The Intercontinental Rally Challenge returns to mainland Europe for
round five of this year’s series, the Belgium Ypres Rally from June 18-20.
The asphalt surface and the tricky conditions of Belgium make for a
technically challenging event which is likely to be played out in
unpredictable weather, when scorching sunshine can turn to heavy rain in the
blink of an eye.
The stages on the Belgium Ypres Rally tend to be straight and
narrow farm tracks, with several obstacles to catch out the
unwary. The long straights tend to be followed by sharp 90-
degree corners, making it extremely difficult to judge the
correct braking points. There is also often a lot of loose gravel
on the corners, meaning that the cars struggle to find traction.
These are far from the only hazards crews will have to cope
with: the rapid stages are frequently lined with deep drainage
ditches – often filled with water – and there are trees, walls and
telegraph poles close to the side of the road.
Participation of the seven IRC-registered manufacturers
Belgium is one of the most enthusiastic and proactive motor sport nations on earth so the event is
sure to bring out enormous crowds throughout the event, many of whom will be cheering for local hero
Freddy Loix and his new co-driver Frederic Miclotte. The Belgian duo currently lies second in the IRC
standings, just two points off the lead. A full capacity entry is expected to start this year’s event, with
the IRC front-runners being joined by a host of local and regional talent.
For the first time this year, all seven IRC-registered manufacturers are expected to take the start,
raising the profile of this well-known rally even higher. More than 20 Super 2000 cars will begin the
event this year: another significant record for the IRC.
The Belgium Ypres Rally is one of the most historic and important events in
Europe. The event is based in the historic town of Ypres, rebuilt brick-for-brick
to its medieval splendour after its destruction in World War I. The magnificent
town square, with the town hall and museum dominating the landscape, acts
as the central service area for the rally and contains the start-finish ramp. This
year will mark the 45th running of the Belgium Ypres Rally, which has been
contested in the past by some of the greatest stars of the sport.
Peugeot UK enters the current championship leader Kris Meeke, the young
British star who has taken back-to-back victories on gravel in Brazil and the
Azores to stand two points clear of Loix in the standings. Defending
champion, Frenchman Nicolas Vouilloz, lies third in the second Kronosprepared
Benelux Peugeot entry, just one point behind his teammate Loix: the
winner in Ypres last year.
A total of eight Peugeot 207 S2000s head the entry, joined by a Skoda
Fabia S2000 for another great hero of Belgian rallying, Francois Duval,
and a Volkswagen Polo S2000 for legendary Belgian rally ace, 51-yearold
Patrick Snijers. Abarth has also been strong in Belgium in the past,
and the factory Italian team is hoping for more success this year with
former European Champion Giandomenico Basso and Belgian asphalt
ace Bernd Casier, who has been brought in to replace Anton Alen for this
event. Skoda’s factory team will field Juho Hanninen and Jan Kopecky as
usual.
Proton will be represented on the IRC for the first time, with an entry for
rising British star Guy Wilks, while another star of the future – Thierry
Neuville – has won the BFGoodrich Drivers’ Team entry for Ypres. Pieter
Tsjoen has also been recently confirmed for his home event in a Peugeot
207 S2000.
They are joined by a host of entrants for the 2WD class in both Super 1600 and Group R machines,
and as ever huge numbers of Group N ’showroom‘ specification Mitsubishi Lancers, such as the car
driven by Austria’s Franz Wittmann, which will doubtless bring further four-wheel drive spectacle to the
event.
Eurosport will broadcast four hours of live action from the stages
To mark the importance of the Belgium Ypres Rally, and to ensure that everyone in the area gets the
most from the event, stage organisers Superstage have developed a new signposting system which
will allow fans and casual visitors alike the chance to easily find their way to some of the most
spectacular action.
At Ypres, the fans come first. Not only that, but Eurosport will broadcast four hours of live action from
the stages, enabling television viewers all over the world to fully experience the unique atmosphere of
the Belgium Ypres Rally.

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STRONG ENTRY FOR BELGIUM YPRES RALLY … AND ALL THE OTHER LATEST IRC NEWS

Fans of the Super 2000 formula are in for a bumper weekend of action at the forthcoming Belgium Ypres Rally (June 19-20), with a record number of cars filling the manufacturer entries for this, the fifth round of the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge. So far a total of 17 cars from seven manufacturers are being readied for the off, with a host of different nationalities represented.
Host country Belgium, one of Europe’s great rallying nations, leads the way with a six-strong contingent of talent led by former WRC star Freddy Loix, who topped the IRC points standings until the previous round in the Azores. Switzerland, Italy, France, Poland, Finland, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom will also be represented amongst the crews.
For the manufacturers Ypres will showcase entries from runaway leader Peugeot with its 207 S2000, with strong competition coming from the new Skoda Fabia, Abarth Grande Punto and Volkswagen Polo, with the Proton Satria making its debut. Additionally the turbocharged ’showroom‘ specification Mitsubishi Lancer Evos will be out in force, ready to pounce on their non-turbo opposition.

There will be a strong and multinational Super 2000 entry in Belgium

TSJOEN SET FOR BELGIUM YPRES RALLY IN FIFTH KRONOS PEUGEOT

Pieter Tsjoen will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on the Belgium Ypres Rally on June 18-20. A Belgian native, Tsjoen will drive a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 for the Kronos Racing squad, bringing the total number of cars being entered by the Namur-based team to five.
Now 35, Tsjoen hasn’t competed in the IRC since retiring from the Ypres Rally in 2007 When he was at the wheel of an Abarth Grande Punto: A result which culminated in him briefly quitting the sport and handing over his drive to countryman Freddy Loix for the remaining of that season.
He prepared for his IRC comeback by testing in Belgium on June 10, where he familiarised himself with his new car. He also practiced wheel changes alongside co-driver Eddy Chevaillier in the unfortunate event of his Peugeot suffering a puncture during the asphalt rally.
Marc van Dalen, the joint team principal of Kronos Racing, said: "Pieter is a good guy with a lot of experience. The road he tested on wasn’t completely representative of the stages he on the Ypres Rally but that won’t be a problem for him. His car will be the same as all the others and I think he can do a good job."
NEUVILLE TIPPED TO IMPRESS ON BELGIUM YPRES RALLY
Thierry Neuville is capable of producing a surprise result on the Belgium Ypres Rally according to his team boss. Neuville, who will be 21 by the time the event starts in Ypres on June 18, impressed joint Kronos Racing team principal Marc van Dalen during a test in Belgium on June 10.
Kronos is responsible for preparing the Peugeot 207 Super 2000 Neuville will use on the asphalt event, which is his prize for being selected as the BFGoodrich Drivers‘ Team representative on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.
"I was surprised how well he did in the test because it was his first time in a four-wheel-drive car," said van Dalen. "He seems to be very mature for his age and providing he does what he is told then I really think he can get a good result because he understood very quickly how to drive these cars and what he must do."
Neuville, a German-speaking Belgian, forged a strong reputation competing in the one-make Ford Fiesta and Citroen C2 championships in his homeland. A panel of Belgian journalists, members of Belgium’s motorsport governing body and representatives of tyre company BFGoodrich and Kronos Racing selected Neuville for the drive.
WILKS AIMS TO BRING PROTON TO THE FINISH ON IRC DEBUT
British driver Guy Wilks is determined to get to the finish the Belgium Ypres Rally as he looks to increase his experience at the wheel of the Proton Satria Neo Super 2000, which makes its debut in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on the asphalt event from June 18-20.
Wilks, a double national champion, will contest seven rounds of the IRC with the factory-backed Proton team, which could expand to run as many as three cars before the end of this season.
Although Wilks has previous experience of the IRC through an appearance in a Honda Civic Type-R on Rally Russia last year, the British designed and built Proton has only competed on three events.
"We’re comfortable with the car but I’m sure we’ll develop it and continue to better the set-up the longer the event goes on for," said Wilks. "We’re going to be going at a good enough pace to make the car work properly but we have to drive within ourselves because we just want to get to the end of Ypres with a good, solid result and put some mileage on the car because that’s one thing we haven’t got."
Wilks, 28, will be co-driven by countryman Phil Pugh.

Wilks will drive the new Proton Satria in Ypres

HANNINEN IS THE FANS‘ FAVOURITE TO WIN IN YPRES

Juho Hanninen could produce a shock victory on the Belgium Ypres Rally on June 18-20, if the results of an online poll predicting the winner of the asphalt event are to be believed.
Event organisers have invited members of the public to nominate who they think will win round five of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge from a list of 11 drivers.
With the event fast approaching, Hanninen, the event’s top seed due to his FIA priority status, also heads the public poll with 27.2 per cent of the votes as of 2200hrs on Thursday June 11.
Hanninen, from Finland, has never won an event on asphalt before but impressed on the Tarmac-based Monte Carlo Rally in January, when he led in his factory Skoda Fabia Super 2000.
Freddy Loix, last year’s Ypres Rally winner, is next up with 26 per cent of the vote, while Francois Duval, another Belgian hero has attracted 20.2 per cent of the vote. Kris Meeke, who heads the IRC drivers‘ standings, is fifth with 5.3 per cent of the vote.
One factor that could work in Hanninen’s favour is his co-driver Mikko Markkula. Although Hanninen hasn’t competed on asphalt for several months, his co-driver Mikko Markkula entered the Tarmac-based British championship Jim Clark Rally in late May.

Hanninen is predicted by the fans to win in Belgium

ALL-STAR FRENCH COMMENTARY TEAM ON EUROSPORT

Two of France’s great rally heroes will join forces to give their expert views on the IRC action on this weekend’s Belgium Ypres Rally. Jean-Luc Thérier and Jean-Pierre Nicolas will share the microphone and bring French-speaking fans a whole new perspective on what promises to be an extremely competitive event.
Thérier has the distinction of being the driver who scored the most points in the inaugural World Rally Championship, back in 1973. Sadly his achievement went unrewarded as the series was for manufacturers only until 1977! Synonymous with the successes of Alpine-Renault in the 1970s, he is an icon of the sport around the world.
Meanwhile Nicolas, teammate to Thérier in the 1973 season and the 1980 Monte Carlo Rally winner, will also bring his enormous expertise to bear on the coverage. "I’m really looking forward to teaming up with Jean-Luc again," Nicolas said. "The IRC is our kind of series and Ypres is always afantastic event for the competitors and spectators – I can’t wait to get started."
RALLY JAPAN TO MAKE IRC DEBUT IN 2010
Rally Japan is expected to make its inaugural debut on the IRC calendar in 2010, following discussions with the local organisers to create a permanent IRC event in this country from next season onwards. Japan was due to have been the 11th round of this year’s IRC series from October 22-24, but instead the Rally Hokkaido, a round of the Japanese Rally Championship from July 11-12, will form part of the IRC Supporter Events programme.

www.rally-irc.com

PROTON SIGNS WILKS FOR BELGIUM DEBUT … AND ALL THE OTHER LATEST NEWS FROM THE IRC

-12 days to the start of Belgium Ypres Rally
Proton will make its debut in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge later this month when Guy Wilks contests the Belgium Ypres Rally in the Malaysian company’s Satria Neo Super 2000. This means that for the first time in the history of the series, all seven IRC-registered manufacturers will be represented on one event.
Although Wilks, from Great Britain, is a Belgium Ypres Rally novice, he has driven the Proton in competition before, leading the British championship Pirelli Rally in April, until he was forced out when a freak fire destroyed his car.
His inclusion on the Belgium Ypres Rally entry list brings the total number of Super 2000 cars contesting the asphalt event to 20: another record for the IRC.
"I’ve made no secret of my desire to enter the IRC with Proton so it’s great it’s finally happening," said the 28-year-old Wilks.
Wilks was a frontrunner in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship with the factory Suzuki team before making his debut in a Ford Focus World Rally Car on Rally Norway in February 2007. Since then he has claimed the British title twice and made his IRC debut in a Honda Civic Type-R on Rally Russia last season.

Proton will make its debut IRC appearance in Belgium with Wilks

LIVE TELEVISION COVERAGE FOR BELGIUM YPRES RALLY

Eurosport will broadcast four of the stages from the Belgium Ypres Rally live, giving television viewers the opportunity to see more than four hours of live action. This includes special live coverage of two stages on Friday 19 June, while two further stages will be shown during the day and the evening on Saturday 20 June – including the classic Heuvelland stage, which forms the last stage of the event.
This unmatched live action will enable rally fans to see all the action directly as it happens thanks to unique international media coverage, including live extensive broadcasts on Eurosport’s channels (Eurosport, Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Asia-Pacific), complemented by coverage on EurosportNews and on the eurosport.com websites.
Visit the IRC website (www.rally-irc.com) for a full interview with Gilbert Roy, the Director of Editorial and Programme Development for Eurosport Events.
NEUVILLE HANDED YPRES RALLY DRIVE BY BFGOODRICH
Thierry Neuville has been chosen to represent the BFGoodrich Drivers‘ Team on the Belgium Ypres Rally. The Belgian event is the second round of the scheme this year, which gives promising local drivers the chance to compete in their home round of the IRC with a top level car.
Neuville, who will turn 21 in the week leading up to the asphalt event, was chosen by a 19-strong panel, which was made up of Belgian journalists and representatives of BFGoodrich, Kronos Racing and the Belgian governing body, the RACB.
He will drive a Kronos-prepared Peugeot 207 Super 2000 after receiving eight votes to the six handed to Melissa De Backere.
Prior to the Belgium Ypres Rally on June 18-20, Neuville will get the opportunity to familiarise himself with the Peugeot 207 during a specially arranged test session in Belgium on June 10.
SKODA CONFIRMS TWO-CAR TEAM FOR BELGIUM YPRES RALLY
Skoda Motorsport will make its third appearance in this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge when it enters the Belgium Ypres Rally from June 18-20. Regular drivers Juho Hanninen and Jan Kopecky will form the two-car attack in a brace of Fabia Super 2000s.
The decision to compete on the asphalt event represents a change of strategy by the Czech manufacturer. Originally, Skoda hadn’t planned to compete in the IRC again until Rally Russia in July but decided to add the Belgian event to its schedule because of the anticipated high level competition: there are a total of 20 S2000 cars on the provisional entry list.
Belgian Francois Duval will drive a third Fabia S2000 on the event, albeit for the customer Rene Georges Rally Sport operation. Skoda Belgium, which is backing Duval’s entry, has a comprehensive activation programme planned for the Ypres-based event, reinforcing the link between competition in the IRC and domestic road car sales.
Peugeot Belgium is also taking full advantage of the sales opportunity that the IRC brings by supplying all the official cars for the event.

Skoda’s factory team will return to the IRC at the Belgium Ypres Rally

CASIER REPLACES ALEN IN FACTORY ABARTH LINE-UP

Bernd Casier will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on June 18-20 when he replaces Anton Alen in the works Abarth team on the Belgium Ypres Rally.
Casier, who has appeared on selected rounds of the series in a Volkswagen Polo Super 2000 in the past, will make a one-off appearance for the Italian team at the wheel of a Grande Punto S2000.
Abarth management selected Casier to partner Giandomenico Basso in the factory squad because the specialised nature of the event favours drivers with extensive asphalt experience, something Alen currently lacks. However, the highly-rated Finn will return to Abarth for next month’s Rally Russia, which he won in 2007.
Casier, 29, has links with Abarth going back to 2004 when he won the Super 1600 section of the Belgian championship in 2004 in a Fiat Punto Abarth. Fellow Belgian Francis Caesemaeker will co-drive Casier.
Abarth is currently third in the manufacturers‘ standings after four rounds. Basso, who is fifth in the drivers‘ table, won the Belgium Ypres Rally in 2006.

Belgian driver Bernd Casier will get his chance as part of a factory team

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE ACES TO JOIN IRC REGULARS

Several leading lights from the FIA European Rally Championship will battle the Intercontinental Rally Challenge regulars for glory on the Belgium Ypres Rally later this month.
The ERC runs alongside the IRC on four events this year. Current ERC leader Michal Solowow, from Poland, third-placed Corrado Fontana and fellow Italian Luca Betti, who is fourth overall in the ERC standings after three events, have all entered the asphalt rally in a fleet of Peugeot 207 Super 2000s. Italian Davide de Benedetto and Swiss Brian Lavio are two other ERC drivers competing in Belgium from June 18-20.
In addition to the Belgium Ypres Rally, the ERC and IRC run together in Madeira, the Czech Republic (Barum Rally Zlin) and Spain (Rally Principe de Asturias).
Giandomenico Basso, who drives for the factory Abarth team in the IRC, is also registered for the ERC. Although the former European champion is only contesting a limited programme of events, he won the season-opening Rally 1000 Miglia in Italy and could yet challenge for the title if he scores well during the summer.
SWISS STAR TO TACKLE IRC CAMPAIGN
Switzerland will get its first regular representative in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge when Brian Lavio contests the Belgium Ypres Rally next month.
The 25-year-old has registered for the FIA European Rally Championship, which runs alongside the IRC on selected events. In addition to Ypres, Lavio’s programme will include Barum Rally Zlin in Czech Republic in August and Rally Principe de Asturias in Spain in September.
Lavio said: "We are very happy for this opportunity. For us it will be the first time we have competed in such an important championship. For sure our goal is not fight for the victory but increase our pace and gain more experience."
Lavio will drive a Peugeot 207 Super 2000, run by the Italian Balbosca operation, alongside co-driver Luca Parodi. They began their campaign on the European championship Croatia Delta Rally, which started in Zagreb on Thursday evening (May 28).
Their final event of the season is the Rallye International du Valais in Switzerland from October 29-31. Although the event is not a round of the IRC it qualifies for IRC Supporter Event status.
YPRES RALLY FANS GET NEW STAGE SIGNAGE
Spectators attending the Belgium Ypres Rally from June 18-20 will be able to benefit from a new signing system designed to make it easier to locate the dedicated viewing areas on the competitive sections of the event.
The signs will not only direct fans to the stages from Ypres but also from one stage to the next. Signposts will even be erected in northern France to assist foreign spectators. As well as helping fans, organisers are confident the signs will ease the traffic congestion around the rally route.

www.rally-irc.com

Four hours of live coverage from the stages
EUROSPORT EVENTS, the promoter of the INTERCONTINENTAL RALLY CHALLENGE, is delighted to announce unprecedented live television production from the 45th Belgium Ypres Rally, which forms round five of this year’s IRC series from June 18-20.
Four of the stages will be broadcast live, giving viewers the opportunity to see more than four hours of live action from the all-asphalt stages. This includes special live coverage of two stages on Friday 19 June, while two further stages will be shown during the day and the evening on Saturday 20 June, including the classic Heuvelland stage, which forms the last stage of the event and so marks the climax of the rally on its final night.
This unmatched live action will enable rally fans to see all the action directly as it happens thanks to unique international media coverage, including live extensive broadcasts on Eurosport’s channels (Eurosport, Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Asia-Pacific), complemented by coverage on EurosportNews and on the eurosport.com websites.
Géraldine Filiol, Managing Director of IRC promoter Eurosport Events, said: "After our successful ground-breaking coverage of the Monte-Carlo Rally, it was our commitment to continue offering more live coverage on selected IRC events. With its popular central service area located in the historic heart of the town, its fast and demanding stages and its iconic history, the Belgium Ypres Rally has all the ingredients to guarantee some great live shows on TV."
"In addition to this, the full entry list sees the seven IRC-registered manufacturers competing together for the first time, with more than 20 S2000 cars and numerous candidates for victory. The event promises breathtakingly close competition for all the spectators, whether watching the action in person or on TV."
Broadcast Plan for 2009 Belgium Ypres Rally
* Friday 19 June
19:15-20:15 : LIVE Stage 3 / Lille-Eurométropole1 (9,78 km) – Eurosport
23:00-24:00 : LIVE Stage 6 / Lille-Eurométropole2 (9,78 km) – Eurosport
* Saturday 20 June
16:00-17:00 : LIVE Stage 11 / Heuvelland1 (32,75 km) – Eurosport 2
21:15-22:15 : LIVE Stage 16 / Heuvelland2 (32,75 km) final stage – Eurosport
The Belgium Ypres Rally gets underway in the evening of Friday 19 June and finishes at night on Saturday 20 June.

The Belgium Ypres Rally will benefit from four hours of live coverage on the Eurosport platform

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SNIJERS GETS VOLKSWAGEN FOR BELGIUM YPRES RALLY … AND ALL THE OTHER NEWS FROM THE IRC

Legendary Belgian driver Patrick Snijers will chase his fifth Belgium Ypres Rally victory at the wheel of a Volkswagen Polo Super 2000.
The 51-year-old, who finished fifth on the event last year in a BFGoodrich Drivers‘ Team Peugeot 207, will drive for Rene Georges Rally Sport on the asphalt event, round five of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which runs from June 18-20.
Rene George Rally Sport engineer Jack de Keijzer said: "Patrick has been looking to use a Super 2000 car on Ypres. We were in contact with him last year about driving our Polo but in the end he won the chance to drive a Peugeot 207. For sure he can aim for a top-five finish although he is already thinking only about a podium."
De Keijzer confirmed Snijers would complete a two-day test alongside his new team-mate Francois Duval at an undisclosed venue in Belgium in the build-up to the rally. Duval will drive a Skoda Fabia Super 2000.
"It is very important Patrick and Francois are both well prepared for this opportunity," said de Keijzer.
Andreas Waldherr, who was due to compete in Ypres in a second Rene Georges-run Polo, has elected to concentrate on his Austrian championship title challenge instead and will therefore not be making the trip to Ypres.

Belgian ace Patrick Snijers will drive a Volkswagen Polo S2000 in Ypres

LOIX CONFIDENT OF RECLAIMING IRC TITLE LEAD

Freddy Loix believes he can still win this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge despite losing the title initiative to Kris Meeke on the Sata Rally Acores earlier this month.
Loix led the standings prior to the IRC’s inaugural visit to the Azores but slipped two points behind Meeke following his fourth place finish on the island event.
However, Loix is the favourite to win his home event, the Belgium Ypres Rally, next month, a result he reckons will reinvigorate his title challenge.
"I am in a better position than I was 12 months ago before taking on Ypres, my favourite event," said Loix, who finished runner-up to Kronos Racing team-mate Nicolas Vouilloz in last year’s standings. "It’s going to be a big fight to win the championship and it’s going to be very close, just like it was last year."
Loix, who has won the Belgium Ypres Rally on five occasions, is also confident that working with new co-driver Frederic Miclotte will increase his chances of claiming the coveted drivers‘ crown.
"The adaptation to my new co-driver went perfectly in the Azores and that has made me more confident for the rest of the season," said Loix. "But I have to be consistent and make sure I score points in every round."

Loix is feeling upbeat about his IRC title campaign this year

PEUGEOT TEAM EXPECTS BIG FIGHT WITH RIVAL SKODA

Kronos Racing boss Marc van Dalen is bracing himself for a big battle for Intercontinental Rally Challenge honours with the factory Skoda outfit.
Van Dalen’s team runs the Peugeot 207 Super 2000s of Freddy Loix, Kris Meeke and Nicolas Vouiloz. It is also responsible for the BFGoodrich Drivers‘ Team entry on selected rounds of the series.
Although Kronos-run drivers have claimed victory on three of the four rounds run so far this season, defeating Skoda on two occasions in the process, van Dalen expects the threat posed by the works Skoda drivers Juho Hanninen and Jan Kopecky will intensify as the season progresses.
"Skoda is a very good team with two good drivers so I am sure we will continue to have a big fight with them," said van Dalen.
While Kronos has committed to contesting nine of the 12 IRC rounds this year, it’s unclear when the Czech team will compete next.
"We’re going to Rally Russia but we are also studying the possibility of participating on the Belgium Ypres Rally, which will be an additional event to what we originally planned," said Skoda team manager Pavel Hortek.
VAN DEN HEUVEL REVEALS IRC PROGRAMME
Jasper van den Heuvel will contest three rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this year, starting with next month’s Belgium Ypres Rally. The 30-year-old Dutch driver is also planning to enter Barum Rally Zlin in Czech Republic in August before tackling the series finale, the RAC MSA Rally of Scotland, in November.
Van den Heuvel will drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X for his van den Heuvel Motorsport team, which could field as many as seven cars on the asphalt event.
"I want to show the Evo 10 is quick on what is, for me, the fastest rally in Europe and not just against the other Group N cars but the Super 2000 cars as well," said van den Heuvel. "I have a long history with this rally. My father used to drive on it and I did my first Ypres Rally when I was 23. I was second overall for a time in front of all these guys so it is a tradition for me to always try and do this rally."
Van den Heuvel said running seven cars in Ypres would not be a problem for this team.
"We are used to dealing with 11 cars on Dutch championship rallies so it is not a concern for me," said van den Heuvel.
MEEKE PREPARES FOR UK PUBLIC APPEARANCE
Fans of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge living in Great Britain will get an early taster of what’s in store on the RAC MSA Rally of Scotland, the final round of the IRC in November, when Kris Meeke appears at The Rally Show, a two-day rally-orientated festival in the country from June 6/7.
Meeke, who leads the IRC standings by two points, will be performing a series of demonstration runs in his Peugeot UK-backed 207 S2000. The occasion will mark the first time the 29-year-old from Northern Ireland will have driven his Kronos Racing-run Super 2000 car on British soil.
"We’re delighted he’s coming to The Rally Show," said Malcolm Neill, the event director. "Kris is a very talented driver and the fact he is leading the IRC makes this a real honour. It’s also going to be fantastic to see his Peugeot 207 Super 2000 car in action. It makes a great sound and will be terrific for the fans."
Meeke has won two of the four IRC rounds held so far this season. His co-driver Paul Nagle, from the Republic of Ireland, will also be appearing at the event, which is held on Tarmac roads within the grounds of the Chatsworth stately home in the county of Derbyshire.

Meeke will drive his Peugeot at a motorsport festival in England

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CLASSIC STAGES INCLUDED ON RALLY OF SCOTLAND ROUTE … AND ALL THE OTHER NEWS FROM THE IRC

The inaugural RAC MSA Rally of Scotland will include stages not used for more than 20 years when it brings the curtain down on this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Due to take place from November 19-21, the event will be made up of a competitive distance of 224.88 kilometres split over 13 special stages, of which some will run at night in the challenging Scottish forests.
Jimmy McRae, a five-time winner of the British Rally Championship and the father of the late Colin McRae, was full of praise of the route following an inspection.
"It’s great to see these stages used for rallying again," said Scottish legend McRae during the recent official launch of the rally in the grounds of Stirling Castle. "They provide a real spectacle for spectators and they are immensely enjoyable for the drivers."
The event will start in the Scottish city of Perth on the evening of Thursday November 19, with the event scheduled to finish in Stirling on the afternoon of Saturday November 21. Tickets are already on sale for the event, which has a capacity entry of 85 cars.

The RACMSA Rally of Scotland will provide a thrilling finale to this year’s IRC

VOUILLOZ SAYS MEEKE WOULD BE A FITTING CHAMPION

Kris Meeke would be a worthy winner of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge according to Nicolas Vouilloz, the reigning IRC title-holder.
Meeke moved to the top of the drivers‘ standings following his second victory of the season on Sata Rally Azores last week.
Vouilloz, who could do no better than third in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 run by the same Kronos Racing team responsible for preparing Meeke’s similar car, said he had been impressed by his team-mate’s performance on the island rally.
"We knew from Brazil that Kris can be quick," said Vouilloz. "In the Azores I had no answer to his pace. If he keeps on driving like this then he definitely deserves to win the championship."
Vouilloz has yet to register a win in the IRC series this year but his podium finish in the Azores has propelled him to third in the championship battle behind Meeke and fellow Kronos driver Freddy Loix, whom he beat to the title in 2008.
Meanwhile, Meeke said it was too early for him to be thinking about winning the championship.
"There are still many more rallies left and I know people like Freddy and Nicolas will be very hard to beat on the Tarmac rounds," said Meeke.
AZORES PERFORMANCE PLEASES SKODA TEAM
Skoda Motorsport boss Michal Hrabanek believes works driver Jan Kopecky’s performance on Sata Rally Azores last week has further underlined the potential of the company’s Fabia Super 2000 model.
Czech Republic ace Kopecky finished second on the island event, the first time the factory team has competed on a gravel rally, a result that puts him fourth overall in the drivers‘ championship standings.
Hrabanek said: "In a way, the whole team considered the Azores Rally on the par with our debut on the Monte Carlo Rally in January, because this was our first race on gravel and also the team’s first appearance in the Azores Islands. I think we showed already in Monte Carlo that the development of the Fabia Super 2000 is a success story and I believe that Jan Kopecky’s runner-up position confirms that the Fabia is a fast and reliable car.
"I am certain that today’s result has clearly showed that we are able to compete with the best and that we can set the highest possible ambitions for the future."
However, it’s still not clear when the Skoda team will next compete. The squad has been linked to an appearance on Rally Russia in July but it remains a possibility that it will enter next month’s Belgium Ypres Rally.
"We are now going to conduct an internal analysis of the Azores Rally and then decide how we will proceed in the near future," Hrabanek added.

The new Skoda Fabia S2000s performed well on the Azores

DUVAL CONFIRMS YPRES ENTRY

Francois Duval has confirmed his entry on the Belgium Ypres Rally, more than one year after he made his Intercontinental Rally Challenge debut in Portugal.
Duval, once a regular in the World Rally Championship, will drive a Skoda Fabia S2000 for the Rene Georges Rally Sport team.
The experienced French navigator Denis Giraudet will co-drive Duval, who is due to begin testing in early next month in preparation for the asphalt event on June 18-20.
"I would like to thank the Skoda importer in Belgium for showing the trust in me. I’m going to grab this opportunity with both hands," said Duval, whose relationship with Skoda dates back to 2006 when he drove a Fabia WRC in the world championship.
Duval, from Belgium, hasn’t tackled his home event since 2002 but he’s determined his lack of recent experience on the rally won’t damage his chances of claiming a strong result.
"Our preparation will offset any handicap we might face," said Duval. "Anyway I’m very motivated and will do everything possible to be successful."
Although Duval’s agreement is currently for the Ypres Rally only, the 28-year-old is planning to enter more rounds of the IRC later in the season.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED FOR RAUTENBACH
Conrad Rautenbach has said his run to seventh place on last week’s Sata Rally Azores represented mission accomplished for the Zimbabwean.
Rautenbach is normally found at the wheel of a Citroen C4 WRC on world championship rallies but wanted to try his hand at Super 2000 technology, opting for a Peugeot 207 run by the French PH Sport team.
He said: "I’m pleased with the way everything has gone. We came here with zero experience of not just this car but this completely different way of driving. The difference surprised me. The lack of low down torque is the biggest thing. It’s surprising how often you use that to get you out of trouble in a World Rally Car and how much you miss it when it’s not there."
"The sole objective for me was to get through the stages, make all of the kilometres and get as much seat time in a car without a turbo as possible. I’ve done that and I’ve learned a heck of a lot. The fact that we’ve bagged some IRC points at the same time is good news for me as well."
Rautenbach said he is not sure if he will drive a Super 2000 car again this season. He will return to the World Rally Championship for Rally Italy next week.

Conrad Rautenbach enjoyed his outing on the Sata Rally Acores in a Peugeot

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Peugeot UK driver Kris Meeke has charged to a commanding lead at the end of the first full day’s running in the Sata Rallye Acores, round four of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. In the course of nine stages, the 29-year-old Ulsterman passed overnight leader Freddy Loix’s similar Peugeot 207 S2000 and survived a wheel-wrecking rock on SS4 to set consistent times through the day to keep ahead of his championship rivals.
Meeke held good to his pre-event strategy of not being lured into over-stressing himself or his car when rivals not contesting the full 11-round IRC set impressive times. Nevertheless he was able to take and retain the overall lead from Loix, the winner of last night’s opening superspecial, before building a comfortable 30 second cushion over defending champion Nicolas Vouilloz, lying second at the end of the day in another Peugeot 207.
The first two stages of the day were a battle between Meeke and the Skoda Fabia of Finnish gravel ace Juho Hanninen, but the Finn dropped eleven and a half minutes on SS4 4, Pinhal da Paz, after damaging his wheels and suspension on the same rocks that Meeke had clipped. On the day’s final stage, the second run through Pinhal da Paz, Hanninen’s hopes of recovering the lost time were dashed in a stage-stopping shunt that ended his rally in dramatic style.
The second factory Skoda Fabia, driven by Czech asphalt ace Jan Kopecky, responded with a fastest time on SS5 in a total of five top three stage times through the day to end up third at the overnight halt in host town Ponta Delgada. Behind him the first of the Abarth Grande Punto S2000 runners, Finland’s Anton Alen, made the best of his machinery with some brave performances to climb from eighth to fourth, keeping clear of Loix and local hero Fernando Peres in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX.
Starting the final day in seventh place will be Alen’s Italian team mate Giandomenico Basso. The Italian precedes Conrad Rautenbach who struggled with lack of experience on his first Super 2000 class outing in eighth at the wheel of his Peugeot 207. The top 10 is rounded out by 2008 Rallye Azores winner Bruno Magalhães in another Peugeot 207, who earlier suffered transmission problems, and the Mitsubishi Lancer of Austrian Franz Wittmann.
The technically challeging surfaces of volcanic rock, loose gravel and asphalt have caused plenty of incident, and a total of 13 cars from the 50 starters have retired due to either accidents or mechanical strain.
In the IRC 2WD Cup, Frenchman Denis Millet leads the way in his Peugeot 207 RC Rallye from Italy’s Manuel Villa in his Fiat Punto S1600.
IRC RESULTS AFTER SS10, SATA RALLYE ACORES (PORTUGAL)
1 Meeke/Nagle    Peugeot 207 S2000    1h20m29.8s
2 Vouilloz/Klinger    Peugeot 207 S2000    +40.2s
3 Kopecky/Stary    Skoda Fabia S2000    +50.6s
4 Alen/Alanne    Abarth Grande Punto S2000    +1m18.2s
5 Loix/Miclotte    Peugeot 207 S2000    +1m47.4s
6 Basso/Dotta    Abarth Grande Punto S2000    +2m00.3s
7 Peres/Silva    Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9    +2m10.4s
8 Rautenbach/Barritt    Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9    +2m47.1s
9 Magalhaes/Magalhaes    Peugeot 207 S2000    +2m59.2s
10 Wittmann/Ettel    Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9    +3m18.4s
Two-wheel drive leader: Denis Millet (Peugeot 207 RC Rallye)
QUOTES
"It’s been a really tricky day with stages that contained a bit of everything. This rally has been even more varied than I imagined it would be after the recce, which is saying something. We’ve tried not to take any risks and I’ve had a very good feeling with the car all day. There was an interruption at the end of the day for an hour before the last stage after Hanninen’s accident, and while some people wanted to see the stage cancelled as it was getting late I wanted to continue as I knew that I could pull out some more time. I’m very happy but this rally is far from over so we need to be extra careful tomorrow."
-Kris Meeke, Peugeot UK driver
"It’s been incredibly tough, but we’ve had no real problems today apart from trying to keep the car on the road, which is never easy. Just as was the case in Brazil Kris has shown some really impressive pace and it’s very hard for us to keep up. This does not mean we are giving up though: we’re going to try and keep the same rhythm tomorrow and see where we end up at the finish. The plan is to score some useful points and so far we are on course to do that."
-Nicolas Vouilloz, Peugeot Belgium driver
"It’s been a good day for us but the last stage was very difficult and we struggled to find a good rhythm. Even though he is perfectly OK, it is never nice to hear that your team mate has had an accident and that deconcentrated me a little bit. But we are happy to get to the end of the day on the podium and we will try to keep this place tomorrow. Before this rally I was not feeling so confident but so far we are on course for a good result. If I could finish anywhere in the top five then I would be very pleased."
-Jan Kopecky, Skoda driver
THE ROUTE TOMORROW
Saturday’s final day of action in the Azores sees the crews complete a total of eight stages. The day starts at 08:15, followed by a loop of three stages that includes the longest and most challenging stage of the rally, the 22.37-kilometre Tronquiera test. The cars then return for a 20-minute service at Ponta Delgada at 12:40.
This service halt is followed by three more stages. The second service halt of the day takes place at 15:14. Finally, there are two more stages before the last service halt at 19:15, followed by the finish.
TV TIMES
The Sata Rally Acores will be broadcast on the Eurosport platform at the following times. On demand video footage, featuring highlights throughout the season to date, can also be accessed via the IRC website: www.rally-irc.com. All times listed are Central European Time (CET).
Friday 8 May
– 24h30 => 25h00      LIVE highlights of Day 1 (Eurosport)
Saturday 9 May
– 03h00 => 03h30     Highlights of Day 1 (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
– 08h00 => 08h30     Highlights of Day 1 (Eurosport 2)
– 21h15 => 21h45     LIVE highlights of Day 2 (Eurosport)
Sunday 10 May
– 04h00 => 04h30     Highlights of Day 2 (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
– 08h00 => 08h30     Highlights of Day 2 (Eurosport 2)
– 08h30 => 09h00     Highlights of Day 2 (Eurosport)
Tuesday 12 May
– 23h00 => 23h30      Rally Highlights (Eurosport)
Thursday 13 May
– 03h30 => 04h00      Rally Highlights (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Friday 14 May
– 04h00 => 04h30      Rally Highlights (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
– 13h00 => 13h30      Rally Highlights (Eurosport 2)
– 18h30 => 19h00      Rally Highlights (Eurosport 2)
Thursday 20 May
– 18h30 => 19h00      Rally Highlights (Eurosport 2)  

Kris Meeke enjoyed the Azorean roads in his Peugeot UK 207 S2000

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The 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge resumed its fast and furious battle among the ’next generation‘ of top-flight rally cars and drivers today (Thursday) with the start of the Sata Rallye Azores. A total of 50 cars were flagged away from the ceremonial start in the Atlantic port town of Ponta Delgada, with this new event for the IRC promising a feast of action on its combined gravel and asphalt stages.
"This event is unique and in its way quite like the Monte Carlo Rally," said Peugeot UK driver Kris Meeke. "The surface can change from one corner to the next, never mind from one special stage to another so it’s going to be a matter of holding on tight and being there at the finish."
Action got underway immediately with a crowd-pleasing superspecial stage which saw the contenders running two at a time in a gladiatorial start to the event. The biggest cheer of the night was for Meeke and his adversary, Frenchman Nicolas Vouilloz, both in Peugeot 207 S2000s, who virtually dead-heated their run through the purpose-built amphitheatre.
Nevertheless it was Belgian veteran Freddy Loix – the current championship leader – who claimed the overnight lead after a spectacular performance on the 1.7km superspecial, edging out Meeke and Vouilloz in front of the much-fancied Skoda Fabia of Czech driver Jan Kopecky. The action continues with nine timed stages tomorrow and ends on Saturday evening after a final leg of eight special stages.
"We had quite a hard landing that damaged the car slightly, but I’m sure that there is nothing to worry about," said Loix, after setting the fastest time. "It was very close and I’m sure that’s going to be the case again tomorrow."
Finnish driver Juho Hanninen, who will start as car number one tomorrow in his Skoda Fabia S2000, concluded: "The stages are very tough but very nice. There’s really something for everybody on this rally and a lot of variety. One of the most difficult things will be adapting to the way that you can suddenly go from a very fast section to a slow and technical section. There’s a lot to get used to."
Abarth driver Giandomenico Basso, who finished the opening stage in sixth, agreed. "This is going to be a really difficult rally so we have to be realistic about what is possible," he said. "We obviously start every event with the idea of achieving as much as we can, but it’s also a question of being sensible and making sure we are there at the finish. We should know a lot more about how everything looks tomorrow."
The weather will also play a vital role. Although conditions remained dry today, there is a strong chance of some rain during tomorrow’s nine stages. The first stage, Feiteras, gets underway at 08:15. The action continues with nine timed stages tomorrow and ends on Saturday evening after a final leg of eight special stages.
Top 10 positions after Stage 1

1    Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte    Peugeot 207 S2000    1m 45.0s
2    Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle    Peugeot 207 S2000    +0.2s
3    Nicolas Vouilloz/Nicolas Klinger    Peugeot 207 S2000    +0.3s
4    Jan Kopecky/Petr Stary    Skoda Fabia S2000    +0.4s
5    Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula    Skoda Fabia S2000    +1.4s
6    Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta    Abarth Grande Punto S2000    +1.6s
7    Bruno Magalhães/Carlos Magalhães    Peugeot 207 S2000    +1.6s
8    Anton Alén/Timo Alanne    Abarth Grande Punto S2000    +2.6s
9    Ricardo Moura/Sancho Eiró    Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX    +3.3s
10    Fernando Peres/José Pedro Silva    Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX    +3.5s
Championship positions after 3 rounds
Drivers
1    Freddy Loix    Belgium    13 points
2    Sébastien Ogier    France    10
3    Giandomenico Basso    Italy    10
4    Carl Tundo    Kenya    10
5    Kris Meeke    UK    10
Manufacturers
1    Peugeot    36
2    Ralliart    26
3    Abarth    14
4    Skoda    5

IRC series leader Freddy Loix heads the classification after the opening superspecial stage in the Azores

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The challenge…
The fourth round of this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge takes the competitors to the Azores for the first time, as the Sata Rallye Acores – previously an IRC Supporter Event – makes its debut on the full championship. Although it is new to the IRC, the Sata Rallye Acores has a long and illustrious history behind it in the European Championship, with legends of the sport such as Juha Kankkunnen amongst the former rally winners. Other drivers to have competed on the event include Alister McRae, Bruno Thiry and Gregoire de Mevius.
Nonetheless, for the vast majority of the regular IRC drivers – who will all be present this weekend – the Azores will represent a big leap into the unknown: just one of the factors that will make it such a fascinating event.
The Sata Rallye Acores is held on a wide variety of sinuous gravel roads with predominantly soft surfaces, featuring some stages that are not dissimilar to the rollercoaster roads found on the Rally New Zealand. The mid-Atlantic climate also makes for variable weather conditions, which will have a profound effect on tyre choice. The key to success on the Sata Rallye Acores will be to establish a fluid rhythm from the outset. The stages are not expected to be overly rough, meaning that the drivers should be able to make full use of the roads without too much risk of a puncture.
Many of the roads are quite wide and fast, with steep cambers that should lead to a reasonably high average speed on the stages. The driving style required to succeed on these quick stages is neat and precise, in order to establish a good flow between corners. With the rally being brand new to all the IRC competitors, it will be essential to make a good set of pace notes from the very start.
The Sata Rallye Acores gets underway with a ceremonial start from the Portas da Cidade in Ponta Delgada, the capital of San Miguel island where the event is based, at 17:30 on Thursday 7 May. The real action begins on Friday morning with the first of 18 special stages totalling 229.86 competitive kilometres. The centralised service park is located in Ponta Delgada, with the rally finish scheduled for Saturday 9 May back in Ponta Delgada at 20:05. For more information about the event, including entry lists, maps and timetables, please visit: www.satarallyeacores.com
The competitors…
The Sata Rallye Acores is an event that could favour the local crews, with the top Portuguese driver being Bruno Magalhaes – a previous podium finisher on the IRC and last year’s winner in the Azores – starting as car four in his Peugeot Portugal 207 S2000. In total, an impressive line-up of 49 crews will contest the first International Rally Challenge event to be held on the Azores islands. Of the registered drivers, 12 will compete in Super 2000 machinery, including Freddy Loix, who heads the IRC drivers‘ standings after three events. Loix will have a new co-driver for the Azores event, with Frederic Miclotte replacing Isidoor Smets.
One of the highlights of the event will be the return of Skoda, which made an impressive IRC debut on the Monte Carlo Rally.
Juho Hanninen, who led the opening IRC event of the season in Monte Carlo, will carry number one on the side of his factory Skoda Fabia S2000. Hanninen’s team-mate Jan Kopecky is also entered for the event, which marks the second appearance of the season by the Czech manufacturer.
Anton Alen and Giandomenico Basso will represent Abarth in two factory Grande Puntos, while Bernardo Sousa from Portugal will appear in a semi-works machine.
Freddy Loix, Bruno Magalhaes, Kris Meeke, Vitor Pascoal, Nicolas Vouilloz and newcomer Conrad Rautenbach will drive the six Peugeot 207 S2000s on the entry. Rautenbach, a World Rally Championship regular, will be getting his first taste of Super 2000 machinery on the Azores.
Portuguese drivers Ricardo Moura and Fernando Peres will lead the Mitsubishi Ralliart effort in a pair of Lancer Evo IXs. The talented Austrian Franz Wittmann Jr will also be at the wheel of a Lancer as part of his extensive IRC programme this year.
Julien Maurin will drive the sole Volkswagen Polo S2000 on the entry, while category leader Manuel Villa returns to the IRC 2WD Cup in a Fiat Punto S1600 where he will compete against Denis Millet in a Peugeot 207 RC Rallye. The top local driver in the category will be Sergio Silva, who starts as car number 20 in a Peugeot 206 GTI. For the complete entry list, please visit www.satarallyeacores.com and click on the ‚entry list‘ button.
The expectations…
"For me, the objective in the Azores will be to maintain my position as championship leader in the IRC. But this won’t be easy. I think there will be lots of fast drivers out there: Juho Hanninen, my team mate Nicolas Vouilloz, Kris Meeke and Bruno Magalhaes. The route of the rally is very varied, with lots of uphill and downhill sections and some bits of asphalt as well. The start order I think will be quite important as there will be a lot of loose gravel. In Brazil, I was first on the road as I was the IRC leader. But in the Azores, the FIA ‚A‘ and ‚B‘ priority drivers will be first on the road. I should have a road position of about sixth, which should be ideal."
Freddy Loix, Peugeot Belgium.
"This is a new event for me, so I’m looking forward to it a lot. I’m sure that the conditions are going to be quite tricky, and the weather could play an important part. We’ve not had so much luck up to now this season, but when things go well we have the speed, so it’s a question of once more doing our best and hoping for a clean run. I’m sure it’s going to be a very exciting weekend."
Anton Alen, factory Abarth driver
"We’ve been doing some more tests with the car since Monte Carlo and it feels good but there are still quite a lot of question marks that need to be answered. In particular, it is the first time for us on a rally with this car on gravel, so we will need to see how it performs relative to everyone else. From my point of view I am happy though as gravel is definitely the surface that I am more used to. Our pace in Monte Carlo was a very pleasant surprise, so my idea is to start this rally with the objective of finishing on the podium. If we have no problems I think it should be possible. We have a short test before the rally and hopefully that will answer a few questions for us. I’m quite sure that all our rivals will be very strong though."
Juho Hanninen, factory Skoda driver
TV times…
The Sata Rallye Acores will be broadcast on the Eurosport platform at the following times. On demand video footage, featuring highlights throughout the season to date, can also be accessed via the IRC website: www.rally-irc.com. All times listed are Central European Time (CET).
Friday 8 May
– 24h30 => 25h00      LIVE highlights of Day 1 (Eurosport)
Saturday 9 May
– 03h00 => 03h30     Highlights of Day 1 (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
– 08h00 => 08h30     Highlights of Day 1 (Eurosport 2)
– 21h15 => 21h45     LIVE highlights of Day 2 (Eurosport)
Sunday 10 May
– 04h00 => 04h30     Highlights of Day 2 (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
– 08h00 => 08h30     Highlights of Day 2 (Eurosport 2)
– 08h30 => 09h00     Highlights of Day 2 (Eurosport)
Tuesday 12 May
– 23h00 => 23h30      Rally Highlights (Eurosport)
Thursday 13 May
– 03h30 => 04h00      Rally Highlights (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Friday 14 May
– 04h00 => 04h30      Rally Highlights (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
– 13h00 => 13h30      Rally Highlights (Eurosport 2)
– 18h30 => 19h00      Rally Highlights (Eurosport 2)
Thursday 20 May
– 18h30 => 19h00      Rally Highlights (Eurosport 2)
Media enquiries…
Any media enquiries should be addressed to Anthony Peacock on media@ircseries.com or +44 (0) 7766 163151. Please check the IRC series website – www.rally-irc.com – for all the latest information and full TV times from the Sata Rallye Acores on Eurosport. The Sata Rallye Acores media office can be contacted on: promoverde@gmail.com. Copyright-free, high-resolution photographs will be available for download at the end of each day on the official IRC website. To access them, please log in with the username IRC and password media.

IRC series leader Freddy Loix is aiming to hang onto his advantage throughout the Sata Rallye Acores this weekend

www.rally-irc.com

HANNINEN HAS HIGH HOPES DESPITE STARTING ORDER … AND ALL THE OTHER NEWS FROM THE IRC

Factory Skoda driver Juho Hanninen believes he can fight for a podium finish on Sata Rally Azores next week, even though he is set to run first on the road on the island-based event.
Hanninen, who led the opening round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in Monte Carlo in January before crashing out, is scheduled to be the first of 49 drivers to tackle the 18-stage event in his Skoda Fabia S2000.
Road position, especially on gravel events, can have a huge bearing on the final result of a rally. That’s because it takes approximately two or three cars to clear away the loose surface gravel on a stage, which means the drivers running higher up the starting order are left at a disadvantage because of the reduced levels of grip under braking and traction entering and exiting corners.
"It’s not going to be so easy in my position," said the 27-year-old from Finland. "But I don’t believe it will be such a big problem either. Yes my car will be sideways more but it is a very good car and I am very confident I can get a good result."
Hanninen and team-mate Jan Kopecky, from Czech Republic, are due to test in the Azores on Monday, May 4, when they will fine-tune the set-up of their Fabia S2000s.

Hanninen hopes for another strong performance in the Azores

PODIUM FINISH WILL DO FOR CHAMPION VOUILLOZ

Nicolas Vouilloz is confident he will still be able to successfully defend his Intercontinental Rally Challenge title this year even if he doesn’t win Sata Rally Azores, which runs from May 7-9.
Vouilloz, the IRC champion in 2008, has yet to register a win this season and is currently five points behind championship leader and team-mate Freddy Loix.
After failing to score points on the Monte Carlo Rally in January, Vouilloz is currently a distant sixth in the drivers‘ standings. But he insists a podium finish will be a satisfactory result and will be enough to keep his season on track.
"There is still a long way to go in the championship so I do not have to win," said Vouilloz, 33. "Besides it will not be easy because you have to consider the road position might not be good for me and there also some very quick drivers who will be hard to beat."
Vouilloz continued: "If I have the feeling in the car then I will try, of course. We had a good test on gravel and I am confident with the car. But as long as I am the top-three places then I will be happy."

Nicolas Vouilloz is aiming for a strategic approach to the year

IRISH STAR CRONIN TARGETS IRC DEBUT

Keith Cronin, the current leader of the British Rally Championship, has announced plans to contest at least two rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season.
Twenty-two-year-old Cronin has won the opening two rounds of the British series and has already set his sights on making his IRC debut.
Cronin, from Ireland, wants to tackle the season closing Rally of Scotland in November but has also declared his intention to take part on a round of the IRC before then. He could event swap his current Mitsubishi Lancer E9 for a Super 2000 machine when he does so.
"The Super 2000 car is the future of rallying at the moment so the more experience I get in one the better," said Cronin. "I want to do the IRC when it comes to Scotland in November and I’m also planning another IRC round to get an understanding of the format of each event. But if I can’t get to drive a Super 2000 car I will continue in my Mitsubishi Lancer. It will still be very competitive."
WEST CONSIDERS MORE IRC APPERANCES
Volkswagen privateer Nick West is considering a bid for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge 2WD Cup this season.
The 50-year-old finished third in the category on the Monte Carlo Rally and is currently equal sixth in the 2WD division in a Volkswagen Polo.
Now West is contemplating entering the IRC rounds in Asturias (Spain), Italy (Sanremo) and the inaugural Rally of Scotland in November because he believes he can make a impact on the class leaderboad.
He said: "I’m only four points off the lead of the championship and I keep looking at my position on ircseries.com. It makes you think I can still get something out of this but I would need to do a few more events before I begin thinking like that."
West has chosen the rallies in Italy and Spain for his return to the series because their relative close proximity to each other will restrict his costs.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR BFGOODRICH DRIVE OPPORTUNITY
Belgian drivers planning to contest the Belgium Ypres Rally from June 18-20 have from now until May 22 to be considered for selection for the BFGoodrich Drivers‘ Team on the asphalt event.
The tyre firm has teamed-up with leading entrant Kronos Racing to offer a free drive in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000. In partnership with the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium, BFGoodrich and Kronos will select five names from a list of applicants. Those names will be presented to a panel of Belgian journalists who will decide the winner through a secret ballot.
The winner will get the opportunity to test a 207 on June 10 when they will receive guidance from Kronos Racing and advice on tyre selection and usage by engineers from BFGoodrich.
Veteran Belgian driver Patrick Snijers was chosen as the winner last season and finished fifth overall. Sebastien Ogier, who drove the BFGoodrich Drivers‘ Team entry on Rally Monte Carlo.
Meanwhile, Peugeot, which has claimed success on the Belgium Ypres Rally for the last two seasons, will strengthen its association with the famous asphalt event by becoming the competition’s official vehicle supplier.
It will provide approximately 18 cars to rally organisers and sponsors to use during the three-day event through its Belgium-Luxembourg distributor. That will be in addition to the 12 Peugeot 207 Super 2000s likely to enter the rally itself.

Applications are open now for the BFGoodrich prize drive in Belgium

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STRONG ENTRY ASSEMBLED FOR SATA RALLY AZORES … AND ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE IRC

An impressive line-up of 49 crews will contest the first International Rally Challenge event to be held on the Azores islands.
Sata Rally Azores, which takes place from May 7-9, is the fourth round of the IRC. Of the registered drivers, 12 will compete in Super 2000 machinery, including Freddy Loix, who heads the IRC drivers‘ standings after three events.
Juho Hanninen, who led the opening IRC event of the season in Monte Carlo, will carry number one on the side of his factory Skoda Fabia S2000 although he will start further down the order when the competitors are allocated their seeded positions based on their performances in the IRC this year and other results.
Hanninen’s team-mate Jan Kopecky is also entered for the event, which marks the second appearance of the season by the Czech manufacturer.
Anton Alen and Giandomenico Basso will represent Abarth in two factory Grande Puntos, while Bernardo Sousa will appear in a semi-works machine.
Freddy Loix, Bruno Magalhaes, Kris Meeke, Vitor Pascoal, Nicolas Vouilloz and newcomer Conrad Rautenbach will drive the six Peugeot 207 S2000s on the entry. Magalhaes won Rally Azores last season.
Portuguese drivers Ricardo Moura and Fernando Peres will lead the Ralliart effort in a pair of Lancer Evo IXs. The talented Austrian Franz Wittmann Jr will also be at the wheel of a Lancer.
Julien Maurin will drive the sole Volkswagen Polo S2000 on the entry, while Manuel Villa returns to the 2WD Cup in a Fiat Punto S1600 where he will compete against Denis Millet in a Peugeot 207 RC Rallye.
The event begins with a superspecial stage on the evening of Thursday May 7. The final stage is due to start on the evening of Saturday May 9. There will be a total of 18 stages with a combined competitive distance of 229.86 kilometres.

The Skoda team will return to the IRC after a promising debut in Monte Carlo

KRESTA SET FOR IRC RETURN ON BARUM RALLY ZLIN

Roman Kresta could prove a major threat to the established Intercontinental Rally Challenge regulars when he contests Barum Rally Zlin in August.
Kresta, who is the reigning Czech champion, crashed out on the second stage of his home event last year. But he will return in 2009 in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 prepared by his own Kresta Racing Team. He will be co-driven by long-term partner Petr Gross.
Although Kresta insists that defending his domestic crown this season is his number one priority, the 33-year-old is highly regarded both in his homeland and abroad. He was a member of the factory Ford team in the World Rally Championship in 2005 before returning to Czech Republic in 2007 following a season in the British Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta S1600.
Furthermore, Peugeot 207s have triumphed on the asphalt event since it was first included in the IRC in 2007: Nicolas Vouilloz claimed victory that year, while Freddy Loix emulated that achievement the following season.
Barum Rally Zlin begins with a superspecial stage through the streets of Zlin on Friday August 21. The event is due to finish in the afternoon of Sunday August 23.
BASSO GETS BOOST WITH 1000 MIGLIA VICTORY
Giandomenico Basso will resume his Intercontinental Rally Challenge campaign on Sata Rally Azores next month on the back of winning the opening round of the European Rally Championship, the Rally 1000 Miglia in Italy recently.
Basso, who lies equal second in the IRC drivers‘ title standings after three rounds, was driving an Abarth Grande Punto for the privateer Team D’Ambra operation. He beat Renato Travaglia in a Peugeot 207 S2000 by 33 seconds.
Amid changeable weather conditions, Basso was able to overhaul Travaglia, who led after the opening leg, to claim his third win on the asphalt event, despite his car being slowed by a throttle cable problem.
The win will be a welcome boost for the 35-year-old Italian, who hasn’t won in the IRC since Rally Sanremo last September.
PROTON TEAM REMAIN ON COURSE FOR IRC DEBUT
The factory-supported Proton team is still set to compete in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season, despite opting against an entry on Sata Rally Azores next month.
Although the UK-based Mellors Elliot Motorsport squad never formally committed to the island event, company principal Chris Mellors indicated earlier this season that he wanted his team to begin competing as soon as possible.
It is now likely that the first Proton entry will be on the Belgium Ypres Rally from June 18-20 when at least one Satria Neo S2000 will appear, possibly for British driver Guy Wilks.
Wilks was dominating the second round of the British championship in a Proton recently, before his car caught fire as a result of damage caused by a minor excursion. Although the vehicle was destroyed, MEM has already begun building a replacement.
"In the end the Azores wasn’t practical because we would lose the car for about one month with the time it would take to ship it there and back," said Mellors. "But we still want to do some IRC events as soon as possible this year and we would like it to be with Guy although we’re also talking to some other drivers about other events."

Proton is expecting to make its IRC debut soon

MEEKE SATISFIED AFTER FRENCH TEST

Kris Meeke continued his preparations for Sata Rally Azores by completing a two-day test in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 development car in France recently.
The Peugeot UK driver, who won the second round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in Brazil last month, covered approximately 400 kilometres during the test in France, near the town of Vie in the centre of the country.
"It’s impossible to make improvements when these cars are so competitive and so closely matched but we’ve been able to make a few changes for the Azores and I am very pleased with what we achieved because it was a very good test," said Meeke, who is from Northern Ireland.
French Peugeot drivers Stephane Sarrazin and Nicolas Vouilloz also took part in the test, which was designed to experiment with suspension settings for the gravel-based Rally Azores, which takes place from May 7-9.

Curitiba winner Kris Meeke enjoyed a useful test with his Peugeot 207 S2000

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WORLD RALLY STAR RAUTENBACH TO STAR IN AZORES … AND ALL THE OTHER LATEST IRC NEWS

Conrad Rautenbach will make his Intercontinental Rally Challenge debut on Sata Rally Azores on May 7-9.
Rautenbach, who drives for the Citroen Junior Team in the FIA World Rally Championship, will compete at the wheel of a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 run by the French PH Sport operation.
The Zimbabwean, a former FIA African rally champion, is keen to expand his experience of driving Super 2000 machinery. British co-driver Daniel Barritt will partner him.
"I’ve never competed in one of these cars before so I’m really looking forward to having a go in one," said Rautenbach. "I’ve seen the guys driving Super 2000 cars on rounds of the world championship earlier this year and they sound awesome. Obviously it’s going to take a while to get used to the lack of torque which we have from a turbocharged engine in a World Rally Car, but having come from a Junior car [1600cc non-turbo], a few years ago, I’m used to revving engines to get the most out of them."
The 24-year-old’s agreement to compete in the IRC is currently for the Azores event only although he could enter further rounds later in the season.
"The immediate future of the World Rally Championship is going to be based on this type of car, so the chance to get in one and drive it now is invaluable – nothing compares with putting competitive miles on the clock when you’re learning a new car," Rautenbach said. "At the moment, it’s a deal for the Azores, but I’m hoping I can do some more rallies beyond this one. Let’s see how this first one goes."
Rautenbach added: "I’m really grateful to everybody at PH Sport who has helped to put this deal together – and I’m really looking forward to getting into the competition in the IRC. I’ve watched with interest this year how competitive the Monte Carlo and Curitiba rallies were, so the chance to get in there and mix it with those boys is great for me."
RAPID ITALIAN BETTI PLANS IRC PROGRAMME
Luca Betti will enter four rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 run by the new Kimera Motorsport team.
He will be co-driven by fellow Italian Giovanni Bernacchini, who has competed alongside Gigi Galli in the World Rally Championship in the past.
Betti, who has spent the last seasons in the IRC but is concentrating on the FIA European Rally Championship this season, will rejoin the series on the Belgium Ypres Rally in June. His programme also includes Rali Vinho Madeira in July, Barum Rally Zlin in Czech Republic in August and Rally Principe de Asturias in September.
The 31-year-old has experience of the IRC in a Honda Civic Type-R and 207 S2000. Before switching to the IRC in 2007, Betti competed in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship.

 
Luca Betti is to return to the IRC at the wheel of a Peugeot 207 S2000

RALLY RUSSIA DETAILS REVEALED

Outline details of Rally Russia, which forms round six of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge from July 9-11, have been announced.
Although the rally is still three months away, organisers have already begun preparing the special stages for the event, which will again be based in the town of Vyborg.
This work has been instigated in an attempt to ensure the roads used are in the best possible condition for the rally following comments by some drivers last year that certain stages were too demanding on cars.
The major change to the itinerary this year is the moving of the ceremonial start from the city of St Petersburg’s Isaac Square to Vyborg and a new location close to the walls of the town’s ancient castle. This will make the event more compact for competitors because they will no longer have to complete a 100-kilometre journey.
The ceremony will take place at 19.00hrs on Thursday July 9. The competitive action will begin on Friday July 10 with the finish scheduled for Saturday July 11.
TICKET PRICE FREEZE FOR BELGIUM YPRES RALLY FANS
Spectators attending the Belgium Ypres Rally in June won’t be subjected to an increase in ticket prices for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event.
As in previous years, fans will pay €30 for a ticket providing access to all special stages and the service park, which is located in the Grote Markt in the centre of Ypres and provides spectators with a unique opportunity to get close up to the competing cars and drivers.
Individual stage access tickets are available for €9 per stage with a discount of €2 offered to fans buying multiple tickets.
For €45, fans can buy a special ‚fun‘ package, which includes access to all stages, an official rally programme, cap and gift.
A spokesperson for the event said: "The good news in these economically challenging times is that the organisers of the Belgium Ypres Rally have managed to keep the prices the same as before."
The Belgium Ypres Rally has been included on the IRC schedule since 2006. It remains one of the highlights of the calendar and runs entirely on Tarmac with stages easy accessible from the historic town.
This year’s event takes place from June 18-20 and forms the fifth round of the IRC.

Spectators on the Belgium Ypres Rally will get a good deal

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VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMS PROGRAMME FOR MAURIN … AND ALL THE OTHER NEWS FROM THE IRC

Volkswagen will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge when the Rene Georges Rally Sport operation fields a Volkswagen Polo Super 2000 for rising star Julien Maurin.
The French driver, who has tested the car on asphalt in Belgium recently, is due to complete a test on gravel in his native France ahead of his planned outing on Sata Rally Azores from May 7-9, the fourth round of the IRC.
Jack de Keizjer, the co-ordinator of the Belgium-based Rene Georges Rally Sport team, said: "I am happy to confirm that Volkswagen will return to the IRC with the young French driver Julien Maurin."
Maurin recently tested the Volkswagen Polo in Belgium on asphalt. A test on gravel is being planned before Sata Rally Azores.
"He recently tested the Volkswagen Polo in Belgium on asphalt," de Keizjer said.
Maurin, who retired from the Monte Carlo Rally in January when his Astra Racing Fiat Grande Punto developed a mechanical fault, is set to use the latest evolution Volkswagen Polo for his six-event programme. Austrian driver Andreas Waldherr could appear in a second Rene Georges-run Polo.
Maurin will contest six rounds of the IRC in Azores, Belgium (Ypres), Madeira, Czech Republic (Barum), Spain (Astrurias) and Italy (Sanremo).

Frenchman Julien Maurin will contest six IRC rallies this year aboard the Volkswagen Polo S2000

SAFARI WIN BOOSTS MITSUBISHI’S TITLE BID
Mitsubishi closed to within ten points of Peugeot in the battle for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge manufacturers‘ crown when Carlo Tundo won his home event, the Safari Rally, in Kenya earlier this month.
The Safari Rally was the third round of this year’s IRC. With Europe-based teams such as the Belgian Kronos Racing operation, Abarth, and the works Skoda team from Czech Republic not competing, it was left to the privateer outfits to take centre stage.
Driving a Mitsubishi Lancer, Tundo, from Kenya, beat expatriate Briton Alistair Cavenagh by a scant 11 seconds as Mitsubishi drivers filled the top-three podium placings, the first time it had achieved a maximum score in the IRC.
Cavenagh had won the opening superspecial in the Kenyan capital Nairobi but couldn’t prevent Tundo from taking the lead. Peugeot now has 36 points compared to the 26 points accumulated by Mitsubishi. Tundo’s heroics on home soil puts him equal second in the drivers‘ championship.

Mitsubishi took a maximum points haul from the Safari Rally in Kenya

PASCOAL HOPES TO MAKE ASTURIAS EXPERIENCE PAY
Vitor Pascoal will be hoping to make the most of his local knowledge when he contests two rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge later this season.
Pascoal, from Portugal, will enter the rallies in Azores and Madeira at the wheel of a Peugeot 207. The events also count towards the 35-year-old’s domestic championship programme.
"It won’t be easy for us doing these two events because a lot is expected of us and the competition will be very tough," said Pascoal’s co-driver Mario Castro. "However, we will be trying our best.
"The Azores is not an easy place to rally but because we finished third last year and second in 2007 we know what to expect and we know what we can do."
Sata Rally Azores forms the fourth round of the IRC. It is scheduled to take place from May 7-9.
ACE CYCLIST BETTINI GEARS UP FOR IRC DEBUT
Retired cyclist Paolo Bettini will make his Intercontinental Rally Challenge debut when he contests the Ypres Rally in Belgium from June 18-20.
Bettini, a long-term rally fan, has contested a handful of events in his native Italy in the past.
He has linked up with fellow cyclist Franco Ballarin for an attack on the asphalt-based Ypres Rally in Belgium driving an Abarth Grande Punto. Ballarin will co-drive.
They chose the Ypres Rally because of its location to the Flanders region of Belgium, where they tackled several major cycling races in the past.
Bettini, 34, won several major titles in cycling, including at Olympic and world championship-level. He retired from competing in 2008 following a series of injuries.
Despite having some experience of rallying, Bettini will face a major challenge to adapt to the rigours of driving on the tight and twisty Belgian roads. However, there is a strong precedent for drivers switching from two wheels to four on the IRC: the reining IRC champion Nicolas Vouilloz is a former 10-time downhill mountain bike champion.

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THE CHALLENGE
The legendary Safari Rally is confirmed as the third round of the IRC this year, providing an epic challenge to push drivers and cars to the maximum through the demanding gravel stages. IRC manufacturer points will be allocated on this round, but only drivers holding African competition licences will be awarded IRC driver points.
Based in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the rally will take place from April 3-5, and will also host the second round of the FIA African Rally Championship. It last appeared on the IRC in 2007, when it formed the opening round of the series. In 2008 it obtained Supporter Event status. This season will herald the 57th running of the rally.
The rally will begin with a spectator stage in Nairobi on Friday April 3. For the first leg, crews will then head out to Nakuru and the Lake Elementaita region. The second leg will be based close to Nairobi around the small town of Athi River. The finish ceremony is due to take place on Sunday April 5.
The roads consist of gravel stages, with some watersplashes, which form a well-known highlight of the African classic. The weather is expected to be hot and dry, but as in all equatorial climates, sudden storms can strike that turn the stages into a mudbath.
The Safari Rally will see the participation of plenty of local experts this year, which means that a number of drivers will start the event with plenty of experience and a good chance of winning. The rally gets underway on Friday night, with a spectator superspecial stage near Nairobi, and finishes on Sunday. For further details and a full entry list, please visit the event’s official website: www.motorsportkenya.com.
THE COMPETITORS
The entry list on this year’s Safari Rally contains a high number of local Mitsubishis, with Kenyan Lee Rose leading the local entries in his Lancer Evo IX. Rose was well-placed on the most recent IRC event in Africa, the 2007 Safari Rally, until he was forced into retirement with a mechanical problem. Rose will be hoping for better luck this year as he leads the competitors off the start ramp. Other top drivers who originally took part in the 2007 Safari include Carl Tundo (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) and Asad Anwar (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII), who finished on the podium when the event was run in 2007 as part of the IRC.
South African sisters Megan and Lola Verlaque will drive a Super 2000 car on the Safari Rally this year: a Volkswagen Polo S2000, which is a former winner of the South African Rally Championship and has therefore proved itself to be well-suited to Africa’s demanding terrain.
Amongst the other foreign drivers is British businessman John Lloyd, who drives a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII and has made a speciality out of African endurance events. Lloyd’s main job is as a stockbroker in London, but he would love to add a strong result on the Safari Rally to his list of achievements.
There is also a solid entry on the IRC 2WD Cup on the Safari Rally, with no fewer than six Volkswagen Golf GTIs eligible to score manufacturer points. This presents a golden opportunity for the German manufacturer to secure points in the IRC 2WD Cup – just as Mitsubishi is well-placed for a comprehensive score in the main IRC series.
THE EXPECTATIONS
"The Safari Rally has always been a real classic on the world rally calendar and I am sure that this year’s challenge will once again provide competitors with an epic and memorable event. For years the Safari was known as the world’s toughest rally and it’s easy to see why. As well as some fantastic action, the route takes in some absolutely beautiful scenery, through the Great Rift Valley, so it’s common to see zebra and other wild animals along the route. The Safari is more than just a rally: it is a real experience."
Jean-Pierre Nicolas, IRC Motorsport Development Manager and 1978 Safari Rally winner
TV TIMES
Highlights of the Safari Rally will be broadcast on Eurosport after the event. All times are Central European Time (CET):
Rally highlights
Tuesday 21 April     
00:30-01:00     Highlights of IRC Safari Rally (Eurosport)
Thursday 23 April
13:00-13:30    Highlights of IRC Safari Rally (Eurosport 2)
18:30-19:00    Highlights of IRC Safari Rally (Eurosport 2)

The Safari Rally will once more provide some stunning action through the scenic heart of Africa

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SATA RALLY ACORES PRESENTED … AND ALL THE OTHER LATEST NEWS FROM THE IRC

The Sata Rally Acores, which will be the fourth round of the IRC from May 7-9, was recently presented at a press conference on San Miguel Island, which will host the event.
Representatives of the Azorean Government, event backers Grupo Desportivo Comercial (GDC) and the IRC were present at the press conference. The Sata Rally Acores, which previously formed part of the IRC Supporter Event scheme, is set to become a major tool of promotion of the Azorean Islands.
The presentation ceremony, held in the presence of major local dignitaries, underlined the values that the Sata Rally Acores shares with the IRC: namely heritage and the beauty of the landscape.
Francisco Coelho, the president of the organising committee, said: "Our event meets the standards of excellence needed to be a part of the IRC. It forms a great vehicle for the promotion of the Azorean Islands abroad."
Antonio Gomes de Meneses, the president of event sponsor Sata added: "This is a happy day for all Azoreans and for Sata, a company on its way to becoming a benchmark worldwide."
Xavier Gavory, the IRC’s General Coordinator, concluded: "The Sata Rally Acores is a valuable tool to promote the Azores due to the IRC’s increasing television presence in over 100 million households. We look forward to seeing everyone during the first weekend of May. "

A press conference was held to mark the launch of the Sata Rally Acores

VOLKSWAGEN TEAM TARGETING AZORES RETURN
The number of Super 2000 variants contesting the Sata Rally Azores in May looks set to grow after the René Georges Rally Sport squad confirmed it was planning to enter a Volkswagen Polo on the island event.
Designed by Volkswagen’s distributor in South Africa, the car has been developed by René Georges‘ eponymous team in Belgium over the last couple of seasons and made its debut in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2007.
Jack de Keizjer, the team co-ordinator, revealed he was confident at least one car would compete in the Azores with a second entry being planned for the Ypres Rally in Belgium in June.
"We are talking to some drivers at the moment but we cannot say exactly who for at least one week," de Keizjer said. "The plan is to do between five and six rallies with one car in Azores and then a second car in Ypres."
René Georges‘ team has subjected the Polo to extensive development over the winter and has prioritised enhancing the engine and suspension.
"It is not easy because we are only a private team against many big factory teams but we believe in this car and we are confident we can be in the top five when we come back to the IRC," said de Keizjer.
AUSTRIAN DRIVER CONSIDERS IRC CAMPAIGN
Andreas Waldherr could combine a programme of Intercontinental Rally Challenge events with his domestic championship campaign in Austria.
Waldherr, 40, will pilot the Volkswagen Polo Super 2000, previously driven by Bernd Casier in the IRC, on the remaining six rounds of this year’s Austrian championship, starting with the Lavanttal Rallye on March 27/28.
The car is one of two owned by Volkswagen Motorsport Austria, which has combined forces with the Belgian René Georges Rally Sport operation.
"We will provide technical support to Volkswagen Motorsport Austria in their challenge for the 2009 Austrian Rally Championship and two of our team members will be on all Austrian rallies," said René Georges Rally Sport team co-ordinator Jack de Keizjer.
"We are progressing with the car all of the time and doing our best to improve the power of the engine and the handling. Andreas is one of the favourites for the title this year and will have a strong challenge against the Skoda Fabia Super 2000 of Raimund Baumschlager."
Although Waldherr has yet to commit to any IRC events, de Keizjer added: "It is also possible he will compete on some rallies outside of Austria, including some selected IRC rounds."
If Waldherr join the IRC, he would double the Austrian representation in the series: Franz Wittmann Jr is contesting seven events in an Interwetten Racing Mitsubishi Lancer E9.
LEADING BRITISH DRIVER HOPES FOR IRC ENTRY
Guy Wilks, a two-time winner of the British Rally Championship, is planning to progress to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season.
The 29-year-old Briton actually contested the IRC-counting Rally Russia in a Honda Civic Type-R last July but was unable to continue in the JAS Motorsport-run car this season after Honda withdrew from international competition at the end of 2008.
Wilks has since linked-up with the Mellors Elliott Motorsport team, the British company responsible for Proton’s Satria Neo Super 2000 challenger, and completed a test in Wales last month. Proton became the seventh manufacturer to register for the IRC in March.
"I would like to do the IRC," said Wilks. "There are lots of opportunities in the IRC because it is attracting manufacturers who all seem to be very enthusiastic. I’ve tested the Proton for one day and I was very impressed with it. There are some areas where it can be improved but I am sure that will come. I’m convinced it can get some very good results in the IRC."
Wilks was a former rival of his fellow Briton Kris Meeke in the Junior World Rally Championship. Meeke has established himself as one of the IRC’s leading drivers after winning the second round of the series in Brazil last month.
SOUSA CONFIRMED IN PROCAR-RUN ABARTH
Portuguese driver Bernardo Sousa has confirmed he will take part on two rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season in an Abarth Grande Punto run by the Italian Procar Rally Team.
Sousa, who was born on the Portuguese governed island of Madeira, is also contesting the Production Car World Rally Championship in the Italian-built machine. His IRC programme will include the rallies in Azores in May and Madeira at the end of July.
A spokesperson for the Procar team said: "He showed last year a considerable level of performance and it is a very important agreement we have defined."
Sousa, 21, has contested the Sata Rally Azores on two previous occasions but has twice failed to finish. Nevertheless, he has described the event as one of the best on the international calendar, despite the traditional rivalry that exists between Madeira and the Azores, another Portuguese territory.
"I love the rally," said Sousa. "The roads are in very good condition but in some places they are narrow with a lot of rocks. What is the most impressive is the countryside. It is beautiful and also very peaceful."
The event will begin with a shakedown on Thursday May 7. The two competitive legs take place on Friday May 8 and Saturday May 9.
SKODA ACE HANNINEN IS FIRST TO START PRACTICE EVENT
Skoda’s Finnish star Juho Hanninen will lead a field of more than 70 crews when the Valasska Rally gets underway in the Czech Republic on March 27.
Hanninen and his factory Skoda team-mate Jan Kopecky, who will be the fourth driver to leave the start ramp in Valasska, are using the event as part of the ongoing development of the Skoda Fabia Super 2000, which made its competition debut on the Monte Carlo Rally in January, the opening round of this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
The event consists of six special stages covering a total distance of 67.86 kilometres on Friday evening before the restart on Saturday when competitors face a further 94.90 kilometres of competitive action split between eight stages.
Skoda’s motorsport director Michal Hrabanek said: "We appreciate having another opportunity to test the vehicle in a real competition after the Monte Carlo Rally. Like on the previous occasion, we want to move a few steps forward with our vehicle development efforts, and although the main purpose of our appearance at the Valasska Rally is to test the new vehicle, our ambitions also include achieving the best possible result."
Czech Roman Kresta is set to provide the Skoda drivers with their closest opposition. The former World Rally Championship star is due to drive a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 run by the Mogul Racing Team.
Skoda’s next appearance in the IRC will be the Sata Rally Azores in May. It will enter a further four events with Rally Russia in July and Barum Rally Zlin in its native Czech Republic in August also likely to be included on the schedule.

Volkswagen could return to the IRC on the Sata Rally Acores

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