IRC challenge 2007

[[Madeira-Rally]]

Let's star the new thread in the new forum....

[ZequeArgentina]

I guess this post should be more in WRC than European, as it has rounds out of europe.

I have little information regarding this championship, what is FIA position about it?

[Lousada]

Perhaps a good idea to start with the calendar?

9-11 March EAK Safari
24-26 May RUS Vyborg
22-24 June B Ypres
2-4 August POR Madeira
24-26 August CZE Barum
27-29 September I San Remo
12-14 October TR Turkey
25-27 October SUI Valais
23-25 November CN China

[HaCo]

And with possible contenders:

Gilles Panizi - 207
Brian Boufier - 207
Navara - Punto
Basso - Punto

I hope there will be a belgian driver too!

[Tom206wrc]

Enrique Garcia-Ojeda with the 207 S2000 is 100% sure(from Peugeot-Sport Spain) :D

[PLuto]

Perhaps a good idea to start with the calendar?

9-11 March EAK Safari
24-26 May RUS Vyborg
22-24 June B Ypres
2-4 August POR Madeira
24-26 August CZE Barum
27-29 September I San Remo
12-14 October TR Turkey
25-27 October SUI Valais
23-25 November CN China

But in this calendar there will be changes in dates.

[1LM1]

Vouilloz dreams about the Peugeot 207 S2000 but I have no idea if he plans to enter the IRC challenge if he can get one.

[Simmi]

My biggest fear about the IRC is that it will lead to Eurosport dumping the WRC coverage.

[1LM1]

My biggest fear about the IRC is that it will lead to Eurosport dumping the WRC coverage.

I am worried about that too. That's a risk.

[Jarek Z]

My biggest fear about the IRC is that it will lead to Eurosport dumping the WRC coverage.

And what is wrong in that? If they can bring something better... why not?

[Simmi]

And what is wrong in that? If they can bring something better... why not?

Only better for them because they are backing it. Not better when the WRC coverage is dropping out of more and more national TV schedules. For many people Eurosport is the only place they can watch the WRC.

And thats a very big IF concerning whether its better or not.

[animrallye]

Official Press release from Skoda :

"The history of motorsport activities of the brand Škoda will be continued in the rally sport. Škoda Auto board of directors approved the plan to start the development of the new rally car based on the next generation of Škoda Fabia, which will be launched early next year.

Year 2007 will be dedicated to development and testing of the new Škoda car for the S2000 category that is likely to become the most attractive category of the rally scene in the upcoming years. The aim of Škoda Auto is to develop a car which will be affordable for more private teams or new young talents both on national and international levels. Shall the WRC cars be excluded from the national rally championships in the near future, the Fabia S2000 will offer a great alternative to customers across the globe.

Meanwhile, Skoda Auto would like to give the private team of Jan Kopecky the chance to join the World Rally Championship with the Fabia WRC in 2007. Details of the co-operation are under negotiation yet and will be presented at a later stage."

[animrallye]

But in this calendar there will be changes in dates.
New dates :

Vyborg (RUS) : 13/14 july
Turquey (TR) : 4/5 may

[Raven]

I'm also not afraid about Eurosport dropping WRC coverage, maybe it's because I'm not following it? Yes, that could be the reason :D

[atsiotras79]

. For many people Eurosport is the only place they can watch the WRC.

Yes, that's true!

[Tom206wrc]

Vouilloz dreams about the Peugeot 207 S2000 but I have no idea if he plans to enter the IRC challenge if he can get one.


Also Pascal Enjolras would be very interested in driving the 207 S2000 of MES, but I guess it's only for french championship :mark:

Peugeot Italy officially announced today(Bologna Motorshow) that they will run a 207 S2000 next year with Luca Rossetti as driver...but if any participations to IRC remains to see :confused:

[animrallye]

IMO, we can post here about S2000 cars in National Championships and in WRC's IRC thread about Intercontinental Rally Challenge

[PLuto]

My biggest fear about the IRC is that it will lead to Eurosport dumping the WRC coverage.

It is true. And that is why organisers of WRC events are angry, because IRC will have much better TV coverage than WRC.

[[Madeira-Rally]]

I'm also not afraid about Eurosport dropping WRC coverage, maybe it's because I'm not following it? Yes, that could be the reason :D
Me too Raven... WRC is "almost over" dead for me....

[Tom206wrc]

News from today !!! Peugeot Portugal officially announced the participation of their star driver Bruno Magalhaes with a 207 S2000 in 2007 national championship !!!! :bounce:

http://www.ralis.online.pt

[animrallye]

News from today !!! Peugeot Portugal officially announced the participation of their star driver Bruno Magalhaes with a 207 S2000 in 2007 national championship !!!! :bounce:

http://www.ralis.online.pt
After Luca Rossetti in Italy ! YES

[Madeira]

News from today !!! Peugeot Portugal officially announced the participation of their star driver Bruno Magalhaes with a 207 S2000 in 2007 national championship !!!! :bounce:

http://www.ralis.online.pt
Yes, everybody have been waiting for this confirmation. The new car will start to built on next month in France during three weeks.

[Tom206wrc]

New rumour(said to be serious)read on another forum, OMV and Manfred Stohl could run a 207 S2000 on IRC next year !!! :eek:

[Madeira]

still the interest of Dani Sòla to run on IRC Championship next season?

[jonas_mcrae]

New rumour(said to be serious)read on another forum, OMV and Manfred Stohl could run a 207 S2000 on IRC next year !!! :eek:

dont think so thats droping the Level Manfred is

[Tom206wrc]

That would be a new interesting challenge for Manfred and Ilka !!! ;)

Look at Panizzi !! He has also a WRC level too, and therefore is very glad with S2000(he says he has same feeling than with the 306 Maxi which was exciting from what he said) :p :

[maevad]

Štěpán Vojtěch (tarmac competitions 2005, 2006 - P206 WRC, P307 WRC) balances betwenn IRC and PCWRC.

[Tom206wrc]

Štěpán Vojtěch (tarmac competitions 2005, 2006 - P206 WRC, P307 WRC) balances betwenn IRC and PCWRC.



If he choses IRC, would it be with an S2000 car ?? :confused:

[maevad]

No, Tom, certainly Evo IX. May be Toyota or Peugeot in future (he is dealer of these cars in Czech Republic).

[Madeira]

I've read a short interview of Dani Sòla. he says that his main target this season is the IRC championship, he has been trying to build a program with Toyota or Fiat. He want also to compete in two races of WRC at least ,which are Portugal and Spain

[Tom206wrc]

Article in polish http://www.autoklub.pl/13892,news.html?

Translation :confused:

[maevad]

I known only:
Skoda may be present his S2000 in Barum Rally 2007.

[Wim_Impreza]

I known only:
Skoda may be present his S2000 in Barum Rally 2007.

I really looking forward to it.

[PLuto]

Skoda really would like to present their Fabia S2000 during this year. And debut should be earlier... (as zero car, of course).

[Madeira]

Peugeot Sport Spain will have the sponsorship of Xbox 360 on the next IRC.
Still waiting for the news about the other driver of the team.

[1LM1]

Peugeot Sport Spain will have the sponsorship of Xbox 360 on the next IRC.
Still waiting for the news about the other driver of the team.

Thanks for the news.
Now, they could have more possibility regarding this second driver with this money from Microsoft.

Panizzi ? Meeke ?
They should think about a gravel specialist IMHO.

[animrallye]

Nicolas Vouilloz (2006 French Tarmac Champion - 307 WRC) will do IRC with a Peugeot 207 S2000

[Madeira]

Really good news! It means that I will be able to see in my home event 4 Peugeot 207S2000 at least. Two from Peugeot Spain, one from Portuguese Peugeot and one from BSA.
Does anyone have news about the French driver will run together Enrique Ojeda in the IRC ?

[Tom206wrc]

Is it official about Vouilloz ?? :confused:

[Tom206wrc]

Does anyone have news about the French driver will run together Enrique Ojeda in the IRC ?



It should be either Bryan Bouffier or Gilles Panizzi(I don't imagine currently someone else from France) ;)

[Tom206wrc]

Peugeot Sport Spain will have the sponsorship of Xbox 360 on the next IRC.
Still waiting for the news about the other driver of the team.




Can't wait to see the 207 in XBox livery !!! :p :

[animrallye]

Nicolas Vouilloz (2006 French Tarmac Champion - 307 WRC) will do IRC with a Peugeot 207 S2000
My last news aren't very good about his participation :dozey:
Lack of sponsors :(

[Madeira]

My last news aren't very good about his participation :dozey:
Lack of sponsors :(

bad news indeed!

But here is a good news:
Former Peugeot Sport driver and team principal Jean-Pierre Nicolas will be the Challenge's motorsport development manager of this competition and the press officer for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge will be Anthony Peacock.

Take a look on press release from IRC:
http://www.rally-live.com/wrc/en/headlines/news/detail/070111132918.shtml

a curiosity, in 1967 J. P Nicolas won my home event (rali Vinho Madeira) with a Renault R8 1300

[Raven]

Is there any official website of IRC? Where I can find official 2007 calendar?

[Madeira]

Is there any official website of IRC? Where I can find official 2007 calendar?


Unfortunately no official website yet!

Calendar

9-11 March EAK Safari
4-5 May TR Turkey
22-24 June B Ypres
13-14 July RUS Vyborg
2-4 August POR Madeira
24-26 August CZE Barum
27-29 September I Sanremo
25-27 October SUI Valais
23-25 November CN China

[Erki]

I took a look on the Safari rally website. There are only 300km of stages. :( That is NOT a Safari.

[Raven]

I saw this calendar, it's official?

[Madeira]

I saw this calendar, it's official?

yes, I think you can trust on that calendar! ;)

[Raven]

I would like to know anybody responsible for IRC, I need any contact to any official involved in this serie. Can anybody help?

[Sulland]

Try to google one of these two:

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/11012007/29/new-manager-irc.html

SRW Events Ltd is a 100% Eurosport owned Company, so an e-mail to them should also fix it !

[Raven]

I know that JPN is the new manager of IRC, but still no contact and website, for me it's strange.