National Rally championships News

More:
Filipe Freitas- Renault Clio S1600
http://www.motoresmagazine.com/fotos/filipeaecio/1.JPG

Vitor Lopes- Citroën C2 S1600
http://fotos.ralismadeira.com/main.php/d/20442-2/3.jpg

Rui Pinto-Subaru
http://fotos.ralismadeira.com/main.php/d/20349-2/13.jpg

João Magalhães- Mitsubishi EVO IX
http://fotos.ralismadeira.com/main.php/d/20071-2/9.jpg


Rui Fernandes- Mitsubishi EVO IX
http://fotos.ralismadeira.com/main.php/d/19749-2/5.jpg

Pics Sources:
http://www.ralismadeira.com
http://www.motoresmagazine.com

from Latvian championship (this should interest British members):

British duo Tom Cave / Gemma Price (former co-driver for Antony Warmbold) will participate in the second round of Latvian Club rally championship, in order to obtain a license for participation in Latvian Rally Championship. A press release states, that Tom Cave is a 16-year-old driver, who seeks an opportunity to gain experience outside UK. They will start in a Honda Civic Type R, group N3 (from a Latvian team). In case of a succesful performance, the duo is expected to copmete in the remaining 5 rallies of the Latvian Championship.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Madeira

From Madeira Rally Champioship!
Tomorrow will sart our championship, Rally of Camacha

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Thanks a lot for the news and the pics. Do you maybe know where we can find live results?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wim_Impreza

Thanks a lot for the news and the pics. Do you maybe know where we can find live results?

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Here:
http://www.amaweb.pt/2007/ralidacamacha/

Thank you, Madeira.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Madeira

From Italy:

First Pics of Luca Rossetti's Peugeot 207 S2000

http://www.toscanarally.com/speciale...rossetti03.jpg

And a short video of tarmac tests
http://www.toscanarally.com/video/test_rossetti.MOV

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Thanks !! :up:
Is the first rally next week for him?

Yes! Italian rally championship will start next week with 30º Rally del Ciocco. One of my favourites National championships in Europe, really spectacular!
Rossetti will drive The peugeot S2000 for the first time in competition also next week. Last season he drove the 206 S1600 for Peugeot Italy.
http://www.cioccosporting.it/home_2006/

At the moment here is the entries for the Italian Championship.
As you know if a driver would like to score points for the campionship he needs to do a previous register.

http://www.acisportitalia.it/ACISpor...r?OpenFrameset

Ok, can't wait. :)

This is very nice.

This weekend it is the Ardenne Blue Rally, the first event of the belgian championship. You can follow results live from:
http://www.ris-timing.be/rallye/abr/2007/homeresu.htm

What is nice, is that pitstop tv is offering some footage allready, here is an interview of Fast Freddy afther the fourth stage:
http://www.pitstoptv.info/pitstop/?page_id=430

Unfortunatly he can't follow the Evo VIII A8 of Larry Cols very well, but he won one stage, that is something. It's a new car, so maybe we can expect more later in the weekend!

Part 1 of Day 1:
http://www.pitstoptv.info/pitstop/?page_id=430

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Madeira

Yes! Italian rally championship will start next week with 30º Rally del Ciocco. One of my favourites National championships in Europe, really spectacular!
Rossetti will drive The peugeot S2000 for the first time in competition also next week. Last season he drove the 206 S1600 for Peugeot Italy.
http://www.cioccosporting.it/home_2006/

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Apparently Racing Lions will also run a 206 S1600 in the CIR with a certain Guerra as driver(don't know him at all) ;)

It's about to be official !!!! Patrick Henry will drive a whale(from Bozian) on the french tarmac rallies championship this year !!!! :D

He will join Jean-Marie Cuoq and David Salanon, both on whale too, to offer them a really amazing fight for their money !! :up:

Can you give me some information about this year rally Hella or any contacts with organizer?

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Originally Posted by Jarek Z

Yes, now that Peugeot finally has a car that can win rallies, they are withdrawing :/

In the meantime I came across a nice entry list. Rally Valtiberina is not part of Italian championship, it's just a local gravel rally, but many good drivers entered this event. It will be Grossi's debut in Fiat Punto S2000.
Entry list can be seen here:
http://www.prsgroup.it/valtiberina_2007/iscritti.pdf
And official website of the event is here:
http://www.prsgroup.it/valtiberina_2007/index.htm
Not bad for a local event!

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Any pictures from this event?

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Originally Posted by Josti

Most certain and important entries of the 2007 Dutch championship:

* Erik Wevers - Toyota Corolla WRC (maybe a Fabia later on)
* Mark van Eldik - Subaru Impreza WRC (type not certain yet, S12 maybe)
* René Kuipers - Toyota Corolla WRC
* Dirk Boers - Subaru Impreza WRC '99
* Martin van Iersel - Subaru Impreza WRC '98
* Dave Turnbull - Subaru Impreza WRC (S9)
* Graham Coffey - Subaru Impreza WRC (S8 or 9)
* Ger Haverkate - Skoda Octavia WRC evo 3
* Jan de Winkel - Renault Clio S1600
* Ronald Koops - Volkswagen Polo S1600
* Hans Weijs sr. - Volkswagen Golf 4 Kit Car
* Ronald Leemans - Mitsubishi Lancer evo 6 (A)
* Jan v/d Marel - Mitsubishi Lancer evo 6 (A)
* Guy Woodcock - Ford Escort Kit Car

Some more Kit Cars, Mitsu's (A and N) and Subaru's (N). Peter Bijvelds will be participated in some of the rally's (Group A Lancer), but no championship aspirations from him this year. Also a rumoured Focus WRC in the championship and certaintly some guest appearances from more Irish and British drivers. No news on S2000's here. Nonetheless, best field in years :up:

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Let me talk you all thru everything new that’s up in our upcoming rallying season.

First things first: Let me correct this list above, as it isn't quite right. At this point the entry for the Dutch Rally Championship 2007 isn't closed yet, so it's hard to say who's got championship aspirations and which drivers just drive some events for fun. It’s seems like it’s gonna be one great season again though, with a lot of competitive cars in all classes, probably 10-15 World rally Cars at least and a couple of foreign drivers.

The biggest news is the fact that Peter van Merksteyn (drove a Kadett GSI in the early nineties) has bought himself a Focus RS WRC 06, arriving next summer. He’ll be making his debut with this car in Germany (the WRC round). After that he’ll continuing his outings in the Focus with participations in selective rounds of the WRC. While he’s got himself this amazing car, he bought his son (Peter van Merksteyn jr.) a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer evo 9 Group N. I guess (just my point of view) junior will gain some experience this season in the Evo, before taking the wheel of the Focus in some events in 2008. Meanwhile the daughter of Van Merksteyn senior will make her debut within a few weeks in Emmeloord (Tank S Rallysprint) behind the wheel of the Lancer Evolution, formerly owned by Jasper van den Heuvel. To be more precise: The car Van den Heuvel drove in last years Wales Rally GB (Evo 8 Gr N). Beside his World Rally Championship aspirations, Van Merksteyn sr. is also expected to drive some selective rounds of the Dutch Championship. Still not enough confirmed about that yet, so I can’t give you any more details.

After rallying for one year in Germany, former champ Erik Wevers gets back to his roots, driving in the whole Dutch Championship 2007 with his familiar Corolla WRC. Rene Kuipers and a yet unknown other driver will also participate with one of Wevers Sport Corolla WRCars in the upcoming season. I’m glad to see these ‘oldies’ again, as the Corolla’s still look pretty nice and can be quite fast too. Although I think they can’t match the speed of the Subaru WRC’s in 2007. After ‘losing’ the title in 2006, Mark van Eldik will give it another try this year. He will start the season with his Impreza WRC S10 and is expected to take the wheel of a S12 WRC in de second half of the season. Another familiar Subaru driver (Dirk Boers) finally got rid of his Impreza WRC99 (beautiful car, but really not that reliable) and got himself an Impreza WRC S7 for the upcoming season. I guess it’s still no match for Van Eldik’s more recent Impreza, but you’ll never know..
Martin van Iersel is another Dutch driver who bought himself a new Subaru toy. After driving an Impreza STI N12 last season, he got himself the ex-championship winning Impreza WRCar driven by Hans Stacey a few years ago. He’ll start 2007 with an evo 9 group N though. Before letting it out on the stages he wants to gain some experience with the WRC first.

From overseas we can expect a lot of fun watching the Kumho Rally Team this year, as they will enter two spectacular cars for the full Dutch Championship 2007. Guy Woodcock, who’s not a stranger to us Dutch rally fans anymore, will drive his Ford Escort Maxi Kitcar, while former national English champ David Mann could be an outsider in his Impreza WRC99. David Turnbull and Graham Coffey are two other foreign drivers to watch, as both of them will also drive the full championship in their Impreza WRCars (S7 and S8). Paddy White (West Euro Cup -Focus RS WRC05) and James Sparrow (Escort WRC) will drive selective rounds of the Dutch championship.

After his big Crash in last year’s Nederland Rally, Willy Kepser has started to rebuild his Escort WRC. He’s expecting tot return on the stages before the summer. After being badly hurt, his co-driver is finally making good progress. A few other Dutch drivers are working on a WRC project as well, but still didn’t come out with their plans yet. It wouldn’t be nicely if I gave there ‘secrets’ away, so I have to update you about that later. For sure is that we can expect a few WRCars which we didn’t see on the Dutch stages yet. Beside all those WRCars (I forgot to mention Haverkate’s Octavia WRC evo 3) a lot of drivers will start with other group A material. For example Piet Van Hoof, Arjen de Koning, Noortje van Gennip and Dirk Garvelink already registered for the Championship with their Mitsubishi Lancers.

The first round of the Dutch Championship will take place within two weeks. More information about this event can be found on the official website: http://www.tanksrally.nl.

Danish driver Martin Johansen will debut his Suzuki Swift Super 1600 in this event, while Hans-Erik Weng (driving a Lancer group N) is another foreign guest to look forward to. Johansen will have some strong competition, as Jan de Winkel (Renault Clio S1600), Ronald Koops (VW Polo S1600), Hans Weijs sr. (VW Golf 4 KC), Patrick Veenhuizen (Huyndai Coupe KC evo 2), Paul Allerts (Ford Fiesta S1600) and the earlier named Guy Woodcock also give it a try in de 2WD class. Weng should be expecting competition from Hans Weijs jr, Mark Steijger, Anton van Limpt, Peter van Merksteyn jr, Martin van Iersel, Johan Faes (all Mitsubishi) and Marco Schapers and Nelis Verkooijen (both Subaru).

Also some bad news from our country: The Hellendoorn Rally (Former Golden Tulip Rally) most likely will not be run in 2007.


I’ll give you an update as soon as possible.

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Originally Posted by PJRevs

Any pictures from this event?

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Sure! Rallylink.it never disappoints ;)
http://www.rallylinkserver.com/cgi-b...ltiberina_2007

Grossi's Punto S2000 can be seen here:
http://www.rallylinkserver.com/cgi-b....jpg&img=8&tt=

It seems that neither Grossi nor Andreucci finished the event. Final results of Rally Valtiberina can be found here:
http://www.tempionline.it/2007/rally...erina/GENE.HTM

Interesting !!!! Ex-Peugeot Spain driver David Nafria will run this season in the french 206 Cup !!!! :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jarek Z

Sure! Rallylink.it never disappoints ;)
http://www.rallylinkserver.com/cgi-b...ltiberina_2007

Grossi's Punto S2000 can be seen here:
http://www.rallylinkserver.com/cgi-b....jpg&img=8&tt=

It seems that neither Grossi nor Andreucci finished the event. Final results of Rally Valtiberina can be found here:
http://www.tempionline.it/2007/rally...erina/GENE.HTM

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Thanks!

Ardenne Blue Rally:
http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_m...dex.shtml?play

This weekend celebrates the 1st rallye of the Spanish Gravel Championship in Guijuelo (Salamanca).

Amazing entry list, and first head to head of the catalans, Dani Sola - Xevi Pons.

http://www.jarama.org/2007/tierra/In...O%20COCHES.pdf

By the way, Dani Sola has found sponsor for the next three years!

Solà y Champion juntos
Dani Solà y Champion juntos en rallyes
El número 1 Estatal será el máximo exponente de la marca en nuestro país

El actual campeón de España de rallyes de asfalto y subcampeón en el certamen de tierra, Dani Solà, ha llegado a un acuerdo con la prestigiosa marca Champion, gracias al cual el piloto catalán será el máximo representante de la imagen de Champion en el panorama automovilístico español. El acuerdo es por un período de tres años en todos los programas deportivos en los que Solà sea partícipe. La firma del acuerdo se llevó a cabo en Barcelona entre Vincent T’Siobbel, Marketing Manager de Champion, y el propio Dani Solà. Después de culminar la temporada 2006 llena de éxitos, con el título de campeón de España y un espectacular segundo puesto en la tierra, sin haber participado en todas las pruebas, el objetivo de este año de Dani Solà es subir un poco más el listón, y revalidar sus éxitos a nivel nacional a la vez de buscar nuevos horizontes a nivel internacional. Un completo programa de competiciones en 2007 realmente ambicioso que permitirá a Solà estar en el primer plano de las competiciones de rallyes y que en estos últimos días de febrero está en su fase de concreción definitiva.


Principales resultados deportivos de Dani Solà

2006 Campeón de España de rallyes de asfalto.
Subcampeón de España de rallyes de tierra.
2005 Participación con Ford en el mundial de rallyes.
2004 Participación con el equipo Mitsubishi en el mundial de rallyes.
Victoria en México en categoría producción.
2003 Mundial de rallyes en categoría producción.
2002 Campeón del mundo de rallyes categoría junior.
2001 Campeón de España rallyes de asfalto cat. F3.
5º en el campeonato de España rallyes de tierra.
Debut en el mundial de rallyes en Inglaterra.
2000 Campeón de España de rallyes asfalto cat. diésel
2º de España rallyes tierra cat. 2 ruedas motrices.
1999 Subcampeón Trofeo junior Copa Ibiza rallyes de tierra.
1998 Campeón Volant RACC-Desafío Peugeot.
1997 Tercero en el Volant RACC-Desafío Peugeot.
1996 Debut en competición.Barcelona.

That means he won't be on IRC this season!

Probably he will do something in IRC or WRC, that says in press release:

Objective: win the titles at national level and look for new horizons at international level

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Huufke

After ‘losing’ the title in 2006, Mark van Eldik will give it another try this year. He will start the season with his Impreza WRC S10 and is expected to take the wheel of a S12 WRC in de second half of the season.

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Confirmed today:

http://www.menmrally.nl/2007/ZZR/1024/s12-1.jpg
http://www.menmrally.nl/2007/ZZR/1024/s12-4.jpg
http://www.menmrally.nl/2007/ZZR/1024/s12-6.jpg

He'll start the season with his S10 Impreza WRC and take the wheel of his S12 within a month from now (LG Almere Rally, 1st of april). S8 as seen on the pictures is already sold.

A few photos from the tests that Sandro Sottile made in February. On his website he mentions that he already tested the new 18'' tyres in his Mitsubishi. But can you recognize it on the pictures?
http://www.sandrosottile.com/foto07/foto01.htm

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Le NaRcX

This weekend celebrates the 1st rallye of the Spanish Gravel Championship in Guijuelo (Salamanca).

Amazing entry list, and first head to head of the catalans, Dani Sola - Xevi Pons.

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Thank you for the news, but where is Alex Crivillé?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Le NaRcX

This weekend celebrates the 1st rallye of the Spanish Gravel Championship in Guijuelo (Salamanca).

Amazing entry list, and first head to head of the catalans, Dani Sola - Xevi Pons.

http://www.jarama.org/2007/tierra/In...O%20COCHES.pdf

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Great !!! I'll follow Enrique Garcia-Ojeda with interest !! :bounce:

I really hope a good perf from him like in Rali de Torrié two weeks ago :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wim_Impreza

Thank you for the news, but where is Alex Crivillé?

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Spanish National Television (TVE) has contracted Alex Crivillé for MotoGP coverage. But Álex conserves his Coroba WRC and will do a program reduced, something in national championship and maybe in catalan championship.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Le NaRcX

Spanish National Television (TVE) has contracted Alex Crivillé for MotoGP coverage. But Álex conserves his Coroba WRC and will do a program reduced, something in national championship and maybe in catalan championship.

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Ok, thanks and I hope when you have more news about his program, please just say it.

Experienced Italian driver Stefano Bizzarri will not continue his career in Campionato Italiano Rally in 2007. Athough he was very successful in Super 1600 cars, he will switch to Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX and compete in Mitsubishi Cup and Trofeo Rally Terra.

It looks that Fiat factory team has new colors in their livery

http://static.blogo.it/autoblog/le-r...g_DSC_0090.jpg :p

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Originally Posted by Madeira

It looks that Fiat factory team has new colors in their livery

http://static.blogo.it/autoblog/le-r...g_DSC_0090.jpg :p

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I just loooove that livery!!! :D :D Hope they come to Ypres ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Madeira

It looks that Fiat factory team has new colors in their livery

http://static.blogo.it/autoblog/le-r...g_DSC_0090.jpg :p

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I Love Fiat :D

No Toyotas Corolla S2000 this year in Portugal. The My Road Motorsport Team decided to buy 2 Lancers Evi IX at Ralliart Italy. It seems that the Corolla S2000 it's still not homologated... a big confusion.

Something is wrong with this toyotas and RED. Nevertheless many drivers were to England to test this cars, the truth is that we never heard any consistent project with the Corolla so far...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JAM

It seems that the Corolla S2000 it's still not homologated... a big confusion.

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Alister Mcrae did rally GB last year so it must be homologated.

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Originally Posted by Addicted

Alister Mcrae did rally GB last year so it must be homologated.

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Try to find the extension of homologation in KSR:



Complete list with number and type of extensions - Updated 08.03.2007

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Originally Posted by Addicted

Alister Mcrae did rally GB last year so it must be homologated.

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The homologation problem seems to concern the wheel-driver position on the left(for people driving on the right on the road) :mark:

According to http://www.autoklub.pl only the LHD version of the Corolla is homologated by FIA. The right version was supposed to be homologated on March 1, but it wasn't. What a failure for the Portuguese team! Such an exciting Super 2000 project turns into "just another Lancer" story. Maybe they should try VW Polo? According to Tomasz Czopik renting such car is only 10% more expensive than renting a Lancer!

Leading entries Tank S Rally, first Round Rallyclinic Dutch Open 2007:


1. Wevers - Toyota Corolla WRC (A8)
2. Van Eldik - Subaru Impreza WRC S10 (A8)
3. Vd Heuvel - Mitsubishi Lancer WRC (A8)
4. Boers - Subaru Impreza WRC S7 (A8)
5. Vossen - Mitsubishi Lancer WRC (A8)
6. Kuipers - Toyota Corolla WRC (A8)
7. Mann - Subaru Impreza WRC 99 (A8)
8. Turnbull - Subaru Impreza WRC S7 (A8)
9. Coffey - Subaru Impreza WRC S8 (A8)
10. Van Hoof - Mitsubishi Lancer evo 6 (A8)
11. vd Marel - Porsche 997 GT3 (GT)
12. De Koning - Mitsubishi Lancer evo 7 (A8)
14. De Winkel - Renault Clio Super 1600 (A6)
15. Weijs - Volkswagen Golf 4 Kitcar (A7)
16. Woodcock - Ford Escort Maxi Kitcar (A7)
17. Smits - Ford Escort RS Cosworth (H12)
18. Sparrow - Ford Escort WRC (H12)
19. Campling - Ford Escort RS Cosworth (H12)
20. Vossen - Mitsubishi Lancer evo 8 MR (N4 - only when Lancer WRC (no 5) isn't ready in time)
21. Weng - Mitsubishi Lancer evo 8 (N4)
22. Faes - Mitsubishi Lancer evo 9 (N4)
23. Verkooijen - Subaru Impreza WRX STI (N4)
24. Jensen - Subaru Impreza WRX STI N12B (B4)
25. Weijs jr. - Mitsubishi Lancer evo 9 (N4)


Full list pdf: http://www.tanksrally.nl/Docs/Deelne...Rally_2007.pdf

New car (the S12 he'll use from the third round of our championship) and livery Mark van Eldik's impreza: http://www.huuf.nl/ShowImage/eldiks12.jpg