cool rally facts inside Rally News Portugal 2011

WRC POINTS FOR DENNIS AND FREDERIC! The again proved gruelling. The event saw a multitude of punctures and bent suspensions. The FERM Power Tools World Rally Team displayed considerable character and turned in a strong result by finishing tenth, gathering world championship points.

The event in the dends in the 385 gruel- ‘It’s fantastic for Fred into the points in this Algarve was like a re- ling kilometres of the and myself to pick up tough event without even newed meeting with rally. The FERM World points so early in the a scratch on the Ford Fi- an old acquaintance Rally Team came through season in such a tough esta RS . for Dennis Kuipers and one of the most arduous rally,’ said a delighted Frederic Miclotte. The editions of the Rally de Dennis Kuipers at the The duel for first place duo competed in last Portugal without a single finish of the third round was between Sebas- year’s rally and were de- problem. of the FIA World Rally tien Ogier and Sebas- termined to benefit from Championship. ‘We re- tien Loeb (both driving that knowledge. This first-rate perfor- ally had to work hard for for ). Just like mance brought the it. It was the toughest last year Ogier beat In the run-up to the FERM Power Tools rally in my life’. the seven-times world event, the FERM team World Rally Team its first champion. The manufac- studied the on-board top 10 finish of the sea- Navigator Frederic turers’ drivers of Ford videos from last year. son. The 10th place also Miclotte was similarly finished third and fourth Dennis was also pres- delivered the first world overjoyed with the world after various technical ent at the test of the the championship point championship points. holdups. Despite a lot official Ford Abu Dhabi for both driver Dennis ‘I’m particularly pleased of technical gremlins World Rally Team to ob- Kuipers and navigator with the way we were fellow Dutchman Peter tain extra knowledge. Frederic Miclotte. FERM able to recompose our- van Merksteijn (Citroen) WRT also scooped two selves after Mexico. You made it to the finish in These meticulous prepa- points for the manufac- know you’ve delivered a his WRC comeback in rations amply paid divi- turers’ championship. terrific result if you get 22nd place. Rally DE portugal

PURE CLASS REQUIRED Portugal has hosted the WRC circus since 1973. Initially the drivers did battle on a mixture of asphalt and gravel, but now the event takes place purely and solely on unsurfaced roads.

The list of winners , Tommi 1980 event. In dense courses full of bends over the past 30 years Makinen, Colin McRae fog the German got an and hills, with trees and speaks volumes: to and built incredible lead of four stones presenting an excel in this classic you up their reputations minutes on his closest extra hazard. need to be blessed with in this event. The king rival in one special extraordinary car control of Portugal is Markku stage. ‘It’s undoubtedly the skills, a lot of courage Alen. The most difficult gravel and be able to operate won the Rally five times, Extr e m e rally of the season,’ as a team. in 1975, 1977, 1978, challe ng es say most WRC drivers. 1981 and 1987. This years edition of the Not surprisingly the rally still poses extreme event saw countless B ig nam es Th e fog challenges. This year punctures and broken Top-class drivers like An exceptional Dennis Kuipers and his suspensions. This year Walter Röhrl, Michele performance was that of WRC colleagues faced the Rally de Portugal Mouton, , double world champion a difficult mix of high- again lived up to its , Walter Röhrl in the speed sections and reputation as an classic. FERM Rallyfact TEN GOLDEN HANDS During a rally there are four mechanics and one engineer who work like concerned fathers under the Ford Fiesta RS WRC of the FERM World Rally Team. In tight servicing stops of 10, 30 or 45 minutes, they perform miracles to keep the rally car in shape. Every important nut and bolt is checked. Suspension, brakes and wheels receive extra attention. What’s more, the engineer uses a laptop to monitor the heart of the vehicle, the 1600 cc turbo-engine. In serious emergencies a well- oiled servicing team is able to swap a gearbox in 25 minutes or to fit a new front wheel suspension in ten minutes. These ten golden hands make the difference between dropping out and finishing. FERM world rally team PORTUGAL 2011

WRC RALLY PORTUGAL watch the movie!

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