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.”