Handbrakes Issue 120 February 2010 Hairpins & your insight into the world of rallying Cover Mikko Magic Sweeps Sweden News Features inside Events Adenco 400 Race Kimi Raikkonen: this week: route revealed Interviewed! Contents / Issue 120 04 News Welcome to H&H! • Andersson wins prestigious award Welcome to issue 120 of HANDBRAKES & • Sousa to tackle IRC events too HAIRPINS, your FREE weekly insight into • Cody Crocker returns to Tasmania the world of rallying! • Prokop to compete in IRC events As always, I hope you enjoy this • Adenco 400 race route revealed week’s exciting edition! 08 Features Yours in Rallying, 09 • Return of Ford to S.A. rallying Evan Rothman 10 • The Raikkonen Effect 12 Events 13 • USRC: Winter Rally New York 13 • BTRDA: Wyedean Forest Rally 14 • WRC: Rally Sweden Contact E-mail us [email protected] Call us +27 83 452 6892 Surf us http://wp.me/pkXc To receive your FREE weekly HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS eMagazine, or if you’d like to share this with a friend please send your e-mail address to [email protected]. HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS is not a SPAM e-mail: email addresses are added to the mailing list voluntarily. Editorial Information Editor Evan Rothman Art Director Fitzgerald F. Scott Journalist Ray Brad Bury Contributors Motorpics.co.za, Quickpic. co.za, Worldrallypics.com, Citroen Racing, M-Sport, Rally America All content copyrighted property of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, 2007- 10. This publication is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the editor. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of information from sources and given to readers, the editor cannot accept responsibility for any inconvenience or damage that may arise therefrom. Peak fitness is a prerequisite for a competitive edge, and top motorsport teams routinely employ medics, psychologists, dieticians and even armed forces specialists to help drivers hone their performance. It's a different picture at national and club level, where poor preparation can blight potential. Here, however, a doctor who competes as a rally driver offers expert information on all aspects of physical and mental fitness, including diet, training, safety and medical regulations. Price : ZAR 220.00 including vat Excluding local freight Available from ATS Motorsport +27 11 6708400 Telephone +27 11 6735185 Fax [email protected] News the world’s latest rally news The world’s latest rally news SEND YOUR TEAM’S NEWS, PRESS RELEASES OR UPDATES TO [email protected]! the best young drivers in the UK. Revolution Wheels have been P-G. Andersson wins Abu Dhabi Spirit looking to do something for the “juniors” for some time, and of the Rally award in Sweden we’re delighted to be able to offer this exciting opportunity”. Other key components of the championship support Swedish rally driver, P-G Andersson has been given the Abu package include cash sponsorship, a Revolution Wheels Bonus Dhabi Spirit of the Rally award in recognition of his outstanding Scheme for 2WD and 4WD competitors, and a “Revolution performance on his home soil at Rally Sweden – the only snow Wheels Driver of the Year” award. rally in the World Rally Championship (WRC). - Credit: www.rallybuzz.com The young local talent performed to the highest standards possible throughout all three Rally Sweden days, claiming the fi rst ever win in the Super 2000 (S-WRC) Nasser Al-Attiyah to take part in category. Andersson excelled under the pressure of a home more rallies with RGRS Skoda team crowd. Spurred on by his loyal supporters he not only It was confi rmed a few days ago that Nasser Al-Attiyah will out-performed his peers, winning an unprecedented nine contest the Rally of Argentina (IRC) with the René Georges consecutive stages, but also recorded faster times than some Rally Sport team as a result of the negotiations between Raouf WRC crews, fi nishing in respectable 10th position. Menhem and René Georges himself. The Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally award, created After this agreement, Nasser Al-Attiyah has decided by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), is presented at to contest the new S-WRC championship with the RGRS team each WRC round to mark an outstanding feat of leadership, and a Skoda Fabia S2000 in the colours of sponsor Barwa. The integrity, respect or teamwork. Qatari driver will take the start of the following S-WRC rounds: “P-G and his fan base demonstrated that nothing Mexico, Jordan, New-Zealand, Portugal, Finland, Japan and can substitute home support and local knowledge. The young Wales Rally GB. Swede excelled on his familiar terrain, taking full advantage RGRS and Nasser Al-Attiyah will also compete in some of his Scandinavian heritage and respectfully rewarding his IRC rounds. As was already announced Argentina will be the dedicated fans with a triumph.” fi rst one, but now Sardinia, the Azores, Barum, San Remo and “It is up-and-coming talent and ability such as this Scotland can be added to the program. that we wish to recognise and to urge our own budding Al-Attiyah will also take the Skoda Fabia S2000 to sportsmen to emulate,” said Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director challenge in four rounds of the MERC being Rally of Lebanon, General, ADTA. Syria, Cyprus and Dubai. Andersson, the twice FIA Junior World Rally RGRS will bring two Skoda Fabia S2000’s to the start Champion, and now Rally Sweden S-WRC winner, was anxious of some rallies in the S-WRC, one being for Nasser Al-Attiyah to share the glory with his growing fan club. and one for the Norwegian Eyvind Brynildsen. In the IRC they “It’s a great feeling to be appreciated for what you will do the same, this time one for Nasser Al-Attiyah and one are doing, it’s a special emotion,” he said. “The number of for the Belgian Freddy Loix. supporters has been much better than I expected. With no - Credit: www.rallybuzz.com Swedish drivers in WRC and me leading the S-WRC, for sure they are supporting me and making a difference to how I drive.” Bernardo Sousa to tackle rounds of - Credit: www.rallysweden.com the IRC in Ford Fiesta S2000 Interest in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge continues to Revolution Wheels unveils SRC Junior grow with the confi rmation that Bernado Sousa will compete SRC Junior Driver Scheme on at least two rounds of the series this year in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000. Leading UK motorsport wheels manufacturer Revolution Sousa, who hails from Madeira but now lives in Wheels have launched a new Junior Driver initiative as part Lisbon, will take part on the rounds in Açores and Madeira later of their continuing support of the Hankook MSA Scottish Rally this season. The events also count towards the Portuguese Championship. Rally Championship, which Sousa has vowed to try and win in The company are offering a fully-funded drive in a 2010. GpN Subaru Impreza N12 on a round of next year’s British He said: “I still have to wait for confi rmation from my Rally Championship, including a full-day’s testing with tuition sponsor but I will try to do the Portuguese championship this prior to the event. year including the two times when it is with the IRC.” SRC “junior” registered competitors - aged under Sousa isn’t the only driver competing in this year’s IRC. Bruno 23 years as of January 1st this year - will be eligible for the Magalhães, a three-time national champion, is tackling eight award. events in a Peugeot Portugal-backed 207 S2000. Confi rming their support of the championship for a - Credit: www.rally-irc.com third year, Revolution Wheels Sales Director Warren McKiernan said the new scheme was testament to the success of the SRC in nurturing new talent. “As the SRC has grown, so it has produced some of Festival on the Burnie foreshore. FxPro signs deal with WRC in multi- - Credit: www.rallytasmania.com.au year agreement as Partner FxPro, a leading global retail broker in foreign exchange Martin Prokop is planning to contest (forex) and CFDs on shares, precious metals, commodities and indices, today confi rms it has become the Offi cial Forex Trading a selected number of IRC events Partner of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in a multi- Martin Prokop is planning to contest a limited programme of year agreement running through to the end of 2012. Intercontinental Rally Challenge events this season, starting The partnership, secured by Championship Promoter with Rally d’Italia Sardegna from 04 - 06 June. North One Sport, aligns FxPro with one of the premier global Prokop, the reigning Junior world champion, also motorsports. In 2010 the WRC adventure will unfold over 13 plans to enter his home event, Barum Czech Rally Zlín, in events around the world with some of the greatest drivers, August, and Rallye Sanremo in late September. including Sebastien Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen and Kimi Raikkonen, The 27-year-old will use his new Ford Fiesta S2000, battling it out for the Championship crown in the ultimate test run by the Czech Ford National Team, on the three events. of skill and bravery. Regular navigator Jan Tománek will continue to co-drive. As part of the collaboration, FxPro will have valuable “We still have to fi nd all of the budget but these are branding and marketing rights at select Championship events the events I would like to do,” said Prokop. “The Fiesta is such throughout the season. In addition, FxPro will bring their own a great car and is very easy to drive so I hope there is a good touch of glamour to the sport with the introduction of the chance to do rallies.” famous FxPro Girls.