Olbia named service park for Rallye d’Italia.
The organisers of the Supermag Rallye d’Italia-Sardinia have today announced that the service park of event will be situated in Olbia, while the subsidiary service park and the shakedown will be in Tempio Pausania. This decision is based on the report of Simo Lampinen – who will be the Rally d’Italia-Sardinia deputy clerk of the course – and the FIA itself. The Finn went to Sardinia recently for an official visit of the special stages and of the areas, which could host the service park.
Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo: SS10 – cancelled.
The organisers of the 72nd Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo have been forced to cancel another stage of the event, this time SS10 has been axed. Tourette du Chateau 2 [24.80 km], ran earlier in the day as SS8, was called off due to safety concerns, early reports suggesting spectators problems are to blame. Yesterday [Friday], the opening test of the event [SS1] was cancelled due to the volume of spectators, deemed too many to allow the test to go ahead. SS7 today was also stopped following Nicolas Vouilloz’s accident – his crashed 206 blocked the route.
Burns sends message to fans: Don’t worry – I’m ok.
2001 World Rally champion, Richard Burns is ‘doing really well’ according to his co-driver and friend Robert Reid. Burns, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour back in November, was forced to miss the final event of the 2003 World Rally Championship, despite still being in with a shot at the title. The Englishman, who is now undergoing chemotherapy, has been forced to put his career on hold.
Lukander’s charity ice hockey match a success.
A budget of EUR14,000 was raised during a charity ice hockey match hosted by Skoda ApexF1 World Rally Team co-driver Paavo Lukander at Kuovala some days ago. The money raised will be used to help young Finns recover from drug addiction. Lukander, who is a former ice hockey player, attracted many of Finland’s World famous ice hockey stars, such as Jarri Kurri [five times Stanley Cup winner], Janne Laukkanen [NHL Tampa Bay Lightning player], and Timo Jutila [Finnish national team], to take part including Skoda team colleague Toni Gardemeister.
Makinen withdraws from Argentina.
The 555 Subaru World Rally team has announced that Tommi Makinen has been withdrawn from YPF Rally Argentina. Makinen had been looking good prior to SS8, when he was running second, however gearbox problems in that test and the in subsequent one dropped him way down the leader-board, over 10 minutes off the frontrunners. Although he recovered to 13th overall after leg 2 yesterday, even a points-finish today looked unlikely.
McRae still after podium finish.
Colin McRae reckons he still has a hope of grabbing a top three finish on the Swedish Rally, despite a character-building first day. McRae was one of those to suffer most from the fresh snow on stages yesterday [Friday] – his second place in the World Rally Championship points meaning he ran second on the road. However he was the first to admit that was not the biggest impediment to his ambition.
Burns blows it.
2001 World Rally Champion Richard Burns has crashed out of the Propecia Rally New Zealand after rolling in SS15 – Paparoa Station. Burns lost control 11 km’s into the stage throwing away a commanding 44.3 second lead over his Peugeot team-mate Marcus Gronholm. Burns had led the event since the opening stage and had set the fastest time through the previous stage – SS14. Meanwhile Gronholm now looks set to win the event and clinch the 2002 Drivers’ crown. The Finn has a 31.7 second lead over his fellow countryman Harri Rovanpera, who is second.
Mitsubishi withdraws Alister McRae.
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart today announced that they have decided to withdraw car number 8, crewed by Alister McRae and David Senior, on medical grounds. Alister suffered a small fall from his mountain bike while training prior to the San Remo Rally. While medical checks at the time revealed no serious problems, he is suffering from a soft tissue injury. Therefore, to allow sufficient recuperation prior to Rally New Zealand in two weeks time, the team decided to withdraw Alister and Senior from the event.
Skoda’s Dr Pohlmann undergoes Pelvis surgery.
Dr Jens Pohlmann, the senior Skoda Auto executive who was badly injured when knocked down by an out-of-control emergency vehicle during the recent FIA Rally of Argentina, underwent Pelvis surgery this morning (Tuesday) in Cordoba’s Hospital de Urgencias. It is reported by the hospital’s Head of Intensive Care, Dr Edgar Lacombe, that the 54-year-old German, Skoda Auto’s Engineering Director with responsibility for motor sport, is making slow but steady progress.