THE CHALLENGE
The Intercontinental Rally Challenge is back with a bang. A little more than two months after the
2010 season drew to a dramatic close in Cyprus, the IRC is getting ready to celebrate its fifth
anniversary on possibly the most iconic rally in the world.
Rallye Monte-Carlo has defined not only the history of rallying, but also the history of motorsport as
a whole. The very word ‘rally’ derives from what used to happen in Monte-Carlo: competitors would
set off from all four corners of Europe and ‘rally’, in other words, meet, in Monaco to celebrate the
end of a unique event.
This year is particularly significant, as the very first Rallye Monte-Carlo was held in 1911, making
2011 the centenary of the event. For the third consecutive year this epic challenge marks the
opening round of the IRC: the jewel in the crown of the series calendar.
Event organiser, the Automobile Club de Monaco, has introduced a number of initiatives to
celebrate this year’s important anniversary, including free entries for the capacity 120 crews. But
the most enduring feature is the use of traditional stages that have formed the backbone of the
event, including the famous Col de Turini tests that make up the climax of the competition on
Friday night (January 21).
The cutting-edge 300-horsepower Super 2000 cars that will fight for victory would be
unrecognisable to Henri Rougier, winner of the 1911 event at the wheel of his 25 horsepower
Turcat-Mery. A well-known aviator and adventurer, he would later go on to win the Legion
d’honneur: France’s highest honour to a civilian.
But there are many aspects to the route that would still be familiar to Rougier: the need to tip-toe
the car across ice and snow-coated surfaces too slippery to stand on, and the enthusiastic crowds
lining the route from Valence, the capital of France’s Drome department, to the finish in Monaco’s
harbour front in the early hours of Saturday morning (January 22).
The event gained popularity over the years as the ultimate test of any car’s performance and
versatility. Victory on Rallye Monte-Carlo would guarantee headlines and therefore awareness and
sales, so manufacturers became more and more professional in their attempts to win what was
simply known as ‘the Monte’.
By the 1960s, the event was being contested by factory teams and well-known foreign drivers such
as Erik Carlsson, who took the first of his two Monte victories in a diminutive Saab 96, against
much more powerful opposition from Mercedes-Benz and others.
This was a huge part of the appeal of the event: the emphasis was firmly on driving skill and
technical ingenuity rather than horsepower or budgets. The same is true now. A well-driven car
could slay giants, and there is no better example than the years of domination by Mini in the mid to
late 60s. “It may not have been the quickest thing up the mountain,” remembers Paddy Hopkirk, a
well-known former winner in the Mini Cooper. “But there was nothing that could keep up with it
downhill!”

Throughout the early 1970s, the Monte belonged to ‘Il Drago’: Sandro Munari, in the fire-breathing
Ferrari-engined Lancia Stratos. Other star names on the winner’s trophy include Jean-Pierre
Nicolas, now the IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager, who triumphed in 1978, as well as
multiple winners Walter Rohrl (1980-1982-1983-1984), Carlos Sainz (1991-1995-1998) and more
recently Sebastien Loeb (2003-2004-2005-2007-2008).
One of the major changes in the recent history of Rallye Monte-Carlo took place in 2009, when it
became part of the IRC. This allowed the ACM to run the event to its traditionally unique format
and it also opened up the rally to a whole new audience thanks to the arrival of breath taking live
television from Eurosport on virtually all of the stages.
Sebastien Ogier was the winner that year in a Peugeot 207 run by the BFGoodrich Drivers’ Team,
underlining the IRC’s commitment to bringing on young talent. Freddy Loix finished second ahead
of Stephane Sarrazin, making it an all-Peugeot podium. At the same time, the new Skoda Fabia
S2000 made its international debut, setting a stunning pace straight out of the box.
There was another exciting debut in 2010, when M-Sport’s Ford Fiesta S2000 took part in its first
rally. Mikko Hirvonen claimed a mesmerising victory in the new car, ahead of the Skodas of Juho
Hanninen and Nicolas Vouilloz. A cumulative reach of twelve million different viewers was able to
watch him do it on Eurosport, live as it happened.
“Winning Rallye Monte-Carlo is something very special in any driver’s career,” said Hirvonen on
the podium. “It’s not until you actually have the trophy in your hand that you realise what it really
means. I’ll never forget this.”
2011 Rallye Monte-Carlo centenary edition
Following three days of reconnaissance from Saturday 15 until Monday 17 January, this year’s
Rallye Monte-Carlo gets underway on Wednesday 19 January with the first of 13 special stages.
Day one features four taxing stages in the Ardeche and Haute Loire regions, including the longest
two tests of the rally, the 36.87-kilometre Le Moulinon-Antraigues stage and the 41.06-kilometre
Burzet-St Martial run, which are separated by a tyre change halt in Vals les Bains. Both stages are
part of Rallye Monte-Carlo legend and return to the itinerary after several years’ absence.
Thursday’s action features two loops of mountainous stages run twice north-east of Valence and
separated by a service stop in the city. Following a final service halt in Valence on Friday morning,
crews begin the 390-kilometre journey to Monaco via the last Drome stage, Montauban sur
l’Ouveze-Eygalayes. Upon arrival in Monaco, cars enter parc ferme while the drivers and codrivers
are able to rest before the four night stages in the Alpes Maritimes.
However, only the leading 60 competitors at the completion of the Montauban sur l’Ouveze stage
will be permitted to tackle the nighttime tests, in keeping with one of the event’s long-standing
traditions.
The winner is likely to be known at approximately 00:30hrs on Saturday 22 January with the prizegiving
taking place in the Place du Palais at 11:00hrs.

THE COMPETITORS
Rallye Monte-Carlo organisers have attracted a plentiful and star-studded entry that befits the
event’s centenary celebrations. Indeed, such was the demand for spaces, that the original ceiling
of 100 cars had to be increased by 20. After receiving more than 300 requests, the ACM made a
selection to ensure both professional and amateur drivers could take part.
Juho Hanninen, the defending IRC champion, heads the starters in his Skoda Motorsport Fabia
Super 2000. The Finn finished second on Rallye Monte-Carlo last year after leading in 2009 and is
now as equally adept on asphalt as he is on gravel. Hanninen is joined in the Czech Republic team
by Jan Kopecky, runner-up in the IRC for the last two seasons, 2008 IRC champion Nicolas
Vouilloz from France, and Belgian Freddy Loix, whose tally of six IRC wins is more than any other
driver has achieved in the series.
Several Skoda importers will be represented on the IRC season-opener. Norwegian Andreas
Mikkelsen will turn out for Skoda UK, while Skoda Auto Deutschland will make its IRC debut with a
Fabia for 23-year-old German Mark Wallenwein.
Peugeot has also recruited a quality line-up to pilot its trio of works-assisted 207 Super 2000s.
Norway’s Petter Solberg, the 2003 world rally champion, has extensive Monte-Carlo experience
and will be backed up by reigning French champion Bryan Bouffier and Le Mans 24 Hours racer
Stephane Sarrazin, who finished third on Rallye Monte-Carlo in 2009. Legendary French driver
Francois Delecour will also be at the wheel of a 207 S2000.
Guy Wilks joins Peugeot UK for 2011 after switching from the rival Skoda UK squad. Bruno
Magalahes will continue to represent Peugeot Sport Portugal and will be looking to build on the
maiden victory he achieved last season. Rising star Thierry Neuville will line up for Team Peugeot
Belgium-Luxembourg.
Finn Toni Gardemeister has twice finished on the Monte-Carlo podium and will drive a 207 on a
rare international outing, as will four-time IRC event winner Giandomenico Basso from Italy. Petter
Solberg’s older brother Henning will be in action in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000, which is also
the car of choice for French driver Julien Maurin.
PROTON Motorsports is entering a brace of Satria Neo S2000s for Australian Chris Atkinson and
Swede P-G Andersson. The Malaysian manufacturer’s rally partner MEM has conducted an
extensive overhaul of the Satria Neo as it seeks to unlock the car’s potential.
Ex-Formula One driver Alex Caffi makes his Rallye Monte-Carlo debut in a Skoda Fabia, while
former Ferrari F1 driver Patrick Tambay’s son Adrien will drive an R3T-specification 207 alongside
experienced navigator Denis Giraudet.
Maurizio Verini, a one-time Italian and European rally champion, will compete in a Ralliart
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. The 67-year-old was once co-driven by Marcello Lotti, the General
Manager of the IRC. Austrian promise Andreas Aigner and Irish privateers Daniel Barry and
Eamonn Boland will also represent the Japanese make.

Multiple Swiss champion Florian Gonon is the lead Subaru Impreza driver in the field, while Czech
Vojtech Stajf will also compete in an Impreza and his previous Monte-Carlo experience.
IRC 2WD Cup
Interest in the IRC 2WD Cup has rocketed over the winter following a change to the regulations to
increase the scope of drivers and cars allowed to take part. Previously, competing crews had to
use cars from the registered IRC manufacturers to score IRC 2WD Cup drivers’ points, although
competitors using Clio R3s were allowed to accumulate points on the three Clio R3 European
Trophy events that ran in tandem with IRC rounds during 2010.
However, from this season the rules will be relaxed to enable drivers in any two-wheel-drive rally
car built to Group A, Group N and Group R regulations to be eligible for the IRC 2WD Cup drivers‘
title, although only those car makes registered as an IRC manufacturer will be permitted to score
manufacturers‘ points.
Young Briton Harry Hunt returns to defend his title in a Citroen DS3 R3 following his switch from an
M-Sport Ford Fiesta. He will face strong opposition from Clio R3 drivers Pierre Campana, Andrea
Crugnola and Eric Mauffrey, fellow DS3 exponents Marc Amourette and Mathieu Arzeno, Honda
Civic runners Lionel Comole and Marcel Piepers, French promise Jeremi Ancian in a 207 and a
host of drivers in Abarth’s 500 R3T, including former IRC 2WD Cup frontrunner Manuel Villa.
THE EXPECTATIONS
Chris Atkinson (Australia), PROTON Satria Neo S2000: “Starting the season with the Monte is
awesome. I’ve always gone well on the event, but it is really tough. You never know what’s coming
around the next corner: it could be dry asphalt, wet asphalt, snow or ice.”
Bryan Bouffier (France), Peugeot 207 S2000: “This will be my second experience of Rallye
Monte-Carlo. Like always I am confident in myself but this event is never easy with the weather
changing all the time and the tyre choices always difficult to make.”
Juho Hanninen (Finland), Skoda Fabia S2000: “Of course I want to win but it depends so much
on the conditions and how fast the French drivers will be. If we have dry Tarmac then I think it will
be very difficult for me to win. If there is snow and ice then I will be much more confident.”
EXTENSIVE LIVE TV COVERAGE
Eurosport will broadcast more than 14 hours of coverage from the 13 stages including 12 shown
live as they happen on its various platforms: Eurosport, Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Asia-Pacific.
The extensive live transmissions will also be accessible through Eurosport Player, the channels’
online live simulcast service, while video footage will be available at eurosport.com websites, the
official IRC website rally-irc.com and via the IRC iPhone App. Eurosport will also broadcast a
series of short historic programmes and clips in the build up to the event with 15 one-minute
programmes dedicated to a variety of specific themes.

Eurosport’s coverage of Rallye Monte-Carlo will be shown as follows (all times are shown in CET):
Wednesday 19 January
10:00hrs-11:00hrs: LIVE SS1 Le Moulinon-Antraigues (Eurosport 2 & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
11:30hrs-12:45hrs: LIVE SS2 Burzet-St Martial (Eurosport 2 & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
14:00hrs-15:00hrs: LIVE SS3 St Bonnet-St Bonnet (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
16:00hrs-17:15hrs: LIVE SS4 St Bonnet-St Bonnet (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
19:45hrs-20:15hrs: Highlights of Day One (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Thursday 20 January
12:15hrs-14:00hrs: LIVE SS5 St Jean en Royans-Font D’Urle and LIVE SS6 Cimetiere de
Vassieux-Col de Gaudissart (Eurosport 2 & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
16:00hrs-17:45hrs: LIVE SS7 St Jean en Royans-Font D’Urle and LIVE SS8 Cimetiere de
Vassieux-Col de Gaudissart (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
19:30hrs-20:00hrs: Highlights of Day Two (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Friday 21 January
18:45hrs-20:45hrs: Highlights of SS9 Montauban sur l’Ouveze-Eygalayes, LIVE SS10 Moulinet-La
Bollene-Vesubie and LIVE SS11 Lantosque-Luceram (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
23:00hrs-01:00hrs: LIVE SS12 Moulinet-La Bollene-Vesubie and LIVE SS13 Lantosque-Luceram
(Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Sunday 23 January
19:45hrs-20:15hrs: Rally Review (Eurosport)
EVENT ESSENTIALS
Event: Rallye Monte-Carlo
Base: Valence
Starts: Valence, Tuesday 18 January
Finishes: Monte-Carlo, Saturday 22 January
Entries received: 120
IRC appearances: Two (2009 and 2010)
2009 winners: Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)/Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN) M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000
Surface: Asphalt
Number of stages: 13
Special stage distance: 337.06 kilometres
Liaison distance: 1004.69 kilometres
Total distance: 1341.75 kilometres
Itinerary (all times shown are local):
Day one (Wednesday 19 January):
Special stages: Four
Special stage distance: 128.37kms

Liaison distance: 248.10kms
Total distance: 376.47kms
Start: Valence, 09:00hrs
SS1: Le Moulinon – Antraigues* (36.87kms), 10:05hrs
Tyre Service: Vals (0:10hrs), 10:55hrs
SS2: Burzet – St Martial* (41.06kms), 11:40hrs
SS3: St Bonnet Le Froid – St Bonnet Le Froid* (25.22kms), 14:11hrs
Tyre Service: Lalouvesc (0:15hrs), 14:56hrs
SS4: St Bonnet Le Froid – St Bonnet Le Froid* (25.22kms), 16:20hrs
Service A: Valence (0:45hrs), 18:15hrs
Day two (Thursday 20 January):
Special stages: Four
Special stage distance: 94.36kms
Liaison distance: 214.46kms
Total distance: 308.82kms
Service B: Valence (0:20hrs), 11:00hrs
SS5: St Jean en Royans – Font D’Urle* (23.05kms), 12:23hrs
SS6: Cimetiere de Vassieux – Col de Gaudissart* (24.13kms), 13:04hrs
Service C: Valence (0:20hrs), 14:44hrs (regroup at 14:29hrs)
SS7: St Jean en Royans – Font D’Urle* (23.05kms), 16:07hrs
SS8: Cimetiere de Vassieux – Col de Gaudissart* (24.13kms), 16:48hrs
Service D: Valence (0:45hrs), 18:13hrs
Day three (Friday 21-Saturday 22 January):
Special stages: Five
Special stage distance: 114.33kms
Liaison distance: 542.13kms
Total distance: 656.46kms
Service E: Valence (0:20hrs), 06:30hrs
SS9: Montauban sur l’Ouveze – Eygalayes (29.89kms), 09:08hrs
Monaco Parc Ferme: 4:45hrs), 13:53hrs
Service F: Monaco (0:23hrs), 17:44hrs
SS10: Moulinet – La Bollene Vesubie* (23.41kms), 19:15hrs
SS11: Lantosque – Luceram* (18.81kms), 19:58hrs
Service G: Monaco (0:20hrs), 21:57hrs (regroup at 21:10hrs)
SS12: Moulinet – La Bollene Vesubie* (23.41kms), 23:25hrs
SS13: Lantosque – Luceram* (18.81kms), 00:08hrs
Service H: Monaco (0:10hrs), 01:20hrs
Prize-giving: Place du Palais Princier, 11:00hrs
* = Live on Eurosport.

LEADING ENTRIES
1 Juho Hanninen (FIN)/Mikko Markkula (FIN) Skoda Fabia S2000
2 Petter Solberg (NOR)/Chris Patterson (GBR) Peugeot 207 S2000
3 Jan Kopecky (CZE)/Petr Stary (CZE) Skoda Fabia S2000
4 Bryan Bouffier (FRA)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000
5 Freddy Loix (BEL)/Frederic Miclotte (BEL) Skoda Fabia S2000
6 Francois Delecour (FRA)/Dominique Savignoni (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000
7 Nicolas Vouilloz (FRA)/Benjamin Veillas (FRA) Skoda Fabia S2000
8 Stephane Sarrazin (FRA)/Jacques-Julien Renucci (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000
9 Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR)/Ola Floene (NOR) Skoda Fabia S2000
10 Guy Wilks (GBR)/Phil Pugh (GBR) Peugeot 207 S2000
11 Toni Gardemeister (FIN)/Tomi Tuominen (FIN) Peugeot 207 S2000
12 Henning Solberg (NOR)/Ilka Minor (AUT) M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000
14 Bruno Magalhaes (POR)/Paulo Grave (POR) Peugeot 207 S2000
15 P-G Andersson (SWE)/Emil Axelsson (SWE) PROTON Satria Neo S2000
16 Giandomenico Basso (ITA)/Mitia Dotta (ITA) Peugeot 207 S2000
17 Thierry Neuville (BEL)/Nicolas Klinger (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000
18 Mark Wallenwein (GER)/Stefan Kopczyk (GER) Skoda Fabia S2000
19 Chris Atkinson (AUS)/Stephane Prevot (BEL) PROTON Satria Neo S2000
34 Andreas Aigner (AUT)/Daniela Ertl (AUT) Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
35 Florian Gonon (SUI)/Sandra Arlettaz (SUI) Subaru Impreza WRX
IRC 2WD Cup (selected entries)
61 Harry Hunt (GBR)/Seb Marshall (GBR) Citroen DS3 R3
63 Andrea Crugnola (ITA)/Rudy Pollet (ITA) Renault Clio R3
64 Marcel Piepers (NED)/Erik de Wild (NED) Honda Civic Type R
68 Jeremi Ancien (FRA)/Damien Mezy (FRA) Peugeot 207 R3T
70 Manuel Villa (ITA)/Bernardo Serra (ITA) Abarth 500 R3T
IRC ROLL OF HONOUR
Overall drivers
2010: Juho Hanninen (Finland)
2009: Kris Meeke (United Kingdom)
2008: Nicolas Vouilloz (France)
2007: Enrique Garcia Ojeda (Spain)
Overall manufacturers
2010: Skoda
2009: Peugeot
2008: Peugeot
2007: Peugeot

IRC 2WD Cup drivers
2010: Harry Hunt (United Kingdom)
2009: Denis Millet (France)
2008: Marco Cavigioli (Italy)
IRC 2WD Cup manufacturers
2010: Peugeot
2009: Peugeot
2008: Peugeot
KEY STATISTICS
Rally wins (drivers)
Freddy Loix (Belgium): 6
Juho Hanninen (Finland): 5
Kris Meeke (United Kingdom): 5
Giandomenico Basso (Italy): 4
Luca Rossetti (Italy): 4
Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic): 4
Nicolas Vouilloz (France): 3
Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar): 1
Anton Alen (Finland): 1
Paolo Andreucci (Italy): 1
David Higgins (United Kingdom): 1
Mikko Hirvonen (Finland): 1
Bruno Magalhaes (Portugal): 1
Jarkko Miettinen (Finland): 1
Andrea Navarra (Italy): 1
Sébastien Ogier (France): 1
Carl Tundo (Kenya): 1
Guy Wilks (United Kingdom): 1
Rally wins (manufacturers)
Peugeot: 20
Skoda: 11
Abarth: 6
Ralliart: 3
M-Sport: 2

Skoda Motorsport has revealed a new livery for its brace of official factory Fabia Super 2000s that will contest the Intercontinental Rally Challenge season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo from January 18-22.
The new design, which has been commissioned to mark Skoda’s 110 years of motorsport participation, will appear on the Fabias of reigning IRC champion Juho Hanninen, from Finland, and his team-mate, the Czech Republic driver Jan Kopecky.
According to the Czech manufacturer, the “new green and white combination is reverse” of the design used during the past two seasons.
Ten Fabia S2000s will be in action on Rallye Monte-Carlo, where Skoda finished second and third last season, 12 months after making its IRC debut on the asphalt event.
In addition to guiding Hanninen to the IRC drivers’ crown in 2010, Skoda also secured the IRC manufacturers’ award for the first time.

The Skoda Motorsport Fabia S2000s will have a new look in Monte-Carlo

Historic programmes to celebrate Monte centenary

Eurosport, the international media partner of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the promoter of the IRC through Eurosport Events, will help to celebrate Rallye Monte-Carlo’s centenary with a series of short historic programmes and clips featuring archive images and highlights of the event since it first ran in 1911.
From this Saturday (8 January), Eurosport will screen unique and exclusive footage from the legendary rally through 15 one-minute programmes dedicated to a specific theme. These include a look back at the Group A and Group B eras, profiles of event legends, heroes and the French Musketeers, Lancia’s domination of the rally over the years, female success including Pat Moss and Michelle Mouton and a focus on the Col de Turini at night.
Each programme will be shown on Eurosport on several occasions as a teaser ahead of the IRC season-opener and will also be screened during the extensive live coverage of the rally, which includes broadcasting 12 of the 13 stages live as they happen. The programmes will also be available on the official IRC website, www.rally-irc.com once the event gets underway on Wednesday 19 January.

Bouffier confident for strong Monte run

Bryan Bouffier believes his lack of Rallye Monte-Carlo experience won’t put him at a disadvantage when he contests the Intercontinental Rally Challenge season-opener from 18-22 January.
The defending French rally champion made his debut on the legendary event last season, retiring his Subaru Impreza from a possible point-scoring finish with a mechanical failure. He will return for a second attempt this year in a Peugeot Sport-prepared 207 Super 2000.
He said: “This event is never easy with tyre choice making a big difference. I also don’t have much experience but I am in a fantastic position. I am in a very good team with two other very good drivers and this means I am highly motivated and full of confidence.”
Bouffier began his preparations for the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo with a three-day test in the south of France last month. He completed one day on dry asphalt and two days on snow-coated roads.
“It was good training for the rally because we were able to adapt the set-up of the car to the conditions quite well and I don’t have a big experience of driving on snow so it was good for this reason also,” said Bouffier.

Bryan Bouffier is confident of a strong Monte-Carlo run

Solberg brothers set for Monte battle

Brothers Henning and Petter Solberg will continue their friendly rivalry when they contest Rallye Monte-Carlo later this month.
The Norwegians will both be making their debuts in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge with Henning piloting an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 and Petter lining up in a Peugeot 207 S2000. Both have prior knowledge of Rallye Monte-Carlo, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
Henning Solberg will link up with Austrian navigator Ilka Minor, who has recovered from injuries sustained in a crash on a round of her national championship last season. Chris Patterson, who hails from Northern Ireland, will partner Petter Solberg.
Although Petter has enjoyed a more successful career than his older brother, it will be Henning who will potentially have the upper hand on Rallye Monte-Carlo thanks to his greater experience of driving Super 2000 machinery.
“We have been competing against each other for many years now so this is nothing different,” said Petter Solberg. “Like me Henning is there for the passion and loves to drive. He’s two years older than me but I don’t think either of us gets any smarter with age. He just has more experience.”

Henning Solberg has recent Super 2000 experience

Home success boosts IRC rookie Wallenwein

Mark Wallenwein plans to carry the momentum gained from winning the final round of the German championship last season when he makes his Intercontinental Rally Challenge debut on Rallye Monte-Carlo later this month.
Wallenwein, who joins the select group of German drivers with IRC experience, will pilot a Skoda Auto Deutschland Fabia Super 2000 on the centenary edition of the legendary event.
The 23-year-old prepared for his IRC debut by contesting five rounds of his domestic series in 2010, winning the final round and claiming podium finishes on three other occasions in his first season of four-wheel-drive competition.
“Everything will be new for me but I am planning to be as best prepared as possible and try to get to the finish,” said Wallenwein. “I won the final event of the season in Germany last year and this will help my confidence although I know the [regular] IRC drivers are very fast. The weather and the tyre choice will be big factors so I plan to find a good rhythm and learn as much as possible.”
Wallenwein, who began competing aged 17 and is the third generation of his family to go rallying, says his programme beyond Monte-Carlo has yet to be finalised.

Wilks praises co-driver Panseri

Guy Wilks has paid tribute to Bryan Bouffier’s co-driver Xavier Panseri after the Frenchman deputised for Wilks’ regular navigator Phil Pugh during a pre-Rallye Monte-Carlo test last month.
Wilks and Pugh were due to test near the event’s base in Valence but Pugh was prevented from travelling to the test after heavy snow closed the majority of the United Kingdom’s airports and resulted in a spate of flight cancellations.
Anxious not to miss out on the opportunity to sample a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 for the first time, Wilks called on Panseri to accompany him during the daylong test.
“My flight was one of the last to make it out but Phil’s was cancelled and he couldn’t get to the test,” said Wilks, who will drive for Peugeot UK in the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge. “I spent two and a half hours phoning around to come up with a plan and thankfully Xavier agreed to stay on for an extra day following his test with Bryan. He did a very, very good job, considering he admits he’s not very confident in speaking English.”
Wilks will complete his preparations for Rallye Monte-Carlo, which will receive extensive live television coverage on Eurosport, with a two-day test in France next week.

Petter Solberg has vowed to fight for victory when he makes his Intercontinental Rally Challenge debut on Rallye Monte-Carlo next month.
The former world rally champion will drive a Peugeot Sport-run 207 Super 2000 on the asphalt classic, which he has contested on eight previous occasions.
"For sure there are many drivers doing the event who have much more experience in Super 2000 cars while I have none," said Solberg. "But I have a lot of experience on the rally and I know what can go wrong so I will be prepared. Like every other rally I do I will be thinking to push and to win and I will come up with a proper plan and strategy to do that."
The 36-year-old from Norway continued: "I like the rally a lot even though I have not always had the best result. Because it will be the 100-year anniversary the rally will be very, very special."
Solberg and Northern Irish co-driver Chris Patterson will be among 120 crews taking part on the event, which runs from 18-22 January and will be televised live on Eurosport. They will get their first experience of the 207 they will use on the event during a test in France early next month.

Petter Solberg is aiming for Rallye Monte-Carlo victory

Mixed weather test boosts champion Hanninen

Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Juho Hanninen says changeable weather during a test in France last week has boosted his chances of winning Rallye Monte-Carlo for the first time.
Finn Hanninen finished second on the event last January and will be among the favourites for victory in his Skoda Motorsport Fabia Super 2000. The event has a reputation for unpredictable weather conditions with snow and ice a frequent hazard for the crews.
"We had dry Tarmac then wet Tarmac and then snow and ice so it was all the conditions that we could possibly have on the rally," said Hanninen, 29. "We were also able to see how the tyres performed in the different conditions so we got some useful data."
Hanninen will test again in Czech Republic in early January alongside a number of other Skoda drivers. "We’ll have real winter then so it will be good preparation also."

Atkinson ready for Monte’s massive challenge

Chris Atkinson says he is relishing the prospect of contesting Rallye Monte-Carlo for PROTON Motorsports, despite acknowledging the "massive challenge" he will encounter on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge season opener, which runs from 18-22 January.
Australian Atkinson, who made his IRC debut for the Malaysian squad on last June’s Geko Ypres Rally, has prior experience of the asphalt event, which will celebrate its centenary next month.
He said: "Starting the season with the Monte is awesome. As a rally driver, this is the traditional place where we always start our year. I’ve always gone well on the event, but it is really tough. Running high in the Alps in January, you never know what’s really coming around the next corner: it could be dry asphalt, wet asphalt, snow or ice. It’s a massive challenge for the team and the driver, with one of the most important aspects being to get the [choices of] tyres right."
Atkinson, 31, will be partnered in the British-based PROTON team by Swede P-G Andersson on Rallye Monte-Carlo.

PROTON’s Chris Atkinson is set for the challenge of Monte-Carlo

Swiss star Gonon back in the IRC

Florian Gonon will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on Rallye Monte-Carlo next month, less than six months after clinching the Subaru Individual Award on the Geko Ypres Rally.
The 2009 Swiss rally champion finished 16th overall on the Belgian event to clinch the Subaru-backed accolade, which was handed out to the highest-placed driver in one of the Japanese manufacturer’s cars on rounds of the IRC in 2010.
He will make his IRC comeback in an N12-model Impreza on Rallye Monte-Carlo alongside navigator Sandra Arlettaz. Their planned appearance follows on from finishing second overall on Rallye International du Valais in Switzerland last October. That event counted as a round of the IRC in the past and includes some stages that are similar in layout to those found on the 2011 IRC opener.
Gonon’s Subaru will run under the Annie Spiers Rallye Team banner. Michael Burri and Stephen Rey will also represent Switzerland on the centenary edition of the famous event.

Rallye Monte-Carlo media accreditation

Media representatives planning to attend Rallye Monte-Carlo have until 7 January to apply for accreditation at:
http://www.acm.mc/ramc/2011/docs/formulaire_accreditation_en_2011.pdf.
Holders of or those planning to apply for a permanent IRC press credential, which grants access to all 12 IRC events, do not have to apply for round-by-round accreditation but must email media@ircseries.com to confirm their event attendance throughout the season.

New Year wishes from the IRC Team

The IRC Team wishes you a Happy New Year 2011:
http://www.ircseries.com/html/video-home/ecard_irc.html

Former Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Nicolas Vouilloz says he will be fighting fit when he returns to the series on Rallye Monte-Carlo next month, despite not having driven in anger since finishing third on the legendary event back in January.
Vouilloz, who claimed the IRC title in 2008 for Kronos Racing, will drive a Skoda France-supported Fabia Super 2000 on the centenary edition of the rally alongside co-driver Benjamin Veillas.
"Although I have not been driving I have not just been sitting at home either," said the 34-year-old from France. "I have been busy working for a French mountain bike company. I have done some races and development work with them and have also been a team manager.
"I know it will be difficult to get back in a rally car after a long gap, especially because there are some long stages at the start of Rallye Monte-Carlo, but I will have done three tests by then and I will be fit and as well prepared as I can be."

Nicolas Vouilloz says he will be ready for his IRC return

Nicolas impressed by Prime Yalta Rally

Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager and a former winner of Rallye Monte-Carlo, says the Prime Yalta Rally will be a popular addition to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge schedule next season.
The all-asphalt event, based in the Black Sea city of Yalta in Ukraine’s Crimea region, will form round four of the 2011 IRC from 2-4 June.
Nicolas, who completed a preliminary reconnaissance of the event route last week, said he was impressed by the quality of the stages and the location of the service park.
"The stages were a bit like what we have in Monte-Carlo and Sanremo with good asphalt and average speeds of between 90-110kph," said Nicolas. "Yalta is on the Black Sea and the stages are in the mountains behind the city so the rally will be really compact. In fact there will be more stage kilometres than liaison kilometres. I was also impressed to see the service park, which is right by the sea."

Magalhaes happy with co-driver switch

Bruno Magalhaes says changing co-drivers ahead of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge won’t affect his chances of a successful campaign next season.
The 30-year-old from Portugal contested eight rounds of the IRC alongside Carlos Magalhaes in 2010, winning Sata Rallye Acores in the process.
However, with Carlos Magalhaes forming a partnership with IRC regular Daniel Oliveira, Bruno Magalhaes has recruited Paulo Grave to navigate him in 2011, starting with the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo in January.
"Paulo was my co-driver from 2002 until 2007 when he stopped rallying," said Magalhaes, who will continue to drive a Peugeot Sport Portugal 207 Super 2000 next year. "I know him perfectly so the change will not be a problem. Carlos is a great friend of mine and for his career this change can be better and for me I will still have a good co-driver."
Magalhaes finished fifth in the final IRC drivers‘ standings in 2010 after scoring points on the first seven events of the year.

Bruno Magalhaes will have a new co-driver for 2011

Neuville stars at Luxembourg show

Thierry Neuville took time out of his preparations for Rallye Monte-Carlo to attend the International Motor Show Luxembourg last weekend.
The 22-year-old was in attendance at the event, held at LuxExpo from 10-12 December, along with the Peugeot 207 Super 2000 he drove on six rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season.
"It was a big event with lots of cars and lots of people," said Neuville. "I did a talk to the crowd and also signed some autographs. It was nice to be there."
Neuville is supported by the Peugeot importers in Belgium and Luxembourg and competes under the Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg banner. He will continue in the IRC next season with French co-driver Nicolas Klinger, who partnered Nicolas Vouilloz to the IRC title in 2008.

Alen wants to make IRC comeback

Finnish star Anton Alen is targeting a return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2011.
The 27-year-old son of rally legend Markku Alen was formerly an Abarth factory driver, winning Rally Russia in 2007. Having not had the opportunity to compete this year, Alen is determined to return to the Eurosport-supported series next season.
"I always really enjoyed driving on the IRC, as there are some fantastic events and competitors," said Alen. "I’ve been working solidly on different ways to come back, but unfortunately it’s so financially tough for everyone at the moment. My motivation is stronger than ever though and I’m determined to give it 100 per cent. I know some of the IRC events already and there are some interesting new rallies coming in as well."
Alen has tested a Proton Satria Neo S2000, and also has extensive experience of Group N machinery.

www.rally-irc.com

The Intercontinental Rally Challenge will include a new event on its schedule in 2011 after an agreement was reached between Eurosport Events, the promoter of the IRC, and Chervonenko Racing, the organiser of the Prime Yalta Rally in Ukraine.
Based in the city of Yalta on the north coast of the Black Sea in Ukraine’s Crimea region, the Prime Yalta Rally will form the fourth round of the IRC series from 2-4 June. The agreement is currently for 2011 and includes an option to extend the partnership into 2012.
The Prime Yalta Rally will use all-asphalt stages although there are plans to incorporate some gravel-based tests in the future.
Established as the most prestigious round of Ukraine’s national championship and previously part of the European Rally Cup, the event has gained a reputation for its challenging mountainous route and varying asphalt surfaces. As a result, it attracts up to 100,000 of spectators each year and is popular among competitors, with overseas drivers regularly travelling to the event to compete.
As well as receiving the patronage of the Ukrainian government, the rally will enjoy support from several of the country’s top sports stars including boxing brothers Vitaly and Vladimir Klitschko and footballer Andriy Shevchenko.
Marcello Lotti, the IRC General Manager, said: “We have been in close contact with the Yalta Rally organisers for some time and it gives me great pleasure to be able to confirm the event will be joining the IRC family next season. With its population of more than 45 million people, Ukraine represents a very important and growing market for the IRC and another new territory for our young and innovative rally series.”
Evgeny Chervonenko, the winner of the last USSR Rally Championship in 1991, the President of the Ukraine Motorsport Federation (FAU) and the head of the Yalta Rally organising committee, said: “The Prime Yalta Rally will offer competitors and spectators a high standard asphalt route, stunning mountainous special stages, great scenic views and a full entertainment package including concerts, shows and luxury parties. We invite racers to discover this fascinating route and welcome all true rally fans to join at least 300,000 visitors we expect in Yalta this summer. I am sure that competitors will appreciate the warm Ukrainian hospitality.”

A revised calendar for the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge has been presented today by series promoter Eurosport Events, and will start with the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo from 18-22 January.
Following the announcement of the draft schedule in September, two changes have been made to the list of rallies with a new date for Rally de los Alerces and an all-new event in Ukraine, the Prime Yalta Rally.
●Rally de los Alerces, which will be based in the Argentine city of Esquel, will now take place one week later than originally scheduled, from 11-13 March.
●The Prime Yalta Rally will run on the new date of 2-4 June.
It will mean there will be four new rallies when the IRC celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2011. Along with Rally de los Alerces and the Prime Yalta Rally, the Tour de Corse on the French island of Corsica and Hungary’s Mecsek Rallye also represent unchartered territory for the IRC series.
Eurosport Event’s Managing Director Géraldine Filiol said: “We are delighted to confirm this exciting IRC calendar for 2011, which reflects the increasing status of IRC in world motorsport with more and more prestigious rallies joining our series. The addition of four new events to our 2011 schedule will pose an exciting challenge for our competitors and a great spectacle for the fans watching on the stages and at home on television.”
Details of the Prime Yalta Rally, an asphalt event, will be announced next week.
The full IRC calendar for 2011 follows:

01 18-22 January Monaco: Rallye Monte-Carlo Asphalt
02 11-13 March Argentina: Rally de los Alerces* Gravel
03 06-08 May France: Tour de Corse Asphalt
04 02-04 June Ukraine: Prime Yalta Rally Asphalt
05 23-25 June Belgium: Geko Ypres Rally Asphalt
06 14-16 July Portugal: Sata Rallye Acores Gravel
07 04-06 August Portugal: Rali Vinho Madeira Asphalt
08 26-28 August Czech Republic: Barum Czech Rally Zlin Asphalt
09 09-11 September Hungary: Mecsek Rallye Asphalt/gravel
10 22-24 September Italy: Rallye Sanremo Asphalt
11 14-16 October Scotland: RACMSA Rally of Scotland Gravel
12 03-05 November Cyprus: FxPro Cyprus Rally Asphalt/gravel
TBC Date TBA Spain: Rally Islas Canarias Trofeo El Corte Ingles Asphalt

*Subject to signing the Promoter’s agreement

A star-studded capacity entry will contest Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, from 18-22 January.
Two former IRC champions, several IRC regulars, previous Monte-Carlo winners, Formula One heroes past and present, plus four world rally title-winners are set to take the start of the event in Valence next month.
Rally organisers, the Automobile Club de Monaco, received 305 requests for the initial 100 available entry spaces and have created a waiting list in case any of the successful applicants are unable to take part.
Among those appearing on the list of entries are 2010 IRC champion Juho Hanninen, former IRC title-winner Nicolas Vouilloz, IRC regulars Jan Kopecky, Freddy Loix, Bruno Magalhaes, Thierry Neuville and Guy Wilks, French rally champion Bryan Bouffier, Le Mans 24 Hours racer Stephane Sarrazin, 1994 Monte-Carlo victor Francois Delecour, Monte-Carlo podium finisher Toni Gardemeister, ex-Scuderia Italia and Footwork Formula One driver Alex Caffi, current Lotus Renault GP Team driver Robert Kubica and rally world champions Andreas Aigner, P-G Andersson, Daniel Elena, and Petter Solberg.
In total 39 Super 2000 cars will be in action while some of the 27 countries represented include Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Slovenia and United Kingdom and United States of America.
A full list of entries is available at www.acm.mc.

Rallye Monte-Carlo has attracted a star-studded entry list

IRC fans set for a live television spectacular

Rally fans around the world will be treated to a live television spectacular when the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge gets underway with the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo next month. Eurosport Events, the IRC’s promoter, will provide large-scale TV production for live coverage of 12 stages combined with regular highlights programmes.
The unique media coverage throughout the world will include extensive live broadcasts on Eurosport’s various platforms: Eurosport, Europe’s largest television sports channel, Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Asia-Pacific will offer a full coverage of the event and will screen a total of 14 hours of television over the three days of the competition including all 12 stages live, plus daily highlights and a rally review programme.
Extensive live transmissions will also be accessible from Eurosport Player, the channels‘ online live simulcast service, while video footage will be available at eurosport.com websites, the official IRC website rally-irc.com and via the IRC iPhone App.
Details of additional coverage shown on other networks throughout the world will be announced soon.
Eurosport’s coverage of Rallye Monte-Carlo will be shown as follows (all times are shown in CET):
Wednesday 19 January
10:00hrs-11:00hrs: LIVE SS1 Le Moulinon-Antraigues (Eurosport 2 & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
11:30hrs-12:45hrs: LIVE SS2 Burzet-St Martial (Eurosport 2 & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
14:00hrs-15:00hrs: LIVE SS3 St Bonnet-St Bonnet (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
16:00hrs-17:15hrs: LIVE SS4 St Bonnet-St Bonnet (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
19:45hrs-20:15hrs: Highlights of Day One (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Thursday 20 January
12:15hrs-14:00hrs: LIVE SS5 St Jean en Royans-Carrefour des 3 routes and LIVE SS6 Cimetiere de Vassieux-Col de Gaudissart (Eurosport 2 & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
16:00hrs-17:45hrs: LIVE SS7 St Jean en Royans-Carrefour des 3 routes and LIVE SS8 Cimetiere de Vassieux-Col de Gaudissart (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
19:30hrs-20:00hrs: Highlights of Day Two (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Friday 21 January
19:00hrs-20:45hrs: Highlights of SS9 Montauban s/Ouveze-Eygalayes, LIVE SS10 Moulinet-La Bollene-Vesubie and LIVE SS11 Lantosque-Luceram (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
23:00hrs-01:00hrs: LIVE SS12 Moulinet-La Bollene-Vesubie and LIVE SS13 Lantosque-Luceram (Eurosport & Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Sunday 23 January
19:45hrs-20:15hrs: Rally Review (Eurosport)

Loix prepares for ‚world’s toughest rally‘

Freddy Loix has begun his bid to win Rallye Monte-Carlo for the first time after completing a test in the south of France last week.
The 40-year-old Belgian ace drove a Skoda Fabia Super 2000 test car as part of his preparations for the opening round of next year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
"It was quite difficult because the weather conditions were changing," said Loix, a six-time IRC event-winner. "We had some ideas of what we wanted to do on dry Tarmac but in the end it rained so we had to change a bit the set-up."
Loix, who is planning to enter an expanded programme of IRC events in 2011, said winning Monte-Carlo would represent a major achievement.
"I was second two years ago and if I could finish one place better I would be the most happy man in the world," said Loix. "Monte-Carlo can be quite an easy rally if it’s dry but when it’s wet or if there is snow then it can be one of the toughest rallies in the world."

Freddy Loix has begun his Rallye Monte-Carlo preparations

Andersson vows to maximise PROTON chance

P-G Andersson has vowed to continue his strong run of form on Rallye Monte-Carlo when he makes his debut for the PROTON team on the centenary edition of the event next month.
The 30-year-old from Sweden will drive a Satria Neo Super 2000 for the Malaysian manufacturer on the opening round of next year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge, an event he has gone well on in the past.
"It’s great to be joining PROTON for Monte, I can’t wait to get the testing started," said Andersson, who made his IRC debut on Rally d’Italia-Sardegna last June. "It’s been a couple of years since I was on this rally the last time, but I have always made good stage times there and it’s a rally I like. Of course, the conditions can make it tough, but if you have to gamble with the tyre choice then you can always make some big gains."
Andersson finished eighth overall on his last Rallye Monte-Carlo appearance in 2008. Australian Chris Atkinson will appear in a second factory Satria Neo on the event, while Briton Tom Cave will pilot a semi-works version.

www.rally-irc.com

Preparations for the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo are progressing apace with fewer than 50 days to go before the Intercontinental Rally Challenge opener gets underway on January 18, 2011.
Last week representatives of Eurosport Events, the promoter of the IRC, and rally organiser Automobile Club de Monaco, undertook a reconnaissance of part of the competitive route that will form the first round of the 2011 IRC season.
During the visit they checked the various technical facilities required for the event’s extensive live television coverage, confirmed the camera locations, and also finalised some of the festivities and activities that will take place around the rally to mark the 100th anniversary celebrations.
Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager, said: "It was a very successful exercise in close collaboration with the ACM. We visited several locations including Valence, where the rally starts, plus some of the stages including Entraigues and Col de Gaudissart, and I am pleased to confirm that all preparations for the rally are on target."

Preparations for Rallye Monte-Carlo continued with a recce last week

Delecour closing on Monte-Carlo comeback

Rallying legend Francois Delecour, who won Rallye Monte-Carlo in 1994, is close to finalising an agreement to contest the opening round of next season’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Frenchman Delecour, 48, is set to drive a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 on the centenary edition of the asphalt rally alongside co-driver Dominic Savignoni.
"When I saw the itinerary and remembered the rally was 100 years old I realised I had to do the event," said Delecour. "We still need to find some of the budget and a lot of the budget will be for the tyres because I need the complete choice to give myself the best chance that I can.
"I still have a big motivation to succeed, I’m completely fit and I know stages such as Le Moulinon and Burzet better than anybody else on the rally."

McCormack looks to the IRC for next step

Martin McCormack wants to follow in the footsteps of countryman and former champion Kris Meeke by contesting the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Northern Irishman McCormack made his IRC debut on June’s Geko Ypres Rally and is trying to secure a programme to contest up to six events next season.
He said: "Kris is most definitely an inspiration, especially when you look at what he did in the IRC and how it helped his career. There’s a lot of manufacturer interest in the series and that means there are more options for young drivers like me.
"It’s still in the planning stages and nothing is confirmed at the moment. A Super 2000 car would be the main aim but the IRC 2WD Cup is another option I would definitely pursue."

Wittmann wants more IRC action in 2011

Franz Wittmann wants to put his frustrating 2010 season behind him by returning to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge next year.
The 27-year-old Austrian showed plenty of pace this season but was frequently out of luck at the wheel of his Interwetten Racing Peugeot 207 Super 2000.
"I’m working on a programme and for sure it will be in the IRC," said Wittmann. "I am very grateful for all the support Interwetten gave to me but my results this year were very disappointing. I know things can improve and I hope to get the opportunity to come back and show what I can do in what is a very competitive championship. I’m keeping positive and won’t give up."
Wittmann was co-driven for the bulk of the season by German Klaus Wicha but was partnered on the season-closing Cyprus Rally by Josefine Beinke when Wicha became unavailable. His best result in the IRC date is fifth place on Rally Russia in 2009.

Franz Wittmann wants to return to the IRC in 2011

www.rally-irc.com

Skoda Motorsport will begin the defence of its Intercontinental Rally Challenge manufacturers‘ title on Rallye Monte-Carlo from January 18-22.
The Czech make, which also guided Juho Hanninen to the IRC drivers‘ crown in 2010, will field a brace of factory-prepared Fabia S2000s for Finn Hanninen and co-driver Mikko Markkula plus Czech pair Jan Kopecky and Petr Stary. Several other Skodas will also be in action on the event.
Skoda Motorsport head Michal Hrabanek said: "The Monte Carlo Rally is very special to us, especially because it is where we made our debut with the Fabia Super 2000 in 2009. This is going to be the 100th year of the event, and Skoda Auto is going to celebrate 110 years of its motorsport efforts next year, which certainly is an interesting combination. Furthermore, this rally is one of the best races the whole world of motorsport offers, and we are highly motivated to succeed there."
Rallye Monte-Carlo will once again form the opening round of the IRC series. On the event earlier this year, Hanninen finished second with Nicolas Vouilloz claiming third in a factory-supported Fabia backed by Skoda’s French importer.

Juho Hanninen will again form part of Skoda’s Monte Carlo attack

Barros impressed by Mecsek organisation

Peugeot Sport Portugal boss Carlos Barros has praised the organisation of the Mecsek Rallye in Hungary, which will join the Intercontinental Rally Challenge schedule for the first time next year.
Barros was in the country last month to follow the 43rd running of the rally, titled the Allianz Rallye in deference to its title sponsor. The rally has enjoyed IRC Supporter Event status for the last two seasons.
"The organisation was very good and the way things were run was very impressive," said Barros, who oversaw Bruno Magalhaes‘ successful IRC bid in 2010. "The stages this year were all on Tarmac but next year there will be gravel as well and this will be interesting."
Barros drove through the stages in a safety vehicle and reported large numbers of spectators lining the route: "It was one hour before the stage went live but already there were a lot of people around. Rallying is clearly popular in Hungary are there were some good drivers in action."
The Mecsek Rallye is scheduled to run from 9-11 September, 2011, and will count as round nine of the IRC.

Van Dalen predicts bright future for Neuville

Thierry Neuville has been tipped for greatness by the man responsible for running his Team Peugeot-Luxembourg 207 Super 2000.
Neuville, 22, impressed throughout this six-event Intercontinental Rally Challenge campaign this season, claiming a podium finish on the Geko Ypres Rally in June on his way to ninth overall in the final drivers‘ standings.
Although the German-speaking Belgian has yet to finalise his programme for 2011, it is expected that he will mount an expanded assault on the 12-event IRC series.
Van Dalen said: "Thierry is very good and is improving all of the time. There’s still a lot for him to learn, but he is 22 years old and clearly a star for the future.
"At the start of Rally of Scotland he was around 1.7s per kilometre slower than the drivers at the front, but then he soon got that down to less than one second per kilometre slower, which is very impressive. He did not know Scotland but he learned the event and the surface very quickly and it was not an easy rally to learn. Okay, he made a mistake at the end, but this can happen."

Thierry Neuville has been tipped for success in the 2011 IRC

Gardemeister enters Rallye Monte-Carlo

Toni Gardemeister has entered the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of next year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Gardemeister, from Finland, has yet to confirm what car he will use on the event but believes he can fight for victory after scoring two podium finishes on the famous rally in the past.
"We’ve entered the rally because there is a promise of free entry for 100 drivers," said the 35-year-old. "It is more than 50 per cent sure I will be there but I am still trying to find the right possibilities for the car and will see what is going on. If I can get a competitive car with a good tyre package then I believe I can win, why not? But if I want to get a good result in Monte for sure I need to test the car a lot before. Hopefully I can get this deal."
Gardemeister’s last appearance on the IRC qualifier last January ended in retirement when his Abarth Grande Punto S2000 broke down on the final morning of the event after he had challenged for a points finish.

Andreas Mikkelsen will drive for Skoda UK Motorsport in the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Mikkelsen, from Norway, finished seventh in this season’s IRC drivers‘ rankings at the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000, six points behind outgoing Skoda UK pilot Guy Wilks, who will switch to the rival Peugeot UK operation for 2011.
Aged 21, Mikkelsen is regarded as one of the rallying’s brightest prospects. He underlined his potential by finishing second on RACMSA Rally of Scotland in mid-October before winning the inaugural Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally last weekend.
"I am very happy to be asked to join the Skoda family and to be given this opportunity from Skoda UK to do the 2011 IRC," said Mikkelsen, who was unveiled as a Skoda UK driver at the White Dove Motor Group dealership in Cardiff, UK, earlier today (Thursday). "It is a fantastic new step in my rally career and to be in a Skoda seat with all the experience from Skoda Motorsport. My goal will be in to win the championship in 2011 – no more, no less."
Ola Floene will continue to co-drive Mikkelsen when the 2011 IRC season gets underway with Rallye Monte-Carlo from 18-22 January.

Andreas Mikkelsen (right) will drive for Skoda UK in the 2011 IRC

Golden Stage Rally a hit with inaugural winner

The Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally has been declared a huge success by the driver who claimed the top prize on the inaugural event last Sunday (7 November).
Andreas Mikkelsen defeated runner-up Nasser Al-Attiyah and third-placed Bryan Bouffier in a tense finish on the mixed-surface event, which featured a single 25-kilometre stage run twice. Both runs were shown live on Eurosport and Cypriot channel LumiereTV.
"It was a great idea and I heard back from my friends and family in Norway just how good the live television was," said the 21-year-old, who bagged 40,000 Euros in prize money of the 150,000 Euros that were available. "To have a rally like this is something new and the idea of going flat-out for two stages on full attack is great. I would love to do this again and I hope it happens again in the future."
The inaugural Golden Stage Rally was a joint initiative between IRC promoter Eurosport Events and the Cyprus Automobile Association.
Other significant award winners on the event were Roman Kresta and Karl Kruuda, who triumphed in Category B and C respectively and both earned 10,000 Euros in prize money for their efforts. They received their prizes at the annual IRC Awards Ceremony in Limassol last Sunday night.

Subaru Individual Award goes to Almari

Misfer Almari has won the final Subaru Individual Award for 2010 following his run to ninth overall on the FxPro Cyprus Rally, which was based in Limassol from 4-6 November.
The Qatari, who was co-driven by Italian Nicola Arena, produced a mature performance to complete the mixed-surface event.
Eurosport’s cameras were rolling when Almari spun into a brick wall on the opening day of the combined Intercontinental Rally Challenge and Middle East Rally Championship qualifier. The impact left his Impreza with rear-end cosmetic damage but didn’t affect the car’s handling.
"It was important for me to get to the finish because I needed points for the Middle East championship and I’m pleased to have achieved that aim," said Almari.
The Subaru Individual Award was presented on rounds of this year’s IRC to the highest-placed Subaru finisher and demonstrated the support that Subaru extended to its customer drivers in the IRC in 2010.
Olivier Burri (Monte Carlo), Juan San Martin (Curitiba), Gabriel Pozzo (Argentina), Jose Barrios (Canary Islands), Teemu Arminen (Sardinia), Florian Gonon (Ypres), Sergio Silva (Azores), Pedro Meireles (Madeira) and Vojtech Stajf (Zlin) were the other Subaru Individual Award winners this season. Pozzo was the highest-placed Impreza driver in the final IRC standings in joint 17th place.

Misfer Almari won the Subaru Individual Award on the Cyprus Rally

Thomas wants future IRC outings

Cypriot star Nicos Thomas has revealed his desire to contest more rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2011.
The 23-year-old finished an impressive fifth overall on last weekend’s FxPro Cyprus Rally in his Munaretto-prepared Peugeot 207 Super 2000. He repeated the feat on the Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally, which took place the day after the IRC finale.
"I am very satisfied with my performance because I said before the start I wanted to be in the top five and I managed this," said Thomas, whose drive was made possible through the close collaboration between IRC promoter Eurosport Events and Cyprus Rally organiser Cyprus Automobile Association.
"It is all about the budget but next year I would like to do more rallies in the IRC because I have enjoyed the experience and feel I can improve."
Despite limited knowledge of his Peugeot, Thomas drove without error on both mixed-surface events, which were held in baking hot sunshine on shown live on television.

Nagle will miss Monte-Carlo excitement

Paul Nagle, who co-drove Kris Meeke to Intercontinental Rally Challenge title glory in 2009, has revealed his disappointment at not being able to contest the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo next January.
Meeke and Nagle have completed their two-year stint in the IRC with Peugeot UK and the legendary event is not on their schedule for 2011.
Despite crashing out of the rally in 2009 and again earlier this season, Nagle said he relished taking part on the challenging asphalt event, which was subject to wintry weather conditions.
"It’s a great with so much drama and I’ll really miss not being able to take part," said Irishman Nagle, who partnered Meeke to five victories in the IRC.
Rallye Monte-Carlo runs from 18-22 January, 2011. More information is available at www.acm.mc.

www.rally-irc.com

Andreas Mikkelsen has won the inaugural Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally, which was shown live on Eurosport and Cypriot channel LumiereTV and carried a prize fund of 150,000 Euros.
Co-driven by fellow Norwegian Ola Floene, Mikkelsen set a scorching pace over the opening 25-kilometre mixed-surface run to establish an interim lead of 10.3 seconds. And he maintained his advantage over the second test to eventually beat Nasser Al-Attiyah by 8.2s in a tense finish, despite going slower than the Qatari driver on the final run.
As well as winning 30,000 Euros for his overall victory, the 21-year-old bagged 10,000 Euros for topping Category A for Super 2000 cars. Roman Kresta earned 10,000 Euros for winning Category B in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, while Karl Kruuda received a cheque for 10,000 Euros for finishing as the leading Category C contender in his two-wheel drive Suzuki Swift.
Both runs over the stage were held in baking sunshine against the backdrop of the Mediterranean island’s spectacular landscape. Mikkelsen put his victory down to his "full attack" approach on the first run and a slightly more controlled effort on run two when he was able to preserve his lead.
"It was definitely full attack for the first stage but I could drive a little more in the middle of the road on the second run and avoid some of the rocks," said Mikkelsen. "It was quite nerve-wracking because in the middle of the stage I thought we had a problem with the powersteering but in the end it was okay."
Mikkelsen’s victory made up for the disappointment of retiring on the opening day of the FxPro Cyprus Rally, the 12th and final round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which ran from 4-6 November. "I really should have won that too so this does make up for it in some way," he said.
Behind Mikkelsen, Cyprus Rally winner and second-placed Al-Attiyah said he had not been able to live with his rival’s pace: "I am quite happy because it has been a good weekend for us but maybe Andreas had an advantage. He had a new exhaust on his car, which gave him an extra 13bhp."
Frenchman Bryan Bouffier felt that the extensive amount of asphalt on the stage, which covered approximately 15 kilometres of the run, had held him back in his Peugeot 207 S2000: "My tyres were destroyed at the end of the Tarmac. There was nothing more we could have done but I am very happy to have been third behind two very good drivers. My car was also perfect."
Martin Prokop said a lack of traction on the gravel sections prevented a bid for victory in his Fiesta, despite explaining: "I tried as hard as I could but in the gravel the car was always in the air. I made no mistakes but I had no traction. I thought that the set-up would work better."
Nicos Thomas was the leading Cypriot driver in fifth overall on only his second outing in his Peugeot 207, which he was driving thanks to the close collaboration between Golden Stage Rally promoter Eurosport Events and organiser Cyprus Automobile Association. "It has been a good debut for me in a Super 2000 car," he said. "It was a tough stage but I am pleased with my result."
Jaromir Tarabus completed run two with a punctured right-rear tyre but still managed to take sixth overall ahead of Group N winner Kresta and Cypriot Constantinos Tingirides, who said that his Ralliart Lancer lacked power on the first run. Two-wheel drive victor Karl Kruuda and Panikos Polykarpou completed the top 10.
A broken left-rear suspension arm caused multiple Lebanese champion Roger Feghali’s retirement 13 kilometres into the final test, after he had completed the first run in fifth overall. Daniel Oliveira crashed out on the first corner of the second run. Both incidents were shown live on Eurosport and Cypriot channel LumiereTV.
Burcu Cetinkaya’s Golden Stage Rally ended on run two when she rolled her Peugeot Sport Turkey 207, thankfully without injury. Franz Wittmann suffered a front-right puncture on the first run and elected not to take the start of the second stage in his Interwetten Racing 207.
All competitors carried Colin McRae Vision windscreen strips in support of the charity established in memory of the 1995 world rally champion. The charity supports initiatives and good causes aimed at improving health and education for young children around the world. At the IRC Awards Ceremony in Limassol tonight (Sunday), Colin McRae Vision will make a substantial donation to ELPIDA, a charitable foundation for children with leukaemia and other cancers living in Cyprus.

 
Top 10 Golden Stage Rally positions after run two
1 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000) 37m14.3s
2 Nasser Al-Attiyah/Giovanni Bernacchini (M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000) +8.2s
3 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +13.8s
4 Martin Prokop/Jan Tomanek (M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000) +24.6s
5 Nicos Thomas/Angelos Loizides (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m25.5s
6 Jaromir Tarabus/Daniel Trunkat (M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000) +2m07.2s
7 Roman Kresta/Petr Gross (Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX) +2m37.8s
8 Constantinos Tingirides/Panayiotis Shialos (Ralliart Lancer Evolution IX) +3m12.6s
9 Karl Kruuda/Martin Jarveoja (Suzuki Swift S1600) +3m26.6s
10 Panikos Polykarpou/Savvas Laos (Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX) +3m32.1s

 
Golden Stage Rally prize fund allocation
Andreas Mikkelsen: 40,000 Euros
Nasser Al-Attiyah: 28,000 Euros
Bryan Bouffier: 16,000 Euros
Martin Prokop: 10,000 Euros
Roman Kresta: 10,000 Euros
Karl Kruuds: 10,000 Euros
Constantinos Tingirides: 8,000 Euros
Nicoas Thomas: 6,000 Euros
Panikos Polykarpou: 6,000 Euros
Savvas Savva: 5,000 Euros
Laszlo Vizin: 5,000 Euros
Paraskevas Paraskeva: 3,000 Euros
Janos Puskardi: 3,000 Euros

Mikkelsen’s Love Cyprus Golden Stage victory was captured live by Eurosport

More than 40 drivers from Europe and around the world will do battle over a prize fund of 150,000 Euros when they contest the inaugural Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally, which takes place on the Mediterranean island on Sunday 7 November.
A joint initiative between Eurosport Events, the promoter of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, and the Cyprus Automobile Association, the innovative event will be contested over one 25-kilometre mixed-surface stage, the Golden Stage, run twice.
Televised live on Eurosport and Cypriot channel LumiereTV, the Golden Stage Rally promises to be a spectacular all-action affair with drivers pushing to the maximum over the largely downhill stage, which features asphalt and gravel sections.
Unlike conventional rallies where drivers have to consider preserving their cars over a longer distance, the Golden Stage Rally will effectively become a highly-charged sprint for glory with crews set to throw caution to the wind in their pursuit of the 30,000 Euros prize handed to the winner.
The format will not only appeal to drivers and co-drivers but to the many thousands of fans lining the route and watching at home live on television, some of whom may have never watched a rally before. While some rallies are known for their test of endurance, the Golden Stage Rally will be more akin to a Formula One qualifying session with every second counting.
The route for the Golden Stage Rally has been carefully selected by a team of rally experts, including Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the winner of the 1978 Rallye Monte-Carlo. The course starts near the village of Kellaki in the hills above the port town of Limassol in the south of Cyprus and works its way down to the finish near the village of Armenochori close to a spectacular dam. Part of the stage runs adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea.
Drivers will run in reverse order based on their allocated numbers and 10 priority drivers, including two from Cyprus, will be selected by the event organisers to run last and ensure the result of the inaugural Golden Stage Rally is not known until the last car completes the final 25-kilometre run.
The event is open to drivers competing with Super 2000, Group N and Group A (up to A7) cars, in both the two-wheel and four-wheel drive categories.
Bryan Bouffier, a multiple championship-winning driver from France, will compete in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 and is one of the favourites for victory. He said: "On most rallies you have to manage your car over 250 kilometres. On the Golden Stage Rally you just have to push. The strategy will be to push hard on the first run and then push even harder on the second."
Nasser Al-Attiyah, the reigning Middle East rally champion, will drive an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000. The Qatari has extensive experience of competing in Cyprus and is relishing the prospect of entering the Golden Stage Rally. "It’s going to be something special," said Al-Attiyah. "It won’t be easy because there is pressure and a lot of risk as you will be on maximum attack but I am very excited by this rally and so should the fans be watching by the stage and on Eurosport."
The Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally gets underway with the first of two runs at 11:03hrs local time. The second run is scheduled to start at 14:03hrs local time. Stage times will be combined to determine the overall results.
Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally contenders
Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar, M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000): Multiple Middle East rally champion has represented his country in the Men’s Skeet shooting in the Olympic Games on four occasions
Misfer Almari (Qatar, Subaru Impreza N16): The current leader of the Middle East Rally Championship, Almari is part of Qatar’s young driver development programme
Bryan Bouffier (France, Peugeot 207 S2000): Factory Peugeot Sport driver who has enjoyed success in his homeland and in Poland, where he is a double title-winner
Burcu Cetinkaya (Turkey, Peugeot 207 S2000): Became the first female to score IRC points on Rally of Scotland last month. When she’s not driving Cetinkaya works as a TV presenter
Roman Kresta (Czech Republic, Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX): Kresta, an ex-works Ford WRC driver, finished sixth on the Cyprus Rally in 2005, his last visit to the island
Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway, M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000): Mikkelsen, a former downhill skier, learned to drive rally cars on a frozen lake before he was old enough to drive on the road
Daniel Oliveira (Brazil, Peugeot 207 S2000): Novice Oliveira is being mentored by former WRC podium finisher Manfred Stohl, who was second in Cyprus in 2006
Martin Prokop (Czech Republic, M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000): Extensive experience in world championship rallies. Won the Junior section of the mixed-surface Cyprus Rally in 2009
Nicos Thomas (Cyprus, Peugeot 207 S2000): The youngest winner of the Cyprus Rally, a feat he achieved aged 20 in 2008, Thomas is making the transition to Super 2000 technology
Franz Wittmann (Austria, Peugeot 207 S2000): Following in the footsteps of his father Franz Wittmann Sr, Wittmann Jr has been a regular in the IRC since 2009
Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally essentials
Event: Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally
Starts/finishes: Sunday 7 November
Entries received: 41
Surface: Gravel and asphalt
Number of stages: 2
Special stage distance: 50.00 kilometres
Liaison distance: 90.52km
Total distance: 140.52km
Itinerary (all times shown are local): Sunday 7 November: Start: Lemesos Service Park, 10:25hrs; SS1: Love Cyprus Golden Stage Run 1 (25.00kms), 11:03hrs; Service A: Lemesos, 11:53hrs; SS2: Love Cyprus Golden Stage Run 2 (25.00kms), 14:03hrs; Finish: Lemesos Service Park, 14:53hrs.
Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally TV times
Eurosport and Cypriot channel LumiereTV will show live coverage of the Golden Stage Rally on Sunday 7 November as follows:
11:00hrs-12:00hrs CET (Eurosport and LumiereTV): LIVE Golden Stage Run 1
14:00hrs-15:00hrs CET (Eurosport and LumiereTV): LIVE Golden Stage Run 2

Cyprus will host the inaugural Golden Stage Rally on 7 November

THE CHALLENGE
After 11 months of gruelling competition over several thousand kilometres of competitive stages, the curtain comes down on another enthralling Intercontinental Rally Challenge season in Cyprus next week (4-6 November).
The FxPro Cyprus Rally, the 12th and final event of the year, might be new to the IRC schedule for 2010 but it has become one of the most demanding events on the international rallying calendar since it first took place in 1970.
Featuring mixed-surface stages, the country’s narrow and undulating roads and passes will test driver and car to the limit. And Eurosport, Europe’s largest television sports channel and the IRC’s international media partner, will be showing four stages of the event live.
As well as counting for IRC points, the event forms the penultimate round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship and several competitors from the regional series, including multiple champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, will be in action and will doubtless pose a threat to the IRC regulars.
Forty-two competitors will tackle the rally and the majority will remain on the island for the inaugural Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally, which takes place on Sunday 7 November. The event, a joint initiative between the Cyprus Automobile Association and the IRC’s promoter, Eurosport Events, will be contested over a single 25-kilometre mixed-surface stage run twice. The action will be televised live on Eurosport and Cypriot channel Lumiere TV and a combined prize fund of 150,000 Euros has been pledged by the organisers.
The Cyprus Rally is characterised by its breathtaking and dramatic scenery. The move to a mixed-surface format in 2009 has resulted in the inclusion of some faster and flowing roads as opposed to the low-speed tracks that were synonymous with the event in the past. However, it is still widely known for providing a stern test for competitors and their cars.
Despite the rally’s early November date, ambient temperatures are set to peak at 27 degrees centigrade and won’t dip any lower than 20 degrees centigrade. This will put the onus on driver fitness and increase the strain on the cars as they pass over the rock-strewn roads.
Action gets underway with an all-asphalt superspecial stage in the Limassol’s port, the island’s largest, on the night of Thursday 4 November. The Lemesos Super Special Stage covers a total distance of 2.45 kilometres and drivers will compete against each other in pairs.
Friday is made up of three mixed-surface stages based to the east of Limassol, plus a return to the Lemesos Super Special Stage that evening. Saturday’s action takes place over six stages with the first car due to reach the finish close to the event’s permanent service park in Limassol in the south of the island at 18:03hrs local time.
The Cyprus Rally marks the finale of the IRC 2WD Cup for crews in two-wheel drive machinery. Both the drivers‘ and manufacturers‘ titles will be decided in Cyprus.
Another significant accolade up for grabs in Cyprus is the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy. The award is handed to the most spectacular driver who best embodies the spirit of the Scottish hero and rallying legend on rounds of the IRC. Its recipient is chosen by a panel consisting of IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Gilbert Roy, the Director of Editorial and Programme Development at Eurosport Events, and Jim McRae, Colin’s father. A special award will also be given to the most spectacular driver of the year.

Franz Wittmann is one of several IRC regulars in action in Cyprus

THE COMPETITORS

Andreas Mikkelsen will start the FxPro Cyprus Rally on the back of his strong run to second place on Rally of Scotland earlier this month and will be a firm contender for his maiden Intercontinental Rally Challenge victory in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000. The 21-year-old from Norway has impressed mightily throughout the season and is determined to finish 2010 with a podium.
Nasser Al-Attiyah has enjoyed plenty of success in Cyprus in the past by winning the country’s Troodos Rally on seven occasions. Armed with a Fiesta S2000, the Qatari made his IRC debut on Rally Argentina in March and will be aiming to make his most of his experience of the island’s gruelling terrain alongside Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini.
Martin Prokop will also rely on Fiesta technology when he makes his first IRC start of the season. The Czech has sampled the Cypriot stages in the past, winning the Junior world championship event in the country in 2009. Jaromir Tarabus will partner his countryman in the Czech Ford National Team at the wheel of a similar Fiesta.
Franz Wittmann returns to IRC action after missing the last two events in Italy and Scotland. The Austrian, 27, visited the Cyprus Rally in 2006 when it counted towards the world championship and has fond memories of the island and its punishing stages. Despite showing plenty of pace this season in his Interwetten Racing Peugeot 207, Wittmann has been frequently out of luck and is still chasing his first points of the campaign.
Joining Wittmann in the ROMO Motorsporttechnik outfit will be Frenchman Bryan Bouffier, who has concluded a one-off deal to drive for the German squad in a second 207. Bouffier came close to winning Barum Czech Rally Zlin in August and is relishing the mixed-surface stage format in Cyprus. Buoyed by her first IRC points in Scotland, Burcu Cetinkaya will be aiming to add to her tally in her Peugeot Sport Turkey 207.
Daniel Oliveira scored his first IRC points back in his native Brazil in early March. He has recruited Bruno Magalhaes‘ co-driver Carlos Magalhaes to partner him in Cyprus aboard his Stohl Racing 207. Team boss Manfred Stohl finished second on the Cyprus Rally in 2006 and will be anxious to offload his experience onto his young charge.
Cypriot Nicos Thomas holds the record as the youngest winner of the Cyprus Rally, a feat he achieved as a 20-year-old in 2007. Now 23, Thomas has got his hands on a Peugeot 207 and will be an unknown quantity as he adapts to the Super 2000-specification machine. Thomas is one of several leading local drivers in action. Others include current Cypriot champion Constantinos Tingirides and Charalambos Timotheou. Both will drive Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancers.
With the IRC title-winning Skoda Motorsport team not competing in Cyprus, Lebanese driver Roger Feghali will be responsible for upholding the Czech manufacturer’s honour in his Fabia S2000. Feghali is better known as an asphalt specialist but has some experience driving on gravel.
Misfer Almari is one of several Subaru Impreza drivers in action in Cyprus. Hailing from Qatar, Almari leads the Middle East Rally Championship and will be a contender for the Subaru Individual Award, which is handed out to the leading Subaru finisher by the Japanese manufacturer on rounds of the IRC.
With Kevin Abbring and Rafael Tulio not competing in Cyprus, Harry Hunt knows that a points‘ finish will be enough to secure the IRC 2WD Cup title. The trio are tied on 20 points each although Hunt might be hard-pushed to land a maximum score against Hungarian Honda Civic drivers Janos Puskadi and Laszlo Vizin.
Cyprus is the final event of the 2010 IRC season and will determine third place in the overall IRC manufacturers‘ ranking. The manufacturers‘ title in the IRC 2WD Cup is also still up for grabs and the outcome will be determined in Cyprus.
All IRC awards will be presented at the end-of-season ceremony in Limassol on the evening of Sunday 7 November. The event is being jointly organised by Eurosport Events and the Cyprus Automobile Association. IRC champions Juho Hanninen and Mikko Markkula, runners-up Jan Kopecky and Petr Stary, and third-placed crew Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle are among those set to attend.

Andreas Mikkelsen has been rapid in the IRC this season

THE EXPECTATIONS

Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar), M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000: "It’s a very tough rally and the mixed-surface stages will increase the challenge but my experience means I know what to expect. My target is to win even though the level of the IRC drivers will be very high."
Bryan Bouffier (France), Peugeot 207 S2000: "This will be the highest level rally I have done on gravel but I hope to find a good pace quickly. I like driving on gravel and my Peugeot is very competitive on this type of surface. I don’t know the rally but I know it will be difficult."
Franz Witttmann (Austria), Peugeot 207 S2000: "After a bad season I really need a strong result so this is a very important rally for me. If I can show the pace I have on other gravel events then I will be happy but I also need to stay out of trouble to ensure I finish."

IRC returnee Nasser Al-Attiyah is chasing victory in Cyprus

TV TIMES

Eurosport, Europe’s largest television sports channel, and Cypriot station Lumiere TV will show live coverage of FxPro Cyprus Rally and Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally as follows:
Friday 5 November
10:00hrs-11:00hrs CET (Eurosport and Lumiere TV): LIVE SS4 (Agioi Vavatsinias 1)
15:00hrs-16:00hrs CET (Eurosport and Lumiere TV): LIVE SS7 (Agioi Vavatsinias 2)
Saturday 6 November
10:00hrs-11:00hrs CET (Eurosport and Lumiere TV): LIVE SS11 (Galataria 1)
15:00hrs-16:00hrs CET (Eurosport and Lumiere TV): LIVE SS14 (Galataria 2)
Daily highlights of the rally will also be shown on Eurosport and are available at www.rally-irc.com.
Golden Stage Rally, Sunday 7 November
11:00hrs-12:00hrs CET (Eurosport and Lumiere TV): LIVE Golden Stage Run 1
14:00hrs-15:00hrs CET (Eurosport and Lumiere TV): LIVE Golden Stage Run 2

EVENT ESSENTIALS

Event: FxPro Cyprus Rally
Starts: Thursday 4 November
Finishes: Saturday 6 November
Entries received: 42
IRC appearances: None
2009 winners: N/A
Surface: Gravel and asphalt
Number of stages: 14
Special stage distance: 236.64 kilometres
Liaison distance: 612.48km
Total distance: 849.12km
Itinerary (all times shown are local): Day one, section one (Thursday 4 November): Start: Lemesos, 19:00hrs; SS1: SSS Lemesos 1 (2.45kms), 20:30hrs. Day one, section two (Friday 5 November): Service A: Lemesos, 08:21hrs; SS2: Kalavasos 1 (10.42kms), 09:09hrs; SS3: Lythrodontas 1 (27.10kms), 10:07hrs; SS4: Agioi Vavatsinias 1* (17.31kms), 11:10hrs; Service B: Lemesos, 13:11hrs; SS5: Kalavasos 2 (10.42kms), 14:09hrs; SS6: Lythrodontas 2 (27.10kms), 15:07hrs; SS7: Agioi Vavatsinias 2* (17.31kms), 16:10hrs; Service C: Lemesos, 18:01hrs; SS8: SSS Lemesos 2 (2.45kms), 19:35hrs; Service D: Lemesos, 20:05hrs. Day two (Saturday 6 November): Service E: Lemesos, 08:06hrs; SS9: Alassa 1 (12.76kms), 09:04hrs; SS10: Foini 1 (31.70kms), 09:47hrs; SS11: Galataria 1* (16.58kms), 11:10hrs; Service F Lemesos, 12:56hrs; SS12: Alassa 2 (12.76kms), 14:04hrs; SS13: Foini 2 (31.70kms), 14:47hrs; SS14: Galataria 2* (16.58kms), 16:10hrs; Service G: Lemesos, 17:44hrs; Finish: Lemesos, 18:03hrs. * = Live on Eurosport.

LEADING ENTRIES

Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000
Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR)/Ola Floene (NOR) M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000
Bryan Bouffier (FRA)/Xaier Panseri (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000
Martin Prokop (CZE)/Jan Tomanek (CZE) M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000
Jaromir Tarabus (CZE)/Daniel Trunkat (CZE) M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000
Franz Wittmann (AUT)/Klaus Wicha (GER) Peugeot 207 S2000
Daniel Oliveira (BRA)/Carlos Magalhaes (POR) Peugeot 207 S2000
Burcu Cetinkaya (TUR)/Cicek Guney (TUR) Peugeot 207 S2000
Nicos Thomas (CYP)/Angelos Loizides (CYP) Peugeot 207 S2000
Misfer Almari (QAT)/Nicola Arena (ITA) Subaru Impreza N16
Harry Hunt (GBR)/Sebastian Marshall (GBR) M-Sport Ford Fiesta R2

IRC STANDINGS

Drivers after round 11 of 12 (best seven results)
1 Juho Hanninen (Finland) 62pts
2 Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic) 47pts
3 Kris Meeke (United Kingdom) 39pts
4 Freddy Loix (Belgium) 36pts
5 Bruno Magalhaes (Portugal) 30pts
6 Guy Wilks (United Kingdom) 27pts
7 Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway) 21pts
8 Paolo Andreucci (Italy) 18pts
9 Thierry Neuville (Belgium) 12pts
10 Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) 10pts
Manufacturers after round 11 of 12 (best seven results)
1 Skoda 120pts
2 Peugeot 87pts
3 M-Sport 40pts
4 Ralliart 30pts
5 Subaru 11pts
6 Abarth 6pts
IRC 2WD Drivers after round 11 of 12 (best seven results)
1 Kevin Abbring 20pts
= Harry Hunt 20pts
= Rafael Tulio 20pts
4 Pierre Campana 16pts
5 Yeray Lemes 10pts
= Siim Plangi 10pts
= Kris Princen 10pts
= Duarte Ramos 10pts
= Sandro Sottile 10pts
= Marcos Tokarski 10pts
IRC 2WD Manufacturers after round 11 of 12 (best seven results)
1 Peugeot 94pts
2 M-Sport 81pts
3 Honda 47pts
4 Abarth 38pts
5 Skoda 5pts

KEY STATISTICS

Rally wins in 2010 (drivers)
Hanninen: 3
Loix: 3
Andreucci: 1
Hirvonen: 1
Kopecky: 1
Magalhaes: 1
Meeke: 1
Rally wins in 2010 (manufacturers)
Skoda: 7
Peugeot: 3
M-Sport: 1
Stage wins in 2010 (drivers)
Juho Hanninen: 39
Kris Meeke: 29
Jan Kopecky: 26
Freddy Loix: 25
Paolo Andreucci: 8
Sebastien Ogier: 7
Luca Rossetti: 6
Guy Wilks: 6
Bruno Magalhaes: 4
Pavel Valousek: 4
Bryan Bouffier: 3
Mikko Hirvonen: 3
Andreas Mikkelsen: 2
Stephane Sarrazin: 2
Giandomenico Basso: 1
Bernardo Sousa: 1
Nicolas Vouilloz: 1
Stage wins in 2010 (manufacturers)
Skoda: 101
Peugeot: 54
Abarth: 7
M-Sport: 6

www.rally-irc.com

Andreas Mikkelsen has vowed to go on "maximum attack" when he contests the inaugural Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally on Sunday 7 November.
The event, which takes place the day following the FxPro Cyprus Rally, the 12th and final round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge from 4-6 November, features a mixed-surface, 25-kilometre stage run twice. In addition to live television coverage on Eurosport and Cypriot channel Lumiere TV, the contest will carry a combined prize fund of 150,000 Euros.
"It’s great to have a stage like that," said Mikkelsen, who will drive an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000. "All the drivers will go maximum attack on this stage so to be a spectator there will be incredible."
Mikkelsen, a 21-year-old from Norway, will arrive in Cyprus on the back of his heroic run to second overall on RACMSA Rally of Scotland earlier this month, his best result in the IRC to date.
He said: "The stages in Cyprus are difficult and very twisty but I think we can get a strong result. Certainly it’s our aim to go very good there and hopefully finish the season with a podium. We’ve made lots of improvements over the year and I am sure we can get a strong result."

Andreas Mikkelsen won’t be holding back on the Golden Stage Rally

Wittmann excited by Limassol superspecial

Franz Wittmann says the Lemesos Super Special Stage, which will be used twice on the FxPro Cyprus Rally, the final round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will provide plenty of drama and must be treated with the utmost respect by the competitors.
Wittmann, who turned 27 yesterday (Wednesday), will take part on the event in his Interwetten Racing Peugeot 207 Super 2000 alongside regular co-driver Klaus Wicha.
Using an all-asphalt, 2.45-kilometre course in Limassol’s port area, the fan-friendly stage will be run immediately following the ceremonial start on the night of Thursday 4 November and on the evening of Friday 5 November. The stage incorporates a cross-over point and drivers will tackle the test in pairs.
"These kinds of stages are great for the fans because they can get really close to the action and you always have plenty of drama and get really sideways," said the Austrian ace. "Although it’s a short stage in comparison to some of the gravel stages on the rally, you can’t win the rally on it but it’s very easy to lose the rally and all the drivers need to be aware of that."
Wittmann will be one of several IRC regulars set to tackle the all-new Lemesos Super Special Stage, which is being organised by IS Focus in cooperation with Limassol Municipality and the Port Authority. Other drivers include Brazil’s Daniel Oliveira and Burcu Cetinkaya, from Turkey.

Superspecial stage in Limassol will be a Cyprus Rally highlight

Thomas heads all-Cypriot rally team

An all-Cypriot team will contest the finale to the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season, next week’s FxPro Cyprus Rally.
Featuring drivers Nicos Thomas, Constantinos Tingirides, the current Cypriot rally champion, Charalambos Timotheou and Panicos Polycarpou, the squad will be entered under the Petrolina banner.
Thomas, ranked as one of Cyprus‘ leading rally drivers, is the best-placed of the quartet to land a strong result on the mixed-surface event after he achieved his long-held aim of securing the use of a Super 2000 car for his home rally.
The Peugeot 207 he will pilot will be run by the Italian Munaretto squad. The other three drivers will compete in Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancers.
Twenty-three-year-old Thomas is better known for his exploits in conventional turbocharged Group N machinery and his transition to a normally-aspirated S2000 car will be keenly anticipated, not least by the thousands of local fans lining the route.
In excess of 40 crews will contest the Cyprus Rally, which joins the IRC schedule for the first time this season and will receive four hours of live coverage on Eurosport and Cypriot channel Lumiere TV.

IRC titles up for grabs in Cyprus

While the outcome of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers‘ and manufacturers‘ titles has been settled in favour of Juho Hanninen and Skoda respectively, the battle for the IRC 2WD Cup will go down to the wire on the FxPro Cyprus Rally, which takes place on the Mediterranean island from 4-6 November.
Double event winners Kevin Abbring and Rafael Tulio jointly top the IRC 2WD Cup drivers‘ standings with Harry Hunt on 20 points apiece. However, with only Hunt set to contest the mixed-surface event in his I Cars Motorsport M-Sport Ford Fiesta R2, the title will be Hunt’s providing he can score a points‘ finish to move above his rivals.
If Hunt does prevail and follows in the footsteps of 2009 class champion Denis Millet, he will have to wait until he receives his trophy. It is due to be presented at the end-of-season awards, which will take place at Le Meridien Limassol Spa and Resort on the evening of Sunday 7 November. However, Hunt is flying back to his native United Kingdom following the finish to prepare for another rally taking place the following weekend.
Hungarian Honda Civic drivers Janos Puskadi and Laszlo Vizin will provide Hunt with his main opposition in Cyprus but are not in contention for the IRC 2WD Cup title.

Harry Hunt is in contention for the IRC 2WD Cup in Cyprus

Third win of the year for Finnish ace
First IRC podium for Mikkelsen
Juho Hänninen claimed his third victory of the year in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge after beating Andreas Mikkelsen in arduous conditions on the RACMSA Rally of Scotland. The win earned him enough points to put him out of reach of any of his rivals for this year’s drivers’ title. He will be crowned officially after the next round, the FxPro Rally Cyprus.
Only nine drivers were classified at the finish as the fast pace of the rally took a brutal toll on the drivers and their machines. Guy Wilks returned to the fray after being forced out of Saturday’s last two stages by mechanical failure to record the fastest times in three of today’s four stages, a feat which was recognised when he was awarded the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy by Jimmy McRae.
Kris Meeke finished third for Peugeot although mechanical maladies had left him trailing by nearly two minutes as the day began. As Hänninen looked to consolidate his lead over Mikkelsen without taking too many risks, Meeke was determined to get on the podium by overhauling the third-placed 207 of Thierry Neuville. Mikkelsen, meanwhile, was torn between a desire to push for the win and a duty to claim his team’s first podium of the year.
Mikkelsen tested Hänninen’s resolve by remaining within striking distance throughout the morning, while Neuville dropped back with a puncture and then made a mistake on the first 29.04km loop around Loch Ard, rolling down a steep incline. Hänninen won the penultimate stage to put nearly 20 seconds of clear air between himself and Mikkelsen, persuading the young Norwegian to opt for duty over valour in the final test.
Local hero Alister McRae thrilled the home crowd with some impressive times in his Proton Satria Neo, but he was also ineligible for the final score having missed most of Saturday through an alternator failure. Team-mate Keith Cronin also restarted the event this morning but he slid wide, hit a stack of logs and broke a wishbone on the first stage. Tom Cave, the sole remaining Proton driver eligible for points, struggled with decreasing grip levels as the rain intensified and crashed nose-first in to a ditch on the last stage.
The three-way Group N battle between the Lancers of David Bogie, Euan Thornburn and Jonathan Greer that had raged throughout Saturday fizzled out as first Thorburn and then Greer ran off the road, both on the Loch Ard stages that were broadcast live on Eurosport. Their retirement enabled Daniel Barry to finish in the top 10, a well deserved achievement after the Irishman had struggled throughout the event with a litany of technical problems.
Burcu Çetinkaya became the first female driver to finish an IRC event in the points although her Peugeot Türkiye 207’s gearbox became recalcitrant in the final stage.
Both the remaining 2WD Cup entries finished in the overall points. Siim Plangi finished his second IRC outing of the year in fifth place, even though his Honda Civic Type R had dropped on to three cylinders briefly during the morning. Harry Hunt discovered that his Fiesta R2 had a cracked sump on the opening stage of the day but nursed it through to eighth overall. Hunt now shares the lead in the 2WD Cup drivers’ title with one round to go.

Juho Hänninen (right) and Mikko Markkula

DRIVER QUOTES

Juho Hänninen (Finland), Škoda Fabia S2000, first overall: “It was a fantastic finish to the season, a great weekend. It’s been almost a perfect year and I’d like to thank the team for everything they’ve done. Yesterday morning I was about 30 seconds behind the boys and not feeling like a champion, but it was like I started the rally again. I set some good times and the boys were a bit unlucky with the problems they had, but for us that made it much better.”
Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway), Ford Fiesta S2000, second overall: “This result means a lot for me. I came here hoping that we could make it to the podium; I’d never finished on the podium in the IRC before so that was the main target. We’re very pleased to finish second, and also happy with the progress we’re making with our tyres. We were trying out a new type of tyre and were very encouraged to see it perform so well.”
Kris Meeke (United Kingdom), Peugeot 207 S2000, third overall: “This rally has sort of summed up our year. We’ve been able to punch it when circumstances have allowed us to. Today obviously we had another puncture but there was enough of a gap behind us for it not to be a problem. Third place allows us third in the championship – it’s been an incredible two years with Peugeot UK and to finish with a bit of silverware is some consolation for not winning the championship again.”

Andreas Mikkelsen finished a battling second

TOP TEN IRC POSITIONS AFTER DAY THREE

1 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) 2h01m07.4s
2 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Ford Fiesta S2000) +25.5s
3 Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Peugeot 207 S2000) +3m24.2s
4 David Bogie/Kevin Rae (Ralliart Lancer Evo IX) +12m01.3s
5 Siim Plangi/Marek Sarapuu (Honda Civic Type R) +14m39.0s
6 Eamonn Boland/MJ Morrissey Beaton (Ralliart Lancer Evo X) +16m38.8s
7 Burcu Çetinkaya/Çiçek Güney (Peugeot 207 S2000) +16m56.1s
8 Harry Hunt/Sebastian Marshall (Ford Fiesta R2) +21m39.5s
9 Daniel Barry/Martin Brady (Ralliart Lancer Evo IX) +23m46.5s
Leading IRC 2WD Cup finishers: Siim Plangi/Marek Sarapuu (Honda Civic Type-R)

IRC STANDINGS

Drivers after round 11 of 12 (best seven results)
1 Juho Hänninen (Finland) 62pts
2 Jan Kopecký (Czech Republic) 47pts
3 Kris Meeke (United Kingdom) 39pts
4 Freddy Loix (Belgium) 36pts
5 Bruno Magalhães (Portugal) 30pts
6 Guy Wilks (United Kingdom) 27pts
7 Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway) 21pts
8 Paolo Andreucci (Italy) 18pts
9 Thierry Neuville (Belgium) 12pts
10 Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) 10pts
Manufacturers after round 11 of 12 (best seven results)
1 Škoda 120pts
2 Peugeot 87pts
3 M-Sport 40pts
4 Ralliart 30pts
5 Subaru 11pts
IRC 2WD Drivers after round 11 of 12 (best seven results)
1 Kevin Abbring 20pts
= Rafael Tulio 20pts
= Harry Hunt 20pts
4 Pierre Campana 16pts
5 Yeray Lemes 10pts
= Kris Princen 10pts
= Duarte Ramos 10pts
= Sandro Sottile 10pts
= Marcos Tokarski 10pts
= Siim Plangi 10pts
IRC 2WD Manufacturers after round 11 of 12 (best seven results)
1 Peugeot 94pts
2 M-Sport 81pts
3 Honda 47pts
4 Abarth 38pts
5 Škoda 5pts

RALLY LEADERS

SS1-2: Guy Wilks
SS3-4: Kris Meeke
SS5: Guy Wilks
SS6-12: Juho Hänninen

STAGE WINNERS

Friday 15 October
SS1: Scone Palace 1 (3.37kms): Guy Wilks
SS2: Scone Palace 2 (3.37kms): Guy Wilks
Saturday 16 October
SS3: Craigvinean 1 (17.34kms): Kris Meeke
SS4: Drummond Hill 1 (15.08kms): Juho Hänninen
SS5: Errochty 1 (17.68kms): Juho Hänninen
SS6: Craigvinean 2 (17.34kms): Juho Hänninen
SS7: Drummond Hill 2 (15.08kms): Juho Hänninen
SS8: Errochty 2 (17.68kms): Andreas Mikkelsen
Sunday 17 October
SS9: Clashmore 1 (15.95kms): Guy Wilks
SS10: Loch Ard 1 (29.04kms): Guy Wilks
SS11: Clashmore 1 (15.95kms): Juho Hänninen
SS12: Loch Ard 1 (29.04kms): Guy Wilks

KEY STATISTICS

Rally wins in 2010 (drivers)
Loix: 3
Hänninen: 3
Andreucci: 1
Hirvonen: 1
Kopecký: 1
Magalhães: 1
Meeke: 1
Rally wins in 2010 (manufacturers)
Škoda: 7
Peugeot: 3
M-Sport: 1
Stage wins in 2010 (drivers)
Juho Hänninen: 39
Kris Meeke: 28
Freddy Loix: 26
Jan Kopecký: 25
Paolo Andreucci: 8
Sebastien Ogier: 7
Luca Rossetti: 6
Guy Wilks: 6
Bruno Magalhães: 4
Pavel Valousek: 4
Bryan Bouffier: 3
Mikko Hirvonen: 3
Stephane Sarrazin: 2
Andreas Mikkelsen: 2
Giandomenico Basso: 1
Bernardo Sousa: 1
Nicolas Vouilloz: 1
Stage wins in 2010 (manufacturers)
Škoda: 101
Peugeot: 52
Abarth: 7
M-Sport: 6

TV TIMES

Eurosport, Europe’s largest television sports channel, will show highlights of the rally as follows:
Sunday 17 October
22:30hrs-23:00hrs Day two replay (Eurosport)
24:15hrs-01:15hrs Day two replay (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Monday 18 October
24:15hrs-01:15hrs Day two replay (Eurosport 2)
Tuesday 19 October
19:00hrs-19:30hrs Day two replay (Eurosport 2)
23:15hrs-23:45hrs Rally review (Eurosport)
01:15hrs-01:45hrs Rally review (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Friday 22 October
13:00hrs-13:30hrs Rally review (Eurosport 2)
All times are CET