MULLER CLOSES IN ON HIS THIRD TITLE

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By winning the second race in China today, Yvan Muller made a significant step closer to his third World Touring Car Championship title.
After finishing the first race in fourth, the Chevrolet driver took advantage from the situation and showcased the real killing instinct that marks out all the greatest motor sport aces.
Now the gap between Muller and Rob Huff has been stretched to twenty points, which makes things difficult for the young Briton. However, with 50 points still at stake in Macau, where anything can happen, Huff’s hopes are still well and alive.
If Muller made the most out of the weekend in terms of championship fight, three other drivers excited the crowd: Alain Menu, Gabriele Tarquini and Colin Turkington.
Menu and Tarquini offered another proof of their immense talent and experience, clinching victory in Race 1 and second place in Race 2 respectively as they managed to resist the huge pressure from their chasers.
As for Turkington, he got used to make random visits to WTCC that often result in brilliant performances. Once again the Irishman was able to deliver two fantastic races with an independent BMW run by the joint efforts of the Wiechers-Sport and WSR teams. He claimed one second and one fourth, but he deserved more.
Although Turkington won both races in the Yokohama Trophy, Kristian Poulsen collected two second places that might prove crucial for the title fight, as the Dane is now leading Norbert Michelisz by 23 points. Fabio Fabiani beat Philip Ma twice in the Jay-Ten Trophy and took the lead in the points.
The championship will resume in Macau, on November 20th for the final rounds 23 and 24.


WTCC Race of China – Shanghai Tianma Circuit – 5 / 6 November 2011
www.fiawtcc.com – www.stc2002.com

Valter Jensen (Lancia Rally 037), impone su ley en la penúltima especial

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Triunfo de Raffaello Raimondo (Porsche 911-T) en el apartado de Regularidad FIA

Dominio de José Luis Marcó (Porsche 911-T) en la Regularidad española y catalana

Lloret de Mar (Girona), 5 de noviembre de 2011.- La potencia y agilidad del Lancia Rally 037, unidos a la calidad conductiva del noruego Valter Ch. Jensen, actual Campeón de Europa FIA de Rallyes Históricos, han podido con la eficacia y la regularidad del austríaco Ernst Harrach y su voluminoso Mitsubishi Lancer 2000T. Tras ser primero al final de la primera jornada y mantener el liderato durante la mayor parte de la segunda, Harrach ha cedido el liderato a Jensen en Els Àngels-2, completando la tercera plaza del podio el italiano Marco Bianchini (Lancia Rally 037), ganador de la última edición de la carrera lloretense.

119 coches de los 124 inscritos fueron los que finalmente salieron el viernes desde el podio de Lloret de Mar. Con una nutridísima inscripción, calidad de pilotos y de máquinas, dureza de itinerario y de climatología, extraordinario ambiente tanto en Lloret como en todas las poblaciones y carreteras de la zona, el 59 Rally Costa Brava ha cumplido con creces todas las expectativas, confirmándose como la gran prueba del año en la que se ha reunido el mundillo del automovilismo clásico, en sus modalidades de Velocidad y de Regularidad.

La lluvia, protagonista de más de media carrera
Tras salir desde el paseo marítimo de Lloret bajo lluvia torrencial, el rally empezó con el domino del italiano Mattia ‘Pedro’ Pedretti (Lancia Rally 037), el único piloto que mantuvo la constancia y la regularidad en el primer y complicado bucle, compuesto por los tramos de Cladells, Collsaplana y Osor, mientras rivales directos con idéntica montura, como el noruego Valter Jansen –con problemas en los intercomunicadores– o el también italiano Marco Bianchini –quien tuvo algún susto en Collsaplana 1– no podían seguirle el ritmo. Tan solo una desafortunada salida de pista en la última especial de la noche acababa con las aspiraciones de “Pedro” de llevarse la victoria, pese a salir el sábado bajo la reglamentación Súper Rally. Los problemas del italiano fueron aprovechados por el austriaco Ernst Harrach (Mitsubishi Lancer) para empezar la segunda jornada como líder de la prueba.

Otro de los protagonistas de la etapa nocturna fue el gerundense Enric Xargay (BMW 2002) quien, pese a problemas en un palier, hizo valer su conocimiento del terreno para auparse a la segunda posición de la general. En cuanto al resto de españoles, Antonio Sainz sufrió un pinchazo que le retrasó varios minutos y más tarde el sistema anti-vaho de su Porsche 911 se averió, limitando aún más su visión de la calzada. Por su parte, el andorrano Ferran Font (Ford Escort MkI) mantuvo el tipo con una excelente octava posición, mientras que otro favorito, el gallego Jesús Ferreiro (Porsche 911 Carrera RS), se retiraba por una salida de pista. También se retiró una de las estrellas de la carrera, el italiano Tony Fassina (Lancia).

Emocionante segunda etapa diurna, de nuevo con lluvia
La segunda etapa del rally empezó con una climatología similar a la de la primera, por lo que la elección de los neumáticos resultó crucial para el grupo de cabeza. Pronto se vio que tanto Bianchini como Jensen habían acertado ya que recortaron segundos sin cesar a un indefenso Harrach, que no podía hacer otra cosa que ir lo más rápido posible sin cometer errores. Un espectacular mejor tiempo en Tossa-2 por parte del austriaco le daba oxígeno para afrontar los dos últimos tramos del rally, pero en la subida de Els Àngels-2 Valter Jensen destapó el tarro de la esencias y sacó 18 segundos a Harrack, relegándolo sin remedio a la segunda posición. Bianchini, pese a intentarlo, no pudo superar al Lancer del austriaco.

Enric Xargay siguió con su excelente actuación del viernes, pese a haberse visto superado, lógicamente, por los mencionados Lancia 037. Una serie de cronos regulares, unidos a una conducción sin errores, le aseguraron la cuarta posición final y primera entre los pilotos españoles. El andorrano Ferran Font (Ford Escort) también fue muy regular durante toda la jornada, logrando una meritoria octava plaza.

Regularidad FIA: Victoria de Raffaello Raimondo ante todos los favoritos
En Regularidad, con tres clasificaciones independientes atendiendo si los pilotos puntuaban para los campeonatos respectivos de Europa (FIA), España o Catalunya, el inesperado triunfo correspondió al italiano Raffaello Raimondo (Porsche 911-T), que supero en el último momento al francés Ghislain Gaubert (Porsche 911 SC) aunque una penalización de éste le relegó a la sexta plaza. En este apartado han participado numerosos nombres conocidos del panorama de los rallyes, algunos españoles, como Antonio Zanini (Porsche), 7º al final, o Josep Maria Bardolet (Seat 600D), 5º.

Carlos Miró (Porsche 911 SC), ganador del último Rally Costa Brava Histórico, ha sido el primer español y además en una excelente segunda posición absoluta. La estrella del mundial, Jean Ragnotti, ha finalizado en el 8º puesto con su curioso Renault 4L, mientras que el actual Campeón de Europa, el griego Ioannis Katsaounis (Porsche 911), ha finalizado 10º.

Tanto en la Regularidad RFEdA como en la FCA, triunfo muy claro de José Luis Marcó (Porsche 911-T), en el primer apartado por delante de Sergi Giralt (VW Golf) y en el segundo superando a Joaquim Gummà (BMW 323i).

El Campeonato de Europa FIA de Rallyes Históricos ha vivido una excelente etapa en las carreteras de la Costa Brava, en un rally que ha rememorado las épicas gestas del pasado con una buena parte de los hombres y las máquinas que lo hicieron grande, todo ello en una carrera de prestigio y gran atractivo deportivo que se manifiesta como la única en España con tan elevado poder de convocatoria. RallyClassics, con el concurso de Lloret de Mar y de todos sus patrocinadores y colaboradores, ha organizado el rally destinado a automóviles con historia más multitudinario de toda la temporada.

Clasificación final 59 Rally Costa Brava-Lloret

Velocidad FIA
1-Valter Ch. Jensen-Erik Pedersen (Noruega/Lancia Rally 037), 1h.59’37’’1
2-Ernst Harrach-Leopold Welsersheimb (Austria/Mitsubishi Lancer 2000T), a 10’’4
3-Marco Bianchini-Emanuele Baldaccini (Italia/Lancia Rally 037), a 22’’6
4-Enric Xargay-Joan Venceslao (España/BMW 2002 Ti, 1º RFEdA), a 1’57’’5
5-Maurizio Plano-Simona Palmisano (Italia/Porsche 911), a 2’06’’3
6-Mats Myrsell-Esko Juntilla (Suecia/Porsche 911 RSR), a 3’11’’7
7-Callum Guy-George Gwynn (Gran Bretaña/Ford Escort), a 3’28’’2
8-Ferran Font-Oriol Julià (Andorra-España/Ford Escort Mk I), a 3’58’’7
9-“Pedro”-Angelo G. Mattanza (Italia/Lancia Rally 037), a 7’37’’8
10-Rainer Schwedt-Wolf Hans-Werner (Alemania/Ford Escort Twin Cam), a 8’06”3
Etcétera hasta 34 clasificados

Velocidad RFEdA
1-Enric Xargay-Joan Venceslao (BMW 2002 T), 2h.01’34”6
2-Carles Palou-Miquel A. Ibáñez (Ford Escort Mk II), a 6’26”3
3-Antonio Sainz-Javier Martínez Cattaneo (Porsche 911 Carrera RS), a 8’45”1
4-Antonio Dezcallar-Bartomeu Fluxà (Mitsubishi Lancer 2000T), a 10’13”9
5-Enric Prats-Xavier Crosas (Porsche 911 Carrera), a 11’24”2
6-Manuel Pérez-Maurizi Palouzié (Ford Escort RS Mk I), a 12’22”4
7-Joan Donatiu-Jordi Padrós (Ford Escort RS), a 13’19”1
8-Gonçal Ambit-Carles Guisset (BMW 323i), a 16’13”3
9-Germán Gómez-José Luis Barcia (Porsche 911 Carrera RS), a 19’03”2
10-Joaquim Domenech-Antonio Guerrero (Seat Panda 40), a 30’22”3
11-José Juan Álvarez-Pau Abraham (Ford Anglia 1.6), a 43’34”4

Regularidad FIA
1-Raffaello Raimondo-Marco Maria Calegari (Italia/Porsche 911-T), 94,6 puntos
2-Carles Miró-Jesús Arriezu (España/Porsche 911 SC), 100,8 puntos
3-Joe Reynolds-Iain Tullie (Irlanda/BMW 1600 Alpina), 106,0 puntos
4-Erwin Reineke-Fabian Mohr (Alemania/Opel Kadett B), 120,3 puntos
5-Josep M. Bardolet-Pablo Cofán (España/Seat 600D), 156,9 puntos
6-Ghislain Gaubert-Guillaume Gaubert (Francia/Porsche 911 SC), 159,7 puntos
7-Antonio Zanini-Diego Plaván (España-Uruguay/Porsche 911 SC), 194,8 puntos
8-Jean Ragnotti-Jaime Hernández (Francia-España/Renault 4L), 283,9 puntos
9-Carlos Beltrán-José Manuel Lasquibar (España/Porsche 356 C), 297,4 puntos
10-Ioannis Katsaounis-Matthaios Mansolas (Grecia/Porsche 911), 332,9 puntos
Etcétera hasta 17 clasificados

Regularidad RFEdA
1-José Luis Marcó-Mónica Pérez-Zorrilla (Porsche 911-T), 286,1 puntos
2-Sergi Giralt-Joan Corbera (VW Golf GTi), 493,1 puntos
3-Antonio Maymó-Manuel Macho (Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2), 550,1 puntos
4-Juan Collín-Juan Carlos Andreu (Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV), 553,1 puntos
5-Castor Ortega-Mari Carmen Díaz (Ford Escort RS2000), 559,9 puntos
6-Josep Gui-Xavier Gui (Renault 5 Alpine), 561,0 puntos
7-Francisco Javier Esquer-Sara Antón (VW Golf GTi), 568,6 puntos
8-José Ramón Campos-Raúl Gutiérrez (Porsche 911 Carrera), 578,1 puntos
9-Álvaro Ochagavias-Enrique Fullana (Porsche 911-T), 580,5 puntos
10-Joaquim Vilatarsana-Jesús Flandez (Renault 5 Copa Turbo), 621,1 puntos
Etcétera hasta 22 clasificados

Regularidad Sport FCA
1-José Luis Marcó-Mónica Pérez-Zorrilla (Porsche 911-T), 286,1 puntos
2-Joaquim Gummà-Gerard Gummà (BMW 323i), 423,3 puntos
3-Sergi Giralt-Joan Corbera (VW Golf GTi), 493,1 puntos
4-Josep Gui-Xavier Gui (Renault 5 Alpine), 561,0 puntos
5-Joaquim Vilatarsana-Jesús Flandez (Renault 5 Copa Turbo), 621,1 puntos
6-Joan López-Pedro José García (Ford Fiesta XR2), 629,4 puntos
7-Francesc Casaponsa-Albert Casaponsa (Alfa Romeo Giulia Super), 695,2 puntos
8-Salvador Cañellas-Daniel Ferrater (Porsche 911 SC), 795,3 puntos
9-Albert Casadevall-Carles Terrades (BMW 325ix), 989,0 puntos
10-Josep Maria de Ferrer-Llorenç de Ferrer (Porsche 911 SC), 1.117,5 puntos
Etcétera hasta 25 clasificados

www.rallyclassics.org

MIKKELSEN WINS IRC TITLE IN DRAMATIC CYPRUS SHOWDOWN

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Mikkelsenpodium051111

•SKODA UK driver becomes youngest IRC champion•Arai wins
IRC Production Cup, IRC 2WD Cup joy for Raoux
Andreas Mikkelsen has become the youngest driver to win the
Intercontinental Rally Challenge after claiming victory on the
season-closing Cyprus Rally. Amid emotional scenes captured live on
Eurosport, Mikkeslen secured the title by one and a half points from
Jan Kopecky, sealing glory by going fastest on the final stage
alongside co-driver Ola Floene.
Japan’s Toshi Arai won the inaugural IRC Production Cup in his
R4-specification Subaru Impreza STI with Jean-Michel Raoux, from
France, clinching the IRC 2WD Cup by a single point ahead of Italian
Stefano Albertini.
Mikkelsen, driving a SKODA UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 led for all
but one stage of the mixed-surface event based in Pafos in the
south-west of the Mediterranean island. One of five drivers in
contention for the coveted IRC title at the start of the rally,
Mikkelsen had to win the event in order to become champion.
Apart from a spin on Friday and a puncture on Saturday morning,
little troubled the Norwegian who becomes the fifth different IRC
champion in as many years. Mikkelsen, who switched to rallying as a
17-year-old when injury curtailed his promising skiing career, was
almost forced to stop competing when he ran out of funding prior to
the 2009 season.
He hit back by securing a drive with SKODA’s UK importer for
the 2011 season after impressing in the IRC in 2010 in a privateer
M-Sport Ford Fiesta. Despite a troubled start on Rallye Monte-Carlo,
when he crashed on the opening stage, he slowly improved his form and
came close to winning several rallies before taking his maiden win on
the penultimate round in Scotland last month to set up a title
challenge in Cyprus. As well as winning two rounds outright, Mikkelsen
scored more stage wins than any other driver with a total of 38
fastest times during the year.
Nasser Al-Attiyah, last season’s Cyprus Rally winner, had
started the final day with an outside chance of victory and went
fastest of all on Saturday’s third stage. However, an engine
failure meant he was unable to continue after midday service, handing
second place to factory SKODA driver Kopecky, who has been runner-up
in the IRC standings for the last three seasons.
“There was damage in the engine, which is a big
disappointment,” said Al-Attiyah. “It was fantastic before
and I was really so happy with my performance against all these great
IRC drivers and live on Eurosport. But what can we do?”
Patrik Sandell took third with his best finish of the season for
SKODA Sweden claiming a stage victory to boot. Estonian teenager Karl
Kruuda, in a privateer Fabia, impressed in fourth, snatching the
position from Freddy Loix when the Belgian’s BFO-backed Fabia
developed a mechanical fault on the penultimate stage.
Matthias Kahle completed an all-Fabia top six in his SKODA Auto
Deutschland Fabia after a solid display on his first visit to Cyprus.
And it got better for the German importer when Kahle’s team-mate
Mark Wallenwein battled back from his double puncture on Friday to
finish eighth, one place behind IRC Production Cup winner Toshi Arai.
With IRC 2WD Cup champion Jean-Michel Raoux not eligible for overall
IRC drivers’ points in ninth, ex-circuit racer Doros Loucaides
clinched the four points on offer for the place in his
Petrolina-backed Peugeot 207 S2000, which he was using in competition
for the first time on the back of a 50-kilometre pre-event test.
Charalambos Timotheau claimed the final points in his Ralliart
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX after mechanical problems halted fellow
Cypriot Nicos Thomas on the final afternoon.
Outgoing IRC champion Juho Hanninen restarted on day two under
SupeRally regulations following his crash on Friday’s opening
run. Despite winning a stage he had to settle for 16th overall, one
place ahead of leading female driver Burcu Cetinkaya.
Mikkelsen’s performance earned him the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out
Trophy, awarded on each round of the IRC to the driver whose
performance best embodies the spirit of the rallying legend who won
the Cyprus Rally 10 years ago in 2001.
Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway), SKODA Fabia S2000, first overall:
“To become IRC champion is such a fantastic feeling, the likes
of which I have never felt before. It’s been a tough season,
which didn’t start so well in Monte Carlo but which has just
kept getting better and better. We’ve had a fantastic second
half of the year and wow, to finish with a win in Cyprus and the IRC
drivers’ title, I can hardly believe it has happened. It’s
like a dream.
“I’d really like to thank everyone at SKODA UK Motorsport
and SKODA Motorsport for and giving me this opportunity this year.
It’s a special moment for everyone. So much effort has been put
in over the last five years of my rallying career, not just by me, but
the people around me. To give this title back to everyone who has been
involved is incredible.”
Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic), SKODA Fabia S2000, second overall:
“I have to say this rally was quite tricky for us coming from a
country with no gravel stages. We have done our best this year and not
made any mistakes but finally we are second. I am disappointed but
that’s it although I have to say thanks to SKODA for a great job
all season.”
Patrik Sandell (Sweden), SKODA Fabia S2000, third overall:
“It’s a really good way to finish what has been a tough
and sometimes frustrating year. When things work well we can set top
times as we have proved this weekend.”
TOP 10 IRC POSITIONS AFTER DAY TWO
1 Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR)/Ola Floene (NOR) SKODA Fabia S2000
2h25m18.5s2 Jan Kopecky (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE) SKODA Fabia S2000
+1m40.5s3 Patrik Sandell (SWE)/Staffan Parmander (SWE) SKODA Fabia
S2000 +2m54.8s4 Karl Kruuda (EST)/Martin Jarveoja (EST) SKODA Fabia
S2000 +4m33.0s5 Freddy Loix (BEL)/Frederic Miclotte (BEL) SKODA Fabia
S2000 +5m25.4s6 Matthias Kahle (GER)/Peter Gobel (GER) SKODA Fabia
S2000 +7m48.9s7 Toshi Arai (JPN)/Dale Moscatt (AUS) Subaru Impreza R4
STI +8m16.2s8 Mark Wallenwein (GER)/Stefan Kopczyk (GER) SKODA Fabia
S2000 +13m06.7s9 Doros Loucaides (CYP)/Savvas Laos (CYP) Peugeot 207
S2000 +15m07.8s10 Charalambos Timotheou (CYP)/Pambos Laos (CYP)
Ralliart Lancer Evo IX +15m25.7s
IRC Production Cup: Toshi Arai (JPN)/Dale Moscatt (AUS) Subaru
Impreza R4 STIIRC 2WD Cup: Jean-Michel Raoux (FRA)/Laurent Magat (FRA)
Renault Clio R3
IRC STANDINGS (BEST OF SEVEN SCORES)*
Drivers after round 11 of 111 Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway) 153.5pts2
Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic) 152pts3 Juho Hanninen (Finland) 125pts4
Freddy Loix (Belgium) 123pts5 Thierry Neuville (Belgium) 115pts6 Bryan
Bouffier (France) 110.5pts7 Guy Wilks (United Kingdom) 47pts8 Patrik
Sandell (Sweden) 44pts9 Toni Gardemeister (Finland) 43pts10 Karl
Kruuda (Estonia) 39pts
Manufacturers after round 11 of 111 SKODA 362.5pts2 Peugeot
241.5pts3 Subaru 117pts4 M-Sport 107pts5 Ralliart 104pts6 Honda 46pts7
PROTON 41pts8 Abarth 15pts
IRC Production Cup after round 11 of 111 Toshi Arai (Japan) 111.5pts2
Florian Gonon (Switzerland) 75pts3 Marco Cavigioli (Italy) 37pts4
Charalambos Timotheau (Cyprus) 36pts5 Fumio Nutahara (Japan) 32.5pts6
Savvas Savva (Cyprus) 30pts7 Volodymyr Pechenyk (Ukraine) 27pts= Jason
Pritchard (United Kingdom) 27pts9 Gyorgy Aschenbrenner (Hungary)
25pts= Jose Luis Barrios (Spain) 25pts= Jonas Langenakens (Belgium)
25pts= Ricardo Moura (Portugal) 25pts= Jaroslav Orsak (Czech Republic)
25pts
IRC 2WD Cup drivers after round 11 of 111 Jean-Michel Raoux (France)
120pts2 Stefano Albertini (Italy) 119pts3 Janos Puskadi (Hungary)
71.5pts4 Martin Kangur (Estonia) 53.5pts5 Pierre-Antoine Guglielmi
(France) 40pts6 Andreas Charalambous (Cyprus) 30pts7 John MacCrone
(United Kingdom) 27pts8 Pierre Campana (France) 25pts= Paulo Maciel
(Portugal) 25pts= Davide Medici (Italy) 25pts= Kris Princen (Belgium)
25pts= Joan Vinyes (Spain) 25pts
IRC 2WD Cup manufacturers after round 11 of 111 Honda 320pts2 M-Sport
161pts3 Peugeot 149pts4 Abarth 85pts5 SKODA 73pts
* All points are provisional and subject to final confirmation
RALLY LEADERS
SS1-2: Andreas MikkelsenSS3: Thierry NeuvilleSS4-11: Andreas
Mikkelsen
STAGE WINNERS
Day one (Thursday 3 and Friday 4 November):SS1: LTV Super Special
Stage (3.20kms, 100% asphalt): Andreas MikkelsenSS2: Koilinia 1
(24:15kms, 35.5% asphalt, 64.5% gravel): Andreas MikkelsenSS3:
Salamiou 1 (18.16kms, 64.2% asphalt, 35.8% gravel): Thierry
NeuvilleSS4: Koilinia 2 (24:15kms, 35.5% asphalt, 64.5% gravel):
Andreas MikkelsenSS5: Salamiou 2 (18.16kms, 64.2% asphalt, 35.8%
gravel): Andreas Mikkelsen 
Day two (Saturday 5 November):SS6: Gialia 1 (14.82kms, 100% gravel):
Andreas MikkelsenSS7: Stavros 1 (15.91kms, 100% asphalt): Andreas
MikkelsenSS8: Anadiou 1 (19.15kms, 40.0% asphalt, 60.0% gravel):
Nasser Al-AttiyahSS9: Gialia 2 (14.82kms, 100% gravel): Juho
HanninenSS10: Stavros 2 (15.91kms, 100% asphalt): Patrik SandellSS11:
Anadiou 2 (19.15kms, 40.0% asphalt, 60.0% gravel): Andreas Mikkelsen
KEY STATISTICS
IRC rally wins in 2011 (drivers)Juho Hanninen: 3Jan Kopecky: 2Andreas
Mikkelsen: 2Thierry Neuville: 2Bryan Bouffier: 1Freddy Loix: 1
IRC rally wins in 2011 (manufacturers)SKODA: 8Peugeot: 3
IRC stage wins in 2011 (drivers)Andreas Mikkelsen: 38Thierry
Neuville: 24Juho Hanninen: 21Jan Kopecky: 19Freddy Loix: 18Guy Wilks:
10Bryan Bouffier: 9Stephane Sarrazin: 4Patrik Sandell: 3Nasser
Al-Attiyah: 1Giandomenico Basso: 1Francois Delecour: 1Bruno Magalhaes:
1Nicolas Vouilloz: 1
Stage wins in 2011 (manufacturers)SKODA: 100Peugeot: 41M-Sport: 1
IRC championsAndreas Mikkelsen’s capture of the
Intercontinental Rally Challenge title means he becomes the
IRC’s fifth different champion in as many years and joins the
illustrious list of winners:
2011: Andreas Mikkelsen (SKODA Fabia S2000)2010: Juho Hanninen (SKODA
Fabia S2000)2009: Kris Meeke (Peugeot 207 S2000)2008: Nicolas Vouilloz
(Peugeot 207 S2000)2007: Enrique Garcia Ojeda (Peugeot 207 S2000)
TV TIMES
Eurosport, the Intercontinental Rally Challenge’s media partner
and Europe’s leading sports entertainment group, will show a
Cyprus Rally review programme from 22:15hrs-22:45hrs on Sunday 6
November. This will be repeated on Eurosport 2 on Tuesday 8 November
from 13:30hrs-14:00hrs. All times are CET.
Daily highlights will also be shown on the Eurosport Player at
www.eurosportplayer.com at www.rally-irc.com and via the IRC iPhone
and iPad App. All times are CET.

Luis Salom: G.P. Valencia – Clasificación

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Esta mañana se ha celebrado en el Circuito Ricardo Tormo la sesión de clasificación del G.P. de la Comunitat Valenciana, en la que ha participado el piloto balear Luis Salom en la categoría de 125cc. Antes de esta tanda, en la tercera sesión de libres, con sol y el asfalto seco, Salom demostraba su gran estado de forma firmando el segundo mejor registro.

La sesión de clasificación contó con una climatología totalmente adversa, ya que la lluvia hizo acto de presencia justo antes de que se iniciara, dejando el asfalto muy mojado. Las condiciones del asfalto fueron mejorando al final de la tanda y algunos pilotos se arriesgaron a usar slicks, rodando sobre una fina franja de asfalto que se estaba secando.

 

En la parte final de la sesión, Luis entró en el box del RW Racing GP para que le colocaran neumáticos de seco en su moto, una decisión que no compartida con el equipo técnico. Viendo las dudas que generaba su petición, Salom decidió seguir con los neumáticos de lluvia, ya que otros pilotos punteros como Johan Zarco también lo hacían.

En las últimas vueltas, y a pesar de unos problemas técnicos que aparecieron en su Aprilias RSA, el mallorquín realizó un vueltas rápidas que lo situaron en la cuarta posición, en la segunda linea de la parrilla de salida. Por delante de él quedaron, además de Johan Zarco, Webb y Rossi, dos pilotos que no suelen clasificarse tan bien, pero que consiguieron unos magníficos tiempos al utilizar slicks.

La carrera de mañana se presenta muy interesante, ya que Luis Salom ha conseguido estar entre los pilotos más rápidos, en cualquier circunstancia. Destacar el hecho de que el mallorquín ha sido el piloto español mejor clasificado.

Luis Salom: “Estoy contento con esta cuarta plaza, el Circuito Ricardo Tormo me gusta y he llegado muy fuerte a esta última carrera del año. He demostrado que puedo rodar muy rápido tanto en seco como en mojado y aunque he tenido algunos problemas con la moto, estoy seguro que el equipo los solucionará para la carrera de mañana. Tengo a Zarco delante de mí y aunque sé que será muy rápido intentaré hacer mi propia carrera. Es una buena ocasión para acabar la temporada con un gran resultado, y haré todo lo posible para conseguirlo.”

Koldo Zuazaga – Ferbis Press

MENU CLAIMS SECOND CONSECUTIVE POLE

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Alain Menu put his Chevrolet Cruze car on pole position for the first WTCC race in China. On the Shanghai Tianma Circuit the Swiss survived a tricky Q1 and advanced to claim his fourth pole of the season – the second in a row – and the eleventh for Chevrolet out of eleven meetings.
Rob Huff had also reasons to rejoice having qualified second in today’s Q2 but also winning pole position for Race 2 on the top-ten reverse grid. This placed him in both races ahead of Yvan Muller, his rival in the title fight.
Colin Turkington achieved a brilliant result for Wiechers-Sport, ranking third overall and first of the Yokohama Trophy drivers. An outstanding performance considering that the drying tarmac in Q1 made life difficult for the rear-wheel driven cars.
Once again Robert Dahlgren and the Polestar Volvo team did not collect what they could, missing the right moment to go for a final attempt in Q1.

Q1 – The track was damp after a light rain when the session kicked off. In less than five minutes the red flag was waved after Charles Ng stranded his car in the gravel bed of Turn 1; the Hong Kong man was not allowed to rejoin having been towed off the gravel.
Lap times improved at a frantic pace when the session resumed, as the racing lines were quickly drying up.
Tom Coronel marked the beginning and the end of the shootout to make the top-ten. The ROAL Motorsport driver set a provisional fastest lap of 1:11.913 immediately after the red flag and improved by six seconds, posting the session’s best time of 1:06.690 when the chequered flag dropped.
Seven different drivers took turns in the lead between Coronel’s exploits: Poulsen, Michelisz, Dudukalo, Tarquini, Villa, Engstler and Nykjær.
Place-swapping dominated the final seconds, with drivers being kicked off and bouncing back. The latest victims were Kristian Poulsen, Javier Villa and Robert Dahlgren, while the three Chevrolet men Alain Menu, Yvan Muller and Rob Huff managed to make the cut in third, seventh and tenth positions respectively.
The following drivers advanced to Q2: Coronel, Michelisz, Menu, Turkington, Oriola, Monteiro, Muller, Barth, Tarquini and Huff who will start on pole for tomorrow’s second race.

Q2 – The track was nearly dry and Menu was the first one to post a quick lap of 1:05.766, while Huff aborted his first attempt and went back to the pits.
Turkington claimed a provisional pole position with the time of 1:05.712, but he was soon ousted by Huff’s 1:05.700.
However Menu’s final attempt was worth a 1:05.555 that gave him another pole. At the same time Muller spoiled his last chance when he lost the back of his car and nearly spun at Turn 5, which left him in seventh position behind Michelisz, Tarquini and Coronel.


WTCC Race of China – Shanghai Tianma Circuit – 5 / 6 November 2011
www.fiawtcc.com – www.ctcc.com.cn

Miguel Socías se juega el campeonato en Finestrat este fin de semana

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Antworten

El piloto mallorquín espera tener una buena actuación en la cita de Finestrat

Socías se juega el título en Finestrat

A05E8625

Campanet (Illes Balears), viernes 04 de noviembre de 2011.

Después de cinco carreras luchando por estar entre los mejores pilotos de la parrilla, llega el momento de la verdad para Miguel Socías, ya que este fin de semana se disputarán los dos últimos “meetings” tanto del Campeonato Murciano como de la Copa Vallés Wild Wolf-Primoti. Puesto que el piloto balear se juega el título de la Copa Vallés 2011 en el apartado de Cadetes, en esta cita doble que se disputará en el emblemático Circuito de Finestrat, uno de los trazados más espectaculares del certamen donde al campaneter normalmente le han acompañado los resultados.

Para preparar dicha carrera el equipo MS Motorsport se desplazó a tierras alicantinas el pasado fin de semana para entrenar y probar diferentes soluciones de cara a la inminente carrera. Ángel Sáez, preparador y jefe del equipo La Manga Racing estuvo presente en las diferentes tandas que realizó Socías a lo largo del fin de semana, sacando buenas conclusiones de la cara a esta cita tan importante.

El campaneter ocupa la segunda posición provisional de la Copa Vallés, a falta de descontarse un resultado, y depende prácticamente se sí mismo en la lucha por el título. Así como en otras carreras Miguel socías ha tenido el hándicap de no poder entrenar en las distintas pistas, en esta ocasión el piloto de PPB aprovechó el pasado fin de semana para realizar el máximo de kilómetros a la pista de Finestrat.

"Estoy muy ilusionado y creo que tenemos muchas posibilidades de poder luchar por la victoria, debemos hacer un último esfuerzo e intentar rematar la faena. La no asistencia al meeting de Chicharra Karts, debido a una neumonía, nos ha pesado durante esta segunda parte de la temporada en la cual hemos perdido el liderato, no obstante creo que el pasado fin de semana hicimos un gran trabajo, y podemos optar al podio en ambas carreras. Comentaba Miguel socías instantes antes de tomar el avión hacia Alicante.

Miguel Ferrer Tel. + 34 619.674.644 mferrer@ferbispress.com

MIKKELSEN ON TOP IN IRC TITLE BATTLE FOLLOWING DAY OF DRAMA

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Mikkelsenfinal041111

Andreas Mikkelsen has completed a dramatic opening day of the Cyprus
Rally leading the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier and
firmly on course for the coveted title in his SKODA UK Motorsport
Fabia Super 2000.
The 22-year-old started Friday’s opening test with a 3.1s
advantage following his fastest time on Thursday night’s LTV
Super Special Stage through the streets of Pafos, which attracted
thousands of spectators.
Co-driven by Ola Floene, Mikkelsen grew that margin to 8.0s with the
quickest run on stage two only for a spin – and a charging drive
by Thierry Neuville – to drop him behind his Team Peugeot
Belgium-Luxembourg title rival on the very next test.
But second became first when Neuville suffered a right-rear puncture
on stage four before he was slowed by an alternator fault that would
ultimately force his retirement from the day.
However, there were no such problems for Mikkelsen who charged to his
third stage win of the day with a rapid run through stage five, one of
two tests shown live on Eurosport, LTV and RTBF during the day, to
hold an overnight lead of 20.7s.
But while Mikkelsen reflected on a strong opening day held in
glorious Cypriot sunshine, defending IRC champion Juho Hanninen was
left to rue a “stupid mistake” that caused him to crash on
the second corner of Friday’s first test and end his hopes of a
second title in a row. “I was too fast for the corner, ran wide
and rolled,” said the factory SKODA ace.
Hanninen’s SKODA team-mate Jan Kopecky enjoyed better fortune,
reaching the overnight halt in third position 25.4s behind Nasser
Al-Attiyah, the winner in Cyprus in 2010. Kopecky, who is being
co-driven by Pavel Dresler after his regular navigator Petr Stary fell
ill in the build-up to the event, admitted he was being too cautious
in his bid to defend his title lead.
Freddy Loix, one of five IRC title contenders prior to the start,
struggled to make an impact in his BFO-SKODA Rally Team Fabia. The
normally rapid Belgian hadn’t driven on gravel stages for three
years and lacked the cutting edge needed to threaten the podium
positions on the loose-surface sections, although a spin on stage five
didn’t help his cause. He is fourth overnight, 1m41.2s behind
Mikkelsen.
Patrik Sandell is a strong fifth for SKODA Sweden with Estonian
teenager Karl Kruuda sixth in his privateer Fabia. Multiple German
champion Matthias Kahle is seventh although a double puncture has hit
SKODA Auto Deutschland team-mate Mark Wallenwein’s chances of a
top 10 finish.
Toshi Arai heads the IRC Production Cup standings in his Subaru
Impreza R4 STI, while Cypriots Nicos Thomas and Charalambos Timotheou
complete the top 10 in their Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancers.
Jean-Michel Raoux leads the IRC 2WD Cup with title rival Stefano
Albertini and outgoing champion Harry Hunt still in contention in
second and third respectively. Honda Civic Type R driver Janos Puskadi
is fifth after early delays.
Saturday’s action features three repeated stages north-east of
the rally base in Pafos. The first stage of the day, Gialia, is 100
per cent gravel. The next stage, Stavros, takes place entirely on
asphalt with the Anadiou test using a combination of asphalt and
gravel and shown live on Eurosport. Although Hanninen and Neuville
will restart under SupeRally regulations their hopes of the IRC title
are all but over leaving Mikkelsen, Kopecky and Loix in a
winner-takes-all battle for glory.
DRIVER QUOTES
Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway), SKODA Fabia S2000, first overall:
“It’s been a really good day for us and I have to be very
happy. But there’s a long way to go and day two will be
difficult. I need to do everything to keep Nasser behind me if I am to
win the title.”
Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar), M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000, second overall:
“We thought we had a driveshaft problem this morning but it was
actually a problem with the front differential, which we repaired. It
will not be easy to close the gap to Andreas but I will try my
best.”
Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic), SKODA Fabia S2000, third overall:
“Maybe I have been driving too cautiously today but I am still
here and I still have a chance. My new co-driver has done a great job
today but it’s not been a normal situation.”
TOP 10 IRC POSITIONS AFTER DAY ONE
1 Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR)/Ola Floene (NOR) SKODA Fabia S2000
1h07m17.7s2 Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) M-Sport
Ford Fiesta S2000 +20.7s3 Jan Kopecky (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE) SKODA
Fabia S2000 +46.1s4 Freddy Loix (BEL)/Frederic Miclotte (BEL) SKODA
Fabia S2000 +1m41.2s5 Patrik Sandell (SWE)/Staffan Parmander (SW)
SKODA Fabia S2000 +1m46.3s6 Karl Kruuda (EST)/Martin Jarveoja (EST)
SKODA Fabia S2000 +2m43.5s7 Matthias Kahle (GER)/Peter Gobel (GER)
SKODA Fabia S2000 +3m30.6s8 Toshi Arai (JPN)/Dale Moscatt (AUS) Subaru
Impreza R4 STI +4m35.3s9 Nicos Thomas (CYP)/Angelos Loizides (CYP)
Ralliart Lancer Evo IX +5m23.7s10 Charalambos Timotheou (CYP)/Pambos
Laos (CYP) Ralliart Lancer Evo IX +6m42.9s
IRC Production Cup: Toshi Arai (JPN)/Dale Moscatt (AUS) Subaru
Impreza R4 STIIRC 2WD Cup: Jean-Michel Raoux (FRA)/Laurent Magat (FRA)
Renault Clio R3
DAY TWO ITINERARY (SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER)
Special stages: SixSpecial stage distance: 99.76kmsLiaison distance:
249.93kmsTotal distance: 349.69kmsService D: Pafos (0:15hrs),
08:01hrsSS6: Gialia 1 (14.82kms), 09:29hrs (100% gravel)SS7: Stavros 1
(15.91kms), 10:12hrs (100% asphalt)Regrouping: Anadiou (0:20hrs),
10:47hrsSS8: Anadiou 1 (19.15kms), 11:10hrs (40.0% asphalt, 60.0%
gravel)Regrouping: (0:11hrs), 12:25hrsService E: Pafos (0:30hrs),
12:36hrsSS9: Gialia 2 (14.82kms), 14:19hrs (100% gravel)SS10: Stavros
2 (15.91kms), 15:02hrs (100% asphalt)Regrouping: Anadiou (0:20hrs),
15:37hrsSS11: Anadiou 2 (19.15kms), 16:00hrs (40.0% asphalt, 60.0%
gravel)Service F: Pafos (0:10hrs), 17:18hrsFinish: Pafos Municipality,
17:48hrs
TV TIMES
Eurosport, the Intercontinental Rally Challenge’s media partner
and Europe’s leading sports entertainment group, LTV an RTBF
will show LIVE coverage of the Cyprus Rally as follows:
Saturday 5 November10:00hrs-11:00hrs: LIVE SS8 Anadiou 1 (Eurosport,
LTV, RTBF)15:00hrs-16:00hrs: LIVE SS11 Anadiou 2 (Eurosport, LTV,
RTBF)
In addition Eurosport will broadcast a rally review programme from
22:15hrs-22:45hrs on Sunday 6 November, which will be shown on
Eurosport 2 on Tuesday 8 November.
Highlights will also be shown on: ESPN STAR Sports (Pan Asia), CCTV 5
(China), SPEED CHANNEL 2 (Pan America), Televisa Deportes (Central
America), AUTO PLUS (Russia), GAORA (Japan), 1st Automotive Channel
(Ukraine), RTL 7 (Netherlands), VRT (Belgium), LIVE TV (Belgium), S4C
(United Kingdom), RAI Sport (Italy), RTP (Portugal), TVI 24
(Portugal), MEGA CHANNEL (Greece), CT4 (Czech Republic), RTR (Turkey),
RIC, Mega, Sigma and Antena (all Cyprus).
Daily highlights will also be shown on the Eurosport Player at
www.eurosportplayer.com at www.rally-irc.com and via the IRC iPhone
and iPad App. All times are CET.
CYPRUS RALLY SCORING SYSTEM REMINDER
Double points will be awarded on the Cyprus Rally and applied to the
drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships as follows:
First place: 50 pointsSecond place: 36 pointsThird place: 30
pointsFourth place: 24 pointsFifth place: 20 pointsSixth place: 16
pointsSeventh place: 12 pointsEighth place: 8 pointsNinth place: 4
pointsTenth place: 2 points 

MENU FASTEST IN SHANGHAI TESTING

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Just like at Suzuka two weeks ago, Chevrolet driver Alain Menu set the fastest lap in today’s test at the Shanghai Tianma Circuit.
The Swiss racer posted a fastest lap of 1:05.978 in the dying seconds of the 30-minute session, climbing on top ahead of Robert Dahlgren and Colin Turkington.
Under an overcast sky, WTCC competitors had their first taste of the Chinese racetrack, using the first part of the test session for getting to know the twisty circuit. Despite their cautious approach some drivers had moments, especially at Turn 12, were Franz Engstler, Kristian Poulsen, Michelisz, and Mehdi Bennani spun and rejoined.
Lap times improved consistently with Tom Coronel, Norbert Michelisz and Rob Huff setting the early pace.
Dahlgren and Menu signed the first significant improvements; the Swede completed a lap in 1:06.912 that was immediately beaten by Menu’s 1:06.890. However Dahlgren responded with a 1:06.815 with ten minutes left.
Moments after, Javier Villa spun off at Turn 4 beaching his BMW onto the gravel trap, which forced the race director to wave the red flag.
When the session resumed, Turkington posted a new provisional fastest lap of 1:06.317 and then improved further to 1:06.103. But Dahlgren reclaimed the first position once again clocking a 1:06.017 with only five minutes to go. A time that was eventually beaten by Menu’s last spell of 1:05.978.
Huff (1:06.11), Yvan Muller (1:06.131) and Coronel (1:06.757) rounded up the top six.



Alain Menu topped the test session at Shanghai Tianma Circuit

KUOK IO KEONG JOINS CORSA MOTORSPORT
Hong Kong-based team Corsa Motorsport have entered a second Chevrolet Lacetti car in the WTCC Macau Guia Race.
Kuok Io Keong will join his fellow Macau countryman Filipe Clemente de Souza who had been entered earlier.
The 35-year old Kuok Io Keong has built his racing experience in the Asian and Macau touring car series, claiming class victories in the 2010 Macau AAMC Challenge and the 2011 Macau Road Sport Series.
Last year he tried to qualify in the WTCC event at Macau at the wheel of a Honda Accord car, to no avail.

MAK KA LOK ENTERS IN MACAU GUIA RACE
Macau-based team RPM Motorsport have entered a BMW 320si race in their home WTCC event.
Mak Ka Lok will be at the wheel of the 2.0-litre normally aspirated German car.
The 46-year old Mak Ka Lok has mostly raced in the Far East region, taking part in the Asia, China, Hong Kong and Macau touring car series. His best results were victory in the 1999 Macau Cup Race and third place in the 2010 Asian Touring Car Series.

JO MERSZEI TO JOIN ENGSTLER MOTORSPORT
Once again the Engstler Motorsport will run four cars in Macau.
Jo Rosa Merszei will take the wheel of the team’s 2.0-litre normally aspirated BMW 320si car that was raced by Charles Ng in Suzuka and is driven by Fabio Fabiani this weekend in Shanghai.
Rosa Merszei – 37 years old – was born in Hong Kong, but is a Macau citizen and is obviously a familiar face for the Guia circuit, as he took part in many races there, from the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix to the WTCC events in 2009 and 2010.

COUNTDOWN: – 2 DAYS
WTCC RACE OF CHINA – SHANGHAI, NOVEMBER 6

www.fiawtcc.com

6. PRUEBA DEL CAMPEONATO DE KARTING ILLES BALEARS 29 DE OCTUBRE

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203

CLASIFICACIÓN OFICIAL.

CATEGORÍA ALEVÍN-OPEN 1: 1. Joan Pau Vergara, 25 ptos. 2. Sergi Salvador, 22 ptos.

CATEGORÍA ALEVÍN-OPEN 2: 1. Alejandro Lantes, 50 ptos. 2. Álvaro García, 44 ptos, 3. Eric Perelló, 38,5 ptos. 4. Xesca Verger, 38 ptos.

CATEGORÍA CADETE: 1. Alejandro Bernardino, 25 ptos. 2. Miguel Pons, 22 ptos.

CATEGORÍA KSCA: 1. Andreas Student, 45,5 ptos. 2. José Mª. Rosselló, 45 ptos. 3. Pedro Mulet, 44 ptos. 4. Guillem Alou, 34 ptos. 5. Hugo Viladomiu, 32 ptos. 6. Elisabet Verger, 30 ptos. 7. Facundo Sacur, 24 ptos. 8. Juan Oliver, 20 ptos.

CATEGORÍA SENIOR: 1. Álex Palerm, 25 ptos. 2. José M. Ponce, 22 ptos. 3. Luís Maurice, 20 ptos.

CATEGORÍA KZ2: 1. Toni Alarcón, 50 ptos. 2. Iván Huélamo, 44 ptos. 3. Denis Krucker, 40 ptos. 4. José C. Escandell, 30,5 ptos. 5. Mateo Martone, 30 ptos. 6. Enrique Perelló, 26 ptos. 7. Jorge A. Díaz, 24 ptos. 8. Pere A. Beltrán, 23 ptos. 8. Kai Jurgen, 16 ptos. 9. Luís Mañas. 14 ptos. 10. Pedro Soler, 12 ptos. 11. Andreas Ellmerer, 12 ptos.

Imperious Bortolotti takes F2 win record

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Italian’s victory halts Pineiro’s charge for second in championship

1. Mirko Bortolotti wins the final round of the season to become the most successful FIA Formula Two driver

2. Mirko Bortolotti on his way to his seventh win of the year

Mirko Bortolotti has taken the FIA Formula Two Championship win record with victory in the final race of the season at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona today (Sunday). His seventh victory in 2011 matches Andy Soucek’s record from 2009, the year Bortolotti took his first of what has now become eight wins.

Spaniard Ramon Pinero finished just behind the Italian during the final race of the season but narrowly missed out on second place in the championship by just four points to Swiss driver Christopher Zanella who finished seventh.

Romanian Mihai Marinescu secured his fourth podium from the last six races with third spot, just ahead of local driver Miki Monras who ended his debut F2 season fourth overall.

As the 22-lap race got underway, Pineiro made a superb start from second on the grid and looked to take the lead of the race as he held the inside line into Turn 1. However, 21-year-old Bortolotti drove around the outside of the 20-year-old to take the lead into the left-hander at Turn 2. The move was decisive to Bortolotti’s race and he set about breaking his opponent’s resolve in a similar manner to yesterday’s race.

Meanwhile Pineiro was aware of an early challenge from Marinescu, who had stolen third place from Monras, but the Romanian was to progress no further up the field as the race settled down after a frantic first lap that saw Tobias Hegewald spin down the order.

As Bortolotti pulled out several tenths on each lap, Pineiro kept up the pace to secure his second place. Behind Marinescu and Monras, Alex Brundle, Kelvin Snoeks and Christopher Zanella enjoyed a race-long tussle for fifth place.

Danish driver Mikkel Mac impressed once again by working his way past Jack Clarke for eighth place, before Benjamin Lariche put the Englishman under intense pressure for the remainder of the race. However, he was also aware of a charging Hegewald, who had worked his way up the order and nearly challenged for the final points position as the race drew to a conclusion.

On taking his seventh win of the season, Bortolotti slowed as he crossed the finish line to show his appreciation to his F2 engineers and rounding off his dominant season in fine style.

Speaking afterwards Bortolotti said: "I knew it [the race] was going to be decided on the start but my start was very bad. I’m disappointed about that, but I managed to brake really late into Turn 1 and pass Ramon on the outside, which is not easy. That was the key for this win as once you get your position, it’s difficult for the guy behind to get a run to overtake you, so I knew it was going to be very important to be first at the end of the first lap. I wanted to win this race because I wanted to make it eight Formula Two wins. I’m very proud about this and winning the last two races in Formula Two is fantastic and that’s my way to say goodbye to all these people I had the pleasure to work with these two seasons, so I’m delighted and I’m very happy."

Mirko Bortolotti will now prepare for his Williams F1 test in Abu Dhabi in just over two weeks time while Christopher Zanella and Ramon Pineiro will each enjoy a GP2 test. All three drivers will also receive an FIA Superlicence needed to compete in Formula One.

Barcelona, Race two result:

1. Mirko Bortolotti, 22 Laps
2. Ramon Pineiro, +8.073s
3. Mihai Marinescu, +11.782s
4. Miki Monras, +13.008s
5. Alex Brundle, +25.133s
6. Kelvin Snoeks, +25.977s
7. Christopher Zanella, +27.201s
8. Mikkel Mac, +28.002s
9. Jack Clarke, +39.918s
10. Benjamin Lariche, +39.698s

2011 FIA Formula Two Championship – Final driver standings (inc dropped scores):

1. Mirko Bortolotti, 298
2. Christopher Zanella, 189
3. Ramon Pineiro, 185
4. Miki Monras, 153
5. Mihai Marinescu, 138
6. Tobias Hegewald, 121
7. Alex Brundle, 112
8. Jack Clarke, 110
9. Will Bratt, 92
10. Kelvin Snoeks.
For more information on the series click onto www.formulatwo.com

Bortolotti scores commanding Barcelona race one win

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Pineiro’s third place denies Monras third place in the championship

2. Mirko Bortolotti in the lead in Barcelona

Mirko Bortolotti has won the first race at Barcelona with a strong performance, breaking the early challenge of Miki Monras with a succession of fast laps. Ramon Pineiro completed the podium with third place, guaranteeing him at least third place in the championship.

Bortolotti made a fine start from the grid and whilst Monras was safely installed in third place, Pinero endured a tough start fending off Tobias Hegewald. However as he had predicted after qualifying, Pinero began to pick up his pace as he familiarised himself with the circuit.

At the front, Monras began to catch Bortolotti after a few laps but the 2011 Champion sped up as the race headed towards the halfway point. A succession of fast laps began, and the Austro-Italian started gaining half a second every lap, eventually beating his opponent by 8.771 seconds by the chequered flag.

Meanwhile once Pinerio had cleared Hegewald, the German came under attack from Mihai Marinescu. The Romanian attempted a few moves but was unable to wrest fourth place.

Jack Clarke had an untroubled run to sixth after an early challenge from Christopher Zanella came to nought after the Swiss ran wide. Alex Brundle looked as though he might come into play at one point as Kelvin Snoeks and Mikkel Mac battled behind, but the latter pair started to reel the Briton in late on.

Further back Benjamin Lariche tried to make up for a spin on the first lap by fighting his way back. An incident with Kralev was declared a racing incident by the stewards when the Bulgarian spun. Another entertaining tussle with Jose Luis Abadin helped his cause, and he also passed James Cole by the end of the race.

There was no champagne celebration on the podium and after the race Bortolotti paid tribute to fellow Italian Marco Simoncelli as well as Dan Wheldon, who both passed away recently.
Speaking afterwards Bortolotti said: "I’m very happy with that performance. The start was good and I just tried to get into my rhythm. It’s very difficult to overtake here, so I knew that as long as I didn’t make a mistake I should be able to take the win. I’m happy with that and I think we had good pace throughout the weekend and obviously the new tyres helped me a lot this race, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow now."

Adding: "I’m sorry for not spraying champagne on the podium but I lost a racing idol last week and two weeks ago there was a massive accident as well so I didn’t feel like spraying champagne."
The final round of the 2011 F2 series gets underway tomorrow (Sunday) beginning with qualifying at 08:45 (local time).

Barcelona, race one results:
1. Mirko Bortolotti, 22 Laps
2. Miki Monras, +8.771s
3. Ramon Pineiro, +19.846s
4. Tobias Hegewald, +26.201s
5. Mihai Marinescu, 26.933s
6. Jack Clarke, +39.492s
7. Christopher Zanella, +41.852s
8. Alex Brundle, +43.033s
9. Kelvin Snoeks, +43.588s
10. Mikkel Mac, +44.458s
For more information on the series click onto www.formulatwo.com

A fantastic Bernardo Sousa only surrenders to bad luck

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Peugeot_S2000

At his first ever race with the Peugeot, in a rally that he did not know, the young Portuguese driver had managed to reach the top of the overall standings, after a cautious start to the race aiming to become familiar with the car, the roads and the team, three elements which he met for the first time. Unfortunately bad luck, in the form of a mechanical failure, caused his withdrawal after 6 of the 17 special stages, while he was leading the race by over a minute.

Pier Liberali (CEO of United Business, the company that takes care of Sousa’s sports management) said: "It was the first race we did together, I was well impressed. Bernardo is a true and fast driver, and although he is young he has been driving a very intelligent race. He started off slowly to find the right feeling with the car and stage after stage he set increasingly better times, until he reached first place. Then, as it often happens in our sport, the beautiful fairy tales do not always have a happy ending, a mechanical problem stopped him. Frankly, it was incredible because the car was brand new. I do not dwell much on this race, the important thing for us was to see the potential of Bernardo, after these days we spent together, all my colleagues and I give only one answer: This guy is really strong".

Bernardo Sousa said: “We had a bit of bad luck. It was our first European Championship rally outside Portugal and we were leading. We have shown to have the pace to compete with the best drivers of the European series. Everything was new for me, car, team, Team Manager. I must thank PA Racing which provided a beautiful car, United Business and all the sponsors that made this event possible”.

Despite the unhappy conclusion of this first experience, Bernardo now has the possibility of programming the 2012 season with good choices. United Business has received three proposals to have Bernardo compete in an international championship. In the coming weeks, Bernardo and Pier Liberali will make their choices for 2012.

United Business Sport & Events
V.le delle Terme, 97
27052 Salice Terme/Godiasco (PV) ITALY
Tel.0383/944916 Fax 0383/934583
Riva Boduli, 1
51000 Rijeka CROATIA
Tel. +385 51312190 Fax +385 51312174
Mobile +385 995599222
website: www.unitedbusiness.it

“Triplete”! – Luca Rossetti European Champion

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Rossetti-European-Rally-Champion

Luca Rossetti and Matteo Chiarcossi, with their Abarth Grande Punto S2000, earn at the Rallye du Valais the mathematical certainty of being European champions for the third time, the first crew to do so in the history of the continental series. The European Championship is the international motorsport series with the longest tradition, the first edition dates back to 1953 while the World Championship is held since 1973.

Luca Rossetti said: "I dedicate the victory to Ing. Wester (CEO of Abarth n.d.r.) who has always believed in me, and to all the people at Abarth. I am proud to have won this title with an Italian car. For me it is an honour to race with them, I hope with this win to have repaid them for their trust. Our season has been troubled as we have sometimes had problems, but this only gives a better taste to the result we obtained. I thank all those who contributed to this success, and in particular Michelin and United Business, who has been taking care of my sports management for years".

At the Rallye du Valais, Luca Rossetti ended the first leg in second place overall, first among the drivers of the European Championship, however the end of the leg offered a small thrill as 2 kms from the end of the third special stage the gearbox broke, an issue that did not prevent the Abarth crew from ending the first day in the lead and gaining the points necessary to win the continental title. The second day he started very fast, jumping in the overall lead already after the first stage, before being forced to retire by another mechanical failure. Luca was therefore unable to finish the rally, and to try and repeat the victory of 2010, as he would have wished to celebrate at best. Luca and Matteo will now enjoy their well-deserved success in view of the 2012 season.

United Business Sport & Events
V.le delle Terme, 97
27052 Salice Terme/Godiasco (PV) ITALY
Tel.0383/944916 Fax 0383/934583
Riva Boduli, 1
51000 Rijeka CROATIA
Tel. +385 51312190 Fax +385 51312174
Mobile +385 995599222
website: www.unitedbusiness.it

Golden Stage Rally set for live television coverage

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Mikkelsen281011

The Cyprus Golden Stage Rally will be shown live on television around
the world when it takes place for a second time on Sunday 6 November.
Rather than covering a multiple number of stages, the Golden Stage
Rally is unique in that it features one single stage, the Golden
Stage, covered twice on a mixed surface route of less than 40
kilometres in length.
With drivers battling against the clock for a share of the 150,000
Euros prize fund over a challenging undulating course, the action is
set to be spectacular with both runs shown live on Eurosport,
Eurosport Asia-Pacific, RTBF in Belgium and Cypriot host broadcaster
LTV.
The first run through will be shown from 11:00hrs-12:00hrs CET with
the second following from 14:00hrs-15:00hrs CET. Eurosport Events, the
organisation behind the thrilling live coverage of the
Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will manage the live production and
will be responsible for the worldwide distribution of media and
television rights.
“It’s going to be a very exciting event with thrilling
action as drivers go flat out to chase the prize and the accolade of
Cyprus Golden Stage Rally winner 2011,” said Jean-Pierre
Nicolas, the Motorsport Development Manager of the Intercontinental
Rally Challenge, who helped to design the layout of the course.
“The dramatic action will be further enhanced by the tremendous
live television coverage that will thrill fans around the
world.”
The live television coverage of the Golden Stage Rally will require
five fixed camera locations, 10 onboard cameras, a helicopter-mounted
camera, a plane for transmitting the onboard camera signals, plus a
team of expert personnel working on the ground in Cyprus and at
Eurosport’s headquarters in Paris.
Cyprus Golden Stage Rally LIVE broadcast schedule (all times are CET
and subject to regional variation
Sunday 6 November11:00hrs-12:00hrs: LIVE Golden Stage Rally Run 1
(Eurosport, LTV, RTBF)14:00hrs-15:00hrs: LIVE Golden Stage Rally Run 2
(Eurosport, LTV, RFBF)14:15hrs-15:00hrs: LIVE Golden Stage Rally Run 2
(Eurosport Asia-Pacific