOR RALLYCROSS WORLD PUSH RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- WORLD RALLYCROSSRALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSWORLD.COM WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD Rallycross Briefing #89 JUNE 2011 More Rallycross World WORLD and another major brand

We’re back! After relaunching the RallycrossWorld.com from the back page. MagCloud also makes Rallycross World website (see p5) we had the option of trying to write the whole available for iPad. Just look for the free MagCloud app in the May issue of Rallycross World magazine in about two days iPad App Store and then select Rallycross World from the or skip a month and do the job properly – hopefully you are MagCloud magazine store. How to get Rallycross World enjoying the website and the magazine and will judge that our Rallycross World is produced monthly and distributed as a pdf document decision to do the latter has worked out well. Brand awareness You can subscribe directly or receive it as a subscription benefit at RallycrossWorld.com The magazine will continue alongside the website and the It’s always good to see new sponsors come to Rallycross and for We also now offer a method for you to buy a printed copy or iPad version via MagCloud yearbook, the Rallycross World brand offering a full range of many drivers even quite small amounts from local companies products and bringing you the best coverage of your sport can make the difference between racing and not. Earlier this whether you’re a fan, amateur level racer or a professional year we drew your attention to Best Buy’s backing of British racing or working in international events. driver David Binks and this month we’ve highlighted Monster Energy’s selection of for its first official foray into Subscribe Get it free! Printed magazine iPad World wide print service and iPad magazine Rallycross. Obviously for the drivers these are important, but A direct subscription RallycrossWorld. MagCloud is a print You can download The MagCloud print-on-demand service now delivers for such major brands to come into Rallycross has a positive to Rallycross World com is the essential on demand service Rallycross World to anywhere in the world. You can order a printed magazine to be rub for everyone involved and we must all welcome them with cost €50 per year (12 Rallycross news that means you can your iPad through the delivered to your door simply by clicking the link on the left or open arms. issues). website. As well order a printed copy free MagCloud app. Visit www.myriorama. as enjoying all the of the magazine that This gives you the com and follow the feature of the site, will be delivered Mag Cloud magazine links to Rallycross registered users can anywhere in the store, from where World to subscribe download their copy world. you can search for online. of the magazine for Rallycross World free within the app. Contents 5 Top Story

7 Diary Gallery

13 Diary April & May RallycrossWorld.com RallycrossWorld.com MagCloud.com App store 18 FIA looks at engine limits

24 Monster takes Doran Click it! Copyright 26 New winners in ERC Advertisements in the pdf Rallycross World is published monthly by Myriorama 28 Problems in Portugal & version of Rallycross Ltd. This publication may not be redistributed, copied or World are interactive – click reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the written 30 Turbo Beetle for Retro race on them to be taken to the consent of the copyright holder. advertiser’s website. Unless otherwise stated, all text and photographs are © copyright 32 Shoestring Stories Check the whole advert as Tim Whittington 2011. some have multiple links – and [email protected] you wouldn’t want to miss anything, would you? Contributors: There are also links from Eddi Laumanns, Hal Ridge, Henk de Winter, Johan Dingenen some editorial items and we will This issue published : April 1 always try to offer a live link Next issue published: May 1 wherever we quote a website www.myriorama.com address in editorial. [email protected] myriorama 2 | #89 – June 2011 ©RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 3 Top story Available daily Rallycross World mag adds news website

SVERRE ISACHSEN YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque European Rallycross Champion 2009 & 2010 Norwegian Rallycross Champion 2010 Rallycross Norden winner 2010

On April 20 the RallycrossWorld.com website was relaunched Rallycross World magazine will continue to be published as a fully featured news service that will compliment the monthly. The magazine will present longer form stories – such PAT DORAN JULIAN GODFREY Duratec 2.0 – 294bhp, 254Nm torque Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 810Nm torque Duratec 2.0 – 294bhp, 254Nm torque monthly magazine and annual yearbook from the Rallycross as this month’s in depth examination of the FIA’s idea to limit European Rallycross Champion, TouringCar British Rallycross Champion 2009 & 2010 British Rallycross Champion, Supernational World stable. the number of engines used in the European championship Owned and operated by writers and photographers Henk – as well as the diary section that reviews the previous month, de Winter and Tim Whittington, RallycrossWorld.com is the review and opinion pieces and Hal Ridge’s popular inside line essential news provider for everyone interested in Rallycross. on the life of a budget racer, ‘Shoestring Stories’. The encyclopaedic knowledge of Eddi Laumanns – the The launch of the website meant that we skipped the May “Rallycross Guru” – is a part of the RallycrossWorld.com mix, issue of the magazine, so this copy has two month’s in the the German writer and photographer monitoring the news and diary as well as an revised design. Rallycross World magazine +44 (0)1435 865999 adding an historical perspective to the in depth coverage. is available for registered users of RallycrossWorld.com to RallycrossWorld.com presents its stories in clearly defined download free and is also available as a printed magazine and Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque sections; feature and short stories categorised with national an iPad version via the MagCloud service. Use the links below RACETUNERS.COM Winner, 2011 ERC round one, Great Britain events grouped separately to aid navigation and provide a site or on page two for more details. that offers unrivalled coverage across all levels of the sport. RallycrossWorld.com MagCloud RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 5 Diary gallery Monster chooses Doran in Rallycross Monster Energy entered Rallycross in the second round of the 2011 European champion in Portugal where Liam Doran’s Citroën C4 was presented in the black and green of the drink brand. Now a Monster athlete, Doran has worked hard to land the long term deal. » p24

RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 7 Diary gallery Eriksson is Ford’s Michelin man In Portugal for the second round of the ERC, Andréas Eriksson switched his Ford Fiesta to Michelin tyres. The former rally man has previously expressed his interest in using radials – something he was familiar with in . In France, he gave the tyres a real pounding, smoking all four wheels through the second corner.

RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 9 Diary gallery Harrold breathes new life into turbo Beetle James Harrold has been out testing the PPJ Racing Beetle on an airfield in recent weeks, working up to getting the car race read for August’s Rallycross Retro event at Lydden. The car was last used in anger more than a dozen years ago. » p30

RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 11 Diary April & May Diary April 2 April 3 April 5 Pavel Koutny takes the wraps off his new Fiesta VII. The Czech Münnich Helmia confirms its plans for the 2011 season in » Patrick Van Mechelen adds to his early season win at veteran’s new self-constructed machine is presented in his Motorsport which both of its Renault Clio III Supercars will be used in Maasmechelen by winning at Valkenswaard, the Belgian familiar green and white colour scheme and supersedes the drivers limber up the European Rallycross Championship. Team boss Stig-Olov driver leading home Jos Kuypers’ new Fiesta and Timur MkVI version that he has used over the last few years. Koutny for the coming Walfridson will continue in his third full ERC campaign while Timerzyanov who had his first competitive run in a KHM plans a programme of selected ERC events in the new car. ERC season by the Swedish team’s second car will be driven by Norwegian Citroën C4. Behind (above) Peter van de attending an teenager Mats Lysen who has overcome serious illness during Wege took second place with his Super1600 Toyota Yaris. Driving the winter and returned to race fitness. Lysen will prepare and Koen Pauwels gave his Ford Fiesta its first TouringCar win in Experience maintain his own car, but with assistance and technical backup his hands while Steven Maris topped the Supernational order. course at from Helmia which is based at Torsby in Sweden, just across Arjeplog in the the border from his Kongsvinger home. north of Sweden. April 13 Run on a frozen French championship winning team M Technologies lake, the course announces that it will run its Citroën Xsara for aims to help in the first round of the French series at Dreux on April 23-24. drivers develop The oldest son of European champions Kenneth and Susann their driving Hansen, Timmy has driven in Rallycross once before, taking skills and gain confidence in driving while the car is sliding. part in the Swift Sport Championship during the final round of the 2010 British championship at Pembrey. The Eurocup racer will get a brief test in the Xsara on the eve of the FRC opener. April 7 April 15 The organiser of the Global Rallycross Championship confirms Ford announces that it has signed to a multi- that the second event in the three round series to be run close year contract with Ford Racing that will see the American to Seattle at the Old Mill Adventure Park – also home to the officially represent the ‘blue oval’ in Rallycross and at the DirtFish Rally School – will include a section of the course in which he is the most successful driver. While running through an old warehouse building. A ‘gap-jump’ Foust’s competition activities are tied to the Fiesta, he was also similar to that used in the first round of the series at Irwindale involved in the US launch of the 2012 Focus and will work in is also to feature. again with Ford on launch of the Eco-boost 2.0t Focus ST later this year in America. April 10 Andreas Bakkerud prepares for the ERC season by taking Super1600 victory Dutch championship event at Valkenswaard. The Norwegian’s first outing of the year in the Set Promotion Renault Clio boosts confidence ahead of the ERC season opener at Lydden in late April. The Dutch event also brings the debut for Set Promotion’s new Renault Twingo S1600, driven by Russian Ildar Rakhmatullin who placed ninth in the class with the car which April 17 had had only The pre-season test day at the Estering in Germany generates one brief test some extra interest when All Inkl Racing takes along one of its before being FIA GT1 drivers Markus Winkelhock for his first experience of taken to Rallycross. Winkelhock, winner of the second round of the GT Holland. series in one of the All Inkl Lamborghinis, drives a Mitsubishi RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 13 Diary April & May

Lancer E6 at the Estering and describes his first experience of » Andréas Eriksson and Tanner Foust maintain Ford’s winning the podium ahead of David Olivier and Maximilien Eveno who €13,000 will be allocated to awards covering the TouringCar/ Rallycross as ‘great fun’. Team boss René Münnich uses the day run in the Global Rallycross Championship by sharing the wins both show well in their Renault Twingo and Dacia Logan. Marc Supernational and German Divisions Five and Six. to reveal the striking new livery of his Skoda Fabia II Supercar. in the second event of the series at Seattle. Eriksson, driving Morize (Peugeot 207) and Yvonnick Jagu (Audi A3) take the in the US for the first time and taking over the car used by Division Three and Four wins respectively. Timmy Hansen has May 6 Marcus Grönholm in California, won the Super Rally element a great run in his first Supercar drive, only just missed out on Andreas Bakkerud makes an entry for the opening round of of the day on Saturday while Foust moved ahead to win the an A final place in the heats and was then denied last chance the Norwegian Rallycross Championship which takes place proper Rallycross event on Sunday when Eriksson slipped to progression to the main event when a driveshaft broke on his on his local track, the Eikås Motorsenter near Bergen. the 19- Citroën Xsara while he led the B final. year-old will drive the Set Promotion Renault Clio that he uses in the European Rallycross Championship. April 25 The new European Rallycross Championship season starts as May 7 the 2010 season had finished with Sverre Isachsen on the top The second round of the British Rallycross Championship step of the podium. The Norwegian overcame problems with takes place at Blyton Park where the Night Race again proves the engine in his Ford Focus caused by fuel and water pump a popular event. First round winner Andy Scott is an early troubles and led the A final from start to finish. Second and retirement after an electrical problem halts his Peugeot third places were taken by Marc Laboulle and Day Jeanney, 306 and the event is later won by Tony Bardy Motorsport the French duo enjoying a great start to their first ERC season stablemate Kevin Procter who repeats his 2010 victory at and finishing ahead of the two KHM Citroën C4s of Liam Blyton, this time at the wheel of his ‘old’ Ford Puma. David Doran and with sixth Binks and Pat Doran complete the top three finishers in a in his Eklund Motorsport Saab. Andreas Bakkerud won the race that is cut short with the leaders in their last lap when Super1600 class and Lars Øivind Enerberg opened his ERC Doran hit a marker bail and tore a front wheel off his Focus. third place, behind Michael Jernberg, after his car suffered a season with victory in the TouringCar category. James Bird wins the Supernational class ahead of Mike Howlin puncture. while Darren Scott, Tommy Keet, Michael Duke and Kris Hudson won the supporting Swift Sport, RX150, Hot Hatch April 18 and BMW classes respectively. The BTRDA Clubmans Double European Rallycross Champion Sverre Isachsen championship had its second round here and its first announces that he has extended his sponsorship deal with First appearance on the BRC schedule, Ian Biagi (SuperModified), Stop and will again carry the company’s colours in 2011. Martin Peters (Stock Hatch) and Tom Edwardes (Minicross) taking the class wins. ����������� April 19 To launch his 2011 season, TouringCar class champion Derek Tohill releases images of the new design for his title winning Fiesta VII. Tohill is to return to the TouringCar class this year to defend the crown but also continues to develop plans for a move to the Supercar category. May 1 A couple of weeks ahead of the ERC rolling into town, the first round of the Portuguese Rallycross Championship took place at Montalegre where Pedro Matos took the event win in Citroën Xsara. Paulo Reis (Renault Clio II) and Antonio Matias (Mitsubishi Lancer E6) won Divisions Two and Five respectively while the newly introduced Junior class (Troféu Iniciação) for 13 to 15-year-olds was won by Rafael Lobato May 8 (Toyota Starlet). The second round of the French Rallycross Championship brings Jerome Grosset-Janin his first win of the year. The May 4 Chanoine Renault driver leads home Alexandre Theuil (VW ������������������������������������������������� On the eve of its first round, organisers of the ‘DRX’ German Golf IV) and Gaëtan Serazin (Peugeot 207). Round one winner ������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������� Rallycross Championship announce details of a new Samuel Peu finishes fourth in his 207, ahead of a brace of ������������������������������������������������������ championship structure and a prize fund of €43,000. The newly Citroën C4s driven by Philippe Tollemer and Christophe Wild. April 24 ���������������������������������������������������� introduced All-Inkl.com Rallycross Cup will bring together Steven Bossard again leads home David Olivier in Super1600 The opening round of the French Rallycross Championship at the Supercar and Super1600 runners who will earn points where Adeline Sangnier places third in her Citroën Saxo. Marc ������������������������������ Dreux is won by Samuel Peu who brings his Peugeot 207 home within their own classes to count towards an overall table. The Morize takes his second straight Division Three victory and ������������������������������������������������ ahead of Jerome Grosset-Janin’s Renault Clio III and the BMW award is not open to drivers from the Münnich Motorsport or Benjamin Godot (Citroën saxo) takes Division Four honours. ����������������������������������� 1 of Mickael Poirier. Steven Bossard continued in Super1600 Volland Racing outfits. The winner at the year end will collect In the first event of the Logan Cup, Alexandre Restellini takes exactly where he left off last year, climbing to the top step of €15,000, second place €10,000 and third €5000. The remaining the win ahead of Gaëtan Jan and Fabien Grosset-Janin. RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 15

����������������������������� ����������������� Diary April & May

» René Münnich wins the first round of the German Rallycross » Sharing the bill at the Estering were contenders in the made of! Monster Energy as a brand represent everything that May 24 Championship leading home Bernd Schomaker (Fabia) and peripatetic Belgian championship. Jochen Coox took his first I am; fully committed in everything I do. Rocking the M-Claw, Global Rallycross begins its build up for the third round of Bernd Wilhelm (Focus) at the Estering. Rolf Volland gives his win of the year, the Skoda driver leading home Patrick Van the car in its new colours looks ready for battle!” said Doran. the series at Pikes Peak in June with news that new Skoda Fabia II a winning debut in Super1600, the multiple Mechelen’s Subaru and Seat driver Ron Snoeck. Davy Van Den star Brian Deegan will make his first appearance in the champion leading home Andreas Steffen (Peugeot 206) and Branden (Citroën C2) again won the Super1600 class while » Sami Pakkala opened the Finish championship with a win championship. Deegan has previously driven rallycross cars as Nils Völkel (VW Polo III). The Supernational section is taken Luc Maris beat Kristof Bex to Supernational glory and Pedro in his Civic at Kouvola. In an event that appeared a part of the OMSE Ford entry in the X Games and has more by Swen Grupe (VW Golf II) while Ralf Gotz (Citroën AX) Bonnet collected the TouringCar spoils at the wheel of the to maintain the Finnish championship’s recent growth, and recently been racing off road trucks in the US. and Frank and Jens Eichelberg (Audi A4 Quattro) take glory in G&A Racing BMW 1 previously raced by Guino Kenis. which attracted a healthy crowd to the scene of last year’s ERC Division Five and Six. event, Pakkala led home the Focus of Jukka Lautamäki and Ari May 26 » The third round of the Austrian Rallycross Championship Perkiomäki’s Fiesta VI. The Supernational class was won by Guttorm Lindefjell explains his withdrawn entries for the was run at Horn-Fuglau where Jürgen Weiß gained the victory Jari-Pekka Koko (Escort). British and French ERC rounds by confirming that he is in his Ford Focus after the similar pole setting car of Alois rebuilding his ex-Lars Larsson Skoda Fabia Supercar, but Höller went out of the race in a first corner tussle with Czech May 15 that component supply problems have delayed completion. Ales Mrkacek who placed second in his Mitsubishi Lancer On the anniversary of his first appearance in Rallycross, Lindefjell has teamed up with former Nomaco Racing pilot E9. The TouringCar class (open to both rear-drive ERC-spec Tanner Foust runs at the forefront of the Portuguese round Ole Kristian Nøttveit, the latter due to race the car in the TouringCars and the old ‘Division Two’ N cars) was of the European championship and comes through the Norwegian ERC round at Lånke at the end of the June before won by Patrick Breiteneder in a D2 Honda Civic while Roman event to take his first victory in the series, becoming the first Lindefjell takes over driving duties at Höljes the following Castoral took Supernational honours in his front-drive Astra. American driver to do so. Foust was fastest in the second weekend. Lindefjell plans to run a selected programme of and third heats and won the A final from pole, only a “bone events this year ahead of a full time return to the ERC in 2012. » In the first round of the Norwegian Rallycross head mistake” in the first heat denying Foust an unbeaten run Championship, the established Supernational stars were given through the event. Foust is chased home by Ford team mate May 28 the slip by Per Jørgensveen who won the event with his Volvo Andréas Eriksson and Citroën driver Timur Timeryanov. The second round of the Finnish Rallycross Championship is S40. Stian Haugan and Terje Morstad placed second and third The Super1600 and TouringCar classes both provide repeat run on an asphalt track at Veteli where Ari Perkiomäki defeats at the Eikås Motorsenter near Bergen. The Super1600 win was winners from round one as Andreas Bakkerud and Lars Øivind round one winner Sami Pakkala to take the win in his Fiesta taken by Thommy Tesdal ( Corsa), Trond Marthinsen Enerberg takes their second wins of the year. VI. Jussi-Petteri Leppihalme drives a Set Promotion S1600 Clio (Saxo) and Asgeir Taraldsen (206) finishing ahead of ERC in the Supercar class and places sixth in his first event. Jukka- points leader and local star Andreas Bakkerud who had a » Jos Kuypers gives his new Fiesta its first victory in the Pekka Peltokangas (Escort) wins the Supernational class

official dealer: cautious run through the event. Another local, Ole Håbjørg second round of the Dutch championship at Valkenswaard’s won the TouringCar class with his BMW 1 ahead of Henning Eurocircuit. Kuypers led home Patrick Van Mechelen and » Drammen hosts round two of the Norwegian championship Nyberg (Mazda RX8) and Christian Sandmo (Kadett E). Wil Teurlings in the thin Supercar field. Marcel Snoeijers where veteran Terje Morstad claims the win over Stian Haugan (Clio II) beat Davy Van Den Branden (Citroën C2) to take and Herjbjørn Haug. The Class two ‘TouringCar’ bracket is » The Danish championship got under way at the Nysumbanen Super1600 honours while Mandy Kasse (Opel Astra) got her won by Roy Vidar Skomedal in a Mazda RX7 while Trond where Ulrik Linnemann took victory in the well contested first TouringCar win, leading home Louis de Haas and the Marthinsen (Saxo) beats (Saxo) and round Super1600 class with his Peugeot 207. Kasper Zylauv (Honda new Volvo C30 of Belgian Jos Sterkens. Luc Maris returned to one winner Thommy Tesdal (Corsa) in Super1600. Civic), Rasmus Nielsen (Civic) and Troels Daarbak (Volvo S40) the top of the Supernational class, this time BMW driver Day took the class wins in , Super2000 and Supernational. Leysen leading the chase. May 29 A combined Austrian/Czech championship event at Greinbach May 10 » Nyirad in Hungary hosted an event that counted towards is won by Peter Ramler (Seat Leon) while home track favourite Nomaco Racing announces that it will not be present in both the Hungarian and Polish championships. Local man Christian Petrakovits tops the Super1600 order in his Polo. the Portuguese ERC round and puts the non-show down to Tamas Karal won the Supercar class in his Skoda Fabia, the Patrick Breiteneder continues his impressive form with engine problems. According to the team its Volvo C30 was Super1600 victory taken by Zsolt Orszag (Suzuki Ignis) and another TouringCar win in his Honda Civic and Roman short of power at Lydden in round one because of turbo Lukasz Kabacinski (BMW M3) won the Supernational section. Castoral adds the Supernational victory to his tally. boost problems “We could only use 1.6 bar of boost instead of the usual 2.8 and the engine was missing 100-150bhp,” said Super1600: 1.6L @ 240 bhp • TouringCar: 2.0L @ 292 bhp Hunsbedt. The team then suffered an engine failure on the dyno after the event, a problems with cylinder liners and the exhaust blamed for the power shortage and subsequent failure. May 14 Liam Doran and the KHM Citroën team surprises the ERC paddock by changing the colour scheme of Doran’s Citroën C4 overnight in Portugal. After scrutineering a red car on Friday, www.zomermotorsport.com the team spends the night changing the colour scheme to the tel. 0031 (0)548 - 361385 black and green of Doran’s new sponsor Monster Energy. “This is fantastic news not just for me but for the sport of Rallycross Belgian photographer Johan Dingenen caught this Corsa driver standing his car on its nose for an age before it eventually fell on to its roof in a VAS event at a potential winner, from start to podium the Glosso Circuit in Arendonk recently. as well. I now get to show the world what the sport and I are RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 17 FIA floats idea of limit on engine use

The idea of restricting the number of engines used by teams have to run an engine setup that would last for several events, contesting the European Rallycross Championship has been at the moment we are looking for every last little bit of power Engine room put forward by the FIA Off Road Commission, the body and torque and that means pushing the engine to its limit, we responsible for regulating Rallycross at the international level. had two failures at Lydden which is expensive. The suggestion was made after the May meeting of the ORC “A negative could be that you need to have an extra engine ERC competitors asked for feedback on engine useage limits on the eve of the third round of the ERC in France. Senior for testing, although even that may be cheaper than using officials are, however, going to great lengths to make it clear one engine, or more, in each event. Perhaps it’s even more that no decisions have yet been made and that they have asked important for the smaller teams than for someone like me, the question publicly in order to gain feedback and opinion they are under more pressure when costs go up,” said Hansen. before the matter is discussed in detail. Running what is ostensibly a replica of the Hansen Citroën “There will be a meeting to discuss technical issues in C4s, Norwegian Morten Bermingrud has moved from being August and we want to have a response to this idea before a full time ERC contender to running a pick and mix season then,” said ORC President Andy Lasure, “When we first of events he enjoys and those close to home. “For me a suggested that the number of tyres used should be limited restriction would be perfect,” he said, “I do not have a spare there were people who said it would never work but we’ve engine and the one in the car is deliberately built to a lower had that for a few years and it works very well: there is not a spec than Hansen’s engines, it has less power but should problem with tyres wearing out before the end of an event and be more reliable because I cannot afford to blow it up; if it the teams don’t spend as much money on tyres. If you look breaks, it’s over!” at it now and think that we have restricted tyres which cost When did you last see an Eklund Motorsport car stopped by around €1200 a set but the team can use as many engines as engine failure? Not aware of the suggestion from the FIA until they like and the cost is obviously much higher for engines it asked to comment on it, engineer Per Anders Eklund was does not seem to make much sense. The only thing we have thinking on his feet but thought the idea had merit. “We stay decided at the moment is to ask this question and listen to a little safe with the engines so perhaps it will not really make what the teams and drivers tell us. If it goes forward, then we much difference to us, but if we had 50bhp more and the will discuss how many engines, how to control it and what the engine was fragile I might say something different. I guess the penalties might be.” ones who have more power and can spend more money will If things do progress towards some form of control, the man not like the idea very much, no-one likes to turn the power charged with writing those the rules that will define how it down,’ said Eklund. works is FIA Technical Delegate to Rallycross, Carlos Funes. Already on the wrong end of engine fragility this year The Brazilian was equally keen to make it clear that nothing is – although the problems were put down to component yet decided. “I’ve had this matter in my mind for two or three quality problems rather than pushing beyond the realistic years but it is still an open question. The thing I know is that output possibilities – Ludvig Hunsbedt wanted to hear more I’ve seen controls over engines use work effectively in other details. “I’m not against it but I have no experience of how championships so, there are many different ways in which it they will make it work so I’d like to know more about that. can be done, although I am sure that we will have a group who It’s important to get the budgets under control because then absolutely against the idea and a group that is absolutely in more people can compete, it’s crazy to use two engines every favour,” said Funes who added that in his personal opinion the event,” he said. introduction of a restriction was ‘logical’. Another to lose an engine already this year, but again because of an associated failure, is Stig-Olov Walfridson Teams and competitors initially positive whose Helmia Motorsport outfit has two cars in the ERC Initial response to the idea among teams in the championship this year, the second driven by Norwegian teenager Mats was broadly positive, some simply welcoming the idea of a Lysen. “I blew an engine at Lydden but that was because we limit on engine use and the restriction on spending it will lost fuel pressure. That can happen and they [the FIA] need bring, while others were keen to put forward views on how to understand that if they make new rules but I agree that many engines might be allowed or how a system could be something must happen to get the costs down; four engines in controlled. two races is crazy. For me two engines in the first half of the One of few in the sport to have current knowledge and year and two in the second half would be good, but I want to experience of control formulas outside of Rallycross, Kenneth know how they will control it,” said Walfridson. Hansen gave the idea a cautious welcome. “It could be good Last year Michael De Keersmaecker suffered engine and I am very interested to see some details about how problems of one form or another in several events but the they make it work and what the penalties would be if you Belgian remains pragmatic about that. “It’s racing, things used more engines: I don’t think it would be good to be put break. I don’t see the problem if I take ten engines and completely out of the championship because it might do more another driver uses two. For me I just like to have a maximum damage than good. I’ve seen engine controls work very well in of one engine each event and then it’s up to the driver to take karting and racing so I know that it can be done and to have the risk or not with the power and how they use that engine: if a good system would save some money because you would you break it you are out,” he said. 18 | #89 – June 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 19 FIA floats idea of limit on engine use

Like Hansen, a team owner in the ERC who has current are carrying a spare engine that we did not have before. That’s experience of restrictions in racing is All Inkl boss René not as bad as it sounds because it’s Julian Godfrey’s own engine Münnich who also has a team in the FIA GT1 World [form his British championship Supernational Fiesta], but if it Championship where there are restrictions on engine use. “If gets so that everyone feels you have to have a spare the costs the rules are good it could be okay, in GT racing it definitely will go up significantly and it might put people off doing the sends the costs down even if you sometimes have a small class,” said Tohill problem because of it: if you have to put in a new engine Among the Super1600 field engine reliability is generally in the last race of the year you then are in a position where good, although here too there are perhaps the tell tale signs it’s necessary to rebuild it before it needs a rebuild because of things beginning to run away with engine revs rising and otherwise you start the next year with an engine that has the number of drivers realistically in with a chance of winning already been used,” said Münnich. “These are relatively small narrowing. Although more highly developed than TouringCar, things but the rules need to be good, sometimes it’s cheaper to Super1600 may also benefit from a restriction. refresh the engine than to keep using it until it fails. Perhaps there should be a penalty for failures instead of a restriction on Builders open to change how many engines are used – maybe you get a penalty for the You might think that engine builders would be reluctant to third failure in a season.” see any limits on the use of their products imposed, but there Other team owner/drivers also favour the idea of somekind are positives to be had from a ruling that would bring about of restriction. “It’s the way to go. Everywhere else in motor increased reliability. Perhaps the most prolific engine builder sport there is something like that so it is possible,” said OMSE at ERC level, Julian Godfrey has had a testing start to the 2011 boss Andreas Eriksson, “It might be better to have a penalty season with high profile customers suffering problems and every time you change an engine because it can be more publicly blaming the ‘engine builder’ for them. expensive to keep the engine in the car and destroy it than it is “A limit on how many engines you could use in a season to change it and have a rebuild before the problem is too great would keep costs down because everyone would have to – taking the penalty and a smaller cost from the engine builder make the engines more reliable, that means running a safer would be better.” specification and taking less risks. At the moment everyone is Former champion Jean-Luc Pailler runs one of the most cost looking for every last bit of performance and that is pushing effective outfits around, and also among the busiest with cars things to the edge,” said Godfrey who also explained that the in the French national championship as well as the ERC but Tyre use is controlled problems encountered at the start of the year were down to has had a rough start to the 2011 season with engine failure and tyre scrutineering component and budget problems. “The problems with the at Lydden and further problems forcing him to withdraw his is a regular part of Nomaco Volvo was that the liners failed. They were same used events, so why not entry for Portugal. “Normally I only use one engine a year engines too? The FIA in the engine we did for the Bergteamet S40 and there was no but it gets difficult to keep up and have enough power. Yes, it is now seeking opinion problem then. Now we’ve rebuilt the engine using the same would be good to have some form of control, it would mean on the possibility of liners as we use in the Cosworth engines and it seems fine, it less money and more even competition,” he said. restricting the number was just one of those things can go wrong. of engines used in a While all others questioned were in favour, double champion year. “The problems we had with Isachsen’s engine is really down Sverre Isachsen roundly condemned the idea and was blunt in to the fact that he was very late getting started this year. He his view of those putting it forward. “They are complete idiots!” wanted us to do work on the engine and do some testing but said Isachsen, “The FIA are idiots if that’s an idea to talk about. the budget was not there. We tried new fuel and different spark If you take out the best team then you will be left with the plugs and that has caused some problems, but if we had been weak ones and when they push they will break their cars. Then able to do that earlier in the year we could have gone testing what do you have left in the championship? Nothing! It’s a and discovered the problems. And when you test it’s easier to stupid idea, there is no reason to change anything.” control what’s happening in the car because you can run one or two laps and monitor temperatures to see if there are any Limitation may help growth problems; in an event there’s no time for that, you just have to While the discussion has centred on the Supercar class, and get on with it and run the risk of the engine failing. the greatest concern over the number of engines and therefore “If there is a limit on the engines used then the rules need effect on costs is in the top class, there are rumblings of accommodate or allow for genuine failures without penalising discontent among TouringCar runners as the championship’s a driver so greatly that his championship is over, but, basically, newest class continues to develop. the cost would be reduced,” said Godfrey. “If we had some form of limit now it would probably stop New to the ERC this year, Mountune is supplying OMSE engine development getting out of hand,” said curret champion with its Ford Duratec motors this year and gained its first win Derek Tohill, “Last year was good, the engine was reliable in the series with Tanner Foust in round two. Engine builder and we had no real problems but now everyone is beginning Rob Denny is, quite rightly, pleased with the way things have to look for more performance things are getting closer to the started. “It’s new for us but obviously we had a lot of input limit. I had to have a new set of pistons after Lydden, I hadn’t from OMSE who knew exactly what it wanted. Rallycross is planned for that so it’s money out of the budget and now we brutal for the engine – I can’t watch the starts because I know 20 | #89 – June 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 21 FIA floats idea of limit on engine use

what load the engines are under – so I’m pleased that we’ve failing before being removed for rebuild and the costs could delivered a competitive engine,” he said. significantly higher: replacing an engine that has failed and is a Mountune operates in a wide range of motor sport total loss would cost more than €50,000... Obviously, there are disciplines, including many that have restrictions and limits on only so many who can keep up with that level of expense. engine use. Engine builders agree that imposing a limit on the number of “We had a clear aim from OMSE, number one was to be engines used would mean running a slightly more conservative reliable and number two was to be fast. I think we’ve scratched setup, less power and a lower torque output. the surface on both counts and what we are working on now is Less powerful cars. Is that going to be as good to watch? a rebuild strategy that maintains that,” said Mountune’s general How were things two or three years ago? Did you enjoy manager Roger Allen, “Operating under a limit on the number watching the cars when they were making almost as much of engines is not new territory for us, it means you have to power but when torque figures were notably lower? Did you consider a number of other factors when the spec of the engine even notice that Julian Godfrey’s finest engines made perhaps is developed. We supply engines for the F2 championship and 850 instead of 920Nm of torque? we are running 6000km on a single engine there. You are not Our best guess is that the racing was just as enjoyable dealing with gentle users either, they are young career racers and that the power and torque outputs are of relatively little who push the engine to its limit all the time.” interest to the average fan. Sure, it’s good to be able to boast Having heard about this while away from the and that the cars in your sport are more powerful in every way than with a few days to ponder it, Tony Bardy had an interesting a WRC, but the difference between 550 and 560bhp is invisible. take on things. “I hope that they take advice from people who And if what the teams are saying is right, that there is already are building and working with engines because it could be very a need to do something about costs, and that lower costs will good, but it could also be a massive problem if the details are encourage more to compete – or allow more teams to run not worked out properly. They could solve the problems more two cars – the fan is probably going to be the winner. Greater easily by introducing a pop-off valve on the turbo to restrict reliability should mean your favourite driver is more likely boost pressure. That’s where the real problems are coming to get through the event without being put out by engine from because some are running three-bar boost and when you problems and also that there will be more cars in the events. are in that range things are going to break,” he said. While car counts are not a problem in France, a larger pool of competitors from which to draw should help the less well What effect for the fans? supported events to attract a full field. All this is, of course, of great importance for the teams who You could, of course, support continued freedom in the have to pay for engines and for the engine builders who earn rules. Power outputs will edge closer to 600bhp and at some their living from supplying engines. But what difference does point in future we will doubtless see someone produce an it make to those behind the fence, the fans that come to watch engine with a 1000Nm of torque. But if we then end up with the racing? engines that are good for only one event – or perhaps only one At a basic level, a situation where engine development day – it seems fairly obvious that the number of people able to and use is left unrestricted will probably lead to increasing compete will decrease. costs as teams are forced to push their tuners to gain more We should also perhaps, put this kind of usage in performance from production-based engines that were never perspective. Experienced journalist and commentator Hugo designed to withstand the stress of producing 550bhp and Van Opstal is in favour of a more reliable option. “One engine upwards of 800Nm (600lb/ft) of torque. Increased costs usually for the complete weekend should be the maximum to prevent has the effect of reducing the number able to compete at a fully teams running a qualifier engine in the heats. In Rallycross you competitive level. drive maximum 20 minutes in a weekend, how do they explain Getting truly accurate costs is never easy, but it’s fairly safe that an engine can’t last for 20 minutes? Reliability is also a to say that running a full season with an experienced event quality needed in motor sport,” he said. winning team would cost you between €250 and 300,000, a The time element is one way to look at it, but think again figure that has not greatly changed over the last few years. about Mountune’s 6000km F2 motor and compare that to As the concern over the number of engines used is relatively Rallycross. To be generous, we will assume a lap length of 1500 new, let’s assume that this figure might include the use of two metres. Again to work towards the maximum use, we will take engines in ten races. Again, the cost of a rebuild, is not easy to two runs of four-laps in the free practice and another four in come by and it will vary significantly between different engine timed practice. Three qualifying heats, each of four-laps and, builders and according to the components that have to be to account for the fact that not everyone drives just one final, replaced in each rebuild. let’s say two six-lap finals. That’s a total of 36 laps or 54km per For the sake of argument, let’s price a rebuild at €10,000. So, event. Mulitply that over the ten events in the ERC and we are if engines are run to their limit and need to be rebuilt every up to a fairly generous 540km in the season. On this basis that event, we could add eight rebuilds to the cost of a season. In F2 engine would be good for more than 11 years of Rallycross, our assumed costing that’s €80,000 extra, or a 32% increase which does make the current rate of engine use look rather on a base cost of €250,000. get to stage where engines are excessive. 22 | #89 – June 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 23 Rival team boss welcomes Monster Energy’s move into Rallycross Doran selected as Monster’s man in Rallycross British racer gets long term deal with Monster Energy

Saturday morning at the Portuguese round of the European of good things to say about each other and about Monster, as in Rallycross,” said Eriksson who also runs American Tanner crash at Lydden in March that was not possible because that Rallycross Championship and the media present at the event well as looking forward to the imminent arrival of the new DS3 Foust, backed by another energy drink brand, Rockstar. car is out of action and there is no way to get the car I’m using are assembled on the grid as early mist begins to lift. They Supercar. Doran has now become one of Monster Energy’s ‘athletes’ in Europe to America and back and still manage the events do not know exactly why they are there, just the promise of Well, they would, wouldn’t they? and a part of its Monster Army, “I’ve been chosen to do this here. It makes it very difficult for everyone, but I’m doing a good story. At the appointed time, Liam Doran drives his Perhaps the most important words spoken here, then, were and it’s everything I could ever have hoped for. It’s a three-year everything I can and just hoping that as a Monster athlete and KHM Citroën C4 to the grid, the surprise being that the car from rival team boss Andréas Eriksson whose OMSE outfit deal so I have the security of knowing what I will be doing with a manufacturer car it will be enough to get the invite. It’s a – scrutineered on Friday afternoon in its familiar red livery, is runs the official Ford effort in Rallycross. “It’s a huge thing and that I can focus on doing the job of representing Monster waiting game now,” said Doran. now black and bearing the distinctive green logo of Monster because what Monster will do with this goes far, far outside of and getting results in Rallycross,” said Doran who has been Doran is expected to continue with the C4 until the end Energy. racing – they will take Rallycross to new fans and that is good pursuing the deal with Monster for many months. of the first half of the ERC season, KHM’s new Citroën DS3 So the media get a good story to start the event and Liam for everyone here. I’m very happy that Monster has come into The main thrust of the Monster programme is Doran’s ERC scheduled to be given its debut outing in the Swedish (fifth) Doran has a major backer, the beginning of a three-year deal Rallycross, not everyone will understand now how important campaign, but it will also cover a number of other events and, round of the championship in the first weekend of July where that gives him some career security as well as opening the it is or why they are here, but it is another part of making hopefully, an X Games invitation. “The plan was that we would team boss Hansen will drive the new car. door to a wider programme of events. That’s all very good, things bigger and better. It’s not just a local or national level have sent one of Hansen’s C4s to America and done the Global and, of course, Doran and team boss Kenneth Hansen had lots sponsors, it’s a huge global brand, we need to have those names events there to earn the X Games invitation, but after the 24 | #89 – June 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 25 New winners emerge in competitive ERC season

New faces Foust and Holte gain first ERC wins as 2011 season takes shape There was never much doubt that Frode Holte would win ERC events, only really a question of when. In the first couple of years, there was also the appended question of when the Norwegian would get his hands on a car that would allow him to win, He achieved more with the ex-Bergteamet Volvo S40 than any of the previous occupants of the car, but it was also clearly evident that no matter how hard Holte worked in the car – and he did work hard – there was no way it would win events on merit alone. Taking the decision upgrade and miss part of the 2010 season while doing so, Holte gave his new Volvo C30 its debut in Sweden last summer and immediately showed the pace of the car by working it into the A final. From there until the end of the year he was a consistent threat everywhere he raced and the 2011 season started well enough with seventh place in round one followed by fourth place in Portugal. Tanner Foust claimed his first ERC victory In France, however, Holte was really in the groove, a brace of fastest time on Sunday a year on from his debut in the series while Frode Holte delivered on his latent promise setting the Volvo driver on his way. As is so often the case, when that first win and got his first win in France. eventually comes, it looks so easy that you wonder why there had not already been a string of wins. Only the last lap, when his C30 suffered gear selection difficulties, did Holte come under any pressure as he took a confident first victory at this level. Holte arrived in the ERC having won everything there was to win in Norway’s Supernational class: Rallycross and hillclimb successes had been achieved in huge number and Holte had also collected the prestigious ‘Driver of the Year’ award from Norway’s ASN. Having takjen the lead of the ERC with his first event victory, the question now is; When will Holte win the championship? Among seeking to deny Holte that goal this year is Tanner Foust who, on the anniversary of his first appearance in the ERC became the only American to win in the series. Like Holte, Foust has looked like an event winner since he first showed up in Europe and it was onbly ever a question of when, not if, he would win. And also like Holte, Foust’s win has pushed him into a position from which he can challenge from the title. The American can lean on the experience available to him in the OMSE team which in just five years on the trail has developed into one of the best in the paddock, experience that clearly helps him to short cut the learning phase when showing up at venues he has never seen before. The glimmer of hope for an open championship in round one was the performance of Marc Laboulle and but while the Frenchmen have not featured so strongly again, the success achieved by Foust in Portugal and Holte in France, allied to champion Sverre Isachsen’s slump to the B and C finals respectively, and the ever present threat of KHM pair Liam Doran and Timur Timerzyanov, have combined to make this look like a championship that is there for the taking and in which one of many could take it. We will need the winners in Norway and Sweden to be different from those on top on the first three rounds before this 2001 championship exceeds the diversity of the 2009 season in which there were different winners at each of the first four events. But looking at the quality of the current field, it would appear entirely possible for that to happen and for this to turn into one of the most open championships in the ERC’s history. 26 | #89 – June 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 27 28 | #89–June 2011 to racedrivers inPortugal. the firstround andencourage ofthe championship more to try theno-one from CAVR organising present at Lydden was for here that is championship andwhatgain surprising is points forto the class onthe right minimum necessary was starters butdonothave with, any TouringCars. classes those Theeight bolster that can the from national they Super1600s series and haveSupercars The a few Portuguese season. in afull notput whowill ofthose the from schedule to chopped get thatthose cost alottoto, the get are first goingto always be flungraces, the furthest budgets, andtight running prices fuel days of high andinthese a longway away for everyone involved. ofthe form organisers the previous given expected and France, neither ofwhich were what youwouldhave Frank after Vallesection came Then intoPortugal it. crashed to the repair fence inthe Joker Lap necessary when itwas timeschedule only slipping behind quite straight forward, all was Britain rangeofevents. awide experienced already Championship Rallycross has in the European rounds, Three levels entry Event organisersfeelthepressureofvarying Rocky roads Entries greatandsmallputorganisersunderpressure The entry for Portugal was small – too small. The event is small.The small– too for was The entry Portugal of time in which to deal with breakdowns or incidents. That orincidents. breakdowns of timeinwhich with to deal there nopressure is onthe andplenty timetable organiser; thereally problem. but that’sarefans be moreLousada, gone.There at might not mainland relatively onthe european cheap for anyone based itwas of large ofracersbecause the numbers making trip nodifferent, the days wouldbe level nowthe entry Lousada Even atand enthusiastic. were run event ifitthe Portuguese that hadbutthe fans gotoLousada are Montalegre vocal toreturning year. each It nothave the arena does that feel to forward look a place that whomake the those journey beautiful, and the genuinely inwhichsituated area is itis very hard. very nottry need race andthey were overconfidentor they that nothing could deny them a Either that goingthrough just the motions. andwas this year at the event endof its to losing that itself the club hadresigned to theget impression easy and this it year was ran much deeper An event with a small entry is, in many ways, easy for the easy inmany ways, is, asmallentry with An event one agreat offbeing notfar track, agood is Montalegre that itmay, as Be the problems event the with Portuguese Rallycross World .COM the grid before someone realised that, with 28 qualifiers, the 28qualifiers, with that, realised someone before the grid broughthere to Dfinalbeing there aSupercar were too, errors two hoursto complete, twohours for nine races –although more than 30 minutes starting late almost andthen taking Poirier’s BMW, crashed notmuch there to about. laugh was around Mickael with fumbled crew while the hapless recovery for 15 minutes sitting onSaturday ongrid drivers afternoon although for the the sideofit, funny had to andsee sitback -inthe endyoujust poor so to be service breakdown/recovery little there excuse for was tight, the timewouldbe realised should have With thatthe of asize track. everyone anentry more to on than what happening arough guide might be little was Here timetable the published the start. took drivers at Essay thewherethe weekend officials following 87 AFOR and the with marathon Ducs des starters infront ofthe ASA to amendthe Sunday was timetable. Stewards for the adnthat timetable, to oneofthe its firsttasks not run more ofaproblem that did iteven makes event the Portuguese Rallycross The event ran behind schedule all weekend, allweekend, the finals behindschedule event ran The the CAVR facing the task Contrast relatively 41 with easy World .COM

events inthe 2011series. events of the ofthe remaining organisers relative level performance year. that the nowitwouldappear their with Right fate rests fortunate the to forwere remain 2012as this inthe calendar thecounts French that as have youalready be to suspect will fellmany the onso Andyet event other short recognised. be that andequipment investment should sizeable infacilities control a new tower –andrapidvehicles was intervention awell –alongwith monitoring equipped television circuit closed move tooflights, replace asystem course marshalswith and,nomatter what youthinkengineering ofthe change, the ofconstruction amajor piece was of the section Joker Lap at impressive, Essay upto the scratch addition de Ducs was and the amount ofwork that hadgoneinto getting the Circuit tothis year dobetter thatto needed have they understood the French year’s oflast seventh tenappeared ranked events, were assembled. finalists C whilethesent away Super1600 abitofwait andthere was were grid then cars on The the four race run. should notbe Only narrowly making it into the 2011 ERC after being itinto making Only narrowly being the after 2011 ERC no favours. no Frenchthe did operation recovery comedic this as such scene woeful andwanting, France inwas Organisation Below: west? going of fangerin event their is Europe’sbut with fringe, celtic themselves identify (left) fans Portuguese #89 –June 2011|29

Jan Tore Brustad New winners emerge in competitive ERC season

The Rallycross Retro class that will appear at August Bank quite exciting to drive,” said Harrold who has tested the car Holiday’s BRC event at Lydden has gained another competitor a couple of times, “The first time it was a bit scary, but we with former Stock Hatch champion James Harrold set to drive changed the throttle and also the exhaust side of the turbo and in the class with a VW Beetle. it’s more driveable now. We had to stop the last test because Harrold has rebuilt the turbocharged Beetle raced by his the clutch gave up, so we’re working on a better clutch now. late uncle, Peter. The car was used in both two and four- I’m really looking forward to doing the event in August and wheel drive forms and was last raced in 1998 in two-wheel think the Retro thing is a great idea, it’d be good if it runs three drive turbocharged form having converted back to rear-drive. or four times a year at good events, I’d definitely be interested Beetle ready for Retro Harrold has rebuilt the car in two-wheel drive trim, but has in that.” retained the hybrid VW-Subaru turbocharged engine. The Rallycross Retro event is open to old rally and Rallycross “The car is unique, it has a Beetle cylinder block and Subaru cars but does not have any strict criteria regarding vehicle age Harrold resurrects famous Beetle for Rallycross Retro event quad-cam heads. It’s a 2.1-litre and when the boost builds it’s or pedigree.

30 | #89 – June 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 31 Shoestring stories – the life of a low budget racer in the European championship

Real

progress Hal Ridge led an ERC race for the first time in The budget is tighter than ever, France – quite an achievement but after selling his trailer to considering he and the team had programmed pay the bills, Hal Ridge makes it the ECU by to the grid in Britain and France guesswork.

When I last wrote here in Rallycross World prior to Lydden work that had been done to it. My trailer has been getting a bit and, despite already lending me a trailer since I had sold mine, paddock wasn’t too hard, but finding somebody with a welder Hill I was starting to get the feeling that we might not make it long in the tooth for a while, so I spent some early mornings also provided the use of his Transit van. was incredibly difficult. Almost all the teams had most parts to the first round of the European Rallycross Championship. I tidying it up and duly sold it to try and find the budget to race. During practice at Lydden the car felt much better than of a welder, but almost always were missing something crucial. sit here now having contested not only the first round but the I had to borrow the money for the gearbox, thanks to MB it had in the previous year, the better gear ratios and bigger We did eventually get a new engine mount made, and although third round in France too. Motorsport (again!), which arrived on the Monday before the power band made for a much more drivable car. Before the it needed strengthening over the course of the weekend it The build up to Lydden Hill was frantic to say the least. event. The last week was a mad dash to get the car ready, fitting weekend we hadn’t been able to get the suspension geometry certainly did its job. With 15 or so days to go the car still hadn’t been rolling road the gearbox, painting and fitting all the panels on the car and exactly how we would have liked, but we had spent a long We missed timed practice as a result of having to make tested and I still didn’t have my dogbox back from Gripper. sorting out the hundreds of little jobs. time setting it up and it certainly seemed to have made a big an engine mount, so it wasn’t until the first heat that we We eventually got to the rolling road at JabbaSport where the Incredibly we did get to Lydden, thanks to a lot of help difference. discovered the suspension travel was bottoming out over the mapping went well, and although there wasn’t any more power from so many people, and a lot of very late nights and even During the second practice session we broke the same bumps especially at the bottom of the hill, the back of the car than in 2010 the vernier pulleys have made for a much wider earlier mornings. To add to the issues, with a week to go engine steady that we had broken at the last event of 2010 was all over the place so that knocked my confidence a bit. We power-band and a much more drivable car. the brakes on my van decided to play up and despite trying in the Czech Republic. The repair done by Gripper hadn’t raised the car quite significantly overnight, and in warm-up on Back at the workshop, there was still the issue of affording almost everything we couldn’t solve the problem. British worked. It was either finish there and then or improvise. We day two it felt much better. Heat two was then our best race to get to Lydden, I still had to pay for my gearbox and all the championship racer Phil Chicken kindly came to my rescue decided to make a new engine mount, finding steel in the to date, I took the Joker Lap on the first lap and once Willem 32 | #89 – June 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 33 Shoestring stories – the life of a low budget racer in the European championship

Veltman had also taken the alternative I was able to stay between me and the guy that mapped the car had led to me within a second of him for the rest of the race, only his power wiping out all data contained in the ECU... advantage keeping him ahead. I have always seen Veltman and Lots of phone calls back to England, and nowhere could Harrie Deelen as the first on our ‘to beat list’. In Poland last we find the back-up for the engine MAP. At midnight – after year I was 11.5 seconds behind Deelen over a race distance. borrowing Derek Tohill’s hirecar (sorry about the puncture, In the second heat at Lydden, after we both had clean runs, Derek!) – I was in a friend’s hotel room using the wi-fi and I was just over a second behind. To have found 10 seconds downloading the original base map we had used to first get over the winter really made it all worth while, and made me my car running. But this wasn’t even for my engine and even more determined to find more. The third heat wasn’t so we didn’t know if it would start. The car did start, but we good, a suspension top-mount broke which made the handling were concerned about it damaging the engine. The general interesting to say the least, but we left the event very happy consensus was that it was better for the fuel mixture to be too overall. rich than too lean to avoid melting a piston, so over the course of the weekend, after advice from lots of people in the paddock Portugal – too far to race we continued to develop our guess-work map, making it run The next event on the calendar was Portugal, and I had decided the engine richer, to try and avoid the massive expense of an long before the season started not to even try to race in the engine failure while also trying to mke it run competitively. championship’s most southern event. It appears many other The first couple of practices felt okay, we were amazed the car people felt the same, with only 16 cars in both Supercar and was running at all but we were a long way off the pace. The first Super1600 and eight in Touring Car. I went to the event to heat felt better, but after riding the kerb a bit hard in the first work for the new RallycrossWorld.com news site, and the corner we again broke the engine steady, and this then tore the general feeling in the paddock was that Portugal is just too far threads off the new front mount. in these financially difficult times. Kenneth Hansen confessed We reverted back to the improvised mount we had made to enjoy the event Portugal, but suggested that the ‘last at Lydden Hill and, in warm-up on Sunday, the car felt 1700km’ killed it for him really. Says it all... good, although down on power compared to Lydden. It was A broken riding the bumps and kerbs really well and gave me a lot of Freestyle mapping suspension confidence in the fast corners. The second heat went even France was my next port of call, but again this wouldn’t have mount made better, but I was racing with a lot of cars that hadn’t got a time been possible without massive generosity and help from a the handling in the first heat and would normally belong much higher up ‘interesting’ at number of people. The first thing we had to do was make a new Lydden. Below, the order, so I did my own thing and set an alright time. engine mount, repair the old one and with the two working Ridge had his run The third heat was much better still, I got a brilliant start and together hope it would be much better. We also made some to date in front of lead into the first corner. A big push up the back gave me the big changes to the rear suspension geometry, and for the first the big crowd at hurry up and I got my head down to try and pull out as much Essay in France. time in many events actually achieved the set-up we desired. of a gap as I could. Now, the Joker Lap had been very, very Adding weight was also on the list, all the lightening we had slippery all weekend, requiring the handbrake to get round. As done over the winter had actually put the car under the weight I Jokered on the last lap there was much more grip than before, limit, so some big weights were placed in the car with the help I made a mistake and wasn’t as tidy as I could have been, and of the corner weight scales to help put them in the right place. only just lost the lead. That wasn’t important though, we had The final part of the pre-France jigsaw was the fuel tank. Each led our first ERC race on merit, and even more importantly, FIA tank is homologated for a certain period of time, and as lead Deleen until I’d made a mistake. I bought mine second hand, it ended its homologation at the I will be missing Norway and Sweden for the same reason as end of April. You are able to get a two year extension but it has Portugal, on a very small budget they are just too far away. My to be inspected by the manufacturer in order to do this, which dream of racing at Höljes will have to wait for at least another is a time consuming and expensive process. It arrived back just year. in the nick of time. What we did do is leave France knowing is that the car Mr Chicken very kindly again gave me the use of his van and desperately needs more power. Handling wise it is really good, trailer for France, although this time he drove it, the first time but we do need more power. Somehow I am going to have I have done a Rallycross event in my life and not had to drive to find the money to have a proper, Super1600 style exhaust to the circuit myself. We arrived on Friday lunchtime, after manifold made for it before it has to be re-mapped, and then travelling all night to minimise time away. Scrutineering went I really am hoping to test before in August (sounds fine, and all looked good. good at least!). Aside from that there are a few repairs to do but On Friday evening there was a lot of talk in the paddock nothing major, just the usual crazy amount of time that these about how strict the French are on noise limits. My car pops cars require in running repairs. and bangs on over-run, but my ECU does have a feature with There are always loads of people to thank but a few have which to turn this off. I plugged in the laptop and did this, but really gone out of their way to help me start this season. the car wouldn’t start. I must confess to never having done They all know who they are and I hope they all realise how anything with mapping, and it appears some misunderstanding amazingly grateful I am! 34 | #89 – June 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #89 – June 2011 | 35 - WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDWebsite RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSJ WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSMagazine WORLD WORLD

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