2011 World Rally Championship

[Ole Marius Myrvold]

Rally is interesting for me, because it is dangerous. I don't enjoy to see people getting hurt, or even die. But I wish I had the cojones to driv like them, the precision, concentration and endurance to race, as much as they do, on small roads were they might get killed. But, the co-drivers, they are the real daredevils in this.

I'll quote a post I made at autosport after this weekend. It's sad, but it is a reason why I like rally, the reason why I look up to the drivers.

"It's with a deep regret I have to report that there has been two fatal accidents in rally the last weekend.

In Rajd Swidnicki (Poland): Sylwester Olszewski was killed when his Honda Civic hit a tree on SS11 of the rally. The 31-year-old died on his way to hospital. Olszewski's co-driver Michal Calek was taken to hospital but his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
Frenchman Bryan Bouffier, who had just managed to overhaul Michal Solowow and Tomasz Kuchar, was declared winner of the tragic event.

In Mogul Sumava Rallye (Czech Rebublic): There was tragedy on the second round of the Czech Republic rally championship when the Mogul Sumava Rally was cancelled following the death of Jiri Skoupil.
Jiri Skoupil and co-driver Jiri Volf crashed their Citroen C2 S1600 on SS2 of the event. Skoupil was killed instantly when the car hit a tree.


A sad weekend for european rally."

 

[Ondrej Kapal]

actual standings

1. Jan Kopecký (Škoda) 55:56.3
2. Thierry Neuville (Peugeot) + 0:05.7
3. Juho Hänninen (Škoda) + 0:08.6
4. Freddy Loix (Škoda) + 0:09.0
5. Andreas Mikkelsen (Škoda) + 0:37.6
6. Bryan Bouffier (Peugeot) + 0:38.6
7. Guy Wilks (Peugeot) + 0:40.7
8. Bruno Magalhaes (Peugeot) + 1:03.8

highlights http://videos.eurosport.com/irc/irc-canarias-highlights_vid175400/videos.shtml

Great stuff by Kopecký, go go go!

 

[Ondrej Kapal]

but it is shame that it started to be a little bit WRCshid - only 2 manufactures are competitive

 

[Ondrej Kapal]

Final results

1.Hänninen/Markkula (Škoda) 1h40m38.1s
2.Kopecký/Starý (Škoda) +1.5s
3.Neuville/Gilsoul (Peugeot) +8.2s
4.Loix/Miclotte (Škoda) +16.7s
5.Wilks/Pugh (Peugeot) +48.3s
6.Mikkelsen/Fløene (Škoda) +55.6s
7.Bouffier/Panseri (Peugeot) +1m00.6s
8.Magalhães/Grave (Peugeot) +1m49.8s
9.Basso/Dotta (PROTON) +2m37.8s
10.Gardemeister/Suominen (Škoda) +2m38.2s

 

[totemari]

Nice posting; great videos for all wrc supporters!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

"We have invited you to join us here in Olbia to announce Volkswagen’s entry in the World Rally Championship starting in 2013.” – These were the words used by Volkswagen Management Board Member Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg as he declared Volkswagen’s entry into the most versatile of the four automobile world championships (World Rally Championship, WRC).

In front of 200 journalists he unveiled the concept of the Polo R WRC, the car with which Volkswagen will compete from 2013 onwards, together with Luca de Meo, Head of Marketing of Volkswagen AG, and Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. Luca de Meo: "Almost exactly two years ago, in May 2009, the most recent model of the Polo was presented here in Sardinia. Today we are proud to show you the hottest Polo of all time – the Polo R WRC.” For Kris Nissen and his team the World Rally Championship entry marks a new commitment. "We look forward to this new challenge and are working on this project with the same passion with which we won the Dakar Rally in the past three years,” said Kris Nissen.
View attachment 37077
After three consecutive victories at the Dakar Rally, Volkswagen has set itself new aims in top-calibre sport. With three car corporations currently involved in the championship and global media coverage, the WRC offers an attractive, highly competitive environment for Volkswagen. By 2013 the Wolfsburg-based brand will develop a near-300-hp rally vehicle with a 1.6-litre TSI engine and four-wheel drive based on the Polo.

Universal technological challenge, new rules

The World Rally Championship offers the most diverse technological challenge in worldwide car racing to the manufacturers involved. Various types of ground have to be considered during the concept design of a WRC vehicle such as all manner of gravel, scree, tarmac, ice, snow and mud. The calendar this season features 13 WRC rounds on four different continents. Hence a world rally car has to function in extremely different climatic conditions, from the blazing heat of South America to the icy ride in Scandinavia.
View attachment 37076
In addition, new technical rules have come into effect in the WRC this year. For the first time, engines with a maximum displacement of 1,600 cc, direct injection and turbochargers are prescribed.
View attachment 37078
"The new Technical Regulations of the World Rally Championship are an ideal fit for Volkswagen’s philosophy with respect to the development of production vehicles,” says Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Management Board of the Volkswagen Brand, Development Division. "Downsizing, high efficiency and reliability are top priorities for our customers. The timing of the WRC debut is optimal for Volkswagen. The big task of engineering a vehicle that is competitive and capable of winning at a large number of challenges holds great appeal for us.”

Proven squad, new aims: Volkswagen Motorsport’s factory commitment

Volkswagen will prepare and enter the Polo R WRC as a factory commitment. In doing so, the Wolfsburg-based squad can build on structures which have been established over the past few years. The World Rally Championship is a new ambitious aim for the team that has won the "Dakar” in the past three years. "We can draw on an experienced and proven squad which has done an outstanding job in top-calibre sport in the past few years,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. "Even though the WRC is new territory for us and involves learning in many areas the team already meets some important prerequisites now as it brings an unwavering professional attitude and resolve to deliver absolute perfection to this commitment.”

Volkswagen in the WRC: a success story

Volkswagen looks back on a small yet impressive rally tradition. Production-based vehicles from Wolfsburg celebrated rally racing successes in the middle end of the 1980s. The most important one: In 1986 the Swede Kenneth Eriksson and his German co-driver Peter Diekmann in the Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V claimed the world champion’s title in the newly incepted Group A. In addition, Volkswagen vigorously promoted young rally talent through the Golf Rally Cup. The fielding of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC from 2013 onwards closes the loop: Today’s WRC vehicles are still based on the philosophy of the Group A introduced back then, which enables rally sport to be conducted with vehicles based on production models.

Our thanks goes out to Alastair Walker for sending us this news via our news submission form!

Click this link to discuss more WRC in our dedicated forum

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

"We have invited you to join us here in Olbia to announce Volkswagen’s entry in the World Rally Championship starting in 2013.” – These were the words used by Volkswagen Management Board Member Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg as he declared Volkswagen’s entry into the most versatile of the four automobile world championships (World Rally Championship, WRC).

In front of 200 journalists he unveiled the concept of the Polo R WRC, the car with which Volkswagen will compete from 2013 onwards, together with Luca de Meo, Head of Marketing of Volkswagen AG, and Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. Luca de Meo: "Almost exactly two years ago, in May 2009, the most recent model of the Polo was presented here in Sardinia. Today we are proud to show you the hottest Polo of all time – the Polo R WRC.” For Kris Nissen and his team the World Rally Championship entry marks a new commitment. "We look forward to this new challenge and are working on this project with the same passion with which we won the Dakar Rally in the past three years,” said Kris Nissen.

After three consecutive victories at the Dakar Rally, Volkswagen has set itself new aims in top-calibre sport. With three car corporations currently involved in the championship and global media coverage, the WRC offers an attractive, highly competitive environment for Volkswagen. By 2013 the Wolfsburg-based brand will develop a near-300-hp rally vehicle with a 1.6-litre TSI engine and four-wheel drive based on the Polo.

Universal technological challenge, new rules

The World Rally Championship offers the most diverse technological challenge in worldwide car racing to the manufacturers involved. Various types of ground have to be considered during the concept design of a WRC vehicle such as all manner of gravel, scree, tarmac, ice, snow and mud. The calendar this season features 13 WRC rounds on four different continents. Hence a world rally car has to function in extremely different climatic conditions, from the blazing heat of South America to the icy ride in Scandinavia.

In addition, new technical rules have come into effect in the WRC this year. For the first time, engines with a maximum displacement of 1,600 cc, direct injection and turbochargers are prescribed.

"The new Technical Regulations of the World Rally Championship are an ideal fit for Volkswagen’s philosophy with respect to the development of production vehicles,” says Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Management Board of the Volkswagen Brand, Development Division. "Downsizing, high efficiency and reliability are top priorities for our customers. The timing of the WRC debut is optimal for Volkswagen. The big task of engineering a vehicle that is competitive and capable of winning at a large number of challenges holds great appeal for us.”

Proven squad, new aims: Volkswagen Motorsport’s factory commitment

Volkswagen will prepare and enter the Polo R WRC as a factory commitment. In doing so, the Wolfsburg-based squad can build on structures which have been established over the past few years. The World Rally Championship is a new ambitious aim for the team that has won the "Dakar” in the past three years. "We can draw on an experienced and proven squad which has done an outstanding job in top-calibre sport in the past few years,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. "Even though the WRC is new territory for us and involves learning in many areas the team already meets some important prerequisites now as it brings an unwavering professional attitude and resolve to deliver absolute perfection to this commitment.”

Volkswagen in the WRC: a success story

Volkswagen looks back on a small yet impressive rally tradition. Production-based vehicles from Wolfsburg celebrated rally racing successes in the middle end of the 1980s. The most important one: In 1986 the Swede Kenneth Eriksson and his German co-driver Peter Diekmann in the Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V claimed the world champion’s title in the newly incepted Group A. In addition, Volkswagen vigorously promoted young rally talent through the Golf Rally Cup. The fielding of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC from 2013 onwards closes the loop: Today’s WRC vehicles are still based on the philosophy of the Group A introduced back then, which enables rally sport to be conducted with vehicles based on production models.

Our thanks goes out to Alastair Walker for sending us this news via our news submission form!

Click this link to discuss more WRC in our dedicated forum

 

[Ondrej Kapal]

not a good news to me! I was hoping for next Škoda WRC

 

[Ondrej Kapal]

not a good news to me! I was hoping for next Škoda WRC

 

[Kimmo Kokkonen]

Cool!

 

[Kimmo Kokkonen]

Cool!

 

[Damien Jones]

Excellent! More manufacturers is always a good thing

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Bah Volkswagen also announced they will be leaving the Dakar Rally because of the WRC entry :frown:

 

[Eckhart von Glan]

results after day one. loeb got a 1 min penalty for handing in his stage ticket too early, lol.

1. J. LATVALA M 1:48:59.7 0.0 0.0
2. P. SOLBERG M 1:49:17.9 +18.2 +18.2
3. S. OGIER M 1:49:28.5 +10.6 +28.8
4. M. HIRVONEN M 1:49:43.2 +14.7 +43.5
5. S. LOEB M 1:50:30.0 +46.8 +1:30.3
6. M. ØSTBERG M 1:51:54.9 +1:24.9 +2:55.2
7. M. WILSON M 1:52:27.1 +32.2 +3:27.4
8. F. VILLAGRA M 1:52:40.6 +13.5 +3:40.9
9. K. BLOCK M 1:55:04.5 +2:23.9 +6:04.8

Ken Block still in the field and looking to pick up his first points this year.

 

[Eckhart von Glan]

day 2 finished and Latvala still in the lead, Solberg losing a little time, Loeb catching up and Block slipping behind the fastetst of the production cars due to technical problems:

1. J. LATVALA M 2:34:45.1 0.0 0.0
2. S. OGIER M 2:35:02.9 +17.8 +17.8
3. P. SOLBERG M 2:35:05.9 +3.0 +20.8
4. M. HIRVONEN M 2:35:25.6 +19.7 +40.5
5. S. LOEB M 2:35:51.8 +26.2 +1:06.7
6. M. ØSTBERG M 2:38:39.3 +2:47.5 +3:54.2
7. F. VILLAGRA M 2:39:27.1 +47.8 +4:42.0
8. M. WILSON M 2:40:16.9 +49.8 +5:31.8
9. H. PADDON P 2:51:40.6 +11:23.7 +16:55.5
10. K. BLOCK M 2:52:33.2 +52.6 +17:48.1

 

[Eckhart von Glan]

drama!
first latvala breaks his front left suspension at the end of day 2 and has to relinquish the lead, then Ogier, the new number1, rolls on stage1 today, so Loeb and Hirvonen have come very very close indeed. These are the standings before tonight's super special stage:

1. S. OGIER M 4:01:33.0 0.0 0.0
2. S. LOEB M 4:01:36.3 +3.3 +3.3
3. M. HIRVONEN M 4:01:38.7 +2.4 +5.7
4. P. SOLBERG M 4:02:09.4 +30.7 +36.4
5. M. ØSTBERG M 4:06:49.9 +4:40.5 +5:16.9
6. F. VILLAGRA M 4:08:21.3 +1:31.4 +6:48.3
7. J. LATVALA M 4:13:10.5 +4:49.2 +11:37.5
8. M. WILSON M 4:15:07.1 +1:56.6 +13:34.1
9. H. PADDON P 4:27:06.0 +11:58.9 +25:33.0
10. P. FLODIN P 4:34:53.1 +7:47.9 +33:20.9

oh yes and Block has dropped to ... heaven knows where, sth. like 19th

 

[Sebastien Levret]

Loeb is so amazing, he won this rally with a 1 min penalty, and a 3rd position in the power stage. He is incredible !!!

 

[Hannu Karesola]

That huge rock in the middle of the road which broke latvala's car was clearly put there by spectators. Without that there would be different winner. Also we have to wait and see what fia decides of all citroens using a shorter route on friday. Interesting to see if "cutting the track" is allowed in rally even there was signed agreement where everyone states that they will not use that shorter route.

 

[Hannu Karesola]

Fia has made the decision. You can cut. It costs 5000$ to organizer as a penalty but doesn't effect to results. The benefit there was 4 seconds an how much was difference between first an second?

They really need to think their rules again if rally wants to become popular again. Now its a big mess.

 

[William Elgh]

look at this