Pressrelease today:Quote:
Originally Posted by wwbroe
All but one of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge’s seven manufacturers will represented on RACMSA Rally of Scotland next month, the man in charge of running the event has confirmed.
Clerk of the course Iain Campbell said he was pleased with the level of interest showed by competitors so far and added that the variety of different cars would guarantee thrilling action on the stages when the event runs from November 19-21.
“Although both the IRC and 2WD Cup titles are wrapped up, almost every manufacturer will be represented and that’s great news,” said Campbell. “It’s fair to say we haven’t got as many entries as we had hoped but the quality is impeccable and it will be good for the British drivers who will get a lot of the attention.”
Great news for the fans who have followed the action in 2009 is that Czech hero Jan Kopecky is one of those set to take part. Despite surrendering the battle for this year's IRC crown to Kris Meeke in Sanremo last month, Kopecky will aim to end his season on a high in Scotland.
Kopecky, who cannot be caught for second in the drivers’ standings, is likely to drive a privately-run Skoda Fabia 2000 because the factory team, who whom he has driven all season, have not included the Scottish round in its original schedule.
David Bogie, the winner of the Motor Sports Association-sanctioned Scottish Rally Championship, will make his Intercontinental Rally Challenge debut on Rally of Scotland next month.
The 22-year-old from Dumfries clinched the Scottish title on the Colin McRae Forest Stages in early October. The event uses the same stages that will be included in the itinerary for the IRC finale on November 19-20.
“There was no way I was going to miss this – it’s such a huge event and it’s coming to my country,” said Bogie, who will drive a Ralliart Lancer E9. “I know the terrain and the stages but I don’t for one minute think I will be on the same pace as the leading IRC boys. But I’d like to think I can put on a good show.”
Bogie, who is highly rated in his homeland, is one of three local drivers to have won a free entry for the gravel event as part of his prize for finishing in the top three of Scottish Group N classification.
He joins a wealth of top talent from across Great Britain and Ireland including newly-crowned IRC champion Kris Meeke, this year's MSA British Rally Championship winner Keith Cronin and former British and Asia-Pacific champion Alister McRae
The Intercontinental Rally Challenge will feature two mixed surface events next season. And Kris Meeke, the IRC drivers’ champion, said he cannot wait to take on the challenge of competing on gravel and asphalt on the same rally.
IRC’s provisional 12-event calendar for 2010 will include mixed surface rounds in Italy (Sanremo) and Cyprus. Drivers will tackle one leg on asphalt before switching to gravel for the other leg, with teams required to make alterations to the set-up of their cars during the overnight halt.
The format will not only test the teams, but will also require the drivers to adapt their driving styles from one day to the next.
“It’s an awesome calendar with some classic events,” said Meeke. “I can’t wait to get started and the mixed surface rallies are going to be something really different and really exciting.”
Citroen WRC driver Sebastien Ogier wants to defend his Monte Carlo Rally victory by entering the opening round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge next January.
Ogier delivered victory at the wheel of the BFGoodrich Drivers’ Team Peugeot 207 S2000 with a mature performance on the world's most famous rally back in January. Now he wants to return for the spectacular event when it opens the IRC's 2010 calendar.
“I would have to drive a Peugeot again because of my relationship with the Peugeot family through the Citroen brand,” said the 25-year-old Frenchman. “I would also have to make sure that I am in a car that I can fight to win. If these two things happen then I would love to do the event because it is very important and a very tough challenge for any driver.”
Ogier competes for the Citroen Junior Team on the WRC but has made no secret of his desire to tackle more IRC events. Next year’s Monte Carlo Rally takes place from January 19-23 and includes 14 hours of live television coverage.
