Silly Season 2008 [Archive] - Motorsport Forums

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Sulland

16th September 2007, 22:48

PLuto

17th September 2007, 00:00

Tom206wrc

17th September 2007, 11:10

I guess french drivers Julien Pressac and Brice Tirabassi will enter next year, forming a "BSA/Yacco Team" with their 207 S2000 :D

I'm also 95% sure Peugeot-Sport Spain will run again the championship with current drivers Ojeda and Vouilloz ;)

In Belgium, Kronos and Peugeot Benelux have signed a two years deal, so it's official they will be there next year, remains the question if it'll be with two cars or one like now... :confused:

I hope Gilles Panizzi and "2007 polish champion" Bryan Bouffier will run most of IRC events next year too :mark:

Concerning the Fiat Grande Punto and other S2000s(Toyota, VW, MG, Ford,...)no idea of the 2008 program :confused:

Xsara Fan

17th September 2007, 12:19

As I heard 16-years old Eugeny Novikov, who had a great battle with Anton Alen during 'Vyborg-2007', will start in IRC 2008 as 'Red Bull' driver. For the moment his manager`s choose a car - Mitsubishi Lancer or one S2000...

jacko

17th September 2007, 12:28

What will happen to IRC in its 2nd season ?

How much will it grow, how many car-types will enter, or will come along during 2008 ?

Will it continue to give us as exiting rallies as it has been in its first real season ?

Which teams and drivers will enter for 2008 ?

think it will be mad house with a lot of quality entries :)

Fiat Abarth will be there again with factory support (Anton Alen, Navara?) and with a lot of "private" drivers, same for Peugeot (Peugeot Spain, Peugeot Italy, BSA, Kronos). New cars could be VW (Polo), Loix, who will compete next year also, is testing wich car he will enter next year (Fiat or VW). Also Honda is likely to build a S2000 car although not at the start of next year.
Also Skoda is thought to have plans in that direction. All in all a lot of both quantity and quality enties for sure and it's said that it will be a championship with 12 rounds!

Tom206wrc

17th September 2007, 21:16

think it will be mad house with a lot of quality entries :)

Fiat Abarth will be there again with factory support (Anton Alen, Navara?) and with a lot of "private" drivers, same for Peugeot (Peugeot Spain, Peugeot Italy, BSA, Kronos).
...

Don't forget Peugeot Portugal(Bruno Magalhaes)and Peugeot Hungary(Janika) :D

Wim_Impreza

18th September 2007, 11:22

It seems it will be only between Fiat and Peugeot, no other markes who could fight for victory... Not that good.

Tom206wrc

18th September 2007, 11:48

It seems it will be only between Fiat and Peugeot, no other markes who could fight for victory... Not that good.

Other teams are late and/or debute only during the 2007 season, at least in Europe... :mark:

sal

18th September 2007, 14:52

These are my thoughts/hopes for what they are worth.

In 08 I would like to see better tv coverage from Eurosport with commentators who know what they are talking about! The footage I've seen this year has been disjointed with ill informed comment, if I hear another Punto being referred to as a Grande Abarth I'll smash my tv! To say it's a Eurosport backed championship this is all quite strange.

A round in the UK would be nice but again we've probably shot ourselves in the foot on that one.

Teams other than the works Fiat set up doing a full championship. Whats the point in having rounds in Africa and China if only one serious team enter cars on the event? A 12 event championship is a nice to have but who will have the budget to do it?

MG and VW to enter cars aswell as the odd Toyota etc.

playmo

18th September 2007, 16:56

It is true that there is no point in having rounds outside europe (costly for most teams), BUT irc most likely will come to Mexico (yeah, i know: So what?) and since it is my only chance of seeing them, i'm glad it's really becoming a WORLD championship, not just europe+ (if you know what i mean ;) ). But the again, as far as "here" is, don't know how many teams will come :( . Aside this, the option for teams to "skip" events is something that attracts them, as they're not obligated to compete the full c'ship and still win the title.

pino

22nd September 2007, 19:12

Anton Alen has renewed his contract with Fiat Abarth for 3 more years :

http://www.abarth.it/blog/articolo.asp?articolo=6

Tom206wrc

22nd September 2007, 19:32

Good news for Fiat ;)

Donney

23rd September 2007, 13:18

Good news for all of us.

Buzz Lightyear

23rd September 2007, 16:25

Good news then...?

DonJippo

24th September 2007, 14:14

Anton Alen has renewed his contract with Fiat Abarth for 3 more years :

Three years...quite a long contract I would say...makes one wonder to where Fiat might be heading...

Karbonyl

24th September 2007, 16:27

Actually there are rumours that Alen should run Grande Punto S2000 in next year's PC WRC.

A.F.F.

24th September 2007, 17:44

Three years...quite a long contract I would say...makes one wonder to where Fiat might be heading...

Exactly. If only there was someone with direct phonenumber so he could ask him.

DonJippo

24th September 2007, 19:05

Exactly. If only there was someone with direct phonenumber so he could ask him.

Here you go...118 :D

PLuto

24th September 2007, 20:36

Exactly. If only there was someone with direct phonenumber so he could ask him.

I have his number, but I dont speak finish :angel:

Karbonyl

24th September 2007, 20:48

I have his number, but I dont speak finish :angel: So why do you have his number? :D

A.F.F.

24th September 2007, 21:15

Here you go...118 :D

Cheers but I know this guy who have all these China connections. I'll ask him ;)

[Madeira-Rally]

26th September 2007, 09:50

It looks like Bruno Magalhães and Peugeot Portugal will run severall events in IRC 2008! ;)

http://www.fotosralis.online.pt/centro2e07/images/IMG_1636.jpg

Tom206wrc

26th September 2007, 16:00

Any idea of 2008 plans for MSD/MG S2000 ??? :confused:

PLuto

26th September 2007, 16:08

Any idea of 2008 plans for MSD/MG S2000 ??? :confused:

They are thinking about whole IRC, but next weeks will show more...

Tom206wrc

26th September 2007, 16:32

With Alexandre Bengué as driver too ??? :confused:

Mirek

26th September 2007, 16:38

Maybe...

[Madeira-Rally]

14th October 2007, 12:57

Brice Tirabassi annouced that he will compete in IRC 2008 with BSA!! ;)

Great news!

Livewireshock

14th October 2007, 14:08

Teams other than the works Fiat set up doing a full championship. Whats the point in having rounds in Africa and China if only one serious team enter cars on the event? A 12 event championship is a nice to have but who will have the budget to do it?

It is called the InterCONTINENTAL Rally Challenge, it would be pointless to constrict it to just one continent, Europe. It is early days & the S2000 cars have not been available to many people outside of Europe. In time, with works cars sold on plus others, the long haul IRC rallies will be better.

Point to note, Fiat only won the IRC class of the Safari Rally. They were soundly beaten into third by two Gp. N cars overall. So it was entertaining to follow, even if the Eurosport coverage ignored the true winners of the rally.

Tom206wrc

14th October 2007, 14:26

]Brice Tirabassi annouced that he will compete in IRC 2008 with BSA!! ;)

Great news!

Great !!!! I hope Julien Pressac will also be part of the team :D

Tom206wrc

14th October 2007, 15:15

I wonder if after his great performance in Corsica this week-end(10th overall as final result)we'll see Dani Sola on the 207 S2000 for next year IRC instead of the Honda Civic R3 this year... ;)

Alvaro_Rally

14th October 2007, 16:18

I wonder if after his great performance in Corsica this week-end(10th overall as final result)we'll see Dani Sola on the 207 S2000 for next year IRC instead of the Honda Civic R3 this year... ;)

Maybe we´ll see him in a new Honda S-2000...

Sulland

14th October 2007, 22:35

Maybe we´ll see him in a new Honda S-2000...

Do Honda have plans for a S2000 of the Civic, if so - when ?

Have anyone heard of Simon Jean-Joseph's plans for 2008 - is he coming in a S2000 ?

Tom206wrc

15th October 2007, 11:17

Good question about Simon Jean-Joseph :confused:

I propose he drives the official C2 S1600 on tarmac but the 207 S2000 on gravel events :p :

JAM

15th October 2007, 12:15

We need more cars than Peugeot and Fiat. The manufacturers are sleeping about S2000 cars, maybe to see what the future will reserve. But with no more that 2 manufacturers the future is not shinny.

Bruno Magalhães is not confirmed. Peugeot Portugal is still in negotiation with potential sponsors.

15th October 2007, 12:47

Rene Georges are hopeful of running a 2 car Polo team next year and hopefully the MG thing will take off - it does have the backing of the manufacturer apparantly.

Remember we only have 4 manufacturers in the WRC, and that is if you include Suzuki already.

I am confident IRC 2008 will be more competitive than 2007, which was already much better than 2006.

JAM

15th October 2007, 15:34

Rene Georges are hopeful of running a 2 car Polo team next year

VW Polo S2000 has the development stoped. The cars need to be developed to be more competitive and catch Peugeot and Fiat. And they are not very cheap.

15th October 2007, 20:47

VW Polo S2000 has the development stoped. The cars need to be developed to be more competitive and catch Peugeot and Fiat. And they are not very cheap.

Actually the Polo seems pretty fast, Loix was quick on Ypres and Hevia has won some events in it too.

Sulland

16th October 2007, 22:58

There is a challenge to develop a rally-car as a privat team ala Georges and RED, and to a certain extent also Abarth. The Peugeot Factory Motorsport arm has a lot of resources and experience - it is hard to match that even for Abarth I would think.

If a privateer is to buy a S2000 the safest bet right now seems to be the 207, but I am hoping more manufacturers are coming in.

But a few are probably sitting on the fence waiting on the final outcome of the Chandler Working Group, looking at the Rally future. If all WRC cars has to be based on a S2000 or Group N, then most of them would go for S2000 I am guessing !

Tom206wrc

16th October 2007, 23:48

Many privateers also buy the Fiat Grande Punto S2000 ;)

17th October 2007, 17:24

Many privateers also buy the Fiat Grande Punto S2000 ;)

Are there any S2000 cars for sale, and if so where ? Website/ Link

Tom206wrc

17th October 2007, 17:51

No idea about S2000s for sale :confused:

I imagine you have rather better to contact directly all teams owning the S2000s or the constructors... :mark:

HaCo

17th October 2007, 21:30

The civic is a nice development too, it isn't a big team either...

23rd October 2007, 19:55

Toyota Auris S2000 for 2008: http://www.rallyworld.net/news.asp?id=1485

Hopefully it will come to Europe when FIA Homologated !

Koppomsbo

24th October 2007, 06:59

Are there any S2000 cars for sale, and if so where ? Website/ Link

http://www.rallycarsforsale.net/ some polos there

NRI

24th October 2007, 13:44

No idea about S2000s for sale :confused:

I imagine you have rather better to contact directly all teams owning the S2000s or the constructors... :mark:

Philippe Mermet want to sell his Punto S2000.

Sulland

28th October 2007, 20:10

Philippe Mermet want to sell his Punto S2000.

What model is that one, and how much does he want for it, ish ?

Tom206wrc

28th October 2007, 23:54

:confused:

I thought Mermet rent his Grande Punto from the AutomecaSport team !!!

6th November 2007, 18:08

Lokks like the following cars will be homologated for 08;

Peugeot 207
Fiat Abarth Grande Punto
Toyota Corolla and/or Auris (Grifone taking over Euro Development)
VW Polo
MG ZR
Skoda Fabia (late 08)
Ford Fiesta (Britek in Aus will get it homologated in 08)

So if this goes according to plan, drivers will have 7 cars to choose from, that hopefully are evenly matced !

It would be fun if Renault/Dacia could blow life into their S2000 project again as well, but all in all 7 manufacturers to choose from is not bad in two years development !!

HaCo

6th November 2007, 19:25

M5, how sure are you about this info? Is this based on rumour?
Very interesting though!!

6th November 2007, 22:51

M5, how sure are you about this info? Is this based on rumour?
Very interesting though!!

What part ??

HaCo

7th November 2007, 09:12

M5, this part:

Lokks like the following cars will be homologated for 08;

Peugeot 207
Fiat Abarth Grande Punto
Toyota Corolla and/or Auris (Grifone taking over Euro Development)
VW Polo
MG ZR
Skoda Fabia (late 08)
Ford Fiesta (Britek in Aus will get it homologated in 08)

Espacially the Fiesta I find interesting... :D

PS: just found something interesting on this one http://www.rally.com.au/home/features/articleid=2652

7th November 2007, 21:59

OldF

8th November 2007, 18:16

Sent an e-mail to Britek Motorsport in Australia for some info on the future of their Fiesta S2000 project.

They are saying that they will have a meeting with FIA in November to talk 2008 Homologation.

Due to the number of cars they have to make, Britek wrote that they are aiming for full FIA Homologation by second half of 08.

Price details: New car is US$250,000 – ready to run.

A full spares package $US120,000 which includes:

Engine
Gearbox and transmission – including prop shaft and drive shafts
2 complete sets of panels – including doors and bumpers
1 complete set of suspension – including uprights
16 rims (Braid)
Full complement of consumable spares

I have not compared this to Pug, VW or Fiat prices, so I do not know how they compare, but the US Dollar is cheap these days...

This is approx. the same price as the official price set by FIA, 168.000 €. One thing I’m wondering about is the “ready to run”. I understand that a “ready to run” car is a complete car ready to start in a rally, not a kit, as it seems to be. In addition to the kit you need a standard car and work to assemble the car. A real “real ready to run” car’s price is higher as you can see from an earlier post in this same thread: (http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-112634-p-3.html. I wonder from where eppel got those prices?

It’s the same with the S1600. FIA set the maximum price to 120.000 € but with that money you get only the parts (for example Citroën S1600’s kit consists of almost 900 parts).

Here is a link to the “2004 HOMOLOGATION REGULATIONS FOR SUPER 2000 KIT-VARIANT (RALLIES)” for those who’s interested of the homologation procedure, what is allowed to be homologated etc. (word document) http://www.rallystar.co.za/article/articleview/2605/1/1/

Lokks like the following cars will be homologated for 08;

Peugeot 207
Fiat Abarth Grande Punto
Toyota Corolla and/or Auris (Grifone taking over Euro Development)
VW Polo
MG ZR
Skoda Fabia (late 08)
Ford Fiesta (Britek in Aus will get it homologated in 08)

So if this goes according to plan, drivers will have 7 cars to choose from, that hopefully are evenly matced !

It would be fun if Renault/Dacia could blow life into their S2000 project again as well, but all in all 7 manufacturers to choose from is not bad in two years development !!

It would also be nice see some bigger cars in the IRC but they have the disadvantage because of the weight as with the Toyota Corolla. There was an article in 2005 in a finish rally magazine “Vauhdin Maailama” about VW Polo and Toyota. When they weighted them before the start of the South-African rally, the two Polos weighted 1178 kg and 1186 kg and the Toyotas 1216 kg and 1225 kg (min. weight for S2000 gravel is 1150 kg). The Toyota is on average about 40 kg heavier than the Polo and if the Toyota also has less power (I’ve red / heard about 265 hp) compared the other ones (270 hp – 280 hp), it’s not a wonder if the Toyotas can’t keep the pace compare to the competitors. Compared to the Pug (1170 kg / 280 hp), the Toyota’s weight should be 1110 kg to have the same kg / hp ratio as the Pug. But, allowing bigger restrictors for bigger and / or heavier cars could solve this problem.

In the newest issue of the same finish rally magazine is an article about the IRC and in the article they say that the IRC organisation has contacted the organisation of the Arctic Lapland Rally and asked them if they are interested to arrange an IRC event. The arranger of the Artic Lapland Rally said that it’s OK but depends on how much money the IRC want for the registration to the IRC series.

I hope don’t got bored / felled to sleep reading this. :s mokin:

Tom206wrc

9th November 2007, 11:27

According to this month Echappement magazine, Mathieu Biasion will run eight events of the 2008 IRC in a 207 S2000 !!! :D :D

Tom206wrc

22nd November 2007, 14:56

According to this month Echappement magazine, Mathieu Biasion will run eight events of the 2008 IRC in a 207 S2000 !!! :D :D

Now it's official, 7 rounds of IRC next year for Biasion... ;)

Sulland

24th November 2007, 12:17

Abarth:
1) Basso
2) Alen

Peugeot Spain:
1) Vouilloz
2) Ojeda

Racing Lions:
1) Panizzi

Kronos:
1) Casier
2) Duval?
3) Stohl?
4) ??

Borrowed from:http://www.rallye-info.com/forum.asp?sid=11&boardid=13&action=thread&threadid=6694&new=7&page=1

Sulland

4th December 2007, 21:00

Now that 2007 is getting towards the end, do we have any more confirmations on teams or drivers ready for 2008 ?

Tom206wrc

12th December 2007, 15:43

No more news about drivers entering IRC08 whatever car it is(S2000, GrN, or others) ??? :confused: