2012 IRC: Rallies, teams, drivers

Toni Gardemeister gives his side on his absence from IRC 2012 in the latest Vauhdin Maailma magazine. He says that he had a verbal agreement with Hankook for 2012 and they should've signed the deal by the end of November. After delays just before Christmas he was told that there wouldn't be no deal for him, and apparently Hankook at the time negotiated with some Peugeot dealer team. That waiting for Hankook deal left him little chances to built the budget for 2012. However after the setback he won't rule down one-off appearances - in IRC, NORF or FRC. His Skoda was completely rebuilt after last season.

In the interview he also mentions that they drove huge mileage of tyre tests for Hankook last season.

Another interesting Skoda-related newspiece was the reason for Jukka Hiltunen's cancelled entry for FRC Mikkeli few weeks ago: his Fabia's engine was lost by DHL somewhere in Germany while on its way from Oreca, France, to Finland.

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Originally Posted by PLuto

San Marino in IRC, Wales in WRC and Valais at home with Peugeot 207 S2000, maybe also Corse in IRC and Deutschland in WRC with 207 R3T.

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Thanks Pluto ;)

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Originally Posted by Hartusvuori

Toni Gardemeister gives his side on his absence from IRC 2012 in the latest Vauhdin Maailma magazine. He says that he had a verbal agreement with Hankook for 2012 and they should've signed the deal by the end of November. After delays just before Christmas he was told that there wouldn't be no deal for him, and apparently Hankook at the time negotiated with some Peugeot dealer team. That waiting for Hankook deal left him little chances to built the budget for 2012. However after the setback he won't rule down one-off appearances - in IRC, NORF or FRC. His Skoda was completely rebuilt after last season.

In the interview he also mentions that they drove huge mileage of tyre tests for Hankook last season.

Another interesting Skoda-related newspiece was the reason for Jukka Hiltunen's cancelled entry for FRC Mikkeli few weeks ago: his Fabia's engine was lost by DHL somewhere in Germany while on its way from Oreca, France, to Finland.

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With Toni it isnt nothing new, I was writing the same in December (here - it is only in czech, but with translator translation it is easy to understand).

And with the engine, this is the reason why we are transporting engine to Oreca personally. It is little bit more expensive, but more safer. I remember, that last year we had similar big problems with transport of steering to rebuild (another company, not DHL) and were very lucky that we received it back before next race...

Julien Maurin on Tour de Corse with Fiesta S2000.

For now that's he's only outing in IRC this year, Deutschland and Alsace on his program too probably with the Fiesta WRC.

207 s2000 evo 2012

Peugeot 207 S2000 Evo 2012 HD - YouTube

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Originally Posted by dimviii

207 s2000 evo 2012

Peugeot 207 S2000 Evo 2012 HD - YouTube

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They make poor Bryan test the car but they don't give him one!

I guess we can expect to see him on Corsica at least though? I'm pretty sure Peugeot will want to win that one again.

Good video btw, you can visually see these cars developing all the time. I wonder how many s/km the latest 207s/Fabias are now compared to the first Puntos?

Abarth and Proton now registered for IRC again?

Yeah indeed... Abarth maybe for some clients who still drive with a Punto and maybe Proton going to do additional IRC rounds after the good results of MC and Sweden ?? Who knows :D . I didn't care much about Abarth and Proton although PG and Basso are great drivers but now with the good results I want to see them back in IRC!

If Proton's registered, that for sure is something I'd like to know about more. Abarth's for 2WD, perhaps?