Andreucci flies as Kopecky crashes out in Sanremo
26.9.2009 von Wolfgang.
Italian rally stars dominate the top positions at the end of the opening day of the Rallye Sanremo, round 10 of the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge. The classic Italian event, taking place on the mountainous roads around the Riviera town of Sanremo, has become a two-way battle between the privately-entered Peugeot 207 S2000 of Paolo Andreucci and the works Abarth Grande Punto S2000 of Luca Rossetti – separated by just 1.7 seconds at the overnight halt.
“I’m very happy, everything was fine. I didn’t expect to be ahead of everybody before the long stage,” said Andreucci at the overnight halt.
“I’m not so happy with the setup of my car, but it was impossible to change anything and be confident, so we had to leave it,” said Rossetti. “Hopefully tomorrow we can make a good fight with Paolo.”
The first stage was won by Czech hero Jan Kopecky, title challenger in the works Skoda Fabia S2000 and looking for his third consecutive victory in this year’s series. Disaster struck halfway through SS2 however, when he broke a wheel and was eliminated from the event. This passed the initiative to Peugeot UK’s championship leader Kris Meeke, but the British ace has been unable to capitalise so far and trails in fourth place behind the Italian pacesetters and Peugeot Benelux’s defending IRC champion Nicolas Vouilloz.
“I learned that Kopeky retired just before the start of SS3 and I lost my concentration and I couldn’t find the right rhythm,” Meeke admitted. “Then I had some brake problems both on SS3 and the long final stage, which is sort of my fault as I settle the car by left-foot braking and over 40km the heat builds up. I have to try to get as many points as possible here, they are going to be very important.”
The second Benelux Peugeot of Belgian veteran Freddy Loix lies fifth and has closed up fast on the points leader during the course of tonight’s fourth stage – the daunting 40km SS4 called Cuori. The rest of the regular contenders have found themselves locked out of the points positions by an armada of Italian talent, with Renato Travaglia (Peugeot), Piero Longhi (Skoda) and Umberto Scandola (Abarth) keeping well ahead of works Skoda driver Juho Hanninen in 11th, the lone Proton of Guy Wilks in 15th and the Ralliart of Franz Wittmann in 25th.
In the IRC 2WD Cup category, Honda teams blasted back into action with a vengeance. Having been left unrepresented in the previous round, the Rally Principe de Asturias in Oviedo, Spain, the rapid Honda Civic Type R machines have shone in the class on the twisting asphalt. Another promising Italian, Sandro Sottile, leads from championship leader, Frenchman Denis Millet, in his turbocharged Peugeot 207.
Overall Positions after 4 out of 9 stages
1 Paolo Andreucci (I) – Peugeot 207 S2000 – 58m 13.9s
2 Luca Rossetti (I) – Abarth Grande Punto S2000 - +1.7s
3 Nicolas Vouilloz (F) – Peugeot 207 S2000 - +12.3s
4 Kris Meeke (GB) – Peugeot 207 S2000 - +22.5s
5 Freddy Loix (B) – Peugeot 207 S2000 - +23.8s
6 Renato Travaglia (I) – Peugeot 207 S2000 - +31.9s
7 Piero Longhi (I) – Skoda Fabia S2000 - +38.7s
8 Umberto Scandola (I) – Abarth Grande Punto S2000 - +59.3s
2WD Cup after 4 out of 9 stages
1 Sandro Sottile (I) – Honda Civic R3C – 1hr 2m 34.0s
2 Denis Millet (F) – Peugeot 207 R3T – +3m 44.4s
3 Laszlo Vizin (H) – Honda Civic R3C - +5m 18.2s
Fastest stage times
SS1: Kopecky, SS2-3: Andreucci. SS4: Rossetti
Leading retirements
Jan Kopecky (CZ) – Skoda Fabia S2000 – SS2, accident damage
For further information please visit www.rally-irc.com or www.cronoimperia.it/sanremo09
Andreucci’s team work on the leading car in Sanremo before the overnight halt
JAPANESE EVENT TO BE LAUNCHED IN TOKYO
26.9.2009 von Wolfgang.
The WTCC Race of Japan, that will take place at Okayama International Circuit on November 1st will be launched next Tuesday, September 29th, at 11.30 am during a press conference at the French Embassy in Tokyo.
This race meeting will mark the return of the FIA World Touring Car Championship to Japan after last year’s successful maiden visit to Okayama, and will also feature for the first time a round of the Asian Le Mans Series within a WTCC event.
The provisional entry list will be unveiled during the press conference that will be attended by Marcello Lotti, General Manager of KSO, WTCC promoter, Daniel Poissenot, advisor to the ACO President and ALMS Race Director, and Yojiro Terada, President of ACO Japan.
WTCC and ALMS will race in the same meeting at Okayama
LADA’S GREAT ITALIAN WEEKEND
Imola marked an historical moment for the LADA Sport team, as James Thompson scored the Russian manufacturers’ first WTCC points.
In the first race the Briton took advantage of the pile up at the start and defended his sixth position from D’Aste, Hernández, Menu and Porteiro. In the Race 2 he overtook Hernández for fifth - just behind the leading group - before being demoted by Gené to sixth again.
But besides the two results, the pace of his LADA Priora car was stunning. Placed in the middle of the field for the practice and qualifying sessions, Thompson clocked competitive laps throughout the two races. The progress of the Russian car was confirmed by Jaap van Lagen’s performance in Race 1; the Dutchman was lying tenth in Race 1 before rolling of the track after a collision with only three laps to go.
"It’s been a great weekend for Lada on a circuit that I love, and this pair of results definitely shows that we are making progress. The car seems to be getting better and better. We’ve got to be realistic as there is still plenty to do, but this is certainly a sign that we are heading in the right direction," said Thompson.
Team Principal Viktor Shapovalov echoed: "Not only have we scored our first points, in both races, but we have also improved our pace to the point where we can really compete with our rivals. We can be very proud of everything we have achieved so far. I would like to thank our drivers and all our team members for doing such a great job."
James Thompson defends his sixth position during Imola’s first race
MÜLLER AND PRIAULX AT PETIT LE MANS
This weekend Jörg Müller and Andy Priaulx are set to take part in the Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta, at the wheel of two BMW M3 GT2 cars for the Rahal Letterman team.
Priaulx, who makes his first appearance at the Petit Le Mans, shares his car with Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand, while Müller will make shifts with Dirk Müller (his former team-mate in ETCC and WTCC) and Tommy Milner.
The two BMW cars have clocked the fastest times in the GT2 class during today qualifying session. The Müllers and Milner (1:20.393) will start from 13th spot of the overall grid, alongside the sister M3 of Priaulx-Auberlen-Hand (1:20.463) and ahead of a bunch of Ferrari, Corvette and Porsche cars.
TARQUINI WINS GOLF TOURNAMENT
Gabriele Tarquini is in a great shape. Two days after winning the first race in Imola and stretching his WTCC championship lead, the SEAT Sport driver has claimed another success in the second edition of the Green Golf Tour promoted by Eurosport Events.
Just like in 2008 Tarquini emerged as the winner in the 3rd Category of the 36-hole Stableford golf tournament that took place Monday and Tuesday at the San Valentino golf club in Castellarano, Italy.
WTCC chief timekeeper Mike Salmon, of MST, won the 2nd category, WTCC team coordinator Nunzia Corvino claimed victory in the Ladies Trophy, while Glen Valente, marketing director of HSBC Latin America topped the overall classification and was awarded with the WTCC World Amateur Cup.
www.fiawtcc.com
Mallorca New Limit - Alfonso Ho en el CEV
26.9.2009 von Wolfgang.
Koldo Zuazaga - Ferbis Press - Dpto. Prensa Mallorca New Limit
