Official IRC Thread

[A.F.F.]

It's about time IRC gets its own thread. Right now everything is thrown in this thread and finding something is very hard...


I couldn't agree more HaCo. I also believe we can agree there are dozens of members who'll follow IRC series and dozens more who'll do but won't nany it ;)

Anyways, shall we start ?? I watched the IRC special from Eurosport yesterday and even though it was more like a last season recapp, it was nice to see enthuistiastic people who see a future in S2000 machinery :)

[SubaruNorway]

Are the roads in Kenya next weekend some of the same as in the earlier WRC event

[N.O.T]

The stages are sure much shorter ....don't know if they are parts of the stages used for previous safari events.

[pantealex]

Why this thread is under world rally championship threads. I think this belong under other international rallyes thread or something about that! WRC forum is for WRC rallies.

[Erki]

There's no forum for intercontinental rallies. :)

[J.Lindstroem]

Well make one then! ;)

[Donney]

Was the Eurosport special any good? It was them who started this ball rolling and their promotional efforts should be reinforced by these programs.

[A.F.F.]

Why this thread is under world rally championship threads. I think this belong under other international rallyes thread or something about that! WRC forum is for WRC rallies.

Erki already answered this question. However, with all due respect, I leave this moderators to decide whether this thread should remain here or somewhere else.

btw. welcome to the forum, :rolleyes:

[pantealex]

I agree!
and thank you!
hope to see S2000 cars in Finish rallies too

[HaCo]

Today the Safari Rally starts, hope to see some images very soon! (and of course video coverage!)

[Madeira]

The Japonese driver Hideaki Miyoshi was the fastest man on SSS!

http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=580

[M5]

Both WRC and the debut of IRC in the same weekend - a lot to do, and maybe IRC should have chosen another date for the debut to better the media coverage ?

[milly]

This is a really amateurish start by IRC. If they want to be taken seriously then they need a professional approach - where's the live timing section of their website.

Even if you go to eurosport.com, which owns the IRC series, they didn't have any information on the start of IRC.

Even if WRC is facing problems, at least they are safe when these jokers from IRC are their only competition....

[HaCo]

This is a really amateurish start by IRC. If they want to be taken seriously then they need a professional approach - where's the live timing section of their website.

Even if you go to eurosport.com, which owns the IRC series, they didn't have any information on the start of IRC.

Even if WRC is facing problems, at least they are safe when these jokers from IRC are their only competition....

Relax milly... :) They only drove the super special stage and some ceremony. It's the Safari, there won't be life coverage either tomorrow. Wait until it hits European ground. :D :D :D

[JAM]

Relax milly... :) They only drove the super special stage and some ceremony. It's the Safari, there won't be life coverage either tomorrow. Wait until it hits European ground. :D :D :D

At that time the IRC will be a serious thing. Now the beggining is not so important.

[milly]

Its an international series - it has to work properly everwhere - Africa, China, Russia.

Just because you guys are in Europe doesn't mean this is a European championship. The S2000 Corolla and Polo started in South Africa - before any European Fiats or Peugeots were about.....

[M5]

Hva anyone found stage times or live timing for IRC anywhere ?

I am also surprised on how little info for IRC there is on Eurosport.com !

[HaCo]

I don't know exactly, but if you read the publications on the IRC site, it states something about collecting all the results at the end of the day...

Is this Safari a true closed stage rally, or maybe it works in a special way like safari was in the past too?

[JAM]

No info at all. I can't understand how a SRW Events try to promote this series and on the first rally nobody knows nothing about it.

[Madeira]

There are some information in IRC website about the Leg one!

Source:http://www.ircseries.com/html/default.asp

The Italian said that his advantage was negligible in the tough conditions, although his command of the IRC category in Kenya seems firmly-established. The pressure eased off slightly after Navarra's team mate Umberto Scandola retired with an engine problem but the rally leader is not taking anything for granted.
"Tomorrow it's as if we start from the beginning," he said. "Our advantage is a very long way from being comfortable. Anything can happen in these sorts of conditions, so I am not going to celebrate anything until we are on the finishing ramp."
Navarra's co-driver, Guido d'Amore, believes that the duo has what it takes though to succeed on these very rough roads. "The main thing we've achieved today is to demonstrate that we can drive at a sensible enough pace for the conditions," said d'Amore. "Tomorrow, our plan is to stick to our same pace and not make any mistakes."

http://www.ircseries.com/html/gallery/showImg.asp?sess=274337027&id=1358

IRC results at end of leg one, Safari Rally

1. Andrea Navarra/Guido d'Amore (Abarth Grande Punto) 1h46m06s
2.Hideaki Miyoshi/Hakaru Ichino (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1h53m09s
3 Sammy Aslam/Abdul Sidi (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1h56m20s
4 Asad Anwar/Nick Patel (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1m56.42s

About Scandola: He has retired because the Punto had a engine overheated.

About Luca Betti: He has retired during SS2 because he went off, but is almost sure that he will sart tomorrow.

[JAM]

I alreday saw it, but is not enough. Aparently they only publish information related to the Fiat Drivers... at least published the classification until the 4th. The national rallyes have better service.

[RS]

This is a very specialised event and it was a bit brave to start the series here. It will get better.

I was however very impressed with how quickly they gotthe tv footage together for todays programming, and it was of good quality too.

[A.F.F.]

IRC results at end of leg one, Safari Rally

1.Andrea Navarra/Guido d'Amore (Abarth Grande Punto) 1h46m06s
2.Hideaki Miyoshi/Hakaru Ichino (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1h53m09s
3 Sammy Aslam/Abdul Sidi (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1h56m20s
4 Asad Anwar/Nick Patel (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1m56.42s

[DonJippo]

This is a very specialised event

It's a normal FIA standard stage rally, there is nothing special in it.

[jparker]

It's a normal FIA standard stage rally, there is nothing special in it.

There is, the stage timing :)
I think they deliver the reports using camels during the night.
It's to hot during the day, you know.

[Erki]

So they drove two hours of stages on the first day?

[Karbonyl]

The stage timing on the internet is not due to FIA rules. It`s just an acitivity of the rally organizers, if they form this service for "PC" spectacors, I think.

[animrallye]

Updated classification after Leg 1 :

1. Andrea Navarra/Guido D Amore- (Fiat)- 1.46.21h
2. Conrad Rautenbach/Peter Marsh-(Impreza N10)-1.46.27h
3. Carl Tundo/Tim Jessop- (Impreza N10)-1.47.43h
4. Emmanuel Kato/Moses Matovu-(Impreza N10)-1.52.45h
5. Muna Singh/David Sihoka- (Impreza N10)- 1.52.55h
6. Hideaki Miyoshi/Hakaru Ichino-(EVO 9)- 1.53.09h
7. Sammy Aslam/Abdul Sidi-(EVO 8)-1.56.20h
8. Baldev Chager/Farakh Yusuf-(Impreza N12)-1.56.42h
9. Asad Anwar/Nick Patel-(EVO 7)-1.57.08h
10. Lola Verlaque/Megan Verlaque-(Impreza N10)-1.59.12h

'IRC' drivers

"Abarth´s Andrea Navarra had a tough wake-up call this morning when he discovered that a timing error meant that his overall lead was just six rather than 21 seconds. But he is more determined than ever to put in a strong performance over the eight stages that remain."

[HaCo]

Peter Baert, from Dutch-Speaking Eurosport said that they would only show official inscribed rally cars in the footage, that's a shame.

[HaCo]

For those who missed it:
http://www.eurosport.com/rally/mcplayervideo_vid36201.shtml

[Corny]

I saw some coverage yesterday.. And I laughed when I saw that was called the Safari rally!

[HaCo]

I saw some coverage yesterday.. And I laughed when I saw that was called the Safari rally!
Well, if I see the Monte Carlo of this, I laughed too... The general concept of rallying is nothing compared to what it was 20 years ago. So put both feet on the ground and be realistic. The rally looks very rough, it also looks very nice safari alike and yes you are right, it's nothing compared to the safari from 20 years ago, but it is a fantastic rally anyway!!

[RS]

Well, if I see the Monte Carlo of this, I laughed too... The general concept of rallying is nothing compared to what it was 20 years ago. So put both feet on the ground and be realistic. The rally looks very rough, it also looks very nice safari alike and yes you are right, it's nothing compared to the safari from 20 years ago, but it is a fantastic rally anyway!!

Yes, it's not the same as an old Safari, but it looks quite tough and the scenery is good. Better than the blandorama most WRC events are like nowadays.

Eurosport footage was of good quality too.

[Corny]

Well, if I see the Monte Carlo of this, I laughed too... The general concept of rallying is nothing compared to what it was 20 years ago. So put both feet on the ground and be realistic. The rally looks very rough, it also looks very nice safari alike and yes you are right, it's nothing compared to the safari from 20 years ago, but it is a fantastic rally anyway!!

It's also nothing compared with the Safari 5 years ago ;)

[animrallye]

For the comments not so good :

In English : Rallye du Valais is in France !
In French : IRC is International Rally Challenge !

But we have some TV coverage,at least :)

[animrallye]

It's also nothing compared with the Safari 5 years ago ;)
2002 (WRC) :
Total distance : 2,432 Km
Stages : 1,011 Km

2007 (IRC) :
Total distance : 725 Km
Stages : 294 Km

[Corny]

2002 (WRC) :
Total distance : 2,432 Km
Stages : 1,011 Km

2007 (IRC) :
Total distance : 725 Km
Stages : 294 Km

I don't really mean length.. But I mean stages itself!

[HaCo]

A safari (IPA pronunciation: [səˌfɑri]) is an overland journey. It usually refers to a trip by tourists to Africa, traditionally for a big-game hunt and in more modern times to watch and photograph big game and other wildlife as a safari holiday. There is a certain theme or style associated with the word, which includes khaki clothing, pith helmets, and animal skins — like leopard's skin.

LOL, that should be about it...

[HaCo]

Now, this I think is a pitty!

3. ELIGIBLE DRIVERS
Any driver entered in an Event with a car produced by a registered IRC manufacturer is eligible to score points subject to complying with the advertising rules as specified in appendix A.
A Manufacturer enquires concerning the Challenge registration and commercial matters should be directed to SRW Events.


This is why on ircseries.com they don't talk about the subaru's in the result. Navarra did NOT won Safari, he was third! :(


11 Mar 2007 - Navarra and Abarth celebrate victory
Andrea Navarra and the Abarth team have won the IRC classification of the Safari Rally, after a heart-stopping final day that saw them survive a puncture and a gearbox failure....


RAUTENBACH WINS KCB SAFARI RALLY
Young Zimbabwe driver Conrad Bautenbach, the 20-year-old junior World Rally Championship (WRC) driver achieved the feat of his father 15 years ago by winning the Kenya leg of the Africa Rally Championship.


Provisional results

Conrad Rautenbach/Peter Mash, Zimbabwe, Subaru Impreza, 2:3043; 2. Carl Tundo/Tim Jessop, Subaru Impreza, 2;32.54; 2. Andrea Navarra/Guido/ d Amore, italian, Fiat Punto, 2:34.04; 4. Hidieki Miyoshi/Hakaru Ichino, Japan, Mistubishi Lancer EV9, 2:40.03; 5. Muna Singh/David Sihoka, Zambia, Subaru Impreza, 2:42.51; 6. Baldev Chager/ Farak Yusuf, Subaru Impreza, 2:44.43; 7. Asad Anwar/Nick Patel,Mistubishi Lancer Evo 8, 2:4522; 8. Sammy Aslam/Abdul Sidi, Mistubishi Lancer Evo 8, 2:45.30; 9. Patrick Emonstpool/Benoit Daubie, Subaru Impreza, 2:49.49; 10. Susheel Shah/Mohammed Kana, Subaru Impreza, 2:56.19.

I hope VW, Subaru and many many other will enter IRC soon, or SRW changes the rules, cause this is really a stupid system for the drivers (I'm not talking about manufactures)

[M5]

For the comments not so good :

In English : Rallye du Valais is in France !
In French : IRC is International Rally Challenge !

But we have some TV coverage,at least :)

It has been renamed: IRC = Intercontinental Rally Challenge, is it not ?

[animrallye]

It has been renamed: IRC = Intercontinental Rally Challenge, is it not ?
Yes

[JAM]

To announce Andrea Navarra as a winner... and don't even mention the other drivers on the classifications... is really bad taste IMO. Navarra was 3rd and beaten by two Imprezas N10.

[sal]

Listen, in the UK we are used to event winners not getting a mention in press and tv coverage. In the 90s when the BRC was for F2 cars the tarmac events were usually won by a Group A car in the hands of an Irish driver. Now ten years on and the BRC is for Group N cars and the situation where the events qualify for the ITC aswell means the Irish boys in their WRC cars invariably clean up but never get a mention on the tv coverage!

If a team arnt registered for the IRC though then why should they get coverage on Eurosport?

As for trying to criticize events for not being true to their name or heritage then I'm afraid it's time to get with the programme. I've lived thru the Group 4, Group B Group A and WRC eras and have seen more negative developments IMO than I care to mention however even I realise things aint going back to what they were!

[JAM]

If a team arnt registered for the IRC though then why should they get coverage on Eurosport?


I'm critic also about to not show images in Eurosport, but let's forget it. I don't agree that a team should pay to be mentioned on a tv report... this is not journalism, but let's pass it.

For me the serious question is to have a rally on a series (IRC) and the official site only mention some teams and not all. More serious is to present a classification that is false.

What do you say if in Monte Carlo and Sweden and Norway the rallye classification had been shown without the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC from Gardemeister and Pons? It was fair? It was acceptable? Of course not. Then why to ignore that Conrad Rautembach won the Safari rally?

This is not a good beggining for a series that i believe could be good in the future.

[Lousada]

They did nearly the same amount of competitive km in two days as a WRC does in 3, so it's not that bad.
The footage was great in my opinion. No incar-facials, no meaningless 'target time' shots, no meaningless cgi footage, helicopter footage, scenery shots, I love it so far :up: Only wish it lasted 5 times as long at least.

I'm sure it gets better when other teams wake up. For example Subaru, they got competitive privateers in every rally. They'd only have to pay the registration fee and see the points flow in, and with it the publicity. I'm eager to see it develop.

[Lousada]

For me the serious question is to have a rally on a series (IRC) and the official site only mention some teams and not all. More serious is to present a classification that is false.


From their frontpage:

Andrea Navarra and the Abarth team have won the IRC classification of the Safari Rally,

They don't say Navarra wins the Safari, but he wins the IRC-classification of Safari. This is a slight but crucial difference.



What do you say if in Monte Carlo and Sweden and Norway the rallye classification had been shown without the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC from Gardemeister and Pons? It was fair? It was acceptable? Of course not. Then why to ignore that Conrad Rautembach won the Safari rally?

Better analogy would be: if you look at the PWRC results of Rally Mexico, do you expect to see Loeb won, or Mark Higgins won?

[JAM]

They don't say Navarra wins the Safari, but he wins the IRC-classification of Safari. This is a slight but crucial difference.

You're right. My mistake. Now we must look to the classifications with the double of attention, and specially if the english is not our main language.


Better analogy would be: if you look at the PWRC results of Rally Mexico, do you expect to see Loeb won, or Mark Higgins won?

If i look at WRC results on wrc.com, i see all competitors and not only the ones who payed a fee. We are following rallyes or not? By your way of think i don't know why IRC made publicity of an entry list with 50 cars. I don't even know why they accept drivers without inscription on IRC series rallyes.

IMO this is a way of protect some interests, and as we saw this weekend one of the interests is from Fiat. Images of Fiat, interviews with Fiat drivers, flash news about the Fiat drivers... a newcommer to irc site would think that Fiat was making a big Safari rally. I really hopped a lot better from this. This play down the level of competition, you could be the 7th on the rally and be presented to the world as a winner. Funny in fact...

I'll wait better days to this, because this was really a mess.

[HaCo]

Subura should just subscribe to the series and the problem is partially solved. TV-times cost energy and money, and one should pay it. Tv-times are direct promotion for brands, so they should pay it, it is as simple as that.

But, with the Polo and the Toyota being competitive, I hope someone will subscribe them too, or we will some very strange results in future... :(

[HaCo]

Subura should just subscribe to the series and the problem is partially solved. TV-times cost energy and money, and one should pay it. Tv-times are direct promotion for brands, so they should pay it, it is as simple as that.

But, with the Polo and the Toyota being competitive, I hope someone will subscribe them too, or we will some very strange results in future... :(

[Lousada]

If i look at WRC results on wrc.com, i see all competitors and not only the ones who payed a fee.


For years it's been the same thing for the PWRC and JWRC championship. They only showed the registred drivers in the TV-programs and the results. In these respective programs there was no mention of the drivers of other classes because they are irrelevant.



We are following rallyes or not?

No we are not following the rally, we are following the championship that's driving in the rally.
Like you would do when you for example follow the C2 Junior Experience. They are part of their own championship and don't mention anyone outside their box because, again, it's irrelevant.



I don't even know why they accept drivers without inscription on IRC series rallyes.

They organise a championship and they run it during a few rallies. They don't organise the rallies, only the championship. They've got nothing to say about who drives in the rallies.

[General Prim]

Where can I find SS times, please?

[JAM]

Where can I find SS times, please?

From the IRC or from the rally?

[DonJippo]

They did nearly the same amount of competitive km in two days as a WRC does in 3, so it's not that bad.

KCB Safari rally 294 km, Mexico WRC 305 km both in two days.

[General Prim]

From the rally...

[harriswrc]

Here are the official final results from Safari Rally.

http://www.motorsportkenya.com/view_results.php?r=34

[Lousada]

KCB Safari rally 294 km, Mexico WRC 305 km both in two days.

Talk about a selective quoting. They only did some 55 competitive competitive km Sunday in Mexico. Of course you conveniently counted Friday + Saturday and not Saturday + Sunday. Also you don't mention Monte Carlo, Sweden or Norway, were every day had around 100 comp. km.

[DonJippo]

Talk about a selective quoting. They only did some 55 competitive competitive km Sunday in Mexico. Of course you conveniently counted Friday + Saturday and not Saturday + Sunday. Also you don't mention Monte Carlo, Sweden or Norway, were every day had around 100 comp. km.

Yes and? Was still shorter than any WRC event.

[Jarek Z]

I have a question. Did anybody see the report(s) from Safari on Eurosport? Is that true that they never showed a single Subaru car in their programme, even though such car won the rally?

[Fly]

I watched it this morning. It's a FIAT show with some Mitsu invited. But I understand they need to promote the series and the manufacturers involved. And Rautenbach is not involved. I can't even remember Rautenbach or Subaru beeing pronounced during the report.

[animrallye]

Can anyone explain the championship points published on http://www.ircseries.com ?

It seems they are wrong for drivers.

:confused:

[JAM]

I watched it this morning. It's a FIAT show with some Mitsu invited. But I understand they need to promote the series and the manufacturers involved. And Rautenbach is not involved. I can't even remember Rautenbach or Subaru beeing pronounced during the report.

To promote is not to hide. I understand that a bigger visibility should be given to the one who pays (is the new way to do journalism...) but to ignore completely the others is something that my brain can't accept.

I already wrote this: Can you imagine Toni Gardemeister to win a WRC event and the TV and official site don't even mention it? I can't imagine, but Mitsubishi is not on the list of teams. Should they show the good ones or the ones who pay? If only the ones who pay are visible, then this is a farse and this is far from a journalistic work.

[HaCo]

Apparantly belgian Pieter Tsjoen would focus himself on IRC for 2007 and 2008. The Focus WRC 2005 of last year is for sale! Great news for us Belgian fans and another contender for IRC!!! :D

[Mihai]

I watched it this morning. It's a FIAT show with some Mitsu invited. But I understand they need to promote the series and the manufacturers involved. And Rautenbach is not involved. I can't even remember Rautenbach or Subaru beeing pronounced during the report.

Eurosport is broadcasted in Romanian by local retard motorsport commentators and I heard from them that Navarra won the overall classification. And I said to myself: this IRC should be quite a lame championship from the point of view of the entrants if a rally with 4-5 km flatout strainght lines is won by a Super 2000 car and not by a real Group N4 car with longer gear ratios and higher top speed.

One day later I read on the African Rallying section of this forum that it was Group N British-based competitor Conrad Rautenbach that won the rally overall. I searched results on the web and I found out that in fact there was a 1-2 result by Group N drivers, with S2000 driver Navarra only in third.

Eurosport sucks big time! :down:

[Jarek Z]

And imagine what Conrad Rautenbach's father must think now. He won Safari in the past. And now, after so many years, his son made it too! He comes home and turns on Eurosport to watch the rally review. And... he doesn't see his son for a single second! He doesn't see him even though he is the winner of the rally!

I like what JAM says. It's the new way of journalism. Let's write about the one who pays :down:

[LP]

and if there would be no IRC, he would turn on the tv and see skiing on eurosport. The glass is half full, not half empty. This is the first round, and people make mistakes. but stop whining so much, there is a new interesting serie to follow. And look at APRC reviews, I haven't seen them paying much attention to competitors, not registred for the series.

[A.F.F.]

I watched the first round of IRC; Safari and I thought it was good. Although, I like rallying in general :)

[kabouter]

And imagine what Conrad Rautenbach's father must think now. He won Safari in the past.

A small precision: Billy Rautenbach never won the Safari, he won the Equator Rally Kenya in 1992, then the Kenyan round of the African Rally Championship.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Eurosport is broadcasted in Romanian by local retard motorsport commentators and I heard from them that Navarra won the overall classification. And I said to myself: this IRC should be quite a lame championship from the point of view of the entrants if a rally with 4-5 km flatout strainght lines is won by a Super 2000 car and not by a real Group N4 car with longer gear ratios and higher top speed.



hahaha retard lol


Eurosport sucks big time! :down:

I thought the coverage was good not at its best.... :| what they have a whole 8 more rounds to improve, camera's should be on tripods, work on the heli angles and please please work on the commentary

So now I've watched the first round of the IRC, now just going to watch Rally New York with Nicky Grist! :)

It was jjust really a Fiat show....what even the commentator called a Mitsubishi a Subaru!? Hellllooooo but yeh just guys, work on the show/coverage/putting it together.....get Dakar's English commentator!

[RS]

and if there would be no IRC, he would turn on the tv and see skiing on eurosport. The glass is half full, not half empty.

This is a very good point!

This shouldn't be such a problem ongoing as I'm fairly sure Grp N Subarus won't be running near the front of the forthcoming IRC rallies much. Maybe they should register, but maybe they won't because of their Dave Richard$ connections?

The Safari was still a nice event to watch scenery wise and I believe it will be in the IRC next year too, and possibly as a longer event. Yes, there were only 300 competitive km but as someone else pointed out this was over just 2 days - Monte was 329km over 4 days.

[adambousbek]

Somebody has any news concerning Alex Bengué IRC program???

[Raven]

I heard some rumours that hungarian drivers Janos Toth and Gergely Szabo are going to participate in IRC 2007?

[Ciko]

I heard some rumours that hungarian drivers Janos Toth and Gergely Szabo are going to participate in IRC 2007?
Yes, Janos Toth will participate in the IRC with a Peugeot 207. He will announce his programme for this year on the next Wednesday.

Gergely Szabó's programme is not sure yet, he said, he is working hard to find sponsors for the IRC. If he finds sponsors, he will start with a Lancer EVO VIII or EVO IX.

[HaCo]

Is there any news from Gilles Panizzi in the 207?

[animrallye]

No official release for Panizzi so far.

David Higgins may take part at some IRC events with his Toyota Corolla S2000.

[General Prim]

Please I need help to find the Safari SS times. Thanks. No luck at IRC website, not Safari's one, not at BF Goodrich....

[GigiGalliNo1]

What is the IRC website btw?

[General Prim]

http://www.ircseries.com

[LazioCenturion]

Greetings gents.

I have full Safari Results (received from the generous organizers) and have posted to my website. Check http://www.geocities.com/laziocenturion/IRC/rid200701/front.html.

General Prim, if you want ALL the stage results pm me your e-mail and I can send them to you.

[Ciko]

Janos Toth-Bea Bahor-Peugeot 207 S2000

http://rally.hu/yappa/index.php?album=peugeot07_press_pp

http://www.duen.hu/foto.php?o=foto_resz&id=1168

On 3 IRC events: Ypres, Barum, San Remo

[animrallye]

David Higgins may take part at some IRC events with his Toyota Corolla S2000.
...

Former American rally champion David Higgins is targeting a limited IRC programme this year with a Toyota Corolla Super 2000 car. Higgins has already committed to drive the car on his native British Rally Championship this year, and now he is keen on extending his programme to take in the IRC as well.
The Englishman said : “We’re working hard on our IRC project and I’m fairly confident we’ll be able to do something. I’m not sure exactly which rounds I’ll be doing, but I certainly like the sound of Sanremo. For the time being we still have a few more details to sort out, but I would definitely like to do as many IRC rallies as possible
this year.”

[jparker]

An exciting innovation for this year will live streaming, enabling every rally fan to see the action live over the internet. With this, the IRC aims to bring ralling even closer to a new and wider audience.

http://www.barum.rally.cz/2007/press_detail.php?cont=8&sec=4&lng=en

I hope that's not a joke.

[A.F.F.]

Why would it be a joke?

I just hope it works.

[jparker]

Why would it be a joke?

I just hope it works.

I don't know, so far we are not getting the results on time.
But, on the bright side, live broadcast is what Eurosport does best.

[milly]

I don't associate the words: Eurosport - best

Poor quality coverage, poorly directed, varying quality in commentary.

IRC needs a big kick up the backside in how it is promoted and covered....

[HaCo]

IRC has just started and it needs to develop that is all. If I see how many Super 2000's there will be Ypres (3rd IRC round), I'm for sure that IRC will be a BIG hit! It just needs time to develop and it has a gooed platform for it...

Eurosport offers European viewers good quality and a lot of rally coverage on world level, I'm very happy with it!

Btw, the article posted about live coverage is one month old!!

[A.F.F.]

I don't associate the words: Eurosport - best

Poor quality coverage, poorly directed, varying quality in commentary.

IRC needs a big kick up the backside in how it is promoted and covered....

I have to agree with jparker. Comparing to nada, Eurosport is way better don't you think?

[jparker]

I have to agree with jparker. Comparing to nada, Eurosport is way better don't you think?
Also, as long as it's live I'm happy, doesn't matter the quality.

[Andrey]

Rally Russia - http://www.rallyrussia.com

[Youpiyoup]

http://www.latourettecabardes.net/EssaisPanizzi/Banniere1.jpg

Gilles Panizzi and Nicolas Vouilloz on Tests in "Aude" ( France) ....

:arrow: http://www.latourettecabardes.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=54&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Some words of gilles on his vidéo ...

enjoy !!!

[Tom206wrc]

Thanks Youpiyoup !! :bounce:

[milly]

So, what you're saying is that it's better to have crap than nothing?

Question: What do you think turns off other manufacturers, sponsors or casual viewers (who aren;t diehard motorsport fans)?

Answer: Crap coverage and promotion

[General Prim]

Dani Solá will drive the works Honda Civiv Type R prepared by JAS in Italy from Rally Turkey.

[HaCo]

Thanks Youpi!!!

milly, you are so right, IRC and Eurosport togheter are just junk and not even worth looking at...

...but I will anyway, cause it fascinates me and I'm a big rallyfan who likes to see rallying! If you don't like it, don't look at it.

[JAM]

Dani Solá will drive the works Honda Civiv Type R prepared by JAS in Italy from Rally Turkey.

One rally or the all callendar?

[milly]

HaCo

If you think something can be better, you try to make it better.

Why do you want to settle for second best - don't you want IRC and Eurosport to do a better job?

[HaCo]

Actually milly, It's like I said. I'm happy with the coverage and with the concept. The only thing that could be better is the amount of cars, but that will be ok in a few rallys. ;)

[milly]

OK - everybody sets their own standards, some higher than others.

[RS]

Citroen in!: http://www.rallye-info.com/article.asp?sid=0&stid=6068

[JAM]

Citroen in!: http://www.rallye-info.com/article.asp?sid=0&stid=6068

This is only a way of KSO not ignore the Citroen cars on the news and classifications. By now, nothing more than that.

[jonas_mcrae]

Janos Toth-Bea Bahor-Peugeot 207 S2000

http://rally.hu/yappa/index.php?album=peugeot07_press_pp

http://www.duen.hu/foto.php?o=foto_resz&id=1168

On 3 IRC events: Ypres, Barum, San Remo

Is such a good looking rally car, also the girls are not bad... LOL

[RS]

This is only a way of KSO not ignore the Citroen cars on the news and classifications. By now, nothing more than that.

Right, this is not a works entry.. but it is good for the championship and good for Citroen drivers nonetheless. Technically that's more different manufacturers registered for IRC than WRC ;)

[adambousbek]

No news about alex Bengué...? I think he stops rallies.... :rolleyes:

[Le NaRcX]

...and Bernardi?

[PJRevs]

No news about alex Bengué...? I think he stops rallies.... :rolleyes:

He drive zero Renault Clio R3 on Lyon last weekend.
Fantastic driving!

[pino]

Mitsubishi to announce Travaglia for Turkey, the car will be runned and supported by Top Run Racing !

http://www.sportautomoto.it/News.asp?Type=1&id=7848

Great news for Renato :up:

[GigiGalliNo1]

Renato sounds familiar :p

another italian pino?

hope gigi will get back in there! whens the next IRC round!? I wanna watch it already!

[RS]

Renato sounds familiar :p

another italian pino?

hope gigi will get back in there! whens the next IRC round!? I wanna watch it already!

11-12 May, Turkey. Entry list should be good and should be better still for Ypres.

[sal]

Ypres is supposedly going to have at least 12 S2000 cars of which 6 should be Punto's

[adambousbek]

It was no R3 car, for alex bengué, it was normal car during the yon Charbonniere rally!!!!!!!

[animrallye]

A fourth manufacturer from Rally Turkey... Citroën joins IRC !

Official press release :

INTERCONTINENTAL RALLY CHALLENGE
CITROËN JOINS THE IRC RANKS
Following requests from its customers, Citroën has become the fourth manufacturer to register for the Intercontinental Rally Championship (IRC), the new international motor sport series organised by SRW Events, an operation recently established by Eurosport with a view to organising, promoting and developing international sports events.
The next round of the 2007 IRC calendar is the Rally of Turkey (May 11-13).
"Registering as a manufacturer for the IRC is a big plus for our customers," says Citroën Sport's Customer Competition Manager, Yves Matton. "It will allow all Citroën drivers - whether they compete in a C2 Super 1600 or an R2 – to score points at each round of the series and consequently figure in the official standings. They stand to profit, too, from the active communications campaigns run during every event, including the extensive TV coverage scheduled by Eurosport."
In addition to the prospect of good media coverage, the IRC will also enable Citroën to further showcase its commitment to motor sport in those countries not visited by the World Rally Championship (WRC). "This aspect is particularly important for our subsidiaries and/or importers," continues Yves Matton. "It will give them a chance to profit from this expansion of Citroën Sport's Customer Competition programme to organise their own promotions."
Citroën's involvement in the IRC will begin with the outing of French pairing Simon Jean-Joseph/Jack Boyère with their C2 Super 1600 on the forthcoming Rally of Turkey (May 11-13). "Another advantage of the series is its calendar," observes Yves Matton. "Four of the IRC's eight rounds also count towards the European Rally Championship which Simon hopes to contest in its entirety. All depends now on the response Simon obtains from his different partners who have expressed an interest in this new adventure…"
(...)
Paris, April 24, 2007.

[Tom206wrc]

Ypres is supposedly going to have at least 12 S2000 cars of which 6 should be Punto's



And four 207s... ;)

[pino]

A fourth manufacturer from Rally Turkey... Citroën joins IRC !

Official press release :

Great news :D

[grugsticles]

Does that mean that Citroen's WRC existance is to be short lived?

[JAM]

Does that mean that Citroen's WRC existance is to be short lived?

Explaining again the situation:

This entry is only a way of KSO not ignore the Citroen cars on the news and classifications. By now, nothing more than that.

[RS]

Who's KSO?

[JAM]

Sorry, not KSO but SRW events :)

[teufel]

It seems, that Gergô Szabó will participate the Fiat Rallye in his Lancer evo IX, I hope he can surprise the frontrunners :)
btw, how is it possible, that the entry list will be published only some days before the start?

[teufel]

It seems, that Gergô Szabó will participate the Fiat Rallye Turkey in his Lancer evo IX, I really hope he can surprise the frontrunners :)
btw, how is it possible, that the entry list will be published only some days before the start?

[Ciko]

It seems, that Gergô Szabó will participate the Fiat Rallye in his Lancer evo IX, I hope he can surprise the frontrunners :)
btw, how is it possible, that the entry list will be published only some days before the start?
The entry list is published!

http://www.fiatrally.com/ri_psl.asp

Two drivers from Hungary, Gergely Szabó and Daniel Fischer! :cool:

[jparker]

I guess Anton Alen will win that one. According to officials, Eurosport will do up to 8h of coverage. :up:

[Tom206wrc]

Go Nicolas Vouilloz !! :bounce:

[Le NaRcX]

Go Sola Go TypeR! :D

[animrallye]

Explaining again the situation:

This entry is only a way of KSO not ignore the Citroen cars on the news and classifications. By now, nothing more than that.
Correct !
Citroën sign in IRC because S. Jean-Joseph may run all ERC events and 4 rallies are in IRC too...
BTW : Citroën staff is waiting for the new PSA's boss decision about investments in the group (Peugeot and Citroën). His decision will be official by 2 weeks.
Internal rumours are not very positive :rolleyes:

[DonJippo]

According to officials, Eurosport will do up to 8h of coverage. :up:

If you count all re-runs in to that then maybe it will be 8 hours in total...

[HaCo]

Correct !
His decision will be official by 2 weeks.
Internal rumours are not very positive :rolleyes:
Owh :(

[Tom206wrc]

Correct !
Citroën sign in IRC because S. Jean-Joseph may run all ERC events and 4 rallies are in IRC too...
BTW : Citroën staff is waiting for the new PSA's boss decision about investments in the group (Peugeot and Citroën). His decision will be official by 2 weeks.
Internal rumours are not very positive :rolleyes:



I hope the 207 S2000s project won't be affected by PSA's management :mad:

[Erki]

So I checked the ES schedule and... where's that 8 hours of coverage? :dozey:

[GigiGalliNo1]

So who's following what? I don't know where else to post this.... IRC in Turkey this weekend or the Jordan Rally?

[Tom206wrc]

IRC Turkey, for me... ;)


By the way, on Rallye-Info( http://www.rallye-info.com )there's a rumour belgian team Kronos would definitely get out of WRC to enter IRC in 2008, with two 207 S2000(one could be driven by Dudu himself still according to the rumour!!) :confused:

[GigiGalliNo1]

IRC Turkey, for me... ;)


By the way, on Rallye-Info( http://www.rallye-info.com )there's a rumour belgian team Kronos would definitely get out of WRC to enter IRC in 2008, with two 207 S2000(one could be driven by Dudu himself still according to the rumour!!) :confused:

I think this will be true, also even Stohl going to the Kronos-Peugeot 207 team

[HaCo]

Me Turkey rally too!!!

I just hope IRC will be a succes the coming years because WRC is getting pretty boring. Nothing about Loebs dominance, but the rest of the field... :(

[alleskids]

VW and Honda have also registered for the IRC. So Dani Sola and Luca betti can score points and get air time with there Honda, and Freddy Loix can also score points with his VW Polo.
So we have: Fiat S2000, Mitsubishi GroupN, Peugeot S2000, Citroen R3, VW S2000 and Honda R3.

[grugsticles]

Can anyone give me a link to a video of the latest IRC round (Safari I think) in English please.

Thanks :)

[GigiGalliNo1]

Can anyone give me a link to a video of the latest IRC round (Safari I think) in English please.

Thanks :)


http://www.rallyvidea.com/?ref=1&id=11&user=stanis&video=web/2007.IRC.R01.Safari.Review.avi

that should work if not:

http://rally.stanis.info/en/wrc/

scroll down and look for IRC Safari Review :D with british flag

[grugsticles]

Legend!

[GigiGalliNo1]

indeed i am :p

[jonas_mcrae]

I guess Anton Alen will win that one. According to officials, Eurosport will do up to 8h of coverage. :up:

8 hours? I heard there was going to be a resume tomorrow at 4 GMT i think, but it didnt say how long it was going to be...

[jonas_mcrae]

got the TV-TIMES for eurosport, http://www.ircseries.com/html/Tv_times.asp

8 hours? well I dont know

[jparker]

8 hours? I heard there was going to be a resume tomorrow at 4 GMT i think, but it didnt say how long it was going to be...

Yep, kind of disappointing.
Well, still better then nothing

[jparker]

Good start for 207 S2000
http://www.fiatrally.com/wrc2007/or_ssr.asp?ralli_sene=2007&ralliid=44&submit2.x=19&submit2.y=8

[A.F.F.]

Anton getting familiar with the car... +7,9 seconds behind.

EDIT: Stupid me, I only watched the SSS. Anton very much fighting for the lead after SS 4 :up: :up:

[RS]

Yep, kind of disappointing.
Well, still better then nothing

Hmmm, well yes. There is not 8 hours of unique footage but if you add up the repeats...

BUT, what is great is that I can watch this mornings footage at 12noon today instead of having to wait until 10pm this evening. And though there are lots of repeats this is good in that if you miss one time slot you can see it later :)

Shaping up for a nice battle in Turkey.

[A.F.F.]

Wow... Nicholas Vouilloz and Anton Alen go head to head. Fierce battle going on with only 2.6 seconds between them after SS 5. Is this Vouilloz's first rally with 207 ??

[1LM1]

Puncture for Vouilloz. Now it's all over for him and I am very sad even if I admit that Anton Alen is probably a faster driver than the French on gravel. :( :(

[A.F.F.]

Yep... Alen has no threats anymore.

Too bad for Vouilloz, very good for Alen :up:

[Finni]

Is there any direct link to stage times???

[PLuto]

Is there any direct link to stage times???

http://www.fiatrally.com/wrc2007

[Finni]

Where is Brother John hurraying on irc-race what was supposedly being better than the wrc?

[Finni]

Peugeot is such a lame ass poudel. They got their ass kicked by Citroen in true championship and now they have gone to do some totally meaningless things..

[jonas_mcrae]

good run by alen, cant wait to see some live coverage at 4.30

[A.F.F.]

Where is Brother John hurraying on irc-race what was supposedly being better than the wrc?

No-one is forcing you to follow Finni :rolleyes:

[jparker]

6 drivers within 1 min after day 2, not bad.
That Turkish guy Isik is not giving up ........ yet.
Good luck for Alen, excellent job done by him today.

[A.F.F.]

Brilliant Eurosport. They promised 8 hrs of footage... apparently it's cycling. Can't see a happy face except Janneppi :mark:

[janvanvurpa]

Peugeot is such a lame ass poudel. They got their ass kicked by Citroen in true championship and now they have gone to do some totally meaningless things..

Finni, trust me now: All racing is meaningless.
even rally.

I have spent 40 years racing, practicing, preparing, working on vehicle, or recovering, and it is all meaningless.

The only lasting value is what we learn and what we give back, and simply how much fun it is.
And theres nothing wrong with that.


As long as there is some good hard fights.

(What the hell! some of you other Finns smack Finni senseless you he understands what fun is all about!)

[jonas_mcrae]

there were 15mins of coverage at 5pm, i think they intended to broadcast the SSS, but it didnt start on time or something(you could see a punto, in the start line, i think...), instead they interview Anton Alen, Ojeda and Jean-Joseph, also some kind of segment about the 207(looks very nice), and little bit of action from today(helicopter shots and incar), but most of it was live from the Service Park, from abarth and citroen service areas, not so good really, looked like they didnt have a plan of what to shoot. they ran out of time and it finished just saying that more action would come tomorrow.
I think overall it wast that bad, a little bit of confusion though, but 15 minutes is ridiculous, maybe it would be good if they made 15min segment every 3 hours or something, but 15min for each day? come on! still much improvement to make... and train the comentator please... give him the adress of this forum for him to get some good intel LOL

[1LM1]

Peugeot is such a lame ass poudel. They got their ass kicked by Citroen in true championship and now they have gone to do some totally meaningless things..

Oh come on!
Super 2000 is not the current big program of Peugeot. That's Le Mans with this car: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nknico/491533360/in/set-72157600197305204/

Is Le Mans a meaningless thing?

[JAM]

6 drivers within 1 min after day 2, not bad.


Not bad?!? Is excelent. I'm surprised with this level of competition.

[HaCo]

Yeah, it's a great battle in Turkey. Much more exciting than WRC, with this nice diversity of cars.

The dutch commenter said something about working on a S2000 for customers only, it would be great!

Also looking forward to Ypres, where I can watch IRC with my own eyes on the stages. It's nice to see a local guy like Isik batling the internationals and I bet in Ypres it won't be any different... :)

[M5]

NICOLAS VOUILLOZ is kicking back !
He is back in second after ss 14, with 12 sec up to Alen !

Any bets ?

[Tom206wrc]

Yep... Alen has no threats anymore.

Too bad for Vouilloz, very good for Alen :up:



You said ???? :laugh:

[pino]

What a great battle, hopefully both Alen and Vouilloz will be in Sanremo, can't wait to wacht them "live" on tarmac :D

[jonas_mcrae]

Amazing come back from VOUILLOZ!! just .6 of a sec away from Alen, what a great battle, also 15 sec separating the top 3! and 30sec for the top5! Im kinda liking this IRC thing now with peugeot and the other guys... Just watched the Eurosport coverage, and it was waaay better than yesterday, more organised and neat, good footage and interviews with the top guys, shame I dont have Eurosport 2 as with that you can follow the rally al least 3 times a day! good idea I think. well a few stages to go, and still all the places in the podium can change! The only thing Im worried about is the low amount of expectators in the stages... well I bet there will be many more in Belgium

[jonas_mcrae]

VOUILLOZ ahead now by 3 seconds! anyone following this?

[animrallye]

There's a specific thread in European rallying for this event.

[Tom206wrc]

Final victory for Nicolas Vouilloz ahead of Andrea Navarra and Enrique Garcia-Ojeda !! :bounce: :bounce:

[jparker]

Final victory for Nicolas Vouilloz ahead of Andrea Navarra and Enrique Garcia-Ojeda !! :bounce: :bounce:

Congrats Tom207irc ;)

[GigiGalliNo1]

Can someone post the official end results?

[jonas_mcrae]

http://www.fiatrally.com/ just go to results

[Brother John]

Where is Brother John hurraying on irc-race what was supposedly being better than the wrc?

I´l be just back from the hospital! :down:

[A.F.F.]

I´l be just back from the hospital! :down:

Let me guess. You climbed up the ladder again? :D

[Brother John]

Let me guess. You climbed up the ladder again? :D

No I had urgent surgery last week. :\

[Tomi]

No I had urgent surgery last week. :\

Hoppas allt gick bra :up:

[Catiocha7]

Great to see these manufacturers are signed in IRC :cool:

http://www.ircseries.com/html/imgIrc2007/Official_Manufacturers.jpg

[GigiGalliNo1]

Great to see these manufacturers are signed in IRC :cool:

http://www.ircseries.com/html/imgIrc2007/Official_Manufacturers.jpg



Thats great!!! :) :D

[Catiocha7]

By the way , If you visit IRC website , you will see the links of " VW and Honda teams " haven't been worked yet...
:)

[Catiocha7]

and waiting for Toyota and Skoda and Ford to sign in too ..

[jonas_mcrae]

is subaru going to join? it shoud there are loads of imprezas out there

[Tom206wrc]

is subaru going to join? it shoud there are loads of imprezas out there


That would be very strange if Subaru let alone his home rival Mitsubishi... :mark:

[GigiGalliNo1]

That would be very strange if Subaru let alone his home rival Mitsubishi... :mark:

very true, but i would like to see Mitsu take out the Manu's in the IRC but got Abarth to rekon with!! :p

[RS]

That would be very strange if Subaru let alone his home rival Mitsubishi... :mark:

I would be surprised if Subaru did join given the Prodrive/DR connection.

[HaCo]

The dutch presenter of eurosport told on saturday that M-Sport is actually working on a customer version car for the IRC, so not an official entry. Of course it is obious you sign in in the championship to support your custommers.

It's good to see allready 6 manufacturers are signed in for IRC!! I wonder what the plan of Honda is, stick to their R3 or secretly building a super 2000?

We will see, that is for sure!

[TheFlyingTuga]

The dutch presenter of eurosport told on saturday that M-Sport is actually working on a customer version car for the IRC, so not an official entry. Of course it is obious you sign in in the championship to support your custommers.

It's good to see allready 6 manufacturers are signed in for IRC!! I wonder what the plan of Honda is, stick to their R3 or secretly building a super 2000?

We will see, that is for sure!


A portuguese website, said days ago that JAS will update the Civic to S2000 as well! I don't know if that is just speculation or true, but IRC is winnig manufacters, and WRC still the same!

I think that when the champ begin to worm Renault will enter the series as well, even if, just to the R3 costumers have TV time!

Cheers

[jonas_mcrae]

so adding skoda, ford and toyota there are 9, and if we add subaru and Renault(suposition) , thats 11, LOL what next? Lada? Chevrolet? haha

[jonas_mcrae]

also what happened to that dacia thing? Ive seen some videos, but no news of entering IRC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BP2uAvxDj0

[milly]

The dutch presenter of eurosport told on saturday that M-Sport is actually working on a customer version car for the IRC, so not an official entry. Of course it is obious you sign in in the championship to support your custommers.

It's good to see allready 6 manufacturers are signed in for IRC!! I wonder what the plan of Honda is, stick to their R3 or secretly building a super 2000?

We will see, that is for sure!


Ford Europe/M-Sport are not working on S2000 car - the only cars are in Australia, developed by the Britek team. One is an old S1600 car built by M-Sport for Astra in Italy, the other is a new build.

Ford is committed to WRC category until at least end of 2008 season.

[HaCo]

milly,
I know what is happening in Australia. It wouldn't be the first time that Ford works on something else than only WRC. Look at the Fiesta S1600 that M-Sport rebuild just two years ago.
I also read in a magazine that Ford would build an S2000 based on the new Fiesta.
Of course, we will only see it when it's there. Fact is, there are allready 2 Ford Fiesta S2000's running in ARC, with motors build in England. It wouldn't be so strange if suddenly the same car is running BRC and why not IRC?

[milly]

milly,
I know what is happening in Australia. It wouldn't be the first time that Ford works on something else than only WRC. Look at the Fiesta S1600 that M-Sport rebuild just two years ago.
I also read in a magazine that Ford would build an S2000 based on the new Fiesta.
Of course, we will only see it when it's there. Fact is, there are allready 2 Ford Fiesta S2000's running in ARC, with motors build in England. It wouldn't be so strange if suddenly the same car is running BRC and why not IRC?


Because Ford's contract with M-Sport and WRC doesn't allow it as a factory team....

[RS]

Because Ford's contract with M-Sport and WRC doesn't allow it as a factory team....

Could you be more specific? Are you saying Ford have some contract with ISC/FIA which disallows them to build an S2000 car? This seems pretty crazy... but that will change if the vision 2012 thing becomes true.

[Livewireshock]

Because Ford's contract with M-Sport and WRC doesn't allow it as a factory team....

That is a daft comment. There could be no exclusive contract stopping any team running a Ford team in competition outside of the WRC. M-Sport build & run the WRC cars but they are not the exclusive controllers of all things Ford.

You do not have to be in contact with M-Sport or the WRC to run a Ford S1600. Just a matter of you pays your money & you get the vehicle. Otherwise you build it yourself.

The two Australian Fiesta S2000 cars have been built in only 14 weeks from converting two S1600 rally cars sourced from Italy. The engines were sourced from Mountune & the kit Sadev was installed. All built by a team in touring car racing in Australia. A third car is soon to be finished, so surplus vehicles could appear on the market soon.

So basically anyone with the money or resources could build a similar vehicle. Without any need to bother any one at M-Sport. I doubt Ford would be too worried, otherwise why would the factory support the Australian project?

[GigiGalliNo1]

Ford have their old S2000 (P) Focus for sale.

[Sulland]

M-sport have actually said that they are evaluating if they will come in with a
S2000 Fiesta in addition to the S1600.

But they are probably sitting on the fence, waiting for what will come in the new regs.
If they need to base their WRC on a Gr N/ S2000, then they will probably use a Focus as a base instead !!

[GigiGalliNo1]

maybe if they start to win with the S2000 fords thennnnn they'LL start using the money!

[HaCo]

A focus looks way to big for S2000. My bet is the new Fiesta, which is slightly bigger than the old one!!
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_424/car_photo_212252_5.jpg http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_424/car_photo_212251_5.jpg

[teufel]

I like the idea! :up:

[Livewireshock]

M-sport have actually said that they are evaluating if they will come in with a
S2000 Fiesta in addition to the S1600.

But they are probably sitting on the fence, waiting for what will come in the new regs.
If they need to base their WRC on a Gr N/ S2000, then they will probably use a Focus as a base instead !!

Ford Australia tried to run a Focus built to Gp. N(P) rules in Australia. One major factor they found in being slow was a being chronically overweight. It was 200-300kg heavier than the minimum allowed. That is a major reason why they went for a Fiesta for the S2000 build rather than continue with a Focus.

The Fiesta, already being a S1600 car, still needed alot of fabrication to conduct the conversion to fit the 4WD system. Both cars are now close to the minimum weight allowed & with more development will be underweight, with ballast in the right places added. One strange aspect though, both Fiesta's are identical in their build but Windus' car is 30kg heavier than Guest's.

As for how competitive the cars are, they admit driving the first two rounds at 80-90% effort in order to preserve the car & help development. Despite this, both cars have scored 2nd fastest times on stages. The car has yet to be fitted with a handbrake which slowed them more on certain stages too. That will be rectified by the third rally.

I think Ford Australia & the Britek team are proving the case for the Fiesta. For the sake of build time required & results they are capable of. It would be hard for M-Sport to start from scratch with a Focus.

[milly]

Ford Australia tried to run a Focus built to Gp. N(P) rules in Australia. One major factor they found in being slow was a being chronically overweight. It was 200-300kg heavier than the minimum allowed. That is a major reason why they went for a Fiesta for the S2000 build rather than continue with a Focus.

The Fiesta, already being a S1600 car, still needed alot of fabrication to conduct the conversion to fit the 4WD system. Both cars are now close to the minimum weight allowed & with more development will be underweight, with ballast in the right places added. One strange aspect though, both Fiesta's are identical in their build but Windus' car is 30kg heavier than Guest's.

As for how competitive the cars are, they admit driving the first two rounds at 80-90% effort in order to preserve the car & help development. Despite this, both cars have scored 2nd fastest times on stages. The car has yet to be fitted with a handbrake which slowed them more on certain stages too. That will be rectified by the third rally.

I think Ford Australia & the Britek team are proving the case for the Fiesta. For the sake of build time required & results they are capable of. It would be hard for M-Sport to start from scratch with a Focus.

One Fiesta was built as an S1600 car by M-Sport and then sold to Astra in Italy - Britek built the other car from new in Australia. This is why one is different and heavier.

[grugsticles]

The S2000 Fiesta is quite a quick machine!

Guest and Windus, Fords 2 drivers, are competant but not super quick drivers IMO and both were able to extract great speed from the undeveloped Fiesta's in the most recent round of the Australian Rally Championship.

Their competition (Dean Herridge, Simon Evans and Neal Bates) are all very quick behind the wheel, especially Evans. The Ford, boys even though they were under orders to finish, were right up there on the stages they knew pretty well.

I dont know how they would compare to other S2000 cars, but going by thier first outings, Im very impressed!

[Livewireshock]

One Fiesta was built as an S1600 car by M-Sport and then sold to Astra in Italy - Britek built the other car from new in Australia. This is why one is different and heavier.

I was not aware that only one car came from Italy. It goes along way to explain what has happened. Will be good to see how the cars fare in the Rally of Canberra in a couple of weeks with the installed handbrakes. If they managed to install it in time.

I knew the third car under construction was being built totally from scratch in Australia. It will be interesting to see what changes are made with the first few events now under their belts. A very quick car could result right out of the box.

Must admit, while different in some ways to the RunX S2000, Neil Bates had a comparatively huge head start & knowledge base for the Toyota Corolla S2000. The South African experiences plus the Gp N(P) car all blending into one. I bet Simon Evans does not slow down any, once he is in the new car.

[HaCo]

I wonder what Pirtek will do for homologation. There is a rally where the ARC meets the Asia Pacific Championship, which, if I'm not wrong, is organized by FIA. So FIA homologated cars should participate.
In interviews just before the Fiestas were ready, the team talked about homologation, but how far they are and ever will get, I have no idea, any of you maybe?

[GigiGalliNo1]

I know toyota will be competing in ROC in their S2000 corolla!

[milly]

I beleive that both Australian Fiesta and Corolla have been given regional homologation only, through CAMS.

[Livewireshock]

I beleive that both Australian Fiesta and Corolla have been given regional homologation only, through CAMS.

The Australian S2000 Corolla is FIA homologated. That was the intention straight off with the build & is the first Toyota to achieve it. This was a specifically done with the ability to compete outright against the FIA APRC cars. For the past two years they had to compete separately with the Gp. N(P) car.

The S2000 Fiesta is still in relative development and will be under regional approval. They have not had the years of development that the Corolla/Runx cars have had overseas.

[HaCo]

Can someone explain CAMS?

Thanks for the very interesting information.

BTW, it is only the new corolla that is FIA homologated, I mean th Auris:
http://www.rally.com.au/home/latestnews/articleid=2308

[grugsticles]

CAMS = Confederation of Australian Motorsport

Basically controls motorsport in Australia.

Yh, the Fiesta isnt yet homoligated as it isnt 100% finished yet (doesnt even have a handbrake yet :P).

[milly]

That is a daft comment. There could be no exclusive contract stopping any team running a Ford team in competition outside of the WRC. M-Sport build & run the WRC cars but they are not the exclusive controllers of all things Ford.

You do not have to be in contact with M-Sport or the WRC to run a Ford S1600. Just a matter of you pays your money & you get the vehicle. Otherwise you build it yourself.

The two Australian Fiesta S2000 cars have been built in only 14 weeks from converting two S1600 rally cars sourced from Italy. The engines were sourced from Mountune & the kit Sadev was installed. All built by a team in touring car racing in Australia. A third car is soon to be finished, so surplus vehicles could appear on the market soon.

So basically anyone with the money or resources could build a similar vehicle. Without any need to bother any one at M-Sport. I doubt Ford would be too worried, otherwise why would the factory support the Australian project?

Please read again - I said as a Factory Team, which is M-Sport.

Agree that there's nothing to stop anybody else running a privately-funded car - but that's expensive to design, develop and build a new car without factory support. And the Australian cars are not properly homologated yet - they don't meet FIA International rules for S2000 homologation (neither does the Australian Corolla) because you also have to build additional kits for full homologation (as Peugeot and Fiat have done).

CAMS applied to FIA for special dispensation - even asked for a total rule change to S2000 regarding the number of kits to be built, so that they would be sure Toyota and Ford would be in ARC - and that the ARC would even continue this year......

[milly]

The Australian S2000 Corolla is FIA homologated. That was the intention straight off with the build & is the first Toyota to achieve it. This was a specifically done with the ability to compete outright against the FIA APRC cars. For the past two years they had to compete separately with the Gp. N(P) car.

The S2000 Fiesta is still in relative development and will be under regional approval. They have not had the years of development that the Corolla/Runx cars have had overseas.

Are you certain about Corolla homologation?

FIA has not homologated the car internationally - maybe regionally under CAMS.

Here is the latest FIA international vehicle homologation.

http://www.fia.com/resources/documents/1232859465__Homologation_Country.pdf

Please look under Japan, Toyota - no Corolla/Auris....

Under South Africa, old Run-X homologated last year.

Under Australia, no homologations.

Be interested if you know more.

[Brother John]

Freddy Loix will be to the end of 2008 the driver of the of the Vergokan team in the Intercontinental rally Challenge (IRC).
This year Loix take over the Fiat Abarth from Pieter Tsjoen for still 4 Irc-rallys and in 2008, Madeira (2-4 aug), Barum (24-26 aug), San Remo (27-29 sep) and Valais (25-27 okt) are the four Irc-rally's those Loix will drive this season to the wheel of the Vergokan Abarth Punto S2000.
In 2008 Loix en Vergokan will go resolut for the IRC-titel.

Source:http://www.pitstoptv.be/

[teufel]

Does FastFreddy have any contract with René Georges? Who will drive the Polo then?

[Karbonyl]

Hevia and Czopik, as usually I think.

[HaCo]

Loix did not MOVE to FIAT. He will drive for FIAT in IRC and if VW continues to support him he will drive the Belgian in a VW too... :)

For next year it is still uncertain what car they will drive, a VW is a possibility. :)

[Brother John]

Loix did not MOVE to FIAT. He will drive for FIAT in IRC and if VW continues to support him he will drive the Belgian in a VW too... :)

For next year it is still uncertain what car they will drive, a VW is a possibility. :)

Do you realy think VW Belgium will support him if he drive also with Fiat?
It is Freddy ho wants to drive both championships and both cars!!!!!!!!!!!
It is not the first time that the fans are disappointed after press bulletins in Belgium.
You say it yourself, as VW continues to support him!
About next year, it is too early to shout with joy.......
The next months there come certainly still new bulletins and rumours, wait and to see. We know all how it expires generally for Belgian rally drivers. :(

[Peugeot206WRC]

Why is he called FastFreddy, I never saw him as a fast driver???

[Josti]

Why is he called FastFreddy, I never saw him as a fast driver???

Got that name back in the 90's. Very quick back then. Still is, if he drives a proper car. As for now, I hope he'll stay with Volkswagen.

[animrallye]

Why is he called FastFreddy, I never saw him as a fast driver???
Belgian nick-name :p

[HaCo]

Why is he called FastFreddy, I never saw him as a fast driver???

Probably because your eyes were closed.

[HaCo]

Do you realy think VW Belgium will support him if he drive also with Fiat?
It is Freddy ho wants to drive both championships and both cars!!!!!!!!!!!
It is not the first time that the fans are disappointed after press bulletins in Belgium.
You say it yourself, as VW continues to support him!
About next year, it is too early to shout with joy.......
The next months there come certainly still new bulletins and rumours, wait and to see. We know all how it expires generally for Belgian rally drivers. :(

It's decided, he will drive the rest of the belgian championship in a...















...VW Polo S2000! :D

[Jarek Z]

Why is he called FastFreddy, I never saw him as a fast driver???

You must have had some eye dissease in the second half of the nineties... ;)

[A.F.F.]

Belgian nick-name :p


Not just Belgian :D

[Brother John]

Not just Belgian :D

It was Marcus Grönholm ho give him that name! :s mokin:
He was askin when Freddy was dismissed at Peugeot :rolleyes:
Where is fast Freddy? ;)

[JAM]

It was Marcus Grönholm ho give him that name! :s mokin:
He was askin when Freddy was dismissed at Peugeot :rolleyes:
Where is fast Freddy? ;)

The name has more than 10 years old, it was given to Freddy when he drove the private Astra GSI and the Toyota Celica in 1994/95 and 96. At that time Freddy was young and very fast, was a promise that never had confirmation. He was fast in 1994-1996 but the progression had stopped for around 1997/98.

[Josti]

The name has more than 10 years old, it was given to Freddy when he drove the private Astra GSI and the Toyota Celica in 1994/95 and 96. At that time Freddy was young and very fast, was a promise that never had confirmation. He was fast in 1994-1996 but the progression had stopped for around 1997/98.

More with Mitsubishi I think. He was blindly fast in that Marlboro sponsored Corolla of his.

[Erki]

Wasn't it his Safari crash in 99 that made him a bit slower? And then Monte 2002 too maybe?

[Motorsportfun]

Czech driver Tomasz Czopik will change car, the same to Loix for the IRC.

Bye bye Polo, he's going to Punto!

[HaCo]

Czech driver Tomasz Czopik will change car, the same to Loix for the IRC.

Bye bye Polo, he's going to Punto!
Like that will help. I'm a bit dissapointed in Czopik. It is not only the Polo to blame. How many offs did he have this year? And what did he showed in Ypres? An(other) off in the last stage!!

The Polo has been succesfull in other hands and showed a VERY good pace in Ypres against the other Factory S2000, frankly it was the fastest car in hands of fast freddy.

Loix still has the pace, if he gets just a bit of luck he will show some very nice things in IRC. His carreer ended in the Mitsu, which was build for Makinnen (if he was still alife, Burnsie would confirm), Hyundai, well, it was never a top top car, still Freddy did some top stage times and I don't even start about the 307 season!!!

For me Loix is still the best combination of fast and smart in Belgium, hope he will get a greaaaat run in IRC!!!!

[Mirek]

Czopik is Polish driver, not Czech ;)

Anyway it doesn't matter how Czopik drove because he wasn't payed by René Georges. He paid René Georges to have reliable car. And the car wasn't reliable at all and what's more the team was often unable to repair it in time. So he changed the team. Yes it is a bit strange that Czopik had a lot more technical problems than other drivers on Polo's but generaly it changes nothing.

[Brother John]

]Czopik is Polish driver, not Czech ;)

Anyway it doesn't matter how Czopik drove because he wasn't payed by René Georges. He paid René Georges to have reliable car. And the car wasn't reliable at all and what's more the team was often unable to repair it in time. So he changed the team. Yes it is a bit strange that Czopik had a lot more technical problems than other drivers on Polo's but generaly it changes nothing.

I also don´t believe that René Georges is a good team!
A lot of small mistakes happen with the Polo all the time.
Loix is fast but was not at the finnisch in Ypres. :confused:
Another rally he could not start because the team had no parts!
Why we don´t see it more in IRC? You are right, the polo S2000 is still not reliable.

[merlin]

Is the rumour true that GT cars blike the porsche and ASton will be allowed into IRC next year?

[Grant_RSA]

Why we don´t see it more in IRC? You are right, the polo S2000 is still not reliable.

there has to be a problem at Rene Georges. the reliability of the Polo in South Africa is not a problem at all, with as far as i remember, only 2 retirements so far this season from the 4 cars, both being drivers errors, ie taking a wheel off the car!

Im quite surprised how anti VW and Toyota most are over there, the cars are running very well in this country with minimum problems and at a serious pace!

[AndyRAC]

there has to be a problem at Rene Georges. the reliability of the Polo in South Africa is not a problem at all, with as far as i remember, only 2 retirements so far this season from the 4 cars, both being drivers errors, ie taking a wheel off the car!

Im quite surprised how anti VW and Toyota most are over there, the cars are running very well in this country with minimum problems and at a serious pace!


May have something to do with not suiting their marketing or image, after all they're both no longer involved in Rallying at works level.

[sal]

!

Im quite surprised how anti VW and Toyota most are over there, the cars are running very well in this country with minimum problems and at a serious pace!

Dont think anyone is "anti" any team be it in the IRC or any other championship however there may be some bad feeling be due to the hold up of parts etc that intially led to teams in Portugal moving over to Fiats from Toyotas and the RED team in the UK who after all are distributers for the Corolla having to start the BRC with an untested car

[Alex Nakhapetov]

Welcome to Russia IRC round!

Something to see about rallying in Russia:

http://www.rallyrus.spb.ru/eng/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1184058355&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

We invite to take a look on the competition with RallyRUS photographers and journalists on http://www.rallyrus.spb.ru!

Thank you!

[Koppomsbo]

swedish driver Jimmy Joge is going for the russian event

[Alex Nakhapetov]

By the way - entry list for rally Russia:

http://www.rallyrussia.com/info/Spisok4-07.xls

[A.F.F.]

Navarra vs. Alen :bounce:

Interesting to see Sola and Frank's boy Joseph pushing those FWDs :D

[Alex Nakhapetov]

Saint-Petersburg's rally history and... SSS "how it could be".

"Welcome to Russia! Vol.2"

http://www.rallyrus.spb.ru/eng/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1184067630&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

With rallygirls and flights near Hermitage :)

[Tom206wrc]

I can't wait for the russian event to start :bounce:

And as coming from France I'd shout: GO NICOLAS VOUILLOZ !!!! :D :p :

[HaCo]

I can't wait for the russian event to start :bounce:

And as coming from France I'd shout: GO NICOLAS VOUILLOZ !!!! :D :p :

I woner if those g-strings are fireproof... :D

[Xsara Fan]

News from Vyborg.

Results from Shakedown:

1. Vouilloz 00:56.9 (at third try)
2. Alen 00:57.0 (at first try)
3. Zhigunov 00:57.3 (at third try)
= Zimin 00:57.3 (at first & second try)
5. Navarra 00:57.9 (at first try)
6. Ojeda 00:58.8 (at first try)
7. Sola 01:00.3 (at second try)

Special 4 you
Xsara Fan & White Sauron :)

[Xsara Fan]

First gallery from shakedown:
http://rrch.ru/component/option,com_zoom/Itemid,59/catid,26/

[Tom206wrc]

Thanks for the pics Xsara Fan :up:

[Donney]

Yep thanks!

[Xsara Fan]

You welcome, guys! :)

Yesterday I have a great experience - 'fun drive' with Simon Jean-Joseph! It was so great. Amazing drive, amazing pilot!

Simon & me:

http://www.citroensport.km.ru/temp/Simon%20and%20XsaraFan.jpg

[eppel]

Are Ojeda og Vouilloz driving the same cars as in Ypres? Vouilloz crashed heavily in Ypres...

[Tom206wrc]

Are Ojeda og Vouilloz driving the same cars as in Ypres? Vouilloz crashed heavily in Ypres...



I think they are the same cars...Peugeot-Sport Spain team should have had time enough to repair the car between Ypres and Russia...

I knew Vouilloz rolled several times in Ieper but was the car in so bad shape ?? :confused:

[HaCo]

I think they are the same cars...Peugeot-Sport Spain team should have had time enough to repair the car between Ypres and Russia...

I knew Vouilloz rolled several times in Ieper but was the car in so bad shape ?? :confused:

I don't think he rolled, he turned around a few times so all sides of the car were hit, if I remember well...
I'm a bit lazy, but u could check it in this video http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid155905698/bclid155898705/bctid1078602394 ;)

[jonas_mcrae]

yeah he kindda rolled-turned several times in an interview he said among other things "I destroyed the car..."! but It didnt look so bad from the in-car camera.

[jonas_mcrae]

Rally Russia is looking good!! thanks fro the pics and videos
by the way dont u think the local guys have good chances of winning?

[Tom206wrc]

Gilles Panizzi in a 207 S2000 on a very known for him rally(Sanremo) it's official !!! :bounce:

He will drive a 2nd 207 from Racing Lion and will be Luca Rossetti's teammate for the occasion :D

[Donney]

Another good driver joins the ranks, great news.

[White Sauron]

read all our teams' news on http://www.rallyrussia.com! Much better than ircseries.com ;) )