Archiv des Monats: Februar 2009

DAVID SALOM SALDRÁ DESDE EL PUESTO 24 EN PHILIP ISLAND

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El piloto mallorquín no ha conseguido clasificarse para la Superpole y saldrá en el puesto 24 en su primera participación del Mundial de Superbikes.

Con un tiempo de 1,34,194 el mallorquín se ha quedado a un solo segundo de poder entrar en la selección de los 20 primeros pilotos que disputan la espectacular Superpole.

Esta próxima madrugada en España, a las 3:00 AM en el canal Telecinco 2 podremos ver la primera carrera del Campeonato del Mundo de Superbikes en la que participa un piloto mallorquín.

David Salom   Departamento de Prensa   Avenida 16 de Julio, 34   07009 Palma de Mallorca

Tel. +34 971 291 321   M. +34 616 99 26 87   prensa@davidsalom.com

Miloš Pavlović completes the 2009 F2 line-up

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Serbian international race winner confirmed as the 24th driver

Pavlovic

Experienced former GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5 driver Miloš Pavlović is the 24th and final entrant to be confirmed in the 2009 F2 line-up.

Pavlović’s rise through the international ranks began after he won the Italian F3 title in 2002 and World Series Light in 2004. He then spent three seasons in Formula Renault 3.5, scoring podiums in both 2005 and 2006 before mounting a serious championship challenge during the following campaign, where he ended the overall standings in third after taking two wins and four podiums.

The Serbian racer joins F2 after a season competing in the main GP2 and GP2 Asia series, where he scored points in three of the ten rounds.

Miloš Pavlović said: “I am very excited to be a part of a championship that is bringing something new to the world of single seater racing. The budgets are realistic and drivers are able to show their qualities against tough competition in an equal environment. I’m looking forward to meeting the challenge and doing my very best.”

Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of championship organiser MotorSport Vision, said: “I am delighted to welcome Miloš as the final driver in the 2009 Formula Two line-up. He’s a successful and very experienced single seater racer, and I expect him to be challenging near the front of the field from the outset. By confirming Miloš we have now announced our full line-up of 24 drivers from 15 different countries, a remarkable feat given we won the tender to operate the championship as recently as September last year.”

F2GreyHeaderv2          www.formulatwo.com

FOREIGN CREWS COULD END LOCAL DOMINANCE IN BRAZIL

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FOREIGN CREWS COULD END LOCAL DOMINANCE … AND ALL THE OTHER LATEST NEWS FROM THE IRC
The seven-year run of victories by Brazilian drivers on the Rally de Curitiba could come to an end when the event hosts the Intercontinental Rally Challenge for the first time next week.
Local hero Tino Vianna started the sequence in 2002 following a 10-year period of success for overseas pilots, including Argentines, Paraguayans and Uruguayans. But with the addition of 16 non-Brazilian drivers to the 36-car entry, it is possible that a foreign competitor could be victorious this year.
Aside from Europe-based IRC regulars like Abarth Grande Punto drivers Anton Alen and Giandomenico Basso, plus the Peugeot 207-mounted Kronos Racing trio of Freddy Loix, Kris Meeke and Nicolas Vouilloz, several South American runners are expected to challenge for victory.
They include Argentines Marcos Ligato and his Tango Rally Team team-mate Alejandro Cancio and Paraguayan ace Victor Galeano Tomboly, who was a participant in the inaugural Pirelli Star Driver Europe Shoot-Out in Austria last October.
But Kris Meeke, one of the likely frontrunners, has played down his chances. The British driver said: “I’ve never rallied in this part of the world before and there will be lots of other drivers who I know are capable of going very well.”
Oswaldo Scheer will carry Brazilian hopes at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer E9.
HANNINEN EXPECTS TO BE QUICK ON IRC RETURN
Juho Hanninen is confident he will be able to display the same level of pace he showed on the Monte Carlo Rally when he resumes his Intercontinental Rally Challenge campaign with the factory Skoda team later this season.
The Finn and his Czech team have not included the Rally de Curitiba in Brazil next week on their six-event schedule. Although it remains unconfirmed, it’s likely they will resume their programme on the Sata Rally Acores on May 7-9, which represents a gap of more than three months since the Monte Carlo Rally.
On that event Hanninen, 27, set three fastest stage times and was leading until he picked up a puncture before ultimately crashing out as he fought to make up lost ground. But while his competitive mileage in the Skoda Fabia Super 2000 is limited, he is convinced that he can demonstrate a similar level of competitiveness when he tackles his next event.
“Yes it has been a long break but we will do some testing before the next event and I am quite sure we will still be very quick,” said Hanninen. “It’s not so good that our rivals are competing in Brazil and getting experience when we are not but the testing will keep me sharp and give the team a chance to work on the car.”
Hanninen, who won the IRC round in Russia last year on a one-off appearance in a Kronos Racing Peugeot 207, is confident he can win again this season.
“Monte Carlo was a very difficult rally but we showed we could be quick and I think this will continue on gravel,” Hanninen said. “Then we have some Tarmac rallies where my team-mate Jan Kopecky will be very fast so I think there will be some victories.”
SKODA BOSS CREDITS TEAM MEMBERS FOR PROMISING START
Skoda’s sporting head Michal Hrabanek has credited the efforts of his employees for the promising start the Czech Republic-based manufacturer has made in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season.
Team drivers Juho Hanninen and Jan Kopecky both set fastest stage times on the Monte Carlo Rally in January. Although Hanninen crashed out, Kopecky finished the event in fourth place to move Skoda to third position in the IRC manufacturers’ standings.
Hrabanek, who is responsible for running the 30-strong Skoda Motorsport team, said: “We entered the world of rally with the Fabia Super 2000 with no expectations because we had no comparisons with other competitors. But by working hard and having people in your team who are 100 per cent motivated and enthusiastic then you’ll meet success face to face.
“Monte Carlo has shown us there is still a lot of work waiting for us in the future. But we’re respecting the progress being made by our competitors and this gives us good motivation.”
Skoda has yet to confirm when its next appearance in the IRC will be although it’s likely the Sata Rally Acores in May will be next on its schedule of six events following an extensive testing programme.
PEUGEOT LOOKS SET SNATCH 2WD ADVANTAGE
Peugeot could move to the top of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge 2WD Manufacturers’ standings following next week’s Rally de Curitiba.
It trails Fiat by two points in the category following the Monte Carlo Rally in January. But with Peugeot the only car maker contesting the 2WD division in Brazil in the absence of current rivals Fiat and Volkswagen, the French company is set to gain an important advantage.
Roberto Theodoro will drive a 1600cc-engined 206 for the Metsistem Rallye Team, Fabiano Botelho will pilot a similar car under the Senior Sistemas/Corpflex banner, while Luciano Fleck has been entered in another 1600cc 206, run by his own Fleck Motorsports concern.
The 2WD Cup was introduced last season. Marco Cavigioli won the inaugural title for Fiat in a diesel-powered Punto. Fiat driver Manuel Villa, from Italy, leads the drivers’ standings after the opening round from Frenchman Guy Mottard (Peugeot) and Briton Nick West (Volkswagen). None of the four are competing in Brazil.
GARDEMEISTER STILL HOPEFUL OF IRC COMEBACK
Toni Gardemeister has vowed not to give up in his efforts to return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season.
Gardemeister was on course for a second place finish on the Monte Carlo Rally in January – his debut appearance in the IRC – only for his Abarth Grande Punto’s alternator to fail with two stages of the event remaining.
He had be working towards continuing his programme with the Astra Racing team on Rally de Curitiba in Brazil next week but a lack of sponsorship meant he had to abandon those plans.
“We wanted to be in Brazil but there was not the budget,” said the 33-year-old Gardemeister. “But I am not giving up and I will try to do some more events later in the season.”
He added: “The Azores Rally is a possibility and it is a rally I would like to try and do but, at the moment, I am not sure what will happen although I am working very hard to carry on. All I can say is that I want to be back in a car as soon as possible because it is important to keep the feeling and the confidence that you need for driving and to be fast.”
SCOTTISH DRIVERS TARGET ENTRY INCENTIVE
The top three in the final Scottish Rally Championship Group N standings will receive free entries for the RAC MSA Rally of Scotland, which brings the curtain down on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on November 19-21.
Contested over eight events, the Scottish championship has nurtured several rallying talents, including the late Colin McRae and his brother Alister, who won the IRC’s pilot event in South Africa in May 2006.
After the opening round of the Scottish championship season, the Snowman Rally on February 14, Jock Armstrong, David Bogie and Rory Young occupy the top three positions in the Group N classification.
Bogie, who drives a Mitsubishi Lancer E9, is regarded as one of Scotland’s most promising rally talents. The 21-year-old will combine a season competing in the Scottish series with a campaign in the British championship. Based on his performances during his career so far, Bogie could be an outside contender for IRC points if he secures an entry for Rally of Scotland.
Details of the event are still being finalised by the organisers but the route is expected to use forests in the counties of Perthshire and Kinross and Stirlingshire. A campaign to recruit volunteer marshals has already begun.

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Next week’s Rally Internacional de Curitiba is set to be extremely closely contested, with plenty of foreign drivers to challenge the local specialists

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www.rally-irc.com.

CURITIBA HOSTS THE OPENING ROUND

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The start of the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship is just one week away.
The series‘ fifth season will get underway again at the Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba, Brazil.
This is the fourth time the 3.7 km circuit hosts the WTCC. The championship visited Curitiba for the first time in July 2006; a crowd of 34,000 attended the races that were won by Jordi Gené (SEAT León) and Andy Priaulx (BMW 320si).
From 2007 the Brazilian event was moved to March and given the honour to open the season. BMW Team Germany fellow drivers Jörg Müller and Augusto Farfus shared victories and the attendance was even larger, with 45,000 spectators.
Last year SEAT won both races with Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini, again the attendance totalled to 45,000.


For the third consecutive year the WTCC starts in Brazil

WTCC ENTRY LIST RELEASED BY THE FIA
The FIA released the official list of the 2009 full season entries to the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship that will start next week with the WTCC Race of Brazil at Curitiba.
Twenty-six cars are listed, with drivers coming from fourteen different countries.
Twenty-four of these competitors will take part in the first two events of the season at Cuririba and Puebla (Mexico) against last year’s twenty-one (see the event’s entry list attached).
A third petrol-powered SEAT León run by SUNRED Engineering is due to join from the third race meeting in Marrakech. Winners of the SEAT Eurocup rounds and local drivers will take the wheel during the season. The entry of the Honda Accord has not to been finalized yet.

WTCC FOR CHARITY IN CURITIBA
For the third consecutive year the WTCC Race of Brazil will give an aid to the starving people of Brazil. Together KSO (championship promoter), HSBC (partner of the event), and the City Hall of Curitiba, repeated the initiative of offering free tickets to the public in exchange for two kilograms of food.
Fans wishing to attend the races on Sunday may collect their tickets by delivering the food to 14 different collection points scattered over the city, or at the racetrack on Sunday morning.
The food collected will be donated to the charity society Instituto Pró-Cidadania de Curitiba, which will distribute it to those in need.
In 2007 this humanitarian initiative resulted in the collection of 24 tonnes of food, that became 52 last year.

ZANARDI SWITCHED TO SEQUENTIAL
Alessandro Zanardi will become BMW’s first works driver to use a sequential gearbox.
The Italian decided to switch from the 5-speed "H" pattern gearbox to a 6-speed Xtrack after testing it during the winter. This will make his own car 30 kilos heavier than the other BMWs because of the handicap provided by the Technical Regulations.
"In spite of the weight, the car is well balanced and lap times are already close compared to the old gearbox that sometimes made my life harder. One good example is the Melco hairpin at Macau, where BMW drivers use the clutch to get around quicker. I cannot use the clutch pedal and have a lot of other things to do with my hand controls, and this cost me three or four tenths in that corner only. With the sequential gearbox this issue will be solved," said Zanardi.


Alessandro Zanardi’s BMW is now fitted with a sequential gearbox

ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR THE INDEPENDENTS
Eight full-season competitors have been admitted to Independents‘ Trophy that will award a 384,000-euro prize money. Among them are former champions Tom Coronel and Stefano D’Aste, as well as double WTCC race winner Félix Porteiro.
The point scale for the Trophy remains unchanged, with double points awarded in the final meeting at Macau. However, one additional point will be allocated for setting the Independents‘ pole position and the races‘ fastest lap at each event.
And furthermore, Independent drivers who will manage to finish races in the top-eight of the overall results, will be rewarded by three extra points per each WTCC point scored (i.e.: an Independent who classifies third overall will score 18 points for the Trophy).

www.fiawtcc.com

Albert Coll prepara la temporada de karting 2009

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El piloto mallorquín Albert Coll, debutará el próximo fin de semana en el Campeonato del Mediterraneo,  cuya cita será en el Circuito alicantino de Finestrat.ALBERT PRETEMPORADA 2009 002

Albert que empieza con fuerzas renovadas, contará de nuevo con sus colaboradores habituales como  Autovidal, Retols Vila, Perfumerias TINTIN y Circuito Mallorca Renn Arena. Teniendo como patrocinadores de nuevo a la empresa dedicada al transporte de viajeros Transunion Mallorca y un nuevo sponsor en Placotech, empresa dedicada a la decoración y tabiqueria de interior.

Albert estrenará nuevo equipo de competición, y nuevo chasis y motor, con el que participará en la Copa Vallés y en el Campeonato de España de karting 2009, de la mano de Pedro Ivars, conocido piloto de karting campeón en varias ocasiones de los Campeonatos de Cataluña, Comunidad Valenciana, etc… que le aportará su experiencia a nuestro piloto, como para estar en lo más alto de las clasificaciones.

Bartolomé Coll

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Bridgestone Motorsport announce tyre specifications

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Bridgestone, the Official Tyre Supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship, is pleased to announce the compound allocations of Potenza tyres for the first five rounds of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship. This season sees slick tyres make a return to Formula One after eleven seasons of grooved dry tyres. Slick tyres mean that softer rubber compounds can be used, meaning more mechanical grip is available for competitors. This change is significant for teams and drivers and is accompanied by considerable changes to the car aerodynamic packages, designed to reduce downforce and stimulate overtaking. There is a change in tyre allocation rationale too. For the past two seasons, Bridgestone has brought two consecutive compounds from its range of four rubber compounds to each event. For 2009, non- consecutive allocations will occur at most races. As well as a difference in compound stiffness, there will be a variation in temperature working range between the two allocated compounds at an event. The compounds themselves are new, because of the different requirements of slick tyres compared with grooved tyres, however they will retain the same names of hard, medium, soft and super soft. There are no changes to the wet and extreme weather tyres, which will be brought to all events in case of adverse weather. The method of distinguishing between the two compounds on event will be through means of green bands painted on the edges of the tyre sidewalls of the softer tyres at a race. This marking allows the compounds to be visually distinguishable by fans at the circuit and those watching on television. The green colour has been chosen to show Bridgestone’s continued support of the FIA’s Make Cars Green campaign. Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development, says: “2009 looks like it should be a very exciting season with very big changes to the cars. From our perspective we have changed our allocation strategy so that we can bring non-consecutive allocations to races. The compounds will not only vary in terms of compound hardness, but also working range. We have tried to have one tyre which has a quick warm-up and delivers a fast lap time immediately, and the other tyre which has a higher working range, so will not deliver immediate fast times, but gives very consistent and durable performance when it is at its operating temperature. Of course, we are subject to many variables such as different cars and drivers, not to mention the weather, which was such a big factor in 2008. We hope that the change in allocations gives competitors a good challenge and the fans entertaining racing. We are also proud to support the FIA’s Make Cars Green campaign through our tyre markings.”bnr_ms

Bridgestone Motorsport F1

TELECINCO 2 CON EL MUNDIAL DE SUPERBIKES

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El segundo canal de la cadena del grupo Mediaset emitirá las carreras de SBK, aunque no todas serán en directo.

Tras varias semanas de incertidumbre al fin se ha dilucidado quién retransmitirá el Mundial de Superbikes: Telecinco 2. El canal de la TDT de Telecinco será el encargado de ofrecer las 14 pruebas de que consta el campeonato de SBK.

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3:00 – 1ª Carrera Superbikes (Directo)

6:30 – 2ª Carrera Superbikes (Directo)

Eurosport (1 de marzo)

17:00/17:45 – 1ª Carrera Superbikes (Diferido)

17:45/18:30 – 2ª Carrera Superbikes (Diferido)

David Salom  Departamento de Prensa

Avenida 16 de Julio, 34  07009 Palma de Mallorca

Tel. +34 971 291 321   M. +34 616 99 26 87

prensa@davidsalom.com

Kumho weiterhin exklusiver Reifenpartner der Formel 3 Euro Serie

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Kumho, einer der weltweit führenden Reifenhersteller, und die Formel 3 Euro Serie, die stärkste Nachwuchsserie der Welt, führen ihre exklusive Partnerschaft fort. Der seit 2003 laufende Vertrag wurde in dieser Woche mit einer Laufzeit bis Ende 2011 verlängert. Dadurch werden weiterhin alle Rennfahrzeuge der Serie auf einheitlichen Kumho-Reifen des Typs Ecsta ihre Einsätze bestreiten. Schon die aktuellen Formel-1-Piloten Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Timo Glock, Adrian Sutil, Nico Rosberg und Robert Kubica sammelten einen Großteil ihrer Erfahrungen in Formel-3-Boliden mit Reifen der Marke Kumho und schafften später den Sprung in die Königsklasse.
Herausragende Qualität, eine kontinuierliche Weiterentwicklung der Reifen und eine vorbildliche technische Betreuung der Teams waren ausschlaggebend für die langfristige Orientierung des vereinbarten Vertrages. „Die Teams sind sehr zufrieden mit den konstanten Leistungen der Reifen als Basis für einen guten Sport. Darum freuen wir uns, auch in Zukunft einen internationalen Partner wie Kumho an unserer Seite zu haben“, so Walter Mertes, Geschäftsführer der Formel 3 Euro Serie Vermarktungs GmbH.
Kumho Tire Europe ist seit Gründung der Formel 3 Euro Serie exklusiver Partner. Allein in der Saison 2008 lieferte Kumho rund 8.000 Slicks und ca. 1.500 Regenreifen an die Teams aus. Außerdem beliefert der Reifenhersteller mit Sitz seiner Europa-Zentrale in Offenbach am Main sämtliche koreanischen Automobilhersteller sowie europäische Hersteller wie Volkswagen und Mercedes-Benz als Erstausrüster mit Serienbereifung.

www.f3euroseries.com

Miguel Socías en el Campeonato del Mediterráneo

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Finestrat, primera prueba del Campeonato del Mediterráneo
MIGUEL SOCÍAS MUY ILUSIONADO CON SU DEBUT

MS002
Campanet, (Illes Balears, España), jueves 26 de febrero de 2009.
Después de una intensa pretemporada Miguel Socías hará su debut en
la especialidad de karting englobado en la categoría Alevín. Su bautismo
de fuego se producirá este fin de semana en la primera carrera del
Campeonato del Mediterráneo que se disputará en el Circuito de Finestrat
(Alicante).
Mañana viernes el balear tendrá su primera toma de contacto con el
trazado alicantino y aprovechará para poner a punto el kart, el sábado
se realizarán los entrenamientos oficiales y el domingo las mangas de
carrera.
El piloto de la Escudería Mallorca Competició se muestra muy contento
de iniciar esta aventura tras haber conseguido reunir casi todo el
presupuesto para participar en este competido campeonato. PPB
Paisatgisme i Obra Civil, Pedreres Can Ramis y Transportes MS serán
sus principales patrocinadores a lo largo de esta temporada.
El campaneter competirá al volante de un kart de última generación con
motor Puma64 de 65cc y equipado con neumáticos Vega Cadetti en
compuesto duro. Esta misma unidad la empleará también para competir
en la Copa Adrián Vallés.
El Campeonato del Mediterráneo esta compuesto por ocho citas:
28 febrero al 01marzo Circuito Karting Club Finestrat (Finestrat)
04/05 abril Circuito de Chicharra Karts (Villena)
23/24 mayo Circuito de La Manga-Go Kart (La Manga)
13/14 junio Circuito de Oliva (Oliva)
04/05 julio Circuito de Los Ángeles (Jumilla)
19/20 septiembre Circuito de Chicano Karts (Bullas)
03/04 octubre (circuito pendiente de confirmar)
07/08 noviembre Circuito de MarlonKart (Oropesa)

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Para más información:
Miguel Ferrer – GSM: +34 619 674 644 – mferrer@ferbispress.com

DAVID SALOM PREPARADO PARA LA PRIMERA PRUEBA DEL MUNDIAL DE SUPERBIKES

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El piloto mallorquín ya se encuentra en tierras australianas y cuenta las horas que faltan para subir a su Kawasaki del Team Pedercini y participar por primera vez en una carrera del Campeonato del mundo de Superbikes.

Pocos días antes de partir hacia Australia, David fue recibido por la presidenta del Consell de Mallorca, Francina Armengol, que patrocinará un año más  a Salom y quiso desearle suerte en esta importante aventura que sin duda nos traerá muchas alegrías a la isla.

Contando con el apoyo del Govern de les Illes Balears y el Consell de Mallorca como instituciones, David ha podido completar el presupuesto para esta temporada y espera poder aprender todo lo posible en una categoría tan dura como es el Mundial de Superbikes.

El próximo viernes tendrán lugar los primeros entrenamientos oficiales del gran premio de Australia y el próximo domingo día 1 de marzo se celebrará la primera carrera del mundial de Superbikes en la participa un piloto mallorquin.

David Salom   Departamento de Prensa

Avenida 16 de Julio, 34   07009 Palma de Mallorca

Tel. +34 971 291 321   M. +34 616 99 26 87   prensa@davidsalom.com

2009 FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP Entry List

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N° TEAM DRIVER CAR

1 SEAT Sport Yvan Muller (FRA) SEAT León 2.0 TDI

2 SEAT Sport Gabriele Tarquini (ITA) SEAT León 2.0 TDI

3 SEAT Sport Rickard Rydell (SWE) SEAT León 2.0 TDI

4 SEAT Sport Jordi Gené (ESP) SEAT León 2.0 TDI

5 SEAT Sport Tiago Monteiro (POR) SEAT León 2.0 TDI

6 BMW Team UK Andy Priaulx (GBR) BMW 320si

7 BMW Team Germany Jörg Müller (GER) BMW 320si

8 BMW Team Germany Augusto Farfus (BRA) BMW 320si

9 BMW Team Italy-Spain Alessandro Zanardi (ITA) BMW 320si

10 BMW Team Italy-Spain Sergio Hernández (ESP) BMW 320si

11 Chevrolet Robert Huff (GBR) Chevrolet Cruze **

12 Chevrolet Alain Menu (SUI) Chevrolet Cruze **

14 Chevrolet Nicola Larini (ITA) Chevrolet Cruze **

15* Campos Racing Antonio García (ESP) Honda Accord Euro R

18 LADA Sport Jaap van Lagen (NED) Lada 110 2.0

19 LADA Sport Kirill Ladygin (RUS) Lada 110 2.0

20 LADA Sport Viktor Shapovalov (RUS) Lada 110 2.0

21 SUNRED Engineering Tom Coronel (NED) SEAT León 2.0 TFSI

22 SUNRED Engineering Tom Boardman (GBR) SEAT León 2.0 TFSI

23 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport Félix Porteiro (ESP) BMW 320si

24 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport George Tanev (BUL) BMW 320si

25 Liqui Moly Team Engstler Franz Engstler (GER) BMW 320si

26 Liqui Moly Team Engstler Kristian Poulsen (DEN) BMW 320si

27 Wiechers-Sport Stefano D’Aste (ITA) BMW 320si

28 Čolak Racing Team Ingra Marin Čolak (CRO) SEAT León 2.0 TFSI

29° SUNRED Engineering TBA SEAT León 2.0 TFSI

www.fiawtcc.com

Luc Alphand Aventures is back in his kingdom!

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MOTORSPORT/LE MANS SERIES BARCELONA

After an exceptional 2008 season -five podiums and two victories in five races – the LMGT1 title winner is back in the race.

With his good friend Patrice Goueslard and a third driver to be confirmed, the eponymous team of the skiing champion will take part in the full season, starting at the 1000 Km of Barcelona, on April 3rd, 4th and 5th.

The French team’s car will complete an already very diversified and promising category: Saleen, Lamborghini and Ferrari will have to fight against the Luc Alphand Aventures‘ Corvette C6.R. We can be sure that they will have to beware of this competitor…

www.lemans-series.com.

Briton Tom Gladdis becomes youngest driver in 2009 F2 line-up

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17-year-old returns to Europe after successful campaign in America

Tom Gladdis has secured the penultimate place in the 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship and becomes the series’ youngest driver.

British driver Gladdis is due to celebrate his 18th birthday next week, and he joins Formula Two after finishing sixth in the Star Mazda Championship in North America. Gladdis took one victory, two pole positions and three podiums in just 10 races, having skipped two rounds of the championship through being too young to compete.

Gladdis, who was born on the Isle of Wight but now resides in Gibraltar, only began his racing career in 2007 when he was awarded a Formula BMW UK scholarship following a track test evaluation. This gave Gladdis the chance to compete in the Formula BMW World Final in Valencia – a race that was eventually won by fellow F2 driver Philipp Eng.

Tom Gladdis said: “F2 is just so appealing – it’s cost effective, high profile and a high level of commitment has been shown by both the FIA and MotorSport Vision. The level of driver talent is huge and it is going to be a challenging campaign, but you can learn so much by racing against tough opposition. This may well be a two year programme for me but the thought of winning a Formula One test will only make me push harder! I’m particularly looking forward to competing at Spa-Francorchamps for the first time as it is a circuit at which I have always dreamt of racing.”Gladdis_livery

Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of championship organiser MotorSport Vision, said: “Tom has had a rapid rise through the ranks following his discovery by BMW in late 2006, and despite his lack of experience he was a genuine contender for the Star Mazda Championship in only his second season of racing. Whilst F2 is a considerable step up for Tom, there’s no doubting that he is a very talented young driver, and there’s every chance he could be one of the surprise packages of the 2009 season.”

F2GreyHeaderv2          www.formulatwo.com

SKODA ACE KOPECKY TIPS VOUILLOZ TO WIN IN BRAZIL

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KOPECKY TIPS VOUILLOZ TO WIN IN BRAZIL … AND ALL THE OTHER LATEST NEWS FROM THE IRC 
Jan Kopecky has tipped defending Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion, Nicolas Vouilloz, to win the next round of the series in Brazil on March 5-7.
Czech Republic star Kopecky will skip the Rally de Curitiba because it’s not part of his Skoda team’s six-event schedule. But he reckons Vouilloz, who failed to score on the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally last month when he broke his Peugeot 207’s suspension sliding into a ditch, will bounce back from that disappointment and claim all ten drivers‘ championship points in South America.
"He will be trying to do his best after Monte Carlo and I believe he will win this rally," said the 27-year-old Kopecky. "This guy is really amazing, very nice but also very, very fast."
Kopecky competed against Vouilloz on four rounds of the IRC in 2008 and beat him to third place on the Rally of Portugal last May.
"Not only is Nicolas a very good driver," Kopecky continued, "but he doesn’t make so many mistakes. Monte Carlo was the first rally where I had seen him go off. He’s very professional and will come back."
Vouilloz, who turned 33 earlier this month, will drive one of three Peugeot 207 Super 2000s prepared by the Belgian Kronos Racing squad in Brazil. He will be co-driven by fellow Frenchman Nicolas Klinger.
LIGATO TARGETS POINTS FOR MITSUBISHI
Mitsubishi’s chances of claiming a strong haul of manufacturers‘ points on the Rally de Curitiba have improved after rapid Argentine Marcos Ligato entered the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier next month.
The Japanese make is fourth in the standings after the Monte Carlo Rally but could move up to third in the table at the expense of the factory Skoda squad, which is missing the trip to South America.
Ligato, who was a regular in the Production Car World Rally Championship for ten seasons, won the event, when it was named the Graciosa Rally, in 2000. He will compete again this year albeit at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer E10, the Japanese firm’s latest generation rally car.
"Marcos has a good chance of challenging the IRC regulars," the event organisers said. "He has the experience of competing all over the world and he is familiar with this rally."
The 31-year-old will team-up with regular navigator Ruben Garcia, who has partnered him for most of his professional career, including the 2001 Safari Rally, when they placed seventh overall. The Safari Rally is the next event on the IRC schedule after Rally de Curitiba.
Mitsubishi will also be represented by Brazilian championship runner-up, Oswald Scheer, who will be competing in a Mitsubishi Lancer E9 alongside co-driver Gilson Rocha.
LOIX WILL TRADE OUTRIGHT PACE WITH CAUTION IN BRAZIL
Freddy Loix has admitted he won’t drive flat-out to win the Rally de Curitiba in Brazil next month.
The 38-year-old Peugeot 207 Super 2000 pilot finished second on the Monte Carlo Rally last month and could move to the top of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers‘ standings with a strong result in South America.
However, he has vowed to be cautious in order to ensure he reaches the finish of the event, which will appear on the IRC schedule for the first time this year.
"This kind of rally suits my driving style because the stages are quite fast with some crests and that’s what I like," Loix said. "I can see the rally being a bit like a sprint because the stages are quite short. But my target will be to take it steady. There are six Super 2000 cars competing and it’s important to be in one of the top places at the finish."
Loix said he will also be taking into account the fact he hasn’t contested a gravel event for eight months.
"I want to show that I can be quick but my last gravel event was in Russia last July where I finished fourth," the Belgian said. "Because I have not driven on gravel for a very long time it will take me some time to find a good rhythm and it’s important not to take too many risks."
TEAMS ARE GIVEN AN EARLY GLIMPSE OF THE CURITIBA STAGES
Crews competing on the Rally de Curitiba in Brazil on March 5-7 have been given a sneak preview of the stages that will make up the second round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
They have each been sent a DVD of on-board footage filmed from a car driving through the seven different venues.
Freddy Loix, who is second in the IRC standings following the first event of the season, January’s Monte Carlo Rally, said: "It looks like it’s going to be a nice rally. The stages are quite quick and from looking at the DVD there will be lots of crests."
Meanwhile, Kris Meeke, the British ace who will compete at the wheel of a Peugeot UK-backed 207 Super 2000, likened the roads to Italy’s round of the World Rally Championship. "They’re a bit like the roads in Sardinia, quite smooth and fast," he said.
Among the most demanding stages is the Bocaiuva test, which is 28 kilometres in length and features 400 curves on undulating roads. It is scheduled for the second day of the two-day rally.
The Rally de Curitiba will be made up of 13 special stages totalling more than 220 kilometres. The event is due to finish at the Autodromo Internacional de Curitiba, the city’s racing circuit, on Saturday March 7, one hour before the start of qualifying for the World Touring Car Championship round the following day.
FANS COME FIRST ON REVAMPED YPRES RALLY
Fans attending the Ypres Westhoek Rally in Belgium will be able to take advantage of several new initiatives when the Intercontinental Rally Challenge heads to the historic Belgian town from June 19-21.
Organisers are creating several spectator zones to provide improved viewing opportunities for members of the public on special selected special stages. They will also erect enhanced signage to give fans better guidance when travelling to the stages.
In addition, the amount of space available in the service area in the market square in Ypres will be extended, with the intention of giving more members of the public a chance to view the competing cars close-up while their teams are working on them.
The challenge for the competitors will be increased with several stages set to undergo modifications to make them more technical and even faster. The route could also a stage across over the border in France.
Rally manager Alain Penasse said: "The growing success of the IRC has attracted more manufacturers and sponsors to the Ypres Rally. If we combine this with our changes I am confident the 2009 event will be one of the best. It will be an event you will not want to miss and I am really looking forward to this challenge."

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Reigning IRC champion Nicolas Vouilloz has been tipped as a potential winner of the Curitiba Rally

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