Like Skoda UK. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
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Like Skoda UK. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
Great to see Atko driving regularly Word Rally Car!
Shame for Araújo, but if you think about more the case it will open. There was only seven events for him in the beginning of the season and Armindo Araujo WRT (prepared by Motorsport Italia) was registered as a WRC Teams to contest the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers. Seven events was enough to be eligible for the points, when being only WRC Teams.
They contested already the first Round in Monte Carlo, but after that Prodrive and their MINI WRC Team (already registered as a Manufacturers) noticed that it will be impossible for them to contest the whole WRC series.
And then Prodrive agreed with FIA that newly created WRC Team MINI Portugal (prepared by Motorsport Italia) was to replace MINI WRC Team in the series to contest the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers.
They knew the situation already in February and there has been a lot of time to find new driver after Araújo has contested his program. It has to be remember that it was vital for Prodrive and also for BMW/MINI that some MINI team was registered as a Manufacturers team and contested the whole WRC series with two cars. Without this MINI John Cooper Works WRC would have never got the official homologation to be a World Rally Car.
The story will not tell how much Atkinson has to pay to drive Motorsport Italia´s MINI, but I would say that also Prodrive and BMW/MINI are supporting this program, because it is only way to achieve the homologation. After that Prodrive is able to sell new generation World Rally Cars and BMW has fulfilled their agreement with Prodrive. Hopefully the co-operation will continue next season, but I have a doubt...
Yes but Norwegian driver is some kind of tradition for Škoda UK. It used to be John Haugland and with Andreas Mikkelsen it's a kind of continuing the story. I even think John somehow participated on the career of Andreas at least I think he brought him to the steering wheel of Fabia S2000 in Škoda home event - Bohemia 2009...Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Pacheco
Good news for atko. lets hope he will show some good pace for the rest of the season, so maybe he can secure a No2 factory seat at citroen for next year, with Hirvo No1 as Loeb will end at the end of this season ;)
to be continued...
Even if he wins all stages and all events from now on, that thing is not going to happen. At best he is going to get support to drive some events next year as well...Quote:
Originally Posted by spiderem
He did nothing this year so here's the chance.
why not?Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Were the sponsors on Armindo's car affiliated to him or Motorsport Italia? I only ask as I think it will be interesting to see how the livery will change once Atko gets to Germany.
I hope they keep the black & white / chequered flag-livery.
They were definitely associated with him. And have been for some years during his PWRC days.Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
It shouldn't be such a surprise that he's been moved on. He was only really planning a 7 round campaign, and he's had 8.
They obviously have the budget to do the full 13, so why not get someone in who can both top that up and bring better results?
Perhaps it's part of Motorsport Italia's plan to secure a 2013 contribution from BMW.