IRC: Tsjoen retires.
Abarth Grande Punto driver Pieter Tsjoen has confirmed that he has decided to quit the sport following the Rally of Ypres, the third round of the 2007 Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Tsjoen’s place in the Abarth Grande Punto will be taken by fellow countryman and former Mitsubishi and Peugeot World Rally ace, Freddy Loix.
Rallye Monte Carlo: SS11 – cancelled.
The organisers of the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo have cancelled SS11 – La Tour sur Tinee-Utelle 2, at the request of local police due to traffic congestion in the area. As such, crews passed straight through the 18.73 kilometre test to SS12, the final test of the leg, which is due to start at 16.38 hours local time. The cancellation of SS11 follows problems on yesterday’s opening loop, which saw only 11 competitors compete on the first two tests after the route to the start was inadvertently blocked by a truck and a bus. SS3 was subsequently cancelled because of this.
First pics: Kronos Racing livery.
The Kronos Total Citroen World Rally team have revealed their livery for this season, on the eve of the first round of the 2006 FIA World Rally Championship, the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo. Kronos will fly the flag for Citroen this year, following the French marques decision to take a sabbatical from the sport – before returning in 2007 with the C4. Sebastien Loeb will drive the #1 Kronos Citroen Xsara WRC, while Xavier Pons pilots the second car.
FIA safety delegate reviews Rally Ireland course.
FIA safety delegate, Jacek Bartos visited the North West of Ireland Tuesday to review the course and safety procedures for Rally Ireland 2006. Mr Bartos’ visit to Ireland is an important step in the qualification process for Ireland, as the event bids to join the FIA World Rally Championship from 2007. “Today is a critical day for Rally Ireland’s qualification bid,” confirmed Ronan Morgan, co-promoter of Rally Ireland.
First pictures: New Ford in `06 livery.
Ford of Europe officially unveiled the all-new Ford Focus RS World Rally Car in its 2006 livery Thursday at the Bologna Motor Show. To see images of the new Focus in its ’06 livery – just go to www.crash.net, click on the WRC channel and then under ‘Pictures and Video’, select ‘Latest Pictures’ – 8 images are currently displayed on page 1. Pictures courtesy of Ford.
Galli: GB is fast – and I think quite difficult.
Mitsubishi’s Gigi Galli has revealed that he will adopt the same strategy on the Rally GB this weekend as he did in Germany – namely to be patient and learn as much as possible by completing the whole event. Galli has never previously competed in Wales, although the Italian has undertaken the recce twice, once with Pirelli in 2003 – and once for his own experience in 2004. It will therefore be another steep learning curve for the 32-year-old. “For me, I will have the same attitude [in GB as] I had in Germany, nothing more, nothing less,” he confirmed.
Kresta: Finland like F1 in the forests!
Ford’s Roman Kresta has admitted that he found the pace on the Rally Finland ‘just incredible’. The Czech, who was competing on the event for the very first time, adopted a risk-free strategy throughout as he concentrated on learning the characteristics of the technically difficult Finnish stages. After going off the road and losing further time with hydraulic problems on the opening two legs, the 29-year-old climbed from 30th at the end of leg two to 23rd at the finish. “At last I’ve had a good day Sunday! I just drove to finish,” he noted.
Skoda: Event `waiver` good news.
Skoda team manager, Joan Sureda has welcomed the announcement by the FIA at the end of last month, that they and Mitsubishi can miss three events in 2006, if they so choose. Skoda was understood to be unhappy about having to take in 16 events again next season, as they thought it would quite simply overstretch their budget. Confirmation then that they can now choose to only do 13, should ensure they compete, something that is a boost for the WRC in light of the decision by Citroen and Peugeot to pull out at the end of this season.
Pons gears up for Xsara debut with new co-driver.
Production Car WRC competitor, Xavier Pons will make his debut with the OMV backed Kronos Racing squad next weekend, when he drives a Citroen Xsara WRC on the Acropolis Rally. Greece is Pons’ first event with the team, after agreeing a deal late last month to contest six ‘senior’ WRC events, in addition to those he is already committed to contesting as part of the PCWRC.
Panizzi: New active differential helps a lot.
Mitsubishi’s Gilles Panizzi has hailed the team’s latest electronic gizmo – their ‘active centre differential system’ that they will use for the first time in Mexico this week. Panizzi, who returns to action after sitting out the Swedish Rally, when Gigi Galli drove the second car, is more a fan of asphalt events, however the Frenchman likes competing on the gravel in Mexico, and did so for the first time last year, when he finished eighth. “I did two [test] days and maybe 350 test kilometres and I continue to say the car is getting better and better,” said Panizzi.