2013 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies

[kober]

The calendar for the 2013 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies was posted two months ago, with no changes compared to this year. There will be five European bajas and three marathons in the Middle East, the latter with double points:

2013 DATE	COUNTRY	NAME				2012 WINNERS
14 MAR - 17 MAR	ITA	Italian Baja			Vasilyev/Yevtyekhov (G-Force Proto)
05 APR - 11 APR	AER	Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge	Schlesser/Zhiltsov (Sonangol Schlesser)
28 APR - 04 MAY	QAT	Sealine Cross Country Rally	Al-Attiyah/Cruz (Overdrive Toyota)
19 JUL - 21 JUL	ESP	Baja Espana Aragon		Peterhansel/Cottret (X-raid Mini)
TBC - TBC	HUN	Hungarian Baja			Gadasin/Kuzmich (G-Force Proto)
29 AUG - 01 SEP	POL	Baja Poland			Holowczyc/Palmero (X-raid Mini)
29 SEP - 05 OCT	EGY	Pharaohs Rally			Al Mutaiwei/Schulz (X-raid Mini)
01 NOV - 02 NOV	PRT	Baja Portalegre			Zapletal/Marton (Offroadsport Hummer)

Note that every single rally in 2012 was won by a different crew. In the end, the 2012 World Cup have been taken by Al Mutaiwei/Schulz, who finished ahead of Zapletal/Marton and Schlesser/Zhiltsov.

[kober]

The first three World Cup rallies are behind us, and there were three different winners - same situation as in 2012 - although Schlesser/Zhiltsov were on podium on all occasions, so it's small wonder that they're leading the classification. There are five rallies to go, but four of them are bajas, and Holowczyc/Schulz (who are doing the whole season) might be able to catch up. In such a case Schulz would be the Co-drivers' champion fourth time in a row - he won the title in 2010 and 2011 with Novitskiy, and in 2012 with Al Mutaiwei.

*** Italian Baja ****
1. Varela/Guglielmin (Overdrive Toyota)
2. Holowczyc/Schulz (X-raid Mini)
3. Schlesser/Zhiltsov (Schlesser)

*** Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge ***
1. Roma/Perin (X-raid Mini)
2. Schlesser/Zhiltsov (Schlesser)
3. ten Brinke/Baumel (HRX Ford)

*** Sealine Cross Country Rally ***
1. Schlesser/Zhiltsov (Schlesser)
2. Holowczyc/Schulz (X-raid Mini)
3. Coffaro/Meneses (Overdrive Toyota)

Classification after three rallies:
1. Schlesser/Zhiltsov - 122
2. Holowczyc/Schulz - 87
3. Roma/Perin - 60

[MartijnS]

We went to the Sealine Cross Country last week for team van Merksteijn. My first Cross Country Rally, liked it! Obviously not as spectacular as a WRC Rally, but still really nice to see/photograph. Especially in the dunes its nice! Hopefully more will follow and Dakar offcourse!











Some more photos and the teamvideos of van Merksteijn can be found at our Facebook Page !

[kober]

Sealine Cross Country Rally Qatar 2013 by Rallymedia

PS. It's a shame that JLS don't compete on Dakar anymore

[JHvP]

I do not know, I think AER is more Dakar than American "Dakar", so I am happy JLS is there :-) Only pity there is no competition for him..

[MartijnS]

Yeah and he's still really enthousiastic about the AER so don't see anything changing about that. Really nice guy and still has the speed!

[kober]

Another three rounds had been completed (dominated by Mini and Hilux drivers), and since the Pharaohs Rally has been postponed until May 2014, there's only one rally left in this season's World Cup - Baja Portalegre. Note, that the top three crews are just eight points apart before the final event.

*** Baja Aragon ****
1. Roma/Perin (X-raid Mini)
2. Terranova/Fiuza (X-raid Mini)
3. Peterhansel/Cottret (X-raid Mini)

*** Hungarian Baja ***
1. Roma/Perin (X-raid Mini)
2. Holowczyc/Schulz (X-raid Mini)
3. Coffaro/Meneses (Overdrive Toyota)

*** Baja Poland ***
1. Zheludov/Rudnitski (Overdrive Toyota)
2. Dabrowski/Czachor (Overdrive Toyota)
3. Zapletal/Marton (Hummer)

Classification after six events:
1. Schlesser/Zhiltsov - 126
2. Roma/Perin - 120
3. Holowczyc/Schulz - 118

[Plan9]

Does anyone have online video of these events?

[Fri]

one from Hungarian Baja:
HunGarian Baja 2013 - rallyheart.hu - YouTube

[kober]

The seventh and last round is over and Holowczyc/Schulz are the 2013 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies winners. It's the first World Cup for Holowczyc, and fourth (in a row) for Schulz.

*** Baja Portalegre ***
1. Holowczyc/Schulz (X-raid Mini)
2. Kaczmarski/Palmeiro (X-raid Mini)
3. Grancha/Grancha (BMW Evo X1)

2013 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies - final classification:
1. Holowczyc/Schulz - 147
2. Schlesser/Zhiltsov - 126
3. Roma/Perin - 120