0077 NNOVEMBEROVEMBER 2201014 A Division of Automotive Technology Specialist Pty Ltd 30 Schoongezight Road Bergbron 1709 Private Bag X26 Auckland Park 2006 For Sale Fiesta R2 Rally car Newly build M-Sport Fiesta R2 rally car with 2014 face lift Fitted with all 2014 upgrades and numerous extras ZAR 715000.00 + vat Fiesta R2 Rally car Newly build in 2013 only 7 events done Fitted with numerous upgrades and extras ZAR 595000.00 + vat For more information please contact Kobus ([email protected]) Telephone +27 11 6708400 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ats-motorsport.co.za Directors: RGH Leeke, RG Houghton, JJ Roos YOUR insight “into the world of RALLY!” ISSUE 330/CONTENTS EDITORIAL INFORMATION 01/ Cover Editor/ Evan Rothman 02/ ATS Photojournalist/ Eva Kovkova 03/ Editorial Information Contributors/ Liga Stirna, Kris Karnitiss 04/ Opening Shot CONTACT INFORMATION 05/ Mikko Hirvonen retires from WRC 08/ Hyundai signs Sordo for more E-mail us/ [email protected] 10/ Prodrive launches Golf VII rally machine Call us/ +27 83 452 6892 13/ The rally bug’s bitten Janette Ewen Surf us/ http://wp.me/pkXc 17/ SARC Bela-Bela Rally preview All content copyrighted property of HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS, 19/ ERC Tour de Corse preview 2007-14. This publication is fully protected by copyright and nothing 21/ CRC Rocky Mountain Rally review may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from 23/ the editor. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the Closing Shot accuracy of information from sources and given to readers, the editor cannot accept responsibility for any inconvenience or damage that may arise therefrom. OPENING SHOT The WRC RallyRACC Rally Spain was a beautiful combination of asphalt and gravel, challenging its competitors. Picture: Volkswagen Motorsport MIKKO AND JARMO: GOODBYE Words: H&H Pictures: WorldRallyPics Mikko Hirvonen has decided to hang up his rally helmet at the end of the 2014 WRC season. Looking back on the Finn’s celebrated career and the countless successes he and co- driver Jarmo Lehtinen achieved alongside the team, we gaze down memory lane... Having formed an instrumental part of the M-Sport squad in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014, Mikko and Jarmo gave almost a decade of dedication to the Blue Oval squad. The pairing were instrumental in securing Ford’s back-to-back World Rally Championship titles in 2006 and 2007 and delivered 14 victories behind the wheel of M-Sport machinery. Throughout their celebrated career, the duo has accumulated 259 stage wins, 68 podiums and 1,192 World Rally Championship points. They fi nished as runner-up in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ championships on three separate occasions and were one of nine-time World Champion Sébastien Loeb’s most fearsome rivals. M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said: “Mikko and Jarmo have given the team so much over the years and I look back on our time together with a lot of very happy memories. They formed one of the sport’s most successful partnerships and we shall not forget their talent, determination and commitment. They were instrumental in securing back-to-back World Rally Championships for Ford and each of their 14 victories with us holds a lot of very special memories. A lot of crews have passed through our doors, but few were held in as high a regard as Mikko and Jarmo who have always been immensely popular members of the team. I speak for everyone at M-Sport when I thank them for everything we achieved together and wish them every success and happiness for the future.” Head of Ford Racing in Europe, Gerard Quinn, said: “Over the years it has been a real pleasure to work with Mikko [Hirvonen] in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Both he and Jarmo [Lehtinen, co-driver] left a lasting impression on Ford racing history and became our most successful Ford pairing in the WRC with 14 victories to their name. We worked together on the development of the [Ford] Fiesta RS WRC and my proudest moment was when they took the car to victory on its fi rst outing at Rally Sweden in 2011 – one of the toughest events on the WRC calendar. Always willing to share their experiences, Mikko and Jarmo were fi rm advocates of our junior programmes – assisting with the training of the next generation of drivers and co-drivers. Safety in the sport of rally is paramount and I also know how passionately both have supported the campaign for safety in rally as well as on the public roads. I wish them every success in their new ventures and thank them both for being professional ambassadors of the Ford brand.” 06 H&H •• 07 H&H ••• SORDO SIGNS WITH HYUNDAI Words: H&H Pictures: Hyundai Motorsport Hyundai Motorsport GmbH announced this week that Spanish driver Dani Sordo signed a two-year agreement to remain as one of the team’s drivers in 2015 and 2016 alongside Thierry Neuville. The 2014 season has been a learning year for the nascent Hyundai Motorsport team, and Sordo has played a key role in the squad’s continued development. He took a memorable podium in Germany, helping the team to secure an impressive one-two in just its ninth WRC event. Confi rmation of his appointment alongside Neuville for 2015 will give the team a strong pair of drivers, who will push each other to help the team progress yet further next season – and beyond. Details of exactly which events Sordo will contest next year will be confi rmed in due course, although it is expected that the Spaniard will take part in at least ten rounds of the Championship. Dani Sordo said: “I am delighted to be continuing my partnership with Hyundai Motorsport following a very successful debut season working together. We have shown great promise with the Hyundai i20 WRC this year and we will never forget the one-two result at Rallye Deutschland, which was a truly special moment. It is a great team of dedicated, passionate individuals and I look forward to continuing our learning curve in the competitive world of rally.” Team Principal Michel Nandan commented: “Dani has demonstrated impressive consistency this season on different types of terrain. He has shown himself to be quick in different circumstances, in the face of challenges and, most importantly, to be a valued team player. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with him into 2015 and 2016. Next season, he will take part in at least ten WRC events, alongside Thierry, before a full season in 2016. Our driver line-up for next season is very strong and we have seen the results of the partnership between Dani and Thierry already this year in Germany, where we celebrated our fantastic one-two. Let’s hope this is the start of similar celebrations in the future.” 09 H&H •• PRODRIVE AND THE RALLY GOLF Words: H&H Pictures: Prodrive Prodrive has developed a new rally car based on the latest Volkswagen Golf Mark VII. The Golf SCRC has been designed for the FAW-VW Rally Team for the Chinese Rally Championship and will make its debut in the series this weekend at the Longyou Rally with Chris Atkinson driving. Prodrive developed the all-new car in less than six months and while it has not been designed to FIA regulations, many of the major components are the same as those found in current World Rally Cars, while the roll cage and safety features encompass the latest FIA standards. “We have very much built the car to the spirit of the WRC regulations, but with the Chinese Rally regulations in mind,” said John Gaw, Prodrive Motorsport managing director. “There is more freedom in the Chinese regulations and that has helped us to create this car in such a short time frame. However, while the fi rst cars will initially compete in China, the car can readily be modifi ed to compete in most ‘open’ class rally series, of which there are many in Europe, Asia and North America.” One of the key differentiators between the Golf SCRC and current World Rally Cars, is that it has a two-litre turbocharged engine with a 35mm restrictor, compared to the 1600cc 33mm restricted engines found in the WRC. However, the drivetrain is WRC-spec and features the same six-speed sequential Xtrac WRC gearbox and rear differential found in most of the current World Rally Cars. The cars aero, and in particular the composite rear wing, were all developed in-house. The bodywork is predominantly the standard steel panels from a fi ve door Golf, but with specially developed fl exible carbon composite front and rear bumpers and wings. These impact resistant panels are far more durable and help maintain the aerodynamic performance at the front. The Golf SCRC has Macpherson strut suspension front and rear with Prodrive-Ohlins dampers and hydraulic compression stops. Many of the suspension components, including the anti-roll bars and uprights, are interchangeable front to rear to minimise the number of spares. The car also has a standard AP Racing WRC brake package. As Prodrive did successfully with its MINI RX, the Golf could be re-engineered for use in the FIA World Rallycross championship or the GRC in North America. Indeed, the base two-litre engine is the same unit as currently used by Mattias Ekstrom in his Audi RX. The VW Golf means that during its 30 years, Prodrive has now made rally cars with seven different manufacturers, the others being: Porsche, MG Rover, BMW, Subaru, Aston Martin and MINI.