Rally World press double-special!
Another month is behind and we are back with our press.
In the past 2 months have passed two rounds - Alpine rally and Coffs Harbour Rally. In today's edition, we report you everything from both events.
This time, shakedown was driven at unpleasant well-known stage, Bisanne. It is always pleasure to visit shakedown stages, because testing the cars to make sure about their reliability require very hard style of driving. It makes amazing atmosphere, with the best fans from all around the world.
In the Alpine rally was clear favorite Sebastien Levret. But it was unfortunate, that his name was missing on the sign up list, but car's technology made its own head and engineers weren't able to get more than two cylinders to work. This played in the cards of Jakub Sulej. "It was shame for Seb, but I was finally able to provide better result. First round wasn't of the best, so it was needed," he said. Managing three stage wins and stable run guaranteed him victory.
This round wasn't very close regarding final results, as Attila Kiss finished second with gap of 2:43,29. A lot of troubles at stage n°5 and 6 cost him a lot of time. At this moment, starting first, he had to get trough the fresh snow. Without any line, his drive wasn't confident. Situation got better after night service in the second leg, with new choice of tyres he managed his fastest stage for the next 2 times. But meanwhile Jakub took also another wins. In the end, Attila wasn't satisfied with the second place.
Ben Buitendijk , who finished third, was also disappointed by his performance. But after several stages, loosing over 3 minutes to second Attila and leading ahead of Warren Dawes around also 3 minutes, he stopped pushing the car and started economical driving. No mistakes, but no show for spectators. This way of drive gained him precious minutes and in the end he ended with loosing just 38 seconds. "Could be worse," he laughed.
Championship class again provided well placed first position in the outright standings. Overall 7th place was for Norbert Leitner , the new sensation of current season, class victory. It was surprise to see N4 car ahead of S2000. But four fastest stages talk by itself. Stage n°3 was a disaster though, sharp 7 right cut bumped him into crash barriers. He damaged chassis and got a puncture. Thankfully service was just after the finish.
Another great performance by S2000 driver provided Roy Magnes , second in the class and ninth overall. Without any stage win, he got trough the rally without any greater mistakes. Kevin Hopkins had one stage win though, but lost splitter at stage n°9 is just a lot on these fast roads. It is nice to watch championship class be competitive against the top WRCs. All podium places scored in the outright standings, which is just great result.
It was a mix of tyres tactic and wisdom keep the car in the limits of the drivers. It also mixed up the point table. It shows how the new point system actually works. First position of Ben with 33 points presents, that even without rally win it is possible to be competitive. Also moving Seb down to third loosing only 7 points means, that even missing round means nothing. But we have the whole season to go, so its early to close anything.
Norbert is still leading in champions with 43 points. It is 10 more than the second Helder Moreira has. Finally third Mick Aspinall having 19.
Teams standings leads GFS-SIMCO Hungary Racers with WRCs on board gaining points 53.
We moved to Rick Bamford right after that and asked for introduction for the next round. Here you go!
"We have moved the Championship across the world to Coffs Harbour on the east coast of Australia. Normally hot, dry and dusty, our first gravel rally for the season will be a huge change of pace.
Starting with a run around the ACCT autocross track before taking on the high speed Greenhills stage. Stage three, Newbobs, has been partly resurfaced since we visited last season and will give a mix of tarmac and gravel before service. From here, the toughest group of stages for the season will provide a real challenge. East-West, Propect ridge and Diamond creek start the run before finishing with the Famous Mineshaft and the formidible car breaking jump.
Four tough stages before service will reward those that can be clean as well as fast. One mistake could cost a driver a LOT of time. Sunday sees the same stages repeated with the ACCT venue closing out the event."
And like Rick said, it was a tough one. Moving to gravel got unprepared drivers to troubles. In eleven cases, crews didn't finish the rally and resigned. Organizers also experienced the largest numbers of sign ups. In this case 59. It was big surprise and according this, they strengthened stewards amount because of increasing interest from visitors side, who wanted to see all of those drivers.
Shakedown was this time only short section of New bobs. But it was again great show, everyone welcomed Sebastien Levret back in the action. Still one black point were drunken fans.
First leg started very promising for John Cunningham settings the fastest SSS. But it was the dead end, when moving to the second stage, setup between racing and crossing mode have broken causing engine weariness. And it was very long way to the service stage. Unfortunately, damage was bigger than expected. 28th overall position was under performance either of the car and driver.
But the one, who again managed the pole was Sebastien Levret just as expected. Second position was after longer break again taken by Simone Demi. He won 4 stages, which means the most of them. But it still wasn't enough to Seb, who really enjoyed the gravel and didn't let any important second go away and managed just about one less fastest stages. But it was fight until the last stage, final gap was around 1 minute. Who ended third just by seconds was Jakub Sulej, who was expected to provide better result after previous round. But he was at least glad for podium, as Attila Kiss was caching him.
Ben Buitendijk totally ruined his previous results and ended as DNF after SS n°9, where he heavily damaged steering.
The sensation of the season continued even in the third round. The only one who scored outright, in 10th overall was again Norbet Leitner. "I cant as greatly appreciate as possible my car, its just amazing machine. Also, I can fully trust my engineers, so I don't have to be aware of pushing as much as I can to keep the car behind its limits."
40 seconds slower finished same named Norbert Serban. This young driver wasn't much seen before, until now. Again, S2000 were defeated by N4. N. Serban was successfully caching N. Leitner, but treacherous East-west showed the very though part of gravel racing.
Way slower finished Norman Biscuits, also in N4 car taking third place in champions class. He was closing top 16. It was also surprise to see number of WRCs behind him mixing with the rest of N4/S2000 group.
Very interesting rally was closing SSS in Acct Ivato. Coffs Harbour Rally process of unexpected situations, like a lot of DNFs again messed up the final standings. Seb again jumped to the first position with 50 points. Attila scores 42 and third is Jakub Sulej with just two less points, 40.
In champions, N. Leitner keeps no concurrency with 68 points ahead of Helder Moreira with 33 points. Roy climbed up to third with 26 points.
Very close standings are in the teams, where N4 group Roush Fenway is taking the lead with 68 points. GFS-SIMCO Hungary Racers are second with 65 points.
And as usual, we asked Rick Bamford to introduce coming round.
"Fourth round, fourth surface. For round 4 we travel to Northern Ireland and the narrow bumpy tarmac lanes of Ulster. A night time start at the RSI complex gets things statrted befor moving into the country side early the following morning. Harwood forest 2 opens the day with some very bumpy tricky sections, if the weather is poor this stage will be a real challenge. From there the drivers move to the tight, twisty Tanner 2 and Pirka Menoko, at least the bumps arn't as bad here.
The stages to finish the day well be Chirdon head 2, Shepards Shield 2 and Falston 2. These stages will be FAST, narrow and still have some very large bumps. those who can commit to the roads and know where the bumps are will benefit.
The second day will have a repeat of the stages but this time finishing back at the RSI complex for a grand spectator stage."
We are looking forward to see some tarmac action this time and you wont miss our press even next time. Good luck!
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